Your analogy is silly. Running carrying a wardrobe is also hard work - but distance running is not the only measure of fitness, nor do most people need to run long distances on a daily basis. I have done marathons at a BMI of both 25.6 (3h45) and 23.6 (2h59). I was much better at distance running for the 2nd one at lighter weight, but I wouldn't say I was fitter. I was in great shape for the first one; it just so happened that I was doing the marathon "for fun" - I could do under 7 minutes for 2K on the erg. By the time I did the sub-3hr marathon, I doubt I could have broken 8 minutes on the erg. Horses for courses. Try using a racehorse to pull your wagon and see how far you get with it.

I don't know anything about submarine design, but I suspect a large part of the design is driven by the requirement to be as quiet as possible. A submarine also needs to withstand significant pressures.

All modern aircraft I have ever seen have the pointy bit at the front

The energy to stop a falling box of people is nowhere near the same energy it takes to get it up to where it fell from when you're dealing with high speeds. Aerodynamic resistance is signficant even on a bicycle at 30mph, never mind a space reentry behicle.

The atmospheric drag does work both ways. But on the way up, a rocket presents an aerodynamically efficient profile - i.e pointy bit first. On the way down reentry vehicles go what you might call butt first, presenting the most aerodynamically *inefficient* profile possible.

On the safety count, those of from the UK think that the US driving test is a joke too...

Regarding the environmental issue - yes, 10 million cars being bought in India will increase global pollution. We can solve this in two ways. Either prevent the Nano from being sold anywhere, or ban the sale of cars which achieve less than 40mpg (the Nano gets 60, so I'm giving the US a break here).

Lemme see...

a) Prohibition against downloading code
b) Inability to download and install an app using the legal APIs
c) Prohibition against doing anything that bypasses Apple's 30% cut.

Wait - if an app loses your data, do you seriously expect Apple to do anything more for you than give you a refund for the app? If you do, you're dreaming. The backup process is there for a reason.

As far is the developer is concerned, Apple may pull their app - or even cancel their developer agreement. But that doesn't help you. The only accountability that exists is in knowing whose fault it is. That doesn't get you your data back - or compensation for it.

Except that

a) Menstrual periods are absolutely nothing to do with gravitational tides
b) Gravitational tides go on a 29.5 day cycle, not 28 days.

The amount an employee gets paid is generally about half of what the true cost to the employer is, after deducting employer's NI, office space and equipment, benefits, and other expenses.

I rewired my own kitchen perfectly legally. I had to pay 100 pounds to the local Buildings Control Office who sent someone round to look at it. He knew very little, but it was pretty clear to me that he was really there to figure out if I knew what I was doing - if he got a bad impression, he'd send an electrician round.

Part P has got a bit of a bad press, and certainly bad implementation by many councils. I'm not saying it's a good idea, but it isn't quite as idiotic as a lot of people make out.