Stuzb

ah, how lovely To paraphrase (someone far more intelligent than most): "the essence of sleight of hand... is distraction and mis-direction, and those who beleive that through their own perspicacity have defined your hidden purposes, well, look no further" ...0001, 0010, 0011, 0100, 0101, 0110, 0111, 1000, 1001, 1010. Res ipsa loquitur :P No, but you might qualify... and this you think is an insult? Erm, it's merely severing of nerve pathways, I struggle to see how this could benefit anyone's intelligence? ...but then again I have knowledge on my side.

Ok, so I may be slightly misled, but how am I to think any different when people who know the truth ie you, stick to generalisations not backed up with examples or facts. I like to learn, I actively encourage it, I would welcome any information, but so far none has been forthcoming. You feel vehemently and this is obvious but I need far more substantitive references than your say-so. This is all I was ever asking for.

I never once said they set policy, nor do I believe they do. However, if they don't agree with the policy then surely they can make their voice heard or not turn up or they could go against the policy whilst in Greece. Aspen was merely an anology that stood for the big expensive things that athletes like to buy. They run down the track wearing gold-chains, am to believe that these people are poor? It seems we'll have to agree to diagree on this one. Re-reading my reply it does intimate that I'm accusing you of being spineless, retarded et al, and I am not suggesting such a thing for an instant. However, as for showing respect, I quote: Firstly, I see this as condescending and secondly, if you show me an athlete who's parents sacrificed as much as mine did then I'll happily conceed, until then, I remain unmoved in my opinion. This doesn't seem very respectful. Yep, this is true, I am extremely intolerant towards other people. However, did I miss something? Where did I mention anything even relating to tolerance? /me muses on this statement. Now, I'm fully aware that this seems like another 'swipe' but let's be fair, if I can be accused of displaying such disrespect and hypocrisy, then surely I am entitled to show this trait up in the attitude and replies of the accusor?

Geez, are these people adults? Of course they have a say FFS, even US 'athletes' are allowed to show some sort of thought process, well, if the steroids hadn't addled their brains that is. Well, I'm still going to, I can't stand this wishy-washy stance, jesus, take some responsibility for the situation - either stand up and be counted and don't go along with it, or sit back and accept the situation and have me think of you as a spineless, thoughtless and retarded coward incapable of independant thought. Perhaps if they feel strongly against the situation they should make a stand and make a sacrifice not to have that new mansion or maybe that holiday home in Aspen will have to take a back seat. Examples? ...or is this just some ill-thought out sprouting to try and subdue my inane ramblings?

Yep, that works for me, when's the earliest we could fit it in? There has to be a message sent to all those who think that animal cruelty is OK as long as someone laughs. I think execution could just about do it... in any event it's worth a try.

Yeah, nice sentiment, however, is it not somewhat naive to think that terrorism will stop, just becasue "it's the Olympics?" Now, I know you'll find it hard to believe (after all, GWB DID already fight the war on terrorism ) but, it's still a risk, and for a nation like America (that until recently had never suffered from terrorism) the risk is still a very real one. I'm sure the US press is continually planting fear in the minds of US citizens and this (to my thinking) is just an extension of that. I guess they figure if you keep 'em scared you can get them to agree with anything in the paradoxically-named cause of "fighting for peace" that GWB seems intent on taking to the World. But, as for not bashing the athletes, well why not? These are some of the most prima-donna and overly self-important people in the world (the athletes, not Americans in general, I hasten to add) and unless my perspicacity fails me I haven't read a single report of any US or Israeli 'sport star' disagreeing with this segregation, and let's face it, these are high profile people; we'd know about it if there was a complaint inside their camps. Having said that, I'm definitely of a mind that if the US athletes weren't happy with the secuirty afforded by the Greek authorities and the IOC then perhaps they shouldn't be there. I mean, if they feel they're going to pose such a great added risk that they need extra security then are they not adding this level of risk to everyone at the games including spectators, officials and other athletes. After all, what are the chances of terrorists striking so precisely that only US, Isreali (and possibly British) athletes were injured? Absolutely none is the answer, because that's part of the point of terrorism, that's why it's so feared; for a large part, as long as terrorists get their target (and the associated all-important press coverage and publicity) then chances are, the peripeheral damage is irrelevant to them. Oh well, that was me just thinking out loud as well...

:) Aye... quite. AFAIK: 'as far as I know'

Hmmm You'll probably think I'm being far too sensitive here, but AFAIK hamsters aren't physically best able, nor are they in any way naturally inclined to be stood on their weak back legs whilst some retards bounce and throw it around like it's some sort of bean-bag toy. Perhaps they'll fire air-rifle pellets at it next and really get it dancing, wouldn't that be funny... :angry:

Firstly, why the hell is it titled "..of the Millenium" when all solos are limited to the past 40 years-or so? Secondly, I have to say I like their style - dis loads of well-established guitarists and watch the comments come in, the traffic statistcs rise and the advertising revenue increase also. Thirdly, am I to assume then, that anyone who's opinion you disagree with, is an "idiot?" Lastly, where's the Hendrix solos? if anyone was deserving of being overrated it is surely he.

One skin, two skin, three skin, four-sk... *ahem* Method, those bananas look like they're enjoying themselves (well, each other ;) )

hmmppfff! :) Gah! Typical of my luck... :) Congrats Kooperman, I've not been around a lot, but 3000 posts in anyone's book is a hell of a lot. Well done, congrats, and resist all urges to join the Merc-owning Dude - he's surely an enigma and never-knowingly under-posts ;)

PAH! Financial aid? Scholarships? In Yanksville, parhaps, but in good ole Blighty, believe me, not unless you're some talentless actor or a product of the in-bred high society. Yeah, there are loans etc, but... The questions are these: why should the intelligent but financially poor be penalised? Why should those who are inevitably going to pay more taxes have to pay more to start with? Why should a 21-yr-old finish university with a £15000+ loan over their head? Why should parents be expected to cover accomodation costs because the student loans only ever cover educational costs? And the crucial question - why should people have to pay these things given that the supposedly 'socialist' government all had THEIR degrees paid for by the then state??? Fortunately, I have never taken 'no' for an answer so exploited the loopholes in the law as it stood (f*** you Tony!!!) and consequently had to spend 14hrs a day at college 3 days a week in order to persue a career in accountancy and am now, fortunately, with an employer who is paying for my CIMA course. However, for those not so clued-up but still financially poor the situation, as it stands, is wholly inadequate and merely aims to promote the current class-system that exists in Britain. Just my opinion, but that's the way I see it...

No! they f'ing shouldn't. My justification for this is as follows: I am one of potentially many who never had the oppurtunity to go to university, because the money simply wasn't there. So, for these jumped-up retarded f***wits to get 'honourary' degrees just makes the whole situation a giant piss-take. So they've made lots of money - how the f*** does that mean that they're entitled to be among the supposed intellectual elite? Short answer? it doesn't, not by a long chalk; the acceptance of these 'awards' by some of the most mentally deficient people in the world just highlights why I have so little respect for the majority of graduates and the universities/class-system that granted these 'honours' Also, Rainbowdemon, unless I'm mistaken (which happens, albeit rarely, but it happens :) ), Dr Brian May has an astro-physics degree, or something similar at least, which proves he's not all that stupid and shouldn't be confused with the ordinary brainless dipsh*ts that are ordinarily granted such things. Yes, I'm bitter and jealous about these awards but not without reason. ...Rant over, for now. ;) :)

Ok, to put you in the picture, I recently bought a new computer and obviously needed to install copies of Microsoft Office in order to read/edit all my old files. Now, me being me and not wanting to break with current culture I 'sourced' a copy shall we say and promptly installed it. Microsoft being Microsoft isisted I activate my product which I promptly tried to activate over the net and surprisingly my new copy of Windows XP was already registered and I could only use it another 50 times before it would revert to 'reduced-functionality' (read: no functionality). Fair enough I thought, I only needed to print a couple of invoices for some of my freelance work and then I would abandon Office as I didn't really need it. Naturally, I needed Office a bit more than I thought and suddenly it had reverted to reduced functionality mode and I was unable to do anything more than view documents. I figured the problem needed to be sorted so I tried clicking on the 'activate by phone' radio button, it promptly notified me about some MS privacy crap (let's face it they don't care and by using their software you've already allowed them to view the contents of your computer but I digress), accordingly, I skipped over it until I got to the screen where you select your country and you're presented with a code and a telephone number, figuring I wasn't about to call MS I rethought my strategy and caicked back until I got to the activation method screen where I decided to try again using the internet method and this is where the fun begins - Microsoft promptly activated my product and with a restart of Office I now have full functionality Gotta love Bill for that. :)

'Tis ok, I've just phoned Osama and he says I can join him and the Iraqi WMDs - I am perfectly safe.