Re: OT: Military Ranks/Computers : WAS Re: newbie question

LX-i wrote:
> James J. Gavan wrote:
> 
>
>
> heh - I know, I hide it so well... :)
> 
>
>
> You got me there...  What is that a reference to?
>

Come on, come on, don't play 'Mr. Innocent' :-). Am I dreaming what I'm
reading in Canadian papers. Polls in the States put Dubya's popularity
rating down to 30% last time I looked. Not sure which old 'Eastern'
bloc country, but Dubya can take heart that the other guy's popularity
rating was down to 5% !

BBC World News did a w of 10 minute items on the Iraq story,
sub-topics. I had to write to an MD in Sri Lanka to check when his
sister, our friend, would by flying back to Calgary. As he was a
physician I wrote him the following :-

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Do you ever watch BBC World News ? As a doctor you might have a mild
interest in the following. This past w they have been doing ten
minute pieces about Iraq. Last night "Iraq War - to date 3,000
fatalities and over 50,000 wounded". Interesting though, the ratio
casualties to dead, Vietnam 3:1 whereas Iraq 16:1 - due to the fact
front line medical aid is more sophisticated, they are able to get more
alive back to the States.

Mind you looking at the tragic young men going through therapy,
exercising with stumps for legs, or no limbs at all - not sure it's a
situation I would want to be in. However, there is a military hospital
in California that specializes in the brain damaged. One young sergeant
who was interviewed was incredibly articulate and positive. He had one
ear blown off and brain damage which left his mind absolutely blank
about childhood memories. Part of therapy was getting him onto a
bicycle. Then he suggested, and the military supported him
enthusiastically, that he should get into motorized mountain bike
riding. The got him the bike. As he said, entering competitions, and
having to keep a mental log of venues, dates, times, competitors etc.,
has helped his retentive abilities.
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So as tragic as the Iraq War might be there are small dramatic positives
when you look at the wounded to dead ratio.

PS: I quote BBC above - 50,000 wounded; I think I subsequently picked up
from a US network that the figure is 30,000.

PPS: For Alistair. Yes I could probably get more UK stuff if I want to
shell out additional monthly charges for more TV level options. Of what
I currently have at least 80% is crap/dumbed down catering to the morons
who like American/Canadian/UK-Idol and the 'Reality' shows. My latest
setup gives me a minimum of four channels that show movies - so I can be
a bit selective in choosing.

Different from UK where you have an upfront fee/licence. Canada and I
believe the States is probably a parallel situation. You may/may not pay
for a cable initial installation fee. Then they put packages together,
giving you different options and you pay according to the Level. I think
it's a similar operation with the satellite dishes.

Tor TV we have Basic plus Level 1 - Currently about $34 per month
(including 6% GST) and $45 per month for direct cable for Internet.
Conveniently Shaw provides both my TV and Web access. (For comparison
Canadian dollar is currently 'almost' equal to US dollar - so take it as
two dollars to a pound sterling).

Fortunately because of a channel number re-shuffle to accommodate
HDV/HTV (?) I can now receive for free, BBC World 24/7 - so if I miss
the main news which I used to get pre-recorded from PBS Spokane
(SPO-CAN) in Washington State, at 18:00 MT, I can pick it up directly
from BBC on the hour, GMT of course.

Jimmy