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Is Life Predestined?
RichCC comments on Sep 22, 2020:
If life is predestined, does that mean we don't have 'free will'(tm)? I've never been able to answer that question definitively(at least to my own assurance) so I choose to pretend that I do have free will (whether I really do or not 😋).
Fictional languages.
RichCC comments on Aug 10, 2021:
Language shapes how you think. And it's a great thought exercise to design languages -- there are university programs to teach exactly that. J.R.R. Tolkien's studies on different cultures and created languages is very interesting for how he approached his 'world' creation. On a loosely related note, I highly recommend Samuel R. Delany's 1966 *Nebula Award*(best science fiction novel of the year) winning novel --** *Babel-17* **-- as a quick light classic read. The plot centers around a code breaker in an interstellar war who discovers that the assignment she's been given is not an enemy code but rather a language that affects the thought patterns of users.
The 'two societies': 97% of new COVID cases are among people who haven’t gotten the shots.
RichCC comments on Jun 7, 2021:
Only in America could you say: 'I don't trust the government with my health. But a chance at a lottery, sign me up.' with a straight face. Our country is stupid, insane, lazy and way too greedy.
I remember the red scare of the 60s and 70s, now those same people are proposing the same policies ...
RichCC comments on Feb 23, 2022:
Going to grade and high school (60s and 70s again) our small town was supposed to use the Glen Canyon wall tunnel (that they made while building the Lake Powell dam) as a shelter if nuclear war came. Even as teenagers we could see how nuts that was. The dam at the time was a major source of electricity for the SW -- almost certainly a target. And you expect us to be inside the canyon wall when the dam is destroyed and the lake drains down the river canyon? I don't think there was anyone in the area that stupid -- but I have no idea what we would have done. Additional *** I did have a friend (a little bit later) who was a Mormon missionary in Russia. When he returned he said he never wanted to eat cabbage again in his life. Ha, ha. The lives he saw weren't completely destitute -- but they certainly weren't filled with roses either.
Pope Francis assures atheists: You don’t have to believe in God to go to heaven | The Independent
RichCC comments on Jan 15, 2020:
Well isn't that special? I know I'll sleep better tonight. /snark
Who is he fighting? Fists? Switchblades?
RichCC comments on May 2, 2021:
Wait, wait, wait. Let's get the rules straight. Rules? In a knife fight? -- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqhm36sjVE
[bestlifeonline.
RichCC comments on May 15, 2020:
Years ago I was at a manager's meeting at Boeing (I was visiting -- I never worked for the lazy-B). There were multiple millions of dollars salary around a good sized room and the speaker happened to use the word 'irregardless'. Someone interrupted them to point out that's not a word. The speaker handled it perfectly. They asked if anyone in the audience thought they might not have understood the meaning. Of course nobody spoke up. So the speaker said '*apparently it is too a word -- sit down*'. Language is for communication and speakers should know their words and their audiences. I get disappointed when people don't know the proper words to convey their message and that includes not using words that their listeners might misinterpret.😋
GOP Senate Candidate: Years Ago, in a Hotel Room, God Told Me to Run for Office | Hemant Mehta | ...
RichCC comments on Aug 28, 2020:
I knew those practical joke motel room speakers would pay off with a laugh some day. Ha, ha. I heard a story about a Boeing worker years ago. He had a new baby, was working on a difficult project and was defending his master's thesis at school -- all at the same time. So he wasn't entirely in a sane state anyway. His thoughtful coworkers hid a beeper in one of the legs of his desk. Randomly every 5 minutes or so it would go 'beep' then fall silent again. I don't know what the final outcome was. People take the rational sounds in their worlds too much for granted.😋
To hell with scones.
RichCC comments on Jan 24, 2022:
Years ago we were in the Mexican restaurant at Walt Disney World Epcot and overhead a Scottish couple trying to explain refried beans to their teenagers. The closest they could come up with was 'split peas mixed with plaster of paris'. 🙂 I suppose it goes both ways. Ha, ha.
Look everybody!!! It's the world's smallest violin!!! Meghan McCain announces she's quitting "The...
RichCC comments on Jul 2, 2021:
I'll believe it when she's gone. I don't trust her any further than I can throw a fit. And of course it's a ratings game. What even more odious person could they find to replace her? She was a somewhat unique find for the show in her time -- feeding off her Senator father's faux middle of the road reputation.
I'm curious about what people on this site feel about the simulation hypothesis.
RichCC comments on May 27, 2019:
I see it in a similar light as I see the 'free will' question. How do we tell if it's true or not? What is the differentiator? If 'A', then it's all a simulation. Else 'not A', it's all real (whatever that is). If you can't figure out how to tell one way or the other, play it however you want to. Nobody else will be able to see the difference either.
Is it yet a ploy of sorts or is it for real?
RichCC comments on Oct 2, 2020:
It's amazing that this question is even coming up. This wouldn't be considered for any normal human being. But of course Trump lies like normal people breath so we have to assume he's lying now until we get evidence to support or refute his claim. The only indicator I see to back his sick claim is that even as dim as he is, he should be able to see that the veracity of the claim will quickly become apparent. Even he wouldn't be able to buffalo his way through this lie. But we are nearing the narrow passage for the election. Surely (Shirley?) he wouldn't try this desperate a ploy. I think he has better desperate ploys to try (the SCOTUS game, maybe). But it is amazing that his credibility is so terrible that we're forced to ask this question.
I honestly thought this was another Babylon Bee post of sarcasm.
RichCC comments on Nov 13, 2022:
I certainly believe there could be a correlation between mask mandates and a reduction in racism. On broader terms, I would reword the situation as general conscientiousness and empathy correlates with a reduction in racism. Those attitudes seem reasonable to me and things to promote in schools.
I really don't know what this is about but it's been bouncing around in my head a lot lately.
RichCC comments on Apr 30, 2021:
I agree and I'll add that that it's a variation of a complaint I have about our modern attitudes. We put far too much emphasis on 'winning'. In our capitalist world, it's not enough just to win, the other side must lose. Throughout most of history we have struggled to survive. If we failed we could literally die out and become extinct at any time. In that context a hyper-competitive short-term winning-is-the-only-thing attitude is at least defensible if not reasonable. But now we are the dominant species on the planet. If we don't very soon adopt more mature long-term sustainable approaches to managing our situation we will finally lose our survival contest and disappear shortly (rather than later as is of course inevitable anyway).
Restaurant to seat mannequins at empty tables to make social distancing less awkward – Boston ...
RichCC comments on May 15, 2020:
Ha, ha, ha.😋 I hope they disinfect the mannequins (and the rest of their business) periodically.
Are you a brain game or puzzle aficionado?
RichCC comments on Nov 17, 2018:
Chess and Crosswords.
I hope to get some better pictures soon once she stops hogging my grand babies.
RichCC comments on Feb 6, 2020:
Are all the puppies dark and light? I don't know how many dogs you have -- the sire might be easy to identify. Lol. 😎 *** Additional: Wow. So if I'm reading the previous note correctly, you just noticed Meredith was expecting on 2/1 and now she has a litter. Wow again. It looks like everyone is ok. I hope I'm right about that too. Congratulations everybody. 🤗
The new "format" sucks.....
RichCC comments on Dec 12, 2020:
The amount of blank space on the, apparently line based, home page is annoying to me. This post, for instance, on the home page has 8 lines -- 4 of which are blank (50% blank). That takes up the screen space far too rapidly on my mobile device. The spacing above is much better. On the home page I have to scroll(wade) through far too much empty(wasted) space to read the list of posts. I realize that this is a comment from my one limited point of view. But there it is for what it's worth.
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, conservative Christians may regret it
RichCC comments on May 4, 2022:
AZ already has a law on the books banning abortion -- it hasn't been enforced since Roe but it hasn't been repealed. Abortion will become illegal instantly if the SCOTUS ruling stands.🙁
Scott Lively: Christians Need an “Underground Railroad” to Escape Persecution | Beth Stoneburner...
RichCC comments on May 6, 2021:
Why would I want them to escape?
[youtu.be] The Smothers Brothers were great entertainers with a message...
RichCC comments on Dec 14, 2022:
I used to have (and loved) their yoyo video on VHS but I let it get too old and moved on from the player. We've always been a yoyo bunch. My father used to put on demonstrations for our small town grade school kids.🙂 Edit -- Smothers Brothers Yo Yo Man full video https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8kI4LAbW18g
I guess the consequences of Trump hanging out with Hope Hicks is removing a lot of hope from a lot ...
RichCC comments on Oct 2, 2020:
I started to put a smiley on this post. But I couldn't bring myself to approve that pun. Ok. Just for you for the points. But remember, I'm watching you.
If the Supreme Court overturns Roe, conservative Christians may regret it
RichCC comments on May 4, 2022:
From the link *** It’s always easy to express concern about the unborn and the dead because doing so requires no actual responsibility, and it’s no surprise that many churches only ever seem to care about those groups in particular. They constantly talk about protecting fetuses and preparing for the afterlife while mostly neglecting the people who suffer as a result of their broken theology. It’s not just a talking point to say anti-abortion activists stop caring about those fetuses the moment they exit the womb. The “pro-life” crowd cares more about life that doesn’t exist, and their policy positions reflect it. They tend to oppose every piece of progressive legislation that would help people without resources. The late comedian George Carlin was on point when he summarized their position this way: “If you’re pre-born, you’re fine. If you’re preschool, you’re fucked.” ... It’s also likely that the people currently fighting to ban abortion will move to restrict access to contraception and birth control, which is a much more difficult argument to make. That’s not a slippery slope argument either, since this was always about imposing their “morality” on everybody else. That is where the path leads. And moving from accusations of “murder” to preventing other people from enjoying consensual sex is a leap that most Americans will not take.
Senate confirms Bedoya to FTC, establishing Democratic majority Vice President Kamala Harris ...
RichCC comments on May 12, 2022:
Senate confirms Biden's FTC nominee despite Republican opposition -- https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/11/senate-confirms-bedoya-to-ftc-00029128 From the link *** But Republicans threw up a solid bloc of opposition that held up Bedoya’s confirmation for months, citing both his history of barbed posts on Twitter and their own reservations about FTC Chair Lina Khan’s progressive agenda. ... With Bedoya in place, Khan will have the ability to advance her aggressive anti-monopoly and consumer protection policies, including a potential antitrust suit against Amazon and a crackdown on employers’ non-compete agreements. In the months since Chopra’s departure, the FTC’s two Republican commissioners have thwarted some of Khan’s plans, for example by opposing a proposed study of pharmacy benefit manufacturers, healthcare middlemen that some allege have led to higher drug prices. The Republicans have attacked Khan personally, alleging that she does not listen to the voices of career FTC staff.
Judge orders Dakota Access pipeline shut down pending review
RichCC comments on Jul 7, 2020:
A very big victory for the way things are supposed to work if nothing else. From what little I've read... The U.S Army Corps of Engineers is expected to finish a full court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the pipeline by mid-2021. That's yet another underscore for the importance of this fall's elections. And the judge didn't leave any question. The order was that the pipeline was '**...to be shut down and emptied of oil by Aug. 5**'. I hope that pushes the actual effective decision until next year when presumably someone much more competent than our current Orangareeto can make it (and hopefully permanently restore the pipeline's denied status).
Greece Makes Covid Vaccine For People Over 60 Mandatory,
RichCC comments on Nov 30, 2021:
100 euros a month taken from an average 730 euro monthly pension? Sounds like they're serious. Good. You said it well -- 'Let's go all out to end this pandemic!'.
I made this veggie Egg Foo Yung with Mushroom Gravy a while back.
RichCC comments on May 10, 2021:
Thanks for the link. I'll enjoy exploring Nom Nom Paleo.🙂
Have you ever been told you look like someone famous?
RichCC comments on Jan 31, 2018:
I don't know about famous but many years ago in Tucson I was told by more than one person that there was someone else in town who could have been my twin. I never happened to meet them and I never figured out if my 'twin' should have felt insulted by the idea or I should. HaHa.
I love Halloween.
RichCC comments on Aug 3, 2021:
I once met a lady who ran a hair salon in a suburb of Seattle. Her full size white poodles started out as pumpkins for Halloween but it wasn't long before they branched out into other holidays -- Christmas, St. Valentine's Day and so forth. You just never knew what they'd do next. I never got a chance to ask the dogs what they thought of the whole thing but I suspect they enjoyed the attention. Ha, ha.🙂
This is one smart horse! Click the video. It works fine. [youtube.com]
RichCC comments on Jan 4, 2022:
We used to family camp at a trail ride near the north rim of the Grand Canyon. The horses knew they had tourists riding and they knew every trick. They would scrape riders off on trees and they vastly preferred going downhill or back to the corral. One time a rider didn't come back. They found him still on the back of the horse about half way around the trail in the middle of a meadow. He couldn't get the horse to move and he was afraid to get off because he didn't think he'd be able to get back on. Ha, ha. The horse decided to end the day and spend time in the meadow eating grass. Horses definitely aren't dumb (with a few exceptions of course. Like people.)🙂
Trump Threatens To Stop Michigan’s Funding If All Voters Receive Mail-In Ballots
RichCC comments on May 20, 2020:
So just like he tried to extort Ukraine to influence the election, now he's trying to extort Americans. What a crook. It's a tragedy that R's live that way so much that they're enabling him -- and he them.
Florida Atheist Petitions to Ban the Bible in Miami-Dade and Broward Schools - [miaminewtimes.com]
RichCC comments on Apr 25, 2022:
A 'political stunt activist'? Ugh.🙄 No wait, make that Eww.😞 From the link *** With that in mind, local political stunt activist Chaz Stevens of Deerfield Beach has taken it upon himself to add another book to the lengthy list: the Bible.
Anyone else care to join me?
RichCC comments on May 28, 2020:
Why only 10 months of the year? I opened a bottle of Shiraz a couple of nights ago. I'm not a heavy drinker so the bottle will last a couple of weeks. But it's always nice to have a treat handy on the shelf. Ha, ha.😋
There has never been a time when a man called me a "bitch" that I did not wear the title proudly ...
RichCC comments on Dec 1, 2021:
No story? You bitch! /snark
Apparently RSVP’ing to a wedding invitation “Maybe next time,” isn’t the correct response.
RichCC comments on May 18, 2023:
We have a close friend in North Carolina that lived with us for a while trying to leave her 2nd husband. She didn't sleep well here apparently because very rural AZ is too quiet. Such is life for a city girl I guess. They're back together again in the east.😋
Certainly troubling, hope they are able to find some.
RichCC comments on Sep 4, 2021:
I copied and pasted the link here -- https://www.microsoftnewskids.com/en-us/kids/animals/bumblebee-not-seen-since-2006-listed-as-endangered/ar-AAO5i1u?ocid=msedgntp
I have not yet mastered this art and I doubt I ever shall.
RichCC comments on May 24, 2022:
My brother decided he wanted a Jeep (I'm guessing it makes him feel more macho.🙂). But he didn't consider that Jeeps tend to have more vertical windshields. I'm pretty sure he got the first rock chip on the way home from picking it up. I don't know how much effort he's gone to since to maintain it.😂
I have been trying to do a crossword puzzle and am totally stuck on "What Moses parted.
RichCC comments on Apr 23, 2021:
Israelites (fools) from their money and later the Xtians.
Cartoon voice people... WHO?
RichCC comments on May 9, 2021:
I miss those cartoons. Even as a kid you had to be marginally an adult to get some of the jokes. I was a huge fan of the late 60s *George Of The Jungle* among others.
Pfizer, BioNTech say their COVID-19 vaccine is more than 90% effective
RichCC comments on Nov 9, 2020:
I hope it means the incidence of COVID-19 in the vaccinated test group was reduced by 90% compared to the unvaccinated(actually placebo receiving) group. They said that 94 people got the virus of the 44,000 some odd study subjects. So of the 94 virus cases seen, ~80 were unvaccinated against ~8 that got the vaccine but then got sick anyway? That's a pretty good efficacy rate. Assuming it's true, I hope it holds against the mutation rate of the virus. And they are apparently collecting two months of safety data on around half of the study's roughly 44,000 participants -- expected in late November. Better numbers sooner than I would have expected -- here's hoping.🙂
Yeah thats him
RichCC comments on May 17, 2020:
Is that a Super Duper missle?
Donald Trump said "Bad things happen in Philadelphia".
RichCC comments on Nov 6, 2020:
He's still trying to coopt Rocky pictures, huh? At least he's getting more accurate. I saw him called a 'political dead man walking' this morning.
This has been one of my favorite (not taken by me) photos of dogs
RichCC comments on Oct 29, 2019:
Great picture. There's a lot to unpack -- the small customs dogs, the particular country flags, the intrusive (by human standards) check, and so on. From the size of the paws, I'm guessing young dogs. You could go on speculating for hours. Lol. 😊
I do not believe the actual person named Jesus in the Christian religion ever existed.
RichCC comments on Jun 8, 2018:
I agree. I keep coming back to all the things that were written about him within at least 60 or so years of when he supposedly lived -- that is to say exactly *nothing*. This guy was supposed to be the son of God and was supposed to be going around performing miracles but no one (in or out of the wholly babble) documented it. All we have is very questionable *memories* that were written decades or centuries after the events they try to describe in a time before printing presses let alone cameras. And it all happened when people were far more ignorant than they are today (if that's possible).
Australian Christians may even be crazier than ours.
RichCC comments on Apr 12, 2022:
Boy. They're not kidding. Just look at the cloud of mostly trash we've surrounded our planet with. 🙂🤔 Stuff in Space http://www.stuffin.space Sometimes I wonder how things like the ISS survive. I guess space is a big place.😅
Anyone here using a metal detector for fun…and maybe profit?
RichCC comments on Jul 29, 2021:
I haven't used one in many years but we had one when I was a teenager. We used to search old homesites in extreme northern AZ looking for artifacts. We never found anything valuable but it was fun. We found a few household items -- the biggest was an old broken rope maker. And we found small things like old wire and railroad spikes. Lol. It was never an attempt to get rich but it was a good excuse to go out and explore in the hills. I admit that we always checked the chicken coops where people might have buried their valuables (as if everyone else hadn't thought of that and checked too. Ha, ha.) The old home trash piles were more productive.
I have lived in the NW Florida area for many years, Navy, job, etc and have know idea how any one ...
RichCC comments on Jul 21, 2020:
We stayed with my father in Mesa, AZ several years when he could not live alone. And one time the A/C went out for a couple of days. Don't let anyone tell you it's a dry heat -- at some point, Hot is Hot. Lol.🙂 We're back in our house now in the hills at 5000 ft where it's a lot more comfortable. My grandmother lived in Ft. Lauderdale for a long time. She didn't even risk it. She played snowbird and ran to the cooler north every summer. I feel for you -- especially for your animals. Make sure everyone gets plenty of water.🤗
‘Orange Man Bad’: Enough | National Review
RichCC comments on Sep 19, 2020:
I agree with @resserts. I was unfamiliar with the phrase “Orange Man Bad". Whatever, I guess. One thing I do see a lot of from the NR commenters is the idea they don't consider replacing Ginsburg immediately to be hypocrisy. They say the party in power should exercise that power. After all that's what they did with Garland nomination -- irrespective of all the hand waving "not in an election year" excuses the Republicans put out. NR opinions of course always fall on the conservative side of the fence.
Codex Alimentarius - Lecture by Dr. Rima Laibow
RichCC comments on Jul 22, 2021:
Good info that we all pretty much take for granted. Thank you. My mother's family is has been from the AZ/UT border 'Strip Country' for almost 100 years and we've watched what locals call 'Jack Mormons' abuse and ignore food safety rules for pretty much all that time. That is the thing I hate(I intensely dislike that word but sometimes it applies) about Ammon Bundy and his group. They call themselves ranchers but they treat their animals so poorly that no one who knows the least little bit about them would touch anything they produce. We're vegetarian(not entirely vegan) but we see the way some people act and are completely disgusted. The Codex is one of the mainstays of our society nationally and internationally. It deserves much more appreciation than we give it.
I was going to write something about apathy. but then I thought. Meh,.....
RichCC comments on Jun 14, 2021:
Like I care...😋
How does it happen?
RichCC comments on Oct 25, 2021:
As a lifelong atheist, I am confused how anyone could be an informed believer anyway. What's that old saying? 'No one can sincerely go to seminary school and come out believing in god.' I don't see it as any bigger jump to becoming a believer no matter what they were before -- much as I think they're making a mistake. If that's how they now want to spend their life, that's their choice to make. Their potential problem is the same as with all theists -- they're not allowed to impose their choice on others.
Ever see a dog like this
RichCC comments on Aug 4, 2019:
Love it. We have one smaller dog who was almost that muscular when she was younger. We're not sure what she is (the adoption place had her as 'chihuahua mix' -- ha, ha). There is obviously some Pit in there but she's never been aggressive. She's the most athletic dog we've ever had. At the dog park she won't retrieve balls but she races others to the spot. Then she waits for the other dog to come get it. Lol.😊
What's the best breed of dog for a pet?
RichCC comments on Dec 7, 2018:
Is 'Mishka' Serbian for mouse? That's an intriguing name. Update: Thinking about it, I should have said 'bear' rather than mouse. Sorry. I'm another vote for a rescue dog that matches your energy level.
As a non theist, what are your top 3 political issues you would like to see addressed in the ...
RichCC comments on Aug 13, 2018:
1. The environment 2. Gun laws 3. Removal of irrational politicians -- anyone who disagrees with me
Trump suggests delaying 2020 election, [youtube.com]
RichCC comments on Jul 31, 2020:
Maybe we should move it forward instead (hat tip *Tom Toles* cartoon).
Can somebody, anybody, please explain to me what it is with the mental defectives who are convinced ...
RichCC comments on Sep 18, 2021:
I don't know outside the obvious tribalism, racism, sexism and naked capitalism that characterize his supporters. But (and I know I'm distracting from my cause here) I hope he splits the vote in '22 and '24 enough to make the Republicans lose.
Actual cooks: If you had developed the perfect pasta sauce, who would you share it with?
RichCC comments on Feb 28, 2021:
My wife is the only current choice for sharing food these days (for me) including pasta. 🙂 Simplicity is generally the trend for us. We don't get too excited about pasta sauce -- olive oil plus whatever else is in the kitchen -- garlic, onions, peas, tomatoes, cheese, cream, herbs, nuts (especially pine nuts), whatever.😋 What's more important is good fresh pasta. Again, these days, we lean towards flavored whole wheat linguini shapes because they keep their shapes and the sauce well and cook quickly. We have a small extruder rather than rolling things out. Tip: Use some flavored baby food as part of the liquid when making the pasta dough. It's easier and more consistent than dealing with chopped or crushed veggies and it makes good color and flavor.
Rick Santorum said there was nobody here when civilized Christians from Europe arrived....
RichCC comments on May 12, 2022:
‘Embarrassing Racist’: Native American Orgs Rip Santorum For Claiming There Was ‘Nothing’ Before Colonizers Arrived - https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/embarrassing-racist-native-american-orgs-rip-santorum-for-claiming-there-was-nothing-before-colonizers-arrived From the link *** The leaders of organizations for Native Americans are raking CNN commentator Rick Santorum over the coals after he claimed that white European colonizers “birthed a nation from nothing” in America and that “there isn’t much Native American culture in American culture.”
Well now we know (like we didn't from the tweets) that Donald Trump watched Elon Musk on Joe Rogan:...
RichCC comments on May 15, 2020:
I saw a similar post -- here is what I said: He's relentless in his quest to game the system. A quality person, with integrity, would likely try to use the numbers that most clearly expressed the situation. Dishonest tRump only wants to use numbers that best bamboozle his audience. It's disgusting.
"All those immoral people, Where do they all come from?
RichCC comments on May 2, 2022:
I'd add Kyrsten Sinema, Joe Manchin, Louis DeJoy, Paul Gosar and Betsy DeVos, among others, to that list. Although in general I don't really care much where they belong *or go* -- as long as it's *away*.
I had never heard of this until tonight.
RichCC comments on Mar 24, 2022:
Thanks. I didn't know that. *Hush* is from DP's *Shades of Deep Purple* album from the late 60s. I like Thin Lizzy but I don't have any of their music. I guess I'll have to correct that. The cover is a credible job -- thanks again.
Latest creation! I think this is the second time that I have adapted someone else's pattern, but ...
RichCC comments on Aug 9, 2020:
Well done
[sciencedirect.com] early crocodilian had dinosaur parts in stomach before fossilization!
RichCC comments on Feb 19, 2022:
I'll bet it tasted like chicken.😋
Arizona School Cancels Controversial Bible Class Due to Lack of Interest | Hemant Mehta | Friendly ...
RichCC comments on Jul 26, 2020:
I hadn't heard that but I love it. 😍 Camp Verde is a little over 40 miles from where we live. I hope that indicates that the residents of CV and their kids are more sophisticated than I realized. They apparently have better things to do with their lives than getting proselytized at. From the link: *** But here’s the kicker: After all that controversy, the course will not be offered this coming school year because — wait for it — *almost nobody wants to take it*. According to the Verde News, Principal Mark Showers of Camp Verde High School said that only two students said in a survey they would be interested in the elective class. With such low interest, the district can’t justify offering the class, much less finding a teacher for it.
These are never reported in the news.
RichCC comments on Feb 9, 2019:
With only a couple of minutes Googling I found several references to the 2013 story. For what it's worth, this was the most credible looking to me. (I'm not sure how it relates to tRump though.). The two men seem to have been lauded somewhat (deservedly) (after their efforts). https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/11/when-the-home-closed/383075/
Compilation Of Biden’s Public Lies & Plagiarism - YouTube
RichCC comments on May 25, 2020:
There's an old saying -- *Rush* used it in a famous song lyric -- '*If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice*'. You can throw your vote away by sitting out the election or making a protest vote for someone without a chance of winning. I can't stop you. But that's how we'll get another 4 years of tRump.
Do you know who you are?
RichCC comments on May 15, 2020:
namaste back.
Does evil exist? As non-believers do we still accept the concept of evil in its pure form?
RichCC comments on Oct 7, 2018:
Nobody sees themselves as evil. Everybody thinks they are doing what is necessary when they act against others. Save the country from sh~hole migrants, behave as a compassionate conservative, round up those minorities, whatever.
Telling lies has become the norm for today's Republicans - CNNPolitics
RichCC comments on May 2, 2022:
True is true.🤔 Good link.
What I would like to see.
RichCC comments on Nov 3, 2018:
He tries... you just have to believe him... cough, cough. "Well, I try. I do try ... When I can, I tell the truth. And sometimes it turns out to be where something happens that’s different or there’s a change, but I always like to be truthful." — President Trump to ABC News Seriously. Trump isn't the disease. He's just the biggest symptom. Tuesday I hope we start removing all the conservative trash infesting our country -- starting with the current government.
We still have 500 children without their parents.
RichCC comments on Sep 25, 2018:
I have a serious question. Could anyone tell me what consequences there are for defying court decisions? I keep seeing court statements worded as absolutes -- 'The children will be reunited with their parents by this specified date.' But when the date passes without compliance, no actions are taken. Are the courts simply powerless here? I don't see any punishments being administered at all. From the behavior of this executive branch, they seem to see slaps on the wrists as rewards -- 'We really upset those liberals this time.' I wish I were less discouraged by our situation.
[diversityinc.com] The fascinating story behind a new treatment for bladder cancer.
RichCC comments on Apr 20, 2019:
Thank you. That was an interesting read. *“This was groundbreaking for us on many levels—this was the first Janssen Oncology compound developed from discovery all the way to approval; our first drug using pharmacodynamically guided treatment dosing, which means a patient’s dose is adjusted based on their phosphate levels; and our first drug developed with a companion diagnostic,” Patel says.* I hope it pans out. Because of its nature and its expedited treatment, the sample size is kind of low. But it looks like they are trying to address what they found.
What is the most sacreligious thing you have ever done?
RichCC comments on Jan 29, 2020:
This doesn't qualify as sacrilegious per se. And I was only indirectly involved. But long ago I had a roommate and separately a friend who were both LDS . The roommate's girlfriend would spend nights in his bedroom but the rule was they would always keep one foot on the floor. Lol. (I never pressed for an explanation.) They would go to Wed. night dances at the local church. One time a couple of girls we knew were curious and wanted to see it and to find out what Mormon girls were like. They practiced for days to be able to talk without accidentally shocking the sensibilities of the poor pristine Mormon girls. Everything was fine (but understandably slow) until they went to the girls' room for a break. They came back red-faced. They couldn't believe how dirty the religious girls talked when guys weren't listening. It was a huge eye-opening experience for both of them. 😎 I figure people, especially kids, are pretty much the same everywhere. The problems mostly come up when people try to apply their own expectations on others.
Has anyone here a National Park Ranger or has worked with the National Park Service?
RichCC comments on Aug 28, 2018:
I waited to reply to see if anyone with firsthand experience spoke up. The closest I've been is an uncle who recently retired after ~30 years. My personal input for what it's worth is that I have yet to ever meet a Ranger I didn't immediately like. My uncle worked hard to get on. If I got the story correctly, he worked 6 volunteer seasons before he got on full time. He also had a degree in forestry with a minor in anthropology. Then one of his first tries for a particular position involved finishing 6th out of 1500 applicants and not getting the job. He obviously didn't quit and it turned out extremely well for him (and his wife -- he was enforcement, she was an interpreter). As I said above, I don't have firsthand knowledge but from what I've seen: *Stick with it, the personal rewards make it worth the while*.
God is everywhere.....it seems!
RichCC comments on Apr 24, 2019:
Well, day before yesterday was Easter after all. But also, at least America seems to be disintegrating. Half of the sheep are being told that their racism will be supported and the other half are being told it is the end of our country. And none of them know where to turn. There's a lot of unconfident, desperate, people grasping even for lame answers these days. I hope we all survive it.
- How do you drink your whiskey? - I take a sip in my mouth and then swallow.
RichCC comments on May 8, 2021:
I agree with @Fernapple below. But I have to admit I'm much more about brandy than whiskey -- personal taste I guess. I don't go for the old expensive stuff. Over the years I've been given a couple of gifts that cost more than I'd ever pay myself and was disappointed. It turns out that I prefer what they tout as good -- what they call VSOP tends to match up to bar cognac at fraction of the price. I'm not a social drinker and I don't drink to get drunk but I enjoy the taste and scent of two or three small snifters a month.
It's still "religious", but it's encouraging.
RichCC comments on Nov 18, 2018:
8,000 to 340,000 in 18 years? Wow. A 40:1 increase. I'm not sure whether to accept that on its face or quite what to do with it. Wow, again.
I know just the spot.
RichCC comments on Mar 26, 2021:
We haven't seen any skeletons but a contractor friend of my father gave him an 1897 silver dollar he said he found inside a wall on a job. He knew my dad was a serious coin collector. *** My step grandfather was a mortician in NE. One of his weirder stories was about a guy whose will (supposedly) for some reason specified that he not be buried until two years after he died. They embalmed him and kept him in a storeroom corner until the time ran out. Ew. I never had any way to tell if the story was true or not but it's pretty creepy.
I need to verify this but it looks cool
RichCC comments on Apr 6, 2022:
Is there such a thing as a patent in Italy? I assume that is the Palermo they are referring to. So someone has to daily reload the cannon? And presumably adjust for the suns' motion in the sky. Interesting, and cool. 'What do you do for a living?' 'I'm the Palermo sundial gundial guy.'
Those who didn't evacuate before Hurricane Laura should put their name in a ziploc bag in their ...
RichCC comments on Aug 27, 2020:
To start with, you're exactly right. This is a dangerous situation and people should not take *any* chances. **Everybody be safe!** Also, why does anybody ever go anywhere without ID? It doesn't have to be official ID like a passport or driver's license or anything. But things can happen at any time -- lightning strikes, people get heart attacks and strokes. It's a lot easier to help someone(or their families) if you know who they are. I realize that many women only carry purses, but purses get mislaid. Surely(why are you all Shirley?) a small tag can be managed. My wife came across an older woman in a coffee shop about 20 years ago who had somehow wandered all the way into the next town from where she lived. Again, somehow, they figured out who she was(she may have had ID) so they called her son and my wife stayed with her until he could come get her. It's not like we all have dementia, but we should all remember **NOBODY PLANS ACCIDENTS**. All we can do is be as ready as we can be when they inevitably eventually come.
A simple question
RichCC comments on Sep 12, 2021:
How can he say that? Ha, ha.🙂 Everyone knows Geesus was white and spoke English.🙂
Questions.
RichCC comments on Jun 9, 2019:
I don't have anything about the philosophical aspects of religion per se. I do disrespect when they try to add supernatural stuff. And I really, really, hate it when they impose their views on others (read us). I see little difference between Jesus dogma and pretty much any other supernatural belief except where I live I see a lot more of Christianity than the others.
Trump's Tax Returns Prove He Is Just Another Moocher - The Atlantic
RichCC comments on Sep 29, 2020:
One minor quibble -- I always believed that a moochers only abused the generosity of others. It's reprehensible, but not entirely dishonest. (BTW, I note it's their word, not yours.) tRump is a con man and a thief. He has made a career out of illegally defrauding people, fraudulently selling scams, stiffing contractors and evading taxes, etc. He and a lot of his Republican enablers deserve prison after they are voted out. Ok -- rant done for now.😐
Do you believe in the butterfly effect?
RichCC comments on Apr 30, 2018:
It's like when NOAA does daily weather forecasts. Even with their massive data collection and computer mode!ing efforts they can't make completely detailed predictions. So what they do is run multiple tries dithering the starting states slightly and choose the results that come up the most. They've found that the butterfly effect makes it so that even the tiniest variations in the starting conditions can have dramatic effects on the results. The simple truth is that there are a lot of (I'd argue most) systems in our world that we don't understand well enough to predict except in the coarsest way.
The COVID-19 mRNA inoculation. [nature.com] IMHO not a true vaccine.
RichCC comments on Sep 22, 2021:
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.". -- Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass
And, in the Us. LOL
RichCC comments on Nov 3, 2021:
Many years ago I learned how to make a shed rattlesnake rattle sound just like the real thing. Ha, ha. 🤔 It won't sound right if you just hold the rattle and shake it.🙂 Make a loop of thread a foot or so long and tie on a shed rattle. Then firmly stretch the thread between your hands so that when you rotate your hands the thread doesn't go around like a pulley but rather rubs against your thumbs. The vibration will make the rattle sound exactly like a live snake. It will scare the pants off anyone who's heard the sound of a nearby rattlesnake. Ha, ha.🙂
We need thousands of these in the UK.
RichCC comments on Dec 25, 2021:
I used to work for a company that made animal RF tracking collars. And one person I talked to was a wild bear researcher. He said we are nearing creating a new species because two black bear populations he studied had been cut off by roads from each other and no longer inter-bred. He wondered how long it would be before they genetically drifted apart until they** *couldn't* ** Inter-breed and became in fact different species.🤔
Wouldn't surprise me one bit.
RichCC comments on Sep 5, 2021:
I'm afraid of the state of the Supreme Court just now. I'm not sure we have enough safeguards in place to prevent the huge societal damage they could do. An article at Salonhttps://www.salon.com/2021/09/04/why-satanists-may-be-the-last-best-hope-to-save-abortion-rights-in-texas/ noted in passing... *** It's unclear whether the Satanic Temple's strategy of appealing to the Biden Administration will work. Last year, the group tried to overturn abortion restrictions enacted in the state of Missouri, but the Supreme Court declined to hear their case.
Slowing the Coronavirus Is Speeding the Spread of Other Diseases Many mass immunization efforts ...
RichCC comments on Jun 16, 2020:
Ugh. That's disappointing -- but maybe not entirely avoidable.
Why Do We Forget? New Theory Says “Forgetting” Is Actually a Form of Learning
RichCC comments on Jan 17, 2022:
Not a bad idea. Sherlock Holmes believed in it. In "A Study in Scarlet," Dr. Watson expresses surprise that Holmes is ignorant of Copernican theory and the composition of the solar system. Holmes explains that he does his best to forget any information that is not relevant to his existence. Now, is it good that I remember that trivia -- or should it have been eliminated as clutter?😏
I think that this sums it up nicely.
RichCC comments on Dec 9, 2021:
Up check for the Stoic philosopher.🙂
'Jesus Shoes' with holy water in soles sell for up to $3,000
RichCC comments on Oct 10, 2019:
I don't know what to say -- I'm appalled. They aren't even seriously developing a product. From a different link: https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/3g-jesus-shoes-holy-water-sell-out. *head of commerce Daniel Greenberg tells the New York Post. “So we wanted to make a statement about how absurd collab culture has gotten.”.* Do people really have money to throw away like this? I wonder what they will come out with next. Even by American culture standards, I'm shocked.
What new tasks have you learned during the shutdown?
RichCC comments on Jun 19, 2020:
I cut my own hair a few weeks ago (both of them. Lol). It wasn't that much of a huge feat. I've been thinning on top since I was in my 20s and I normally wear it short anyway. My father 'inherited' a fairly nice set of clippers when my mother died ~10yrs ago and we 'inherited' them when he passed ~5yrs ago. It's easier to avoid stressing my wife for mistakes if she doesn't risk it -- ha, ha. I just cut the hair out on the porch, felt for missed spots, and she coached. 😎 I imagine there could have been more trauma, but we figured it wasn't worth the effort. 😎
Just found this cool website 😎 and it explains about atheist/ agnostic/ theist/ nostic.
RichCC comments on Nov 10, 2019:
That looks pretty good. I'm too tired to go through it in detail tonight but so far I like it. BTW... I hadn't noticed your picture-quote before. I like that too. Thank you.
5 clever ways to use up that leftover pickle juice in the jar
RichCC comments on Jun 26, 2021:
I'm not much for cucumber pickles but pickled jalapenos and their juice is/are one of the joys of my life -- especially the sweet version. The juice goes great in pasta sauce or on cooked potatoes and the chopped peppers go with just about anything, even pizza.🙂
GOOD NEWS!!!!!! My 6 year Leukemia Checkup was Excellent! Healthy as a Horse!!!!!! Just wanted to...
RichCC comments on Oct 10, 2019:
Outstanding!!! Congratulations!😀
This. 😉😁
RichCC comments on Jun 17, 2020:
Dear religious folk, It's much like *Freedom of Speech*(tm). You aren't necessarily allowed to do anything you want to. You're just allowed to expect** *no American government* **interference. Your religion isn't immune from other citizens' criticism or ridicule -- just the government's. And you're not allowed to do criminal acts in the name of your religion. You still have to behave like a responsible member of society. From the interweb (they said it clearly)(talking about the government): *** The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits government from encouraging or promoting ("establishing") religion in any way. In 1971, the Supreme Court decided Lemon v. Kurtzman which created three tests for determining whether a particular government act or policy unconstitutionally promotes religion. The Lemon test says that in order to be constitutional, a policy must: 1. Have a non-religious purpose; 2. Not end up promoting or favoring any set of religious beliefs; and 3. Not overly involve the government with religion.
Ahhhhhhhh, so it's the lockdowns that are causing all the deaths (Don't mention the elephant in the ...
RichCC comments on Jan 21, 2023:
The link says the virus causes heart problems -- lockdowns just make some people slow to get treatment for heart problems. A former close friend of my father died from COVID. He spent about a month in the hospital (some on a respirator) and thought he was over it. Then he went home and died from a heart attack a week later. From the link [italics added] *** Doctors say the effects of the pandemic increased pre-existing risk factors with some people having a heightened risk of disease after recovering from the virus. *While heart disease has been a leading cause of deaths for several years, experts say lockdowns meant many patients presented much later with progressive symptoms.* Experts haven't had to look far to find links between coronavirus and cardiovascular issues, with one study finding hospitalisations had ballooned after the pandemic.
Amnesty International to halt India operations [bbc.com]
RichCC comments on Sep 29, 2020:
Wow. I was unaware that the Indian government was taking those sorts of positions. Thanks for the link. I'll pay attention. From the link: *** Amnesty's announcement comes amid growing concern over the state of free speech in India. The development, activists say, could dent India's long-standing reputation of being a thriving democracy.
Bob is a Theist.
RichCC comments on Jan 23, 2019:
Ghosts are perpetual motion machines in action. They don't eat but somewhere they get the energy to do all the stuff they do -- even being seen needs energy. If they were solar powered, why would they always seem to hang out in the shadows. Lol. ??

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Agnostic, Atheist, Humanist, Secularist, Skeptic, Freethinker
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