The Ranting Room

...I can't!

Yeah, the point being that mass media entertainment is meant to attract a wide audience. It is not aimed at niches or elitist sects. And to state that there is some sort of conspiracy to somehow undermine society verges on paranoia. Now if McDonald's was owned by the Communist Chinese, I would more likely believe that the reason for a Big Mac's caloric overkill is to bring the Western Civilization to its knees. Mostly because our portly bodies could no longer carry the extra weight that these delicacies can add to one's frame.
But as it's an american corporation, I just put it down to capitalistic ideology. Give the people what they want, even if it's more than they need. Unless it meant giving us more prog, in which case, some at PA would go on to other genres that attract less adulation, so as to maintain their superiority complex.

Jim Garten wrote: darqDean wrote: ranting at Microsoft is like tilting at windmills in a barrel Indeed - about as difficult as hitting a cow's @rse with a banjo (and about as pointless); much as we hate it, so called progress happens... I'm still getting over the fact that our latest PC doesn't have a floppy-disc drive . James - it seems you're happy with your current PC, you just want it to perform better/faster; with the budget you spoke about earlier, would it not be easier (and probably cheaper) to get a good engineer to upgrade your existing machine? This way, you'd keep your existing applications & operating system of choice, but they'd run more efficiently. +++ OK - time for a rant THIS ISN'T THE BLOODY TECHTALK THREAD, GARTEN, THIS IS THE RANTING ROOM! That's better - a bit of self chastisement's always good for the soul.

I'm afraid I cannot.  My current machine is so old, that it's mostly incompatible with new components.  It'll need a new Motherboard, because I cannot put a better chipset in it.  It's maxed out.  The videocard is PCI and not AGP or PCI Express, so that'd have to be condemned.  Windows 2000 is pretty well old hat and XP is stable enough now for me to warrant using it.  This machine would struggle running XP.  I've also used all my harddrive slots up, so I cannot put anymore in.

Basically, it's easier to buy a laptop and still keep this machine for backup purposes.

rhinn wrote: My thread is locked and rightly so, i should've renamed it how thick is London, regardless as to how bad Labour are running our country. Which suicidal megolamaniac would ever vote for an upper class twit like Boris Johnson? Only Londoners.   And they expect every part of the UK to pay for this folly, the olympics,  which is going to run way over budget and schedule. But hey Boris the donkey is a fitting nonce to lead the supposed capital of the UK to greatness. Ha ha ha ha ha...you get what you vote for...a donkey.   Only Englands capital would vote for the dimmest, far from the real people who he's meant to serve, an abject fool.   Congratulations on a fine mayor....long may he f""k up everything.   ps thank christ he's Englands capital city's mayor and not Scotlands.

darqDean wrote: so, that's 6 'mistakes' caught on camera while cycling to work and four more on the way home, plus failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing, riding on the pavement and cycling through a park... how careful can he be?

I agree completely - reminds me of my very first post when I started this thread:

Jim Garten wrote: Car Indicators! All modern cars have these fitted as standard; they are NOT a luxury item or optional extra... USE THE BLOODY THINGS!

Jim Garten wrote: Syzygy wrote: Speaking as a Londoner (by adoption, exiled Liverpudlian) That explains the crime figures, then +++hides+++

PROGMAN wrote: My fear Rant: Phil Collins has spiraled out of control here on the forums, we must think of the children and end this evil deed

 I believe there is a need for a few exorcisms. The recent Phil is a prog legend and the other Phil thread just seem to be attempts to bait the Gabrielites out of their lair where the moderate "So Phil is not God, so what" sect got sick & tired of the bashing and came to state the then so far silent majority opinion that Phil was not responsible for all the so called evils that Genesis went on to pursue after Peter's (and Steve's) departure, such as, again supposedly, the conscious and malicious progression towards becoming a mainstream "pop" group; that Phil did not kill kittens, and that he was not responsible in any way for Dubya's two term as U.S. prez, nor for Justin Timberlake's ascent to pop top.
If PA was able to do away with the anti-Dream Theater attack thread (this was before my time here), PAers should be able to move on to new, unexplored topics. Such as why Klaatu & Ange are not listed in the top 100 of any genre. Somehow, some way, my vote is just being counted as one. So there is surely something wrong with those stats.

I have a rant, yes I do!

I'll try and make it not-political but I fear it just may... so hold onto your bile.

Yesterdays Crewe and Nantwich by-election was won by the Conservatives in a 12% majority.  This was formerly the seat of the late Gwynneth Dunwoody, a staunch and very respected Labour Politician.

How do they honour her sad demise?:  They vote in a Tory.

Now if a Tory passed away and Labour won, well, I wouldn't be arguing as much, of course but I still feel that it's a bit unhealthy honouring the memory of a long-serving M.P.

So why can they replace the deceased M.P. with another, say for a year and see how they go?

I wouldn't complain so much if it wasn't for the fact that:

a) from what I can tell, she was a great M.P. and there were few complaints
b) it was a LOCAL by-election not a National one, so why are you all voters voting for National issues? Sure, the 10pence tax problem does affect many but many National problems don't.  This annoys me so much!  Think of all the things your former M.P. did for you and then think "will this new guy actually be as good?  what about that labour person we didn't vote in, or maybe the Liberal Democrat?

I just feel that things have gone to peoples' heads.  There was a lady interviewed on Television from Crewe and well, her family has been staunch Labour voters all their lives and she voted Conservative.

Did she really think this through?  I'm a staunch Labour voter and I'd never vote for the Conservatives.  My parents suffered through the Thatcher years.  We don't need that time again.  Maybe others can forgiver the Conservatives but I cannot.  They haven't changed that much and they have no clear policies.

Phew.  That ended up a longer and more politically-minded rant than I envisaged so don't mind me if I've trodden on anyones toes.

I do not want a debate here, so if you are going to comment, I'd rather you commented on the initial thoughts.

You've missed my point here, Rob.

My main point is that to me, it feels disrespectful to the family and memory of recently deceased M.P.'s (whatever party they are with) when all their hard work is disrespected by the voter who, in my eyes, is mostly voting for National issues and against the government, when they should be voting for Local ones.  Yes, National issues to affect things, I've said that already but they don't completely.  Housing, transport, hospitals and other stuff is local.  It just seems to me that they've voted tactically and to give Labour a bad name.  That's dishonest voting.

When everyone starts complaining about the inevitable Conservative Government that will win the General Election, I won't say "I told you so".

Re: your points -- no, it doesn't mean that person is any better or worse but from what I have witnessed they don't seem to be solely voting for policies and integrity; rather they are besmirching Gordon Brown's credibility (or lack of).  That's not what local elections are for.

I know why they're voting that way, Rob, I just don't like it.  I am sure Gordon and the rest are indeed worried but that's politics really.

Anyhow, it was supposed to be a rant and not a discussion, so let's nip this in the bud whilst we still can.