mikkey

That is below the belt. When people use these type of arguments and "if you dont like the policy then leave the country" thing they just show their inabilityto have an intelligent discussion. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Acually they are "only" the second largest supplier. From the BBC: "The biggest contractor in Iraq is Bechtel, the American construction firm that has an estimated $1bn contract to rebuild Iraq's infrastructure The other major US contractor is Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), a subsidiary of the oilfield services company Halliburton. " --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

...and it is the fastest growing economy in the World with the biggest commercial opportunities and it has the largest army in the World et. etc. Yes, yes I know, but what about the need to bring democracy to suppressed people? What about stopping the spread of WMD's? You are not telling me that Bush is using double standards? He said clearly that Iraq had nothing to do with Oil! --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

When did the "Amiga 500" get into the market? I had one in the 80's but can't remember if it entered the market pre-85. I am sure I had it in 1986. This machine was a great step forward for gaming. Very good graphics for its time... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I assume there is no oil in Taiwan? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Fun looking at snow pictures when the temperature is hitting 100 F outside... It took me years of living down here to get used to the hot weather around Christmas. Just imagine Christmas decorations and "jingle bells" everywhere while it is stinking hot and you are trying to get indoors to air conditioning as quickly as possible...

You're asking me to prove that weapons of mass destruction were not in Iraq? That's a bit like asking me to prove there were never any UFOs at Roswell. An impossible proposition of trying to prove a negative. I would say, much like I do when talking to UFO folks, that extraoridinary claims require extrordinary proof and that the burden of proof lays on those making the claim. In this case, the US Government. The BBC "Panorama" program has recently done some very good investigative work looking into the pre-war "intelligence" and what really was going on with the WMD's. They had access to several key player on both the Iraqi side and the Dr. Kay's "search party". Very interesting report. The transcript of this report can be found under the below URL. If you are interested in facts and analysis then have a read. It is quite balanced and gives some good insights into what might really have happened up to the war: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/panorama/3261705.stm --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

OK for those who did not know. I got the qoute from this story on the BBC web site: "US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has won a "Foot in Mouth" award for one of his now legendary bizarre remarks. Mr Rumsfeld won the prize for comments made at a news conference in February last year which left observers baffled. "There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns," he said. The British Plain English Campaign annually hands out the prize for the most nonsensical remark made by a public figure. Stiff competition A spokesman for the organisation, which tries to ensure public information is delivered in a clear manner, said Mr Rumsfeld's remarks were typical of the kind of comments they were trying to prevent. "We think we know what he means," he told Reuters news agency. "But we don't know if we really know." Mr Rumsfeld fought off stiff competition for the award from actor turned California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger among others. Mr Schwarzenegger weighed in on the gay marriage debate with the comment "I think that gay marriage is something that should be between a man and a woman." ------------------------------------------------------- I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think... and I assume it's what I said Donald Rumsfeld --------------------------------------------------- And European Commissioner Chris Patten came close with his remark that the British Conservative Party had committed political suicide and was now living to regret it. Previous winners of the award have included US actress Alicia Silverstone and actor Richard Gere. But despite Mr Rumsfeld's rather outlandish mode of speaking, fans of the tough-talking US defence secretary argue he is misunderstood. There are dozens of websites dedicated to the "poetry" of Mr Rumsfeld and there is even a book, entitled Pieces of Intelligence, dedicated to interpreting his statements as a form of existential writing. " --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

It's possible he had just seen "The Matrix" and had become enamored with the concept of existentialism. That makes sense.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

hmmmm... interesting. I would say the statement makes no sense what so ever (thats why it won the prize and why it is funny). Could you explain "the valid point" in it? --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

OK guys - who said the following, which won the prize for the most nonsensical remark made by a public figure: No doubt it was a politician - but which one... Please vote --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

This could be your mother board dying. My last PC did that a few times before the MB dies and had to be replaced. Another option is to reformat your HD and re-install everything..... that may help. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

It made the news world wide. They showed it here in OZ. The type of footage TV stations love with a corny comment... on the local news it was "why Santa really needs those reindeer..." --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Clinton's government? The gas attack on the Kurds was in 1988. The Iran - Iraq war was in 1980 - 1988 when gas was used by Iraq and the US actively supported Iraq. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Yes, right. Funny so, if that had been a leader in a different country, the spin would have been drowned by a couple questions from the media like: 1) How much did this photo opportunity cost the tax payer? 2) So why did you fly all the way to Iraq to only stay 2 hours within an enclosed military base, instead of - say - do a full day and meet with people involved at the coal face and have a look around? And this type of stunt would go down like a led balloon. I know, I know.... America is different.. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

In New Zealand a 5 year old girl did a Tandem with her father a couple of month ago. I assume that would be the age "record" regarding youngest skydiver... (?). --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I hope you have banned this idiot from your DZ..... I find you treated him extremely well and at a very low cost. I was in a similar situation coming back to the sport last January after 11 years away (with over 200 jumps prior). I was required to do the AFF ground course and an AFF1. Then another AFF with 1 instructor going thrrough all maneuvers and 1 hop and pop jump (stage 9). I was charged normal AFF rates. After that I just needed to do a couple of RW refresher jumps and was re-licensed. It cost me quite some money, but I found that fair and had no problems with it. So offering 2 hours one on one training for free plus a standard price jump only adding lift cost for the instructor is extremely generous IMO. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

That's what makes the US so wonderful, you can express your opionions openly and honestly. To that note, my opinion is... please let me know the closest international airport to you and I will provide you with the directions to it, a moving company to come and pick up your stuff and the closest DZ (and your first jump ticket) in what ever new country you choose to live! Just my very humble (21 year military vet) opinion. Blue skies "Lazyfrog" lives in Europe and I am sure he is happy about that. By the way, if "the US so wonderful, you can express your opionions openly and honestly" then it is you who is "anti-american" by telling people to leave the country who do not agree with the current Government. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

I have to agree, Russian choppers are great. Big ramp, low speed, lots of space. The take off in a big chopper... I have tried the MI-17 (think its somewhat bigger then the MI-8). --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Going by which movie I have seen again and again over many years and not grown tired off, my choice would be: Godfather 1 & 2..... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Talk to a Travel Agent about "Around the World" fares. These are special deals where you fly in only one direction using airlines within the same "alliance" until you have made it around the globe back at your origin. These tickets have a defined number of stop overs you can do. I do not know how much they cost from the US. I do know that you can take one of these here from OZ and can do both Europe and the US in one trip for nearly the same price then just one of the destinations return. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

My thoughts: 1) US can not "win" this unilaterally - they would face a situation like Vietnam/Afghanistan (when the USSR occupied it). 2) Get the UN involved in the civil administration and the hand over to Iraqis. The UN (no matter how bad people on this board are trying to make them) are quite good in establishing new systems of government. 3) In parallel with the establishment of an Iraqi led administration (facilitated by the UN ) build up Iraqi security infrastructure (the US is already doing that part) 4) In the transition time get the military side of things “multilateralized” further, i.e. get more international troops in to work together with US troops. Even if it means you have to kiss French ass 5) Build more "human" intelligence instead of "technical/military" one to battle the resistance. 6) Counter the perception by Iraqi's that US companies are plundering the assets of the country. Letting the UN run the civilian administration will change this. 7) Be prepared that this will take at least a couple of years.... Don't like the above? Well be prepared for more "donkey attacks...." --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Yes, it was interesting. It argues some of the same points the JFK movie did. While I agree that a lot of things just don't "fit" (in regard to Oswald being the single assassin) - I sometimes wonder how an elaborate conspiracy could have been kept secret for 40 years (e.g. nobody confessing on their death bed or something) --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

A few thoughts: 1) The "black and white" "simplified" approach used in this thread is very unhealthy. The world is slightly more complex then that. 2) Patriotism is good - but only up to a limit - blind patriotism is just that. It makes you blind towards other cultures and ideas. (and will loose you friends….) 3) Just because you disagree with certain policies of the current government does not make you anti-American. Governments come and go – the basic values and culture do not really change just because government change. Branding people "anit-American" because of politics is a deeply anti-democratic approach. 4) I have lived in 5 countries on opposite sides of the world and visited at least 30 on all continents. The one thing I learned is that every country and every population has something to offer. Even the poorest place – because it is often there you meet the nicest people. I also learned that no country is perfect. Which place you like best depends of what you are looking for. It is very normal that most people will designate their own country as “the best” - home is always best . I have lived less then 1/3 of my live in my country of origin; and I still get goose bumps when I hear the National anthem even after many years away. Nothing wrong with that - as long you do not dis-respect others and become narrow minded. --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.

Just as a caution regarding related scams. We had a number scams in Australia targeting Internet Banking customers. One scam was an e-mail disguised as being from your bank directing you to a fake copy of the Internet Bank web site asking you to re-enter your ID and Password. Another scam is an e-mail from the fake internet bank (technical support) telling you that they have a problem and need you details. I have not heard how bad this type of fraud has been in other countries. I received one of those e-mails myself and it looked quite professional. A gullible person could easily be sucked in.... --------------------------------------------------------- When people look like ants - pull. When ants look like people - pray.