Walsingham

...Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen it...

Really? Like comparatively speaking how hard?

Am I being uncharitable if I point out that the Portuguese cops seem to be willing to arrest just about anybody to make it look like they've been busy?

Having decided I like my new (ish) PC I was thinking that it would be cool if PCs came in something other than a straight box. I know it's functional, but it doesn't feel right to have such a critical item so functional. My first thought was something the shape of a hood spoiler on a racing car. All fins and towers.

I'll have to belay the technical aspect of the debate with regret since I'm manfully struggling to cover the loss of two jobs! Assuming for the time bing that you are correct, does that mean that we should expect the highest standards from the USA - using the inverse "We're a developing nation" argument?

Waaaaay head of you...

I was inspired to ask the question by a certain speech by Martin Luther King, Jnr. (It's worth hearing) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_agUA-htonQ...ted&search= "...the first question that the Levite asked was, 'If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?' But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: 'If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?"

With the way they dress? Their clothing will get caught in the spokes. Just made me laugh. Imagine the ayatollahs passing legitimising disco dancing and bike riding, with an attached law changing sharda into banana skin shoes, and skirt with massive long tassels on them.

I think you should go with that blue oval thing as your avatar.

I'd like to pose a slightly curveball question: Given that America has the largest number of practicing Christians of any nation on Earth, how does that square with seeing someone who is sick and passing by?

Failed to secure two big jobs. Grud danggit.

OK, some interesting points. Just a couple of rebuttals to keep things moving. 1. Azarkon, your point about being informed is fair, but if I've understood it correctly it doesn't address the fact that starting debates can LEAD TO people becoming interested and then becoming informed. 2. I agree that China has to either sell to deviants and crackpots or not sell. But my impression is that they don't need the foriegn currency. We should be trying to stop them, especially given that they're arming our fething enemies. I don't know how to check this impression, but am open to suggestions. 3. GD, we're straying off topic a little but your government now exercises the capacity to detain (not arrest, which has legal associations) anyone it damn well chooses without serving any kind of warrant, and then imprison them without trial by their peers. Moreover it exercises broad surveillance without warrant. Now, we can debate the whys and wherefores and you know very well which side I'm on, but you can't deny that civil liberties are being abrogated. The only reason point three is appropriate to this discussion is that we can get full fired up about the US with a snap of the fingers, while letting the Chinese question drift.

How do you figure? Not trying to spark a debate, I'm genuinely curious. In the US, more so than other countries, because of the make up of our government, all things political are cyclical. You're right to cal me on it. I don't know the figures but my impression is that you've been in a recession. Both economically, and in terms of things like the spraead of wealtha nd education. I'd be very happy if I was wrong!

'They' know about the problem. The lack of action is not intended to annoy you personally. It's meant to annoy ME personally.

{I'm experimenting wwith using a summary when doing long posts} SUMMARY The NHS and private systems differ in their strategic clarity. A nationalised health service is just as prone to bureaucratic mismanagement as any other government run system, but it has a much clearer brief. Maintain health. My impression of the States is that this is not an imperative to the provider, only the consumer. Moreover, the statement si not to maintain health, but to make you feel better when you come in. DETAIL The only time I've had to wait on the NHS was for advanced cutting edge neurosurgery, and they apologised for keeping me hanging about for 3 days. This is a single instance illustrative of a broader point. If you have something everyone has then you have to wait in a long queue. Heart disease is the classic example. I've dated a hospital nurse for quite some time, and she had friends across the spectrum from senior management to cleaners. The view I got from them was that the failures in the NHS were the result of bureaucratic inefficiency and personal incompetence. Stopping these was a constant struggle eased by having strategic clarity. Anyone can point at patients in distress and unused resources and demand their application. The impression I have got from the US is that these natural tendencies are further complicated by the natural tension in the strategic purpose of the institution. You have a strong (not absolute) profit imperative that runs contrary. My last point is that every person I've ever spoken to in epidemiology including the heartless money grubbing consultants, said that healthcare is like circumcision. It's either total or it ain't worth it.

The whole thing smacks of juvenile teenagerism to me. "My parents are teh worst peopel in teh world!" Anyway, on to your points, which are excellent, but can stand a little criticism. This is perfectly fair. Certainly given the prevailing sentiment which even I would sympathise with, that the US is getting worse. An excuse which they over-use. I don't reject the plea, but it is used for everything, rather than the cases where it is warranted. I would also point out in a rather aggrieved way, that if you visited the gorbals in Glasgow, or Southern Italy you might wonder if the West is really all developed. When are you no longer allowed to play that card? Very very true. Combined with a total lack of analytical skill to make anything of the scant information we do get. We ALL benefit from trade with China in the pure big business sense. All the same I do listen with interest whenever I hear someone attacking this assumption. Do people besides international mega-corporations really benefit? This is, IMO , pure perception. Ignoring the moral blinkers for a moment, China is THE arms dealer your blood-crazed dingbat goes to first. They supply EVERYONE on the liberal hate list, and they do so without the slightest pretense at reforming influence. Nor, so far as I'm aware, do they have Russia's excuse of needing the hard currency.

*gives a deeply skeptical and slightly condescending look at Sando*

On the topic of state subsidized/free healthcare I could be dead three times over without it, and would certainly be worse off. I might also point out that state run healthcare is the only kind that has a vested interest in curing you with simple treatments. I don't think there can be much coincidence that the UK is leading in several areas of heart and cancer treatment, while the US only provides new drugs.

I'd like to see a video of a dog ignoring a puppy and trying to save a cute looking rock.

All I know is that I can see Moore making a point in a filmm which I agree with and he makes me want to switch sides. I'm English. I've been taught that if you want to make a political point forcefully the only done thing is to land a battalion of Irishmen dressed in red jackets on the recipient's house, and plant a flag in their ear.

I see... and my point 2?

Your sharing intimacy has made me confused and hungry.

Willl we still get his trademark posting while he's in the can? Gods, can you imagine both of us getting picked? "I'm sorry, Sand. I'm afraid I can't do that."

2 questions: 1. What is demand based diplomacy? Is it like just in time fruit cake? 2. If you read the article you will see reference to the Japanese tactic of profit through damn fine management. Africa can use being exploited by ruthless bastards who will do anything to ensure a healthy happy productive workforce.

I'm starting to think Moore is a putup job by the right wing. He takes valid arguments and undermines them with carnival debating tactics.