@alan fraser said:

"Did God create the universe?"
How about drawing a line under this for Christmas? The answer is that you are at perfect liberty to believe He did...but there is no evidence to support that position; it is an article of faith.

I have no problem with faith. I've lived my life surrounded by it...and I'm not an atheist, I'm agnostic. People are perfectly entitled to believe whatever they want if they think it helps them get through this existence and makes them a better person.
Personally, I don't need that motivation and regard it as an illusion...sometimes helpful...sometimes not.
Thank you Alan, it is not often that I find a post that I agree with 100%, but yours hits it on the button.

I'm not very good at writing (typing) but I think a thank you to you for putting my thoughts into print is well worth the effort

Cheers and a very happy Xmas to all, Santa arrives here first but he should have a very good tan, the weather has been MINT. Agnostics are allowed to believe in Santa, after all we've got to believe in something.

@daniel said:

I've never engaged in any risky behavior to "fit in," so I find the concept hard to understand. But I see it all the time, especially young adults. And not just with cigarettes. With illicit drug use. I've never heard of drug addiction having a positive effect on someone's life, yet people still do it. I just don't understand, when there is so much information out there explaining how damaging a behavior is, why anyone would engage in it, especially when the "benefits" seem negligable in comparison.

Are you real? It is nice to know that you have a trainer, or are you still in trainers? Yep it does cost a lot of money to sort out problems that smokers have, that is what the excessive amounts of money we pay in taxes on each and every packet of tobacco and cigarettes we buy are meant to pay for. Do you ever require medical assistance? Who paid for it? Or are you perfect? If not please try to get a life.

@unknownuser said:

they're effing expensive.. $12-$14 / pack whereas most of the country has them in the $5-$7 range..

In NZ I pay $46 for a 50 gram pack of tobacco, our govt has the bright idea that if they up the tax on anything it helps people give up. I started smoking at the age of 12 and at 67 I'm still smoking, no ill health problems yet as long as you don't consider not being capable of running up mountains a problem. I'm getting 'p'd off at the nanny state that we live in here, but as I both smoke and drink [both heavily taxed] I can't afford to leave.

@eduardonl said:

Yes, you can close this one. Thanks.

Turned out to be a video card driver issue... I think.
I installed ASUS drivers for my ATI card instead of using shitty ATI Cataclyst drivers.
Problem solved

Great to see you found a fix Ward, now can you please explain to an old man who is definitely not computer savy what is involved in installing a new driver as I have exactly the same problem as you had. I had no problem with SU textures but whenever I tried to use a .jpeg as a texture I got the same message in KT, it was very frustrating and I've been scratching my head for months about what the hell I was doing wrong. Until now I have seen nothing that explained it. Thank you for providing a bit of light on the subject. Now if you could just take me by the hand and lead me through the 'fix it process' I'll be a very happy chappy.
Cheers from the deep south where summer is just around the corner.

A delightful time waster for us with time to waste.

You're a great artist Tom, the colours are very easy on the eye. It looks like a very large project, can you tell us more about it? At first glance your 'wharf theme' with the fountain looks a bit like a sewage outlet marker bouy with bell Then again you may have a different system of beacon and bouyage in your neck of the woods. The degree of list on it shows that there is a fairly strong current in that area. Can you tell us where it will be situated if approved? Thanks for sharing Tom, I think this is the place to be to see different achitecturel ideas from other parts of the globe.
Thanks Tom,
Bill.

That must go down as the most impracticle and ugliest building on earth! I didn't think that any contractor in his right mind would contemplate putting his companys reputation at risk by tendering for the job of constructing it, it's bloody ugly! I now understand your point of view Edson when you say a buildings design must cater for it's use. All of those stupid sharp angles are just inviting problems, I bet their problems will carry on into the future and then it will be demolished and maybe a more suitable building will replace it. At what cost? There appear to be a lot of fools in this world holding control of public purse strings whose only purpose in life is to have their name on a bronze plate in the foyer of some outlandish building built with other peoples money. The Otago University Campusin Dunedin is a prime example of of how so many designers appear to be on an ego trip with no thought for the future or respect for the past.A lot of building has gone on there over the past decade or so, many different buildings some very good and some that are absolutly horrendous. One days walkabout in that area would be a treat for any of you designers and Architects, no matter what your taste you will find buildings that please you and buildings that appall you.
Well, that's my tupence worth on a subject that I had not given much thought about before, and of course, 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder'
Cheers all,
Bill.

@unknownuser said:

Rather provocative 3d women.

I can't get to the site quick enough, thanks.
Cheers and Beers,
Bill.

Welcome back Paul and very sorry to hear about the "migrains on steroids". After I broke my back and my neck, yep both at the same time because I don't do things by halves, I got terrible headaches that would pounce on me at any time. After a couple of years of them I suddenly realised that they had gone! I still get the occasional headache but that is only the price of the night before. I hope yours go away like mine did.
Cheers Bill

Thank you Coen I recieved the Newsletter and I was very impressed. The competition is certainly a good motovator to improve my skills in SU.I found the interview very informative too.
Cheers, Bill