kiltboy

I trust you were joking.......... For those that are a bit confused on the matter here's a starting point from the UK government web page David http://www.culture.gov.uk/broadcasting/QuickLinks/f_a_q/faq1.htm?properties=%2C%2Fbroadcasting%2FQuickLinks%2Ff%5Fa%5Fq%2Fdefault%2C&month= Broadcasting in the United Kingdom is based around the basic principle that the broadcasting authorities - the BBC, the Independent Television Commission, the Radio Authority and S4C (the Welsh fourth channel) - are independent of the Government. This means that the BBC, not the Government, is responsible for its day to day business. The BBC's governing instruments, the Royal Charter and Agreement, place broad obligations on the Corporation in respect of the number of its television and radio services, objectives, programme content and standards. Within this framework detailed decisions on programme content and scheduling are a matter for the BBC alone, reflecting its editorial independence. The Government has no authority to intervene in matters of this kind. It is the responsibility of the BBC Board of Governors to ensure that the BBC meets its obligations as set out in the Charter and Agreement of 1996. If you have not already done so, you may wish to write to Gavyn Davies, Chairman, BBC Broadcasting House, London, W1A 1AA with your comments or concerns.

Sorry but there is no elected member of parliament responsible for running the BBC. It is not government run. It does derive it's funding from government in the form of taxation (the TV and radio license) that is then handed over to the director general. That is why there is no commercial advertising on the BBC but there is on the independant stations with no government funding. David

I'll disagree with the BBC being influenced by the UK government. Have you read about the Hutton inquiry and the way the BBC was attacking the government? That's not the thing to do. Martin Bell wrote a piece in the Sunday Herald that's worth a read if you have time. www.sundayherald.com David

I remember the post session curry. There was a great noodle bar on Sauchiehall St, Glasgow that a mate and I would also frequent. Also good is the sausage supper, chipsteak supper, pie supper etc.. Great now I'm homesick. David

Ok that's just wrong. David

It was his final oral exam for his PhD. So he was defending his dissertation. David

There's always chemistry. A mate of mine was clearing his lab at Umass and he had to dispose of some MeAlO (methyl aluminium oxide) and NaK alloy (sodium potassium) from his still. Both are unstable/reactive and the local health and safety guy was contacted by the FBI when he started asking suppliers for kevlar gloves etc. Anyway they decided that the risk was to great so they contacted the Mass bomb squad to come and help them dispose of it. The bomb squad put them in touch with a contractor that had experience in mine clearance and disposal and they planned to shut down part of the campus on Sunday, move everything to a quiet part and detonate it. Sunday comes and the contract guys are looking bad ass in black jumpsuits with name tag on the chest and shades. Mass bomb squad in green jumpsuits, shades, chewing gum being bad ass. My mate in baby blue jumpsuit with PINK and YELLOW panels feeling self conscious (they needed to find him in a hurry if things went wrong). The move went smoothly until they were at the loading dock. Here the forklift driver puts the forks in the pallet and tilts the load back onto the forks. This stuff was meant to be kept vertical and not bumped around so the contract guys hit the deck, closely followed by the bomb squad guys (who's reactions weren't as quick but impressive nonetheless) then my mate follows a long time later. Forklift driver is kind of bemused and he sits there saying "what?". Anyway they move the stuff and set it up. State troopers in the helicopter make sure the area is clear and all is set. As the countdown nears zero a bird flew over the area and caught the detonation. One wing dropped and it slowly rolled over and fell straight down. The Mass bomb squad videod the whole thing and he showed it in his final defense. David

To go from the magnificent seven to doing ads for lawyers must suck just a little. I wonder if he couldn't pay his last legal bill? David

Do you mind I'm trying to eat my lunch here. David

The rules of engagement will be different as they change with circumstances, location (Scotland has some exceptions from the rest of the UK) and what you're guarding (Nuke boats or porta potties). Under no circumstance do you shoot an individual that is not a threat. A threat can be someone shooting at you, driving a car at you with intent to kill, throwing a bomb (including petrol bombs), attempting to detonate a device or acting in such a way as to risk killing you or another individual (some of the training scenarios were weird). No distances were quoted in the description given and I've no idea what the sight picture was like of the guy that pulled the trigger. It is likely that he felt he was about to be engaged by an RPG (particularly if the guy transitioned to one knee with the camera as that could be seen as taking up a firing position). Winnning the hearts and minds is the goal of the people in Iraq and as such they are not about to shoot unless they feel threatened. David

No idea, But as that election is pretty much messed you may as well go large and enjoy yourself. David

I've never spent a significant anount of time in LA but your post reminded me of Steve Martin in "La Story" where he's driving along shooting on the freeway and "Chase" with Flea and the other guy from the Chili Peppers being "Road Warriors". Vigilante's on the road with guns. Quick somebody Gary Coleman with a quick policy update. David

I thought there was work on a tazer type idea where you could surge a high voltage into the target vehicle and fry the ignition module/computer that cars have and basically killing the engine. Or maybe that was the idea I meant to submit via Inventor's Submission Corporation. I think I sent off for their free information pack. David

I grew up in Glasgow, Scotland which people in the UK will tell you has a bit of a sectarian problem. I grew up with the troubles everyday in the news. My mother is Catholic my father is Protestant I caught both sides of that divide. My brother is in the British Army and he served in N.Ireland. I served in the Army Reserve and as such did armed guards in the United Kingdom under the rules of engagement for the Army in the UK. So I know a fair bit about how the British Army is trained for handling a civilian population, I know people that have done it, and I consider myself reasonably informed about various incidents where a shooting has occured. What incidents are you referring to with the civilians in N. Ireland? I would guess Bloody Sunday is the one you are referring to though Lee Clegg and the case of two Scots Guardsmen also come to mind. Which ones would you care to discuss? David

Could you please clarify the Brits in Ireland remark? Thanks, David

There is a difference in the British area of operations and there is a bunch of experience in peacekeeping throughout the UK forces (they spend shed loads of time in Ireland, the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan, not to mention previous ops in Rwanda and the list goes on) but I hardly think it's a fair comparison. Part of the difference in style was observed in the balkans where the guys were more relaxed and approachable (soft hats instead of Kevlar) but the strategy can backfire as 6 Military Policemen found out. While there is a difference in style the US troops can do the job. If you remember during the drive for Baghdad a junior rank American soldier had his squad take a knee and defused a situation where the local populace thought there was a drive towards the local mosque. The soldiers can do the job but I think they've been giving the shit end of the stick as the promised land has not appeared with the removal of Saddam. That responsibility I will place on the people that gave the go order screwing up the plans for afterwards. I think it is a failing of those politicians that the guys on the ground are not getting the help they need in stabilising the country. David

I have a picture of a commune where many people are supporting each other and bringing up kids etc. but that there are legal ties between them through marriage. Is this what you are thinking? I doubt it would work as personal jealousy would get in the way not to mention differences in opinion with kids playing adults off against each other in the way they do in two parent families. As for the western orgy idea, if I was to read through the posts above I never mentioned how it would give the woman a break and allow the guys to still have some fun. David

That's why we have Jerry Springer. As for multiple adults living together in long term relationships and bringing up kids that sounds kinda like a commune to me. Did anyone else see "The Beach" with Loe DiCaprio? David

Sorry if I miss the mark but this sounds more like swinging married couples than anything else. As for the sex drive thing I think that's off the mark as well. Better yet don't get married and just live that lifestyle. David

So what about a woman having multiple husbands? David

Oh yeah multiple Mothers in Law as well. David P.S. Allison if you read this I'm only joking honest.

Hoping to get current this weekend as I haven't jumped since May 10. Time, money and weather have all been against me. The work server is also ill and I screwed up today and missed something I should have caught so all in all I need a beer. David

I see a small problem with your plan in that it would be hard to hide the skydiver. Romantic date at the Eiffel tower. Wuffo cowers close to the railing, skydiver starts talking BASE jumps. Romantic walk through meadow. Wuffo looking at flowers, skydiver looking at the sky. First time trying anything and the skydiver yells BEER! Just a few thoughts. David

Hell I left the UK for the US 6 years ago now and while I miss family and friends they moved on with their lives without me. 2 years is nothing and you can always visit them. David

48423 If you get the ramps just right you can throw him out, and then the truck bounces back and forth off the wall and the ramps. Repeated squishing makes for many points. David