Walsingham

God no, half the populace would die of heart attacks! Sod dropping Playboys. the last thing a misogynist needs is porn. Drop The Handmaid's Tale

A REBATE?

I don't drive, don't own a car. A long while back I worked out I could travel first class on public transport, and get cabs and it would be cheaper. Even more so now. And of course I get to read/work/fart contentedly while doing it.

I'm with DR on this. You can't spoof, deflect, or avoid a 16" armour piercing shell. Missiles are funky, but give me an old battlewagon as part of the taskforce. It's about covering all the bases. I haven't seen the Gerald Ford class, but will make a note to look them up next chance I get. Sand: you MIGHT be able to make something that could be launched underwater and fly, but like with STOVL aircraft the result would be sub-optimal compared with vanilla planes and carriers. On the other hand carriers are massive missile magnets, so putting them underwater could be cool.

Couple of interesting bits and pieces for you: Our new carriers Our new air defence destroyers

Do you think I could justify this as a cooking implement?

I was extremely lucky in that we had many lectures on advanced stuff at my boarding school. Rape was one of them, where we were exposed (most importantly) to victims of rape. I'm sure (statisticaly) that at least some of the boys probably went on to commit the crime. But it left a lasting impression on me, I can tell you. Rape doesn't just violate teh body, it violates the entire emotional life of the person forever. It's like cutting off their face or something. Not clever, gentlemen.

I am reminded of that classic line in PST in Fallen From Grace's library: What right had we to let him live?

Just as my thrupenny worth of opinion, as a heartless employer I want a workforce who are not sick with STDs and falling over with unwanted pregnancies. I have no problem with preaching abstinence, but kids and society deserve the full range of options.

I think it's really as much a feature of ANY organisation that has no outside oversight. They attract and (more importantly) can't get rid of deviants.

Kettleblack is a fine game for a sunny afternoon, but speaking purely personally I regard it as nothing more than a game. Yes my country is frequently immoral or at least amoral, but I happen to believe that we can and in fact SHOULD feel better than regimes/countries where brutality and corruption ARE the rule of law rather than against the rule of law.

Don't knock yourself, mate. We were discussing this the other night on training. Spending the money wisely is more than half the battle. If you do your job right you make a real difference on the front line.

I cannot tell a lie. My appetite came back when the pork ribs were done. But that's still awful. I've known several women who've been assaulted in this way, and the scars NEVER heal. The only sure cure is awareness, gentlemen. A lot of those crimes are committed by men who don't realise they're doing it, or don't want to see. If you are interested there's an American lady journalist who writes true crime books, and she's done a lot on this subject. Her name is Edna Buchanan, and you should definitely check your local library for her books. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_Buchanan

My dear boy. Sneer all you want at how things went after he's gone. We can and do debate it at great length. But tell me for one millisecond that he and his line are not best off gone. I am toasting the fact that I no-longer have to breathe the same air, in a partisan unintellectual feast of home cooked barbecue pork and good English cider. Any problems may be addressed to the Rifle Regiment.

It wasn't a disagreeable situation like that, but I had to do pretty much the same thing when I was in grade school when my dad got MS. Not fun for anyone...but it certainly doesn't sound fair to put you in that situation with someone you barely know. Glad you have a friends you can hide at out for relief. Hiding out at friends houses is one of the best bits of being a teenager. EDIT: I once made my girlfriend so angry that I went to London in the night and hid there for 18 hours. I came back just in time to avoid being dumped and my stuff set on fire. Happy days.

Good grief. I had no idea the percentage was so high of rapes comitted by people the women already knew. That's just awful. Well, I mean not that it would be better if ... you know what I mean. I've quite lost my appetite now.

*snort* lol

Yeah. If I may offer an alternative angle: The only surefire way to avoid dying in a climbing accident is not to fall off stuff. BUt people DO fall off. That's why you use belaying ropes, pads, and work in teams. Um... I may have got lost at the end there. But you get the idea. I like that, im stealing your line! The working in teams bit?

Because the library is a good place to put one's feet up.

Oh dear. Now I'm warning you weasels not to jump at that.

I just noticed that today would have been Saddam Hussein's birthday. Except, you know, he's dead. I'm having a celebratory drink with my feet up in my new library.

Yeah. If I may offer an alternative angle: The only surefire way to avoid dying in a climbing accident is not to fall off stuff. BUt people DO fall off. That's why you use belaying ropes, pads, and work in teams. Um... I may have got lost at the end there. But you get the idea.

Crikey. That sounds quite appalling. I'd pass you a beer if I had really long arms. Reconcile yourself by ... um... er... I don't know. Stay on the forum!

I should say that so far as technology and training goes the USN are without doubt the best in the world by nautical miles. By which I mean no disrespect to the senior service, but simply our chaps don't have the cash.

I do have to say the two positive things about my stint in the Navy was when I visited Hong Kong and Australia. That one gaming store I went to in Sydney was heaven. You, sir, are a weapons-grade nerd. I bow before you.