L00b

By the same token, firearm acquisition, ownership and safekeeping is heavily legislated and regulated in the UK (most, amongst western countries). It is the point

I was overtaken (at quite a clip) on the M1 South last night, just after the M18 turn-off, by a dark souped-up Mini covered in racing decals, reg was K15 MY S. Against my better judgement, it did raise a smile.

Recent development, see this: http://www.techeye.net/internet/o2-limits-downloads-for-unlimited-customers Many more sources reporting the same story, but this is the first one I grabbed off Google, as I recalled reading something about this last week.

Because maintaining everyone's licensed property, within a particular radius, at a single, known location (pick it up in the yellow pages) would drive up breaking/entering/burglary (regardless of how good the securtity is or could get) for criminal purposes (put the loot on the black market overnight) 100% at least? And, in the process, substantially aggravate/compound gun crime to no end within a very small period of time? Just some small practical considerations, I'm lacking the time to add more (and don't want to reply O/T much more in here) How's that read now?

VINDICATION! FINALLY! Couldn't agree more. Erm... does this make me posh?

Dunno. Considering the lethality reported, I assumed -probably incorrectly- that it was a Mauser variant (7x or 8x 57). More common for scoped hunting rifles than .22 ...at least where I'm from There are many very varied sporting pursuits involving firearms, not that many of which (when considering all variants) involve shooting at living and breathing things. In the end, it's a test of skill. To the same extent as say, archery (to use a direct analogy), pétanque or any other game of skill. You're in danger of showing up your narrow mind, spinac But we are digressing and off-topic. Apologies.

spinac, I know of no other place in the EU, where shotgun/firearm ownership is as draconian as the UK. There is no such thing as "free access to a weapon of choice" in the UK and the permission (to own a shotgun, never mind a rifled firearm) is (i) subject to grant by an independent third party (Police Super) in the first place, and (ii) revokable. I will generally echo and support Dozy's post above, right on the money. To be fair, as regards rifled firearms (i.e. the scoped rifle in the recent rampage), with the possible exception of venison/deer, I don't think there is any free (non-managed) game big enough left in the UK for that kind of ammunition/requirement, so they could be fair game. Then again, left with shotguns only, one could just use a Brenneke instead of grain (that is...if Brenneke slugs are legal in the UK ). Same result, but more messy.

Funnily enough, I was reading that very review literally 5 minutes ago (had been neglecting my RegHardware updates lately, too busy!) I've been itching to retake the NAS plunge, so can I ask you, at the coalface: is it as good as they make it out to be?

Yeah...I LOL'd

It's the nature of the Beast, Steve. I believe that few businesses have yet realised the potential of the social side of the Interweb, never mind incorporated it within their marketing/PR/Comms strategy. Most will get to it in a few years' time, dragged along as they were with "getting a website" not so very long ago. I also believe that there is going to be a faster-and-faster uptake of new internet/ICT-based communication models, as older-generation business types pass the hand to younger-generation, "born-with-the-Web" business types. The mantra that "people do business with people" is very true, hence the ever-growing success and multiplication of face-to-face networking events, and forum activity, to me, is sort of a virtual networking event, advantageously offering a permanent record of the event. A possible limitation is that this forum is geo-centric, whereas most 'serious' and well-attended business forums are still activity-centric, so I suppose SF interaction (relative to other forums and/or communication channels) will depend on how much time/resources a business has available for social media interaction as a whole, and their market approach (relevance of catchment area). I cannot yet think of any effective strategy to bring in more contributors, however this section is well moderated, so maybe let "online word of mouth" work its magic over time? Looks to be working, from some replies in the thread

The worst things I've ever done when I was drunk... ...I managed to do them all at once on my stag night, and they involved, miscellaneously, a rather aggressive stripper with a whip and (later) a bucket of ice, a basketball net and partial nakedness combined with many enthusiastic (commiserating?) ladies with very bright lipstick, regurgitation against a most inappropriate support (a restaurant display window with romantic diners on the other side ) and entry refused at the Leadmill (which takes some doing, or so I was told at the time...well, a bit later on that is). Ferris Bueller, eat your heart out

And can I ask, besides RGB, what these might be?

I'm in support of the 'depends on your eyesight, screen size and viewing distance in equal measure' position. 3D doesn't work one bit for me (cinema, IMAX or otherwise, TV etc.), due to my eyesight. I missed the VHS-to-DVD transition, having been priviledged enough to enjoy Laserdiscs on a 37" 4:3 CRT (and occasionally through a RGB projector) since the late 80s. Still have them and the Pioneer player, and not getting parted for love or money. IMHO, the viewing distance (relative to screen size: from eyes to screen) and TV position (relative to eyesight level: middle or so of screen level with eyes) is what matters most to appreciate image quality, irrespective of whether it's SD or HD.

Do you have kid(s), Tony? No parents should ever outlive their child(ren), so I think I'll pass on the offer. 'Ta all the same, t'was throughful

Keep your chin up. Some years ago, both my wife and I lost our jobs within a month of one another. Due to the circumstances at the time, no help to be had from anyone/anywhere/any organisation + very difficult skills to market (very very small market) and circumstances made us nigh-on unemployable (wasn't quite black-balled, but near as dammit). And same situation, what with bills, mortgages, etc. Then a couple of weeks into it, my Mrs tells me we are expecting. We talked it through, supported one another through it, and came through, stronger than ever. You at least still have one income between yourselves, so it could have been worse. The trick is... there is no trick: just don't let it get to you, take all things one at a time/don't panic, be understanding with your Mrs and bite your lip as often as needed, put your head down and just get on with it. Make a plan with timescales, take it on as a project - structure your life and attitude so that, even if and when you face rejection in the job market, it is treated as a learning opportunity that you can build upon. Consider reusing or developing a skill you learned and enjoy (e.g. in your leisure) but haven't considered using in the workplace yet, to start a small business/be self-employed. Or just sod it all and take the opportunity to emigrate, if you can market your life/job skills overseas. Lots of platitudes there, but been-there-done-that, and what you need most right now is encouraging. So trust yourself and get to it!

I also seem to recall improvised piers made of trucks... ah, found a photo, here. The famed British ingeniosity at work under the harshest of conditions!

back to you later on that, am lacking the time presently I don't generally do the 'here's my links to back my opinion', especially when I post based on direct, personal experience relevant to the context. I'm never desperate to prove a point or 'win' an argument online (unless it's really fun to do so, such as recently with (or rather against ) some BNP poster or other...can't remember who or when, soz). That you don't take it as gospel is entirely expected and your prerogative, yet still doesn't mean I'm going to go out of my way to make or prove a point (it's an opinion based on personal experience, nothing more - what do want? scans of P45s, French tax returns or something ) I don't believe I stated that you were wrong, did I? I provided some additional or contrasting context, which does not fully toe the line with your posts. Where did I say I was well paid If that was in relation to the civil service posting, then that was during my national service, and I was paid the princely sum of...€57 a month, being a second class soldier (when I should have been paid at least €35k for the actual position according to the civil service scale). Again, it is not an argument, it is an opinion.

I don't believe in wasting my time answering that, on the evidence of your reply posts to truconstruct's numerical evidence (in the context of your own discussion with truconstruct). BTWm, I'm half-French half-Italian, so would know a little bit about this 'stereotyping' Many many more than that figure between them. Ex-tax inspectors being the first among them (the vast majority serving the minimal 15 years in civil service then retiring and becoming tax advisors to the super-rich overnight - literally!). Seen that at the coal face, during my stint in the French civil service (highest level in regional executive). You may have missed the fact that France went through its own Labour phase (and accompanying taxation policies) since 1981, generating the sort of brain drain and tax exiling not seen by the country since before WWII. Socialism (after a fashion), spending like it's going out of fashion, an economical bust and the jobs/financial/taxation/policies aftermath...seen it all happen before elsewhere, Wildcat.

Is a fair point but, to countenance and put your earlier Helmand point in context, look how well it worked against the Iraqis the second time around. Afghanistan is, like Vietnam was, essentially guerilla warfare within an allied (but self-incapable) country, fundamentally incompatible with the operational concept of Blitzkrieg (or modern equivalent). Harleyman had a point, just (possibly) an unfortunate choice of words.

Grabs popcorn, sits and patiently waits for Titanic99, wednesday1 and consorts to come and join the party

Just stating the obvious, TBH. Whatever the country, people generally don't mind being taxed, but they do mind feeling taxed too much. I've always been astounded at routine overspend on civil service projects (I have direct knowledge and some past personal experience of such projects in France, Luxembourg, Ireland and the UK). Often to such an extent, as would never happen in the private sector in a million years. It's just too easy when it's not your/your shareholders' money, with armies of self-interested consultants stroking your ego and making you feel big and clever about it. I've long advocated personal responsibility and accountability at all levels of any civil service, at least to the same extent as in the private sector: there shouldn't be any more job security in the civil service than in the private sector, and just as expedious an end to a career in cases of utter professional failure, such as were witnessed e.g. in the context of the NHS ICT refresh (but to name a high-profile one - there are countless others).

Funnily enough, while on the subject of tax planning, it appears to me (when looking at Googled taxation league tables and comparing same with personal experience) that tax planning is most active in those countries in the bottom half of tables (UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain... Tax evasion is a national sport in at least France and Italy). Which, with the possible exception of Germany, are also those wherein the civil service is usually perceived as least efficient. The possible message (this is empirical, after all)? The better a government is perceived to use tax revenue, the less tax evasion and/or avoidance there should be to fight off. Stands to reason, really.

Your broad-brush assessment appears somewhat incorrect. E.g. as seen in Luxembourg*, Switzerland, South Korea, UAE, Ireland*, Japan* and some US States (*at times depending on marital/familial situation) , besides others countries (depends on whether you class China, Brazil and Argentina as 3rd world or not...I wouldn't). In terms of taxation (personal + corporate), the UK is usually about middle of the road in league tables. It's not how high (or low) you tax, it's how well the tax revenue is used. High tax revenues could be used well or bad, and reciprocally for smaller tax revenue. Depends on too many factors to generalise accurately, such as country size, history, economical policy, population size and needs, number of white elephants, etc. Swings and roundabouts, really.

That's more-or-less good enough to neutralise (by task overload) a country's CCC system, but not to take a country over. Neither is air power alone, it's only good for achieving air supremacy first, then neutralising any remaining ground opposition through CAS. You need ground-pounders to take a country over. chemist1's idea of using containers is nicely left-field, but unlikely to get anywhere as operational security would be compromised too early. A 21st century interpretation of Blietzkrieg, to my mind, would combine closely integrated and synchronised electronic, commercial and military warfare. Think the firesale of Die Hard 4, combined with an engineered financial crash, combined with surgical/tactical strikes on CCC infrastructure, military airfields and armor laagers, within 48 hours or less.

This one trumps it, I think. If Carlsberg made car chases... Unfortunately, neither are part of a movie, so off-competition in this thread.