Solitair

Reply to Why Kyoto failed in Politics JoeUser Forums

To answer some of the other qustions others have raised, Wind farms are actually highly efficient and very good at repaying their build costs within a few years. Off shore wind farms are particularly good as they also don't create "visual pollution" on the landscape. Improvements in wind turbines in the past few years have been huge and many European countries are now looking at using wind farms to up their renewable energy production to 20% of total production (a target provisionally a

Reply to Why Kyoto failed in Politics JoeUser Forums

Interesting article Draginol but as mentioned time and time again it sets no LIMITS on how much a country can pollute. Let me elaborate By your arguement America could triple it's release of CO2 but reduce it's emission to 600 per GDP and you'd be happy. Three times more pollution and you'd be happy. See the problem yet? When you look at the total pollution from a country (as Kyoto does) you see a different story. You see some countries have successfully reduc

Reply to To Blog or Not to Blog in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Jeremy, I appreciate your comments but I think you have missed my purpose. I agree that a blog should be YOUR expression but my whole point is that at times a reply or comment could be as important because it adds to the whole and is not just a seperate article. What I would love would be to read an article, read the replies and then write my response. I can post that then as a reply (under the original artcicle) or as a new article (reply and a link to my new article w

Reply to To Blog or Not to Blog in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Dark-Star, I did indeed use the watch list. It's very handy for seeing what you favourite articles are doing but as mentioned above articles only seem to stay current for a day or so before another new article takes over the same discussion and you need a new watch. I tend to use the main lists to glance through articles and open the ones I'm interested in. Unfortunately I never can remember how many previous replies there were so I always have to open them. An indication of new replies o

To Blog or Not to Blog in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Over the past few weeks I've noticed an annoying (to me) trend with blogging. Debates are often stifled and die off by the addition of new articles as oppossed to comments and replies to old articles. Being fairly new to this method of communication I had expected an initial article to spawn a deep discussion of the topic raised and various peoples feeling on this topic. I had (perhaps naively) expected a topic to go on being discussed for weeks as more and more people read the article

Reply to Brad's Notes: 12/5/03 in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Draginol, it looks like we are talking about completely different issues. The Kyoto accords on global warming are primarily about controlling and reversing global warming. This is all about CO2 and CO2 equivalent gas values. If you are unwilling to discuss this specific greenhouse topic then of course we can't debate it. As this is the US's major issue with Kyoto I will totally understand your position. if you do want to discuss greenhouse gases then the US is by far the large

Reply to a real galciv 2 discussion in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

I'd like to see colony ships limited in capacity and have pre-requisites to build (shipyard size, etc). I like the idea of exploration before colonisation. The current situation of colony rush with cheap infinite sized colony ships, just doesn't appeal to me as much. Paul. ~SDC~

Reply to VASECTOMIES in Politics JoeUser Forums

I actually thought your argument was sound. I believe both sexes should be under some form of birth control until they are ready to have children. The problem is not really about logistics or sexes at all but about responsibility, and until an adult is ready for the responsibility it should be held back from them. I beleive the right to have children should be earned either by the single parent or by the family (in whatever form). The problem as you have mentioned is the lack of options

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Draginol, don't worry about the Eu turning into a French-German new world order. Not going to happen. Not even the English are worried about it and they are far more Euro-phobic than most Americans. It's somethings that Americans seem to have problems with. The EU is all about accepting and encouraging our deversity. It's about recognising that there are more than two sides to every arguement and finding compromises. All countries in the EU have veto powers on the serious decisions.

Reply to Brad's Notes: 12/5/03 in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Nice round-up. Don't agree with your views (or the standard american view) on Kyoto though. I will certainly concede that it is a US view though and not just Bush who is against it. It's a fact though that Amreican is the largest polluter on the planet (by far). The emission levels from factories of gases are a matter of fact and you're personal experiences don't change the facts. China has ratified Kyoto and has started to make efforts. Russia may not actually ratify and nobody is qui

Reply to Can you really win a bloodless war? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Thinking about this topic a bit further I suppose a lot hangs on the word win. What was the US trying to accomplish? - remove Saddam? - control Iraqi Oil? - form a stable Democracy? - defeat terrorists? - remove Weapons of Mass Destruction? I suppose a bloodless war can indeed be won if your objectives are straight forward. The 1st Gulf War was won as it's primary objective was to remove Iraq from Kuwait. Any objective which requ

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Ah GemCityJoe, you're getting a bit excited. No-one is talking about 'taking' anything from the Americans. We're discussing America spending billions of dollars abroard 'defending' other countries and whether they should be doing this or allow/force those countries to defend themselves. If the Russians, North Koreans, Chinese or Europeans go over to the US and try to take anything from you I'd expect you to protect your freedom. How about when the US goes over to Europe and tells them NOT

Reply to Keeping good employees is the key to long term success in Software Development JoeUser Forums

Any thread praising Cari's skills gets my vote for best thread. It's not only the skill at creating a great product, but the day to day support on the product website, not only putting up with but helping obnoxious customers really makes out the star. Cari is a great testiment to the quality of your company and I hope you pay her well! Paul.

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Bit harsh on the night operations. Many components of EU forces do have night capabilities. Part of the reason the EU wants to form a defense force (just an initial rapid response force for starters) is to have a high tech place the high tech components into a combined army capable of rapid deployment and all weather fighting worldwide). I agree with you Draginol on the Nato issue though. There is no reason the US should not leave Nato and thus disband it. Many EU countries would be happy

Reply to Airline travel in Blogging JoeUser Forums

I like your list. Might re-order them a bit for here in Britian. 1. Definitely the parking. Not having to park before and collect after makes a huge difference. 2. flights running on time. It's nice to be on time. That means leaving on time as well as arriving on time. 3. no queue on check in. I hate spending 30 minutes in a queue waiting to check in. 4. hand luggage only. Definitely a plus for checkin and no baggage colelction the far side. 5. Stayi

Reply to The left's hatred of George Bush is blinding them in Politics JoeUser Forums

Draginol, to reply to your response. - terrorism. As I said there were many good reasons to invade Iraq and setting up a stable democracy in the middle east is definitely one of them. Pity Bush wouldn't admit that as the truth instead of WMD excuses and terrorism links, my respect for him might then increase a bit. It's the lies and constant alterior motives to those stated that leave no trust (even if those alterior motives may be good ones). - Nato. Bush clearly sta

Reply to Legitimate Alternatives in Politics JoeUser Forums

Good posts. I'm surprised that no-one has yet raised the point of qualiy versus quantity. The major focus for the European militaries over the past decade has been to reduce budgets but spend on higher quality equipment. The Eurofighter and airbus military transport planes are good examples of this. Europe is consolidating it's forces into compatible forces which can interact easily with each other. It's still a long way behind the US but the EU has absolutely no desire to ever have a m

Reply to Solution to welfare: Contraception in Politics JoeUser Forums

As a non American I have to ask, Are you allowed drop out of high school? Is there an age limit? I personally believe that every kid should have a free education till they complete their SATS (I think those are the ones at the end of high school). Likewise they should NOT be allowed to avoid this. Whether they go on to university, start an apprenticeship , work on the farm or work in a factory after that is their own choice, but they should at least be schoolded till theya

Reply to Medicare: an Exclusive Club in Politics JoeUser Forums

Living in England, I pay nearly 10% of my salary each month into the National Health System. This gives health care to everyone in the entire country irrespective of age, race, sex, income or religion. Many people also take out private health care on top of this to give increased benefits, but the fact remains that everyone can get the care they need when they need it (well, except for the waiting lists obviously). I support such a system as it treats everyone equally. I personally as a

Reply to Can you really win a bloodless war? in Politics JoeUser Forums

Sorry Draginol, I was in agreement till I reached the word 'teenagers'. That's very offensive suggesting that the enemy are just kids. Perhaps you didn't mean this, but I've seen no suggestion and certainly no proof on any reports that the Iraqi resistance is made up of teenagers. You are aware that the US has one of the lowest age requirements of any western army? No where the US screwed up was in it's plans for after the war. Or lack of plans. They should have had an immediate Iraqi g

Reply to The left's hatred of George Bush is blinding them in Politics JoeUser Forums

As a non American I have a very different view of Bush. What I see in particular are his international policies and in this area he is particulary weak. Let me give some examples - Terrorism - This has been Bush's major foreign policy, but many countries feel it's been lost. The war against Iraq was not about terrorism. There was NO link ever proven between Iraq and terror. Terrorism is now being used as an excuse. It's sad when you look back at old news reels and see the arguments chan

Reply to The problem with rich people in Politics JoeUser Forums

Calor, you've made a nice list of the benefits of American society which allow many individuals to reach their full potential. I agree in general with the arguement that 'rich' people did not make it on their own but through these factors being present. There are some exceptions, but if you assume those who inherited wealth did so through a society which allows this then that covers most of them. What I find missing, as many others have stated, is your definition of fair. What is

Sponsorship - the future of PC gaming? in Software Development JoeUser Forums

Over the past few weeks I've watched the threads on the Galciv forum (www.galciv.com) about the forthcoming expansion pack of Galciv with interest. Stardock were looking to achieve a particular pre-order level before they would feel the financial risk of an expansion pack was worthwhile. The number of features and investment into that financial pack were dependant on the interest received. In the end the numbers were below expectations and the expansion pack (while thankfully going ahead) will h

Reply to Difficulty too HIGH? in Galactic Civilizations I Stardock Forums

On the easier levels the AI's tend to attack the weakest empire. Make sure that's not you. Use the military strength graph to gauge strengths and always try to be the 1st or 2nd place. You get to this place by building military ships and leaving them in orbit (the orbital bonus adds). Another easy solution is to change the alignment of the AI to all good. If you do this and remain good yourself then it will be very rare for the AI's to attack or demand tribute. Try these until you get

Reply to Getting rid of the bad apples in a net community in Blogging JoeUser Forums

Actually Anthony I wouldn't have considered you a Narcissist at all. From any threads I've posted in you don't meet any of the five pointers. You don't seem to require excessive admiration (you post about topics, not yourself), you don't seem to require or demand special treatment, you don't seem to use others, you're not devoid of empathy (disagreeing with peoples opinions is NOT the same as devoid of empathy) and I didn't think you sufferered from a persecution complex. You