Burd's Comments
Interesting subject.
Apparently "microwave technology could be applied for wireless energy transmission through space, and to the planet's surface".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_solar_power
I'm a big fan of James May - anyone know what the name of this series is?
Apparently "microwave technology could be applied for wireless energy transmission through space, and to the planet's surface".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_solar_power
I'm a big fan of James May - anyone know what the name of this series is?
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I was about to stand by my main point that high gun-availability does not relate to high murder-rates.
My argument was to be that violence in western society is a far more complex thing to understand.
I was then going to blame TV and quote the examples of Bhutan and St Helena,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3812275.stm
but these have been debunked.
So why the hell are we all running around killing each other?
Turns out we're not - the glass is half-full after all:
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pinker07/pinker07_index.html
I'm going to stop watching the news and spamming forums with off-topic rants.
I'm off to buy a gun and watch some wrestling.
My argument was to be that violence in western society is a far more complex thing to understand.
I was then going to blame TV and quote the examples of Bhutan and St Helena,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3812275.stm
but these have been debunked.
So why the hell are we all running around killing each other?
Turns out we're not - the glass is half-full after all:
http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pinker07/pinker07_index.html
I'm going to stop watching the news and spamming forums with off-topic rants.
I'm off to buy a gun and watch some wrestling.
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You know Skipweasel - I was going to disagree.
I was going to dig up a load of articles that stated more or less:
"Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world, coupled with one of the lowest rates of gun-related deaths." (look - I can quote wikipedia!)
But it turns out that recently this has changed:
"in 2005, 48 people were murdered by gunfire in Switzerland - about the same number as in England and Wales, which have a population seven times as large. According to the International Action Network on Small Arms, an anti-gun organisation based in the UK, 6.2 people died of bullet wounds in Switzerland in 2005 per 100,000 of population, second only to the US figure of 9.42"
So I guess it comes down to:
1) Do you believe the mere presence of a gun caused these murders? Or rather - would the absence of a gun have prevented these murders?
2) Does it matter anyway? If a man runs down his wife in a car do we ban all cars? If a youth stabs another do we ban all knives?
Hang ON - what the f*ck am I talking about? Of COURSE we ban knives, or at least carrying them in public.
I apologise - I was about to indulge in reductio ad absurdum but now I've changed my mind.
Guns were designed for killing and if you f*ck about with them someone will get hurt.
Geeez you f*cking yank gunnuts are CRAZY
I was going to dig up a load of articles that stated more or less:
"Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world, coupled with one of the lowest rates of gun-related deaths." (look - I can quote wikipedia!)
But it turns out that recently this has changed:
"in 2005, 48 people were murdered by gunfire in Switzerland - about the same number as in England and Wales, which have a population seven times as large. According to the International Action Network on Small Arms, an anti-gun organisation based in the UK, 6.2 people died of bullet wounds in Switzerland in 2005 per 100,000 of population, second only to the US figure of 9.42"
So I guess it comes down to:
1) Do you believe the mere presence of a gun caused these murders? Or rather - would the absence of a gun have prevented these murders?
2) Does it matter anyway? If a man runs down his wife in a car do we ban all cars? If a youth stabs another do we ban all knives?
Hang ON - what the f*ck am I talking about? Of COURSE we ban knives, or at least carrying them in public.
I apologise - I was about to indulge in reductio ad absurdum but now I've changed my mind.
Guns were designed for killing and if you f*ck about with them someone will get hurt.
Geeez you f*cking yank gunnuts are CRAZY
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Another thing!
To all those...
"You'd all be speaking German right now - I didn't see you complaining when we bailed you out with our guns in the two world wars"
...posters. ahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
I think we can draw a line between gun laws for civilians and gun laws for the military!
I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting sending the troops off to Iraq with a few sticks, a handful of rocks and a toothpick.
By the way - most of us are of course thankful for your part in those wars, however I doubt your soldiers died fighting in them so that idiots like you could then rub the fact in the faces of your so-called "friends".
Morons like you give your country a bad name.
To all those...
"You'd all be speaking German right now - I didn't see you complaining when we bailed you out with our guns in the two world wars"
...posters. ahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!
I think we can draw a line between gun laws for civilians and gun laws for the military!
I don't think anyone is seriously suggesting sending the troops off to Iraq with a few sticks, a handful of rocks and a toothpick.
By the way - most of us are of course thankful for your part in those wars, however I doubt your soldiers died fighting in them so that idiots like you could then rub the fact in the faces of your so-called "friends".
Morons like you give your country a bad name.
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Tragic as this may be - accidents happen.
If people want to play with guns, have a swim, cross the road, climb a mountain, smoke cigarettes or dance with the devil in the pale moonlight then that is up to them. I think that's called "choice".
My honest (but entirely biased by media) opinion is that the US is a truly f*cked up place. Sadly my own dear UK is well & truly on the same path. Guns are not the cause of this. Are there not plenty of countries out there (eg Switzerland) where it is customary for every household to own a gun?
It's not the gun that scares me but the idiot holding it. If people want to go to gun shows, shooting ranges or the like then good luck to them and I will steer well clear.
More gun control? Yes.
Ban guns completely? Cannot see a valid argument for it.
If people want to play with guns, have a swim, cross the road, climb a mountain, smoke cigarettes or dance with the devil in the pale moonlight then that is up to them. I think that's called "choice".
My honest (but entirely biased by media) opinion is that the US is a truly f*cked up place. Sadly my own dear UK is well & truly on the same path. Guns are not the cause of this. Are there not plenty of countries out there (eg Switzerland) where it is customary for every household to own a gun?
It's not the gun that scares me but the idiot holding it. If people want to go to gun shows, shooting ranges or the like then good luck to them and I will steer well clear.
More gun control? Yes.
Ban guns completely? Cannot see a valid argument for it.
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"Interesting to see the negative correlation between relative wealth and belief in God."
Interesting to also note the correlation between relative wealth and education.
Not that education neccessarily negates faith but it does seem that the more we learn & understand about the world we live in, the less likely we are to believe in an all powerful God(s).
Interesting to also note the correlation between relative wealth and education.
Not that education neccessarily negates faith but it does seem that the more we learn & understand about the world we live in, the less likely we are to believe in an all powerful God(s).
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"they were having an orgy"
hahaha, I think it's called "daisy chaining"
hahaha, I think it's called "daisy chaining"
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as opposed to a new fashioned trouser press, like an iron.
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I have it on bad authority that this is a device used in training by the late contortionist Harry Houdini.
Two hours a day on this and he could escape from any tight situation.
Personally, I disagree,
Is this an old fashioned trouser press?
Two hours a day on this and he could escape from any tight situation.
Personally, I disagree,
Is this an old fashioned trouser press?
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I was going to ask if people thought that Bobby Fischer was the inspiration for General "Buck" Turgidson in Dr. Strangelove!
From the sounds of it though Fischer's rant about bodily fluids came in 1977, 13 years after Strangelove.
A case of life imitating art or was this type of coldwar paranoia quite common at the time? I suppose it all stems from anti-communist propoganda. Anyone know of any propaganda at the time that was specifically about bodily fluids?!
Anyway - great article!