pbleighton

"I hope causing pain and harm to others is not just an individual decision on the basis of your ethics. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Some English guy." Start dreaming, Mike. Evidently my ethics are beyond your comprehension. Peter

" suppose the answer is sometimes it is ok, but when?" This is an individual decision. That's that. Peter

"If you are an atheist, who not even believe in ethical standards" This is ignorant and offensive. Peter

jb: Take this advice for what it costs you :) If you continue to open 1NT with a singleton 10% of the time with pickup partners, you will continue to get complaints from opponents, and probably from partners as well. Is this worth it to you? I think you are better off greatly reducing the frequency of this practice with pickup partners, perhaps only doing it with a stiff ace. If you want to do it more frequently, do it with a regular partner and alert it. Peter

The much more likely medium-term scenario is the continued extension of physical life without the corresponding extension of mental faculties. What happens if (when) technology allows us to keep some large percentage of the population alive for 20-30 years after complete senescence? The cost to society if all are kept alive will be staggering. What will the benefits be? Society will face excruciating choices, and will likely do things we consider unthinkable today. Peter

1H. Not nice, but it's the least bad bid. Peter

"And yes, I am agnostic about flying purple dinosaurs as well. I think the odds that they exist on earth or elsewhere are very low but I can't make the statement that they don't exist." This wasn't addressed to me, but... Because of this argument, I classified myself as an agnostic for decades. About ten years back, I decided that the practical, "flying purple dinosaur" definition of atheist (and my estimation of the probabilities are equal) fit me better than the theoretically correct agnostic tag. If you would like to call me an agnostic, be my guest. However, there are lots of people out there who call themselves believers who have a lot more doubt of God's existence than I have of his nonexistence. I have no quarrel with their terminology. Peter

"Suicide is never 'rational' by definition (I'm putting this in a Maslow context)" This is entirely dependent on which definition you choose. There are many people who think it's rational under certain circumstances, and many others who disagree. Peter

5C, but I don't criticize 3NT. Peter

1) Would you want to live forever if you could stop the effects of aging at whatever your ideal age is? If not why not, and what would determine when you would want to die? No, I wouldn't want to live forever. I would get bored eventually. 2) Most would agree that they would want to die if they had some horrifyingly painful terminal disease for instance. What if the disease was not terminal but you were in constant pain? If you would at any point want to die if you had a non terminal disease this would imply that if your quality of life sunk below some level you would want to die. What level would this have to be on a scale of a cold to horrifying everlasting pain? Yes, I would want to die if my quality of life sunk below some level. I have a disease which makes this very likely, and I've given this a lot of thought. 3) If there were no other considerations (ie, friends and family being sad if you died) would this change your answers to 1 or 2? No. 4) Would you ever be willing to accept it could be rational for someone to kill themselves if their line in question #2 was lower than yours? What if it was much lower? Is this line a personal decision? Absolutely yes, I've given it a lot of thought for myself. Peter

Pass unless I have a gadget, or am playing a very light opening system. Peter

I think your bidding is fine on both hands. Peter

"I pass. I'm not sacrificing when I'm not at all sure they're going to make." Exactly. Peter

3H. I don't consder pass. Peter

Pass. I don't even consider bidding here. Peter

Many players, including me, play Michaels as either weak or very strong. I would overcall 1S with this good but not great hand. However, I believe Mike Lawrence, for example, plays Michaels at all strengths, so you can do what you like. Having bid 2C, I really don't know what to do. I probably pass. Peter

1 and 2 are sandwich NT, the range is anything less than a takeout double. Range and shape are really what you are comfortable with. I will do it with 4432 shape and a yarborough at unfavorable, but.... 3 is a takeout double. I have no bid for 4, though I'm sure you could come up with one, such as 5-4 with the 5 in the higher (or lower) raking suit. I've been playing sandwich NT for about a year now, I think it's great. Peter

jb What did you do, and what was the complaint? Peter

1C. If you are directing in the ACBL (?) you will get flak for opening 1NT with a stiff, especially if not a K or an A. Peter

I open 1C and rebid 2D. Peter

No, opps have too much juice. Could make, but I don't like chasing rainbows, I seem to catch them less than 50% of the time. Peter

"3NT isn't a command for partner to pass though is it?" No, but it implies a stiff heart. Peter

Pd didn't bid over 1C with that hand at favorable? Wow. Peter

"The poll should include "pass" for mike777." In real life he never passes 11 counts :) RS is just one of Mike's frequent acid flashbacks :P Peter

4H always. I almost never bid 3NT with an 8 card major suit fit, even at matchpoints. Peter