I ran onto this article while trying to find out whether or not wizards were ever burned at the ...

Fernapple comments on Sep 6, 2022:

To believe in religion, you have to train yourself to despise sceptical ideas, and accept high levels of cognitive dissonance, and when once you have done that, all other crack pot ideas become a lot easier. While the whole tone of thinking in the world you live in, is lowered.

Humans Mere existence Equals Evil Destruction

Fernapple comments on Sep 6, 2022:

Yet we could have a good life with a tenth the consumption, if we only tried.

Is that too much to ask?

Fernapple comments on Sep 6, 2022:

It is all we ever get, anything more is empty vanity and delusion.

Is everyone technically an agnostic?

Fernapple comments on Sep 6, 2022:

What works for me is that. If there is a higher intelligence than those obviously found on earth, a god, or a spiritual world, if you like. Then it clearly choses to remain hidden. Which means that either it does not exist, or it intends us to act as if it does not exist. And if a god exists, then, in the absence of a direct message from it, the best that I can suppose, that it may want me to do, is to. "Appreciate, and perhaps care for, the material creation, which it may have given." While if it does not exist, then the best that I can do for happiness and personal peace, is to. "Appreciate, and perhaps care for, the material creation I am given." You see, no difference. So I will care for my friends, look to do the best I can for the living planet, and most of all, try to learn every day how to appreciate and enjoy even more, the green of the grass, the blue of the sky, the taste of my bowl of soup, and the touch of the hands that made it for me. It is enough, anything more is vanity.

Can Religion Without Belief “Make Perfect Sense”? | Mind Matters

Fernapple comments on Sep 6, 2022:

One common claim made by religious apologists is that, all of the harm coming from religion stems from a literal interpretation of it, and that it can be easily be redeemed by treating it as a metaphor. But sadly, whether religion is metaphorical or literal, is completely beside the point as to whether it is a good thing or not. When your holy book tells you that you should smash the brains of your enemies children out against the rocks. It does not matter if you read it literally, or read the word "children" metaphorically as arts, science, and culture. It is still a nasty idea. Religion without a literal god, does not stop the worship of fake authority, it just moves that fake authority to things like tradition, the sayings of gurus or writings in holy books, making those things into pseudo-gods. Science is not a replacement for religion, as anti rationalists like to say. Nor should it ever pretend to be, but it is a replacement for some of religion's functions, and it is not alone, we now have, nation states, the rule of law, secular morality, philosophy, democracy, socialism, environmentalism, trade networks, humanism, the idea of social justice, public welfare, international law, and secular education at least. Religion was only ever a primitive substitute for all of those, and if only because those many ideas, offer more nuance, and more honest mission statements, religion is now obsolete, lets get over it. Even if god/theism is a metaphor, that does not make it a good metaphor. There are good and bad metaphors as well as many pointless and trivial ones. Humans are not only metaphor forming animals, they are also eating animals. Made by natural evolution to have hungers, but that does not mean that all diets are good for you. Yet you can choose a healthy diet, and are more likely to do so if you receive good education and are protected against those who wish to gain, ruthlessly and without conscience, by pushing unhealthy foods. You can also choose your metaphors. The fake assumption made here is that, if it is natural for humans to create, metaphor and culture, then all metaphors and cultures are either good and of equal value, or even more, that one, the theist metaphor, is proven superior. It is a giant leap (Well several actually.) from, it is natural for humans to make metaphors, to, all metaphors are good, and my favoured one is the best of all. To a degree I do have some sympathy with the fundamentalist. They look at moderate religion, especially cults, like the metaphorical view, and they see rightly, that it is, shallow, narcissistic, dishonest cherry picking, manipulative, self serving, and corrupt, and their moral instincts give them a visceral disgust at the very thought of it. Their only mistake is in thinking ...

Old blue eyes…

Fernapple comments on Sep 5, 2022:

And if you have red hair you are part Neanderthal.

What's you favorite non domesticated animal? I'd have to go with the

Fernapple comments on Sep 5, 2022:

Orangutans, I have never seen a live one, but it is on the bucket list. Perhaps in part because they are the underdogs of the great apes, often overlooked in favour of the African apes, who are most closely related to us. Yet the may well be, the most emotionally intelligent and sensitive of us all.

Family photo!

Fernapple comments on Sep 3, 2022:

They all have the same ears, no doubt about the common parentage.

Huh.

Fernapple comments on Sep 3, 2022:

He blocked me some time ago, twice in fact, seems to block nearly everyone.

Let the fun begin.

Fernapple comments on Sep 3, 2022:

Good, there is not much meat left in my freezer, I thought that I would have to start going to the supermarket.

That’s just awesome

Fernapple comments on Sep 3, 2022:

With training most of the possible bad side effects can be mitigated, but she will have a life of very limited freedom, and some injuries resulting in infections and scaring, are almost inevitable. There is also a high risk of hip, knee, other joint and soft tissue damage needing surgery later in life. In the past people with conditions causing those symptoms rarely lived to maturity.

The tangerine nightmare is worse than butt plugs…

Fernapple comments on Sep 2, 2022:

Butt plugs are a vital survival tool, for both Brown Bears and Black Bears during hibernation. The other two well.......

“The Conservatives have never been a Party burdened by needless sentimentality; some Tory MPs ...

Fernapple comments on Sep 2, 2022:

Nah, the sentimental attachment to the, quite false, myth, that there once existed a time, when you did not have to bother making the effort to think, or reform yourself, is what it is all about.

Atheist take marriage seriously.

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

How about. Atheists take responsibility seriously. Believers try to pass it on either to the sky fairy or to relatives and partners, and that applies to marriage just like everything else.

I thought this was an interesting nugget of information. The highest point on earth?

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

Furthest bit of the earth from its center, that we know of, could be the Voyager space craft.

Never have I ever..

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

Never been to a zoo. Never traveled beyond Europe. Never been swimming for fun.

I haven't seen whether the site is continuing, but just in case it doesn't, thanks for 'social' ...

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

Only if god communicates a wish or objective to us, a god who remains silent and invisible, a deist god, is no different from no god at all. Especially if as we have to suppose, it chose to remain silent and hidden. Religions are, and were never, about the worship of gods, they are about the worship of holy books. And since we have no evidence that any of the holy books was directly or indirectly authored by any deity, and a lot of evidence to the contrary, we can only presume that any deity who may exist, chose to remain silent. In which case, you could make a good argument, that religion and presuming to speak for a deity, is actually the most anti-god and unholy of all human games.

Just discovered Eliminative Materialism and I keep wanting to know more and understand arguments for...

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

I think it is always good to be sceptical, which is the basic foundation of Eliminative Materialism, but you can go too far with sceptical thinking, and being sceptical is yet another thing you need to be a little sceptical about. ( Love the word game. )

I mean, George was good, but....

Fernapple comments on Sep 1, 2022:

Now that Cesare Borgia is out of the frame, literally, could be.

Overcoming religious guilt:

Fernapple comments on Aug 31, 2022:

If Jesus is all caring, he will distract grandma.

Truth social is headed for bankruptcy [salon.com]

Fernapple comments on Aug 31, 2022:

Would it not be less time consuming to make it news, when Trump does something that does not head for bankruptcy. Just thinking out loud.

Stefan Milo, not many credentials but very engaging and knowledgeable.

Fernapple comments on Aug 31, 2022:

My favourite theory. All of those. When you have something as strong as music, it is quite likely supported by multiple mutually reinforcing causes.

I find it amusing and a bit exasperating that ANY disgreement about the Bible is automatically ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

Tell them that their Bible is the most ungodly book of all, and that it was actually written by Satan worshipers. That should get them going. ( And using their own logic it would not be hard to make a case.)

Many years ago a group of us went to this.

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

Polydactyly or Six Fingered Dwarfism, use to be considered the classic Amish genetic failing.

My ex wife and her spouse had been allowing her childhood friend to reside with them for the past ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

It certainly sounds like attempted murder at least, even if it may be difficult to prove actual murder, she should certainly face the full brunt of the law.

Harsh but true!

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

The first applies especially to religion, and is why some politicians love it so much. If you train children from the earliest age to ignore all cognitive dissonance, and all feelings of doubt, in favour of what they are told. Then they will extend that habit to every other sphere of life, including economics, purchasing goods, and politics.

They fry everything in the south.

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

You should try Scotland, the deep fried and battered Mars Bars ( Chocolate with a caramel filling. ) are said to be great.

I believe this.

Fernapple comments on Aug 30, 2022:

Hello and welcome, enjoy the site, you have already found one of the more active groups.

My fellow evil heathens are going to ruin the world.

Fernapple comments on Aug 29, 2022:

Yes, but can we drink sixteen cans of beer without falling over ?

Holy shit.

Fernapple comments on Aug 29, 2022:

Really ! In 1943.

Since the word "Evil" seem to be used in many different forms.

Fernapple comments on Aug 29, 2022:

There is no such thing as an absolute evil, there is merely a spectrum of good an bad things, with no dividing lines and most things being in the middle. (The bell curve.) If we like to give the most extreme end of the spectrum a special term, such as, evil. Then well and good, but the big danger with that, is that we lose sight of the fact that all things sit on an unbroken line. In many ways it would be impossible for a creature such as the devil, as a champion and embodiment of all bad things, to exist. Since to be a champion and successful promoter of bad things, he would have to exhibit some qualities, such as courage and charm to succeed, and then he would not be all bad. The idea of evil, that there are things which are always bad, is an absolute, and absolutes without qualifications or nuance are basically just a form of justification for laziness. "I do not want to do any more thinking, therefore I will put a label of, DONE, on this." But wisdom is always in the nuance, and is always found by effort. Which is why religions love absolutes, because absolutes can provide a justification for laziness. And justifications for being lazy are products which it is easy to sell, since everybody wants to buy some of those, we all have our lazy moments. While at the same time putting a, finished, stop here, label on things means that there is a barrier to anything which could challenge the fake authority, which is the other main product which religions are trying to sell, since we all have our cowardly, don't want to face this, moments, when we want someone or something else to make the choice. So religion using absolutes of so called good and evil, such as. "Thou shalt not kill." Is then forced into a position where it has to oppose even kind and caring acts of killing, such as, assisted death, and abortion. And remember that's just to enable the other "sins" of laziness and moral cowardliness. The more you try to avoid addressing contradictions, the more you end up making.

We Have No Garbage Day in Amsterdam! - YouTube

Fernapple comments on Aug 29, 2022:

Could watch trash pandas all day though.

Just chilling…

Fernapple comments on Aug 29, 2022:

Beautiful photo, but it would be nice to see some lynx here. lol

Life goals?

Fernapple comments on Aug 28, 2022:

Room for a lot of cats.

The Right's Embrace of Racist Replacement Theory Is Both Dangerous and Dumb: A Closer Look - YouTube

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

No thank you, I don't need to look any closer, I see stupid and it is widespread.

Where can one submit, have peer-reviewed and published articles about living life?

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

I don't know where you can show them on here, we used to have a feature for longer articles but it is now gone. One good idea would be to work them up into lectures, and then post on Youtube, and you can then post links to them here.

Americans Dreams

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

It is well arguable that the extra earnings of a well educated person, over their lifetime, will more than repay any investment in free education, via extra tax revenue. But then what would I know, I'm only a stupid European.

You've gotta be worth it, though. 😜

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

Wow that is some photo. I wonder if it just turned up by chance, or if it is a domestic pet possum ?

Freedom From Religion Foundation is a good organization. [Www.ffrf.org]

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

Well I certainly know many that do far more harm.

I signed up at atheistuniverse.

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

You could try FvckMe ? It may work.

What's up with camouflage pickup trucks?

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

Perhaps they are all running bird watching drives, to teach tourists about the traditional values they have for the beauties of nature ? (British humour, sorry.)

Well, this shows for sure how accurate the Bible really is. sarcasm

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

And they added huge chunks that they just dreamed up for themselves. Mathew's account of the resurrection, an extra commandment, ( The one about making images, they put that in just to screw the Catholics. ) and extra verses to the Song Of Solomon, ( The bit about it all being a metaphor for Gods love of his people, in case anybody thought it was just soft porn. ) and lots more besides.

How to save a plant when it's dried out in it's center.

Fernapple comments on Aug 27, 2022:

Ice cubes are especially good for dried out hanging baskets.

Possibly the most sophisticated (and racist) apologetic for slavery I have ever read: [mises.org]

Fernapple comments on Aug 26, 2022:

Did not bother reading far into it, the quality of the writing tells you all you need to know.

It is such common knowledge; it is taught at primary (elementary) schools in the UK, yet it ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 26, 2022:

Yep, saw it last night, a great documentary.

George Orwell 1903-1950

Fernapple comments on Aug 26, 2022:

Ditto religious language.

Okay, I just joined atheistuniverse.

Fernapple comments on Aug 26, 2022:

By the way, what name do you use on that site ?

Okay, I just joined atheistuniverse.

Fernapple comments on Aug 26, 2022:

Interesting, that is the first of the alternatives to this site, that I have viewed which comes anywhere near to this. Most of the others, seem to be single issue echo chambers with no depth and poor cluttered page design.

There's a dog in this picture...

Fernapple comments on Aug 25, 2022:

Called Blackie.

How geological periods got their names: [zmescience.com]

Fernapple comments on Aug 25, 2022:

Very good. It misses out though, the new Ediacaran Period which was only added in the twentieth century that spans 96 million years from the end of the Cryogenian ice age Period 635 million years ago (Mya), to the beginning of the Cambrian Period 538.8 Mya marking the end of the Proterozoic Eon, and the beginning of the Phanerozoic Eon. Named after the Ediacara Hills of South Australia.

Hello friends I am new and so glad to be here!!

Fernapple comments on Aug 24, 2022:

Hello and welcome, enjoy the site, we are glad you have come.

Yeah a xtian joke, but not a bad one When Noah sends his animals to go forth and multiply, a pair...

Fernapple comments on Aug 24, 2022:

Groan.

The Babble is the word of God

Fernapple comments on Aug 24, 2022:

Have you got her phone number ?

The sound of Africa The beautiful grumbling sound of a lion.

Fernapple comments on Aug 23, 2022:

Great sound. Though I can't help thinking that the lioness they show at the end, is thinking. "Yes but you should hear him snore. "

Atheists are nicer to Christians compared to the other way around if their religious identity is ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 23, 2022:

Well we don't have a lecture every Sunday on how important the congregation is, and how superior they are to everyone else, for one.

Surgery today. Send thoughts and prayers. Or beer.

Fernapple comments on Aug 23, 2022:

Though, hopes and best wishes, no prayers.. For beer I will need your bank card details.

I pose a broad question. What is a god?

Fernapple comments on Aug 23, 2022:

God is a word for the personification of things that don't exist or that we can't prove exist, it is therefore meaningless, and may be used for anything you wish, as long as you think of it as personified. Spiritual, is a word for any emotion which we can not fully, or can not yet, rationalize. Neither word leads anywhere, or moves any thought forwards.

Another observation.

Fernapple comments on Aug 22, 2022:

Jelly beans.

Oh bloody hell,,, just another excuse to to visit bloody England I suppose.

Fernapple comments on Aug 22, 2022:

Well I learn something here every day, even about my own country. Fun.

Texas has been under a drought, no news there.

Fernapple comments on Aug 22, 2022:

Yes that happened here in the UK too, the drought ended with a near flood. It is said that with global warming the weather may get more extreme and violent.

How do you spot a fake account on Agnostic? Easy, they’re the ones that start following you!?🤠

Fernapple comments on Aug 21, 2022:

We are all fakes, you are he only real one, and now that we have gathered the information we need for the mega church enforcement department, to initiate proceedings, we will start watching your home with regard to working out a final solution and a clear up method with the hit squad. You have been warned, amend your ways, bullets cost money that we would rather went to the committee for the respecting of Jesus. But we will act if we are forced.

This is not about music or religion.

Fernapple comments on Aug 21, 2022:

As long as you don't mind the dusting, you can fill the house if you wish. Its your house.

I wish cake wasn't fatening

Fernapple comments on Aug 21, 2022:

Really good ones today.

Evolutionary mismatch [youtube.com]

Fernapple comments on Aug 21, 2022:

1. There is nothing new in this. The statement made about conventional evolutionary theory, that it states that evolution leads to correct truthful sense perceptions in all things, is a wild straw man. Conventional evolutionary theory has alway held that any species, will only have, perhaps a just little more than, the sensory equipment needed for survival in its own environment, and its perceptions will be limited to that. We ourselves are, to use perhaps one of the the most conventional and dated of sources. "A medium sized ape, whose senses are designed for a medium sized ape, living on the plains of Africa." R. Dawkins, some forty years ago. Dawkins then goes on to describe why, that does not permit us to understand many higher scientific concepts naturally, but in that he was not an original, but only stating something that was understood, and had been understood by most naturalists for a long time. 2. There is a built in contradiction in his conclusion , when he states that "evolution gives you tricks and hack to help you reproduce." Since if tricks and hacks did not lead to an element of truth, ( That truth which helps you to reproduce. ) then they would not be "tricks and hacks". The beetle in his own example, fails in evolutionary terms, when its senses fail to identify the difference between females and broken bottles truthfully. Mating with bottles in error, does not enhance survival. 3. Application of Occam’s razor, if you are basing your conclusions on a computer model and not real life observation, and you get contradictory results, (Which he does not anyway, except in his own mind.) assume first, that you have made a bad model. His own statements about the real world example of the beetle clearly make that case. QED 4. It is also quite conventional, in so far as it supports the theory that humans moving from the natural environment of the African plains to the cultural environment, ( The first great mismatch. ) would not have the sensory perceptions and mental tools to deal with it. So that they would be prone to misconceptions and brain infections such as religion, which is very similar to Dawkins meme theory, but it is not the strongest of supports for that.

Why does this site keep changing the single letter "k" to "think"? What does it "think" it is doing?

Fernapple comments on Aug 21, 2022:

k Works for me, on Windows 10.

In case you run out of insults, the Bard has you covered.

Fernapple comments on Aug 20, 2022:

Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour, Debased by slavery, or corrupt by power – Who knows thee well must quit thee with disgust, Degraded mass of animated dust! Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat, Thy smiles hypocrisy, thy words deceit! By nature vile, ennoble but by name, Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame. Lord Byron

I don’t think it’s a disorder but alrighty then…

Fernapple comments on Aug 20, 2022:

There is another way ?

I mean, on the one hand, it's debatable as to whether the Bible was ever meant to be taken ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 20, 2022:

The literal or none literal view is most of the time not relevant or significant anyway, it can still be very nasty and wrong even if taken metaphorically. "Dash the brains of your enemies children out against the rocks." is nasty, if they are literal children. But it is also nasty even if "children" are taken to mean the art, literature, law and culture of your enemies. While at the same time the metaphorical view is the ultimate tool of the manipulator, enabling any view to be interpreted into the text, whatever the manipulator and narcissist wants, but then, still enabling them to claim the false authority that many believe the "holy" book has.

I don't hate the human species.

Fernapple comments on Aug 20, 2022:

Oh. I love to watch an attractive member of the opposite sex, breath in and out. But maybe I am just funny that way, do you think I should see a therapist ?

"Never underestimate the power of stupid people in a large group. " George Carlin

Fernapple comments on Aug 19, 2022:

Or even one alone.

Why don't old, liberal atheist men corner me a Walmart instead of old, conspiracy theorist Christian...

Fernapple comments on Aug 19, 2022:

Because old liberal atheists men, are wise enough to know, that cornering people is rude and counter productive ?

Is 54 too old to consider a career change?

Fernapple comments on Aug 18, 2022:

Getting older may one day force a career change on to you. Therefore why not make it now and your own choice. I started a major new hobby at sixty four, and am now looking for my next new career adventure at sixty six.

I'll be on time babe.

Fernapple comments on Aug 18, 2022:

Can't be the one then, very large white scarf.

Texas district pulls the Bible, Anne Frank adaptation as schools face more book backlash

Fernapple comments on Aug 17, 2022:

Sorry, it sound interesting but the link does not work in Europe.

Now that we are approaching the possible demise of Agnostic.

Fernapple comments on Aug 17, 2022:

And thank you back. Your posts/comments have been a joy, and a joy to come I hope.

The FBI is asshoe

Fernapple comments on Aug 17, 2022:

Asshole: A pit dug by a donkey to trap an elephant ?

My daughter-in-law just asked me to have a discussion with my nine year old grandson about religion.

Fernapple comments on Aug 17, 2022:

That is the best "things kids say" story, I heard in a long time.

“The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 16, 2022:

And the best argument for it, is five a five minute conversation with the average politician.

Are you an empath?

Fernapple comments on Aug 15, 2022:

It would be wise to remember that this is made by a person who has stuff to sell, it is therefore very unlikely that there is anyone who will not get a high score in the test. And if you read it cynically, a lot of the questions are such that you have to ask yourself, would anybody give the negative answer to that ? Maybe I count as a cynical old goat, so forget what I just said. But at least it seems I am an empath.

Why religion without belief can still make perfect sense | Psyche Ideas

Fernapple comments on Aug 15, 2022:

From a negative view, it changes nothing. All of the evils of religion always stemmed from the exaggerated respect given to its cultural traditions, holy writings, hierarchical structures and rituals. If you take the literal belief in the non existent god, out of the equation, you take away a zero, nothing, but you still leave all of those things intact. So that all you do, in effect, is to change the name of god from the say singular Zeus or Odin, to the words tradition, holy book, priest and ritual. It still remains by nature the worship of the ultra-traditional as a fake authority, and is only therefore useful to the ultra -conservative, and anti-progressive. Moreover it opens the door even more to the metaphorical interpretation of myth, which is a gift to the criminally intended. Since the main use of religion by the criminally intended is as a source of fake authority, which they can interpret as they wish. That being, naturally, something which people with something dubious and selfish to promote, want more than anything. And the authority of religion, with an added almost total freedom of interpretation, is just such a wonderful gift. (Most, well intended people will usually despise fake authority, since they will tend to believe that good intentions can be supported by reason, and at least good sources of authority, and most well intended people have an attachment to honesty at an instinctive level anyway. )

Heathen n.

Fernapple comments on Aug 14, 2022:

Originally meant, rural peasant, much the same as Hindu, which was a word used by the Islamic rulers in India for their poorer subjects.

Here's a current joke for you.

Fernapple comments on Aug 14, 2022:

Non-binary.

Have a big cup of music

Fernapple comments on Aug 14, 2022:

I have a serious drinking problem. I like malt whiskey and I can only afford blended.

“Myth is metaphor.

Fernapple comments on Aug 14, 2022:

So I have a question. Is there a pill available which stops these people feeling the need to cringe, because I am sure that if I could get hold of some, there is fame and fortune to be made without effort, doing this sort of stuff, if you can avoid feeling ashamed.

Luke Burgis on René Girard [youtu.be]

Fernapple comments on Aug 14, 2022:

Here you go. https://www.popsci.com/diy/spot-fake-science/?amp

“Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century: Belief that personal gain is made by ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 13, 2022:

And hardly anybody listened to him then, and they still don't now.

Here is an interesting question (probably asked by an American person) and a few Brits responded.

Fernapple comments on Aug 11, 2022:

That's about it.

Many of the great cultural shifts that prepare the way for political change are largely aesthetic.

Fernapple comments on Aug 11, 2022:

The arts, is the traditional name we give to our attempts to manipulate culture and achieve mass mind control. Religion is perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all the arts.

For some reason, I have just been blocked from the conservative atheist group lol.

Fernapple comments on Aug 11, 2022:

If he has done nothing wrong, why would it matter that the FBI looks through his safe ?

Christian calls atheists "toxic and "fearful." Your thoughts?

Fernapple comments on Aug 10, 2022:

Point out that the word "atheist" does not mean, believe in nothing, just none belief in a sky fairy. In fact most of the atheists I know believe in a lot of things, perhaps more than theists, believing just in one thing alone, and most theists do, is really the rejecting of wider belief. I for one believe that: The material world is all we get, and it is wonderful. Humans are basically good, and worth loving as a whole. Human rights are good, and should be respected even if they are not objectively provable. That loving and appreciating the material world and nature is our highest calling, and that would still apply even if there was a god. That science is the best method to find objective truth. That you can not be dead, since no such state exists, you can only be, not alive. And a whole lot more...

Some changes are coming

Fernapple comments on Aug 9, 2022:

Did not know she had underwear ! Is that what they call a "liberty" bra ?

I was thinking of getting a couple tattoos.

Fernapple comments on Aug 8, 2022:

"If you don't believe, gods die. R.I.P."

This Photographer Took Pictures Of Animals That Could Soon Be Extinct And This Might Be Your Last ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 8, 2022:

Brilliant photos. Tended though to pick only obviously photogenic animals, which is OK to make the point, but the ugly boring endangered critters are more numerous and need our concern even more.

Pretty much nails the self-styled "Christian" right:

Fernapple comments on Aug 8, 2022:

Your mom is both wise and imaginatively articulate.

I am trying to figure out something I can make and sell, has to be made of wood, could be a special ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 7, 2022:

The big problem with any form of craft work today, is that, any good idea that anyone comes up with, is immediately copied and mass produced in China at a quarter the price. It devalues craft work as a whole and makes it hard to even cover the cost of materials. It is a good idea therefore to research your market well first, and try to find out where you can sell your products at a premium, using the "art" or "local traditional" forms of branding. Things which wear out, and need to be replaced can sell best, such as things made of fabric. Tools are also good sellers, a few years ago I made a really strong garden trowel with a long handle, I forged the blade out of an old truck spring, I often thought of making more, because most of the garden trowels on sale are weak and bendy with tiny handles. I also thought of strong shoulder bags suitable for tools and casual walking, and good strong thick mens hankies, should be simple to make, and most of those on offer today are flimsy. It is also worth thinking about restoring and especially adding value, if you can get old or cheap mass produced wooden objects, and dress them up with better fittings and design work like poker work, then you can add value quickly and cheaply.

Here is a list of 50 misheard lyrics in songs.

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2022:

Not misheard but misunderstood. When I was a child, I used to hate the hymn. "There is a green hill far away. " Because the next line went. "Without a city wall." Which I thought was just stupid, (A tautology, though I did not know that word then either.) because I did not understand the old outdated usage of "without" to mean 'outside of' or 'near to', I only knew the modern usage meaning 'lacking'. And I would think. "Well that is stupid, if it was a green hill it would not have a city wall would it, hills with city walls have houses on them." Now I know though, that Blake, who wrote it, lived in an age when it was well known that the hill of the crucifixion, just like all the hills around Jerusalem, was barren and stony. And that the "green hill", was just a pompous pretentious metaphor, trying to associate Christ's death with spring, growth and rebirth etc. Yuck Christians ! So I still hate that hymn, even more than the rest.

To be really happy and really safe, one ought to have at least two or three hobbies, and they must ...

Fernapple comments on Aug 5, 2022:

I have heard that he was very into, painting pictures and bricklaying, what the third one was, unless it was gardening, I have no idea.

Arizona’s GOP speaker says he’ll ‘never’ vote for Trump again

Fernapple comments on Aug 4, 2022:

An honest man is often a lonely one.

Imagine a world in which scientists divided themselves according to whether they were sincere in the...

Fernapple comments on Aug 4, 2022:

It exists already.

I am truly sick of rudeness, misogyny, and crappy behavior.

Fernapple comments on Aug 3, 2022:

Well he was a good advert for his companies competence and professionalism, at least you now know where not to go when you want work done.