yamaneko

We tried that in July and August of 2007, and failed even though this website was not the only one contributing designers. (Several paragraphs deleted, as it appears that there is a BoomTown project elsewhere on Simtropolis that makes much of what I wrote useless.)

As a city's average education rises, dirty industry declines because everybody wants to work in a cleaner environment. Fortunately for low-income Sims, all levels of industry and commerce require low-wealth Sims, so the loss of dirty industry does not necessarily lead to the loss of jobs. If an area of dirty industry closes down, whatever Sims were employed there have lost their jobs, so bulldozing such building causes no further loss of jobs. At this point you may want to de-zone the area (since higher-class industry does not like to be surrounded by polluters) and place a few trees. This is somewhat realistic -- abandoned industrial properties tend to get covered in weeds in real life, which starts off the process of forest succession in areas warm and wet enough to support trees. It took about 15 years for some former mills at my old job to turn into a rather beautiful field of wildflowers and grasses.

As a city's average education rises, dirty industry declines because everybody wants to work in a cleaner environment. Fortunately for low-income Sims, all levels of industry and commerce require low-wealth Sims, so the loss of dirty industry does not necessarily lead to the loss of jobs. If an area of dirty industry closes down, whatever Sims were employed there have lost their jobs, so bulldozing such building causes no further loss of jobs. At this point you may want to de-zone the area (since higher-class industry does not like to be surrounded by polluters) and place a few trees. This is somewhat realistic -- abandoned industrial properties tend to get covered in weeds in real life, which starts off the process of forest succession in areas warm and wet enough to support trees. It took about 15 years for some former mills at my old job to turn into a rather beautiful field of wildflowers and grasses.

I don't know if this helps, but every doubling in length means that area quadruples. Another thought is that the 4 km x 4 km grid has 65,536 = 216 tiles, which is the number of different integers that can be stuffed in two bytes. Two ways around... 1. In parts of metro Chicago, the older areas are gridded with an iron rule: long blocks are nine lots to the block, eight blocks to the mile including the street. Short blocks are four lots to the block, sixteen blocks to the mile. Counting the street as one lot, this makes for 80 squares to the mile, or 3.2 miles (5.1 km) from one end of a large tile to the other. 2. Build on a large tile, then surround the cities with suburbs that eventually get thrown into the metroplex. Region play goes much better if you write the names of the associated city tiles down, then work through the list allowing five years to each city that you want to develop. This scale actually agrees more with the scale of large American cities: Chicago extends about 26 miles from north to south and 17 from east to west (excluding O'Hare), which is roughly a region. A medium tile on my scale above represents an area similar to that of Chicago's Hyde Park. Most of the city's major attractions, its central business, entertainment and shopping districts, and quite a bit of R-2 and R-3 housing at all wealth and prestige levels would be encompassed by a large tile. (Don't get me started on how all 50 aldermen have final say over their wards' zoning!) One thing I'll try on my next megalopolis is entering the neighborhood as the city and the city's name as the mayor. For example City name: King's Cross Mayor's name: London City name: Roppongi Mayor's name: Tokyo City name: Park Slope Mayor's name: Brooklyn (later changed to New York City)

He does have the power to demand an end to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", but he also has valid reasons for not using his authority as commander-in-chief to end it. These reasons rest with the US Constitution's division of powers. The US Congress is divided into two houses. The House of Representatives consists of members elected every two years. The Senate consists of members with staggered six-year terms; on any even year a third of Senators must face election. Any legislation must be passed by both Houses of Congress, then sent to the President to be passed or vetoed. In the case of Presidential veto, the law must be passed by two-thirds majorities of both Houses in order to take effect. Such overrides are rare. Further, the rules of the Senate allow for a filibuster, or an endless speech by one member of Congress that can only be broken by a vote of 60 of the 100 Senators. If a repeal of DADT is written into law and signed by the President, then its revocation requires the passage of another law which must be passed by both Houses of Congress and signed by the President. Should the Presidency, the House and the Senate not all be in the hands of the conservative wing of the Republican Party, then the repeal of DADT is safe even in the case of a Palin or Huckabee victory in 2012. In light of this, imagine the fate of gay servicemembers recruited in 2010 under an Executive Order and fired in 2013 or 2017 under a contradicting EO from the next President. If we are going to recruit gay servicemembers, then let their country say that it will not kick them out on one person's word, even if that person is in the Oval Office.

What really makes me wonder is how so many of us Americans are upset that the dollar may no longer be the pre-eminent currency. The United States sunk trillions of dollars and expended tens of thousands of lives on a policy of containing the Soviet Union and China to bring this about. We spent sixty years proclaiming to all and sundry that we wanted a united, prosperous and democratic Europe and Pacific Rim. We got what we wanted. Almost every nation west of Belarus is a free-market democracy with a social safety net. Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Phillipines are now free-market democracies, though the strength of each nation's social safety net varies. The convenience of one European currency is obvious on a continent where nations can be driven across in a matter of hours, so the Euro was born. (Germany's intense fear of inflation forced Eurozone nations to keep debt and deficit down, giving the euro extra strength.) Japan's 57 years of boring governance, large population and habit of paying off debts made the yen respectable. So, the natural result of Western and American policy are a strong euro, a strong yen and a strong pound. From there, the natural tendency would be to diversify into a basket of currencies.

I welcome the lower dollar. Means I get my goods for cheaper when I buy online Actually, Belfastuniguy illustrates why some Americans look forward to a weak dollar. My state depends on manufacturing and agriculture, and a weak dollar makes our goods cheaper. If imports get more expensive, so much the better since Americans and others will buy more of the stuff we produce. Indeed, one complaint levelled against China is that the central government artificially depresses the yuan so that China can export more and import less. As for our foreign debt, US treasury bonds are denominated in dollars. That means that if we inflate the currency, our debt burden falls. Domestically, the dollar is still too strong. Over the last 12 months, the consumer price index fell 1.5%. On this board we're probably familiar with postponing computer purchases since we can be sure that better, cheaper computers will be available in six months. Right now in America, everything may be cheaper six months from now. Similarly, why risk money in enterprises or mortgages when just keeping it in the mattress offers 1.5% effective interest. Throwing it into a FDIC-insured passbook account at 0.02% is even safer. The classic way to banish deflation is to run a huge deficit. This is what the Administration and Congress are doing.

Originally posted by: MrGScoTT The development of this game has been like faint hit on my radar since it was announced. I can understand why others have followed its development closely. After Societies flopped, MC seemed ready to pounce on the niche city-building market. After looking at the details of the PO, I can say with confidence that I'll be skipping Cities XL. As many have already said, having to pay full price for the game and then have a paid subscription service for delivery of game elements that should be consider standard is unfair to the consumer.quote> This may be an act of intense ego, but I remember a project called Urbs Urbis that failed partly because August ended, partly because of a wrongheaded decision (that I confess to arguing for) to put the simulation before the graphics, partly because Cities XL stole its thunder, and partly because the specs that were developing had absolutely no relation to the programming resources at hand.

There is an economic downturn affecting most of Europe and North America at the moment; those not currently unemployed have reason to fear losing their jobs. $111/year to play plus $100 to upgrade the computer plus $50 for the software is too expensive.

The government can't run anything? The air traffic controllers of the nation would like to have a word with you, as would the millions of Americans who hurtled across the country last weekend. So would the National Weather Service. So would the veterans of the Apollo landings. So would a Somali pirate awaiting trial in New York City. So would the ghost of Saddam Hussein. So would the nations of the world sending swine-flu samples to our CDC in Atlanta. So would the inmates of a supermax prison. The federal government screwed up its portion of the response to Katrina, deregulated the financial markets to the point of ruin and let bin Laden get away at Tora Bora; that government was thrown out in 2006 and 2008. In states where two or three private insurers control 90% of the market and employees must take whatever health options their employer offers, who will throw out Aetna, Blue Cross and United Healthcare? Finally, if the government health system cannot run anything, it will die of neglect. Count on private insurers to gang up upon it. It will be a failed experiment that paid its own way to the grave.

The Roe v. Wade test is one of the viability of the fetus. When decided, viability came at 24-26 weeks. The record is now under 22 weeks. The British standard is 24 weeks. American laws are more liberal on abortion, though our practices are far more conservative. For example, Mississippi has one clinic that performs abortions. In some states, insurance policies are forbidden to pay for abortions unless the mother's life or health are in danger.

Originally posted by: duack Originally posted by: yamaneko Actually, it will probably be around 15% this year, going up to 35% by 2014. There are good arguments to running a bit of debt. quote> If the government's stimulus package was but 5% of GDP, how is the debt supposed to reach 15%? That doesn't add up. Plus, as soon as the reccession is over, the government will go back to paying off debt. It's only now that the government has to stimulate the economy. By 2014, the debt would have already started to be payed off, probably entirely. quote> Debt going into this year, 10%. Add 5% deficit, 15% debt. You are correct that the Australian government anticipates surpluses in the future, but the budget out shows four years of deficits. By 2014 the government will resume paying off the debt. Australia's export commodities are in particular danger. Climate change and water scarcity will reduce wheat and wool production. Aluminum is cheaper to mine from the world's landfills and refuse stream than it is to refine. The United States and China are finally seeking to reduce carbon emissions at the same historical moment that the developed world is racing like mad to develop renewable energy: say goodbye to coal exports. quote> Lol you serious? Firstly, it doesn't seem like the US is racing like mad to reduce its carbon emmissions. Secondly, China cares even less about reducing its emmissions. Even if US demand for coal may fall, China's demand continues to rise. China is still growing at a good 8%. Also, its not just China, all of Asia is growing, including India. India is growing it 5% now and its expected to grow as fast as China in about a decade. That's going to create more demand for energy and chances are they'll fill that demand with coal power because its cheap and easy. The same goes for aluminium exports. Demand is always rising, even though its cheaper to recycle it, the entire demand can't be met by recycling alone. quote> quote>

Originally posted by: bobgleason What ever happened to the conservative America that my parents and grandparents knew and loved?quote> First, you're making a terrible accusation against your parents and grandparents: it is unfair to believe that they would not have loved a moderate or liberal America. It's as unfair as an accusation that you do not love a spouse or a parent even when they are clearly in the wrong. Second, that conservative America looked in the mirror and didn't like what it saw. Gays came out of the closet, first by reluctant trickles, then forced out by AIDS infections, and finally by a self-decloseting movement that gathered speed in the early 1990s. Those of us not disposed to condemn our families and friends willy-nilly learned that some of our friends and relatives were gay. It is very hard to believe that an friend who helped get your car out of a snowdrift at 9:15 pm was a reprobate at 9:45 pm that night. It's also hard to impute an inferior morality to the people of a gay district when your chance of being murdered, raped or robbed in "all-American" small towns is several times greater. Third, gays and lesbians who had decided that marriage would make a fine closet (and they'd just get some on the side) repented of their adulteries. Worse, some gay men did not use protection and their wives got AIDS. This launched the movement for gay marriage. Finally, I do not want to be some lesbian's walkin' closet. The surest way to keep that from happening is to provide her with a caring lesbian spouse and the horrors of divorce court to keep her and her wife together.

Originally posted by: Joshua Searle > well, imo george tiller was scum anyway so i think its good he is off this earth I wonder how many "scummy" people were in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. >i disagree with the vast majority of abortion cases because not only can it damage a mothers physical health. The death of him means that possibly more lives will be saved. Don't be so sure. A week ago, the Gallup poll showed that most Americans considered themselves pro-life, for the first time in over a decade. The last time this happened, some idiot killed a doctor and Americans turned on the pro-life cause as being linked with political violence. Americans abhor political violence. The loon who killed Dr. Tiller set back the pro-life cause another decade. Save 5,000 fetuses, doom 8,000,000 more. >If you agree with abortion, how would you feel if you were aborted? Depends. Before twelve weeks I probably would not know the difference. At 12-24 weeks it would be most unpleasant. If instead of a brain my cranium contained about a gallon of water or I was acephalic, I probably would not even mind undergoing the partial-birth procedure at 35 weeks. >Imo the only time a child can be aborted before 24 weeks is if the mother was sexually assulted. What if her life were in danger? Do we kill the mother to save the fetus? >NOT if the child will be disabled. what a wicked thing to do. If you actually have the morals to agree with late abortions then in my eyes you are scum, nothing better and do not deserve to be alive. Call me strong viewed, and opinionated, but i find nothing correct about killing innocent organisms. How do we reconcile this with your next paragraph? >Do not tell me that i "kill insectoids". Being of a kind nature, i make every effort not to harm any living organism. i'm even vegetarian. I do not support these views because i'm a catholic, but i support them because i feel that ANY unnecessary death is wrong, beit towads human or insect. Thats just my opinion though, which i am free to express.quote> The Roman Catholic Bishops of Kansas would disagree with you. Catholic Online represents the conservative side of the Catholic Church, and does its part to protest abortion. They reprint a statement by the Bishops of Kansas. www.catholic.org/politics/story.php Statement of the Bishops of Kansas "We, the four Catholic Bishops of the Dioceses of Kansas, unequivocally condemn the murder of Dr. George Tiller that occurred in Wichita earlier today. The Catholic Church believes that every human life is sacred. "The murder of a human being is the gravest of crimes and is an intrinsic evil. Such an act of violence against human life is a contradiction of the most fundamental principle of the Pro-Life movement. "The fact that this attack occurred in a church, a place of prayer and worship, only adds to the horror of this terrible crime. "We prayerfully commend Dr. George Tiller to the mercy of God and we pray for comfort and consolation for his family and friends. Most Reverend Joseph F. Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City in Kansas Most Reverend Ronald M. Gilmore, Bishop of Dodge City Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley, Bishop of Salina Most Reverend Michael O. Jackels, Bishop of Wichita

Actually, it will probably be around 15% this year, going up to 35% by 2014. There are good arguments to running a bit of debt. Australia's export commodities are in particular danger. Climate change and water scarcity will reduce wheat and wool production. Aluminum is cheaper to mine from the world's landfills and refuse stream than it is to refine. The United States and China are finally seeking to reduce carbon emissions at the same historical moment that the developed world is racing like mad to develop renewable energy: say goodbye to coal exports. This would be a great time to remedy any defects in Australian physical and intellectual infrastructure so Australians can compete in whatever new industries come into being, or invent new and profitable fields of endeavor. If unemployment can be kept down in the process, so much the better.