Walsingham

Thanks, Cant. But ever since I gave her a toy gun a few years ago she's massively into boy stuff. I'm thinking like lego technical - or whatever it's called - the stuff you can build catapults out of. Only on a compuer because lego is freaking insanely expensive.

I'm no financial wizard, but you can have countries with comparatively weak currencies. Obviously you don't want Zimbabwe levels, but being a bit lower helps exports and tourism. Unless the demographics of Scotland change massively then it's going to remain low in population and high in land and minerals. So tourism and exports are going to stay what it makes. As Krez says, being in a commmon market is great. Being pegged to a strong currency isn't. I suppose in theory it might make sense to have two euros and two banks. I read this suggestion in an article yesterday. Besides disturbing the megalomaniac dreams of core industrialised Europe, I think it could be a splendid idea.

Mate, you've presumably seen this thread by yours truly?

Just had a lok at Terraria. Looks like something I might enjoy. But I was hoping something a bit more mechanical, and creative.

Agreed. But evoolution's rather like that. Before the chicken there was something quite like a chicken.

I have a niece I'm tremendously proud of, and wanted to give her a computer game for Christmas. She enjoys creating and building things, so I was wondering if there were any games out there which let a bright kid do this. I considered minecraft, obviously. But frankly I worry about here consorting with deviants.

Well, being a monarchy of course it is the queen's english. So presumably she does. Might not though. Probably bored of it by now. I imagine she spends as much time as possible just buzzing like a bluebottle.

I'm not going near Africa again any time soon. The whole place is more bonkers than ever. Well, maybe we could go to Ghana. I hear it's pretty cool. Libya would be fun to visit. I'm not sure what use I'd be on a humanitarian venture. I can barely lift a laptop, these days! I suppose I could get a flyswat and point at things.

Considering Deus Ex is based on conspiracy theories about FEMA setting up concentration camps and so on (I assume he meant HR). Anyway, it was more of a joke, I didn't mean he acutally believes in conspiracy theories, just takes the worst case scenarios based on those a bit too seriously. Ah, I see what you mean. Apologies.

What Scotland really needs is a weak currency. They do agriculture and tourism. Swapping the pound for the Euro is barking mad. However, I'd welcome a referendum in some ways. Make the case, force everyone to grow up a bit and think hard about the results rather than this sliding tumble by way of patriotism. Being pro-Scottish doesn't mean you have to be anti-British. Plus, as Nightshape says, how bloody dull and insipid would England be without the other parts of the Union?

As if English teenagers spoke english.

I suspected as much. Your courageous sacrifice means I shan't watch it .

But we can learn in the mean time. Personally I'd rather settle an empty planet than be fending off all the greenish xenophiles who would object if we tried to settle somewhere bearing life.

What was their reasoning? ~~ Up betimes and had one of those days where you never stop doing stuff and then you get to the end and wonder what on earth you've been doing!

I'm surprised no-one's brought up the broader issue of optimal country size. Krez briefly mentioned it, but no more.

Link sees to be broken. I'm assuming it's that drunk woman on the bus. Embarassing, but not funny. Nothing funny about the folks on the bus having to put up with deranged shouting.

I follow your reasoning. However I'd suggest three alternatives: 1) If the transition can be made less arduous, so maybe a larger space ship to do the journey in. Now I think about it, surely it could be really helpful to have a space station in orbit? 2) If we could deliver some locally necessary effects from earth or Earth orbit, that might lighten the load. 3) Some means of braking quicker. My understanding is that a lot of travel time is due to the necessity of slowing down over a long period.

lol, truly, the ignorance of that woman is stunning. She either gets her info from conspiracy theorists or Deus Ex, much like Krezack does. I don't recall reading any conspiracy theories from Krez. And I tend to jump all over them, so you'd think I would if he had.

A kind and generous offer. Please permit me to reciprocate the favour on your person.

Putting our own demonstrators in the same breath as those in Tahrir Square or Triploi is ****ing disrespectful. Any live rounds fired outside our Parliament? I don't bloody think so.

Really what space travel needs is some fierce competition. First habitable colony on Mars gets the continent sized land round it. That sort of thing. As in so many situations, claiming the fruits have to be shared by all means no bastard wants to go to the trouble of picking them.

I can totally understand the need for Scotland to be able to set its own economic policy. But total independence would leave them materially poorer, and the UK destitute in every other way. The Scots, with the notable of exception of a 'certain' former Prime Minister impersonator, are brick and mortar to the nation. They've been our writers, our engineers, our economists, our soldiers. Any talk about ancient wrongs is just the blether of mountebanks and carpetbaggers. If they decide to split then they'll be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Worse, they'll be trading a nation in which they have a very great democratic voice for a super-state where they have none.

I have a friend who is a curator at the Smithsonian. He confirmed the story is true.

Just as an addendum, I've been rewatching it, and I physically can't eat my lunch now. I can't swallow.

Hi, Phineas Gage! EDIT: Volo really is in the premier league of trolls. I nearly took his rejoinder seriously.