Fernapple's Profile

Earliest known lead exposure... [sciencedaily.com]

qpr81 comments on Jan 14, 2019:

wow! so it wasn't the Romans who started this lead exposure....

Fernapple replies on Jan 15, 2019:

@Elganned How do you know it was not the other way round.

After several months of masonry work, a first for me, I finally got 4 and a half cubic yards of ...

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Jan 15, 2019:

Now that we are in winter, I have an urge to plant a few winter-flowering camellias. What is the best season for planting them?

Fernapple replies on Jan 15, 2019:

Autumn is best is they are bare root, but if they are potted any time as long as you can water the first summer.

I'm setting up my gardening boxes on my new sun porch .

bigpawbullets comments on Jan 14, 2019:

Nope... not styrofoam. I believe it's vermiculite. Helps control water evaporation.

Fernapple replies on Jan 14, 2019:

If it is irregular in form it will be vermiculite, if it is small round beads it will be perlite.

Do you believe aliens exist?

genessa comments on Jan 14, 2019:

of course there is life "out there." it is probably microbial. the thing is, if you want to define life as something that resembles us, or even other animals, then it becomes less and less likely. life can come into being with the right chemical and environmental conditions. intelligent life... ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 14, 2019:

True, the Drake equation misses out a lot of important details, the leap to eukaryotic cells only happened here once, and could be an almost impossible event, which means bacterial life everywhere.

The dude knew his stuff.

Fernapple comments on Jan 14, 2019:

Perhaps you could say, the Dunning Kruger effect a hundred years earlier, Darwin always seems to have foresight in so many fields beyond what you would expect for the nineteenth century. Though in this case you could even go back to A. Pope and his "drink deep" which perhaps even pushes the idea ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 14, 2019:

@Mokvon Goes back forever does it not. But I do like the Darwin which was new to me. Thanks.

I'd like to request an opt out toggle in the settings menu for the Members section of the front page...

Fernapple comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Always ignore those bits, I sometimes wonder if anyone has ever had a face to face from this site, or if the whole dating, friend finding, thing is just a waste of time for those who are here for the community.

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Kafir Sometimes I am told dating sites etc. prioritise the no hope members first because that way people wont find someone they like early and then go away.

Well the blessed independant state of Oswaldtwistle is cold wet and rainy.

Fernapple comments on Jan 13, 2019:

I always take a holiday by the Med. in mid winter. This year just before Christmas I spent each evening sat by the sea with a coffee, watching a bat flying round a small harbor against a warm sunset. I can never understand why people all rush to take their holidays by the Med. in the summer, where's...

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Amisja Yes I know my work is seasonal and I hardly ever get a break from April to September. Well it may be cold and gray tommorow as well, but your lad will soon get well, spring is not far away, the days get longer, you can always look back at all your happy students, because everyone is allowed a little smugness now and again, Oswaldtwistle is oly a tiny distance from some of the loveliest places in England if you can only make an hour for yourself. And in the mean time I ticked the hug icon for you. Ok not much but its the best I can do.

If politicians want to declare war on other nation, how about sending them to the front to lead, ...

Triphid comments on Jan 13, 2019:

The only thing wrong with that idea is that the Kings and Generals were well guarded and protected whilst the rest of their armies slaughtered each other. No, IF any Leader, King, etc, etc, wants to go to war then bring in the very old Leader versus Leader rule and the winner takes all, No ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Marionville Yes you could have, Trump shows up, fifty to one, Trump lasts two seconds, hundred to one, Trump lasts five seconds, thousand to one, Trump wins, "We don't give odds on that."

If politicians want to declare war on other nation, how about sending them to the front to lead, ...

Triphid comments on Jan 13, 2019:

The only thing wrong with that idea is that the Kings and Generals were well guarded and protected whilst the rest of their armies slaughtered each other. No, IF any Leader, King, etc, etc, wants to go to war then bring in the very old Leader versus Leader rule and the winner takes all, No ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Marionville Not sure. I think that Trump ver. Putin would be over in about two seconds. Would love to see what odds the bookies tried to give though.

Good writers are those who keep the language efficient.

Fernapple comments on Jan 13, 2019:

True as far as it goes; but fortunately you do not need to be a good writer to be an interesting person, and sometimes a little bit of extra effort in the reading is well rewarded. Otherwise it would be a waste of my time, and a lot of other peoples, being on this site.

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Marionville Yes, and you know that I am just being naughty, because I like to be that now and again, especially with the ladies; ( Ambiguity intended. ) and it is true that the quality of the posts on this site at least, usually though not always, directly match the quality of the prose. But as a wise lady once told me. "It is the inarticulate children who need your love the most."

We are lucky here in the UK, in that the climate means that we can grow and naturalize Snowdrops, ( ...

MissKathleen comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Pretty!

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

I will put up another photo when they are in full flower, it is a photo of a very special place that will amaze I hope.

Interesting bit about the early mammals, just in that gray area where classification shows its ...

EyesThatSmile comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Long name for a little critter. Interesting. Thanks.

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

First law of classification. "The smaller the critter the longer the name."

We are lucky here in the UK, in that the climate means that we can grow and naturalize Snowdrops, ( ...

Lavergne comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Up here in the TN mountains, the Siberian Iris does really well and naturalizes like crazy. I always hold my breath waiting for that flush of color in spring - they're one of my favorites..

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

Lovely photo, we can grow those here too but they do not naturalize with quite the zest and enthusiasim that the snowdrop does.

Good writers are those who keep the language efficient.

Fernapple comments on Jan 13, 2019:

True as far as it goes; but fortunately you do not need to be a good writer to be an interesting person, and sometimes a little bit of extra effort in the reading is well rewarded. Otherwise it would be a waste of my time, and a lot of other peoples, being on this site.

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@Marionville So if you saw an arm sticking out of a hole in the ground, waving a paper with the word HELP! writen on it. You would think, you should clarify what sort of help you need, and then you would walk on ?

Finch's Bite Is 320 Times More Powerful Than T. Rex's [livescience.com]

Fernapple comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Interesting, but the essay about early mammals, which I found a link to at the bottom of the page was even more so.

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@phxbillcee No that is a good point will do if I can.

Considering both the collapse of ancient societies due to resource scarcity and climate change, and ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

It is almost impossible to predict the future, even ten or twenty years ahead let alone eighty plus, while we must assume the worst in order to act in a responsible way if we can, the one certainty is that almost no predictions ever prove correct. The whole thing could be thrown out by a huge range ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@MojoDave You hit my point exactly, but have said it better and more succinctly.

Earth with no water

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Pretty and interesting, but I am sorry to say that it is a distortion in which the highs and lows have been exaggerated to a great extent. The difference between the highest mountains and the deepest trenches is only about ten miles. On a globe of just over eight thousand miles diameter most are ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 13, 2019:

@magicwatch Yes I would have used snooker ball but with most of the members on this site being from the US, Ithought that it was kind to go with pool.

What makes you happy? Different things make people happy... Let me hear your thoughts....

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Knowing that I have done something useful, as when I see a customer smile. Sorry it may sound cheesy but it really is what make my day.

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@PalacinkyPDX Thank you.

If you hear someone speak with a heavy, southern, country accent, do you instinctively think they ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Only if its a cockney accent.

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@Amisja Yorkshire, Cambridge and Lincolnshire in that order. Read My bio if you like, I think you will find it fun, and you will have a better handle on me when you want to put me in my place. PS I read yours.

If you hear someone speak with a heavy, southern, country accent, do you instinctively think they ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Only if its a cockney accent.

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@maturin1919 Yes I know, and the chance to bait both Americans and Londoners both at the same time was too good to miss.

If you hear someone speak with a heavy, southern, country accent, do you instinctively think they ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Only if its a cockney accent.

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@maturin1919 It does in the south of England.

Have you ever expressed an opinion or stated something that proved highly unpopular?

linxminx comments on Jan 12, 2019:

I'm well-versed in being the lone voice, getting the "blinking eyes," or cricket-chirping silence as people don't know how to respond to something other than the status quo. I speak out a lot about our current mindset related to the education of our young people, which I feel is actually ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

In my days a very long time ago, it was. "We want you to learn to think for yourselves." But the funny thing was, that we knew deep down inside which teachers really wanted you to think, and they were the ones who never used the phrase.

Considering both the collapse of ancient societies due to resource scarcity and climate change, and ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 12, 2019:

It is almost impossible to predict the future, even ten or twenty years ahead let alone eighty plus, while we must assume the worst in order to act in a responsible way if we can, the one certainty is that almost no predictions ever prove correct. The whole thing could be thrown out by a huge range ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@Greymattersuit The issue of a global pandemic is not a quip, it was just an example of how hard it is to predict the future, and I do not intend it to belittle the threats you list, nor will any pandemic drive us to extinction that is not how they work, that idea is silly and was certainly not what I meant. Quite the contary, I merely throw it in as another threat. And it should not be dismissed because there are already signs that our ability to provide quarantine is breaking down, there may not be effective anti-biotics soon, there is an increasing anti-medicine movement and as global resources lessen, sea levels rise etc. there will be increasing uncontroled migrations and famines which always raise the risk, nor should you count on things like the WHO being able to survive themselves, plus an increasing threat from planned bio-engineered pathogens. The fact is that we have enjoyed a short period of a century or so when we managed, thanks to rapidly improving technology and the exploitation of massive resources, to escape for infection for both our selves and our food supplies. That period will come to an end maybe soon, and so possibily will medicine as an effective force in human life. I am not an anti environmentalist. and do think that atll of the things you list are serious threats, and would like to see a sustainable world. In the short term, perhaps twenty years most models are good; but when once you begin to get beyond that then the effects of chaos begin to take hold. And governments who trust in such models are simply either trying to delude people that they have an understanding of the future, which they don't, or are themselves being taken in by a profit making futureology industry, who wish to sell as much of their product as possible. In my youth when still in the education system I had the chance to observe the working of a government think tank, which aimed to foresee the future, and made a number of predictions, some of which I do not remember, but only forty five years on I do remember that the predictions made for the next half century were very consistent, they were all wrong.

Considering both the collapse of ancient societies due to resource scarcity and climate change, and ...

SaucyCheryl comments on Jan 12, 2019:

I'm thinking a financial collapse and World War is going to get us first

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@Greymattersuit Yes that is very true, but it is perhaps not good to look to the past too much, one thing that history teaches is that no two wars are alike, it is quite likely that the reasons for fighting wars in the twenty first century will be things we can not yet imagine. It is also most likely that as resources run out, then wars will have to be small scale and often internal, this may be begining even now with the proxy wars. Wars could also occur over things like genetic technology, and orbital space. While there are real signs that we are heading for a new dark age and that religious doctrine will be at the top of the agenda, when you combine that with the fact that the lines between wars and terrorism are becoming increasingly blurred, and that it will be harder to maintain nation states in a world of more limited resouces, while technology will become increasingly available to terrorists, especially bio-tech so that the next war could easily be a germ war fought between religious sects. While the possiblity of global pandemics should not be underated, since both humans and our food plants are now the biggest resources available to any creature which can learn how to exploit either, and that may well trump anything we can plan before it happens.

Considering both the collapse of ancient societies due to resource scarcity and climate change, and ...

SaucyCheryl comments on Jan 12, 2019:

I'm thinking a financial collapse and World War is going to get us first

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@Greymattersuit Do not agree there are many more reasons for war than just resource scarcity.

It seems that being atheist or agnostic is now looked at as a type of religion

Fernapple comments on Jan 11, 2019:

It is a line of BS pushed by theists, whose next move is usually to try to change the burden of proof from, prove there is a god, to, prove there is no god. They think that if they can force an acceptance of atheism/agnostic as a religion, then you have to prove your faith in your religion just as ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 12, 2019:

@KissedbySun Good variation on the , one god more argument. Must try to remember that one.

It seems that being atheist or agnostic is now looked at as a type of religion

Fernapple comments on Jan 11, 2019:

It is a line of BS pushed by theists, whose next move is usually to try to change the burden of proof from, prove there is a god, to, prove there is no god. They think that if they can force an acceptance of atheism/agnostic as a religion, then you have to prove your faith in your religion just as ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

@irascible When you write a work of fiction, you can of course make your hero as smart as you like. So somebody really messed up.

The secret is safe with me?

snytiger6 comments on Jan 11, 2019:

Or, could it be that we actually did land people on the moon?

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

@starwatcher-al Yep that was big-foot in boots.

Shouldn't we be more eager to get there?

DavidLaDeau comments on Jan 11, 2019:

The only way we could have evolved is if we feared and avoided death long enough to reproduce. Fear of death is what keeps us living, religion helps many of us to deal with that fear, it does not reduce it.

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

Sorry I think that religion sets out to make that fear worse in quite a purpose full way, with threats of hell and judgement, so that it can control people more.

Biological genetic evolution can only react and never foresee.

RichCC comments on Jan 11, 2019:

I haven't thoroughly studied the data but I've read that of all species that have existed on Earth, 99.9 percent are now extinct. Biological evolution tries a lot of things and the vast majority them don't end successfully. I'm starting to think our 'intelligence' trick may be headed that way. ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

Your comment really needs a well thought out reply and I will get back to you if I can think of more. But I will say, for now, that one of the most interesting new things that will happen in the near future, is going to be the new technology of genetic engineering, and our power to design babies. It will happen whether we like it or not, because you can never keep the technology cat in the bag however much you want to. But if it goes well then it could save us from the slow decline that modern civilizations sellective preasures will force on to us. The glib, "To be a genetic successful breeder means being too stupid to understand how contraceptives work, and that makes stupid the future" will have to do for now as an example. But I would imagine that many will value intelligence in their own children, especially irronically many anti-intellectuals. (It is different when they are your children.)

What do you believe in?

genessa comments on Jan 11, 2019:

in the sense of a religious belief, nothing. in a practical sense, i believe my guy loves me, and i believe a good number of things that require long explanations and are subject to revision with the advent of new information. i believe my right to swing my arm ends where your nose begins, and ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

@genessa I made the funny of course because it does sometimes, at least from here, seem that Trump is more like a Walt Disney creation than anything else. Yet I have always though that there were two sorts of evil doing people. The Hitler type who may be mad and quite without compassion, but who really believe that what they do is for the best. And the Stalin type who know that they do harm, but still keep doing it anyway, because they are content to be selfish. I hope you slept well last night and that I did not contribute to keeping you up too much.

Do you want to be buried or sprinkled?

Jnei comments on Jan 11, 2019:

I'd far rather be buried, so that all the various bacteria and who knows what other organisms can immediately start work on returning the various stuff currently making up by body back into the food chain, just as has happened to the vast majority of things that ever lived and ever died. Nature has ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

If they take you to the zoo, ( my choice ) then one less goat will have to die to feed the lions tigers etc. and no smells in the woods.

It seems that being atheist or agnostic is now looked at as a type of religion

Fernapple comments on Jan 11, 2019:

It is a line of BS pushed by theists, whose next move is usually to try to change the burden of proof from, prove there is a god, to, prove there is no god. They think that if they can force an acceptance of atheism/agnostic as a religion, then you have to prove your faith in your religion just as ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

@pasha-one-nine Then they often use the . "So you think you are smarter than god." Line. Actually I think that my next door neighbour but one's nine year old is smarter than their god.

What do you believe in?

genessa comments on Jan 11, 2019:

in the sense of a religious belief, nothing. in a practical sense, i believe my guy loves me, and i believe a good number of things that require long explanations and are subject to revision with the advent of new information. i believe my right to swing my arm ends where your nose begins, and ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

Does Donald Trump really exist then ? I thought he was just something you Americans made up.

I'm looking forward to meeting nature lovers

SkotlandSkye comments on Jan 11, 2019:

As opposed to “nature haters”? Define nature lover vs. nature haters? Are people who deny climate change while supporting rampant consumerism considered “nature haters”? What are the criteria to be considered a “nature lover”?

Fernapple replies on Jan 11, 2019:

Could be that his meaning is that if you reject the supernatural you are by default a nature lover, since that is all that remains. But you are quite right, that believing only in nature does not mean that you will certainly love it. Or it could be that he is hoping that some of the members will be nature lovers, or perhaps it is just a fishing trip.

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@genessa Good night.

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@genessa Yes it is true that unblocking does not mean that you will follow the unblocked path. But the original post that we were asked to vote on, did say "can" not "does". However I do agree with you that, having seen a good sample of atheist opinion on this site especially, it does not seem by any means that there is an exceptional lot of higher level appreciation going on. I am easily set going on this issue mainly because I have had a couple of runs in with a woo pedlar/peddler on this site, over this point. So I will leave it at saying that while atheism may not lead to more appreciation of the natural world, religion certainly is a bar to it. RSVP since your comments are always interesting.

Well said!

Fernapple comments on Jan 10, 2019:

Lacks a coma, I think.

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@MST3K, @MojoDave See my reply above to MST3K, I think that explains what I mean. But I make no claim to certainty.

Well said!

Fernapple comments on Jan 10, 2019:

Lacks a coma, I think.

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@MST3K Could be, that is what i thought at first, but it seemed like a clumsy way to say that. Then I thought that perhaps it means that thinking is better than believing, (especially given the site we are on) in which case it is missing a coma after anything. Who knows you could use it either way.

A Few Random Thoughts About Cosmic Black Holes Every now and again a thought about this or that ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

Black holes it is now thought, do lose a small amount of mass over a long period of time. You really do need to study the physics a lot more deeply before you post on the subject. There is a hypothetical time towards the end of the universe called the time of black holes. There are several good ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@johnprytz Sorry read it a second time and you did mention that.

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@genessa No, but my point is, which I could perhaps have made more plain. That if you are not distracted by religion and woo, then you can give more of your attention to the natural material world, and the gifts that it has to offer. If I go down the garden and look for fairies, then I miss the chance to look into the heart of the flowers and appreciate the elegant beautiful structures of their sexual organs for example. It is perhaps not atheism in a possitive sense but the distractions you leave behind.

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

genessa comments on Jan 10, 2019:

1. depends on what counts as higher consciousness, and higher than what. 2. atheism itself? i have evidence all around me that it does not. however, the things that lead to atheism may also lead to higher consciousness, dependent on what that is. g

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

Perhaps just, we are not distracted from learning to appreciate the natural world.

Do you think atheism can lead to higher consciousness?

Mokvon comments on Jan 10, 2019:

Only in as much in that when we free ourselves from a restrictive ideology are minds can have the time and energy to find deeper meaning. So maybe.

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

True, we are not distracted from learning to appreciate the natural world.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

He was either very careful and very clever, or he was suffering from the Dunning Kruger effect.

Fernapple replies on Jan 10, 2019:

@THHA Yes I was taking him very literaly, which is a little unfair to him, since I am sure that what he meant was that he had tried to lead a fair and ballanced life. Yet in part the reasoning was that it does point out an interesting way in which Roman culture differed from ours, since of course it would not be possible for someone to say something like that today without raising sniggers.

Cricket- What's up with that sport?

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

Its very like baseball, except that there are only two bases and you run back and forth between them until you are out, instead of round the diamond in the same way as baseball. There being two batsman on the field all the time so the bases are always loaded. The main other difference is that the ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@Moravian Not like rounders either. Rounders is actually the oldest game from which the other two were evolved.

American Psychological Association links 'masculinity ideology' to homophobia, misogyny

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

People being payed large sums of money have to do something to justify it, and when they can't think of anything (a lot of the time ) they can always use, point out the obvious.

Fernapple replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@DoctoralZombie You are misreading me, I said that I agree with it, just that is banal. A lot of triuth is. Grass is the colour that people usually call green. It is quite true, but what is the point of saying it. Useful in government to have a clear policy on the colour of grass no doubt, but of no interest to anyone else..

American Psychological Association links 'masculinity ideology' to homophobia, misogyny

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

People being payed large sums of money have to do something to justify it, and when they can't think of anything (a lot of the time ) they can always use, point out the obvious.

Fernapple replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@DoctoralZombie I have every respect for the science of psychology, but unfortunately in nearly every field of science there is some output which is only worthy of an ignobel prize.

American Psychological Association links 'masculinity ideology' to homophobia, misogyny

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

People being payed large sums of money have to do something to justify it, and when they can't think of anything (a lot of the time ) they can always use, point out the obvious.

Fernapple replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@DoctoralZombie No sorry, while I do not disagree with the basic premise. I found it banal in the extreme, riddled with cliche and journalism by numbers, using no doubt, sources which were the same.

Lucius Cornelius Sulla

Fernapple comments on Jan 9, 2019:

He was either very careful and very clever, or he was suffering from the Dunning Kruger effect.

Fernapple replies on Jan 9, 2019:

@THHA That is true, but more than that, I meant that you would have to be a supper human geniius to, either know or list all your friends and enemies, or to have any idea all the things they had done for or against you.

These were very accurate, for me. [huffingtonpost.com]

Fernapple comments on Jan 8, 2019:

Funny thing is, that is exactly the same list that I would say makes a woman attractive.

Fernapple replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Amisja Thanks.

So I have to post and do stuff like that to gain levels?

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

yes. the idea isn't that you do this to gain points. the idea is that you do this because you find the site interesting, and then the site rewards you with points that let you participate even more, because you've shown that you're into it. the points are not the point (pun intended). ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@Amisja I did not mean that comments should be judged for quality, only that rewarding early posting encourages poor quality. However if you are offering to do the job, I think that the offer should be taken seriously, it could really work; imagine a world where Lancastrian culture was used as the bench mark for taste everywhere, that could be the best gift that the planet ever got from the internet. ( Well apart from Yorkshire culture of course, but Lanc's is a good second best.)

So I have to post and do stuff like that to gain levels?

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

yes. the idea isn't that you do this to gain points. the idea is that you do this because you find the site interesting, and then the site rewards you with points that let you participate even more, because you've shown that you're into it. the points are not the point (pun intended). ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 8, 2019:

@genessa Yes no extra points for anything except the basic comment would I think be best.

A few of these are easier said than done.

Xuande comments on Jan 8, 2019:

That's awesome and Imma let you finish, but most of us can't leave a job, hate it or not, cause we gotta like ... buy food for our family and stuff. Carry on!

Fernapple replies on Jan 8, 2019:

Buy food for our family, surely comes under, "love with every ounce of your bones" and "stand up for things that matter". The lines, though basically good, are in some ways contradictory.

So I have to post and do stuff like that to gain levels?

genessa comments on Jan 8, 2019:

yes. the idea isn't that you do this to gain points. the idea is that you do this because you find the site interesting, and then the site rewards you with points that let you participate even more, because you've shown that you're into it. the points are not the point (pun intended). ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 8, 2019:

One thing that I find strange is. Why do you get extra points for being the first to comment, surely the only important thing about a comment is its quality, why is when it was posted important ? It maybe that it is to compensate for the fact that first comments end up at the bottom of the page, but so nearly do second comments, and while when the site was young it may have been needful to encourage comments, there are now lots of people commenting. All it seems to do now is encourage some to make quick shallow flip comments.

Dinosaur-Killing Asteroid Triggered Mile-High Tsunami That Spread Through Earth's Oceans ...

KKGator comments on Jan 7, 2019:

Time for another.

Fernapple replies on Jan 7, 2019:

Boy! I love it when you show how sharp your claws are.

One of the problems of living in the south is that you have to mow the grass in the winter, not ...

EdEarl comments on Jan 7, 2019:

"We should all know by now that lawns of green grass aren't so "green" for the environment. Keeping turf from turning brown wastes water; people use too much pesticide and herbicide, toxic chemicals that can contaminate the fish we eat and water we drink. And keeping lawns at a reasonable height ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 7, 2019:

@FrayedBear You should put that video up as a post, on the gardeners group page at least, it is really wonderful and everyone should see it.

One of the problems of living in the south is that you have to mow the grass in the winter, not ...

EdEarl comments on Jan 7, 2019:

"We should all know by now that lawns of green grass aren't so "green" for the environment. Keeping turf from turning brown wastes water; people use too much pesticide and herbicide, toxic chemicals that can contaminate the fish we eat and water we drink. And keeping lawns at a reasonable height ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 7, 2019:

@EdEarl Best wishes, hope you soon well.

One of the problems of living in the south is that you have to mow the grass in the winter, not ...

EdEarl comments on Jan 7, 2019:

"We should all know by now that lawns of green grass aren't so "green" for the environment. Keeping turf from turning brown wastes water; people use too much pesticide and herbicide, toxic chemicals that can contaminate the fish we eat and water we drink. And keeping lawns at a reasonable height ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 7, 2019:

@FrayedBear Yes I love using a sythe, but there is a skill level required and it is hard to find teachers today, so I just said push mower because that is easiest for most people. The video is great, he is really good I don't think that I will ever reach that level, especially as the man with the strimmer is pretty fast too.

One of the problems of living in the south is that you have to mow the grass in the winter, not ...

EdEarl comments on Jan 7, 2019:

"We should all know by now that lawns of green grass aren't so "green" for the environment. Keeping turf from turning brown wastes water; people use too much pesticide and herbicide, toxic chemicals that can contaminate the fish we eat and water we drink. And keeping lawns at a reasonable height ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 7, 2019:

You could use a push mower, and get some healthy exercise too.

Why is Christianity called a monotheistic religion, when in church every one chants they believe in ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Don't expect logic or reason, the whole point is to make it difficult, so that those in control of the religion have a baffle screen to hide behind when they want to, and so that they can claim to be special because they claim to understand it, which helps to keep the sheep in the pen.

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@greyeyed123 Great post, and yes. Make sense ? No.

I won the rat race! FuckingFlea (my petite tortie female cat) brought it into the house AND LET IT ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Rat vary in character a lot. I use a live cage type trap to catch the ones that sometimes come into my loft, then let them go several miles away. I have noticed that when I pick the cage up some of them cower in a corner, curling up to make themselves small, while others attack the bars of the cage ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@SurvivorSteph Good, especially if you only had gloves.

I just finished reading this insightful book by David Frye ' Walls: A History of Civilization in ...

Charlene comments on Jan 5, 2019:

Walls..walls..walls

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Elganned Also true, there seem to be a lot of reasons why people do not like other people.

After hearing horror tales from my daughters, friends, and women on here, I feel compelled to put ...

Fernapple comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Part of the human tragedy is that people, men and women both, are not attracted to people they like. People are attracted to damaged people because they seem either exciting and dangerous or needy, and strong self reliant people without issues seem boring and dull. Only when the first excitement ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Wildflower That is true to a degree, but I used damaged in a very wide sense to include things like greed and narsisism, and even being victims of consummer culture. Healthy people yes may understand that strength often means reserve.

I enjoy collecting Jack Chick comics.

Amisja comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Wow, I am surprised that you have to endure this. JWs here have been advised against door to door preaching and I have never heard of the other publication. I do remember the Sally Army doing their bit for Temperance Movement when I was a child in pubs. (Yeah I was a child in pubs, usually with my...

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Amisja They used to come round every six to twelve months here in Lincolnshire, but I have not seen them for three or four years now. Though I did see some suited blokes with cases a few months ago, but they could have been any sort of loosers.

I enjoy collecting Jack Chick comics.

Amisja comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Wow, I am surprised that you have to endure this. JWs here have been advised against door to door preaching and I have never heard of the other publication. I do remember the Sally Army doing their bit for Temperance Movement when I was a child in pubs. (Yeah I was a child in pubs, usually with my...

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

I did not know that JWs had stopped going door to door, when and why did that happen ?

I won the rat race! FuckingFlea (my petite tortie female cat) brought it into the house AND LET IT ...

Seeker3CO comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Cats prey on mice... Rats are usually too big and fierce for them

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

I knew a cat once who would take on rabbits.

This came in the post today, hand writen address, no name, no return address.

John_Tyrrell comments on Jan 5, 2019:

What is wrong with their god that she cannot tell you these things personally? (These things are for sale in packs of 25. The author calls it a "book" - seriously, four pages constitute a "book" which says something about the intended audience.)

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@LordOtto Certainly not, they would much rather you were told what was in there, especially by someone who had not read it either. If people knew what was in there, then the church could not use it to give their, so called god persons, authority to whatever they want, but would have to stick with whats in there. (Though that is even worse but less profitable.)

I just finished reading this insightful book by David Frye ' Walls: A History of Civilization in ...

Charlene comments on Jan 5, 2019:

Walls..walls..walls

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

@Elganned More often strong people build walls to keep out weak people, who have a bad habit of demanding social justice and their stuff back.

This is a really interesting story, well told with some fun graphics, but warning you will need an ...

TheGreatShadow comments on Jan 5, 2019:

I love cheese! Almost any type! Except "cheese food" or "cheese product". Except every once in a while I get nacho cheese for curly fries. Maybe some dip for chips. I also don't like american cheese. Even if it is real cheese, they put it on EVERYTHING. Cheddar, sharp cheddar, munster, baby ...

Fernapple replies on Jan 6, 2019:

Me too. But please stop, I could grow fat just reading this.

This came in the post today, hand writen address, no name, no return address.