Okay, I get it, you like pain. Because that is the only reason why one would not use suitable clothing, lighter bicycles or clipless pedals. Most of the cyclists who use all these don't care how they look like, but they care about their comfort. Your argumentation is that only race drivers ought to use modern cars with power steering, synchronised gearbox, air condition and cruise control because you are come by just fine using a pre-war VW Beetle.
Your definition of what is allowed to be compulsory charity is just as arbitrary as any other and not inherently true, like you think it is. Actually, unless you are a hypocrite you must follow your randroid beliefs to their only logical conclusion - defence from crime and enemies has to be funded voluntarily or not at all - after all, why should your neighbour be responsible for your problems - and if you cannot defend yourself you only get what you deserve. If I'd want to be especially cruel, I'd say, "just like your country right now" because by randroid logic you so much like you are worthless and don't deserve any help if you cannot pay for it out of your own pocket.
Cycling keeps me better fit than anything else I have tried and I don't have to share a road with cars most of the time anyway - there are more than enough forest and fields paths here in the Taunus where no cars are allowed.
Assembling bicycles is not just non-trivial and requires a lot of special tools, it is also about 15% more expensive than buying a pre-built bicycle. People build bicycles themselves only if they really enjoy it and want to have a bike that is fully customised to themselves, need something non-standard or if they already own a certain amount of (probably high-end) parts and want to reuse them.
If they are anything like what I see - and laugh at - in UK, they are also the ones that pay dearly, so they can look silly in brightly coloured spandex clothing, who buy expensive designer water bottles and other fashion accessories as well as "performance enhancing" energy drinks and -powders.
You laugh because you assume that all this has no good reason, but you are seriously mistaken. Spandex clothing is important for long rides because normal cotton clothes soak up sweat and chafe, and that can seriously hurt after 20-30 km. Expensive water bottles usually don't use crap like BPA in their manufacturing and are comfortable to drink from while cycling. "Performance enhancing" drinks and powders also make sense - if you drink pure water during long rides that will result in cramps due to electrolyte shortage. At the very least you should add some table salt to the drinking water, but that makes the water taste like crap (unless it is that special salt for people with high blood pressure, where half of NaCL is replaced with KCL - makes more sense in the drinking water and tastes slightly bitter if dissolved) and these powders avoid both problems and also help avoiding hitting a wall, especially during long climbs.
All of this is not important for casual riders whose daily track is no longer than 10 km, but if you do 50 km a day or more you'll seriously want spandex, water bottles and performance powders if you are not a masochist.
Germany is diverse enough and is as large as the three largest US states put together. Matter of fact, given the laughably low US population density you should barely have any crime in first place.
Not just fewer murders. In Germany fewer people were killed by cops since 1990 than in the USA in a single year. Matter of fact, in 2015 alone there were more people killed by the police in the USA than the total amount of people West German cops have killed since 1952 and Germany had pretty lax firearm laws between 1952 and 1972.
Not quite. The production of steel, aluminum, and cement are all carbon intensive processes. Those solar panels are going to be put in an aluminum frame, on a steel post, anchored to ground with a concrete pad, and then connected to the grid using steel reinforced aluminum wiring. This takes carbon even if the energy made to produce it comes from a carbon neutral energy source.
But nuclear power happens in a vacuum and is fuelled by magic and unicorn farts, right? How many more times do you need an explanation that nuclear fuel has the lowest mining density of all fuels used by mankind, building a nuclear power plant is very complicated and horribly expensive and the problem of storage is not solved at all? By now even a bloody tree should have understood it, but you apparently don't.
Dude, what are you smoking? Belarus as a country has existed about as long as Ukraine, except Lukashenko has been the president (or rather king, because he will probably pass the throne to his son) of Belarus since 1994.
Pray tell me, what exactly was the responsibility of thousands of Iraqis whom Americans bombed to death? And don't tell me they weren't killed by Christians because most of Americans are. Even Wehrmacht had "Gott mit uns" on their belt buckles and they have murdered millions of innocents.
Not at all. Soviet Union was a multi-ethnic state, running it on nationalism would have torn it apart - and this is exactly what happened when Gorbachev stopped suppressing nationalist movements. Its successors on the other hand often ran on nationalism resulting in several wars.
Your words smell of an astroturfer far more than anything I've ever read on Slashdot, except I guess you have to do it for free. Anyway, all your ranting doesn't change the fact that Ukraine is in a worse shape than even Romania. I have visited both countries so I can compare. Romanian food was generally of a much better quality, by the way. And yes, if I ever visit Ukraine again, I'll take instant noodles with me, they are safer to eat for Europeans, who generally are accustomed to food safety. But never mind food, why exactly are you comparing the country you shill for with Russia? I mean, every point you make about them is even more so valid for Ukraine, but at least they have oil and gas, so they might turn things around. If you have to compare Ukraine with any country, then it would Belarus, but their economy does much better, and not just since 2014. Also their food quality was quite good the last time I have visited Minsk and the city itself was waaaaaaaaay cleaner than Kiew. Belarus border police wasn't very friendly, though, whereas I was sent through the diplomatic lane at the KBP as soon as I have waved with my German passport - that was the only nice thing happening to me during my stay.
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Okay, I get it, you like pain. Because that is the only reason why one would not use suitable clothing, lighter bicycles or clipless pedals. Most of the cyclists who use all these don't care how they look like, but they care about their comfort. Your argumentation is that only race drivers ought to use modern cars with power steering, synchronised gearbox, air condition and cruise control because you are come by just fine using a pre-war VW Beetle.
Your definition of what is allowed to be compulsory charity is just as arbitrary as any other and not inherently true, like you think it is. Actually, unless you are a hypocrite you must follow your randroid beliefs to their only logical conclusion - defence from crime and enemies has to be funded voluntarily or not at all - after all, why should your neighbour be responsible for your problems - and if you cannot defend yourself you only get what you deserve. If I'd want to be especially cruel, I'd say, "just like your country right now" because by randroid logic you so much like you are worthless and don't deserve any help if you cannot pay for it out of your own pocket.
Cycling keeps me better fit than anything else I have tried and I don't have to share a road with cars most of the time anyway - there are more than enough forest and fields paths here in the Taunus where no cars are allowed.
Why? It is significantly cheaper than using a car and keeps me fit.
Jugding from the text that was not a tax, but an insurance.
Assembling bicycles is not just non-trivial and requires a lot of special tools, it is also about 15% more expensive than buying a pre-built bicycle. People build bicycles themselves only if they really enjoy it and want to have a bike that is fully customised to themselves, need something non-standard or if they already own a certain amount of (probably high-end) parts and want to reuse them.
There is no need for a convertion kit, somewhat larger clearances and disc brakes are enough.
Germany is diverse enough and is as large as the three largest US states put together. Matter of fact, given the laughably low US population density you should barely have any crime in first place.
Not just fewer murders. In Germany fewer people were killed by cops since 1990 than in the USA in a single year. Matter of fact, in 2015 alone there were more people killed by the police in the USA than the total amount of people West German cops have killed since 1952 and Germany had pretty lax firearm laws between 1952 and 1972.
But nuclear power happens in a vacuum and is fuelled by magic and unicorn farts, right?
How many more times do you need an explanation that nuclear fuel has the lowest mining density of all fuels used by mankind, building a nuclear power plant is very complicated and horribly expensive and the problem of storage is not solved at all? By now even a bloody tree should have understood it, but you apparently don't.
I must have missed Switzerland joining the EU.
I used to love HTC phones back in the day, starting with the good old Wallaby, but HD2 was the last one I've bought.
I fly at least once a week from Germany to Switzerland and back. Never once I had to show my id.
I remember, jsi cesky. GDR here.
Ah yes, the great Swiss empire. Nationalists wanting their own nation states were the ones who killed. Like in Yugoslavia. Or the Karabakh war.
And now you are posing yourself as a victim of racism.
Yep, because Napoleon.
Dude, what are you smoking?
Belarus as a country has existed about as long as Ukraine, except Lukashenko has been the president (or rather king, because he will probably pass the throne to his son) of Belarus since 1994.
Pray tell me, what exactly was the responsibility of thousands of Iraqis whom Americans bombed to death? And don't tell me they weren't killed by Christians because most of Americans are. Even Wehrmacht had "Gott mit uns" on their belt buckles and they have murdered millions of innocents.
No, I mean nationalism. We Germans know very well what happens if one tries to run a country on that. Not a good idea at all.
Not at all. Soviet Union was a multi-ethnic state, running it on nationalism would have torn it apart - and this is exactly what happened when Gorbachev stopped suppressing nationalist movements. Its successors on the other hand often ran on nationalism resulting in several wars.
I wouldn't call it "bad luck", just an example of a country that tried to run its economy on nationalism instead of goods and services.
Stupid people believe in stupid things, here's your causation.
Your words smell of an astroturfer far more than anything I've ever read on Slashdot, except I guess you have to do it for free.
Anyway, all your ranting doesn't change the fact that Ukraine is in a worse shape than even Romania. I have visited both countries so I can compare.
Romanian food was generally of a much better quality, by the way. And yes, if I ever visit Ukraine again, I'll take instant noodles with me, they are safer to eat for Europeans, who generally are accustomed to food safety.
But never mind food, why exactly are you comparing the country you shill for with Russia? I mean, every point you make about them is even more so valid for Ukraine, but at least they have oil and gas, so they might turn things around. If you have to compare Ukraine with any country, then it would Belarus, but their economy does much better, and not just since 2014. Also their food quality was quite good the last time I have visited Minsk and the city itself was waaaaaaaaay cleaner than Kiew. Belarus border police wasn't very friendly, though, whereas I was sent through the diplomatic lane at the KBP as soon as I have waved with my German passport - that was the only nice thing happening to me during my stay.