The Back of my own head...

Maybe it's like a hexaflexagon once were learn to flex it we'll have faster than light travel .

( Or maybe it's like a small black fluffy bouncing ball...but a bit bigger ? )

With three eyes and not just two.

this has nothing to do with the topic, but what is "kicked into touch?"

Hi Eric

Hi Eric.

"Kicked into touch" is a Rugby (football) term. It means that the ball is out of play and it allows everyone to reposition them selves before the ball is returned into play. This can be useful as a defensive play or allow for your back line to catch up to help force a player with the ball tucked under his wing across the line and put it down "In Touch". It is all part of an ancient English custom of chasing a pig's bladder around the village and assaulting who ever is holding it. It was then modernised by the pupils at Rugby (an English Boarding School for young gentleman). People use to die playing this game, Now they only end up paralysed. Isn't progress wonderful?

hmmm, rather like the ancient Scottish custom of stuffing a sheep's stomach full of stuff and eating it, eh? I imagine that a few have been paralysed by just the thought of that.

Thanks for the tip, guess I'll have to take up rugby.

Ahhh... HAGGIS! Nothing like a mess of haggis to put the hair on yer chest, laddie! Mmmmm-good!

Where I went to university, the ruggers team slogan was "Give Blood - Play Rugby" and their logo was...

Here at RIT the slogan is "It takes leather balls to play Rugby." Although I admit never having played seriously I thought the slogan was cool. Having played enough American football in pads and helmets I can only imagine the carnage.

You're welcome; thanks.

It took me a bit of time to find this thread again since i no longer seem to get automatically subscribed to threads that I respond to.

I'd expect the marble players would be keeping track - unless they're playing for 'funsies', not 'keepsies'...

"I wonder if now with the internet and internet security if we could get back to an Athenian Democracy where all the people with a right to vote could vote on every issue."

We probably could, but there's been so much controversy over that 'security', that it isn't much done, even for local elections. It's far too easy to hide the real results and stack the ballots in favor of whatever the program controllers prefer the result to be. Even machine voting with mechanical devices (punch cards) is right out these days. The Bush v Gore debacle in Florida with the 'hanging chads' should have made the news internationally, but if not, you can probably do a google search on that term and get a recap.

While there are certainly flaws in our ointment, the philosophy of checks and balances is a good one, I think. That's why it's not a given that the President and majority of Congress (House & Senate) will be all from the dominant party. It slows collusion, if any, and promotes debate that should inform the people. But if the people don't WANT to be informed, who's gonna stop them? BTW, the fine for not voting is an interesting concept. How much is it, and what's the revenue used for? Does it usually amount to much, or do most citizens vote?

"the philosophy of checks and balances is a good one"

More clarity required.

I know we have a common language but despite Mr Microsoft's best efforts we still spell some things differently.

Did you mean checks or cheques as in cheque book.

Woof! And all I wanted to know about was what people thought about the Universe

Ain't this PART of the Universe, then?

Dear Vermin, This is about the universe: the one we have created in our own image and likeness

Dragon

Then be the change you want to see in the world

-A little guy with glasses

I am doing precisely that.

A big dragon with teeth

Dragon

P.S. for some inexplicable reason the bold, italics and underline tab no longer work

They do, but you have to highlight the text that you want them to work on, like this.

Hi vermin,

Do you know what the purpose of the "strikeout" feature is? Andy Germany posted this asking what it's for. I'm just curious.

-John

Personally, I think it's there just to annoy Andy...

Woof!!! That's a good one!!! Typically, strike out is used for updating text, where you want the previous text to still be seen for the sake of comparison.

"It is a well known fact that sharks come in on little cats feet." Correction, that should have been "fog."

I suppose it also servers the purpose of pissing some people off! For instance, you copy part of their post, strike it through, then respond by telling them why they're wrong.

Thanks vermin.

Good answer. Makes no sense to me. Did you hear that Andy?

Vermin, I have attempted to do so, but when I do the cursor ceases to work. And the icons become nonfunctional.

Dragon

Do you mean if you write something, then highlight it, that your cursor stops working?

What browser are you using? Foxfire (Firefox?).

Vermin, Thank you for solving my problem. Before if I wished to type something Bold, in italics or underlined, I would click the icon then whatever I typed next would show as the form I had clicked. Now it works the way you suggested.

I have only started using a computer regularly a few years ago.Thank you again.

Dragon

Actually, this is a recent change to how the CR4 editor works. At first, it left a lot of us scratching our heads!

By the way, here's a tip - If you want to use the subscript/superscript feature, just type a space, then highlight the space, and that will turn on all the functions.

I don't know why they did this. Chris! Any ideas?

Vermin, Thank you again. As to why: You know very well that engineers can not leave well enough alone.

Dragon

The non-monetary version. The theory is that having an Executive branch (President and cabinet), a Legislative branch (House of Representatives and Senate), and a Judicial branch (the Supreme Court), it is more difficult for any faction to gain totalitarian control. They check each other from attaining too much power, and they balance each other in creating, (legislature), defining (court), and implementing (executive) the laws that are the basis for the governance of the people. And the two-party system (Republicans and Democrats) with occasional attempts at other parties (some have included the Progressives, the Socialists, the Greens, the Independents, the Libertarians, and several other smaller ones) is supposed to get everyones' opinions on the ballot, so to speak. Obviously it doesn't always work, because there are liberalists' veiwpoints, conservatives' viewpoints, and several shades of middle-of-the-roaders, all contending for center stage. But in the end we reach a compromise that satisfies a few, offends a few, and does well enough for the vast majority. About all one can hope for, really...

The monetary version also comes into play however, in campaign finance. That's a very controversial topic, too!

There's a book, 1912, by James Chace, that does a very good job of explaining one of our most controversial election years. That was the Wilson/Taft/Roosevelt/Debs contest, representing respectively the Democrats, Republicans, Progressives (Bull Moose party), and Socialists. A fascinating read if you have even a marginal interest in historical politicking.

BlueAussieBoy: yes there are limits to how much one can contribute, but when millions of dollars are involved, there are always ways around it. For example: the Clinton-Gore reelection campaign where several hundred thousand dollars were funneled through Buddhist nunneries from the Communist Chinese government in total violation of the law and where Mr. Gore excused it by stating that there was "No overriding legal authority to regulate this action".

And the Bush-Cheney campaign where millions of dollars have been funneled through companies like Halaburton for "economic growth".

There are always those who will find a way to rob, cheat, steal and murder for money and power. Our task as persons with honor is to make those without pay for their sins.

Dragon

Is this the Halaburton that owns every part of the Gulf War except for the enlisted soldiers?

Isn't that a conflict of interests?

BlueAussieBoy, Congratulations and Huzzahs!! You are now qualified to receive the title "Master Cynic third class". New titles and Upgrades will be awarded as they are achieved.

Yes absolutely it is a conflict of interests. And every attempt to make the public aware of this fact has been ignored or sup-PRESS-ed usually by the PRESS.

B.T.W. Halaburton owns the soldiers too. The soldiers just don't know it.

Dragon

You're forgetting Blackwater.

I did think of Blackwater, that's why I said enlisted soldiers rather than just soldiers to differentiate from the mercenaries.

Vermin, Thank you for reminding us of that. You know age... the mind...something

Dragon

The very same Haliburton, whose subsidiary, Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR) got the no-bid contract for civilian support (everything from food to fuel) of our military effort in the Middle East. And Dick Cheney is no longer the CEO of Haliburton. Riiiiight! If you believe that, you'd buy this watch...

(And it's a Rolex, honest!)

I remember hearing tht when the troops first went over there to Iraq that halliburton was getting oil for an absurd amount... something that would be like 25cents a gallon (for the gas) and then they turned around and sold the same oil to the military for like 2 dollars or so... Profiteering...Do away with them ALL!

If one was really cynical one could buy shares in a company like that and say they were supporting the war effort.

Getting back to the topic of popping out of one side of the universe and appearing back on the other side.

A company with the degree of moral fortitude that they obviously have may be tempted to encourage a war to go longer or hotter by leaning on the government (in which they might be seen to have a foothold) to send in more troops and material. Like a surge sought of thing. That could be possible/profitable and worth more than a passing thought if you thought that a change of government could influence the future profit margin. The other possibility would be to encourage the other side to resist and therefore require more countermeasures.

It's going to be interesting to see how many office building fires break out on the night of the election if the Democrats are winning!!!

Why Vermin, would there be any office buildings burning the night that (hopefully not) one of the LAME democratic puppets are voted into office? Revolt against them? I think most of the people will be like herd animals - following the pack. Vote for FERRIS for the office of President. I will do away with lobbyists, money being brought in from foreign entities (or China), and nafta. The United States will retain its sovereignity and not join the u.n. for anything like the law of the (chicken) of the sea treaty, or a north ameraican union . No mexamericanada here boys and girls, just the good ol' United States of America with ol' Glory flying high and proud.

"Shit! Shit! SHIT! We gotta get this stuff burned before the Democrats get here!!! Bush!"

"Yeah, Chaney?"

"You forgot to burn that building over there!!!"

"But that's just the General Accounti..."

"BURN IT! BURN IT! BURN IT!!!"

"Yes, sir!!!"

Hey, you forgot the whole ummmm, hmmmmm, world trade center thing. Bush said he saw the 1st plane crash into the 1st tower before the footage was taken from the guys doing the training video with the NYFD. I saw somewhere an idea that a missle(s) had been fired from the sears tower (there was "video" showing trails of smoke coming from the side of the building facing the towers)... Look it up on you tube. Of course it could ALL be doctored... But what if it wasn't? (theme music from the Twilight Zone...................) tick tock

They're coming to get you, Barbara!!!

Forward! Forward to the Status Quo!

Hmmmmm, Aussie boy, huh? What time is it there... It is almost like talking through time. It is Tuesday there, no? Cheerio.

BlueAussieBoy, Bingo! On the nose.

Dragon

EnviroMan, Congratulations!! You have been promoted to Master Cynic Second Class!

Dragon

"...promoted to Master Cynic Second Class..."

Thank you! I'm just SO proud...

"No taxation without representation"

G'day, Mate - news flash - taxation WITH representation ain't so hot, either!!!

I do respect your guidance on how to properly handle politicians. Proper sanitation and hygeine are SO important! Say, you may be on to something here. If y'all vote for OUR candidates, and we vote for YOURS, we might both get a better roll of the dice, eh? If nothing else, it would help keep both nations on a friendly basis. If we p155 you off, you'd say 'well, here's the lot that'll be in charge of YOU, then' and vote in the lowlifes...but wait, we already do that to ourselves... Oh, never mind!