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I don't at home, but except for brief stints, I've luckily stayed in shady, cool homes.
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Wow! Imagine: here it is heavily raining with not even 10 °C. Sunshine is something missing this year.
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If you want we can switch places for few days. 
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I cannot swim. I will have some problems getting home. And they just closed a very busy road due to land slide. Planning some time in traffic..
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Oh! that sounds tedious. suddenly I am feeling that it's not that hot in here... 
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Yes, and they say 6 more days like this.. I wanted to go home weekend, and cancelled the trip (400 kms with that rain). It's a holiday here Monday, so. Ok, I just stay here and sleep.
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That's crazy. And it's only May, I guess it will get worse? How do you live in such a place?
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Month of May has highest heat index here, actually it will get better in the following months as the monsoon season approaches.
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The hottest I'v seen it around here (Phoenix, Az) is 122F 50C, Hope not to ever see it again.
Dave.
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Ouch! We hit 113 last week, but it's cooled off (briefly) before slamming us with Summer next month. I expect low 100s next week, then all bets are off!
You get the humidity thing there, too, don't you? Enjoy!!  Our monsoon season doesn't arrive until mid-July, then usually lasts only a couple of months. Anyone still alive after that enjoys a brief, but delightful Fall.
Will Rogers never met me.
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Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron
So, 70 years ago the 19 Lancs of 617 took off; 8 were shot down, 53 aircrew killed and 3 aircrew taken prisoner. Around 1,600 died following the breaching of the Möhne and Edersee dams. I'm not sure it was worth it or how much difference it made, but be gad it was an amazing raid.
Of the survivors, only 4 are still alive. My hat, to them, is tipped.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Initial German casualty estimates from the floods when the dams broke were 1,294 killed, which included 749 French, Belgian, Dutch and Ukrainian prisoners of war and labourers.[18][19] Later estimates put the estimated death toll in the Möhne Valley at about 1,600, including people who drowned in the flood wave downstream from the dam.
I see nothing to tip a hat to.
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote: I see nothing to tip a hat to.
It was the bravery of those boys, in volunteering for a near suicide mission. And they really were boys, Guy Gibson who led the raid was a mere 24 years old. You can argue the rights and wrongs of the war, but that belongs in a different thread.
Use the best guess
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Along with Operation Frankton it was one of the most daring raids of the war
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: It was the bravery of those boys,
Have we no examples of bravery among our youth that doesn't involve killing of innocent people?
Richard MacCutchan wrote: You can argue the rights and wrongs of the war, but that belongs in a different thread.
I'm not arguing the right or wrong of war, I'm making a statement that "tipping one's hat" to honor the bravery of young men that resulted in the death of, among others, prisoners of war, well, seems misplaced, if not, quite frankly, downright "old style" thinking. Same with that post about flags earlier.
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote: Have we no examples of bravery among our youth that doesn't involve killing of innocent people?
Probably many, but today we are remembering something that helped to destroy one of the most dangerous and evil regimes of the 20th century.
Marc Clifton wrote: I'm making a statement that "tipping one's hat" to honor the bravery of young men that resulted in the death of, among others, prisoners of war, well, seems misplaced, if not, quite frankly, downright "old style" thinking.
Again, I think you miss the point. What happened, happened, for good or ill, but in the long run it did help to win the war. There are plenty of examples of operations by both sides that resulted in the deaths of many innocent people. However, I still believe, that we later generations owe a debt of gratitude to the ones who helped bring that about, so often at the cost of their own young lives. And for many of those who did survive, life was never the same; I have a friend (DFC and Bar) who was a navigator in a bomber, who still feels guilty about what he helped to do.
Use the best guess
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Richard MacCutchan wrote: However, I still believe, that we later generations owe a debt of gratitude to the ones who helped bring that about, so often at the cost of their own young lives.
I hear what you're saying -- I think that honoring people who gave their lives in war, and/or suffered physical and psychological injury is both important and complicated, nowadays. It's easy to fall into nationalism / heroism and forget the tragedy of it all, which is what struck me about Nagy's post - it seemed to lack balance.
Marc
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I agree, the overriding point about war, is that it was, and is, wrong.
Use the best guess
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Marc, I did note the death toll on the Axis side. But I would never glorify war, I've about as much of it as is possible without serving. Both my Grandfathers served in both Wars; my Father's KIA in 1942. My dad served his King and Queen from 1948-1985 seeing active service many times. Post Falklands we visited a lot of service men in the Cambridge Hospital; just because that's what military families do. I have a good friend who served in Ulster and Gulf I with the Marines and proudly sports his ribbons; both campaign and bravery.
I do not glorify what any service man has done for this country, but I am honoured that they did it.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: Marc, I did note the death toll on the Axis side.
Oops, my mistake. Myopic memory.
Nagy Vilmos wrote: but I am honoured that they did it.
I do get that.
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote: it seemed to lack balance.
Except of course for the fact that it appeared to be about a specific day in history and not a treatise on the entire war nor wars in general.
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Marc Clifton wrote: Have we no examples of bravery among our youth that doesn't involve killing of
innocent people?
Rather certain that there are, but that has nothing to do with anything at all.
Marc Clifton wrote: quite frankly, downright "old style" thinking.
Obviously because humanity has evolved into superior beings since 70 years ago and consequently not only are there no more wars but no violence as well. Anywhere.
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There has been worse collateral damage - Dresden, London, Nagasaki - during WWII and subsequently such raids have been deemed against International Law. That said, it was an extremely difficult raid to pull off.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: There has been worse collateral damage - Dresden, London, Nagasaki
Of course. And in none of those places do I seek examples of bravery. To do so only models for our youth that killing is a thing of bravery and perpetuates the behavior patterns that we see still today.
Marc
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: and subsequently such raids have been deemed against International Law
Which of course is utter nonsense.
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jschell wrote: Which of course is utter nonsense.
See Art 57. Precautions in attack[^]
Operation Chastise was one of the events that influenced this part of the Protocol.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: Operation Chastise was one of the events that influenced this part of the Protocol.
...after it occurred.
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Do we 'tip our hat' to the people who fought the revolutionary war to establish what is now the United State of America despite the loss of life on both sides?
Often, we acknowledge, or 'tip our hat' to those that have significantly improved our current state of living for the better, despite the cost.
Tim
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Tim Carmichael wrote: Do we 'tip our hat' to the people who fought the revolutionary war to establish what is now the United State of America despite the loss of life on both sides?
I would ask you why the prejudice to tipping our hat to the victors. Surely there were amazing acts of bravery (and certainly even more misery) by the Confederate soldiers? But by all appearances, it seems that there is a bias towards only the victors. Why is that?
Tim Carmichael wrote: or 'tip our hat' to those that have significantly improved our current state of living for the better, despite the cost.
Quite frankly, that is debatable.
Many people think the Civil War of 1860-1865 was fought over one issue alone, slavery. Nothing could actually be further from the truth. The War Between the States began because the South demanded States' rights and were not getting them.
The Congress at that time heavily favored the industrialized northern states to the point of demanding that the South sell is cotton and other raw materials only to the factories in the north, rather than to other countries. The Congress also taxed the finished materials that the northern industries produced heavily, making finished products that the South wanted, unaffordable. The Civil War should not have occurred. If the Northern States and their representatives in Congress had only listened to the problems of the South, and stopped these practices that were almost like the taxation without representation of Great Britain, then the Southern states would not have seceded and the war would not have occurred.
Source.[^]
As always happens when government essentially writes our history books, we get only one view.
Marc
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Wrong war there 
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lewax00 wrote: Wrong war there
I was picking one as an example.
Marc
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Oh, I thought you referring specifically to his example. Oops 
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Marc Clifton wrote: As always happens when government essentially writes our history books, we get only one view.
...or if a foreign party writes the history books, you get a very tilted view. Canada's culture and history has been overwhelmed by US interests, ummm ... like forever. When I grew up in Canada in the 1960s and 70s, all (history and other) text books were written by US authors (or at least US sympathetic) and published by US publishing companies.
Did you know that the US and Canada have only been at war with each other once - the war of 1812. Did you know that Canada won? That is not in any US history book. It is also not in any Canadian history book.
--
Harvey
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One: wrong war. I mentioned Revolutionary War, not Civil War.
Two: I am Canadian, not American. So, if anything, I would be biased toward British sentiments.
Three: People fought and were willing to die for a cause they believed in - that it was is being recognized... the willingness to fight for what you believe in, even it it cost your life.
Tim
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Tim Carmichael wrote: One: wrong war. I mentioned Revolutionary War, not Civil War.
I was using the civil war as an example because I thought the statement was general enough. But there are some fascinating things about the Revolutionary War as well with regards especially to bankers and the influences they had.
[edit]As to causes, one only needs to look at Bush's now obvious lies about Iraq to see that people will die for a cause if they are sufficiently fooled. One can go through history and see numerous examples of the deception of the masses. Not to say that Hitler was obviously a murderous dictator, for example, but Hitler is an exception, not the rule, to the deceptions that occur when engaging in war. Korea and Vietnam were both wars that were instigated as part of a deception. There's enough evidence to show that even the US's involvement after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor was political - we knew in advance.
So, when it comes to "willingness", let's not forget that millions of young men have been fooled into that willingness. [/edit]
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote:
I would ask you why the prejudice to tipping our hat to the victors. Surely
there were amazing acts of bravery (and certainly even more misery) by the
Confederate soldiers? But by all appearances, it seems that there is a bias
towards only the victors. Why is that?
Perhaps you should get out more or at least read bit more because there are in fact positive accounts of what the Confederates went through.
That statement also ignores the reality that part of the point of being victorious is that the other side is often dead. And thus unable to relate anything.
Further it ignores the fact that people really do understand that war isn't such a great thing. But it is something that happens. And your side is more likely to win if your soldiers think they are going to live and enjoy a victory parade versus dying while screaming in agony.
Marc Clifton wrote: As always happens when government essentially writes our history books, we get
only one view.
As I said you should get out more...but regardless there is no absolute conveyor of truth out there which can deliver an absolute moral thumbs up/down on every possible decision.
Consequently we are left with the imperfection of humanity to provide a historical perspective which is often biased. Because humans are biased. That is how they work.
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jschell wrote: there is no absolute conveyor of truth out there which can deliver an absolute moral thumbs up/down on every possible decision.
Ah yes, the excuse that weak-minded people hide behind, because otherwise they would have to actually really think about their actions.
jschell wrote: Because humans are biased. That is how they work.
That's a very limiting viewpoint.
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote: Ah yes, the excuse that weak-minded people hide behind, because otherwise they would have to actually really think about their actions.
Ah yes, the excuse that people that have no grasp on reality parade out.
Marc Clifton wrote: That's a very limiting viewpoint.
Reality is limiting. If you want to live without bounds then stick with fantasy novels.
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Marc Clifton wrote: I see nothing to tip a hat to.
If you want wars to be clean tidy affairs I suggest that you stick to video games.
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One of the most memorable books I read at school by Paul Brickhill[^] who also wrote the Great Escape and Reach for the Sky amongst others.
Whatever the outcome, it was an act of bravery by the young men that undertook the mission and, whilst it is regrettable that innocent people died, the raid had an impact on Germany's industrial output and may have contributed to shortening the war and saving other lives. I also think it a bit rich to start judging what the allies did during the war to win the war. Our perception of life is very different to theirs and so we really don't have the right to judge their actions with 20/20 hindsight. They did what they though was right to bring the war to a close - who are we to judge those actions now when we live in the freedom that they laid down their lives to win.
I also read recently that there was some controversy over the fact that Gibson's dog was called Nigger[^].
"If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." Red Adair.
Those who seek perfection will only find imperfection
nils illegitimus carborundum
me, me, me
me, in pictures
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I would like earn a masters degree in software engineering, IT or similar.
As an employed person (and commuter) I have two solid options: to earn one on-campus or online.
Only school in my country which doesn't require relocation and has lecture hours suitable for employed students is my Alma mater, but it struggles with recognition when it comes to IT degrees.
As I said, getting online degree is another option.
Most programmes I like are offered by British and Swedish universities.
As there are much more schools in UK I am having trouble in choosing.
Most Universities ranking lists I have found are too general (history, size, budget, sports...).
Mislim, dakle jeo sam.
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In the UK, there is the Open University[^], here it is well regarded and offers very good choices. The availability of some courses overseas is restricted but it may well be worth trying.
I completed a degree with them a few years ago and I know Dave Auld is about to finish his as well.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: I know Dave Auld is about to finish his as well
Yeah, his "History of Scottish Folk Dancing and the Effects of The Gay Gordons on International Oil Industry" was a cracking paper!
---------------------------------
Obscurum per obscurius.
Ad astra per alas porci.
Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur.
CCC Link[ ^]
Can you Help?
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That bloody institution told me I could only select from a small handful of their courses because I'm South African.
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: In the UK, there is the Open University
I think there must be a university in Soho as well. Last time I walked around there, I met a nice but rather lightly dressed lady that claimed that I could "get IT here" - and quite inexpensively as well. But I was only touristing, so I didn't have time for any lectures... 
Why can't I be applicable like John? - Me, April 2011
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Beidh ceol, caint agus craic againn - Seán Bán Breathnach
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Da mihi sis crustum Etruscum cum omnibus in eo!
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Just because a thing is new don’t mean that it’s better - Will Rogers, September 4, 1932
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It's interesting that this topic has come up. I've been trying to find out a number of things from the OU, and keep getting different or "maybe, I dunno" answers.
If anyone knows, can they tell me:
- Can I do a Masters in Software Development despite having no undergraduate qualification? I've got 13 years on the job and a load of Microsoft certs by way of alternative.
Other universities have told me to do a BSc so I can get to a level junior to where I am now, in order to do an MSc. And spend up to £40k in tuition fees at the same time, let's not forget.
- Do I have to do the assignments in Java et al? Could I use C#, SQL Server and all that instead?
If the definitive answer to any of those is a no then I'm not interested because I certainly don't need an MSc to do my job, it's more of a personal achievement thing.
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jim lahey wrote: Can I do a Masters in Software Development despite having no undergraduate qualification?
Anywhere you go, they'll ask for a degree to do a masters; except an MBA were you just need to be a Sunshine.
jim lahey wrote: spend up to £40k in tuition fees
My degree, completed 2 years ago, cost me in the order £4,500.
jim lahey wrote: Do I have to do the assignments in Java et al?
Everything was done in Java at the time I studied. There was discussion about using C# as well, but Java remains the Language du Jour in Academia.
This is the degree[^] I read and I did learn some new and valuable skills through it.
Hope this helps.
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: Anywhere you go, they'll ask for a degree to do a masters
Not quite:
"You will need a bachelors degree (or equivalent) in computing or a related discipline, or relevant industrial experience. If you do not hold a degree, we would expect you to complete our Postgraduate Certificate in Computing (K22) before embarking on this MSc."
Source[^]
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I just went from memory. Is there some tool for finding this kind of information?
Reality is an illusion caused by a lack of alcohol
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Nagy Vilmos wrote: Is there some tool for finding this kind of information?
Who are you calling a tool?
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