When is Trump going to put his big boy pants on and own up to the fact that he is a fucking loser?!?

Fernapple comments on Nov 12, 2020:

He has still got at least two months, to wreck as many things as he can, and leave everything in a mess for Biden.

Life is but a sexually transmitted disease.

Fernapple comments on Nov 12, 2020:

And it is invariably fatal.

Have you heard... (stinky news with lots of holes, moldy and not good for your cholesterol...)

Fernapple comments on Nov 11, 2020:

Goes well with some bread and wine. I think its called the trinity.

57% young French Muslims prioritize Sharia Law over those of the French Republic - official French ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 11, 2020:

It is only logical. If you believe, there is a perfect all powerful god in charge of the universe, then of course you should put its laws above those of states.

Are we becoming a Banana Republic and getting set up for a coup? [cnn.com]

Fernapple comments on Nov 11, 2020:

Viewed with the long perspective from this side of the Atlantic. No I don't think so, I think the US is stronger than that, but you are walking very close to the edge of the cliff.

HYBRID PETROL/ELECTRIC CARS ?

Fernapple comments on Nov 11, 2020:

Yes that is what I think, it seems a very strange idea, and logically it could even increase carbon, since charging batteries and then powering the car with electric motors, can not be as efficient as a direct drive. The only thing that I think they can be logically sold for, is to reduce pollution in urban areas, at the expense of more in suburban/rural areas, of course. Or maybe they are just targeted at the unthinking.

Richard Pilger: DOJ's top election crimes prosecutor quits in protest after Barr tells federal ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 10, 2020:

Sorry but I think that he should have stuck it out, and fought his corner. Quiting is giving it to them.

For 30 years i believed what the bible said about homosexuality and that people that practiced it ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 10, 2020:

And your next personal growth would be I suppose, to get to the point where you find yourself positively hoping that she will find someone she loves, who will love her in return, and bring lasting happiness and fulfillment, and bless that person for doing so. I am sure that you will get there, and when you do, you will have reason for some justified pride in yourself, of the real sort which religion trying to keep you forever childish, could never bring.

For 30 years i believed what the bible said about homosexuality and that people that practiced it ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 10, 2020:

A simple logical question. Why is it thought appropriate, to give infinite punishment for a finite crime ? Leaving aside the question of if your sexual orientation is really a sin, and if it could be a sin in a world where everything is given to you, by a perfect god, spin the logic of that how you like, if you have time to waste. However bad you are here on earth, you have only one lifetime to sin in, and can only do so much harm. How therefore, even if you were to be, say, the most evil, cruel and successful serial killer ever, would infinite punishment, out lasting all the pain you caused here, by an infinite number of times, be appropriate.

Covid-19 potential vaccine announced today! Will you take it?

Fernapple comments on Nov 10, 2020:

In the UK , the government plans to roll out the a vaccine, when available, to the most in danger groups first. Beginning with the very old and the health care workers and so on down the list. I will go therefore when asked by the government and take the dose. Thereby doing what is needed to help establish herd immunity, without putting myself ahead of others more in need.

Some of Trump’s Favorite Evangelical Leaders Refuse to Accept That He Lost | Hemant Mehta | ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

I don't suppose, they will find it easy to accept that the Sky Fairy has gone easy, either.

Some will remember these, but the humour/confusion is universal.

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

I could not see mittens, until I finished reading. LOL

After all the rain, everything is growing like mad.

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

Spring rain. Should set you up for a little while.

Hello there.

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

Hello and welcome, enjoy the site, and do check out the groups if you have time.

"Politically, the weakness of the argument has always been that those who choose the lesser evil ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

The point about the lesser of evils. Is that you only choose it when you have no other choice. Do I stay on the burning ship or jump into the water ? The point I think that is made here, is that you can soon come to accept the status as normal, if it is not too bad, and loose sight of the fact that things can still be improved, especially next time.

"Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars." - Norman Vincent Peale

Fernapple comments on Nov 9, 2020:

I think that his grip on astronomy may have been a bit weak. LOL

That’s the spirit! .......... [youtu.be] .

Fernapple comments on Nov 8, 2020:

At last, someone posts music old enough for me to understand.

“There can be nothing more abominable than religion.“ - Vladimir Lenin

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Well Lenin gave it a fairly good try, but no he never quite made it. My favourite story about him, is how when he had the democratically elected members of the first Soviet arrested and taken away, he sat in the senate house by himself and smirked.

Darn, the prosecutions cannot begin until Jan. 20th.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

And the orange Mussolini, has two more months to wreck everything he can. Be very afraid, if I was living in America..

I posted in the Health and Happiness [agnostic.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

The big and horrible fact is that, if there is a big virus wave after the election, following infections started before it. The Trump supporters will still try to blame it on Biden, and say. "I told you so." A sadly a lot of people will fall for it.

I posted in the Health and Happiness [agnostic.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Seems like your post has been hacked. But by whom and why is unknowable. Perhaps a message direct to Admin may be a good idea.

I am new here. Looking for for friends with like minds.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Hello and welcome to the site. Do check out the groups if you have time, there is something for everyone.

What were the consequences of the religious upheavals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

One of the, perhaps under appreciated, effects was perhaps the rise of secularism. After two hundred years of religious violence, and forced conformity, almost everyone capable of thinking, was disillusioned and exhausted. Which made the eighteenth century into the first flourishing of secularism, leading in part to the French and American revolutions, the rise of science as an organized system, and the open use of purely secular thought addressing social and economic questions. Before of course a reaction set in as in the later nineteenth century, as religion began to be seen as a useful tool for controlling the masses, and the governing classes began to fear that secularism could empower people.

What improvements do you make to gear?

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Sadly perhaps, because I am obsessive, nearly everything I get has to be 'improved'. My strolling shoulder bag got too new map pockets on the front. Which are very handy for quick access, but also cover up the ugly manufacturers logo. While my new, for fun, but low carbon transport, got a lockable lid for its basket, to keep things a bit secure, and a towing hook for the really steep hills. (Advantage of three wheels, older people can tow it.)

Aldous Huxley on the perfect dictatorship

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

And to achieve that, it is most important that you do not to put too much time, effort, money and thought into education. You must educate people just enough to make them good slaves, and consumers, but not to the point where they can ask meaningful or important questions. Sound like anywhere you know ?

Quilt for my seven year old grandson--who charmed me into making it for him.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

Boy he must have some charm, that's an amazing gift.

Some thoughts on broadening the appeal of Agnostic.

Fernapple comments on Nov 7, 2020:

How about some simple unpretentious words like. 'Free from religion.' or 'The none believers website.' or 'Website for none believers.'

Mutated coronavirus in Danish mink results in country wide minkicide.

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

Oh they are captive fur farm mink. Quite possible.

Is there any historical or archaeological evidence for the Tower of Babel story or is it all pure ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

There is of course one very easy simple explanation for the myth. Which is very general and does not require you to take any part of the Bible literally. And that is simply that the whole story, is just a written down memory, of some technically primitive, rural, perhaps nomadic, people's reactions, to their first encounter with a big city. Where there are, to them, unbelievable tall buildings and an impossible to understand cosmopolitan, multicultural, multilingual population. Could be any big city anywhere, in any age.

“Patience is power.

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

And sometimes it waits too long, and misses its chance.

Why does Trump think he already won the election?

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

And why does it take so long for Americans to count votes ? In most of Europe we get results in twenty four hours.

I spoke to someone today who said that they liked trump just because he was amusing to watch.

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

It is such a shame that unlike Australians, for example. Americans don't have a tradition of traveling abroad. There is nothing so valuable as the chance to see yourselves as others see you.

Why was the popular vote so close in the US presidential election?

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

All democracies become split down the middle. Because each side coming from one direction, tries to grab as much of the demographic as it can, by appealing to the centre but starts to loose support from its loud outer fringe as it moves into the centre. Forcing a state of balanced halves, with no room for third opinions. That means that it is almost inevitable that in all democracies, the majority in the centre of the political bell curve, are forced into choosing the lesser of two evils all the time. Perhaps that is a good thing, since it helps to stop apathy. But it can also lead to dangerous swing politics, where any movement towards the extreme by one side is seen as an invitation and compulsion, to become more extreme by the other, the swings often becoming deeper and more reactive over time, until constant changes of policy from one extreme to the other begin to damage the states institutions. I remember reading many years ago, the naturalist Konrad Lorenz. Who lived through the nineteen thirties in Germany. Proposing that this was observable in German politics before the collapse of the main parties, admitting the then tiny Nazi party in, to make a grab for power. Some people hold that well designed electoral systems, based on things like proportional representation could prevent political division and swing politics, but of course that is at the cost of apathy and possible corruption, by entrenched political castes.

The importance of knowing when to stop on a project.

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

Not a trick I ever learned I am afraid to say, I always keep coming back to things and fussing. But I have learned to use it to my advantage to a degree, since with time I learned that, the reverse of the coin, is that big jobs can be broken down into small parts, making them less daunting. While my main interest is gardening, which suits that mindset well, since gardens are never finished and always in need of reworking and renewal.

I updated my profile with some background info... thoughts?

Fernapple comments on Nov 6, 2020:

That seems a very good bio. Thank you for starting this site. Although from the UK, I find the fact that it is USA centric wonderfully entertaining, as it gives a very enlightening insight into another culture. While a number of members from all across the globe, have become more or less, what used to be called pen-pals in the days before the net, many more than I could ever have hoped to find without this site, and without the costs and pressures of writing paper letters. Well done.

253 blue 214 red !

Fernapple comments on Nov 5, 2020:

To any US people reading. Its still not over, you can't come out from behind the sofa and watch TV again yet. LOL

Often, I'll write a post, and find later that some numbers have been removed, and I have to edit ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Yes I have had that happen, though not for a long time now, I don't know if I am doing anything different or not. Best to check your posts and then use the edit, as a matter of custom, I think.

How many in the community senate were re-elected yesterday?

Fernapple comments on Nov 5, 2020:

Will write Twitter reports about how unfair the voting is.

Apologies for link being facebook.

Fernapple comments on Nov 4, 2020:

Could not listen to that twaddle sorry. But there was a neat (though easy to see though ) magic trick with a girls bra, on the same page, worth watching. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=932282717274465

How many alien civilizations are out there ?

Fernapple comments on Nov 4, 2020:

The big one to enter into the Drake Equation is. How long do technological civilizations last ? If its only a century or two, before they always self destruct. Then we could be very alone, but sadly, not for much longer. There only needs to be one doomsday technology out there waiting to be discovered. You push the start button, without realizing the consequences, and you are gone. Personally I think we have already done it, though it is a rather slow burn killer to start with, but it will soon catch us, and it is called agriculture. But I could be wrong, and there could be several others waiting for us to invent.

It’s a relationship?!? Not a religion?

Fernapple comments on Nov 3, 2020:

Hello and welcome to the site. I do not really have an answer to the question of, what you could do differently. But it is worth noting that people often become most defensive and outwardly committed to their beliefs, at just the time when they are beginning to have inner doubts. Therefore don't push that will make things worse, but do set a good example of being a good person as an atheist, and your sister may one day surprise you. I don't think that you have a better strategy, than that, available sorry to say.

Top 10 Controversial Quran Verses - YouTube

Fernapple comments on Nov 3, 2020:

Video says blocked in my country, by Channel 4. Interesting, what's behind that I wonder ?

Art Saves! [bbc.com] .

Fernapple comments on Nov 3, 2020:

Some thing positive and light hearted. Just what we need now.

How many of you curse like a sailor?

Fernapple comments on Nov 2, 2020:

You could say 'fart', since that is a synonym for 'Trump' in England, or the other way round. But maybe that is a bit strong in the US right now.

Why do you interact with other humans?

Fernapple comments on Nov 2, 2020:

Why not. I love dogs, but they never answer letters or emails, and their book writing skills are not great, even if they are good at listening.

Lindsey Graham Says Young Women Can 'Go Anywhere' If They're Pro-Life and Embrace Religion, Points ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 2, 2020:

Nice to know that totalitarian restrictions on travel, both social and geographical, are not in place in the USA. ( Sorry I wrote that sentence wrong, I meant to add 'YET' on the end.)

[sciencenews.org] Sea butterflies is not something you hear a lot of.

Fernapple comments on Nov 2, 2020:

New to me, thank you.

Hello senators! Hypothetically speaking, are cartoons of Prophet Muhammad acceptable to be shared ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 2, 2020:

I do hope that the answer is. "Naturally you may, no need to ask." Because if it is not, then I am leaving.

Some words or phrases are nearly universal across a language, but some are used only by certain ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Lots in and around North East England and Yorkshire. I especially like nesh, meaning, over sensitive to the cold. Sometimes used judgmentally, and sometimes not, as in. "I was feeling nesh this morning, so I put on an extra coat." Often also used to describe a symptom of illness. And 'clarty' meaning half way between sticky and sloppy.

OK @Admin, lets talk about how pictures are loading.

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

It only seems to be a problem when using the app. does not seem to happen with a PC.

Researchers found that the gender wage gap is 29 percentage points greater in the most religious ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Actually though, prayer may not be free for men. I have read that there is a lot of research which says that, raising the status and earnings of women, raises the economy better than any other single thing that you can do. So keeping the pay gap actually makes everyone poorer. (As does a high rich poor divide as well.) A lot of discontent in religious communities stems from the idea that. 'If we have the best religion, and are the favourites of god. Why are we poor, while many of the secular are rich.' And the natural conclusion is of course that everyone else is cheating, or even in league with the devil, therefore lets buy some guns and start shooting people. Because of course the one thing never to be considered, is that it may be your stupid religion that is one of the main, (perhaps not only) factors keeping you poor.

Researchers found that the gender wage gap is 29 percentage points greater in the most religious ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Who would have guessed it.

WHAT’S ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD NEVER KNOW ABOUT YOU JUST BY LOOKING AT YOU?

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

I am pleased to say that there is nothing of significance. I am a pure. "What you see, is what you get." Though I have been mistaken for a Christian now and again. Mainly by people who think that if you are an old, ugly, bald, red neck, who lives in a village you must be a Christian as well. But they don't know that I can read books, and even understand some of it. So that could be my dark secret. LOL

For those of you who went from being religious to atheist, have you noticed that philosophy has ...

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Yes perhaps. But you also have to put it against the law of diminishing returns. That each new advance in technology changes life slightly less for us, than the one before, until you reach a point where you can have massive technical advances, which have no practical value at all.

If you aren't an atheist would you be kind enough to explain your reasons?

Fernapple comments on Nov 1, 2020:

Good question, but I am sorry to say that I would rather not ask it. Because I think that most of the answers would be, very boringly silly.

I've found that they even love Donald Trump in France.

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Better looking than the real one.

Gorgeous flowering tree. I don’t know what iris?

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Is it Cersis, the Judas Tree, perhaps ?

I really want to tell people I’m atheist, but living in the Bible Belt I feel like I’ll lose ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Hello and welcome, enjoy the site. Remember, that you are under no obligation to tell anyone about your atheism. It is your own private inner state, which is no one else's business, unless you care to make it so. You can even go to church and sing along if you wish, as an atheist you must know that it is meaningless. If you do choose to tell people, then you will discover, perhaps, that you may lose a few friends, but they were not good friends anyway. It will be the best which stay. And remember there is an ever growing atheist community, where it is not hard to find honest friends.

Happy Halloween 2020 style. This is in my neighborhood.

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

"Be careful what you wish for." 2021 could be even worse.

I relate religion to Grimms Fairy Tales.

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Don't be so hard on yourself. Your little bit of personal hate however strong, will not waste one thousand part of the time that religion would. And hate is not always bad, sometimes it motivates people to do great good, control it use it but do not try to suppress it. That way only leads to a build up of pressure, followed by explosions.

These drones will plant 40,000 trees in a month.

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Probably works very well and a good idea. But I do think that using the term 'plant', when what they are doing is 'sowing', is really very bad hype.

The people most terrified of Satan are Christians; they see the Devil behind every rock and ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

In most of the old testament Satan or a satan, is simply the servant and friend of God. The persona we know, only appears in the last and most doubtful parts of the Bible, as a crude theological invention. Needed because the tribal God of the children of Abraham, and the local area, was changing into a global god of goodness, and if god was all good, then an explanation for evil was needed. However they were probably in such a rush, and so disorganized, that they did not think it through, and probably did not care. Because being arrogant, the authors/editors assumed that most of their inferior believers would not be capable of asking intelligent questions.

Madame Tussauds, Berlin shoved their Donald Trump wax figure into a dumpster.

Fernapple comments on Oct 31, 2020:

Its a very flattering figure, he is a lot uglier than that.

So who is going to create the next great steak sauce?

Fernapple comments on Oct 30, 2020:

All those dead cows, killed by the shelling ?

Republican senator grills Jack Dorsey over satirical post about him strangling a dog [dailydot]

Fernapple comments on Oct 30, 2020:

Link broken, sorry.

Getting an extra hour this weekend ...woopee!

Fernapple comments on Oct 30, 2020:

Enjoy every second of it, you can't be sure that 2021 won't be worse.

Interest in Englewood Atheist Community

Fernapple comments on Oct 30, 2020:

Hello and welcome. It sound like an interesting project, but this is an international site, so most members live at vast distances.

Who wants to have a good conversation? This weeks been rough and could use a friend 🧡

Fernapple comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Hello and welcome. Enjoy the site, and do check out the groups if you have time, there is something for everyone.

I want to share this part of my life with you.

Fernapple comments on Oct 29, 2020:

Well done.

"Our government should be entirely and purely secular.

Fernapple comments on Oct 28, 2020:

Considering the times in which he wrote, he may one day be thought off as one of the great thinkers.

The Southern octopus 🐙 lives off the Patagonian coast in small caves and crevices.

Fernapple comments on Oct 27, 2020:

Beautiful photo.

Members, please argue with me.

Fernapple comments on Oct 27, 2020:

There is no such thing a beer, in the USA. Prove me wrong, to earn points.

I was raised in the restorationist church of christ from a baby and I took it all in deeply, ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 27, 2020:

No. I never really was in any group, or a belonging to groups type of person. I think that things like this site are the nearest I ever got to it.

Today's Hike: Golden Week and clueless Mormons.

Fernapple comments on Oct 27, 2020:

Great photos.

Remember this November 3rd

Fernapple comments on Oct 27, 2020:

Sadly it has to be so. It would not be so in a better world, but in the world we live in, yes.

Here is a question for us Atheists.

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Some say that there was no before the big bang, since there was no time then, some think that time on the others side ran backwards, some that the universe formed as a bubble in another universe. But the truth is, that is all speculation. That's a bit like asking what is on the other side of the hill, without going to look, you can fill it with anything you like, and people do, but believing in inventions is not knowledge. The big difference between a religious mind set and a rational one, is that the rational is about recognizing. "I don't know." As the primary and best answer to most things, while religion is pretending knowledge which does not exist, to bluff others or avoid facing the unknown and your fear of it. Which brings it full circle back to speculation again, because speculation can be fun, rewarding, informative and good practice for thinking. But you lose all of that value, if you ever lose sight of the fact that it is speculation.

_The last minute of the day are usually the most beautiful ones_ _seaside, New Territory, Hong ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Great photo thanks.

I think he was right...

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

I think the thinking is. " I am superior to all others by far, because I have the best religion and morality, and my best of all gods, told me I was superior in every way. Therefore how dare anyone be happier than me."

Anyone ever do goat yoga?

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

You did not give up. You just found a much better use for a goat.

Why are words running out of text area?

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

I don't know, it has happened to me a few times on this sit, especially when doing copy and paste. You could try copy and paste into a text editor like first, as a intermediate stage. Worked for me.

“Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 26, 2020:

Believe that it fizzes with DNA, activating trillions of buzzing ribosomes, to express itself as solar collectors, stretching to catch the sun. So that not one molecule of CO2 can escape being zapped by a photon, in order that a thousand or more plants, can display their genitalia shamelessly with wildly extravagant decoration, to attract their flying inseminaters, and gain a new generation of continuation, though thousands more springs than any human can even imagine seeing. That do ?

Landscapes — 1: Port Phillip Bay from Arthur's Seat, Victoria, Australia, 2015.

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

Number three looks like someone is steaming the mountains to make them soft.

Well, the fevers have begun....tylenol is working. Son's test came back positive this morning.

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

It seems that older men are more likely to suffer badly, and women are more likely to have long term complications. As, I take it, your son is neither of those, it should all be well in a few days. Try to sleep and keep strong yourself.

Lost n ' Found.

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

He gets lost easily, I am sorry to say. ( I think it may be something to do with the amount of wine in his bloodstream. )

A recent visit for a haircut at my favorite local Snipit place had me discovering that it is under ...

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

Does she know that the O.T. bans tattoos ?

[youtube.com] Help, I'm being chased by a ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,never mind......

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

Only in America.

Part 1 Enjoyed a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Grayson Highlands State Park.

Fernapple comments on Oct 25, 2020:

Wonderful photos, and what a beautiful place to live.

I check this site every day, and the trend recently is very scary.

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

It is indeed, keep yourself safe, get a hobby to keep sane, and remember you have friends here if needed.

I was just reading that 2 percent of the world believes the WORLD IS FLAT.

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

No wish I had, I would love to ask one to go with me to the edge. I would pay the travel costs, if they can show it to me.

One of the most entertaining pulpit sermons of all filmdom... [youtube.com]

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

I like the Orson Wells one in Moby Dick too.

"A human being is the only creature that realizes his death." - Oswald Spengler

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

No not strictly true, there could be several, including famously, like Cutiebeauty said below, elephants.

"Tool of choice" for Linda when it comes to cleaning one of our edgers.

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

Tell her to unplug it or take the lead of the spark plug first.

I just found out why I have never known of an atheist eating dijon mustard.

Fernapple comments on Oct 24, 2020:

I get a big trill out of Nun's Farts. Get your head round that. The nuns don't seem to mind, and its not illegal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nun%27s_puffs

Let's brainstorm snarky replies to the lame first message, "How is it going?"

Fernapple comments on Oct 23, 2020:

One recently put. "Hey." So I told him. " A product made of dried grass and herbs, usually used for animal feed, and written with an 'A'. Strangely I did not get a reply, or like, and I was putting real effort into being helpful ?

Religious zealots on this site.

Fernapple comments on Oct 23, 2020:

Bring them on, I love to watch and sometimes take part in the debate. Sadly they usually give up far too easily.

Should this man be supported or educated?

Fernapple comments on Oct 23, 2020:

Nice little song, whats wrong with that, why would he need education ? Why would he need support?

Couldn't take it anymore.

Fernapple comments on Oct 23, 2020:

Yes but you can still hear that horrible voice. Unless you hit the mute button.

Credit is a financial tool used by people who don't know how to manage or budget their money.

Fernapple comments on Oct 22, 2020:

Cheap credit can be a useful tool in business. But the old rule, that you should never borrow more than you have easily transferable assets to pay back is a good one. In other words if you want to put up a market, and you borrow money to buy the land to put it on, that's fine. Because if it all goes wrong, the lender gets the land, so they loose nothing, and you are not in debt without income to pay for it. Everybody happy. But if you borrow money in private life to buy goods, like white goods for example, which loose value quickly, then you are a gambler, and like all gamblers you will probably crash someday.

Question on ancient Roman history

Fernapple comments on Oct 22, 2020:

People have identified over fifty different things which may have helped cause the empire to decline. From hyper-inflation, caused by massive imports but low exports, to lead poisoning, the failing of democratic accoutability, to plagues. And maybe that it simply grew itself to death, the bigger and more diverse it became the more it became filled with people who cared nothing for it, but far more for their local leaders and it failed to propagandize itself, well enough to make its thousands of new members care about it. That last is an interesting one, because of course Rome was the first major republican empire. Not an empire made by one wave of conquest led by a single king, but one which grew by stages, adopting the ruling classes of other nations as citizens, as often as not. Thereby making conquest easier, (many people even asked to be absorbed ), but becoming ever more culturally diverse and also, ever more divided against itself. That may seem to be an anti-liberal, anti-multicultural, message, but it is only so because the Romans also failed in their education/propaganda needed to explain the empire to its diverse subjects, and it also failed to reward people by preventing a deepening rich poor divide. (Yes that may sound familiar.) Three centuries ago, Gibbon was famously fond of the theory that Christianity was the cause, but while Christianity may have contributed a little, most people would agree today that gIbbons view was far too simplistic.

Anyone else getting the new Homo sapiens: a graphic history?

Fernapple comments on Oct 22, 2020:

No, do share a link please.