SteveThaiBinh

Sadly I know a couple of people who work for the World Bank and have a similar outlook on developing countries. Colonialism casts a long shadow of self-delusion. I like games which try to explore big ideas, but it's always a risk. I wonder if they'll manage it.

China's attitude is quite complex. From their point of view, they are threatened by a US which has no regard for international law and seemed to single out Iraq (rather than Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Syria etc.) for 'regime-change' on no comprehensible grounds. When you have a rogue superpower that doesn't like you (and Bush made it clear in his first election campaign that he saw China as a rival), it makes sense to arm yourself. They also see US troops in Central Asia, South Korea and Japan, and feel surrounded. It's highly unlikely that they wish to provoke a war, or even risk war to recover Taiwan so long as Taiwan doesn't move towards independence. They don't want war, because they're winning the economic race already. It's not in their interests. China (like any powerful country) wishes to extend its influence in its own region, and I know that some countries in South-East Asia are worried. However, the Chinese government's behaviour is usually very consistent and predictable. The danger and potential source of disaster is the unpredictability and irrationality of Mr. Bush.

The Galactic Association of Independent Light-Aligned Force Users, membership 100 credits per annum, quarterly newsletter, laminated membership card and free 'Hug a Sith' badge, join today!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/news...t25/4182569.stm Absolute classic!

Did you threaten to overrule him? Although that was fun to watch, no, it wasn't Paxman at his best. Paxman at his best is very penetrating, and he is good at exposing the inconsistencies in politicians' positions. A weak government minister who's been trotted out to repeat a line that he doesn't really understand will quickly be demolished. There was criticism in the last election in the UK that the people's lack of trust in politicians is exacerbated by this aggressive style of media interview, but I think it's a vital part of a healthy democracy. If you watch the US president being interviewed by a journalist, it reminds me of Robert Maxwell interviewing Eastern European leaders: "Mr. Ceaucescu, your people love you as never before..."

Neither. No way would I accept the absolute authority of an unelected gang of mystics. Pro-Republic and anti-Sith, definitely, but wary of the Jedi and their agenda.

If it can be done in a way that doesn't echo the ever-lurking presence of Kreia. If you spent the first third/half of the game accompanying your master on missions around the galaxy, sometimes at her side, sometimes sent off on your own for mini-quests or allowed to wander around by yourself. It would be rather linear, so not typical for Kotor, but if it were well written it could be fun. Then at a point in the game your master would either fall to the dark side or get killed, leaving you to hunt her/her killers down. Could be very powerful.

Are these creatures supposed to be intelligent or self-aware? Is communication with them possible? If not, then the word 'racist' hardly applies here, I would say.

If you're interested in seeing this, here it is (click the video link): http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vot...log/4519553.stm Very entertaining, I think.

Dr. Smith is a rather one-dimensional character. I'm prepared to admit that a lot of people struggle between good and evil (better to say ethical and unethical?) choices, and don't always make the right choice. But nearly everyone has their generous moments. There are so many times when someone has frustrated something that I've wanted to do, seemingly for no other reason than petty self-interest, but with patience and careful delving, it turns out that their motivation was good. I'm not very young, and I don't think I'm naive, although I seem to get called it a lot. I would say that I've a lot of experience at looking at things from other people's perspectives, and this is a path that leads to tolerance and optimism.

It could be because you didn't talk to Kreia when you were level 15 (the normal level to get it). Or because you weren't strongly light or dark enough - I think you need to be 75% along the alignment metre one way or the other. But the main question is, why don't you take Kreia with you everywhere you go? How can you live without her wise sayings and helpful criticism making you a stronger, better person?

I'm neutral good, and I suspect most people are, although they no doubt would disagree over their definition of 'good'. I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who who struck me as evil (name-badges with alignment would be a big help), though I do know lots of true neutrals, I think.

They're very shy and retiring, though. I don't think they've even posted here for a month or so. They lurk, though... (Edited to remove a rather bizarre quote from a different forum that I don't even remember reading. Thanks Metadigital!)

Yes, some storage would be nice. And a more impressive galaxy map.

I believe that consciousness ends with death. We live on only in the memories of the people we have met. It would be nice to think that there's some dimension or level in which consciousness continues, but it doesn't really seem likely. It might be possible to upload/download the consciousness to computers, but not in my lifetime. Would you like to live forever in virtual reality?

How many daily kidnappings, bombs and murders does it take before it's in a desperate state? Do you really think that the present situation in Iraq is comparable in terms of the level of violence with post-war Germany or Japan? Who knows how much of Iraq's wealth has been lost/stolen by the occupiers? It will take a long time for the full story to come out (a very long time if we rely on Fox News :D )

The BBC reported the successes and the setbacks during the war. They didn't report that the coalition was losing the war, but they did (I think, it's a while ago now) report that there was doubt about how soon and how complete the coalition's occupation of Iraq would be. They were cautious, and they have been proved right in this. Despite the coalition's announcement that major combat has ceased, Iraq is now in a desperate state. Has the US won the war, or is the war continuing?

But interesting, though. Why don't you post it as a separate topic?

Both Fox and the BBC are part of the free press, and it's in the public interest that there be a variety of voices. However, it's also important that people learn to discriminate between sources of differing quality. The BBC is a public service broadcaster whose aim is to inform and educate. Fox News is a private company whose aims are to make money and to push the political agenda of its owner. In the UK, we're comfortable seeing that in a newspaper, but it's very strange to see a television channel behaving the same way. This is a question that has bothered me. Fox News claims that it is 'fair and balanced', but it seems to be confused about how it is balanced. Either it wishes to be a conservative right-wing channel to balance perceived left-wing bias in other broadcast media, or it wishes to be balanced and impartial within itself. Yu can't have both.

The Hutton inquiry found that the BBC broadcast a controversial story for which there was insufficient evidence. Both the Chairman and the Director General of the BBC resigned. However, a subsequent inquiry by Lord Butler found that the original story was effectively true, though it didn't say so explicitly. The BBC is generally impartial and accurate in its reporting, although there are always mistakes and exceptions. I particularly remember one moment in the Gulf War when the US was putting out the story that they'd taken over Baghdad Airport, and the BBC reporter was saying "I'm standing on the runway at Baghdad Airport, and there aren't any US troops here". The BBC treated information coming from the 'coalition' as suspect until verified, and this was criticised as being an anti-war stance. Back on topic, my favourite part of that 'interview' was at the end when the interviewer delivers an insulting rant against the interviewee before terminating the interview. If that's the standard of journalism on this programme, why would anyone wish to be interviewed by them?

I should have realised that! The brain damage must be worse than I thought.

I feel slightly less intelligent for having watched that. Why would a news channel even give him airtime?

It's very hard to gain influence with Handmaiden if you're dark side. You probably have two choices: 1) Go lightside, get lots of influence and make her a Jedi, then once you've managed this, go darkside and drag her along. 2) Go darkside and lose lots of influence with her. If you lose enough, you'll be able to jedify her anyway, though she'll be light side.

I try to write good English too, although we all make mistakes from time to time. Other people are more relaxed about their usage, which is fine, too, as it doesn't usually interfere with communication. I'm afraid the original post took a bit of staring for me to work out.

Oh, OK, I think I might understand this now. I can see how it would work. I don't think I see how it could be fun. Beyond the novelty of the first time, at least.