caldrail
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Blog Comments posted by caldrail
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It gets worse doesn't it? Now the burmese government is turning the whole thing into a propaganda exercise and photo opportunities, whilst appropriating the aid that has got through. Its worse than Africa.
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Well, the demand for performance means that eventually hybrids will include sports models, and in theory the performance potential from an electric motor will ouitclass that of an internal combustion engine - its just that so far once you've done the quarter mile in six seconds you run out of juice...
Will people ever learn? No. The burmese government didn't listen because it lives with its head in the sand and is too concerned with enforcing its rule. In any case, living smart is only smart in someones opinion. I could buy a hybrid and feel very smug, yet still die when a tree falls on it in strong winds.
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The problem these days is that our awareness of the enviroment has almost religious overtones, that if you speak against the enviromental gospel you get burned at the stake, whether the gospel is correct or not. Our own government has jumped on the enviromental bandwagon eagerly in its quest to redistribute everybodies wealth into public servants mortgages. The simple fact is the earth is a dynamic system far more powerful than we are, and as much as caring for the enviroment is laudable, its highly unlikely that driving hybrid bubble cars is going to suddenly prevent any changes in climate. Its already happening - and like any other species on earth, we either adapt or perish when the changes hit us.
Incidentially, last nights news carried a report that as many as 100,000 people have been killed in that cyclone. Its getting difficult to visualise what it must have been like.
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No, but it might get miffed and roll away...
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Where you live matters. So does your occupation. Thankfully as a warehouseman I'm considered amongst the safest drivers
Its all down to the law of averages. If you're the slowest, safest, least accident prone driver ever born, if you drive a car regarded as risky you get hammered. Cars like the Ford Cosworth were regularly attracting quotes of
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I've got a good idea Caldrail, Why don't you go out into Swindon and change all the arrows on the diversion signs in the wrong direction then get a pack of four beers, sit on a bench and watch the chaos commence.
It beats watching tele!
Why go to all that effort? No-one can find their way around town anyhow...
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Difficult to compare insurance. So much depends on your driving record and the risk assesment of the vehicle you want to drive. I didn't realise petrol (sorry, gasoline
) was that expensive in the US. -
Then again, I doubt the americans are paying nearly
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In Britain BMW is trying to portray itself as the choice car of professionals, whilst half of those on the road are actually driven by out-of-work young afro carribeans. Currently, BMW outsell the Ford Mondeo, which is about as ordinary as a family car can get. Therefore the sales campaign is to win back the class they lost back in the 80's.
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British politeness is a funny thing. I'm not known for being polite, yet people who use more direct language than me are. Its very much in the eye of the beholder isn't it? The real reason I'm not considered a polite person (besides my natural bluntness) is that I don't quite fit the expected ettiquete and protocol for the social group I happen to be with. Even the yobboes and grunts who swear like troopers and behave like animals can be considered polite because in an intuitive way they give deference (or at least enough of it) to their social seniors. I on the other hand have more anarchastic leanings and to me a 'man in a suit' is probably a con artist or a complete idiot, not the 'man in charge' that the yobboes see. So the man in the suit talks to me and is quietly astonished or upset that I don't visibly recognise his superiority, thus I'm not polite and the yobbo is. Men in suits like BMW's and Mercedes - they're considered suitable cars for a 'man in charge', whereas to me they're hoplessly boring luxury saloons I wouldn't buy if a gun was held to my head - and indeed, my love of sports cars has seen me lose more than one career for that very reason - that stupid human love of status symbols. You might argue the sports car is also a such a symbol. I wouldn't, although I do agree the sports car is often a genital extender, but again for me my choice of car is about my own personal enjoyment, the driving experience, not what it means to people I pass on the street or leave behind in my rear view mirror.
Its just a cross I have to bear
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No, british computers bring up a dialog informing you politely that it wasn't possible to log you on and that you may need to seek further assistance...
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Why? Do the Italians have oil?
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I thought the stuff was running out?Well, actually I use electricity...Then it is about time you tried oil.
Doesn't that depend how many bears there are in the first place? And since I'm the one on the receiving end of a somewhat miffed bear with pellet damage to its fur, that I cannot run faster than it, that I cannot climb trees better than it, and that its a great deal bigger and meaner than me, I'm not keen to pick a fight. Rambo was trained to eat raw bears, I wasn't.When one has a shot gun, it doesn't matter if a Bear attempts to fight back.Not sure I want to put that to the test.... Oh, come on. One Bear more or less isn't of any consequence in the ontological scheme of things.
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Hey man, which window is that bell at?
think you exaggerate just a tad.... I am officially poor after all, so my pounds are really very few. Not a problem. Look, package your brains into a CBO - Collateralized Brain Obligation. Moody's will rate it AAA. Then go to the re-discount window at the NY Fed. They'll bury you in the new US lira.Package my brain? Anyone got a matchbox?
Who from? I'm alone in several hundred square miles of wilderness. You forget that you will be situate near Nome.Nome is a good place huh? I mean, plenty of bears and squirrels and stuff?
I can do that in england -I just stop paying the heating bill. You'll freeze to death then. There are plenty of pine trees in alaska just begging to be chopped down.And that warms me up huh? Well, considering the cost of air travel to alaska, I guess I'll carry on paying the heating bill...
Cool. I'll buy my bandana and survivalist magazine now.... Now you are cooking with oil.Well, actually I use electricity...
When one has a shot gun, it doesn't matter if a Bear attempts to fight back.Not sure I want to put that to the test....
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Let me walk you through this, bit by bit, so pay close attention. First of all, you will become extremely rich converting a few of your pounds into American lira.
I think you exaggerate just a tad.... I am officially poor after all, so my pounds are really very few.
Sgt. Preston and his dog, King, are dead and gone, so you can take up stealing with immunity and impunity.Who from? I'm alone in several hundred square miles of wilderness.
No need to rent a flat, or buy a house with an ARM, just chop up some snow blocks and build a cozy igloo.I can do that in england -I just stop paying the heating bill.
No portaloo necessary; simply dig a hole inside and/or outside the igloo.Cool. I'll buy my bandana and survivalist magazine now....
As far as food goes, eagle eggs for breakfast with a side of whale blubber. Lunch?, salmon and lichens. For dinner, just blow the brains out of an unlucky caribou. No need to steal a refrigerator. For special occasions, whack a Bear.Yes.... well.... I think I need to study the small print here..... Not quite like parting with a few pence in a supermarket is it? At least there the food doesn't fight back.
On those lazy Wednesday afternoons, you can pan for gold and/or dig for oil!But whats the point? If I don't need to buy anything, whats the use of gold? If I haven't any roads to blast down in a ferrari, whats the point of my own oil well? Anyhow, I'm hungry, so if you'll exuse me I'll whack that bear over there.... Its not running away GO... Erm, GO, its standing up on its rear leg and making loud angry noises..... So where's this oil at?
Ever feel like not getting out of, or into bed?I'm unemployed. Not getting out of bed is mandatory behaviour.
People bother you? There ain't very many up there.One wonders why.....
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Oh? They have gardening centers there?
Wanted - assistant to deal with customers and storage. Pilots license with floatplane experience an advantage. Must be computer literate, hairy chested, able to cope with social deprivation and grizzly bears, and a minimum of five years experience with hunting rifles. Apply now....
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GO - You are now my guru. I base my entire life on your teachings....
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"Since a firearm made any man the equal of another, it became an inherent part of their society, something enshrined in american law, and deeply embedded in their psyche."
Nah, it was the dime novel. Most fire arms were rusty pieces of junk. Not enshrined in American law nor psyche. (See above.)
Let us cogitate together. Would it be an infringement of an American two year old's rights to deny him the right to bear arms? Idiots? Urban Blacks, Eyetalians, Russians and Latinos? Wouldn't it be an 'infringement' to even so much as define 'arms'? I could use a B-36 atomic bomber. The Missouri would also be helpful.
There is a parallel in modern britain to the western firearm. Until recent decades handguns were rigidly controlled but available if you went through the rigmarole. Then after a shooting incident by some nutter the government banned them. Result? Handguns became a black market commodity, and this meant they were now getting into the hands of dubious citizens. Youngsters in particular who now see their handguns as fashionable items, a label denoting manhood and superiority, a means to 'respect' as they see it, and in some cases, a means to defend yourself against those who also have guns. The actual condition of these weapons is possibly poor, as the great majority of the youngsters (or older crooks to be honest) have no actual knowledge of firearm maintenance, and in any case many gunsmiths went out of business following the ban. However, if confronted with some smiling young man with a pistol held sideways up, do you really inspect the gun for condition before doing what he wants?
In general, children are much easier to impress with gun safety than adults, who generally think they know better. I was trained to use military firearms in my youth, and whilst I would hardly consider myself an expert, I do not wish to own real weapons for any purpose nor do I do stupid things with the inert guns I did own. I do admit to having owned collections of deactivated or replica weapons in the past but a gun nut I am not. I'm well aware of the nature of these things and whilst I collected them from a historical perpective and interest in military affairs, I wouldn't dream of pointing them at a bank teller.
I once showed my collection to the brother of a girlfriend. He went glassy eyed, and staring at a real but deactivated Bren LMG asked me if I had the guts to raid a post office. I told it didn't matter if I did or I didn't, that was wrong and I wouldn't do it. He ignored my answer and me again if I had the guts. Lets close the cupboard eh?
Seriously though GO, I really think you'd struggle to fly a B36 on your tod, evenif you knew how to fly at all, and something tells me that you'd fail completely to use the Missouri for similar reasons. Its easier to use a handgun isn't it? Especially when tv and film show how easy it is to use them and that its always the 'bad guys' who get hurt. A angry or greedy individual so armed is definitely going to see others as the bad guys, and so believes he can use this weapon to achieve his ends and does not consider the results of his actions, and in fact becomes more dangerous when he realises the gravity of his situation and becomes frightened/desperate.
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The observance of respect in days of british yore is a hangover from earlier times, when lords were masters of their manor and part of a chain of fuedal loyalties. The commoners had rights, but knew their place. The manorial lord was potentially a mean SOB and could quickly punish them for their lack of respect. The commoners were banned from riding horses, regarded as a social and military privilege (not to mention advantage). Ordinary hand weapons were the preserve of professional soldiers - though I don't recall a medieval prohibition on swords, yet there were weapons encouraged by the upper classes. Archery practice was mandatory in the 14th century and football was banned for that reason.
In later centuries, this developed into the traditional british class system, where those of higher status were regarded as superior (mostly by themselves). America offered something different. A new land, a new beginning. Although there was definitely more than a hint of the same cultural structure they had left behind, the classicly inspired new leaders attempted to create a better society. On the frontier however, things are less organised, more rough and ready. Violence was never far away and thus a macho protocol emerges amongst those who lived and worked there. Since a firearm made any man the equal of another, it became an inherent part of their society, something enshrined in american law, and deeply embedded in their psyche.
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mugabe won his war against the British with the training and the assistance of the north koreans. I'll bet that the ordinary folk wish that you Brits were still there. As a matter of fact, I wish that King George were ruling America rather than king georgie poo the bushe.
We haven't been at war with Mugabe - he just uses us as a scapegoat to take attention away from the fact he's clueless about how to run the country. Further, his quest to remain in power has seen his country turn from being the breadbasket of Africa to just another chaotic and despotic african hell-hole. As it turns out, the only reason he wanted a recount of the votes was so he could track down those who hadn't voted for him. As for ordinary folk, I've no doubt there's a few who look back at how things were and wish it were so again - many don't, they prefer their independence at whatever cost, and there are plenty of people that think Mugabe is the best thing since sliced bread and is trying to save Zimbabwe from British invasion.
Thank you for your faith in british rulership. Sadly, since George III has recovered from his madness some time ago, its unlikely we'll be back
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Awareness of my environs? They found the body in a marshy area at the west side of the lake. there's a country road adjacent to it at a higher level and the undergrowth is fairly thick. Although the police haven't found evidence of foul play yet, you do have to wonder why this person was wandering around in a reedy swamp. Perhaps I'm more aware of my environs than he was?
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Live fast, die drunk....
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Hmmm... but surely if the earthquake shakes the cans about, isn't there a risk of damage to your fridge and therefore starvation due to food spoil? Its no good popping down to the supermarket afterward, theyve got more beer and fizzy drinks in one place than anyone. i suggest that for complete earthquake readiness, your own dairy cow and a chicken coup are absolutely essential.
PS - dont forget your rambo survival knife, a bandana, some string, and a tarpaulin....
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So the big question is - do you keep fizzy drinks in the fridge?
Monday Cars
in caldrail's Blog
A blog by caldrail in General
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Good grief Doc, if you want o post photos of cars at least post an interesting one... feeling sleepy... mondeo.... dull.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz