Walsingham

Is that gap on the southwest section? If so I'm in for a nickel, and flop two bishops.

Eurocrats are roundly condemned by themselves above all as wasters, in my experience. However, I think that the lessson of the USA teaches us that centralised bureacuracies are like antlions. You can struggle all you like and you slide faster into the centre. Going back to the soldier what would your reaction be if Harry claimed that due to a legal technicality he wasn't going? Would we accord him the same generosity offerred to this bloke of Sand's? Interestingly, the last time I can recall teh Army letting a prince go on campaign in a colonial war It was the grandson of Napoleon. He too was in a cavalry recce section. They embarked on a foolhardy investigation of a kraal and were slaughtered.

Finches?

*half smile* I'm the one usually accused of pushing out the terrorism boat, but on this occasion we're pretty safe. Nuclear targets are naturally hardened, can be hardened further, and really remarkably robust. Modern plants contain enough safety features that deliberately precipitating an accident is almost impossible - which is not to say that someone like Iran might not have problems. Compare that to the safety of a gas pipeline/gas storage and things take on a different shade. I should add that I used to be in favour of diversifying into renewables and alternatives for the simple purpose of insuring against attack, and foreign strongarm tactics. Many diverse source sof power are more robust. However I've not seen a single set of figures that show how such means could power existing demand. People want power almost as much as they want bread in this day and age. No democratic government will ever survive voluntarily implementing a policy that resulted in brownouts or blackouts. I know that many people over forty in this country were suspicious of Labour until 2001 for this very reason.

Well it would be rather mean of me to wish otherwise, but you could try empathising with people who found it harder. I was a bully at prep school, and a victim of bullying when older. i found it far more distressing than any of the occasions where I was actually offered violence, theft, or other abuse ever since. I regard it as a fundamental target of civilisation that no-one should suffer from it.

Actually it's saying "What's in ham?"

I wouldn't for a moment argue that energy efficiency is an improvement we need to make. But I still don't see how we can have populations growing at the current rates, every head of which is using more and more powered gadgets, and not expect demand to increase. I should also say that so far as I can see the nuclear option - barring acts of terrorism - is pretty safe. It is also, as Meta says, very waste effiicient. Overall my point of view is that it is futile to expect a consumer oriented free market not to try and grow. And if the UK/US doesn't provide energy then producers and businesses will move overseas to countries like India and China that couldn't care less. Then what will we have? About as much hope of getting our good intentions affect the world arena as Lesotho.

Are we calling him the Black Prince now? When did that happen? Doesn't bode well, as the original Black Prince massacred thousands. I imagine he was willing to go to war when he signed up. The question was always whether sending him into combat, being such a celebrity and therefore a target, put him and his fellows in too much risk, i.e. they'd have to spend so much effort protecting him that they wouldn't be able to do the job they were there to do. I hope someone competent has made an objective assessment and decided that he'll do more good than harm. I hope the Royal Family hasn't just insisted that their boy should get what he wants regardless of the consequences. I actually dubbed him that. Remember you heard it here first. I think it suits him though. I know he's had a tough time, all told. But he is a bit of an idiot on occasion. . ...Come to think of it, I guess that makes me the Black Moderator. As for making him a target I don't think that is necessarily such a terrible thing. Knowing where an opponent will try and strike is half the job in counter-insurgency. Would _I_ enjoy being in his troop? Not bloody likely! However, you could at least rely on not being short of things like vests and rations. I think from the point of view of the monarchy itself I think it does a lot of good for them. However, it will be interesting to see how the Murdoch press twists this against them.

Back to the soldieer... I note our 'Black Prince' is off to Iraq: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6383747.stm As was said in the commentary to the article. "If he wasn't going to go to war he shouldn't have joined the Army."

Tremors = awesome. I don't think it's crazy. It's just open minded.

As in over my head.

I agree with Hurlshot. This is a serious thing, and if one's responsibility is children's wlefare then it's hard to draw geographical boundaries around it.

I'd suggest going up a level or maybe trying another region first. I recall the Beggar;s Nest being tougher than the others.

The pun is mightier than the sword.

*zzoooooooom!*

Crikey. I had no idea so many people here had experienced it. I suppose now's the wrong time t point out that in medieval times the conclusion would be that a demon had been sitting on you?

Hello Steve! Haven't noticed you in a while. Apologies if I've been ignoring you. I can accept your point about the costs of cleanup. But my point was rather more to do with the infeasibility of using anything else to meet demand. Nuke may well be more expensive per watt, but if there isn't enough room for other types then what can we do?

Given Engalnd obsession with history maybe roast beef should come with a history cookie that tells you about things you didn't know had happened to you.

I vote we all get drunk.

I think it's great that action is being taken. I was fgortunate to go to a school that took a very tough line on bullying, and personally intervened when younger kids were being bullied. Its consequences can be long-term and appalling. If teh internet is the medium so be it. At least a victim may have text they can point at to illustrate their problem.

I think I understand better now. We have a similar issue - I think - in teh Uk with our MP system. I whole-heartedly oppose reform of the UK system for the reason GD mentions.

*sigh* We're not having the fantasy debate again are we? Kaft I swear you were here for the last one.

Then I apologise for the misunderstanding.

Yes but which bits? The most brutish?

Ah. As I recall you and I disagree on the importance of the human race. I consider the survival of the species to be the only ineluctably worthwhile thing a human can pursue. I'm also rather fond of human beings. Whereas my recent impression is that you are not!