Louise

^ You're right about there not being one particular answer, but he wasn't asking for answers, he was asking for opinions, which people have given, and I for one have found it interesting to read other peoples' points of view! No flaming or personal attacks yet, let's keep it that way! The thing that saddens me is, if nobody can agree on why it is that there are so many shootings, what are the chances of everybody one day agreeing on a way to definitively stop the kilings? Sorry to be a bit morbid, I just find it sad that I can only see this issue getting worse as time goes by. Louise "why can't everybody just get along like here at TPR?!" R.

I've tried Milka in France but never seen that Yoghurt thing before... Mmm, Kinder Surprise! Soren, I'd love to try some German chocolate but would you trade with me or can you get pretty much all our British chocolate in Germany? All we really have is Cadbury's and Nestle and stuff and I'm assuming you can get those over there... Is there anything you want? If not I'll send you some money and you can send me a package anyway! Please? PS - Craig, please let me know how that Yogurette thing tastes, it looks goooood!!

^ Is that a Chris Rock quote?!

I see your point. But on the other hand, as someone else stated, there is a big difference between someone having a gun which they use to hunt and will use as self-defense if they have to, and someone buying a gun with the intention of killing somebody. Also, someone who uses a gun to hunt is more aware of the damage a gun can do and the responsibility that comes with having one. That's very different to some kid in a gang carrying a handgun. IMO, if it was more difficult to obtain a gun (either legallly or illegally), and I'm talking in general terms, not referring to the USA specifically, then there would be less murders. I remember reading somewhere about the "easiest" way to kill someone, I'll try and post a link. Killing someone using a gun is relatively easy compared to with a knife or with your bare hands, in so much as you pull a trigger, it takes only an instant, and it's over. And there's a strong chance of the person shot being killed. Compare that to beating somebody to death, which would take MUCH longer than pulling the trigger of a gun, and would probably be more difficult to see yourself doing. There's plenty of time to stop what you are doing before the person is seriously injured, whereas with a gun... The damage is already done. This is why I believe people such as the hunters mentioned above will be less likely to commit a crime using their weapons, having hunted, they know the damage that can be done, and better understand the consequences of their actions. The problem with guns being easily obtainable to people is that it isn't only people educated in their use (and the ramifications of their use) that can get hold of them, it's also people who won't think twice before pulling the trigger. Hope that made sense, I was trying not to sound flippant. Just my $0.02. Lou

My innocent eyes!! How funny!

Not claiming to be particularly knowledgable about the subject but I always felt it had something to do with the laws relating to firearms...? There are problems with gangs in various parts of the UK, and shootings do happen from time to time, but it is much more difficult to obtain a firearm over here than it is in the States, and the laws are (obviously) entirely different. Do gun laws vary from state to state? I just kinda figure the easier it is to get a gun (either legally or illegally), the more people will have them, therefore the risk of shootings occurring is higher.

A song title popped into my head when I started to read your post, then the video in your signature finished loading and it went straight out of my head! Eek, what the heck did the poor woman do to deserve that?! :? Louise "disturbed by random violence" R.

1995 was (I think) my first trip to AT, and the Beast was my first non-Disney coaster. This TR brought back so many memories! My mum completely fell in love with Nemesis that day. Wish the Thunderlooper was still there, and if my memory serves correctly you're spot on about Energiser being far better than the current version. My personal peeve with AT from the last few years is Duel though. I love the interactive shooting rides, and I also love haunted houses, but for some reason I've never liked the idea of shoving both together, it was way better before they put the guns in there. Might be visiting AT next week if we can all get the same day off, otherwise I probably won't go again until the UK tour next summer. Finally got a digital camera for my birthday in July, maybe I'll take some pics and post my first Photo TR!

I haven't personally witnessed anything out of the ordinary but legend has it that some of the historic buildings at Alton Towers are haunted... Maybe the plotline of Hex actually IS based on truth...

When we lived part-time in Florida me and my dad used to go to Denny's for breakfast every Sunday morning. Always had the Sunshine Slam or the French toast... Mmmm French toast... 8) EDIT: Just went onto the Denny's website and they don't have the Sunshine Slam listed on the menu there! WTF?! If I come back out year after next I'm damn well expecting it to be there!!! :shock:

My ex used to talk in his sleep on a fairly regular basis, and god it was funny. He once started feeling around the bed asking "where's the dinosaur? The green dinosaur. I need my dinosaur!" I couldn't figure out what he was talking about (and was slightly offended that he might be referring to me) until he grabbed the remote control and said "ah there you are, thank you", switched off the tv and then shut up again. Apparently "dinosaur" has a different meaning in his dream world. He also spent ten minutes one night talking about the fact that he'd "lost his muffins". Just about managed to hold back my laughter enough to ask him a couple of questions, he just kept looking really upset and saying that someone had stolen them but he couldn't give a description because he was looking the other way at the time... Never did find out what exactly he was dreaming about! :?

^ LMFAO!! Umm, what the heck is G.I. Pussy?!?! Or do I not want to know? Hmm, off to find the search function... 8)

I witnessed an EXTREMELY nasty display of road rage on a flight across the Atlantic once which was more violent and frightening than I care to think about too much... I'm a nervous flier as it is but... Eek. That and the (now gone) hippo thing at Alton Towers. :shock:

I have many many many dumb moments, mostly involving my clumsiness... The worst and probably most embarrassing.... I got stuck in a grid. Don't ask.

^ That's what irritated me, how much of it was real and how much was just marketing? And even if it was real... I really don't wanna hear about anybody's sex life in as much detail as they went into in magazine interviews. Same applies to Jodie Marsh. Nobody cares! Damn it I was supposed to stop ranting about this. Going away now!!

^ Of course when you say hilarious... You're really just hoping they're wearing their uniforms right? lol. Okay, gonna stop ranting about Russian lesbians. New rant: HAVING NO MONEY. I hate this. I've been lucky in that I've always been fairly comfortable up until recently... Now I'm seriously struggling. And it seriously takes the fun out of life. I don't know how to change things. Oh, and I hate Richard Branson. Done.

Well, we thought they'd left the UK 18 months or so ago but... They're baaaacccckkkk.... With another truly great hit single. (Can you feel the sarcasm?)

^^^ Oh my God, the cutest thing I've ever seen! Is the hedgehog REALLY tiny or does the person holding it have REALLY huge hands...?!

^ That's at about the same annoyance level as openly gay celebrities who sing to "girl"/"boy" when they've stated quite clearly that they're attracted to their own sex. What exactly is the point? It only reinforces the ridiculous notion that being gay is something to be ashamed of. Mind you, I think T.A.T.U. take being honest a little too far for a PG audience... Have they reached the states yet? That's my rant for today, that T.A.T.U. have made a comeback when I happily thought their career had ended a couple of years back. Grr.

Maybe someone should put Paris Hilton in a tiny bag and carry her around and see if she... Oh wait, she probably already hired someone to do that. :?

^ Lol, me too, forgot about that! I keep em in my basement...

I personally am not overly keen on Hershey's, I think because I love our English chocolate and it's just such a different taste. Galaxy is by far my favourite chocolate... Mmmm sugary goodness. I'll trade Galaxy for Hershey's Cookies N Cream, the only Hershey's I ever loved!

^ It's a kids' show, kids watch tv on a Saturday morning. Although it does feature a plane crashing on an island off radar, with the survivors presumed dead by the rest of the world... I think that's the only similarity. There's only about 11 or 12 survivors, and seeing as they're so young I can't see there being crazy French women, diseases, polar bears, and huge mechanical sounding monsters on the island, not with their target audience.

LOL, I think you've started a trend Craig, TPR Candy Trading! Surprised Robb hasn't jumped on this thread yet, it being food related and all. Monday to Friday from the US to Germany? When I post things from here to the US it has taken weeks sometimes! Huff.

I really like chocolate too Craig!! And Soren, your package isn't quite as big as Wally's package from a while back...! Louise "I never get mail " R.