A wise man proportions his belief to the evidence....David Hume (1711-1776)

Fernapple comments on Feb 10, 2019:

Seems such a modern idea for such a long time ago, you have to wonder at the worlds painfully slow uptake.

Fernapple replies on Feb 10, 2019:

@camne The more we use technology the more we have to speciallize, but that means that less and less of us have an overview and understanding of the big picture, including core subjects like maths and history. And that has dire consequences for society, democracy, and morality.

Two of the little joys of the cold season here in the UK, are the winter flowering Snowdrops ...

Nightshade1313 comments on Feb 10, 2019:

@Fernapple beautiful! Id love to see more pics of that graveyard and flowers!!

Fernapple replies on Feb 10, 2019:

OK here is one that did not make the short list.

Here in the UK, the winter flowering Snowdrops (Galanthus ) and Winter Aconites (Eranthis hymalis ),...

Coffeo comments on Feb 10, 2019:

This is the sort of thing I miss most about the UK.

Fernapple replies on Feb 10, 2019:

WE also get wind, frost, rain, snow, ice, and above all just plain dank dull drere cloudy weather, just like we always did.

I propose we start a new game on Agnostic.

evidentialist comments on Jan 28, 2019:

A response and a comment prompted by a comment by LimitedLight about repeat questions/posts: This is the response to https://agnostic.com/post/276034/serious-suggestion-for-this-site-admin-i-raised-about-a-year-ago-but-now-i-think-theres-good-e?aid=1469476 *I disagree. The format is fine as is. ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 10, 2019:

I agree it works well and as I posted above. (Repeat.) The one good thing is that there is a lot more interest is in the groups, and perhaps the front page helps to filter out the banalities, and displays them clearly for those who want them, leaving the groups free of it to a large extent.

Why does it seem that people who never had an interest in religion or were atheist suddenly hit a ...

snytiger6 comments on Feb 9, 2019:

For a few it is confronting mortality they take up Pascal's wager. I think though for most it is something else. Humans evolved to instinctively gather in groups. Back on the African Savannah, this insured safety. Those instincts to be a part of a group are still present in modern day ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 10, 2019:

We need a humanist coffee shop on every street. It wont happen but it is good to have a target.

Photos !!.

Amisja comments on Feb 9, 2019:

You haven't written a bio...have you? Here is me having my sat morning lie in. No hiding here. (I am driving up to Scotland in a couple of weeks btw...not as far up as you mind).

Fernapple replies on Feb 9, 2019:

Wow! THat sat morning lie in look, you are just getting too flirty. Think what that could do to some poor old bloke's blood preasure. Seriously cute though.

Now that my hard work has put me in office, we're going to have some changes around here.

Fernapple comments on Feb 8, 2019:

I am more than happy to support your claim to dictatorship, which I am sure will bring nothing but the greatest benefit to everyone. (Please leave the envelope with the money under the doorstep.)

Fernapple replies on Feb 9, 2019:

@actofdog At my age that would suit me much better, and forget the sherbert, get her to bring beer instead.

This single image clearly explains exponential human population growth causing today's Anthropocene...

Cast1es comments on Feb 8, 2019:

I suggest human population growth , has more to due with health issues and contraceptives , than with oil production . In earlier eras , when diseases , starvation , and war controlled population growth , it was not uncommon for women to bear ten or twenty children , most of whom did not survive ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 8, 2019:

That is true, but in support of Moontiger it has to be said that food, medicine, and contraceptives are all prioducts of the oil industry, and even vaccines are only widspread thanks to the economy and tansport networks that oil created. Please do not think that I am a fan of the oil industry., I am not, if only because it fuels population growth and I do hope that we can find alternatives.

Primary school pulls Darwin show after Christian parents complain Couldn't believe this was in ...

Amisja comments on Feb 8, 2019:

Wtf just down the road from me. Well they are up themselves them people from Chesire

Fernapple replies on Feb 8, 2019:

@Amisja I try to amuse, because when I went on line for the first time many years ago, I never thought that I would be corresponding with people from such far distant and foreign places. The novelty still gets to me. Lancs Wow..

Primary school pulls Darwin show after Christian parents complain Couldn't believe this was in ...

Amisja comments on Feb 8, 2019:

Wtf just down the road from me. Well they are up themselves them people from Chesire

Fernapple replies on Feb 8, 2019:

Translation for none UK members. What Amisja means is that, unlike her county, people from Cheshire don't pick their noses and wipe it on their diner plates.

Do you think this way?

Pedrohbds comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Always when the moral argument comes I remind that: EVEN IF THE ONLY SOURCE OF MORAL IS YOUR HOLLY BOOK... This does not mean that your god is real, it can simply means that a nice guy wrote a manual and used god as authority so people would follow, so it is meaningless to discuss the moral point

Fernapple replies on Feb 7, 2019:

@Pedrohbds Yep agreed.

Do you think this way?

Pedrohbds comments on Feb 7, 2019:

Always when the moral argument comes I remind that: EVEN IF THE ONLY SOURCE OF MORAL IS YOUR HOLLY BOOK... This does not mean that your god is real, it can simply means that a nice guy wrote a manual and used god as authority so people would follow, so it is meaningless to discuss the moral point

Fernapple replies on Feb 7, 2019:

I don't think that he was a nice guy. And if you followed the moral teachings in the bible you would soon find yourself in prison; the reasons that most christians don't end in prison is because they don't take their morals from there either.

As I scroll through endless dating profiles I see a trend; 1.

Fernapple comments on Feb 3, 2019:

If they are Christians and they are on this site they must be desperate, enough said.

Fernapple replies on Feb 7, 2019:

@Corvislover I do not do the dating stuff, so have never looked to see what happens on this site or any other.

How many on here find it difficult to share your views in your communities?

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

I am in business, so yes I do keep one foot in the closet for now, but I will retire soon, and then.

Fernapple replies on Feb 4, 2019:

@AlfonseCapone A lot can't stand me now, but when I retire I shall be a nightmare.

What if there really is a God?

Fernapple comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Even if there is a god, why would it care what we believe ?

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

@OtherPatrick Perhaps he needed it to rape Mary, clever how he did it without her knowing until the angel told her. Maybe he used a date rape drug.

Something to think about perhaps, you hear a lot about this but don't often see hard facts.

MojoDave comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Good information! It would be interesting if the planet did in fact exist!

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Yes the problem seems to be that even if you knew exactly where, you still could not see it. But if you could work out exactly where. how long before someone came up with a way of seeing it ?

Sundays are such poo, laundry, work prep and shopping.

Fernapple comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Try Morrisons.

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

@Amisja Actually I like my trips to Morrisons, ours is in the country so a nice drive to get there on country roads, and there is a great garden centre accross the road where they do good meals at amazing prices. NO! what have I said, its the whole January/February thing, I need to get out more!

For a religious person, the universe is alive, with created things, with the presence of God.

powder comments on Feb 3, 2019:

That is one scenario in an infinite number of possibilities, only limited by the imagination. Religion "knows" the answer, the infinite minus one other possibilities are nonsense. Religions are group think. A flock. Atheist still believe things they don't know. It's just that belief is based on ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Love the phrase. "goatherders guide to the galaxy".

This one was taken in the mountains of Turkey, I like the stage scenery effect that the foreground ...

Robecology comments on Feb 3, 2019:

That scene's only equaled in the Northern Rockies in the U.S. Pretty nice!

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

@Robecology Yes that bit of clearing is the road, you could hadly see it even when you were on it. It was winter, near Side on the south coast. We only went up that road because we were looking for a village, and the girlfriend said. "Look there's a flag pole on that hill, bet thats it." It was a forestry station, and the road only took us sixteen mile out of our way.

This one was taken in the mountains of Turkey, I like the stage scenery effect that the foreground ...

Robecology comments on Feb 3, 2019:

That scene's only equaled in the Northern Rockies in the U.S. Pretty nice!

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Note the little narrow dirt road we were traveling on that weaves through the rock formations for miles.

This one was taken in the mountains of Turkey, I like the stage scenery effect that the foreground ...

Cutiebeauty comments on Feb 3, 2019:

That looks fantastic...

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Its a country of two parts, the tourist areas can be dire, but away from those imagine the Rocky Mountains with ancient classical ruins and beautiful white mosques in every valley, plus some of the friendliest people you will ever meet.

You cannnot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today....Abraham Lincoln.

Cutiebeauty comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Procrastinating does nothing ??

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

@Cutiebeauty I will think about that one for a bit and get back to you.

You cannnot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today....Abraham Lincoln.

Cutiebeauty comments on Feb 3, 2019:

Procrastinating does nothing ??

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Not sure; procrastination sometimes gives you time to realize that it was a dumb idea in the first place.

How do we know an asteroid hit Earth 66 million years ago?

tinebean comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Shocked quartz

Fernapple replies on Feb 3, 2019:

Seemed a bit of a short video to properly cover all the bases.

Hellebore in the snow. Its cold out but the walk in the garden is still worth doing.

itsmedammit comments on Feb 2, 2019:

I miss mine I had at the old place and need to get some for the current home. Nice pic.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

They are the best winter flowers of all, and like all winter flowers they go for a long while.

Hellebore in the snow.

WalterWhite comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Nice color! I got a pink/green flowered one as a gift and it was in sad shape in a pot and rather dried out. But it perked up when I put it in shade in my garden and bloomed most of last summer. I am hoping it will do okay through its first winter and we have had very little snow and its leaves ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

They are very tough, best of luck.

Hellebore in the snow.

JackPedigo comments on Feb 2, 2019:

I have white Hellebores in the front and I just discovered my late partner had planted purple ones next to the carport. I had not noticed this one before. Supposedly, when the flowers are in bloom it's best to remove most of the leaves (many turn black). Some Camellias are also winter bloomers.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

@JackPedigo Our winters are not that mild but we do get a few winter flowers, we are soon coming to the hight of the snowdrop season, will all being well, post something then.

Hellebore in the snow.

JackPedigo comments on Feb 2, 2019:

I have white Hellebores in the front and I just discovered my late partner had planted purple ones next to the carport. I had not noticed this one before. Supposedly, when the flowers are in bloom it's best to remove most of the leaves (many turn black). Some Camellias are also winter bloomers.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

Most people do remove old leaves yes. This is not a named one, just a seedling, but the variety is huge and they are much collected in the UK.

At what age did you learn about evolution?

t1nick comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Not really. But I've been teaching it in my high school science classes for the last 30 years. My students come to me having heard of evolution, may not understand it or know its nuances. But definitely know it exists. Would quit my job before I ever taught or gave credence to creation ...

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

The sad thing is though. Why do they have to wait for high school ? Evolution is so easy when the mind is young and fresh, and what better story is there than the story of life on earth, and what small children do not love stories.

Autumn in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, I just like the way this looks like the perfect village to ...

John_Tyrrell comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Driving through this area back in 1971 is the only time I was shot at. Silly hunter shooting at birds across the road. Saw the cluster of buckshot zoom across the hood of the jeep, right in front of the windshield. Still, it is a beautiful area. I'd risk going again.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

The hunters are still there I am sorry to say, and they do not have high safety awareness. While there I visited a well known nature reserve on a Sunday, I was not shot at but was nearly run down several times, by pickup trucks loaded with dogs and guns going in and out of the reserve at high spead on narrow dirt tracks. Later I passed several groups who did not seem to mind in the least being seen hunting in the reserve. (Possibly the game wardens do not work Sundays.)

Hellebore in the snow.

FrayedBear comments on Feb 2, 2019:

And a good photo, well focused.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

@FrayedBear Lumix FZ45

Hellebore in the snow.

FrayedBear comments on Feb 2, 2019:

And a good photo, well focused.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

If you are techi. you may like to know it was, a bridge cam. on close up setting with UV filter.

Has anyone grown a THUJA GREEN GIANT tree?

Fernapple comments on Feb 2, 2019:

Grows quick and the foliage is scented a bit like oranges, but not everyone likes the smell so sniff one before you buy.

Fernapple replies on Feb 2, 2019:

@FrayedBear Think it must depend on your nose, I have a very bad nose and can not smell them until I get to within a few feet, but some people may smell them at a much greater distance, most people tell me that they are amazed by how poor my smell is. You can certainly smell them when clipping of course, and I find the dust extremely irritatiing even on the skin, but if you do not intend to clip that is not a problem.

England ya reckon?

metalhead222 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

wtf are those things lol

Fernapple replies on Feb 1, 2019:

Wombats, fun arn't they.

For the cat lovers

metalhead222 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

i want that cat, assuming its alive

Fernapple replies on Feb 1, 2019:

Wombats. Fun arn't they.

What are things you regularly say to people when they use a figure of speech.

glennlab comments on Jan 31, 2019:

answer to "how are you?" varies from," Great, but I'll get better," " I've had worse days, but it's still early, " "Tired, worn out and miserable, but other than that great" to " Buckle up, it's about to get interesting."

Fernapple replies on Feb 1, 2019:

Like the last one especially.

The Simulation Hypothesis and the Bible.

Fernapple comments on Jan 29, 2019:

I like it and it is fun and safe to use that sort of hypothesis on this site. But you have to beware beyond these confines, since this is not quite new, it is a regular with religious apologists who like to point the finger at Atheists/ Agnostics and say this is the sort of silly stuff they believe....

Fernapple replies on Feb 1, 2019:

@johnprytz Great.

Found in the garden today, hibernating ladybirds. Hope they stay to eat the bugs next year.

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Feb 1, 2019:

Wow! Christmas-y, lol! I have never seen that. How long do they live? I just assumed it was for a single year or less.

Fernapple replies on Feb 1, 2019:

Yes I think it is only about a year, these would be last autumn's crop waiting for spring, and possibily it is not true hibernation they just cluster together and become torpid. I do not know much about insects, but it is true that honey bees hatched in the summer only live about six weeks, while those hatched in the autumn can live six months or more.

Just curious. Does anyone believe in spontaneous human combustion?

John_Tyrrell comments on Jan 31, 2019:

"A possible explanation is the wick effect. When lit by a cigarette, smoldering ember or other heat source, the human body acts much like an inside-out candle. A candle is composed of a wick on the inside surrounded by a wax made of flammable fatty acids. The wax ignites the wick and keeps it ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

Yes I saw that, they also said that in some cases spilt alchoholic drinks could take the place of the petrol.

The Simulation Hypothesis and the Bible.

Fernapple comments on Jan 29, 2019:

I like it and it is fun and safe to use that sort of hypothesis on this site. But you have to beware beyond these confines, since this is not quite new, it is a regular with religious apologists who like to point the finger at Atheists/ Agnostics and say this is the sort of silly stuff they believe....

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

@johnprytz Can I ask what you do in your, day to day ? I enjoy your posts especially the waxing lyrical bits about the big ideas, sadly even on this site there do not seem to be that many people who are interested in ideas as such. Forgive me sounding a warning but of course I have no idea what your experience is, and you can put it down to old bloke syndrome if you like.

Agnosticism linked to poor parental bonding?

Novelty comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I tend to doubt this, God comes into the picture from child abuse, not from giving or denying a child maternal affection. The love of God was beat into me and my siblings, and all the other children I knew in church. In fact I find it difficult to swallow that this came from Dawkins and if it did I ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

@kauva, @SeaGreenEyez Yes but the innate maternal bond has nothing to do with your external relationship with your mother. I think that is misreading Dawkins, the innate genetic determined instinct is there even in those who have no living mother, and it exists even if it is not used in the external world.

Agnosticism linked to poor parental bonding?

Novelty comments on Jan 30, 2019:

I tend to doubt this, God comes into the picture from child abuse, not from giving or denying a child maternal affection. The love of God was beat into me and my siblings, and all the other children I knew in church. In fact I find it difficult to swallow that this came from Dawkins and if it did I ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

@kauva Yes but the innate maternal bond has nothing to do with your external relationship with your mother. I think that is misreading Dawkins, the innate genetic determined instinct is there even in those who have no living mother.

Agnosticism linked to poor parental bonding?

SCal comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Its important to remember that Dawkins is an evolutionary biologist. Dawkins is not a neuroscientist. I would at least somewhat discount any hypothesis outside of his field of expertise, until what he posits could be tested further. That said, these findings dont seem to fall far from some of ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

Yes I think that this is someone postulating an idea only vaguely based badly on Dawkins not Dawkins himself, since it sound very un-Dawkins to, me. Not that I get direct output from his brain.

The picture is not upside down.

Fernapple comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Beautiful, where taken?

Fernapple replies on Jan 31, 2019:

@GeorgeRocheleau Thank you. Especially since its not at all wintery.

The Simulation Hypothesis and the Bible.

Fernapple comments on Jan 29, 2019:

I like it and it is fun and safe to use that sort of hypothesis on this site. But you have to beware beyond these confines, since this is not quite new, it is a regular with religious apologists who like to point the finger at Atheists/ Agnostics and say this is the sort of silly stuff they believe....

Fernapple replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@johnprytz Very true and please enjoy. I certainly like reading your posts. But have only met you on this site as far as I know, and I did not know how much contact you may have had with theists.

"I am the truth, the light, and the way." Jesus, right?

jerry99 comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Why does it matter? Some clown said some bullshit a couple of millennia ago that got people all excited. You can find the same sort of crap here today on most of the TV preacher channels. As long as we have a large number of gullible morons, we'll have con-artists and lunatics there to supply the ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 29, 2019:

Does not matter much when you have left it behind, it is just fun to speculate. But you could make a case, that if you understand it and how it works, that knowledge will defend you and yours from the new versions.

Dude, you're 65! Do you really want to be in front of a judge for some nonsense? [aol.com]

Fernapple comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I'm in my sixties and at my age you have little to lose, so why not party.

Fernapple replies on Jan 29, 2019:

@IAJO163 You can go to many places for your example, but now you know what you will get if you come to me.

Another one from Charles Darwin.

Paul_Clamberer comments on Jan 29, 2019:

A very Christian attitude

Fernapple replies on Jan 29, 2019:

Sadly that was of course the only one available then.

Why do people post short, retorical statements like.

MissKathleen comments on Jan 28, 2019:

I think that, as much as we, most of us, say we don’t care about the points, we do want to make progress. I could have ignored your post, but I didn’t. Because I want to help everyone here make progress. That is why, whenever I visit a post, I react to every single response already ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

That's very sweet, but I hope you do not include me in that last sentence since I was getting to quite like you.

never ending ill logic

maturin1919 comments on Jan 28, 2019:

Unfortunately he can't read.

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

The poor kid does not know that.

Why do people post short, retorical statements like.

kenriley comments on Jan 28, 2019:

For entertainment, like this post.

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

Well I hope this post is entertaining, but I don't think most of them are.

Why do people post short, retorical statements like.

genessa comments on Jan 28, 2019:

there doesn't seem to be an obvious correlation between such posts and religion, but almost every time i see such a post, the poster turns out to have labeled him/herself as religious, or a believer. in addition, some of those posters turn out to have stolen their pictures and profiles from other ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

@genessa Thanks, I saw that but did not look.

Why do people post short, retorical statements like.

genessa comments on Jan 28, 2019:

there doesn't seem to be an obvious correlation between such posts and religion, but almost every time i see such a post, the poster turns out to have labeled him/herself as religious, or a believer. in addition, some of those posters turn out to have stolen their pictures and profiles from other ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

Yes, I had not thought of that one, I am sure you are on to something there, I will start looking too. I had thought that maybe they were just annoying attention seakers or after points, but the feeling I had that there was something more to it was why I put this post up. Thank you.

Somebody tell the unpresident that in a Declared War the Marine Corps falls under the Jurisdiction ...

JackPedigo comments on Jan 27, 2019:

I wonder how Mueller feels about is being outranked by such a loser.

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

@GipsyOfNewSpain The German rank roughly translates as Lance Corporal, and in the Germany army it did not carry NCO status, and is more the equivalent of, private first class. His applications for NCO, were twice rejected by officers who considered him unstable. Not being pedantic just thought you might find it interesting.

A moral being is one who is capable of reflecting on his past actions and their motives - of ...

camne comments on Jan 27, 2019:

By that definition, I know too many immoral people.

Fernapple replies on Jan 28, 2019:

Perhaps you spend too much time on sites like this ?

If I like a members post or comment they get points, hopefully, but do they still get points if I ...

stinkeye_a comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Occasionally I have wondered if someone gave the "angry" emoji-react to my content because they were upset about the subject material, or they were upset with me for sharing it. I've had a few tense instants over this, but I figure 1) it should be pretty easy to discern, via context, what is ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

That's great I seem to be doing most of those things anyaway, but it is good to have a second opinion. So far I nearly always us just "like" anyway.

I would like to invite everyone to join my Facebook group for our channel“Food Foresters”.

Fernapple comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Sorry don't really do FB if you have good content why not cut and paste it on to here, you will get a lot more genuine appreciation.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@Robecology, @Donto101 Good Well done.

I would like to invite everyone to join my Facebook group for our channel“Food Foresters”.

Fernapple comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Sorry don't really do FB if you have good content why not cut and paste it on to here, you will get a lot more genuine appreciation.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@Robecology If you think that, see my comment at the bottom of the page under Cutiebeauty's comment.

It has been a dry winter so far, but we did get a sprinkle of snow the other day, I turned the ...

MissKathleen comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Serene

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

It certainly was, thought there is a storm blowing up now.

Anyone know any good jokes? Or is everyone grumpy today? lol.

Amisja comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Feeling grumpy, a bit sad and a lot old.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

The seven dwarves and Snowwhite were in the bath feeling grumpy. But Grumpy got out.

Found in the garden today, hibernating ladybirds.

MissKathleen comments on Jan 27, 2019:

You’ll not have to worry about aphids when warm weather comes.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Hopefully.

I would like to invite everyone to join my Facebook group for our channel“Food Foresters”.

Cutiebeauty comments on Jan 27, 2019:

I only use this site... No FB for me... Thanks anyway

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Yes and not just the ethics of FB but the fact that it is so rambling, creaky and overcomplicated, takes ages to download, and is full of such a load of banal rubbish you have to trawl through. Plus they are now trying to replace email, I think the zook is trying to replace the web with the FB empire, the empire of idiot.

Its quite cold here now with a strong wind, so I spent an hour this morning hand weeding pots in the...

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Hmmm...if we don't have that exact weed here in Louisiana, we certainly have a variant of it. I think you just taught me the name of one of my most common weeds. Thanks! The internet just told its in the mustard family and completely edible, though the flowers are a bit bitter. Curse those ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Yes if it has the expolding seed pods it is exactly the same thing. If you want to be really safe, it is said that you should wear goggles when weeding it, because the fast flying seeds can get into your eyes to bad effect.

If I like a members post or comment they get points, hopefully, but do they still get points if I ...

Cutiebeauty comments on Jan 27, 2019:

All the icons give the same points... I generally think the like refers to the topic itself. Unless the topic is the ops opinion...

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@Cutiebeauty Have done. Thanks.

Its quite cold here now with a strong wind, so I spent an hour this morning hand weeding pots in the...

Cast1es comments on Jan 27, 2019:

If it's edible , grow it as a food crop , fertilize it , water it , eat it , and it will disappear .

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

That is one of life's great truths.

Found in the garden today, hibernating ladybirds. Hope they stay to eat the bugs next year.

Spinliesel comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Wow! I did not know they hibernated.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Well the common sort here in the UK do, they seem to like to cluster in high dry places like this, but I can not say what happens in the US. Though I would think that they would be worth looking for.

If I like a members post or comment they get points, hopefully, but do they still get points if I ...

Cutiebeauty comments on Jan 27, 2019:

All the icons give the same points... I generally think the like refers to the topic itself. Unless the topic is the ops opinion...

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

That seems to be most peoples thoughts, I just paniced because someone seemed to be getting upset about a "sad" , when it was one of the admittedly rare people I did not want to upset.

If I like a members post or comment they get points, hopefully, but do they still get points if I ...

Amisja comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Or you could reply Mr. Apple. I like getting replies from you

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Well that's nice (not very helpful) but nice. Will do both.

If I like a members post or comment they get points, hopefully, but do they still get points if I ...

ToakReon comments on Jan 27, 2019:

People use icons in different ways, and sometimes it's impossible to know what they mean. Example, the 'angry' icon - is it expressing anger at the comment itself, of anger at whatever the comment was about?

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Yes that's exactly the problem, we could do with some guidelines on use.

Its quite cold here now with a strong wind, so I spent an hour this morning hand weeding pots in the...

FrayedBear comments on Jan 27, 2019:

The serrated edge leaf lower left looks familiar.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Yes looks just dandylion does it not. There are not many of those but often I just throw the plant, because sorting them out does too much damage.

"People no longer understand how hold a rational conversation.

David_Cooper comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Politics doesn't run on reason - it runs on momentum and brainwashing, dividing people into tribes which believe the other side is immoral so that they hate each other. That hate is there on both sides of any issue and it is used quite deliberately to hold people in their current camp.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@FrayedBear I changed "sad" to like on the like icon menu. I thought that was what you were saying, sorry if you meant something else.

"People no longer understand how hold a rational conversation.

David_Cooper comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Politics doesn't run on reason - it runs on momentum and brainwashing, dividing people into tribes which believe the other side is immoral so that they hate each other. That hate is there on both sides of any issue and it is used quite deliberately to hold people in their current camp.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@FrayedBear Do you think so, I often use it to comment on the content not the person posting it. In this case I would use it to mean that it is "sad" that people are sending out goons. I will check and see if it affects points. Have changed it for now.

"People no longer understand how hold a rational conversation.

David_Cooper comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Politics doesn't run on reason - it runs on momentum and brainwashing, dividing people into tribes which believe the other side is immoral so that they hate each other. That hate is there on both sides of any issue and it is used quite deliberately to hold people in their current camp.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@FrayedBear Yes that too.

Its quite cold here now with a strong wind, so I spent an hour this morning hand weeding pots in the...

Spinliesel comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Well, I was sure we don't have it, bur wikipedia says it grows all over the world. We are under several inches of snow right now, so no gardening for me , other than looking at the seed catalogs. Happy weeding!

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

It is most often a weed in pots, and I am told that it can be used in salads, so maybe I should eat it instead..

"People no longer understand how hold a rational conversation.

David_Cooper comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Politics doesn't run on reason - it runs on momentum and brainwashing, dividing people into tribes which believe the other side is immoral so that they hate each other. That hate is there on both sides of any issue and it is used quite deliberately to hold people in their current camp.

Fernapple replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@FrayedBear Where you have any controling establishment in politics, religion or commerce, they will always promote hate of outsiders as a way to strengthen their own position. That has always been the way and it always will, all people in power know that fear is a way to control people and a way to get them to give you more power and wealth. That has happened since the begining of human culture when language first gave people the power to communicate ideas, it may well be happening more now, because we live in a time of relative peace and security, which makes it much safer for establishments to promote fear with less danger to themselves. If there is no immediate danger of triggering a shooting war which could cause them harm , the reigious and political establishments can promote hate as much as they like. Because if there is fighting on the streets, they can just retreat into their gated compounds.

I think I have figured out the big conflict with christianity

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

Unfortunately his message, (if he existed ) was not just love and acceptance. That's just the religious cherry picking.

Fernapple replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@kauva That's fine, if you are happy cherry picking what you like from very doubtful sources, do so. I have never seen any benefit in it, nor do I regard my wants as a good guide to truth.

"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

I am too often aware of my own ignorance. It's probably too late for me to become a biologist, a physicist, a meteorologist, an oceanographer, a botanist, or any of the dozen things I wish I knew more about. But that doesn't stop me from picking up the tidbits of knowledge that I can find here ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 26, 2019:

Wide knowledge may be better than knowing a great deal about one small speciallity, there is something to be said for enjoying the benefits of science and letting the specialists do the work.

Wakey wakey

Carin comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Actually just going to bed....

Fernapple replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@Amisja You put a "U" in horse.

Hello Everybody.

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

Welcome, sounds like you will fit in well here, if you don't like woo there are a few woo merchants on the site, but you can just ignore them, or they may block you which just means you don't see them any more, great. Check out the groups there is something for everyone and a lot of the site's life ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@JacobMeyers Wow. You will fit in well here.

I think I have figured out the big conflict with christianity

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

Unfortunately his message, (if he existed ) was not just love and acceptance. That's just the religious cherry picking.

Fernapple replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@kauva What do you base your guesses on if not the book of lies ? I do not see that you would logically come to that at all from the book of lies, since the book of lies is he only source we have, you may take any part of the teachings out of it, and say that they are the "true" teachings. As I said, it can not even be regarded it as good evidence that he even existed let alone what he taught, and given the times I strongly suspect that the racism erc. is much more likely to be the teachings of an illiterate self appointed wandering priest.

I think I have figured out the big conflict with christianity

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

Unfortunately his message, (if he existed ) was not just love and acceptance. That's just the religious cherry picking.

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@kauva No I think you will also find that he included, racism, religious bigotry, approval for the old testament laws, approval of slavery, anti investment and short termism, anti-trade, and approval of torture, and the belief in thought crime. Plus I am sure quite a lot of other things, but it is now late at night here so you will have to find them for yourself.

5 Reasons Going To Mars is a TERRIBLE Idea | Answers With Joe - Joe Scott [youtube.com]

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

A very good video, I am sorry to say that a lot of people seem to think naively that space travel is a lot easier than the reality. They should be made to watch a video like this about the difficulties of just getting to the next planet, let alone escaping the solar system, before they are allowed ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@phxbillcee The obvious way to go about it would be to send robots first, to erect and crucially to test the environment.

It just occurred to me this morning that some names in the Book of Mormon may be coded.

Fernapple comments on Jan 25, 2019:

Neat it could be. He was a complete fraud, who must have known that it was silly to write a nineteenth century book in sixteenth century English. What God can not understand modern languages ?

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@BestWithoutGods And of course that was a complete fraud, which made no attempt at traslation but simplty invented what the editors wanted as they went along.

[globalresearch.ca] Are most Americans aware of this and do they care ?

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

One of the problems with US and European intervention is that it is often short-term. Making large numbers of quick military strikes, which are presumably done to appear to be proactive and win approval from large numbers of voters at home, who a largely ignorant of international issues. Then ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@Rob1948 Thats very true, the tit for tat use of third world countries and other weaker nations as proxy wars is a great evil of the day. But in democracies politcians want to pose as global statesmen because they, (perhaps wrongly) think that it impresses voters. While in the former communist world dictators want to distract people from domestic failings, and strengthen their grip on power, by pointing to, often quite unreal, foreign threats. So the game suits both sides and while the rulers of the super powers play games to win often trivial support at home, the weaker nations will continue to suffer.

The USA experience from a UK perspective.

linxminx comments on Jan 25, 2019:

I see it all the time, and not just in relation to debate about belief systems. When I started my current position, I was speaking with a colleague, and suggested that 1 current class in our degree program was an unnecessary class. Her reaction was complete anger, a shrill voice, and a 10-minutes ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@Amisja Yes I had not thought of it that way, but it could be so. Although it follows after "life, liberty" which are more individual, and it was writen in an age when the main issue was the challenge to monarchy, and the basic idea that the happiness of kings and queens was the only duty of the state.

The USA experience from a UK perspective.

linxminx comments on Jan 25, 2019:

I see it all the time, and not just in relation to debate about belief systems. When I started my current position, I was speaking with a colleague, and suggested that 1 current class in our degree program was an unnecessary class. Her reaction was complete anger, a shrill voice, and a 10-minutes ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

Yes. Forgive me, I am an outsider too and you may think that it is not my place to comment, so I hope you take this in good part. But I have long thought that the phrase so deeply enbedded in US culture, "the pursuit of happiness" is too often misinterpreted by many as, "the entitlement to happiness", especially by vote seaking politicians, and that this engenders an immature world view in a lot of the population who view them as authority figures, and when that is seconded by many church leaders seaking to create devoted mind slaves. Then.....

WHAT'S YOUR ONE THING?

bigpawbullets comments on Jan 24, 2019:

See us (humanity) become a truly spacefaring species.

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

Sadly, I would not advise holding your breath.

I was just asked to approve a comment from a new member, as you sometimes are, so I did.

Redheadedgammy comments on Jan 24, 2019:

I will approve as long as the comment isn't rude or a word salad of nothing. LOL

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

It was word salad alright. But rude, who knows what it was.

[globalresearch.ca] Are most Americans aware of this and do they care ?

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

One of the problems with US and European intervention is that it is often short-term. Making large numbers of quick military strikes, which are presumably done to appear to be proactive and win approval from large numbers of voters at home, who a largely ignorant of international issues. Then ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 25, 2019:

@Rob1948 No, that in many ways is my whole point, since Russia and China do stay for the long term and that is the whole source of their success, even using far fewer resources. Often they simply wait out the West's interest and only begin after we leave and they have usually been there for years before.

Volunteering... it's an important community contribution. Do you volunteer and if so what do you do?

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

It is a bit limiting living in the country, but I find time to help with the village itself, help to run two sports clubs though I don't play much myself, I help to run a couple of gardening clubs, it was once three but I had to give one up because it was too far away. And I manage a couple of ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@mzbehavin Its not a great lot now really, but I will retire, all being well, in a few years, and then?

[globalresearch.ca] Are most Americans aware of this and do they care ?

Moravian comments on Jan 24, 2019:

Interesting and encouraging comments. After WW2 the UK ceased to be a world power and on one of the few occasions it tried to assert itself,in Suez, it got a bloody nose. Tony Blair will always be yesterdays man in politics here for supporting Bush in the Iraq invasion, and also for his champagne ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@Moravian You guessed !

[globalresearch.ca] Are most Americans aware of this and do they care ?

Moravian comments on Jan 24, 2019:

Interesting and encouraging comments. After WW2 the UK ceased to be a world power and on one of the few occasions it tried to assert itself,in Suez, it got a bloody nose. Tony Blair will always be yesterdays man in politics here for supporting Bush in the Iraq invasion, and also for his champagne ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

You may also remember that, T. Blair was the man who was two faced enough to conceal his religious affiliations until after he left office, gave the world a new word for a especially cowardly form of lying, created faith schools which have destroyed the education of many children while enriching the worst forms of theocrats, and in a country short of both land and housing gave his rich friends a tax break on second homes. Whatever his views on brexit, and everyone has to be right on something, he was undoubtedly the most evil little creep to ever crawl into number ten.

Why is there no Comrade Chump approval group here on agnostic?

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

Most of the site is US led, and although Judd Trump is a really great sportsman, and a hansom intelligent young man with great style and many admirers, I do not think that he is that well known on your side of the pond.

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@Countrywoman Perhaps, but of course I was having a little fun at our cultural differences.

This pisses me off to the point I'm going to join the Freedom from Religion Foundation and donate my...

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

It is just a thought, but in the UK and in a lot of northern Europe we have state churches, and religion is dying fast while as a political force is nearly dead.

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@AstralSmoke Wonderful. If you get away from the tourist areas especially. Despite their many problems, the people are among the warmest and friendliest you will encounter, and it is such an old land in the poetic sense, that there is hardly a valley without ancient treasures. Some of the mountain valleys are so quiet and trafic free you can hear a pin drop, and the flora and fauna between the snow capped mountain peaks and down to the warm Med. sea is second to none.

This pisses me off to the point I'm going to join the Freedom from Religion Foundation and donate my...

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

It is just a thought, but in the UK and in a lot of northern Europe we have state churches, and religion is dying fast while as a political force is nearly dead.

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@AstralSmoke Yes it gets worse as you go south and east. Holland, Britain and most of Scandinavia are nearly free now. I do however find that I quite like living in religious areas, despite everything. I often go to Turkey and North Cyprus, admittedly only for holidays, and I have to say that I find the sound of the call to prayer almost heart breakingly lovely, especially early in the morning just as you are getting up.

I had another nice tomato harvest today.

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

They look beautiful. Do you do salad crops as well and is Desert in a very warm zone for the US or are these from a greenhouse ?

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@MissKathleen Lovely. Thinking about moving somewhere warm when I retire.

This pisses me off to the point I'm going to join the Freedom from Religion Foundation and donate my...

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

It is just a thought, but in the UK and in a lot of northern Europe we have state churches, and religion is dying fast while as a political force is nearly dead.

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@MoonTiger And that rarely. Very few go to church now. I live in a village of 350 people, and I would think that about ten, mainly the very old, attend church.

I had another nice tomato harvest today.

Fernapple comments on Jan 24, 2019:

They look beautiful. Do you do salad crops as well and is Desert in a very warm zone for the US or are these from a greenhouse ?

Fernapple replies on Jan 24, 2019:

@MissKathleen Thank you, in some ways it sounds great, but I think I would not like the hot summer. What an interesting place to live though. I am learning such a lot about people and places since I joined this site it is great.

For the Antivaxxers.

Fernapple comments on Jan 23, 2019:

The one extinction I think that nobody will regret is that of Smallpox, which used to kill or disfigure a quarter of the worlds population at one time. And we nearly sent polio the same way, but it is now staging a comeback in some countries thanks entirely to anti-vaccine movements promoted by ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 23, 2019:

@CarolinaGirl60 Sadly I think that history and science in any meaningful sense are completely unknown to the anti-vacs. And in many ways it is the fault of governments, who see real education as a good thing only for the privileged few who will join the political establishment.

What do you think of raising the level to contact other members to level 4 or 5?

Fernapple comments on Jan 23, 2019:

Would the site get more members, especially members who stay, if it dropped the dating thing. How many who would enjoy the community here do not join, because they give a promotion they see a quick glance and think. "Oh that's a dating site."

Fernapple replies on Jan 23, 2019:

@TheMiddleWay Thanks fior that, it has always been a mystery to me, I did not even know if anyone had ever actually got as far as dating from this site, since the membership is spaced so widely across the world. Obviously some people are willing to travel.