CltcDrgn

I was raised Catholic, but pretty much left the church at around 17 years old. I had too many questions that the clergy couldn't or wouldn't answer. I eventually became a pagan, more specifically a Celtic Wiccan. It has proven to be a good path for me, as my life is a lot more settled now....

"KKKHHHAAANNN!!!!!" His is talent that will be sorely missed. He brought a noble gentlemanly presence to whatever role he played.

My idea of gun control: Putting rounds downrange on target each and every time the trigger is pulled. Joking aside, let's also look at the consequences of very strict gun laws. Australia enacted handgun and shotgun bans several years ago that are some of the most stringent in the world. One result is a new class of crime, housejackings. People were being forced out their homes by violent criminals. This took place in more remote areas, where law enforcement is very limited. On the other hand, Switzerland, which requires all males of military age that have served keep and maintain weapons in their homes, as part of being part of the Swiss military reserve system. Switzerland is one of the safest nations on earth, maybe because the criminals realize just about every home has weapon.

Can't really think of much I hate about the game. Sure the game can lag when loading, or when scrolling around a large dense city, but that I can deal with. As for the repeats of buildings, I just make historical one or two of them, them bulldoze the others and let the zone redevelop. I pretty much love the game, though I would definitely like to see improvements in graphics, as well as improvements in how the game uses the computers resources.

To Che: I do think I can make a correlation when it comes to living in a city where people legally own assault weapons. Criminals would have to be out of their minds to commit violent crimes in nation where every able bodied citizen can have weapon. I would also like to say that if someone was dumb enough to come into my home to commit a crime, they had better realize I will defend my home and family using whatever means I have available, be it handguns, knives, baseball bats, whatever. You can see how well gun bans are working in N Korea and Cuba. You can also see how well handgun bans are working in other nations as well. Chicago, which is close to where I live, has the some of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. Why? Because criminals know that law abiding citizens in Chicago are banned from owning a handgun, so they can't defend themselves. All those kids shot this year so far, the handgun ban hasn't saved them. It only means that the gangbangers and common thugs can get their hands on "ILLEGAL" weapons, and use them with relatively little risk of being fired upon themselves. So please tell me how a handgun ban has made Chicago safer? Really, I would love to know? Oh and on a more personal note, using the image of a murderous thug like Che, shows poor judgement. He was neither a hero, or a patriot, just a very smart, violent thug like Stalin, Castro, Saddam Hussein and others like them.

I just read an article about the 10 most livable cities in the world. Three of them where in Switzerland, which has a very low violent crime rate. I remembered reading that every male Swiss citizen is REQUIRED by law to serve in the military, then afterwards be part of the reserves. This requires them to keep weapons and ammunition at home. Somehow I don't think it is coincidence that Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.

I think it is very important for law abiding citizens to legally own firearms, including handguns. Back in 1933 one of the first laws Hitler put into effect was abolition of gun rights for normal citizens. Under Hitler's regime, to be able to own a gun, you had to be a member of the Nazi Party, and be vetted by a high ranking Nazi official. Take away the right to bear arms, and taking away other rights becomes a whole lot easier....

My Plugins folder is 2.68Gb compressed with DatPacker. Before compressing and cleaning it up it was well over 3Gb.

You do know I was being really sarcastic when referring to closing the borders? I know perfectly well that is highly unrealistic, I was trying to make the point that we are all living on the same planet, and we need to find better ways of doing things. I guess I also get really agitated when some people love to start playing the blame game, or show a complete lack of a reference point to world history. Every nation on this planet, and throughout history has things to be ashamed of. I guess it comes down to being passionate about what you believe, and then standing up for those beliefs. I myself am an immigrant to the U.S.. I am also very passionate about the belief that nations with great power, also have a greater responsibility. It is up to nations like the United States, the United Kingdom, China, Russia and so on, to do the best they can in promoting a better world, and in helping small countries. They have a great responsibility to ensure that those that need help and protection get that help and protection. I then get greatly agitated when I see those nations fail to uphold their responsibilities. I definitely think more can be done to stop what is happening in Darfur, to ensuring that aid gets to those who need it, and not fall into the hands of warlords and dictators. I guess I am an idealist that can see what the possibilities are, and my disappointment and frustration get the better of me when that doen't occur, and people make comments about leaving well enough alone, and let nature take its course.

Hmm, this thread is really becoming quite something. Let's see...let nature take it's course, if they die, they die...what a concept. I guess that means City2TheMax NEVER goes to the doctor when sick, NEVER takes OTC medications for any kind of pain, or health issue. I mean if one went to the doctor, then one is interfering with nature taking it's course. As far as why we HAVE to protect these people, well that is a good question? Why should we have to help people in Africa that are starving, or are the victims of genocide? If we are sending all that aid there, and very little actually gets through to those who need it, why bother? Why don't we just close up all the nations' borders, suspend trade and commerce between nations, and get down to settling our own affairs? The Brits go off and do what they do, the Chinese can go off and do whatever they do, so on and so forth. You know, I am really sick and tired of people playing all these games of "who can we blame for the world's problems?", maybe we should all wake the F@#% UP and realize we live on the same planet. Do I like the fact of how the world is today? NO! Do I think more can be done, and in better ways, to help others? YES! But to sit back and say things like: "Let nature take it's course" or "Blame the USA, because they can't leave well enough alone!" is idiotic and childish! I guess the worlds' collective memory doesn't go back 50 to 60 years ago, when a a group of nations banded together to stop the Nazis and their allies from take over the world. I guess that the worlds' collective memory also doesn't remember the fact the greatest of those nations helped to rebuild a war torn world! I guess the worlds' collective memory also can't remember that the one nation everyone loves to bash and place blame on, is also the first to offer a helping hand in a time of disaster. That one nation is not perfect, but I call that nation my home, and one I proudly served by becoming a Marine!

Wow, talk about the height of arrogance! Last time I heard anything like this was some nutjob called Hitler claim the Aryan master race was destined to rule over all subhuman peoples. City2TheMax, your statement is way out of line. I have come to find that these indigenous tribes found in remote areas of the world are often more "civilized" than the rest of the world. Catch up to the 21st century! Next you'll be saying we should be sending missionaries to bring them the Word of God. I believe we should study them from a distance, maintaining as little contact as possible. These people should be protected!

Originally posted by: City2TheMax Very interesting story. Personally I don't believe we should feel obliged to protect them. I feel that whoever is stronger should be able to dominate. Besides, it would be pretty cool to make a "Truman show" from these "undiscovered" tribes. As long as they don't know we're here it shouldn't be a problem. As far as the illegal logging thing; if they die, so be it. The world is overpopulated anyways.quote>

Boy this is a really great thread....Why is it when things are going bad in the world the U.S. gets the blame, but when a terrible disaster strikes, everyone expects the U.S. to help? Interesting point to be brought up, did anyone know that private U.S. citizens give more in donations that go overseas, than the government gives in foreign aid? Does anyone realize that Bill Gates will give money to any nation, but they have to follow strict guidelines and accounting practices for it to continue? Come on people, give me a break! America isn't perfect, but it is a damn sight better than a lot of past nations that had vast power. Anyone remember Nazi Germany? Or France under Napoleon? How about the recently defunct USSR? There was a shining example of how to distribute wealth among all the masses, and bring a brighter happier tomorrow. People tend to forget some things, like yes we helped defeat Nazi Germany, and Imperial Japan. But after we won, we helped those nations rebuild into peaceful, prosperous, democratic nations. Redistributing wealth is not an answer, nor is complete disarmament. It really saddens me that people can show such hatred and visceral antipathy, just because the U.S. is a prosperous, powerful and freedom loving nation....