Walsingham

There is no way to translate that into meaningful information, there are many images that are bound to cause responses due to nature or the nurture of the individual. Is less effective and the information, more confusing. I agree it would be very tricky. but I disagree that it would be impossible to convert that sense data into a mathematical matrix and get some sustaining intelligence from it. For example, if you ahd pictures of known terrorists and put them into a bunch of other unknown terrorists. Or if you wanted to know where the guy was wrong, then local landmarks could elicit a reaction. I mean we're talking a huge effort, but it's feasible.

I can sympathise with your desire for straegic shenanigans. But how exactly do you target the Blight's strategic depth? Sounds like a magic thing rather than the footwear kink-ball's cup of tea. Because so far as we actually know the only really important thing about the Blight is the big guy at the top, and I don't think poisoning his toaster-pops is going to achieve a great deal.

I for one welcome the day when we are forced to play our games on console that we will be issued with by our beneficent overlords. Consoles containing games we never actually own, full of adverts and behaviour monitoring. No doubt the cause will be 'financial issues'. After all, the marketing team need their massive yachts.

I'd ahve thought it would be far more effective to tap into the preconscious. Show them a montage of images, at a speed which the mind can take in but not process. Measure electrical activity in the brain, and retinal movement. See which ones trigger unusual responses. You'd be able to see what images they recognised, which were alarming etc etc.

Then what precisely are you waffling on about?

I can only assume I must have misread Kipling.

I was looking at a picture of someone covered in bees and a thought struck me: in the future would it be possible to wear a covering of gengineered colony insects, like bees instead of clothing? I suppose on reflection this is like the spell Spiderskin. I think such a covering could be absolutely incredible to look at, and might have other properties, such as closing wounds, hurting attackers etc etc.

That does sound completely awesome. Damnit.

An eclectic mix of Roma di Luna, Massive Attack, the Wailin Jennys, The Battle of Land and Sea, Mazzy Star, and the Cowboy Junkies.

Hurlshot's wife takes him to the gun range = win. I had a great girl once who spent the whole day just doing everything I liked. We drank champagne and lunched in London, then went to the Imperial War Museum, where she tried to find things she was interested in, without complaining. Then we went to the pub. Then saw the Reduced Shakespeare Company, the got front row tickets and had me finagled onto the stage. You get the idea... Wait a second. That's a depressing story!

This certainly accords with what I've heard. Rather than your cheerful but strange notion that the KGB succeeded in Chechneya. I suppose they also succeeded in Afghanistan using the same methods?

Miseria! Just when I'd decided to go gay!

You definitely trump me.

More tales of the Man that taste forgot out today. Anyway, it occurred to me that given his willingness to ignore public outrage, and the incredibly rubbish nature of his hair implants that we should remove said frogmarched follicles and replace them with some other look. Remember it needs to be virile, gauche, yet expensive. Thoughts/ideas posted here, please. I was thinking something like platinum credit cards embedded in his skull in a stylish hair like quiff, and layered down the sides and back.

I went for a 1.5tb samsung story drive in the end. Good reviews across many sites, and an extra ten quid for 500gb seemed sensible. It also has built in locks which would deter the casual housebreaker from getting access to the contents. In all, good stuff. I hope.

I agree that we are unlikely to be able to present any factual evidence on either side. Because now I think about it, 1. Using evidence that torture is ineffective would effectively be utilising torture to achieve an objective. 2. Evidence that torture works is unlikely to be presented in a formal state which could be cited here and 2b. anecdotal evidence has no control group Nonetheless, I am content to make my stand based upon the case I have made so far. To whit: A. States which are known to employ torture do not appear to enjoy greater success in their security efforts than those which do not. In fact the reverse. B. Anecdotal evidence suggests that torture merely breaks the mind. A broken mind is not likely to deliver useful intelligence. C. Torture precludes the possibility of turning a subject. Turning of subjects, in fighting organised crime and terrorism is absolutely key. Turned subjects win campaigns rather than averting incidents. D. Non-torture methods (sometimes described as fully reversible effects) are known to be effective in many cases at both gathering low level detail, and turning subjects As I would describe it the use of torture leads to the gathering of very variable and uncertain data of a low tactical grade. At no time would such an intelligence effort deliver strategic/operational/tactical 'chapter and verse' to the standard achieved by turned subjects. At the same time it endangers cooperation with key allies, and debases the officers and institutions which employ it. Again, in terms of books I would suggest reading The Interrogator's War (I think it's by Chris Mackey); Big Boys Rules by Mark Urban; May the Lord in his Mercy be Kind to Belfast, by Tony Parker (not directly related but good for getting background); and just about anything on the FBI's fight against the mafia during the 1990s.

I'll admit I'm confused, but judging by this piece (Daily Telegraph) it seems the MI5 did not actually use torture. But they failed to act on teh knowledge/supposition that torture was being used.

Ach, I'm just crack wising. Ignore it.

Best comeeback I've ever seen to a headlock. Bang goes my unbeatable move!

I made it as far as 1500 before my mood totally imploded. You know the song Paint it Black, by the Rolling Stones? That's me. EDIT - BREAKING NEWS GOD that's bloody weird. I just checked my email and found an email from my girlfriend busting up with me timed just before 1500. I'm still bummed out, but I'm cheered up by the thought that I haven't wasted a small fortune on champagne and fine food, which I was just off to buy! HAPPY VALENTINES ALL

It's good to see you back, but I'm curious: have you read my initial comments? Surely torture is a repellent activity, we can at least agree that? If, as I suggest, it does not actually work, then it is both repellent and pointless.

Dell Mini 5 is, from what I can see, EXACTLY what I asked for. It's just not out for another few months. But I don't meant to be harsh. I appreciate your input, it just didn't suit me. I decided to buy a cheapo small $100 8gb flash player today with mini-USB for universal compatibility. It'll tide me over till the Dell Mini 5. Good lad. Smart choice, IMO.

a fat lot of use you chaps are.

ROFL Bastards.

You are correct. Ths is another good reason to have a well employed tech geek friend who can chowcase all that stuff. Mine just bought a 3d monitor. It's really very cool. Makes shooters a doddle. *thinks* 3D... Hmmm....