vpozzoli

You should give your MPs more credit. Even they were perfectly aware that this particular legislation was not going to affect the crime rate in any way, but simply prevent events like Dunblane and Hungerford from happening ever again. Which it did, by the way, and hence was a complete success. Ciao. Vale Except that you can't say it won't happen "ever again" - you can only say "it hasn't happened since". Excuse me, what is it exactly that I cannot say will happen "ever again". Just want to make sure you understand what is actually being discussed before replying to you. Cheers, Valentino

You should give your MPs more credit. Even they were perfectly aware that this particular legislation was not going to affect the crime rate in any way, but simply prevent events like Dunblane and Hungerford from happening ever again. Which it did, by the way, and hence was a complete success. Ciao. Vale

You don't need one, you ARE one. Actually, he is only PART of one. Individuals do not evolve, some definitely manage to devolve, but that's a whole different issue. Sorry, but since everybody was nitpicking everybody else, I felt the urge to participate. Ciao, Vale

You assume wrong, thus falling for one of JohnRich's favourite dishonest tactics. Here is one of a myriad of sources of information on what the gun ban was actually brought in for and what it was always meant to address http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre Cheers, Vale

Yawn. John, why don't you get yourself some new strawmen for Christmas? The old ones are a bit frayed around the edges. Cheers.

Clearly, so that fundamentalist Christian parents wouldn't think the cartoon was promoting sorcery and prevent their kids from watching it. With the JET, it's only extremely advanced technology. Which, if advanced enough, is indistinguishable from magic, by the way. But seriously, WTF? How does a fantasy cartoon relate to sorcery? Do they really live in the middle ages? Ciao, Vale

Clearly, if department store clerks were issued CCWs (and got proper training on gun use, of course) such things would never happen! Making shopping malls gun free zones only managed to disarm law abiding citizens while giving nutters free run of the place! Oops, sorry, wrong context, I thought you were talking about schools. Vale

The comparison in itself is meaningless IMHO. The devil is a mythical figure that requires one to "believe" in its existence. Belief is meaningless in relation to a scientific theory. See the thread next door for confirmation (or not) Unless what was actually meant is: there are more Americans that believe in the existence of the Devil than there are that believe in the existence of the theory of evolution. But that makes even less sense Cheers, Vale

You obviously haven't even bothered to check those links out, have you? See my above posts for some examples. Ironically, some of those linked "articles" where blog posts that mocked global warming (mostly using pre-school logic) but they got swept up by the spider (or a very dumb human) and added to a list of "articles" that allegedly "support" GW/climate change. Bwaaah. Blech Vale

Dam, I just figured out that global warming caused your boredom

Bwahhhh. That list has either been compiled by a web spider, or by a very stupid (and/or dishonest) person. I mean, Global Warming is causing "elephants"? And that info is garnered from an article about a WWF campaign for the reduction of CO2 emission from coal powered plants? And I also see that Global Warming is causing "conferences" to be held! Therefore it must all be a conspiracy! I'm finally convinced, where do I sign up? Come on, cut the bullshit, this is even worse that JohnRich's cut and paste jobs! Vale

Rubbish. A little too easily dismissed given the pedigree of the scientist. Followed by more rubbish... Hint: the authority principle is worthless in a scientific context. Not so in faith-based belief systems where it is preeminent. Cheers, Vale

Let me try and spell it out for you: high CO2 concentrations in the past did not trigger GW events because there were no high CO2 concentrations in the past. Hence billvon's semi-serious crack: dinosaurs did not drive SUVs. What you're saying amounts basically to: since past GW events were not driven by high concentrations of CO2 but by other causes, why should high concentrations of CO2 cause GW today? Re-wording it cleverly to make it sound like there actually were high CO2 concentrations and they did not cause GW is a cheap trick IMHO and one easily seen through. Your argument really makes no sense if you think about it carefully enough. Cheers, Vale

Actually, the thing about August being peak season is true mostly for Southern Europeans. Northern Europeans tend to have their summer holidays earlier, like June or July at the latest, for obvious climate reasons. That is, when we still had a climate you could count on. I'd definitely avoid Italy in August as that's when most Italians have their summer break. Maybe arrange to visit Southern Europe first and then in August move on to more northern areas like Germany or the UK. As for Venezia, yeah, it's a very nice city, and so is Florence, if you're into the architecture/arts thing. Unfortunately they have become outrageously expensive thanks mostly to the Japanese tourists and their spending capabilities, combine that with the strong Euro and that might be too taxing on your budget. Rome on the other hand is definitely a must see and not as outrageously overpriced. Cheers, Vale

It must have gotten so bad that it got the "Recycle Bin" treatment, instead of the milder "Locked Thread" one. As I was intent on bravely commuting home amidst a terrifying gale, I missed all the fun too. Cheers, VAle

For having those books in your living room? Probably nothing. But if you're ever caught trying to acquirehigh-grade rocket fuel AND high yield explosives illegally, that might give the investigators some ideas as to what you were probably planning to do with those items. Cheers, Vale

From the video it looks like he has part of the frame still dangling from the harness. That's probably how he got separated from the glider. Definitely one lucky SOB Cheers, Vale

My mother still does that, or at least tries to. You'd think that even the most stubborn woman would believe that her son has figured out how to dress for the weather, by the time he turns 36 Vale

Let's see: 1. expert in massage therapy Is that what people call it nowadays? 2. able to choose good wine and whiskey and pour it if I need WITHOUT comment I'm Italian, 'nuff said. And I I've been to Scotland once, so I guess that's covered too. 3. understands that whatever I wear, I look good, and NOTHING makes my ass look fat, not even my ass (this is the only time I will ever need him to lie) I'm not really a good liar, but in life-or-death situations I become a pro. Since this is clearly a life-or-death kind of thing, that should be no problem either. 4. excellent non-sexual cuddlenapper After all the wine and the Scotch, I guess there won't be much else left to do. 5. complete hugslut Check 6. extradordinarily attractive and well-built Have pectorals, will travel is my motto 7. good cook and must be willing to grill for me and and fix foofoo girly drinks even sometimes also for my incredibly gorgeous friends If you like genuine Italian cuisine, that's covered too. As for the gorgeous (lady)friends, bring them on! 8. excellent sun lotion application skills You called? [mischievous smirk] 9. tandem instructor or aff instructor and/or packer/ rigger preferrable I've always packed for myself, so I guess packing an extra rig should be no problem 10. able to warm my heatsucking booty on occasion, especially on camping trips and when it snows Presenting you with the Human Furnace! Although sex is usually required to start it up, I hope that's not too much of a problem for you. 11. Able to let me watch my damn Steelers game and STFU... even when his team wins and the Steelers don't. What's a Steeler? 12. Not currently married or separated. I've been separated longer than I've been married, maybe we could arrange for a waiver? So, do I qualify? Vale

Did you bother even reading the article? Cheers, Vale

Man, you must be like, really old or something. Nowadays the cool thing to do is blame it all on video games. TV and rock 'n roll music are sooo 60s and 70s. Cheers mate. Vale What would y'know!? Enough of that - take your age slur with your spaghetti bending butt back to Milan.

Man, you must be like, really old or something. Nowadays the cool thing to do is blame it all on video games. TV and rock 'n roll music are sooo 60s and 70s. Cheers mate. Vale

Any aircraft part that is affected by the number of cycles (i.e. takeoffs and landings) will have maintenance intervals dictated by number of cycles as well as numbers of hours flown. Usually in the form of "whichever limit is reached first". Just like some parts that deteriorate just by aging (such as rubber tubing and such) have to be replaced at fixed intervals, regardless of whether the plane has actually flown at all. So if maintenance is performed by the book, an aircraft that has a higher cycle rate, such as jump planes or planes that are used to tow gliders, will be just as safe as another aircraft of the same type that habitually only ferries people coast to coast. The only difference will be that in the former case the cost per hour of flight will be higher. Hope you get my drift. Edited to add: what I mean is they will be just as safe from a structural or systemic failure standpoint. Of course any increased risk due to the type of operation, such as the risk of a tail strike for a jump plane or the risk of the glider "going high" and putting the tow plane in an unrecoverable dive, will not be affected by maintenance and will have to be addressed separately, f.e. through training or otherwise. Cheers, Vale

I really don't get it. What do "differing cultures" have to do with school shootings? Vale It doesn't. It *does*, however, play into the amount and type of crimes that are perpetrated. OK, so your response was totally off-topic then. We were actually discussing the incidence of mass shootings in the UK and in the States, and how the US could serve as the control group in our little thought experiment since handguns have been banned in the UK but not in the good ol' US of A. Please try and stay on topic next time, OK? Cheers, Vale

I really don't get it. What do "differing cultures" have to do with school shootings? Vale