assassin_696

I have kinda similar views to you really. I'm not religious so to me a religious marriage ceremony would be meaningless and a waste of time. But, if I did find the girl for me then I would like some kind of celebration of our commitment to each other with family and close friends. I agree that marriage as a concept is probably overrated and doesn't mean what it used to, but for those who do remain together many look back on their wedding day as one of the happiest days of their lives. That said, I wouldn't want a typically traditional wedding, maybe something a little more intimate, maybe even abroad, but definitely something memorable. There are also all the legal benefits of living together as a married couple (I'm pretty sure there are anyway). But at the end of the day mate, since when has it ever been what the bloke wanted? :P

Even if he did share an ideology very close to yours, does that really mean that he's what you think America needs? What i'm trying to say is, I agree with many of his policies, but do you believe that he's really president material?

Bought a few things yesterday: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End The Bourne Ultimatum Polar Express Mothership: Led Zeppelin, 2CD + DVD package

No way, they need to kill of Sylar, he's had a whole season of doing exactly the same thing, killing people and taking their brain... I didn't think i'd mentioned Sylar :? I agree his plot is fairly samey, but he's definitely the most sinister of all the bad guys.

Some girl, some holiday. It seemed quite special at the time, but looking back on it it wasn't especially remarkable. I don't think there's much point really unless that person means something to you.

Despite all its flaws, I believe in humanity.

Sorry, I don't think this is a serious or viable suggestion. Locked

But the whole problem with the NHS, is that becuase it's a government run organisation it hasn't got the incentive to be efficient like a profit making business would be. Thats an awful lot to chalk up to one reason, and in this case it isn't all that significant. A great many of the current problems with the NHS come from the fact it is constantly being changed and reorganised by polticians who like to appear as if they doing something, take alook at how many regional body systems weve been through over the last decade. If you constantly restructure any organisation you cause yourself no end of problems. A corrupt audit office doesnt help matters much either. [/hide] Insignificant? Not at all, I think you're very much underestimating the power of the incentive. I agree that the politics doesn't help it much either though. I agree with you that it is significant, however there are incentives. What about just doing a good job in the hope of a promotion? Or even just do well hoping to get a good job in the private sector. I know it isn't as black and white as that but I don't think that there is no incentive. I know there exist incentives for individuals within the organisation, but because there is no overall profit incentive for the NHS as a whole (it's got government backing, so there's no real concern for it if it was to go under) it isn't very efficient. I agree it's not black and white, I agree there exist various incentives for individuals to get an even higher paying job (paid for by taxes), but for the NHS as a whole I can guarantee that it is not as efficient as it would be if it was placed on the free market. The fairness of that is another issue though.

Couldn't agree more, his first few meditations laid the foundations for the best of the "modern philosophies" but his later "proofs" of everything which he threw out in the first meditations are just silly.

Even if you don't like bikes, this video will brighten up your day.

Losing My Religion - R.E.M.

But the whole problem with the NHS, is that becuase it's a government run organisation it hasn't got the incentive to be efficient like a profit making business would be. Thats an awful lot to chalk up to one reason, and in this case it isn't all that significant. A great many of the current problems with the NHS come from the fact it is constantly being changed and reorganised by polticians who like to appear as if they doing something, take alook at how many regional body systems weve been through over the last decade. If you constantly restructure any organisation you cause yourself no end of problems. A corrupt audit office doesnt help matters much either. Insignificant? Not at all, I think you're very much underestimating the power of the incentive. I agree that the politics doesn't help it much either though.

Nah, France has a very low rate of alchohol trouble, in fact a lot of teenagers frowned on our English exchange party when we went over and wanted to go out drinking. I agree that countries with more of a drinking culture have less of a problem with booze, but I don't know if British culture is really suited to sorting that out anyway. There's a stronger sense of family in Italy, and to some extent, France, which definitely helps. I'm not sure if lowering the price on it would help either, but I agree that a pint of beer is far too expensive here, especially in the south east.

... that an opinion based on analyzed facts and comparisions, or a knee-jerk ideological reaction stemming from the traditional american view of socialism? Analysed facts and opinions. I'm not American, and I used to lean towards the socialist side of things anyway. I just now know that free markets are more efficient than government run ventures. Not more equal, not fairer, just more efficient. And when I live in a country which spends billions upon billions every year on health and still runs a lacklustre health service, I'm starting to think at least a partial free market solution might be the way forward.

In most cases the test is designed to help reinforce your learning and help the teacher gauage what kind of level you're at. Cheating doesn't really help either of those things. Or maybe I just like the self-satisfaction of doing well without cheating, i've helped people when they've asked me in tests, I don't really care, i'd just rather my mark was honest.

I don't think that something being in the public sector means that they don't have the incentive to be efficient or make profit. There were plenty of public sector firms making profit before Mad Maggie sold them all. I mean the NHS is, like you said, bound to lose money. However I think that that can be limited and the NHS run efficiently. I don't know if you watched that thing with Gerry Robinson, but that gave a good insight into some of the failings of the NHS and some of it really was ridiculous. But he did offer some solutions. One was on the lines of privatising it but running it on government funding, which could work. I just think it really could and should have something done. It doesn't need to be as much of a black hole as it is while also providing a beter service. I agree with solutions suggested like that, but it's just a general fact that organisations taken off the free market and put into government hands losse their incentive (or at least most of it) to turn a profit. It's why government lead programs are notoriously slow and wasteful.

But the whole problem with the NHS, is that becuase it's a government run organisation it hasn't got the incentive to be efficient like a profit making business would be.

Assassin - Muse

You are forgetting the added cost of Government Bureaucracy. That cost can be massive. I don't know if it is in Norway's particular case but in general(there are always exceptions) governments do a horribly innefficient job at things when compared to a free market. Just look at FEMA after the hurricane hit New Orleans. Do you want those same idiots running our Healthcare system? I agree, although I think in principle it would be lovely if everyone could have access to a perfect healthcare system regardless of financial background, in reality the costs of running such a system through the government are massive, and terribly inefficient. But then again, I don't the US system is a particularly good solution either. It's a tricky one, and i'm open to suggestions and opinions.

Stop pigeonholing atheists, atheism tells you nothing about that person's beliefs.

Please use the sticky for these. Locked.

"Global shortages of newspress ink lead t...." :P

Goin' To Acapulco - Jim James & Calexico

I believe it should be controlled by the majority's (at least 80%) ideology of what is "dangerous" (not what's right or wrong). In a democracy, the courts, which represent the population, should do the controlling. So you would deny that 20% who oppose whatever you vote on the right to peacefully make their opinions and thoughts felt? In the UK alone that could be over 10 million people. And you call that democracy? Sounds more like fascism.

Pretty good season, Consequences was by far the best of the bunch though. I'll be honest, aspect's of Claire's storyline are annoying, but Jack Coleman is just fantastic as Noah Bennett, and some of the scenes they've shared have been the most powerful. A few of the plot devices are going to become slightly annoying, that 'miracle blood' means death isn't really the end for anyone anymore if they don't want it. And a few of the storylines need to be tied off for once and for all*cough*Niki/Micah/Monica*cough*