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Search: Posts Made By: Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 28 Aug 2010, 22:19
Replies: 28
Views: 7,300
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Return of a Working Class Hero

They all hated and blamed Rushton. Yet if they had been in Rushton's place they would have been compelled to adopt the same methods, or become bankrupt: for it is obvious that the only way to compete...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Mar 2009, 20:39
Replies: 15
Views: 23,106
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: william hill - roulette

Don't be silly.

Doubling up after losing at Russian roulette isn't a sustainable gaming strategy.
Forum: General Discussions 13 Feb 2008, 19:59
Replies: 55
Views: 9,385
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Tramps Tramps Tramps

Leaving aside the point about buskers this is a confusing statement. Being homeless means different things depending on the context. If you are kipping on someone's sofa temporarily but they've made...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Jan 2008, 01:53
Replies: 51
Views: 8,012
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: For all those outthere wanting to hear something about brazil

You are wrong. But feel free to reduce everything down to a simplistic for/against argument if you want. I do the same all the time.


I think you seem to have discovered that life is not always...
Forum: General Discussions 25 Jan 2008, 04:38
Replies: 51
Views: 8,012
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: For all those outthere wanting to hear something about brazil

Do not despair muslim. Despite the horrors you face it could be worse.

I mean...despite the dictatorship, the Brazilian upper/middle classes still enjoy vastly superior standards of living to the...
Forum: General Discussions 25 Jan 2008, 00:34
Replies: 47
Views: 6,308
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A question about morality

An embryo can't be easily sustained without being permanently linked to a woman.

In practical terms, this is about a woman's right to choose. The problem with rights for embryos is that you'd be...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Jan 2008, 12:37
Replies: 27
Views: 5,715
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: MM's Mid-Life Crisis

I'm on a word for the day email-list for retarded expressions, phrases, etc. A month before my 25th birthday (oh so many years ago) the word-phrase for the day was :

3. quarter life crisis
The...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Jan 2008, 22:48
Replies: 31
Views: 4,892
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Personal Territory

To echo some of the sentiments in this thread :
I consider myself an adequate typist. I have used a QWERTY keyboard since the age of five or six, and while I am certainly not a professional typist,...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Jan 2008, 22:27
Replies: 37
Views: 4,639
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Computer Network Question

I'd personally avoid wireless if it's possible.

Not because they'll irradiate your genitalia and lead to your children having the power to-do-anything-a-spider-can, but they just seem to have...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jan 2008, 20:40
Replies: 10
Views: 2,991
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Revealed: the real reasons why people have sex

The Radio 4 program 'More or Less' (a light-weight show on statistics in the media) did a bit on a scientific study which looked at obesity and health risks during pregnancy.

I won't rehash the...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jan 2008, 19:54
Replies: 11
Views: 3,297
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: They didn't study!

I don't know/care enough to work out why (the engineer in the question)'s suggestion was stupid but even assuming it was outrageously so, it seems odd he'd get fired for it? No written warning? No...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jan 2008, 19:49
Replies: 89
Views: 12,546
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best rep thread ever

Also, while we're ****ing around with things, let us rep the same posters more often. I don't give a shit if it makes circle jerks more likely, it's absurd that I'm (for instance) pushed towards...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jan 2008, 19:40
Replies: 89
Views: 12,546
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best rep thread ever

But Yahwe's opinions were already out in the open. He's written several thousand posts with his name on them, it's hardly like a new mystery account who is randomly slandering you, nor is it someone...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Dec 2007, 14:12
Replies: 26
Views: 5,637
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Petrol prices and how i started to question the car

Higher energy costs are a good thing in the long run, so long as they are managed properly to stop the effects completely crushing any particular set of individuals. I suspect that in the longer...
Forum: General Discussions 20 Dec 2007, 01:27
Replies: 10
Views: 2,802
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Self-Definition

Didn't Deffeh make a very similar post to this once about pigeon holing? Or is that the point that's being made here?

How you see yourself is constructed by interaction with the world every day....
Forum: General Discussions 14 Dec 2007, 21:00
Replies: 14
Views: 3,329
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Polyphasis sleep or Uberman sleep

This is probably true, but not in the way they might mean it. Most of the redundant time involved in sleep is the act of going to sleep, which (especially if you've got things on your mind) can take...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Dec 2007, 20:32
Replies: 12
Views: 3,090
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: since i know there are a few discworld fans in pa

If you're going to post some sort of "I'm leaving..." thread then his is a good example of how it should be done.

Although personally, I would have started it with "I forgot to post this earlier"...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Dec 2007, 18:43
Replies: 12
Views: 3,108
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Dead Canoist story

Well, true but I'm not sure what else would be any better. Most answers are going to be pretty easy to disprove or be stupidly elaborate and unbelievable. You know the sort of thing, you went to...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Dec 2007, 18:11
Replies: 23
Views: 4,519
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Fcuknig Cheeky Bitch

Not having met the person I'm not going to defend them, but I'd certainly keep an open mind for something like that. True, it may be that she's just rude, or worse - that she actively hates you and...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Nov 2007, 01:35
Replies: 15
Views: 3,763
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Law Question

Assuming that blog is actually Dave Gorman (I've not checked), I suspect the difference here is that your friends weren't minor celebrities.

If I was the Inspector (or whomever it is responds to...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Nov 2007, 22:21
Replies: 15
Views: 3,763
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Law Question

Can there even be a proper answer to that question?

Could the police have physically arrested him? Yes.
Would have any charges been placed against him? Almost certainly not.
Were the cops...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Nov 2007, 11:40
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

Agreed. It took me a while to properly appreciate how the system worked or the impact it had on individual behaviour. I think I finally "got it" when reading a thread where someone was arguing that...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Nov 2007, 21:13
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

What is the specific source for the £100,000 (or more) income? The BBC link you gave at the start of the thread quotes a policeman saying the site was "extremely lucrative" but I'm not sure what that...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 23:18
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

I can assure you my arse making started more than five years ago.
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 23:16
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

But this is exactly what people do imply in such discussions. If we're not concerned with the social reward of effort, only of perceived value / enjoyment obtained, then why this oblgiation...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 22:45
Replies: 43
Views: 5,899
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Copyrighted material

My predictions.

1. There will be more private support for the arts in direct subsidies. This will either be in the form of private patronage (once you're bored with football teams, why not...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 00:45
Replies: 30
Views: 5,290
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: One for the rich people

I'm not sure you can make comparisons across industries like that without knowing the full details. Jobs like stock brokers or lawyers could have rewards which are heavily weighted towards bonuses...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 00:28
Replies: 30
Views: 5,290
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: One for the rich people

Person1 : "Hey, would you like to go out for a drink? "
Person2 : "Sure."
Person1: "OK, cool."
<a little while later, in the pub>
Person1 : "Well...your round then."
Person2 : "Ok....how much...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Oct 2007, 00:02
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

Let's take the GD example. You're saying that a retrospective request for payment would be unreasonable. OK, I dig that. So henceforth please note : Anyone who reads posts made by myself after this...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Oct 2007, 23:49
Replies: 30
Views: 5,290
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: One for the rich people

Well, it does seem kind of rude to ask directly, even with people I know well I tend to ask indirectly when I do.

Aside from cultural taboo, I don't see why people should be ashamed particularly....
Forum: General Discussions 24 Oct 2007, 23:38
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

But if you did, then that would mean you should be paid? If I expect to get paid for my efforts here on GD (or indeed, for simply being awesome) - are you seriously advocating that this means I...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Oct 2007, 08:06
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

If I made my money from people smuggling I guess that might give me an added insight/empathy to snakehead gangs, but I doubt that would substantially change the debate.

And I'm certainly paid on...
Forum: General Discussions 23 Oct 2007, 22:59
Replies: 178
Views: 22,915
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: OiNK closed down...

Really? It's always seen quite a strange notion to me. If you produce something cool and other people enjoy it, that to me seems a good day. Sure, it'd be an even better day if they deposited money...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Oct 2007, 21:14
Replies: 6
Views: 2,582
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A funny link (read: largely contentless) thread

If it's the guy I think it is, he sounded a bit like what I imagine GD to sound like, except perhaps not as intellectual.
Forum: General Discussions 15 Oct 2007, 18:20
Replies: 69
Views: 12,789
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Desert Island Discs

whut?

Anyway...

1. VNV Nation - Beloved
2. Billy Bragg - Waiting for the Great Leap Forward
3. NOFX - The Decline
4. Eels - Flower
5. Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries
6. Rancid - Time Bomb
Forum: General Discussions 14 Oct 2007, 12:57
Replies: 11
Views: 3,201
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Radiohead

Of course there's some pragmatic difference, but it could be another indicator of the long term decline of the importance of these institutions. Think of it in these terms...

The "Big Four" are...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Oct 2007, 21:34
Replies: 30
Views: 5,290
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: One for the rich people

It's slightly less awkward after you've finished degrading them in whichever fashion you're into.
Forum: General Discussions 8 Oct 2007, 21:01
Replies: 112
Views: 14,813
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Its things like this that make me wish i was still a student :(

Hmmm, I'm not sure anyone said this as a general point. I said that for what a lot of people use Word for, they'd be better off getting a DTP program. I already said Word was reasonably good for...
Forum: General Discussions 5 Oct 2007, 07:03
Replies: 17
Views: 4,366
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 22 year old guy having sex with a 16 year old girl

Is nothing sacred to you people? Even something wonderful like sex with teenage girls has to be cheapened by this sort of thing? You sicken me.

(The only question is whether you'll be banned and...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Oct 2007, 22:43
Replies: 112
Views: 14,813
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Its things like this that make me wish i was still a student :(

Beyond a certain (quite low) point, Access is much harder to use anyway in my experience. I've been maintaining db's for a while now and of the wide range of queries I am faced with,the "Hey can you...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Oct 2007, 19:21
Replies: 112
Views: 14,813
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Its things like this that make me wish i was still a student :(

As much as I dislike Access, I'd dispute this point. Lots of tasks benefit from a relational model, which tends to be easier to setup in Access. Although it's still evil, obviously.
Forum: General Discussions 1 Oct 2007, 22:52
Replies: 112
Views: 14,813
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Its things like this that make me wish i was still a student :(

Assuming this quesiton isn't rhetorical, I have (although not collabaratively, which I'm guessing is half the point). It's all just not quite good enough to use for "serious" use, although I'm not...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Oct 2007, 03:19
Replies: 112
Views: 14,813
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Its things like this that make me wish i was still a student :(

I thought this was going to be a thread about binge drinking or lax sexual morals among female students. But instead it's a good deal on Office? WTF is wrong with you?

Having said that, if you...
Forum: General Discussions 29 Sep 2007, 12:57
Replies: 32
Views: 4,798
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Worst Birhday ever

No, economic growth. And not just the GDP doubled sort of stuff - actual advancement in living standards. OK, it's all subjective - but I'm not sure there's much on the horizon for Europeans that...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Sep 2007, 01:47
Replies: 19
Views: 4,423
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Snap uk election?

I would hope (perhaps naively) that Gordon Brown's political intentions are not primarily shaped by a desire to score points over the current walking Zombie that is the Tory Party. If he believes in...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Sep 2007, 00:36
Replies: 19
Views: 4,423
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Snap uk election?

Quoted for astonishment.

But really? I'd be surprised if (beyond gimmicks) we see anything even marginally interesting from them. The flat rate tax thing might have been a curiousity, but I...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Sep 2007, 00:18
Replies: 32
Views: 4,798
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Worst Birhday ever

Well, Africa tends to do better than Europe in those optimism polls, which is justified in the sense that Africa is much more likely to grow than Europe, as far as that's meaningful. And if you've...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Sep 2007, 23:02
Replies: 19
Views: 4,423
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Snap uk election?

It was annoying me slightly so I deleted it. I'll be doing another one shortly.

The posts themselves I've backed up in eight zillion places, the content will outlive me by several centuries I...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Sep 2007, 22:01
Replies: 19
Views: 4,423
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Snap uk election?

The queen has to agree to dissolve parliament I guess. But it's theoretically about minimum 2-3 weeks from then to polling day. But I'm assuming the machinery of government would want more notice...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Sep 2007, 18:44
Replies: 20
Views: 4,320
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The elixir of life!

A thread commenting on someone elses discovery of such a gag in the BBC news headlines wasn't necessarily candidate for thread of the year*.

* = So help me god I so wanted to write "wasn't...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Sep 2007, 12:45
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

I still think you're underestimating the difficulties experienced by those trying to undertake social research among disadvantaged groups. When our arrears officers are interviewing people to find...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Sep 2007, 02:18
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Parents who really didn't care about their kids though, the sort of people whose kids end up on local authority "at risk registers" wouldn't be willing (or able) to participate in this sort of study....
Forum: General Discussions 20 Sep 2007, 17:47
Replies: 23
Views: 4,789
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A query

For most day to day actions I'm not sure an individuals stated motivations are that important (since they often seem to retrospective rationalisations of behaviour which relatively little thought...
Forum: General Discussions 19 Sep 2007, 18:42
Replies: 23
Views: 4,789
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A query

No, it's a side effect of being funny.
Forum: General Discussions 18 Sep 2007, 09:23
Replies: 12
Views: 3,896
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The end of Belgium?!

This topic doesn't really deserve an exclamation mark.
Forum: General Discussions 17 Sep 2007, 19:04
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

I don't think he was suggesting it was - he was suggesting activities which would increase the risk of ill-health, not guarantee it. But if the choice was between my child having a heart condition...
Forum: General Discussions 17 Sep 2007, 18:58
Replies: 20
Views: 4,320
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The elixir of life!

It depends on what you mean by "hit". If you're doing a line of cocaine which is one gram large then you probably are a hardcore mother****er. I think most estimates put a gram at between 12 and 20...
Forum: General Discussions 17 Sep 2007, 17:10
Replies: 20
Views: 4,320
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The elixir of life!

This may be true in parts of London and some of the surrounding boroughs, but I'm not sure that there's hordes of private school kids somehow propping the drugs market of Newcastle or similar.
...
Forum: General Discussions 15 Sep 2007, 10:03
Replies: 79
Views: 9,649
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: West Virginia and Homophobia

Kind of like how you have to have read The Silmarillion to really understand Sauron.
Forum: General Discussions 13 Sep 2007, 22:39
Replies: 20
Views: 4,320
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The elixir of life!

Even at £30 a gram, I'm still not sure where "kids" are getting hold of that much of the stuff. I'm a bit of a waster I admit, but six years after graduating I'm still not sure I could afford much of...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Sep 2007, 22:36
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Every non-trivial post involves philosophy on some level - it's more an issue of how self-conscious someone is when doing it. People can have a discussion about form and substance without necessarily...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Sep 2007, 22:19
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

It's not bad (well, depending on the circumstances). What's bad is making a trade deal with someone and then acting like it's some amazing charitable act which you're only doing out of the love of...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Sep 2007, 22:15
Replies: 11
Views: 3,297
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Why?

Is it supposed to be a planet surrounded by some sort of red glow, or is that a Roman soldiers hat the wrong way round?
Forum: General Discussions 11 Sep 2007, 15:56
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

I actually started writing that post ages before seeing your post, but then got sidetracked and forgot to hit submit. So it's only a coincdental burn.
Forum: General Discussions 11 Sep 2007, 15:43
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

Upon reflection, programming/scripting should be taught in some form (probably indirectly) so people learn to type.
Forum: General Discussions 9 Sep 2007, 15:53
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

Because, in general you will be able to understand (and ultimately assist with) the problems of your immediate neighbours more than the problems of someone thousands of miles away.

edit : There...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Sep 2007, 15:40
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

The point was about Europeans giving assistance to Africa. Horn said, "what, even like the red cross". I was originally going to post "The Red Cross isn't a European organisation." but I thought that...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Sep 2007, 21:02
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

The Red Cross isn't an organisanisation per se, since there's lots of national versions (especially if you include the Red Crescents or equivalents). As a movement, I don't think it can really be...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Sep 2007, 09:16
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

I've read almost nothing about this story so have no idea how justified the above is, but I do sometimes wonder how horrific I (or most of the people I know) would appear if put under the media spot...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Sep 2007, 23:52
Replies: 20
Views: 3,712
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The GD pyramid

OK!

1. Physiological needs.
2. A degree of freedom in my daily dealings.
3. Self-image.
4. Safety. (including the loyalty of at least some people)
5. An uneven sense of respect from others. ...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Sep 2007, 23:45
Replies: 20
Views: 3,712
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The GD pyramid

It may be a truism, but is it actually true? I'm not sure I'd remember the biography about the poet who sat at home most nights drinking tea.

Leaving that aside I think Maslow was writing about...
Forum: General Discussions 31 Aug 2007, 13:08
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Without wishing to sound nihilistic, so what? The vast majority of people who get shit faced in their youth still seem to be able to pass exames, get jobs, raise families, etc. Sure, perhaps they...
Forum: General Discussions 29 Aug 2007, 00:01
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

True, but then I don't see how it'd be of any use at all since you can buy those effectively anonymously (I think, I've not tried to buy one) and transfer (i.e. simply hand it to them) them to...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Aug 2007, 22:35
Replies: 7
Views: 3,556
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Immobilisers and insurance

Just send the insurance company a letter stating that you have whatever vehicle (I presume you prove this elsewhere in your documents) and that you've confirmed with Thatcham that this vehicle has...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Aug 2007, 22:22
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Although the two are not directly comparable, the UK's debt problem isn't much better than it's drinking problem. I'm not sure that encouraging we all grow to depend on expensive unsecure forms of...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Aug 2007, 20:03
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

When we used to go out at 17 or so, fights would occur almost every single time. We weren't troublemakers, it's just drink+group mentality+teen frustration would encounter some trivial...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Aug 2007, 19:36
Replies: 30
Views: 8,821
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The BBC strikes out against stupid conceptions of property

But ownership isn't a straight-forward concept. Housing provides the example where someone might refer to a house as theirs, even if :
- they were a tenant and didn't own the property but did have...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Aug 2007, 19:14
Replies: 48
Views: 8,253
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Accommodation

I'm not really sure. Perhaps it's just vaguely more culturally significant than other similar areas.
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 03:03
Replies: 48
Views: 8,253
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Accommodation

New Cross is definitely a dive, although you're not that likely to be stabbed there (compared to some). There's a reasonably large student population in the area, and a fair selection of places to...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 02:56
Replies: 6
Views: 2,791
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Those crazy Americans

A lot of people are injured in firearm accidents though, or in shootings where the owner is not the shooter. There are millions of guns which are old and potentially dangerous (erm, you know what I...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 02:44
Replies: 42
Views: 6,727
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Reading 2007

Yeah, I think I read the same thing. It was in the same Readers Digest which covered the whole "black-people-eat-fried-chicken/lesbians-wear-dungaries/jews-are-mean-with-money" thing.

p.s. I'm...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 02:31
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Of course, but that wasn't really my point. Lots of behaviours might be a response to depression - some people might drink too much, others might have frequent sexual encounters with one-night...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 01:55
Replies: 30
Views: 8,821
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The BBC strikes out against stupid conceptions of property

"Encroach" is a loaded term though. The ethics of private property only make sense because either :
i) A private thing's (be it wireless internet, or a road or similar) value/utility would be...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Aug 2007, 00:52
Replies: 24
Views: 4,787
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Ze Art

I can't imagine a situation where a distinction between art and non-art would make any real practical sense. Trying to elevate one set of cultural artefacts above another (on non-subjective grounds)...
Forum: General Discussions 23 Aug 2007, 22:42
Replies: 30
Views: 8,821
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The BBC strikes out against stupid conceptions of property

This is true, although analogies seem like the only practical way to understand certain things (I am speaking for myself here). To use an analogy based on your point on analogies - if I learn a new...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 13:51
Replies: 24
Views: 3,736
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Success

Fortunately no-one is saying I'm anything but a dreadful human being.

I'm not sure what you explicitly mean by Equality and Stability in this context, but those are very very basic morals. To...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 13:25
Replies: 24
Views: 3,736
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Success

I've not seen every episode I admit but they seem to be self-absorbed, shallow products of atomised urban life. One of them is some sort of professor or something and yet their conversations are...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 13:16
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

None of the quotes you reproduce even imply that was my point. Education should NOT be about preparing for jobs. I do mention jobs in my posts but they are mainly analogies or to simply show that...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 12:57
Replies: 24
Views: 3,736
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Success

But the vast majority of people don't end up with AIDS diseased needles in their arm, so to assume that would occur would be silly. And you'd have a degree of choice along the lines anyway. Most...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 12:26
Replies: 97
Views: 13,003
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Stupid police officers and the nonsensical comments they make

Or maybe because they find it fun? Not everything you choose not do can't merely be dismissed as escapism in others. Hey - why do people play computer games? Must be because they're afraid of real...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 12:12
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

Making someone aware of it's capabilities in (for example) a voluntary Computer Club type affair is a bit different from "forcing someone to learn it" which is what I was talking about.


Did I...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 11:39
Replies: 57
Views: 7,233
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Bumming smokes

I find my commute (which doesn't involve being crammed into anywhere) is the perfect window for organisational stuff - to do lists, quick budgets, drafting an agenda for early morning meetings and so...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 11:18
Replies: 48
Views: 8,253
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Accommidation

In a lot of jobs (a depressing amount, actually) there's almost no interest shown in what your degree is in - you just need to have one. Having a Masters (in literally anything) will aid job...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Aug 2007, 11:10
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

Sitting down and trying to force someone to learn something like Excel is an utterly absurd exercise. If they're not interested - why bother? I find it difficult to believe that many people will...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Aug 2007, 23:37
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

Yeah, a few times over the last couple of years. In fact a little over a week ago I was involved in an interview panel and selection process for a position. One of the applicants mentioned on-line...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Aug 2007, 11:37
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

This is a dreadfully weak argument. They'd apply the same way any other "grown up" applies for a job. Putting an application together which outlines their qualities (or experiences) which makes them...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Aug 2007, 01:54
Replies: 10
Views: 2,814
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Get those terrorists!

Fortunately the government have done enormous damage to their credibility on the "terrorism" issue generally. Even among my conservative colleagues, I've not encountered anyone who takes the...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Aug 2007, 01:44
Replies: 168
Views: 21,151
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What Should be Taught in Schools?

Broadly agree with some of Nod's points.

I'd aim to entirely phase out the compulsory element of education over time, but gradually enough to see the impact this had.

From what I have seen and...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Aug 2007, 19:37
Replies: 4
Views: 2,482
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Economics and politics

Agreed. But people should be looking for a broad education irrespective of what their degree is in. I'm less sure whether "student of discipline x does something stupid" syndrome says much about...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Aug 2007, 12:37
Replies: 10
Views: 2,814
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Get those terrorists!

The problem with this is that in all modern countries (even your own) large sections of the citizenry are directly involved with, or recepients of, the "routine of government".

If you had a...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Aug 2007, 11:57
Replies: 10
Views: 2,814
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Get those terrorists!

I'm not sure it is a particularly good threat. Who is it frightening? Crusty anarchist types who don't have a job? Occupational hazard for them. Less crusty but still hardcore protestor types - like...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Aug 2007, 23:00
Replies: 12
Views: 3,071
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Surfing teh interweb

I think in this case it's probably because ASG would have read that story and associated it mentally with evictions. But the story doesn't mention evictions at all (they're not the same thing per se)...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Aug 2007, 16:06
Replies: 12
Views: 3,071
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Surfing teh interweb

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6929361.stm ?

(news google, search for "bbc repossessions")
Forum: General Discussions 6 Aug 2007, 09:12
Replies: 17
Views: 3,317
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Group Assessment

Depends what turns you on man.

I personally find the practical application of policy (and thus in turn, political philosophy itself) ultimately quite interesting. The attitudes of the street...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Aug 2007, 09:05
Replies: 39
Views: 3,963
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: In the wake of recent events

I generally comment by saying "I'm just going to find my friends, I'll speak to you later". And I usually do end up speaking to them later, but that doesn't necessarily imply causation.
Untrue, I'm...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Aug 2007, 08:42
Replies: 17
Views: 3,317
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Group Assessment

Takeover by whom?

Or do they mean the mergers that have taken place in the sector?

You should read this (http://society.guardian.co.uk/housing/story/0,,1470563,00.html) if you've not done so...
Forum: General Discussions 5 Aug 2007, 21:37
Replies: 64
Views: 8,825
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh. My. God.

The new interface isn't that different from XP imho. The changes in conventions (e.g. making "Documents and Settings" into "Users" and simplifying the folders which sit under it) have all largely...
Forum: General Discussions 5 Aug 2007, 20:26
Replies: 39
Views: 3,963
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: In the wake of recent events

Bribing is an unnecessarily loaded term I think. I don't go to pubs that often, but if I'm in a club I'm relatively undiscriminating in who I buy drinks for (if I'm getting one anyway). If I buy a...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Jul 2007, 07:40
Replies: 16
Views: 2,706
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Coconuts

The street signs in Brick Lane are already written in Bengali (/Sylheti) as well as English and in parts of soho there's a few signs in Cantonese. I'm not sure what the problem would be with more...
Forum: General Discussions 23 Jul 2007, 23:52
Replies: 42
Views: 5,557
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: So what do you do exactly?

This man is wise and you should listen to him. And it applies to most social situations too - if you go to a party and find yourself thinking "Hmm, what should I do next" then you're probably not...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Jul 2007, 22:23
Replies: 10
Views: 2,759
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Philosophical Question

The only sensible answer I can think of is that it depends. On you, the subject matter, why you're doing this, the philosopher in question, etc.

Firstly, I would never try to read all of author...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jul 2007, 20:36
Replies: 12
Views: 2,611
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Loans

I suspect most companies believe they can run the service more efficiently than the government while simultaneously secure some sort of guarantee that if it all goes pear shaped they're protected. In...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jul 2007, 03:31
Replies: 12
Views: 2,611
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Loans

Since the debt itself (or my bit of it was, anyway) was sold off years ago, I did wonder sometimes why the government administered it tbh. It's not like the private sector doesn't have experience...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jul 2007, 01:42
Replies: 13
Views: 2,823
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Consumer Query

Probably not, I'm a bit like that with some things. I like the fact that with email it's recorded (who received it, when it was received, you can search back and all that) and as I have no memory I...
Forum: General Discussions 11 Jul 2007, 17:06
Replies: 13
Views: 2,823
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Consumer Query

It doesn't really matter if it's got an official warranty or not. It needs to be fit for purpose and presumably a phone charger is supposed to last longer than that. Who did you buy it off on Ebay?...
Forum: General Discussions 11 Jul 2007, 13:52
Replies: 16
Views: 3,463
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I loved reading this article

On more than one occassion I've overheard two girls talking and one will say to the other something along the lines of "What about this guy" - vaguely gesturing in my direction. And the other...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Jul 2007, 14:06
Replies: 20
Views: 2,988
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: iphone

A friend has one, it's pretty cool although I've not used it extensively. Apparently the GPS features aren't as good as in the US where it uses mobile phone tower data to work out very roughly where...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jul 2007, 23:53
Replies: 20
Views: 2,988
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: iphone

I guess. I've got used to using one these days, and can "type" reasonably, but it's obviously still annoying. Better interfaces and tweaked auto-complete stuff makes the world of difference....
Forum: General Discussions 5 Jul 2007, 21:09
Replies: 20
Views: 2,988
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: iphone

Why don't they supply a stylus?
Forum: General Discussions 5 Jul 2007, 20:39
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

Sure. And I don't think you'll find many people (here, I mean) who seriously think quotas (especially something like a 40% quota you mention) is any way a good idea. My objection is to the your...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Jul 2007, 15:59
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

You're claiming it's iminent. And I've said several times I don't agree with quotas you idiot - I am merely pointing out that a quota is no evidence at all of a matriarchal order (impending or...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Jul 2007, 07:53
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

As I said in my last post I am against quotas anyway, but no - simply because there's a 60/40 split in admissions doesn't justify quotas by themselves. They are generally justiifed where there is...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jul 2007, 22:59
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

I think there's some kind of UN statement against conscripting women (that may be crap though) and I think Israel is the only country that does. That doesn't lessen your point however.

How can...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jul 2007, 19:39
Replies: 18
Views: 3,900
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Job Interview

I'd have mentioned diversity in some fashion. Obviously not everyone is the same, and not everyone is going to roll around laughing when you start the paedo jokes. So listening to people is an...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jul 2007, 19:10
Replies: 51
Views: 8,089
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A moral question

I suppose it varies from country to country, but the only government employees I'm aware that enjoy consistently high levels of public support are things like nurses, firemen, teachers, etc. The only...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Jun 2007, 17:34
Replies: 51
Views: 8,089
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A moral question

I was obviously unclear. : What do you mean by save a life?

e.g. I have cancer, I am about to die. Doctor tries an experimental treatment, I am kept alive for another ten seconds. Has he saved my...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Jun 2007, 12:23
Replies: 51
Views: 8,089
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A moral question

What do you mean by "save a life"? For how long?

If it would buy someone an extra day, then I'd presumably try to maximise the quality/quantity of these persons lives with all my income, and then...
Forum: Programming and Discussion 28 Jun 2007, 08:50
Replies: 20
Views: 7,899
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: PHP IDEs

As a half way house, get a decent text editor with syntax highlighting, etc. I personally use Crimson Editor (http://www.crimsoneditor.com) even though there's nothing that special about it, and it...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Jun 2007, 00:16
Replies: 39
Views: 6,416
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Poland's fairly brilliant EU negotiating strategy

The EU treaties may not (although the Copenhagen treaty does mention the prerequisites for any European country wishing to join). But I'd suggest that it's an assumed - in the same way that the UN...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Jun 2007, 17:40
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

I hear this quite a bit, but we must be building the worst matriarchy ever encountered.

To take a few examples (I am using my own country as an example, I appreciate things may be different...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Jun 2007, 17:18
Replies: 46
Views: 5,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rape sentence too 'lenient'

That was my first thought.

The main thing I find slightly worrying about this report (and it's probably just selective coverage by the Beeb, rather than anything the judge has/hasn't said) is the...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Jun 2007, 08:41
Replies: 39
Views: 6,416
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Poland's fairly brilliant EU negotiating strategy

Don't be dim. I'm not the person who decides which countries are "allowed" in the EU, I'm just trying to explain the reasons why things stand as they are. I don't support the EU's existence in the...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Jun 2007, 00:55
Replies: 11
Views: 2,743
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh, Britain, Bastion of anti-corruption.

Yeah you might want to think about this post some more.
Forum: General Discussions 26 Jun 2007, 23:04
Replies: 39
Views: 6,416
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Poland's fairly brilliant EU negotiating strategy

Erm...it's the entire underpinning of the project?

And it's not a euphemism, it's fairly explicit prejudice. Morocco applied to join the EU (admittedly prior to the economic criteria were...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Jun 2007, 22:45
Replies: 11
Views: 2,743
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh, Britain, Bastion of anti-corruption.

"But officer, if I hadn't sold that cocaine, someone else would have!"
Forum: General Discussions 23 Jun 2007, 18:12
Replies: 39
Views: 6,416
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Poland's fairly brilliant EU negotiating strategy

That was hardly imminent last time I checked. Various economic actors almost certainly wouldn't have wanted enlargement to have been delayed by x years waiting for everyone else to stop fagging...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Jun 2007, 23:54
Replies: 34
Views: 7,078
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best uni for Computer Science

At University, my week consisted of four hours of seminars. There aren't many jobs where I could do four hours a week and still have money for...well, anything.
Forum: General Discussions 22 Jun 2007, 16:44
Replies: 39
Views: 6,416
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 16:16
Replies: 9
Views: 2,441
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The Welfare State

If a decision like this needs to be made it would probably be best coming from the community itself rather than John Howard. It's not easy to say the measures are an over-reaction or won't work (e.g....
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 10:13
Replies: 34
Views: 7,078
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best uni for Computer Science

It depends on the employer I would imagine. A random company probably won't care, but if you're trying for Google/MS/IBM or whomever I assume that having MIT on your CV might put you ahead of the guy...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 01:24
Replies: 19
Views: 3,090
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: China overtakes US as world's biggest CO2 emitter

Meh, we should adopt a lot of "environmental" policies to cut energy consumption anyway, ignoring the climate stuff. Yeah I'm sure cold fusion will save the day and all that, but in the meantime, why...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 01:21
Replies: 34
Views: 7,078
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best uni for Computer Science

I share many of your views about what University should be about (or the academic process generally) but I think that you're coming from the perspective of someone who (I assume) will be among the...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 01:06
Replies: 53
Views: 7,368
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I'm SO moving to Scotland

Well, maybe (although since state "handouts" in this sense are a relatively modern thing I'm not sure you could really make comparisons). "Freedom" exists within a certain context though - Europe has...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 00:39
Replies: 19
Views: 3,090
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: China overtakes US as world's biggest CO2 emitter

A quick glance at most of the literature in this field would show that quite understandably a lot of this is little more than educated guessing (for a great treatment in bizarro economics, try the...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Jun 2007, 00:25
Replies: 53
Views: 7,368
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I'm SO moving to Scotland

Obviously I am in favour of all of the above, but how much of your income goes on prescriptions? Adding up the last fifteen years, I think I've spent less than £10 on prescriptions. If you have a...
Forum: General Discussions 18 Jun 2007, 22:50
Replies: 56
Views: 8,131
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: HIV-man shags underaged girls shocker

Well, it's possible that the guy is pretty ****ed up from what's happened to him. If I found out that I was dying (yeah, I know AIDS isn't a death sentence in the developed world, but you know what I...
Forum: General Discussions 18 Jun 2007, 21:07
Replies: 17
Views: 2,981
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Tour de France 2007: a preview

Why?

I mean, if it was one team doing it and they won all the time then sure, it's against the competetive spirit. But as I presume every ****er is doing it, does it matter as much? Sure, it's a...
Forum: General Discussions 18 Jun 2007, 18:49
Replies: 29
Views: 6,197
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Non-English Music

I'm pretty sure I've heard French rappers, although I will be the first to admit I'm not an expert on either French or rap.

I also remember reading articles on some Zionist rappers who performed...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Jun 2007, 11:03
Replies: 20
Views: 3,092
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A three state solution?

Well by "recognise" I meant "recognise as a legitimate authority of the Palestinian people" rather than they simply don't recognise them at all. But yeah, that's basically what I meant.

But so...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Jun 2007, 00:17
Replies: 20
Views: 3,092
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A three state solution?

Well, there are certainly political differences between the two groups, and I'm sure ideological quesitons which cause some of the divisions. I'm just not sure they're the main reasons between recent...
Forum: General Discussions 15 Jun 2007, 16:12
Replies: 20
Views: 3,092
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A three state solution?

Is it actually an ideological split though?
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 19:07
Replies: 56
Views: 8,131
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: HIV-man shags underaged girls shocker

Well it was a Roman province before the Moors invaded, but it was 1300 years ago, I think we can let bygones be bygones.
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 19:05
Replies: 56
Views: 8,131
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: HIV-man shags underaged girls shocker

Well military action probably is justified against Spain, but I doubt one would want to invade them. It's practically Africa for god's sake.
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 19:03
Replies: 29
Views: 4,663
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The faulty electoral syste -rant

The fundamentals are certainly all there, and if you're just looking for an overview then you can certainly get an ABC of Consitutional Government without too much trouble (if you don't mind a bit of...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 18:47
Replies: 29
Views: 4,663
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The faulty electoral syste -rant

Fair enough, but in other countries there is not such centralisation. Then again, other countries have more than the 20m or so people living in them so I suppose it's different. Either way, reducing...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 18:11
Replies: 56
Views: 8,131
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: HIV-man shags underaged girls shocker

Some might argue that 13 year old's might not have the intellectual or emotional maturity to defend themselves against the advances of someone who obviously had some sort of charm (or just...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 11:33
Replies: 29
Views: 4,663
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The faulty electoral syste -rant

Policing, education and health are already administered at a local level in most countries. It depends what you mean by power I guess, I wouldn't necessarily want one local authority having a...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 08:02
Replies: 29
Views: 4,663
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The faulty electoral syste -rant

Saying that people who don't vote aren't interested in democracy is like saying people who don't eat at McDonalds aren't interested in fine cuisine.

I generally don't vote yet I'm very interested...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Jun 2007, 00:51
Replies: 39
Views: 4,693
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: For the Love on Moses

Pig is right - you are being rejected from some of your jobs because they think (quite rightly I would imagine) that you would leave them as soon as something else came along (or simply quit in...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Jun 2007, 20:50
Replies: 13
Views: 2,086
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Co-workers

That's why you modify people's behaviour without causing a scene. Sheesh, haven't you read those "How to improve your life by harniessing the power of mind control" books?
Forum: General Discussions 8 Jun 2007, 08:52
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

I don't think they allow child molestors to do that though. Mainly I think you just get assaulted every once in a while.
Forum: General Discussions 8 Jun 2007, 08:28
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

Probably, but if it all went wrong, I think I'd prefer to go to prison as a bank robber than someone who kidnapped a young child in a case which was given an insane amount of publicity. Even if the...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Jun 2007, 08:18
Replies: 13
Views: 2,086
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Co-workers

Don't worry, I'm sure if you and your other colleagues keep covering for this guy for another few years the problem will magically fix itself without any need for confrontation or discussion.
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jun 2007, 23:13
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

The above two posts make me mildly sad.

I started drafting a long, boring reply which tailed into drivel. It doesn't work as a forum post though, so I've posted on my lj, but it's not really...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jun 2007, 13:11
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

Yeah, but that's the problem - we don't have any easy energy options at present. We've already coped with low soil quality problems by using fertilisers, which is just another way of transferring...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jun 2007, 11:10
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

I think you might be underestimating the technical difficulty of such projects just a tad. But maybe I'm just overestimating the difficulty, you're the one with the engineering background.

The...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jun 2007, 08:39
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

Will respond with a longer post later, but in short - what? I must misunderstand you here. If the Earth's climate changes then yes, some areas will become less suitable for human habitation (and food...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Jun 2007, 00:01
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

I guess. I used to be quite interested in electoral reform back in the day, for the reasons you mention. I have dim memories of attending a Charter 88 meeting with T&F and being mildly interested in...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 23:31
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

I was merely quoting Jared Diamond one of whose books I've just finished. I don't want a crash and I remain hopeful we can avoid it if we harness our collective abilities and work together.

I'm...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 18:47
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Given a referendum I would probably vote for proportional representation. This is because it might lead to a very slight destabalisation in British politics. I wouldn't get overly excited about the...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 15:36
Replies: 53
Views: 7,209
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Working/moving abroad

Not really - there's an expectations issue. According to Google's website their US employees start at 15 days annual leave - I get 32 and started on 25 (and it was a theoretical maximum of 43 but our...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 12:21
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

Well my statement was not exactly serious...

Having said that, maybe. It's not straight-forward to tell - we might be using up "environmental capital" (to borrow the terminology of others) to the...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 12:13
Replies: 53
Views: 7,209
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Working/moving abroad

If you're looking for sun, try South Africa.

The unemployment and AIDS infection rates might put you off a tad though...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 11:47
Replies: 15
Views: 3,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Uni Application

Ask any of the lecturers you ever had. Even the ones who only had you for a single lecture will give you a generic reference, especially if they don't remember you.

Or just give someone on GD and...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Jun 2007, 11:10
Replies: 53
Views: 7,209
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Working/moving abroad

It might be worth reading :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_Immigrant_Visa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Permanent_Resident_Card

Why not Dublin, London or Edinburgh? There...
Forum: General Discussions 5 Jun 2007, 17:13
Replies: 17
Views: 3,262
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [rant] the perfect job!

I'm not really sure that qualifies as a rant.

But well done anyway.

I can't remember applying for any graduate trainee schemes (at least, not after uni) which goes to show what an idiot I was....
Forum: General Discussions 5 Jun 2007, 12:46
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Where are you getting 46% from? The figures I've seen for taxation as share of UK GDP is closer to 41-43%. The treasury figures forecast government revenue at something like £516bn. GDP would have to...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 22:29
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Are tax burden figures meaningful though? Whichever way you're looking at it (personal deductions from your pay or as % of GDP taken up by government spending) I'm not really sure any sensible...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 21:24
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

No. You don't have to accept the lesser of two evils. I understand what you are saying, but you do not have to just accept it. If the choice available is being kicked in the chest or the head then...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 21:06
Replies: 15
Views: 3,086
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Pay to stay jails [DDA]

Arguably, it's the opposite. Prison probably does scare people wealthy people quite a lot for two reasons
i) It would probably destroy their career/business/etc
ii) They're frigthened of serving a...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 17:31
Replies: 40
Views: 6,173
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: London 2012

It's difficult to tell. The BBC link says £400k, but it's not clear how that was arrived at, is that a total to all invoices to date to a given company, is this a specific contract, or is that figure...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 16:10
Replies: 86
Views: 17,978
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Festival Wrist Bands

Yeah, I know. :(

But I was just trying to be positive, although I see now you were in agreement with me. Sort of. Or at least you don't care. Either way it's all good. :cool:
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 16:01
Replies: 86
Views: 17,978
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Festival Wrist Bands

If the person talking to me is an attractive teenage girl I'm not overly bothered that their overall "success in life" score might be sub-optimal.


Well, I generally wear a shirt over whatever...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 15:45
Replies: 40
Views: 6,173
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: London 2012

This is true, but it doesn't necessarily follow that what's been produced is either any good or that it provides good value for money for the public purse.
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 15:21
Replies: 86
Views: 17,978
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Festival Wrist Bands

This sort of thing (whether it's wearing a wrist-band, or wearing a band/cult t-shirt / lapel badge) seems to be an easy way of advertising your interests to the world. It doesn't cost much (if...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Jun 2007, 11:53
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Some of us aren't happy with the lesser of two evils.
Forum: General Discussions 3 Jun 2007, 16:14
Replies: 17
Views: 3,661
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Thought of the day

Incidentally, I wouldn't say thought experiments are totally without merit, although I agree with Nod about the context. Sometimes they're useful to get a general feel for someone's views on a...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Jun 2007, 16:07
Replies: 17
Views: 3,661
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Thought of the day

I doubt people mean that though. They mean "hitting a woman is never ok, at least not in situations you're realistically going to encounter".

I would say torture is never acceptable, but of...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Jun 2007, 11:10
Replies: 129
Views: 16,597
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Internet forums

There's a GD group there...so yeah. Skiddy posted a link to AudioSproggler (which is the same company/thing) well over a year ago and quite a few people here signed up. It's also based on quite a...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Jun 2007, 23:02
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

I agree with you on the last sentence, but that wouldn't push me in the direction of hoping a Conservative would improve the situation. Blair's statement is utterly ridiculous on a number of levels,...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Jun 2007, 23:00
Replies: 17
Views: 3,661
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Thought of the day

I don't hold views that "cheating" (if that's what you're insisting on calling it) is bad but I once did get incredibly drunk and then got off with a girl while otherwise being in a relationship with...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Jun 2007, 19:05
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

I'd say the only place there is a meaningful difference is on civil liberties stuff like ID cards. Although the Conservatives are certainly better on that particular issue, they cannot exactly be...
Forum: General Discussions 31 May 2007, 21:59
Replies: 22
Views: 3,606
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: preparing jer for his exams

Why is jer and his father operating in Euro's anyway?
Forum: General Discussions 31 May 2007, 16:12
Replies: 38
Views: 5,943
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Help me Obi-GD, you're my only hope!

Obviously you should go and see Chas and Dave. They're cultural icons, and one of them might die before you get another chance (admittedly they seem to be permanently playing somewhere in London).
...
Forum: General Discussions 30 May 2007, 12:46
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Never underestimate the powerful block vote of the masochists.
Forum: General Discussions 30 May 2007, 08:03
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

That gives roughly the same figures...

(although admittedly I was using 06/07's calculator elsewhere, not 07/08, but meh)
Forum: General Discussions 30 May 2007, 01:52
Replies: 87
Views: 13,541
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who Wants to Be Second Best?

Well, only just. The UK tax system is split - the average tax payer pays 22% (or whatever it is now) in Income Tax and 11% to National Insurance contributions. There are allowances for both which...
Forum: General Discussions 29 May 2007, 22:37
Replies: 14
Views: 3,506
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Margaret Hodge

I think it's fairly well established that I'm worse.
Forum: General Discussions 29 May 2007, 22:32
Replies: 14
Views: 3,506
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Margaret Hodge

Most politics rests on some sort of basic morality which is partially linked or expressed via emotional type states. Either you'll have a underlying sense of fair play, or a general concern for...
Forum: General Discussions 29 May 2007, 13:39
Replies: 55
Views: 8,249
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The Smoking Ban

Phang's already said this, but to reitirate : something does have to be an extreme to warrant use of the law in this way. You are basically ultimately warranting the use of violence (i.e. if someone...
Forum: General Discussions 29 May 2007, 13:19
Replies: 14
Views: 3,506
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Margaret Hodge

If housing allocation was decided by who I found attractive not many people would have homes. :(
I'm not sure what bleeding heart means, but my sympathies are almost always with the dispossessed, if...
Forum: General Discussions 29 May 2007, 11:55
Replies: 9
Views: 2,420
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Nice Going Hugo

I suspect that depends on the laws in your own country. Actively campaigning for someone's murder is probably illegal where you live, although I am not lawyer, etc.

Feel free to try though, you...
Forum: General Discussions 28 May 2007, 21:43
Replies: 9
Views: 2,420
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Nice Going Hugo

Well, according to the article DDA has linked to he didn't even do that. He just didn't renew their licence, which presumably had expired. I don't know the specifics of Venezualan law on this matter,...
Forum: General Discussions 27 May 2007, 18:56
Replies: 14
Views: 3,506
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Margaret Hodge

I could bore for England on this subject but essentially :

- There is a massive shortage of affordable, decent homes in most of the country. This particularly applies to council housing, but...
Forum: General Discussions 27 May 2007, 07:45
Replies: 129
Views: 16,597
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Internet forums

Has your life improved since you stopped?
Forum: General Discussions 27 May 2007, 07:43
Replies: 48
Views: 5,231
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The Obiora case. A dark spot on Norway's "clean sheet"

Not really, it depends on whether the false information was damaging to anyone personally. Or even if so, if the person who was being damaged is likely to bring an action to court. If the Sun's...
Forum: General Discussions 26 May 2007, 00:27
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

Erm...well their daughter has probably been killed. I should imagine that's a pretty horrific emotional trauma as these things go.

You want the state to fine them or put them in prison as well?
Forum: General Discussions 25 May 2007, 12:38
Replies: 81
Views: 11,971
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: How to be a Better Human Being

Drinking water is bad because if you drink too much you might die!!!!!!
Forum: General Discussions 25 May 2007, 12:12
Replies: 81
Views: 11,971
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: How to be a Better Human Being

I don't see how either of those behaviours would be particularly virtuous. They both seem to rely on taking a reasonable principle to idiotic extremes.


Did you derive this from your vast pool of...
Forum: General Discussions 24 May 2007, 19:48
Replies: 36
Views: 4,792
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Summer is Here!

Such concerns are unfounded. I won't bother hyping it up anymore - it has it's fault but it's by the far the best of the current series that I watch. Admittedly, the only ones I keep up to date with...
Forum: General Discussions 24 May 2007, 17:15
Replies: 29
Views: 4,354
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Lancaster University Library

Pay the fine and help support your school facilities. Obviously don't do that if it'll put you under undue hardship.
Forum: General Discussions 23 May 2007, 22:38
Replies: 37
Views: 4,298
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A Powder Keg?

I felt awkward typing that as I'm not even sure I believe that. :( Perhaps the manifest destiny, protestantism and the spirit of whiteness are much more integral to the US as a self-conscious notion...
Forum: General Discussions 23 May 2007, 22:35
Replies: 129
Views: 16,597
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Internet forums

I am not really sure I am comfortable idea with generic forums. Setting up a forum for the basis of discussions seems a little too naked in its intentions, it's like going to a singles night. Er, I...
Forum: General Discussions 23 May 2007, 22:15
Replies: 37
Views: 4,298
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A Powder Keg?

Yes and no. There's certainly an element of this, but some of the people who hate immigration are also people who don't want any welfare state anyway.

The political formaiton which dominates...
Forum: General Discussions 23 May 2007, 19:29
Replies: 81
Views: 11,971
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: How to be a Better Human Being

Self-improvement is :cool: and in all seriousness people should try to identify ways they and others can better themselves. But there's a cultural reluctance which exists in some to making value...
Forum: General Discussions 22 May 2007, 18:38
Replies: 81
Views: 11,971
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: How to be a Better Human Being

When things don't go your way, try not to let it get to you.
Forum: General Discussions 20 May 2007, 08:19
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

Erm....of course. Did you think I was putting myself forward as some idealised flawless specimen of a human being that all society should be modelled on? Heaven help us, I'm terrible. But fortunately...
Forum: General Discussions 19 May 2007, 14:39
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

At the moment I'm working 12 hour days to try and ensure as many projects get done as possible at work. I'm fighting a few battles to achieve continuous improvement, all part of the general social...
Forum: General Discussions 19 May 2007, 06:50
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

Oh well, I can't really do anything about it now (read : can't be arsed).

I have had many small private debts like this one, and if Three have dealt with it like the others (which I am repaying,...
Forum: General Discussions 19 May 2007, 00:49
Replies: 19
Views: 3,751
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Anagrams of your name

In 1997, the fact that "Tony Blair MP" (or "Tony Blair PM" for that matter) was an anagram for "I'm Tory Plan B" was seen as quite amazing. (Although I've not actually checked, so if it's please...
Forum: General Discussions 18 May 2007, 22:45
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

I tried to cancel with them though, they just didn't listen. :( If I hadn't been going through "Ignore my debts, destroy credit rating" phase I would have resolved it, but oh well.

I try to help...
Forum: General Discussions 18 May 2007, 21:22
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

Certain corporations just have procedures/systems in place which make it very difficult for their staff to do anything at all, let alone "nice". Sometimes this is no doubt deliberate, but usually...
Forum: General Discussions 18 May 2007, 08:04
Replies: 28
Views: 5,791
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Turkish Delight

The population of the Bahamas is 85% black, so I'd say it was implicit, unless the story said that the woman had sex with someone who happened to be a wealthy landowner or something. Usually in these...
Forum: General Discussions 18 May 2007, 08:00
Replies: 28
Views: 5,791
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Turkish Delight

Not all nationalists are racists, and not all racists are nationalists, etc.

And I doubt the nationalists in, say, Niger, are that worried about the darkies overrunning their country.
Forum: General Discussions 18 May 2007, 07:34
Replies: 30
Views: 3,898
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A.S.G.'s Angry Anti-Corporation Rant #3687

The above post is fairly comprehensive.

I'd only add sometimes it's worth asking someone's name at the start of the call a lot of the time, so they treat it more seriously. Don't do it from the...
Forum: General Discussions 17 May 2007, 16:38
Replies: 21
Views: 2,738
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: About Bloody time!

In the valley of the blind...

Also, how objective is someone with a military mindset (and career) likely to be about a member of the royal family?
Forum: General Discussions 17 May 2007, 16:06
Replies: 21
Views: 2,738
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: About Bloody time!

It depends on the issue. The only exposure I get to the tabloids are free papers on the train, which I mainly used to scan read to check if there's any photos of hot girls or something which might...
Forum: General Discussions 17 May 2007, 14:47
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

Legal tender doesn't mean you're forced to conduct a business exchange though. I tried to buy something in a shop and someone said "No, I'm not accepting that, it's a fake mate." I had other money so...
Forum: General Discussions 17 May 2007, 01:31
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

The UK's position is slightly different from other countries though in that (ignoring the Scotland/England thing) it's still relatively rare for places to take any other note but sterling. Prior to...
Forum: General Discussions 17 May 2007, 01:09
Replies: 39
Views: 5,897
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Dancing on graves

As someone who had to say the Lord's prayer a zillion times, I'd prefer the British situation to be honest. (And Northern Ireland is more an ethno-national than anything else - it'd be very odd to...
Forum: General Discussions 16 May 2007, 23:17
Replies: 21
Views: 2,738
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: About Bloody time!

Fair enough, I suppose if one is enough of a devotee of such things then an even more trivial story than usual would probably irritate. I can't watch shows like QT admittedly, but even if I could...
Forum: General Discussions 16 May 2007, 22:59
Replies: 21
Views: 2,738
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: About Bloody time!

Why "About Bloody time!"? Were you desperately awaiting this news?
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 23:30
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

I'm not sure I've seen any, although quite a few people have refused notes from me, but I've usually spent them elsewhere. But I think British notes are supposed to be very hard to forge compared to...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 22:59
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

Well obviously there is some re-issuing / destruction of physical currency, simply at a rate to make counterfitting sufficiently hard to be uneconomic. But as mentioned, that's only a tiny % of the...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 22:54
Replies: 17
Views: 2,828
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Presumably ASG wants his test audience to be people collectively less harsh than us.

Also, he might care about our opinion of him. If I wrote a screenplay I'd want some shit people's opinion...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 22:42
Replies: 39
Views: 5,897
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Dancing on graves

I may be underestimating his oratory, intellectual or organisational abilities but from what I can tell it's not like this guy had any particular gifts, he's just more a representative of a given...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 22:38
Replies: 17
Views: 2,828
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Keep the Aspidistra Flying

Speaking in defence of junkies everywhere, I don't think we can assume this.

Anyway, I would imagine most people who write for a hobby have been told at one point or another that they should try...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 13:05
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

OK - no reason you would have and you'd probably hate it* (80's leftist school of tv drama, minus the grit). It's just that one of the characters says pretty much exactly those words when trying to...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 12:31
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

off-topic : Have you ever seen any of The Beiderbecke Trilogy? (tv-series shown in the 80's on ITV written by Alan Plater, also a book)
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 10:26
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

Also...

Not really.

"The market" in terms of equities is probably less than a million people (in decision making terms). In terms of major volumes, I don't know, maybe it's 50k fund manages...
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 10:13
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

If you watch regional news you deserve any STD's it gives you tbh.
Forum: General Discussions 15 May 2007, 10:11
Replies: 34
Views: 4,845
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: 'Base interest rate' and capitalism

Aside from currency issues, the Bank of England is the lender of last resort. The reason why you don't get It's a Wonderful Life type scenes all the time (well, not in the UK/US anymore) because even...
Forum: General Discussions 13 May 2007, 18:28
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

I'm not. :(
Forum: General Discussions 13 May 2007, 14:20
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

It would probably help if horn didn't use some of his words in contexts that make it look like he's just learnt them, or is involved in a bet to use them within a given time period.

(I agree with...
Forum: General Discussions 13 May 2007, 14:13
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

Well I didn't really have much pain to deal with. Personally there was very little "damage" on me personally (I had to have a quick ring round to check people were OK in a slightly self-consciously...
Forum: General Discussions 12 May 2007, 22:17
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

But I'd be much more likely to find a joke about the London Bombings funny than I would about a similar event in Bangladesh - and that partially is because the first is abstractly about "me", whereas...
Forum: General Discussions 12 May 2007, 22:12
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

While it's probably exaggerated, people who live in England do in my very limited experience certainly seem to "do" dry, darker humour than our English speaking cousins in the colonies. As Douglas...
Forum: General Discussions 12 May 2007, 21:50
Replies: 160
Views: 23,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Madeleine MCcann

"**** Natalee Holloway".
http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2005/7/3/491/18474

And as I quoted in my blog (http://dantefs.livejournal.com/27447.html#cutid3) nearer the time : And as I have said...
Forum: General Discussions 12 May 2007, 01:27
Replies: 44
Views: 13,931
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Touch-typing

Being a reasonable typist and generally quick to navigate around Windows (i.e. knowing a few keyboard short-cuts) has probably impressed more people during my working life than any other single thing...
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 16:24
Replies: 44
Views: 13,931
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Touch-typing

Surely neural-links are less than a decade away in terms of text input, maybe with another year to have filter stuff so you don't get output like:
"And as we see in Figure 2.1, the economic...
oh...
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 16:14
Replies: 54
Views: 6,970
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I'm A Big Boy Now

Capital Radio was invariably the station of choice wherever I worked. It really did used to cause brain damage after more than a few hours.
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 16:10
Replies: 35
Views: 4,754
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh Come On

I think it would be fun if we had a Académie française type body which could get officially angry about changes in the English language.

ps. On the issue of "wasn't"/"don't"/etc - in my job, a...
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 12:49
Replies: 35
Views: 4,754
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh Come On

My phrasing was dreadful on reflection so I apologise. What I meant was there are alternatives to mainstream radio/TV - which includes things like the internet generally, 'zines, local theatre, etc....
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 10:18
Replies: 54
Views: 6,970
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I'm A Big Boy Now

Well, that's not really got to do with being a prole, but yes.
Absolutley. And the armed forces who kill Iraqi's for that matter.
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 10:13
Replies: 35
Views: 4,754
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh Come On

Why would they need to make a film or tv series? :confused:This presumes that on an individual level you should care about the long-term sustainability of the TV/film model.
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 10:08
Replies: 11
Views: 2,507
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Yo dante

I didn't sign any form about giving DNA, they just took it (or at least I don't remember). The only thing I signed was a listing of my possessions, the police statement thingie (which I pointed out...
Forum: General Discussions 7 May 2007, 01:38
Replies: 35
Views: 4,754
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Oh Come On

I hope it hits 95% to be honest, with pop-ups on the screen during the programming and product placement being both obvious and integral to whatever plot is left to watch.

Complaining that...
Forum: General Discussions 5 May 2007, 20:04
Replies: 54
Views: 6,970
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 5 May 2007, 16:39
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

Thanks guys. It's nice to know the violence inherent in the system can have a silver-lining.
Forum: General Discussions 5 May 2007, 15:59
Replies: 44
Views: 13,931
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Touch-typing

I remember only ever using one finger per hand to type when I was about 10, but as I got older, like Pabs said, it just evolved to the point where I can almost touch-type. I've tried to "re-learn" to...
Forum: General Discussions 5 May 2007, 08:30
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

Yeah. Or the one before last now.

I have an aversion to using people's names in company of people who don't know the person, if that makes sense, so I tend to refer to people as a friend, or...
Forum: General Discussions 4 May 2007, 08:33
Replies: 27
Views: 4,225
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [Phones]Scumbags

I did data entry for Vodafone once! (It was very boring :( )

I used to hate speaking on the phone (and still do, to an extent) but I got used to being a call-centre monkey and enjoyed it at times....
Forum: General Discussions 3 May 2007, 23:37
Replies: 27
Views: 4,225
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [Phones]Scumbags

Well, the point of income support is to give you enough money to survive on physically, but to simultaneously grant you such a low standard of living that even a minimum wage job would be a vast...
Forum: General Discussions 2 May 2007, 19:38
Replies: 54
Views: 6,970
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I'm A Big Boy Now

Refuse collectors aren't members of what's traditionally defined as the underclass.
Forum: General Discussions 2 May 2007, 00:05
Replies: 101
Ffs
Views: 10,776
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Ffs

What would that tell me about if the UK's handgun ban has saved lives or not, (which was what my post was in response to)?

But OK, if we do that - what do we find out? That the United States is a...
Forum: General Discussions 1 May 2007, 19:07
Replies: 19
Views: 3,383
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [job]graduate recruitment[rant]

Well, that depends on you. I'm generally an arrogant idiot, but if you're going to a graduate scheme where they generally pick "top candidates" (whatever that means in this particular instance) or a...
Forum: General Discussions 1 May 2007, 15:10
Replies: 19
Views: 3,383
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [job]graduate recruitment[rant]

If you're any good you'll shine eventually, I wouldn't be worried about it.
Forum: General Discussions 1 May 2007, 02:07
Replies: 101
Ffs
Views: 10,776
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Ffs

Sorry, this may have already been covered - but how is this proved exactly?

According to this home office report :http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/hosb0206.pdf :

- In 1995 stats show 299...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Apr 2007, 16:05
Replies: 7
Views: 2,371
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who said that a US-EU free-trade area was impossible?

I don't think anyone said it was impossible, but T&F said there would be issues to make it difficult, in response to a Nod post.
Forum: General Discussions 30 Apr 2007, 13:44
Replies: 27
Views: 4,225
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [Phones]Scumbags

I don't think there's a definitive answer to questions like whether a delay of 21 days is legal. There may have been some case law on it, or it might be written into statute a specific period of...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Apr 2007, 08:55
Replies: 28
Views: 5,791
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Turkish Delight

I think the underlying lesson is a bit more racist than that.
Forum: General Discussions 30 Apr 2007, 06:20
Replies: 17
Views: 3,808
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Is it me...

Bromley and Bexley were transferred from Kent to London (in terms of political adminstration) in the 60's. Parts of Bromley at least still have non-London post-codes though (BRxx or TNxx) yet most of...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Apr 2007, 00:40
Replies: 52
Views: 16,903
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Segregation rears its ugly head.....again.

Beyond a certain point (in terms of violence), it all seems a bit ridiculous anyway, as if it's some kind of cartoon. Also, there's obviously usually a curve of attractiveness of woman vs. the stuff...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Apr 2007, 22:38
Replies: 52
Views: 16,903
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Segregation rears its ugly head.....again.

Tend to agree with Weeks. If the West (in this case, meaning Europe and the United States) want to take pride in their enlightened attitudes to women then fair enough, but I wouldn't recommend...
Forum: General Discussions 27 Apr 2007, 22:22
Replies: 19
Views: 3,177
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: If I killed

I'm not really sure what living on a council estate has to do anything, a good proportion of council houses (or ground floor maisonettes/flats) on estates would have some sort of garden, while there...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Apr 2007, 00:42
Replies: 22
Views: 3,582
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Enable Images.

This is my second forums account (which I created specifically to respond to a post in what I think was AD about my parallel alliance). So yeah.

Before that I lurked for a period with a crappily...
Forum: General Discussions 25 Apr 2007, 23:07
Replies: 22
Views: 3,582
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Enable Images.

I used to, it was the best forum at one point.
Forum: General Discussions 25 Apr 2007, 21:23
Replies: 22
Views: 3,582
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Enable Images.

As I've said on previous ocassions, having images would be fine so long ;

i) only people who had been registered a year and had 1k posts could do them
ii) it was possible to disable someone's...
Forum: General Discussions 25 Apr 2007, 10:35
Replies: 25
Views: 2,909
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: [Football] Article on the Big Four and English Football

If football is about passion and all that jazz and not just a big merchandising exercise, then why not just support your local non-league team and ignore the nonsense in the press?
Forum: General Discussions 25 Apr 2007, 02:21
Replies: 52
Views: 16,903
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Segregation rears its ugly head.....again.

While I have no desire to justify any unequal separation of people in the public services, I don't think you can draw a direct comparison between gender and racial segregation.

Women and men are...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 19:14
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

I'm sure I've bored you with the story of how I lost £5,000 in a few minutes. Money doesn't actually mean anything anymore aside from a source of irritation when I have to walk most of the way home...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 18:56
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

In practical terms, this wouldn't really matterif was though, would it?
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 17:38
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

I find it difficult to take most longitudinal studies seriously when it comes to questions of general health. If it's very specific then maybe over a long enough/wide enough study you can probably...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 17:09
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

Letchin granules are a source of choline which is supposed to aid the uptake of piracetam. I got those from a Holland and Barratt type shop on the high street. Piracetam I had to order online - from...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 15:55
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

You're probably right, I suppose I've always come from the other side. I used to eat a shit load (although I've never been above 12st and I'm 6ft'2") but in retrospect I always felt tired, not sharp...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Apr 2007, 15:38
Replies: 50
Views: 8,234
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Vitamin Tablets and their ilk.

Discounting illegals, I take daily :
- a Berocca multivitamin effervescent thing (I'm a fag who can't swallow)
- 1tsp of some fish oil thing allegedly designed to assist eye/brain functions
- 1st...
Forum: General Discussions 18 Apr 2007, 17:10
Replies: 15
Views: 2,846
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Down and Out In London

Make sure your CV looks half-decent, exaggerate your experience and go into every agency, bar, fast-food joint and shop until you find something.
Forum: General Discussions 18 Apr 2007, 10:42
Replies: 101
Ffs
Views: 10,776
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Ffs

That's a worrying way to approach issues like this imho. There are lots of things you don't need and while I appreciate guns are a different kettle of fish I would still prefer not to pose the...
Forum: General Discussions 18 Apr 2007, 07:53
Replies: 101
Ffs
Views: 10,776
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Ffs

How many massacres took place in the UK before the ban? There was Hungerford in 1987 but how many others have there been in Britain? (if we define massacre as more than five people dying in one go,...
Forum: General Discussions 17 Apr 2007, 23:59
Replies: 21
Views: 4,973
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Adventures in the land of the thought police, episode 12

I tend to oppose uniforms and indeed smartness/cleanliness on general principle, but I think it's generally considered that some of the nazi's get-up was rather swish. I see people in German uniforms...
Forum: General Discussions 17 Apr 2007, 09:42
Replies: 86
Views: 10,484
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: GD Axis of Evil

Hey, you think being this self-righteous happens on it's own? It takes hours of pain staking effort I'll have you know.
Forum: General Discussions 17 Apr 2007, 00:00
Replies: 86
Views: 10,484
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: GD Axis of Evil

1. Voting tends to follow economic activity after a given period (denying the vote to children of people who are working becomes tricky in most liberal states) - so it's just a matter of time. Having...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Apr 2007, 15:30
Replies: 86
Views: 10,484
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: GD Axis of Evil

It depends on how the organisation of land is handled, as "anywhere you want" could be interpreted to be where someone else currently lives in a very literal sense. But as a general principle, I'm...
Forum: General Discussions 16 Apr 2007, 12:28
Replies: 59
Views: 7,931
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who?

Columbo is also good, he gave hope that scruffy looking people could still "win".
Forum: General Discussions 16 Apr 2007, 08:39
Replies: 86
Views: 10,484
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: GD Axis of Evil

I'm not sure what Bin Laden and Co's current list of demands are, but originally wasn't their theoretical goal the removal of American / Western troops from what they consider the Holy Land. While...
Forum: General Discussions 15 Apr 2007, 22:15
Replies: 59
Views: 7,931
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who?

I'm not fond of Batman either for similar reasons. :(

Roscharch is pretty cool, even if he's a right-wing nut - I like his uncomprising stance, especially at the end of the Watchmen. The character...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Apr 2007, 13:16
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

The problem is that "Soviet communism" wasn't actually the alternative in a lot of these cases. The secular left in most of the Arab countries was pretty shit, but not really in the same ballpark as...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Apr 2007, 12:00
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

No, don't be silly. The revival of Islam (particularly political Islam) happened way before that.

Although that particular bit of idiocy hasn't helped either. "Hey, let's smash one of the few...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Apr 2007, 11:48
Replies: 86
Views: 10,484
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: GD Axis of Evil

What I have done to be in that list? I'm not loose. :(
Forum: General Discussions 13 Apr 2007, 16:33
Replies: 16
Views: 3,732
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Unknown Bands/Songs you'd like to share

Apart from the 50+ non-rock recommendations on the GD music list you mean?
Forum: General Discussions 12 Apr 2007, 21:22
Replies: 227
Views: 25,114
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 12 Apr 2007, 20:53
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

The longer term trend is towards the end of Islam and Christianity and the increasing dominance of secular rationalism. The former has just been given a temporary revival by the unwise actions of...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Apr 2007, 18:03
Replies: 227
Views: 25,114
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: bad rep/good rep.. what s the points and why no comments when issued?

What if you're from Europe but you think all European news is rubbish? Are you still brainwashed?
Forum: General Discussions 12 Apr 2007, 11:55
Replies: 9
Views: 2,411
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: CCJ's

90% of what debt collecting companies tell you in their demands are lies. I have been told for three years now that various companies are about to apply to court for a particular debt. It's still not...
Forum: General Discussions 12 Apr 2007, 10:52
Replies: 131
Views: 17,307
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best Sci-Fi Movie

Not really although I doubt that was the actual intent. If I saw a movie called 'Imperialism : The Highest Stage of Capitalism' then there'd be some duty on me to check a review or some background....
Forum: General Discussions 9 Apr 2007, 16:36
Replies: 131
Views: 17,307
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best Sci-Fi Movie

It was featured in at least 3 movies before 2001 according to Wiki, including one by Kubrick.

It's short for yori moleveloch merasd vakie - literally "you should go look it up" in Russian.
...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Apr 2007, 12:14
Replies: 18
Views: 3,069
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Easter

Erm, no.


http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/page32602.html
Forum: General Discussions 9 Apr 2007, 12:10
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

Actually, it's happened with most modern technologies so far. Or, at least is has done if you look at the world picture. Something like 1bn people don't have access to clean water supplies and 1.6bn...
Forum: General Discussions 9 Apr 2007, 05:24
Replies: 131
Views: 17,307
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best Sci-Fi Movie

Does this include the film Last Days? If it does you've lost your right to have an opinion on anything ever.

(Some of Van Sant's movies are good however)
Forum: General Discussions 8 Apr 2007, 15:26
Replies: 131
Views: 17,307
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best Sci-Fi Movie

This has been covered by others already, but just to clarify I dislike 2001 as it's an incredibly boring movie which failed to grip me on an emotional, intellectual or aesthetic level. Perhaps it was...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Apr 2007, 12:44
Replies: 47
Views: 6,655
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: If you could only listen to artists starting with one letter of the alphabet

Checking through my mp3s, it seems "B" would probably be my choice too.

Billy Bragg / Blink 182 / Blur / Beatles / Beck / Beautiful South / Bee Gees / Brand New / Blood Hound Gang / Black Flag /...
Forum: General Discussions 5 Apr 2007, 21:10
Replies: 131
Views: 17,307
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Best Sci-Fi Movie

Mainly because Star Wars isn't really that good, especially if you take the franchise as a whole. Even just

Serenity won because it's relatively new and also because there are quite a lot of...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Apr 2007, 21:07
Replies: 27
Views: 4,952
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Loan

I've repaid about £4 over the last six years since finishing my degree. At this rate it might take a while. :(
Forum: General Discussions 4 Apr 2007, 16:01
Replies: 8
Views: 2,014
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 4 Apr 2007, 14:31
Replies: 27
Views: 4,952
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Student Loan

£10,000ish.
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 19:05
Replies: 8
Views: 2,014
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Detained for five years without trial or charge

The key rule to being powerful is to never hold yourself up to the same standards with which you hold others. This is nothing new.
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 18:58
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

Indeed, and I don't buy these traits being age determined either (in the strictest sense). But it seems possible to imagine a scenario where even if you could live to a thousand years old your...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 16:44
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

I think most of the things which could jeopardise our survival in the long run would be down to cultural factors and the psychology of those opting for this super-long lifespan. I don't really see...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 12:34
Replies: 67
Views: 6,449
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Who wants to live forever?

If you were healthy and if work wasn't too appalling in the first place then this wouldn't be too problematic.
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 12:26
Replies: 26
Views: 3,755
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: calling all UK terry pratchett fans !!!!!

I don't think a judging panel selected from the bourgeois media and changes each year can properly be compared to the combined wit and wisdom that is GD.
Forum: General Discussions 2 Apr 2007, 11:56
Replies: 26
Views: 3,755
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: calling all UK terry pratchett fans !!!!!

Why do you even care who is nominated?
Forum: General Discussions 31 Mar 2007, 03:06
Replies: 12
Views: 2,831
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Name that film!

This is about a woman who has a double life : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160644/usercomments

But that's not what you said. :(
Forum: General Discussions 31 Mar 2007, 01:24
Replies: 26
Views: 3,755
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: calling all UK terry pratchett fans !!!!!

I have been a fan of Pratchett for over about fifteen years now, but why would I want him to get a knighthood? Is it something he has badly expressed a desire for? (It may well be - I've not very...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Mar 2007, 20:41
Replies: 29
Views: 6,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The Console War

This cost analysis assumes someone is buying a PC to play games though - that's probably only true for a minority of people. Most people these days will want a PC of some kind for study/internet/work...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Mar 2007, 17:55
Replies: 29
Views: 6,213
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The Console War

The Wii will continue to do well for a little while longer as a novelty / party game type device. In the same way the PS1 appealed (for whatever reason) to a new bunch of people who hadn't been...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Mar 2007, 12:37
Replies: 27
Views: 4,047
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Songs that never get old.

I have a high tolerance for repetition in the short to medium term, so I end up listening to most songs I quite like hundreds and hundreds of times, sometimes in a row.

But songs I have heard...
Forum: General Discussions 30 Mar 2007, 08:40
Replies: 23
Views: 3,739
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Identity Confusion

Muslims might have more conservative views on punishment than secular people on average, so it could be OK.
Forum: Programming and Discussion 28 Mar 2007, 13:40
Replies: 19
Views: 5,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are you Agile?

Oh, don't worry I do continually raise these issues, but it's a huge cultural shift required inside the (quasi)public sector to not accept poor quality IT products/solutions generally. For our CRM...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Mar 2007, 10:07
Replies: 8
Views: 2,535
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Top up fees and Tutiton fees (again)

Well, even if RPI was a perfect representation of the cost of living (which it's not) there's no guarantee your individual income will keep apace with it anyway. For younger people it's less of an...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Mar 2007, 08:50
Replies: 18
Views: 3,158
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hypnotherapy - regression - Help wanted from Psychology buffs

I agree that everyone should strive for self-improvement but I'm not sure if shrinks and hypnotherapists are the way forward in most cases.

Admirable goals I'm sure, but I'm not sure why you...
Forum: Programming and Discussion 27 Mar 2007, 16:38
Replies: 19
Views: 5,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are you Agile?

Does "enterprise level" mean anything, objectively speaking?

Again, speaking as an outsider (to the CS), I'm not sure it does. I write this posts minutes after receiving an email sent to all our...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Mar 2007, 18:30
Replies: 18
Views: 3,158
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hypnotherapy - regression - Help wanted from Psychology buffs

What repressed memories do you think you'll find?

If they tell you were abused by satanists, do you think this will improve your life in anyway?
Forum: Programming and Discussion 24 Mar 2007, 09:49
Replies: 19
Views: 5,070
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are you Agile?

I'm not involved in any software development, but some of that rings true for the things I am involved in. I work for a housing group and (for fairly obvious reasons) a GIS / mapping system would be...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Mar 2007, 21:30
Replies: 54
Views: 11,161
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What's your worst slip of the tongue ever

The Red's sweep over Europe? I'm confused where the problem is. :(
Forum: General Discussions 22 Mar 2007, 20:04
Replies: 13
Views: 2,349
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: uni help pls?

Personally I wouldn't bother appealing. A strong letter of complaint to various persons (but demanding no action) outlining what happened might be in order, so the problems you encounter don't happen...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Mar 2007, 16:41
Replies: 47
Views: 7,264
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Favourite advertising campaign of all time

We once did a double blind test on whether Birdseye Waffles were better than Iceland waffles and the former didn't perform particularly well. So no, not really.

Scientific method triumphs over...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Mar 2007, 23:36
Replies: 39
Views: 5,198
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: It's not always easy

There's nothing wrong with beatings, as long everything is explicitly consensual (my ex used to complain I didn't enjoy beating her enough :( ).

Anyway, this guy sounds like a twat, abandon him...
Forum: General Discussions 21 Mar 2007, 01:29
Replies: 54
Views: 11,161
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What's your worst slip of the tongue ever

Perhaps, although I'm not altogether opposed to the principle of vengeance.
Forum: General Discussions 21 Mar 2007, 01:13
Replies: 54
Views: 11,161
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What's your worst slip of the tongue ever

I'd quite like to meet Hitler. Aside from being one of the defining personalities of the 20th Century I'm presuming there'd be some satisfaction to be had killing him.
Forum: General Discussions 19 Mar 2007, 17:21
Replies: 6
Views: 3,094
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Council Tax

Sorry I meant "no, you won't have to pay", not "no you're not exempt." Apologies Deffeh.
Forum: General Discussions 19 Mar 2007, 14:48
Replies: 6
Views: 3,094
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Council Tax

If you're full-time then no. Presuming you're living only with full-time students.
Forum: General Discussions 19 Mar 2007, 14:20
Replies: 7
Views: 1,950
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: A discussion with friends

I doubt I've ever been "cool" but I doubt I would have thought much of it. Why would I? If I thought someone didn't generally go for someone of "my type" then I probably wouldn't bother persuing...
Forum: General Discussions 19 Mar 2007, 12:00
Replies: 8
Views: 2,439
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Winter heating costs

Don't pay any bills at the moment (hurrah for mooching) but our Elec / Gas bills for winter last year were about £240 per month. It's hard to work out how much of that was down to space heating - the...
Forum: General Discussions 19 Mar 2007, 10:59
Replies: 47
Views: 7,264
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Favourite advertising campaign of all time

Me. :mad:

Well, I don't really care that much, but I'm more objecting to the notion that advertising hasn't "worked" when you're going round repeating the message yourself.
True, but this way...
Forum: General Discussions 17 Mar 2007, 09:22
Replies: 47
Views: 7,264
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Favourite advertising campaign of all time

Given the cost of advertising, you going round telling people how great you think the adverts are on a public forum probably has the same economic effect as if you'd bought a thousand packs of...
Forum: General Discussions 15 Mar 2007, 23:08
Replies: 47
Views: 7,264
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Favourite advertising campaign of all time

They've got some chewing gum on them now. :(
Forum: General Discussions 15 Mar 2007, 20:33
Replies: 47
Views: 7,264
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 14 Mar 2007, 23:11
Replies: 113
Views: 12,055
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: ITT you say things that you know will get you neg repped

Can you explain what you mean by "people in the public sector"?
Forum: General Discussions 14 Mar 2007, 07:40
Replies: 25
Views: 4,783
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Gf Poll

Yes, depending on how you define these things.

7 vs 4
64%/36%
Forum: General Discussions 14 Mar 2007, 07:31
Replies: 34
Views: 5,267
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: what would happen if your mortgage lender went under?

The main question has been answered but to re-emphasise : You're worth more to your mortgage company (whomever it is) as someone paying off a loan, than whatever share of equity they "own" of your...
Forum: General Discussions 14 Mar 2007, 07:25
Replies: 26
Views: 4,954
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Tuition Fees

I have a 2:2 in an easy subject (Politics) from an average Uni (QMW). It should be a 2:1, but I ceased paying attention at the end of my degree, blah, blah you know the rest.

Anyway, it probably...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Mar 2007, 18:16
Replies: 59
Views: 6,286
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: You Are Gay

Yes.

(This is bad as that time TK decided to defend spammers).
Forum: General Discussions 13 Mar 2007, 03:06
Replies: 6
Views: 3,040
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: I would like to congratulate G.K. Zhukov

I'd be interested if they have a (auto generated) comment in their db explaining the grounds for a sites banning. A private forum I use with 8 or 9 friends was on their ban list a while ago (but is...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Mar 2007, 03:00
Replies: 46
Views: 6,074
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Evolution of religion

You haven't lived. :(

Seriously though, while I would be reluctant to say anything is "the" central motivator in human behaviour it seems fairly obvious from looking at human cultures generally...
Forum: General Discussions 13 Mar 2007, 01:36
Replies: 30
Views: 4,137
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The 24 Hour Day

To elaborate on my earlier post, there's no way I can work productively through the day without the use of stimulants - my body energy / pace just drops too hard during the mid-afternoon, which in...
Forum: General Discussions 10 Mar 2007, 12:27
Replies: 30
Views: 4,137
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The 24 Hour Day

I'm not sure it's surprising that if you mess your body around with uppers/downers that it will affect your sleep.

Having said that, I've rarely had any problems except where it's self-inflicted....
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 23:30
Replies: 20
Views: 3,308
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: New Conservatives, New Danger

I'm not sure how easy it is to reconcile the basic principles behind armies and wars (after all, the underlying point is you may be called upon to kill foriegners in the defence of the Crown) with...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 23:15
Replies: 29
Views: 4,108
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are people in need of help or a smack?

It's OK, the government pays most benefits straight into people's bank accounts now, so they don't need to worry about waiting for the cheque.
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 19:45
Replies: 20
Views: 3,308
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: New Conservatives, New Danger

It depends what you mean by bullying. Ritual beatings and sodomy? Probably not. Shouting and making someone feel shit about themselves? Well, what did you expect? Have you not seen those movies with...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 19:43
Replies: 46
Views: 6,074
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Evolution of religion

Dawkins has always been a bit of a knob, but he is entirely necessary. If everyone were like him (even if all atheists were like him) then the world would be a bit dull, but the Good Guys require...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 19:34
Replies: 29
Views: 4,108
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are people in need of help or a smack?

I'm not sure where your mother comes from, but it's probable there is some kind of subsidy paid somewhere along the lines. Britain is just comfortable with (certain groups) receiving benefits...
Forum: General Discussions 8 Mar 2007, 19:23
Replies: 47
Views: 5,507
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Incest is best?

It wasn't a joke, I was trying to show how this anti-incest stuff would end up, if logically applied. (Actually, I just scanned through the rest of the thread and horn has noticed this already so...
Forum: General Discussions 7 Mar 2007, 22:20
Replies: 47
Views: 5,507
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Incest is best?

I think we should forcibly sterilise anyone who is a carrier of a genetic abnormality or who otherwise is likely to produce seriously unhealthy offspring.
Forum: General Discussions 7 Mar 2007, 19:36
Replies: 32
Views: 4,115
Posted By Dante Hicks
Forum: General Discussions 6 Mar 2007, 23:47
Replies: 22
Views: 2,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Fair and Balanced

I think she said she didn't know if he was gay but Gore was a fag. Bill Clinton would seem to be able to defend such an "insult" fairly easily surely...?
Forum: General Discussions 6 Mar 2007, 23:43
Replies: 36
Views: 4,429
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: T in the Park 2007

The My Chemical Romance album was a lot better than I was expecting.
Forum: General Discussions 6 Mar 2007, 23:16
Replies: 22
Views: 2,610
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Fair and Balanced

It says a lot about a countries political discourse that it's perfectly acceptable to advocate torture, war, repression of free speech and mass murder and so on but woah - when you call another rich...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Mar 2007, 17:01
Replies: 29
Views: 4,108
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are people in need of help or a smack?

Not all of them obviously, but some interrupted their education to have kids in the first place and others are just more likely to fall into that category. Not a majority, but a disproportionately...
Forum: General Discussions 6 Mar 2007, 16:06
Replies: 29
Views: 4,108
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Are people in need of help or a smack?

Most people do not want to be on benefits in the strictest sense (the income is low, there is a stigma attached, you have to regularly visit the benefits offices and be patronised, etc). However,
...
Forum: General Discussions 4 Mar 2007, 12:44
Replies: 33
Views: 4,489
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: well, i WAS planning on spamming but...

Subforums rarely seem the answer, except where there is too much activity.

There was certainly no need to split the IT forum into two, and the programming forum was basically only sustained by a...
Forum: General Discussions 3 Mar 2007, 15:57
Replies: 26
Views: 3,947
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The limpwristed excuse for a currency that is the US dollar, and you!

You already have that, the only difference is that there would need to be some check on goods for their place origin, as there is with people entering the UK from Europe now.
Forum: General Discussions 3 Mar 2007, 14:54
Replies: 26
Views: 3,947
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: The limpwristed excuse for a currency that is the US dollar, and you!

Given we're in a common market with part of South America, I imagine it'd be the same as the EU one.
Forum: General Discussions 3 Mar 2007, 02:42
Replies: 49
Views: 4,689
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Spellchecking.

It may depend on what skin you have.

edit : As in blacks aren't allowed to use it.
Forum: General Discussions 3 Mar 2007, 00:17
Replies: 57
Views: 8,048
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: English Fatty

It's not difficult but Deffeh is right in that it's more inconvenient for a lot of people which is why they don't do it. Public transport may only add 10 minutes onto people's commute, but for some...
Forum: General Discussions 2 Mar 2007, 01:23
Replies: 57
Views: 8,048
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: English Fatty

It's not really about education, I doubt there are many people who seriously don't know that eating a lot of burgers and chips help make you fat, or that not exercising doesn't help your weight.
...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Mar 2007, 19:53
Replies: 56
Views: 9,766
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: if you were given fifty grand

I think you're confusing communism with christianity. Charity is for petty bourgeois moralists. Hope lies with the proles, not with patronising middle class Guardian reading twats who can spare them...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Mar 2007, 14:50
Replies: 13
Views: 3,362
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Private Equity and the new corporate raiders

I wouldn't be that fatalistic dude, I'm more interested in hearing the arguments. I oppose private ownership of property as a general rule, but as to whether Capitalism V1 is better than Capitalism...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Mar 2007, 06:41
Replies: 13
Views: 3,362
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Private Equity and the new corporate raiders

I don't think you've properly explained why it is a potential neutering of anything though, aside from the fact day traders can't speculate on companies success (which they still could, in other ways...
Forum: General Discussions 1 Mar 2007, 00:09
Replies: 9
Views: 3,051
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Falling in love with the wrong person

I couldn't help read that story without thinking of the only inner London borough without a tube station.
Forum: General Discussions 28 Feb 2007, 23:12
Replies: 13
Views: 3,362
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Private Equity and the new corporate raiders

You're doing that psychic thing again of knowing more about what the person said than them. :)

I must confess, I did think of the TV mini-series / novel 'Stark' by Ben Elton, where one of the...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Feb 2007, 17:38
Replies: 13
Views: 3,362
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Private Equity and the new corporate raiders

I don't see how corporate raiding can be much of a problem except in particular circumstances. "Asset stripping" obviously only works when your net asset value is somehow below your market...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Feb 2007, 16:57
Replies: 49
Views: 5,297
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: What would you like to be remembered for?

I'm not sure I'm particularly interested in general fame (either post or pre death). Receiving recognition for your work (/beauty/cock size) can be nice, but that's usually secondary to the thing...
Forum: General Discussions 28 Feb 2007, 12:30
Replies: 38
Views: 5,855
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Rhetorical questions

I like GD. :)
Forum: General Discussions 26 Feb 2007, 16:18
Replies: 56
Views: 9,766
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: if you were given fifty grand

Agreed (although there are different "strategies" in how you bet, but the outcome is the same). Compared to Poker, etc it's pants. But comparing it to other "versus the house" games, at least the...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Feb 2007, 14:48
Replies: 56
Views: 9,766
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: if you were given fifty grand

Gambling (against the house) is indeed a mugs game (believe me, I know :( ) but I think people are unnecessarily harsh on roulette. In the context of games designed to take money away from idiots...
Forum: General Discussions 26 Feb 2007, 14:20
Replies: 28
Views: 3,927
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Random Questions and Answers

When non-blind people dream they don't "see" either (what exactly are you seeing in a pitch black room with your eyes closed?) You're remembering (or generating) visual-like stimuli in your brain....
Forum: General Discussions 26 Feb 2007, 14:01
Replies: 14
Views: 2,659
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hypothetical Question

Efficiency can be measured in a number of ways. Saying one thing is more efficient than another is actually pretty meaningless unless you're defining what you're talking about exactly. I sort of...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Feb 2007, 17:13
Replies: 25
Views: 4,087
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Olympic Costs could hit £9billion

Oh no. It's disgusting, but I don't think governments should be involved in this particular kind of activity at all (even within the framework of a capitalist/social-democracy/whatever we're calling...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Feb 2007, 15:50
Replies: 25
Views: 4,087
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Olympic Costs could hit £9billion

Of course. And there'll certainly have been more than one internal memo (or conversation) where a "worst case" (or risk analysis based) figure of ten billion plus would have been floated. But who the...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Feb 2007, 15:43
Replies: 14
Views: 2,659
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hypothetical Question

Quoted for when you realise this was a stupid comment and delete it.
Forum: General Discussions 24 Feb 2007, 11:58
Replies: 25
Views: 4,087
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Olympic Costs could hit £9billion

Milo's made this point but this is idiotic since a good proportion of this money will come from either additional taxation levied on London householders or through special lottery proceeds (which...
Forum: General Discussions 24 Feb 2007, 11:23
Replies: 56
Views: 9,766
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: if you were given fifty grand

So long no-one close to me desperately needed the money then 10% to London's drug-dealing community and the rest would be gambled away (a combination of spread betting and casino's I suspect).

If...
Forum: General Discussions 23 Feb 2007, 01:19
Replies: 41
Views: 5,559
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Names

Watch the movie 'Annie Hall' and you will.

(That's worthwhile advice anyway, even if you didn't want to get the joke)
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 22:57
Replies: 74
Views: 6,295
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: We should just send the entire family

I make an exception when it intersects the business of killing brown people.
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 22:39
Replies: 10
Views: 2,394
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hate something, change something?

Because good discussions get's derailed and there is a cost (in terms of time/energy) of filtering out the wheat from the chaff. The main problem with email spam is not ignoring it (or deleting it)...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 22:23
Replies: 74
Views: 6,295
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: We should just send the entire family

I'm not a military strategist by any means, but I would imagine that having a target for your enemey to throw a disproportionate amount of resources against would be a tactical advantage (if the...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 22:10
Replies: 41
Views: 5,559
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Names

Actually, I forgot my primary choice for a girl - Kerrigan.
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 16:43
Replies: 10
Views: 2,394
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hate something, change something?

I've touched on this topic before (here (http://pirate.planetarion.com/showpost.php?p=2806520&postcount=47) and here (http://pirate.planetarion.com/showpost.php?p=2806216&postcount=38)) but...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 14:52
Replies: 10
Views: 2,394
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Hate something, change something?

I wrote a rambling blog about this recently, but hating people is giving them unnecessary attention and therefore undeserved proportion of your mental activity. If someone isn't very good it is...
Forum: General Discussions 22 Feb 2007, 13:28
Replies: 41
Views: 5,559
Posted By Dante Hicks
Re: Names

I'm starting to think I won't ever have kids, which is kind of :( since I'd very much like to have 3/4 kids. Still, my last girlfriend was nine years younger than me so I guess there's still plenty...
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