kiltboy

Looked like a Spitfire to me. I'm pissed that the speakers on my computer don't work as I want to hear that. David

I'm not that surprised but one thing about PhDs is that they can be very bright in their chosen field and a bit of a dumbass elsewhere. Skydiving is a sport with bright people in it, some just started work earlier than those that stayed on for a higher degree. David

Science pays nuts in the UK (12K a year for permanent nightshift). That's the reason why I left anyway. David

Hell that sounds like a good opportunity. Sounds like the company will be helpful with time off as well given the deal they're putting together. My fiancee is doing her MBA through her work and they're complete pricks so she can't wait to finish and leave. My degree is Piled high and Deep which should be a hint as to what I think of it. David

It's all about the element of surprise. Oh my god they've got guns, too late I was taken completely by surprise. I liked his line about wanting to join the army so he could wear make up. David

I'm not too worried I just thought I'd share a source with some other folks here. Did you here about what they did at Dounrey in Scotland? There was a story where they threw nuclear waste down a shaft that drained in to the sea. Some bright spark then threw some sodium metal down there as well to add to the mix without thinking if the consequences should it get wet. Sellafield has it's own horror stories and the rusting hulks in Murmansk are a bit of a nightmare. David

Morning all, I found the following link on my Sunday newspaper. Basically you can but processed uranium in Iraq, if you know the right people David http://www.sundayherald.com/35736

Just saw this on the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3116259.stm The Iraqis had buried a bunch of fighters in the sand. David

There was a story around here somewhere about the voodoo dick. Could be he was taking a sensible precaution getting kitted out. David

I was trying to be subtle. David

True enough I suppose, I just don't like what I perceive to be a hint of hypocrisy in religions when people get caught up in the rules instead of the philosophy behind the religion David

Absolutely not true. I've seen the movies where she's screaming "Oh GOD Yes, Oh GOD, Oh GOD, Oh GOD Yes, Oh GOD" Not to you: but as for my catholic church reference above I was raised catholic so that's my point of reference for religion. And like all religious beliefs I think that they are between you and whatever you believe in. Hence I fail to see why what someone else believes is stopping a civil union outside of that belief structure. Am I making sense to anyone? David

A quick 2 cents here but I'm not slamming anyone. If I think back to Catholic School a marriage outside the Catholic Church i.e. civil service registery office type of thing, would not be recognized by the Catholic church as a marriage. I understand that certain religions/churches will refuse to perform the service in their church but that is very much a case of a persons individual religious beliefs. Why then is religion getting in the way of a civil union that is taking place outside of any religious belief? David

I have a friend who's brother came back a couple of weeks ago and he painted a very different picture. Admittedly he is a Brit and was working in a different part of Iraq from the US but his opinion was that the place was a bloody shambles and there were plenty of other Brit squaddies who were of the same opinion. Not wanting to open a can of worms but I'm seeing too much negative press to dismiss it completely. David

I was getting very frustrated with RW because I'd have to arch like crazy to fall with the fat folks only to have an aching back the next day. I bought a weight vest and life is better. David

Made the front page of the BBC webpage no less http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3095385.stm David

I have someone close to me that came back from Rwanda with PTSD (UN untervention in 95?). After we discovered that he was suffering from it his behaviour of the past few years was explained. Up to that point I'd just thought he'd turned into a complete arsehole. A contributing factor to the PTSD was that he was taking Lariam which we've since found out can amplify psychological problems such as depression, anxiety and make you more susceptible to PTSD. He's better now but it took medication and a stint in psychiatric care to help him confront what was happening. Had there been less stigma associated with what he was suffering from then he may have been able to seek proffessional help sooner and not had the experience that he had. David

No kidding, I never knew that the common group changed by region. Just a thought but (you seem to know a bit about this so I'll ask anyway) does that mean that the recessive gene will get overwritten with time so that Opos is no longer the dominant group? I'm thinking of all the Australians/ New Zealand emmigrants from the UK and is Opos the most common group there? Just curious as I'm thinking of the research groups that are trying to trace Viking ancestory through genetic codes/DNA to places in the UK (Shetland Islands and various towns in Scotland) and how much that will change over time. David

I was just forwarded these and thought I'd share. Anyone else got any more? David Things the average passenger doesn't hear!! It's good to know that some pilots have a sense of humour. Here are some conversations that airline passengers normally don't hear. The following are actual exchanges between airline pilots and control towers from around the world: ********************* While taxiing at London Gatwick, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 767. An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: "US Air 2771, where the hell are you going? I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it's difficult for you to tell the difference between Cs and Ds, but get it right!" Continuing her tirade to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: "God, you've screwed everything up! It'll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don't move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?" "Yes ma'am," the humbled crew responded. Naturally the ground control frequency went terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to engage the irate ground controller in her current state. Tension in every cockpit at LGW was running high. Then an unknown pilot broke the silence and asked: "Wasn't I married to you once?" ****************************** A DC-10 had an exceedingly long rollout after landing with his approach speed a little high. San Jose Tower: "American 751 heavy, turn right at the end of the runway, if able. If not able, take the Guadalupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport." *********************************** Unknown aircraft: "I'm f...ing bored!" Air Traffic Control: "Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!" Unknown aircraft: "I said I was f...ing bored, not f...ing stupid!" *********************************** Tower: "Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on 124.7" Eastern 702: "Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way, after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway." Tower: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on 124.7. Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?" Continental 635: "Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern and have already notified our caterers" *********************************** The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one's gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange; between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign "Speedbird 206": Speedbird 206: "Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway." Ground: "Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven."; The BA747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: "Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?" Speedbird 206: "Stand by, Ground, I'm looking up our gate location now." Ground (with arrogant impatience): "Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?" Speedbird 206 (coolly): "Yes, twice in 1944 but it was dark and I didn't stop." *********************************** O'Hare Approach Control: "United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, One o'clock, three miles, eastbound." United 239: "Approach, I've always wanted to say this... I've got the little Fokker in sight." *********************************** A PanAm 727 flight engineer waiting for start clearance in Munich Overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): "Ground, what is our start clearance time?" Ground (in English): "If you want an answer you must speak English." Lufthansa (in English): "I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany. Why must I speak English?" Unknown voice (in a beautiful British accent): "Because you lost the bloody war!"

Just tagging on to the clinical depression theme. It's possible that other medication can cause a chemical imbalance that leads to clinical depression. From the experience of one close to me I will not be taking Lariam (anti-malaria treatment) ever. I'd rather have malaria. David

I wouldn't change nationality myself but it's a personal decision. David

I always thought Opos was the most common blood in humans but I can't back that up with the genetics argument (you kind of lost me there ) I'm Opos. David

The woirst flat mate i ever had wouldn't clean the place and lived in his room. Selfish git even had his own Christmas tree in there. He'd watch ALL kinds of porn (remember apartments have thin walls) then tried to move his now wife in without her paying rent or bills. They used to have really loud sex at 8pm while watching various pornos. After I moved out I rebuilt the old apartment in The Sims and made a charcter we'll call Ritchie who used to pad about in his wife beater and never clean. I bricked up the door and made the little Sim suffer until the Grim Reaper took him away. Very therapeutic. David

I can believe that which is why I would like to see the old inspectors in as well. I'm thinking they've a backgroud with the programs, people etc that they could help piece some of the puzzle together. You're going to need all the help you can get when some of what you're looking for is under a bush in the guys backyard. It may also be more acceptable to talk to people outwith the coalition so as not to be tainted as collaborators. Just my 2 cents. David

I've absolutely no idea what you're talking about.