Walsingham

What is the point of an unmanned mission? The purpose of a manned one is to prove we can colonise other planets. Which is teh ONLY way to ensure the long term survival of our entire species. I considered volunteering for the simulated mission, but got accepted for the Army while I was pondering it. I think it would be an enormous honour to participate, even if the bragging rights are nothing compared to the real thing.

I think you're all oversimplifying a tremendously complex situation. Characterising Thaksin as a bastard misses the central feature of Thai politics. If you are not at least slightly corrupt, and utterly ruthless you will be eaten alive long before you get anywhere close to power. And by 'eaten alive' I mean shot by anonymous assassins. It happened to the communications minister when I was there. That Thaksin even suggests a populist line is extremely risky and comparatively revolutionary. In fact it's WORSE than revolutionary because it is moderate, and harder to use force against. To get a feel for Thailand - I lived there for nearly a year and have family/friends there now - you need to also keep in mind that the Thais themselves are for the most part very a-political, and extremely socially conservative. They regard politics as inherently corrupt, and good conduct as existing entirely apart from it. While at the same time being very feudal in their interpersonal/business lives. They exist in an informal web of obligations which makes party affiliation and causes redundant. What I've seen on TV of the rebels is a mixture of the absolutely lowest in terms of mixed farmers, engineers, and gangsters, alongside a scattering of elite 'nobles' linked to Shinawatra. It's hard to tell, but that must be a very shaky alliance. I don't know what to make of the prospects for the future.

I'd impriison the stupid fethers who let him fly in the first place.

I'd like to reset Apocalypse Now, with the same team of mismatched soldiers, travelling by PT boat up the Cam to Cambridge in high summer to find an Army Colonel who's gone all effete and now has a teddy bear called Aloysius.

You would never make it old man, that lifestyle is reserved for the early 20-somethings. But what a way to die! Choking on moist glitter!

Thanks for the clarification on the ragdoll issue. I guess that makes sense. Actually this conversation reminded me. I shot an enclave trooper off a bridge and (probably due to the angle) he went flying miles up in the air. I spent five minutes nervously checking the sky in case he fell on me.

What about a kid who starts out being told he HAS to be a blue space marine, and his doubts about his manliness are eventually conquered to the point where he breaks from what he has been told and puts on the red armour instead? *scribble scribble*Keep talking. *scribble scribble* He should have a pet! And some moody thin girl who follows him around out of what appears to be spite, but is probably syphilitic dementia.

Do you think Shryke would accept me as a padawan?

And a fine mess it's gotten you into.

Which AIFV is that? I've been trying to work it out.

A sure sign you're getting old, mate. I agree with you about the Woodford Reserve. I'd drink it myself, but over here I can get single malt for less. Althoug having said that we're due a hot spell, and bourbon tastes better in the heat.

This is thunder over nothing. Who the hell actually reads their school textbooks anyway?

I like any plan which involves taunting David Blaine - gitwizard. Spotting food still in him wouldn't necessarily invalidate his claim to have not eaten. It would just mean he hasn't had a **** in the same period of time. Which, thinking that he lives in the orient is in many ways more astonishing. Every time I go orientwards I wind up like an inverted firework. And not in a good way.

What about a kid who starts out being told he HAS to be a blue space marine, and his doubts about his manliness are eventually conquered to the point where he breaks from what he has been told and puts on the red armour instead?

And so your right to use force is validated by... your personal insistence that the rich are ****ing the poor? Judging by your copious free time posting online I doubt you are poor, so I'm suspicious of that validity. Irrespective of your personal circumstances, which you studiously avoid discussing in even the most anonymous terms, what possible authority has any individual or clique of individuals to rule on the questions: a) Who the rich are b) Who the poor are c) What precisely is meant by 'being ****ed' d) The right of those same individuals to use extra-democratic methods (within a democracy) to pursue some theoretically un****ing agenda

Excuse the snips. Firstly, to be blunt and frankly a bit rude, I suggest that the Balkans can hardly be taken as a microcosm of normal relations between Muslims and Christians. Nor SHOULD those relations be held up as a model for the rest of the world to emulate through conflict. Secondly, my mother was a white South African, my family lived in rural Zululand when I was a child, and we took extensive holidays there in later years. We had friends and family raped and murdered. I've been seen the victims of attacks, and been hauled out of a township myself in the teeth of an angry mob who would have cheerfully killed me. The threat was a war of annihilation by the oppressed black people of the country, aided by their 'brothers' across the borders. It's not the same as living as you do actually in the country. But I'd object to being described as totally ignorant. South Africa avoided a total slaughter*. The message I would convey... the message Mandela would convey... the message my family would convey... the message my friends and former colleagues in the Army would convey... is PRECISELY that a cup of tea and a refusal to sink into the ritual pattern of antagonism is often the best (perhaps only) way to ensure peace. Not just peace between Christians and Muslims, but between English and French, Russians and Germans etc etc. A peace that can be buttressed by geopolitical treaties, economic forces, and force of arms; but which is hollow without that core of ordinary people meeting other ordinary people to focuss on their similarities and common humanity, not the ravings and violence of the minority. *Although the extreme 'socialist' ANC plus HIV have done their best to wreck the country and violence does exist.

To paraphrase Zizek, you are saying that the difference is it's OK to hate and attack a class of people because you have chosen the correct class of people to hate?

Mind you don't give birth to any gods. Wait. What am I saying?

Sorry. Didn't finish my post explicitly. His claim is that he has found a way to defy the known laws regarding energy use and human biology. Not to mention avoiding becoming dried up by water vapour escaping in his breath. Using my metric: 1) Testing this requires little besides restricting/controlling his access to food and water. The rotating glass door at a hotel should do.* Just block him in for a week. Three researchers to maintain constant observation, plus CCTV backup. Offset the costs by selling the footage for TV rights... a couple of grand. So very cheap. TOP MARKS 2) The general principle of starving/thirsting to death has been tested before. But the question here is whether someone possessed of unusual spiritual focus can defy those principles. I doubt this has been clinically tested. TOP MARKS 3) If correct then the implications for human existence are immense. It would revolutionise all forms of huamn exploration, and open the gateway to baseline research into the behaviour of energy and simple molecules such as water. TOP MARKS In short I say we lock the old fellah in a fishtank and sit back with some popcorn. *A specially constructed box may be superior as most hotels do not regard decomposing mystics to be an attraction to guests

I am not ignoring the rest of your post, but homing in on the important bottom line. Correct me if I am wrong, but you suggest people use any means up to and including lethal force - on their own initiative - to provoke political change. Granted, you argue that real political change cannot come through democratic means, but I ask you: What difference is there between a) your calls to excise a class of people from society (the capitalist and bourgeoise) through direct action, including violence, because the State cannot be trusted to act. and b) Combat 18's calls to excise a class of people from society (immigrants) through direct action, including violence, because the State cannot be trusted to act. ~~ The US Civil War is a bogus analogy, since the secession was provoked precisely because democracy had wrought a significant change. In any case the deaths were the upshot of conflict between two (relatively) duly appointed state executives, not a conflict between a self-appointed 'direct actioneer' and a duly appointed 'state'.

Sounds like you are feeling better. Thats is great,. Thanks, mate. I've been wondering how you've been getting on since we drove you away with political waffle, like a chinese street party scaring away a dragon. EDIT: You mentioned something about inviting ladies back to yours for barbecue.

You mke a good point that some scientists are going to research whatever they like. However, in the modern era for research to be executed with insurance, and taken seriously by anyone it has to take place in a recognised institution. Therefore unfortunately it becomes a social question. Or were you saying that we should support nutcase boffins? I'd say that still keeps to my suggest metric. You support the mad ones provided they are into something big enough and relevant enough to science. Guaging the plauisibility of turning custard into an impossible baked on substance on pans using superlasers wouldn't count. Nor would destroying Paris. *ahem* The point here being that this chap is maintaining he has been able to run his entire body using no energy besides ambient energy sources. He's also saying that he's been able to either prevent himself perspiring or losing water or taking it in somehow.

I think Blues would be ideal. Crackly and often dark. Indeed, people might finally get my reference when I say "Good morning, little schoolgirl" when sniping.

Wasn't Phil K. as high as a banana most of the time?