Mr Ceour de Lion II

[quote user="idun"]Ah dear, you have suddenly made me feel very old, Mr Lionheart[:(] I obviously cannot get my head round modern life........ I am told to tri........... bottles, cans, paper, garden waste, plastic. And yet, apparently modern technology is ready for the scrap heap in approx 2-3 years.  And when I think about all the noxious things in the techno stuff, then, nothing makes sense.     [/quote] Those things can still be recycled easily enough. When I replace my old cell phones, there's a box I place them in where they get sent off to the troops in Afghanistan to use. I always sell my computers and unwanted other electronic gadgets on ebay, so their use goes on. It's very easy to wipe a hard drive. There's a cost to everything. For real books, it's trees :)

[quote user="idun"]On Watchdog on BBC last night, it was mentioned that Kindles have a 'life' of approx 3 years, IF they 'live' that long. Do you know what, I'm going to stick to my good old fashioned books. Their shelf life is rather longer.[Www] [/quote] That's pretty typical of technology anyhow. Most people replace their cell phones, computers, tablets every 2 to 3 years anyhow. Ebook readers are so cheap too, that they can easily be replaced. Once replaced, just load all your books back onto it and job's done. I like books, but my ebook reader is more convenient and doesn't take up any room.

[quote user="Pommier"]I prefer paper books anyhow. They last ages, can be lent out, read on the beach without worrying about damage or theft, can be bent back on themselves, put in a pocket..............who wants a Kindle?[/quote] You can give out your books on a kindle too. The benefit is, you don't have to go chasing after the person who you lent it to to get it back!

I seem to recall Bruce Willis is fighting iTunes because he wishes to leave his digital collection in his will, but Apple are saying that he doesn't actually own the music. Very strange.

No, I'm just looking at the issues most important to me. Like any other voter does too (although I'm not voting this time, just practising). As I think I said earlier, I could never be a full republican because I don't agree with all their doctrine, but similarly I don't agree with all of the democrats stuff either. For me, immigration and jobs are my number one priority at present. Things like abortion, gay marriage etc will never be an issue for me (but no doubt it will to many other people, and they will make their minds up based on those priorities), but I see nothing from the democrats regarding getting people back to work. For the republicans, it's central to their policies, hence why I am leaning that way. Of course, whether it comes to light is another matter, but that's the same for every politician and party. For me personally, I feel I have already had more opportunity in America to do something with my life than I did in France. Despite limitations in my visa, I feel freer here than in France. I'm not knocking France as I moved there for a different reason and the US will never be able to compete in terms of history or culture, but the spirit of being in control of my destiny feels greater here than it did in France or even England. I felt the same in Australia. Perhaps the pioneer spirit still exists.

That's exactly why religion and politics should never be together. In fairness, Romney distanced himself from that comment. But then he'd be a fool not to.

I wouldn't worry too much. It's just a gesture and probably as ineffective as any other ritual in any other religion. At first I thought this thread was about getting witches through customs in France :)

If the majority are working then more taxes are being paid, therefore Medicare and Medicaid can receive more funds for those who need it. So in this respect, the system is social. But those who work and can afford it can pay their own way. Simple. Maybe I should be president? :)

[quote user="Alex H"][quote user="Mr Ceour de Lion II"] Just glad I got out of France when I did. [/quote] But it still has a hold on you, doesn't it? Otherwise you wouldn't still be on here? [8-)][8-)] [/quote] I have many good friends on here. Is that ok? Besides, it's always been the culture and history of France that appealed to me, the politics were always mostly awful. In answer to Russethouse, I do actually believe the French have a great blend in terms of their health care system. I like that you are covered, and I also like that you also have a sense of responsibility in terms of having to pay either insurance or fees on top. I don't have an answer for the American system. It started very differently to the socialist system and is so far ingrained that it would take an apocalypse to change it. It does have great advantages, but also many great disadvantages. I was being deliberately obtuse in my reply. As for Romney, I don't like him much either, he has said some dumb things, but I do agree with him regarding getting jobs happening again and the way to do that. I disagree with borrowing money to solve problems, it only creates further problems down the line. By reducing tax burdens on businesses to employ people makes perfect sense. All the time you hear of people who do have jobs saying how much work they have and how stressed they are, therefore if businesses are encouraged to take on more staff to get through this work, then surely that is the best way to go about it. Less benefits need to be paid out, more tax is being paid in because there are more tax payers, and you haven't lost your rich (who pay more tax than anyone else in dollar terms anyway). In my situation, that is the number one priority for me, therefore my reason for tending towards republican at this time. Also, having a population that has jobs will actually help the healthcare system here too, as more people will have insurance. The rich, retired and poor are already well provided for, the working population will be covered through their insurance schemes, so it leaves a small minority of unemployed and self employed people to sort out health care for. What I do disagree with republicans in is the religious background, their stance on abortion, and I'm quite happy for gays to get married too. I also thought it was dumb of Obama to have embraced the Iranian leader too. Think that was more dangerous than what Romney said about airplane windows to be honest.

I realise the choice will still be republican or democrat, but it won't be Obama and Romney as the choices. I'm currently not working right now, but have very good insurance thank you very much. Just glad I got out of France when I did. Now there's a country that will be going to the dogs, especially under socialist control. They've already begun by starting to get rid of the money there :p

The religion bit is the main thing that turns me off republican. I could never be one. But I could never be a democrat either. I don't think continually borrowing money is the solution. I like Romney's plan for jobs (which is my number 1 priority at present), and doing away with Obamacare which will not solve anything anyway. If most people are working, healthcare isn't so much of a problem anyway because people can pay their way as is the ideal situation. I don't think either are particularly good at foreign affairs. Isn't Obama is the first president never to have gone to Israel? He's snubbed them too. Crazy to embrace the Iranian leader though as they are becoming the next problem in the Middle East. I think those things make Romney's verbal gaffs more insignificant. Still not sure what he said wrong in London to be honest, he only said what plenty of British were saying anyway. I've always lent towards the right, but I'm glad I don't have to worry about voting this time. Just hope the choice is better in 4 years time. Happy to be a floater so I can keep my options open :)

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]They must hate me. I seem to be able to stick to free books. [/quote] I have that problem too.

Don't worry, there's thousands of handwriting style fonts out there. I dare say someone will come up with one called doctor script. http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=603

Used to annoy me too. Just want a simple lined journal to write in, but it was nigh impossible over there. Ebay proved to be salvation in that regard. Thankfully here, lined books for writing in are plentiful, and very low priced, less than a dollar in some cases.

There's no way we're getting greener. It's not being pushed anywhere near hard enough. Look in any supermarket and look at the crap for sale on the shelves. Most of it plastic, and in plastic packaging which isn't necessary. Half the stuff isn't even necessary. The great pacific garbage patch, and several others in other oceans cannot be controlled, and this will only be added to as time goes on. We are simply producing too much of the wrong stuff, and putting it in very environmentally unfriendly packaging. I think over the past few decades we're just becoming more aware of how ungreen we are, and it will take a massive human effort to counteract the damage we've already caused.

I have a small pension with them, wonder if I'll get anything.

Did he miss the earth?

[quote user="coleman"]Thank you for that, we have notified 3 of our selling agents that it is now for let, but they all seem to want us to let it unfurnished with a 3yr contract...prefer furnished on a 6months renewable[/quote] I hear what you're saying, but it does seem in France, they want long term leases only. It's something I had to consider carefully too, long term lease and the stress of a French tenant and being unable to sell, or leave empty and hope it will sell. As I lived so far away, I just dumped the asking price of the house, took the hit and then sold it pretty quickly. Then I took the hit again on the exchange rate. But at least I'm free of the burden now. The euro has cost me an awful lot of money.

List it with an agent in the nearest town.

[quote user="5-element"]Banning them from schools has been tried, some schools are successful - but .... you have to search methodically each pupil every time they come in, as mobiles are easy to smuggle! And then the headmaster/mistress probably has  to contend with some of the parents... As for exams, there are many  tricks. For instance, a pupil arrives with TWO phones. One for confiscation purposes, the other, cleverly concealed, for cheating... [/quote] Then no bags allowed in the exam. Anyone who is caught with a phone gets a fat zero for the year. It is very simple to implement.

That's a hell of a lot. I know my step daughter doesn't text anywhere near that amount. As for mobiles in exams, just ban them from school, problem solved.

I read up on it a couple of years ago. It's a bit weird. If you're already a US citizen, it seems you can lose your citizenship if you become one elsewhere. If you become one after already being a citizen, then although they technically don't recognize dual citizenship, it's not under their jurisdiction to remove your other citizenship. That's up to your previous country. So basically, if I become a US citizen, under their definition, I am a US citizen only. But in reality, I would still be English too, and allowed to keep my UK citizenship. It's the other way round it becomes more of an issue. At present, that's a long way off, and I haven't even put my application in to stay permanently yet.

[quote user="Quillan"]Did you have dual nationality by chance. If you did then about that time (2005) you probably would have got in with no problem, it will be totally different now. My source by the way is a database available to people working in the medical litigation business, for a price of course, it is updated several times a year and is a commercial product. Fortunatly due to Mrs 'Q' being "in the trade" I can get access to it from time to time. [/quote] Yep, I have British and Australian dual nationality (may have tri nationality one day if I add US citizenship too). That may explain it then. I never got my head around the health system over there, mainly as I never needed to use it.

Interesting to note there Quillan regarding the hospitals. Where did you get that source of info? I'm actually English by birth, but arrived in France after spending 7 years in Australia. I have no idea how we managed to get into the system without being asked for anything, it was a while back and very much a blur. Maybe we were an awkward case, I really don't know. It surprised me anyway. However, when I emigrated to Australia, I didn't have to pay into their system either. I'm getting a lot from posting this thread, it's not going to be as easy to prepare this assignment as I first thought.

Thanks for the replies. I did respond yesterday, but it looks like the forum didn't save it. I was having trouble logging on, so perhaps that was it. I thought the state covered 85% of the cost, and top up insurance 15%, so that's very interesting to learn it's 65-35. As I never used the system, I didn't look into it a great deal when I arrived. I can't even remember where I go the 15% from. The essay is just 1000 words, so I won't be going into drastic detail with it, just need three major points to draw out for my argument (still not 100% sure what that will be yet). As for the data showing France on top, for this assignment, it will be sufficient, just to draw a contrast. And Chris, I understand what you mean regarding the over testing, my wife has to have some tests, and they are really playing safe. They're 99% sure what the problem is, yet they're still going through all the hurdles to eliminate for sure other possibilities. Funny thing, they said they are really busy and there's a huge backlog, so they won't be able to do the testing for another 7 days lol. I was expecting them to say a couple of months at least!