The Chat Thread

[Benji]

I didn't realise until I read an interview with Ridley Scott that Giger is pretty much responsible for the entire look of the Alien film. The actual Alien character he had already created for a book of alien designs IIRC, which Scott had seen - that's what caused him to insist Giger was hired by the studio to create the rest.

Scott and his team already had all the remaining concepts in the screenplay: the face-hugger, the chest-burster, the egg, the space jockey etc - and put Giger to work fleshing out those concepts. What a job he did! 

[greg]

Ugh.

[Brian]

Take heart, Greg! That chart is wrong. There is a country missing. I'll give you a prize if you know which.

[Scarpia]

Take heart, Greg! That chart is wrong. There is a country missing. I'll give you a prize if you know which.

No need to be cute.  Although the number of prisoners reported in China is low, the actual number may be higher than the US rate.  Same for North Korea. 

[DavidW]

Take heart, Greg! That chart is wrong. There is a country missing. I'll give you a prize if you know which.

I thought China went straight for executions...

[Brian]

I thought China went straight for executions...

If they gave every Chinese criminal a Nobel Peace Prize, then capital punishment would cease to exist there. 

[greg]

Same for North Korea.

Their whole country is a giant prison. That doesn't count. 

[karlhenning]

I've given up Satzaroo's/Schlomo's piano, too.

[DavidRoss]

Ugh.

Isolated facts in the absence of context tell us little.  Why is the incarceration rate so high?  (see http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/americas/23iht-23prison.12253738.html )How does it relate to the crime rate?  The conviction rate?  Given that almost 9 out of 10 prisoners are incarcerated by the States, not the Feds, which states have the highest rates and which have the lowest? (LA @ 865/100K & Maine @ 159/100K) What do the states with high and low rates have in common and what are the most relevant differences? (see http://www.publicagenda.org/charts/incarceration-rate-state )  What do the states with the lowest rates have in common with other countries that have low rates?  What percentage of prisoners are locked up because of crimes solely involving possession of controlled substances? 

A very interesting subject, Greg.

[greg]

Isolated facts in the absence of context tell us little.

Well, according to that link, the US is tougher in general. It's a good thing, though- if the police weren't on it constantly, there would be so much crime in this country (like there's not enough already).

[karlhenning]

The contingency is remote, but I'd much rather be imprisoned in the US than in either Russia or China.

[Brian]

Just saw a post by david-jw.

THERE'S ANOTHER DAVE!

[MN Dave]

There is only one true Dave.

[karlhenning]

And he is in the Shed.

[Brian]

There is only one true Dave.

One Dave to rule them all, One Dave to find them,
One Dave to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of GMG where the Shadows lie

[Szykneij]

In the Land of GMG where the Shadows lie

No, In the Land of GMG where the Wild Dave be

[DavidW]

How many Daves does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Six.  One to do it, and five to post silly things on gmg like this.

[MN Dave]

He's right!

[Brahmsian]

Anyone else besides me that is getting confused between DavidW and david-jw? 

[Brahmsian]

My stepson Owen has taken up the trumpet (Grade 7), and doing very well! 

Not quite ready for Haydn yet though.