Kush

A very close friend of mine has cancer and was treated right away.

I prefer my system. Yes there are waiting lines here, but there are waiting lines in the states too. And underfunding is different from bankrupt. And I'm not talking about a bum on the street, I'm talking about the hard working middle class person who isn't covered. From what we're told, that person is screwed. And I'd rather wait, than never get treatment cause I can't afford it. And from what I hear, American senior come up here all the time to get their prescriptions filled because the 'market system' in prescribed drugs has pushed the price out of many people reach. There was even a plan by some senator for the America govt to buy prescription drugs from the canadian govt that were manufactured by american companies. I don't think the plan went anywhere, but it was kicked around for a while. I'm glad we don't leave our health care to market forces, I'd rather it focus on keeping me alive than the bottom line. And on the welfare front, maybe there should be a time limit on how long someone can collect, but whatever that time limit is, it should be fair and take into account the current economy. And at the same time, the govt should focus on training, upgrading skills and CHILDCARE. It's really important for women on welfare who have children to be able to find affordable daycare. It's a problem here and in the states and must be dealt with. These things will help people not only get off welfare, but also become productive citizens.

Chillum, if you look up one of the BC threads at the top of the VE page, one of them should deal with the announcement you're looking for. And if this was dealt with already I apologize, I didn't see it and I scour through these threads all the time.

Yeah, I was wondering about that. I answered your post saying that the announcement was made on VE and the reason for the delay was given also. And then I asked about SC's relationship with VE, I wanted to know if everything was okay. If this post is deleted again I will assume that things are not okay at all and that I'm not to ask the question again. Which, in my opinion is too bad. I don't think either of us are being rude, just curious.

Oh Aramike, don't pout . I'm sure I answered the question a couple of times. I'll do it again. I think we differ on how many people abuse the system. I don't know how kicking people off welfare is helping them get a job. And I'm not sure that there are always jobs out there. We could be heading into another recession and if we are, you'll understand what I mean. (Hopefully not personally ) I think it's really hard to judge how hard someone is looking for a job, and I'm sure we both agree that we should keep the government out of peoples lives as much as possible. If someone is honestly trying their best, applying for jobs and not getting them do you suggest we get a govt official to go to their home and give them the third degree? Should we have someone stand next to them at interviews, criticising them if they don't feel their doing a good enough interview. I know your answer. I know there are people abusing the system. It sucks. It happens. I'm sure there must be a better way of dealing with people who abuse the system, and helping people find jobs than simply kicking them off welfare. A program we have here in Ontario is called workfare. The government will match you with a job. It pays way below the poverty line and the govt still gives you some money but not as much as before. You're working, and making enough to eat and pay your rent. That's it. The only question I have about this program is does it allow you enough time to search for and apply for jobs that you want, as opposed to a job you need. If it allows you to go for job interviews without any penalty, I'm all for it. This program, to me, seems like it's actually putting welfare recipients to work and it seems like a much better solution than just kicking people off welfare and wishing them luck. Now, about this patients bill of rights thing, so what your saying is you will get emergency treatment, but you still have to pay for it, and if you can't afford it, you may still go into debt, have to morgtage your house or declare bankruptcy. Is that true. I don't know anything about the American healthcare system, so forgive me, but I'm very interested in healthcare in general and I'm curious. Also I saw a report about HMO's and how they sometimes refuse to give patients life saving tests or treatments because they cost too much. I've also seen an episode of ER that deals with this and is this true? Here in Canada, you get the best treatment available, no questions asked. (Even if it means shipping you off to the states to get it. ) It's not about money and the bottom line, it's about keeping you alive. It seems like one of the pitfalls of a private system to me. [This message has been edited by Kush (edited 03-19-2001).]

Okay, I've come up with something that gets to me. The icon for the reactor, the nuclear symbol, the three triangles don't look quite even. I'm anal retentive about that kind of thing and I have to admit it gets to me. (I'm one of those guys who has to have the knife and fork perfectly perpendicular before I eat. It's weird, I know, so shoot me.) Is there anyway to get the icon redone so that it looks more even and less hand drawn. I bring this up thinking that it's something that would be relatively easy to impliment before release. If it's not, don't worry about it. I'll get over it.

Sorry Serrin but I could not disagree with you more on the interface. I really couldn't. I think it's a case of you just got used to the old interface and that's fair. It's human, but I will kill myself before going back to the old interface. I love the new one. I'm not being a fanboy, I just think it's way more elegant, and the colours make it way more... er... better. Sorry Serrin but I gotta strongly disagree.

Ah, I didn't know that. So they're not turned away, that's good. Who thought that one up? And what happens if they still can't pay?

I actually thought I had answered that question when I said I take it by your attitude you feel that most people abuse the system and I don't. Aramike, I'm really curious about your age. I'm not being snooty, it's just a cultural reference thing, how old were you in 92 kinda thing. Now I want you to answer a question for me, is it true about people not being able to get medical care cause they can't afford it? I've always wondered how true that really was.

When the company logo plays, it's very jumpy and the black boarder around it changes colours and sometimes it won't let me into the game unless I press esc. Not a big deal, and I'm sure it's pretty easy to fix. I have a Voodoo 3 and I'm using the 1.07 drivers. Other than that, the game plays very well. I haven't tried leaving the ship yet. Can't wait.

Is there a fix in the works for the intro?

The same way you get reports about Canadians going south to see a doctor, we get reports about people mortgaging their homes, or dying because they couldn't afford health care. Tit for tat.

And the hyperdrive is designed only to take you to a specific target. You can't just hyperdrive out in any direction. It's kinda like in Star Trek, you need the co-ordinates of where you're warping to before you can warp. When you choose a target, the navigational officer computes the jump profile. As Derek said, if the target is too close, he can't compute the profile.

I agree Sorrow crossed the line, and I'm sure it is possible to keep the civility after a due apology. He's just new. I know I broke the civility rule on this site and was put in my place right quick. And look at me now! It's just a matter of learning the rules. (I hope you guys patch things up soon, it was nice having some backup ). And I don't know what report you saw on Fox. I know that I wouldn't cross a border to pay for a service I get free here. And, I know we Canadians can be irritatingly condescending sometimes when it comes to America, I won't stoop to that, (I like America, some of my best friends are American) but I think it's safe to say the general sort of attitude here in Canada is that as bad as things get we still have a better system. I guess it's a part of plain old fashioned nationalism. You're gonna think your system is better, I'm gonna think my system is better. And nothing we say to each other is going to change our minds. And the impression that I get is that you feel the majority of people on welfare are abusing the system. I tend to disagree.

Hey Sorrow, back me up here, wouldja? I'm feeling a little outnumbered.

In the readme, it says Voodoo 3 owners should use the 1.06 driver, I'm already using the 1.07 driver and the 3dfx site is so close to being shut down it's not funny. Is it a problem to use the 1.07 driver? I still notice a wierd graphical error when I start the game, is that the driver? Other than that, the game looks sweet. And the music ROCKS!

And Tac, my parents are immigrants too. They came to Canada at a time when we were enjoying a post war boom. It was great. They got jobs and never would have thought about going on welfare. They would sooner die. And it's hard for immigrants moving to a new country, learning a new language, slaving away at jobs that they are over qualified for, just to put a meal on the table, I agree. But there have been times and there will be times when jobs are very hard to come by, even for those who want work. Yes our parents are hard working, good honest people, but also, they were fortunate at the same time. There are many stories of immigrants who have moved to this country in the middle of a ressesion. The stories are heartbreaking. I'm glad I live in a country wealthy enough to lend a helping hand to hard working, good honest people who want to work but cannot find any. And I know they feel great shame, but they shouldn't. I have less of a problem with the system. I have more of a problem with certain individuals who abuse the system. There's a difference.

When I said suckered in by propoganda, I wasn't making a derogotory statement on your deductive capabilities. I've just heard this statement before from Americans and I assume it comes from people who are spreading untruths about the Canadian system. It is untrue that you can't choose your doctor. You can. Canadian Cancer patients recently had to go to America for treatments. Not because we don't have the facilities here. We do. We have some of the finest cancer treatments in the world. the problem is the Ontario government slashed funding, and then gave cancer patients the choice to go to America, fully paid for by the government. That funding has since been partially returned and fewer patients need to go. This subject means alot to me beacause my Mother spent her life working in health care in administration and so I've heard decades worth of the good and bad things about the system here. I've also been privy to many stats and studies. One study pointed out that the quality of care is practically the same between private American and public Canadian hospitals. The differences are very byzantine and both systems have certain upsides and down, but in the end, the quality of care boils down to being practically the same. We have some world leading researchers here, cutting edge technology, experts and techniques. Another study found that Americans end up paying more for the same quality care. One plus side for the Canadian system, that most Canadians cherish whenever we watch ER is that everyone is covered for everything. I don't know the American system very well, and you can correct me if I'm wrong (If I've been suckered by propoganda ) but often times it's the middle class in america who are not poor enough to get public care and not wealthy enough to afford private care, who have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars if they get sick. That never happens here. Rich, poor, middle class, it doesn't matter, if you need urgent care, you've got it. No bill, no HMO no nothing. It's very comforting. Particularly if you use the health system alot. (Like I do) There is some talk here in Ontario about jumping the queue. Giving anyone wealthy enough the ability to pay to go to the front of the line. Now, it already kind of exists. If you're a visiting dignitary, sports star, politician, etc. you can jump the queue. Should we allow the general population to do that. Personally I don't think so. I think it should stay the way it is now, the sickest person goes first. I just think we should put more funding into healthcare, get more doctors and reduce the lines. but that's just me. I could go on at length about some of the serious problems in our health care system, but they have more to do with managment issues that exists in both private and public systems, and most of it would be very boring for anyone who doesn't care. Even with all its problems, our healthcare system is still one of the best in the world. Hey, I'm a proud Canadian. So sue me. [This message has been edited by Kush (edited 03-17-2001).]

I hate to break it to you Aramike, but you've been suckered in by propoganda. In Canada, you can choose any doctor you want. In any region, anytime, anywhere. I have asthma, and I travel alot. It's real easy to get a new doctor in any part of the country. At one point in time, I had two doctors. Don't tell anyone The problem here isn't so much choosing a doctor. The problem is underfunding. Here in Ontario we have a government that wants private healthcare like you have in america. The problem is, he first slashed funding to healthcare, which cause overcrowding. He then started a campaign to try and convince people to move to a private system because he said the system wasn't working. NOBODY BOUGHT IT. There was a huge public outcry and funding was restored. In the mean time, some patients went without care. In America, your government actually spends more per capita on health care, and you have a private system. I'd actually love to ramble on, but I gotta head out. I'll give you a small ramble on Canadian health care when I get back.

Oh, and Sorrow, if you need to edit your post, just click on the icon with the pencil and paper. You'll see it at the top of your post. It took me forever to figure that one out.

Aramike, Here in Canada we have a more generous welfare system (and BC probably has the most generous system in the country) and some of us Canadians really value it. Some see social programs that help the less fortunate as a part of our national identity. And some don't. I'm sure you'd find more than a few Canadians, (some Albertans perhaps ) who'd agree with you whole heartedly. But you're gonna find some Canadians who are going to get just as worked up as you get, just on the other side.

Glad to see I'm not a lone voice Sorrow, but watch the rhetoric. Let's keep the discussion all above board and non personal, and the language clean. You're new. It's to be expected.

I am. Other than that, everything seems great so far.

I agree with you Saige, and I am so right with you on Daggerfall Ohso. Now it's my turn to ramble on a bit. Maybe the Take Two debacle was a blessing in disguise. Let me explain. I was reading Robin Walkers article on Stomped about Mod developement and it struck me that BC's development has gained alot from the almost Mod like development. Mod development has many major advantages as Robin pointed out; original game design, building a community through succesive updates, and most importantly, user feedback. I think Derek would probably agree that the game wouldn't be where it is without the support and suggestions from the community that helped support the game. If the game is a success, it will be because those people who downloaded each upgrade, and new version and gave feedback to Derek about what worked, and what didn't. Now BC isn't a mod. It's all original tech, made and developed by the man himself, so he doesn't have to pay any huge licence fee, and he can licence the tech out if he wants. This gives him the advantage of a more commercial approach to development. Imagine what an awesome game Daggerfall could be if just a couple of programers who loved the game made updates to it on a semi regular basis. Made bug fixes, patches. Incorporated suggestions from gamers playing the game. I think that the way PC games are published, and sold should be revolutionized. Unfortunately I don't think publishers are going to cease to exist any time soon, but I'd like to see development houses getting a stonger handle on owning the rights to their material and being allowed to upgrade when necessary. It's a win win situation for the developer (they get to improve their game) and the publisher (the more it improves the more it will sell). I also think that it's perfectly okay to develop a game that is a small portion of the whole vision. Work on the code, get it as solid as possible, then release updates to the game incorporating user feedback and bug fixes. Essentially this is what Valve did with Half Life. Sort of. Release the game. Update the game with TFC, another update for CS, and just keep going. I'm sure the whole Take Two fiasco broke his heart at the time, but I think Derek's actually in a stonger position now than before.

I've had a project rushed and released against my wishes when I knew it wasn't ready. It's a big deal. It hurts the customer, but I'm sure Derek will agree, it hurts the developer way more. It hits you harder than any customer could ever feel. Particularly if you put everything you've got into the project. It really hurts.