Letters to the Editor: Who asked Ron Reagan about his zealous atheism?

RichCC comments on Apr 17, 2020:

'Interesting' letter. From the linked letter: *** Reagan, one can assume, blames all of the world's problems on religion, although some of the most murderous men in world history were confirmed atheists. Personally, I hope these people are burning in hell. *** That's painting with a pretty broad brush. And they say right up front that they are assuming. They don't give any evidence other than Reagan's atheism that he feels that way. The linked paragraph expresses something I've heard many theists erroneously proclaim about atheists. I have yet to be impressed. Reagan has a famous name and he's using it to promote a social point-of-view. I say 'more power to him'. Why is it 'how it's supposed to work in America' to 'keep your beliefs to yourself'? According to the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution he can say what he wants and expect the government not to come after him. And he can expect others to be able to disagree with him without the government going after them either. (Subject to public nuisance 'yell-fire-in-a-theater laws of course.) The amendment doesn't have anything to say about people having a right to not be offended by what he says. For that we're all just out of luck. If Reagan has someone to publicize his view and especially if he gets, say, paid for it. Let him speak his mind.

How often are "mock prep" exercises like Crimson Contagion participated in?

RichCC comments on Apr 17, 2020:

So in 2019 the HHS Dept. 'from January to August 2019 that tested the capacity of the U.S. federal government and twelve U.S. states to respond to a severe influenza pandemic originating in China' (from wiki -- https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimson_Contagion ) and concluded that our government had 'limited capacity to respond to a pandemic, with federal agencies lacking the funds, coordination, and resources to facilitate an effective response to the virus'. Consider my sarcastic comment made -- I'm deeply disappointed, but not surprised, by our leaders.

Have you wondered if perhaps the godbotherers of the US love trump because he does truly represent ...

RichCC comments on Apr 17, 2020:

My Mormon brother and his wife know that tRump is incredibly dishonest -- you can't trust him any farther than you can throw a fit. But tRump has hitched himself to the GOP and McConnell and that includes pushing policies like forcing the judiciary as far right as they can and it includes maximum racism and mysogeny. They support tRump because the people behind him are the same sort of monsters that they are. As long as their policies get advanced, they'll ignore that tRump is disgusting. It's worth the trade to them.

Karen believes she gave me COVID-19 after returning from Japan.

RichCC comments on Apr 15, 2020:

This is strictly my personal opinion and it's going to sound a little preachy -- sorry. I'm afraid we're all going to get exposed to COVID-19 at some point before this fades. For now the best we may be able to do is to put off that exposure until we better understand the disease and (hopefully) have some somewhat reliable treatment(s). It's unfortunate that you have reason to believe that your friend could have brought the pathogen to you. Pay attention to yourself and make sure the illness doesn't slip into something more threatening like pneumonia -- make sure it doesn't get a chance to sneak up on you. Also, don't forget that as bad as it seems (and of course there is some risk), **most people do recover -- plan on getting through it** either by avoiding it or recovering. At this point we know so little that there is by nature a lot of uncertainty and therefore fear in everyone's situations. **Get tested as soon as you can** and (no matter how unpleasant) follow social distancing procedures -- not only for your sake but for the sakes of those near you. As far as I know that is the only demonstrably beneficial action we have. We all have to make our ways as best we can. I wish I could help and I'm thinking of you.❤ BTW... With that in mind, if a stint in AZ would be useful, contact us.

Please explain

RichCC comments on Apr 14, 2020:

We've been vegetarian for almost 20 years. But irrespective of that, proper cooking makes a huge difference. 😎

Yup they dont

RichCC comments on Apr 9, 2020:

True is true.😀

Bible stories may not be factual - but they are nonetheless true

RichCC comments on Apr 7, 2020:

So Rev. Spain thinks the Babble is a big collection of allegorical stories? Cool, I guess. She only seems to talk about Adam and Eve and the Fall(tm). And wants to imply that since she can make a loose correlation between what she thinks is a common life pattern and a myth story that the whole fable must have some value. It sounds to me like she is grasping because she has pretty much nothing of substance. Lol.🤔 From the link -- pretty weak: *** Adam and Eve is the story of humanity. It is what we did to our parents and what our children have to do to us.

Another food project while staying home.

RichCC comments on Apr 4, 2020:

Me too! Good stuff. The only function our small Instant Pot seems to lack is yogurt making (the larger one has it). So I got a 32 oz.separate yogurt maker that has a Greek yogurt filter attachment. It's a unitasker, but some things are worth it. Ha, ha.

Like pizza type food? Something to watch for the weekend. [m.youtube.com]

RichCC comments on Apr 4, 2020:

What a bunch of terminally sick creative ideas. That's a great video. 😀

Why all the hate?

RichCC comments on Apr 3, 2020:

Personally. I grew up in very rural AZ -- Mormon country. The LDS church colored every aspect of life in our society. For example, the local school teachers would talk about the 'Mormon Mafia' . They all knew that you never punished a Mormon child unless you wanted 10 phone calls the next day and weeks of career level trouble yourself. For a group founded by a convicted fraud artist (Joseph Smith) and full of laughably false promises and claims, they are very detail oriented in their desire to rule and end the world. Personally again. I try to avoid the word 'hate'. But I'll admit that I don't have anything positive to say about them. Ample experience has left me with nothing but ill will. 🙄

What natural phenomena could be considered all-powerful?

RichCC comments on Mar 31, 2020:

Why should we be interested in anointing some thing with an 'all-powerful' designation? There are lots of things we don't understand and can't control -- time and entropy come to mind. They're beyond our sphere of effect so, to paraphrase a Stoic attitude, we should not concern ourselves with them except for enduring (so far as we can) their effects. We should apply ourselves to what we** *can* **control.

My stay-home stir-fry: cabbage, broccoli, sweet peppers and organic chicken sausage, prepared in ...

RichCC comments on Mar 28, 2020:

That looks delicious. 😎 There are times when living vicariously and social distancing can be frustrating. I'm jealous.

at four months he could sleep anywhere in any position!!

RichCC comments on Mar 28, 2020:

That's a great picture.

I knew it would come to this.

RichCC comments on Mar 27, 2020:

I don't know about droning, but our dogs are very aware whenever we're unhappy. Unfortunately they generally don't have too much to offer -- they just get upset themselves. I suppose you could call that sympathy. 🙄Lol.

I have seen the ultimate now. They are putting Bible verses on surgical masks. Are you kidding me?

RichCC comments on Mar 26, 2020:

I guess you can wear it while you're carrying your babble inscribed AR-15. /sark

Shelter in Place Tofu Stirfy One block of extra firm tofu Assorted vegetables Several ...

RichCC comments on Mar 26, 2020:

That looks delicious. I freeze tofu (usually extra firm)(no pressing or anything) after cutting it into chunks about the same size as yours. Then I boil it briefly the same as if it is dried pasta. That way it gives a texture after pan frying very much like restaurant deep fried without the bother of setting up a deep fryer at home. Good stuff.

Today's installment: Life as a mechanically-inept person.

RichCC comments on Mar 25, 2020:

You keep claiming to be 'mechanically-inept' but these anecdotes make that less and less believable. Ha, ha. Your sense of drama makes things sound like you're always an inch from catastrophe, but you're always confident enough to keep pitching -- and (maybe it's a natural tendency to not be a complainer, but...) somehow things seem always to work out for you in the end. Lol. Shenanigans again. 😎 BTW. I think a lot of not being 'mechanically-inept' is just being patient -- along with being willing to keep your head and to keep trying until you discover and do the necessary. It sounds to me like you're ok. Ha, ha. 😎

Advantage to social distancing

RichCC comments on Mar 25, 2020:

Not to mention your *Agnostic.com* shirt. Even if it is in reverse. Lol. Cute dog.

Looks like my weird diet paid off during a pandemic.

RichCC comments on Mar 16, 2020:

My wife made a delivery this morning. A woman in the next town was out of TP for herself and her daughter. We haven't been intentionally hoarding (at least for the virus) but we both grew up in ranch country and are very aware how quickly staples can run out if, say, you can't drive to town. So we generally keep a well stocked pantry. A bit over a year ago my wife over ordered an online TP subscription so just now we have a couple of extra cases. Little did we know that our overage would be useful. My wife heard that a woman was in need and was able to help her through a (hopefully short) period. I suspect there will be lots of small chances for small favors if we keep looking. Lol.

Saw this recipe on fb.

RichCC comments on Mar 15, 2020:

I worked with a guy in Seattle who belonged to the *Galvanized Gullet* society. Their motto was '*No food is seasoned properly unless it's painful to eat*'. At least this uses habeneros which have good flavor to go with the heat -- as opposed to ghost peppers, say, that only seem to be hot for hot's sake. (To me, that's wasted effort. Lol)

Greek Orthodox church says 'holy cup cannot carry disease', allows congregations to share spoon: ...

RichCC comments on Mar 13, 2020:

From the link: *** A spokesperson for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Steven Scoutas, said anyone showing signs of illness should stay away from church gatherings. "But once we decide to go to church, we believe there is absolutely no possibility of contracting disease from the holy cup," he said. "We believe that no disease or illness can exist in holy communion, which we believe is the body and blood of Christ," Reverend Scoutas said. *** They apparently know there isn't immunity or they wouldn't ask people to stay away. But their hubris is to be so much stronger that they'll subject their people to a disease risk rather than back down from their show -- truly disgusting.

True statement

RichCC comments on Mar 13, 2020:

True is true.

New Jersey Catholic church lambasted for denying autistic boy, 8, First Communion 'because his ...

RichCC comments on Mar 12, 2020:

Wow, the comments just write themselves. The Rev. John Bambrick decided the boy cannot distinguish between right and wrong -- without ever meeting the child? I assume that the Rev. can produce his own right and wrong certification on request. I know that is presumed since he is ordained but I'd like to see some supporting documentation. Lol.

Right-Wing Pastor: God Sent Us Coronavirus Because of Homosexuality | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly ...

RichCC comments on Mar 8, 2020:

That explains it. I knew Gawd was to blame somehow. Now if we could just get rid of it/her/him, think of all the problems that would be solved.

The bible god/Yahweh/Jesus is the greatest abortionist.

RichCC comments on Mar 8, 2020:

I've always wondered if all those zygotes that god decided to not let implant should be counted as abortions.

I think it’s important to realize that we are very fortunate to live in a time that we can think ...

RichCC comments on Mar 7, 2020:

Religious fantasy and humanity's horrific behaviour aside, we are all unimaginably lucky to be here at all. Among other improbabilties, what were the chances that your parents got together (and had that extra glass of wine that night) and their parents, and their parents and so on down through time? I think it was Bill the Cat of the Bloom County comic that would sometimes fall into a numb stupor thinking about the wonder of it all. Rather than complaining about people's past ignorance and misbehavior (however extreme) we should work to positively use the outrageous gifts we've been given. Do good things.😎

Has anyone visited the Hearst Mansion?

RichCC comments on Mar 3, 2020:

On our one visit to Barcelona years ago, I fell in love with it. The different districts (Barrios if I use the term correctly) each have an individual flavor that adds up to a wonderful experience. I still miss the Paseo de Gracia area. I envy you your trip. 😍 Enjoy yourself.

Stop eating C.R.A.P.

RichCC comments on Mar 2, 2020:

A copy of my comment from the other instance of an apparent double post. Lol. *** I saw a doctor commentary recently (I can't remember where) that said fad diets were largely nonsense. The one thing people needed to do to eat more healthy and almost certainly lose weight was to cook their own food. That single statement outweighed every other consideration for the overwhelming majority of people -- at least in the US. It's not as hard as many people make it out to be. And it's not like staples are expensive. People can win all the way around.

Stop eating C.R.A.P

RichCC comments on Mar 2, 2020:

I saw a doctor commentary recently (I can't remember where) that said fad diets were largely nonsense. The one thing people needed to do to eat more healthy and almost certainly lose weight was to cook their own food. That single statement outweighed every other consideration for the overwhelming majority of people -- at least in the US. It's not as hard as many people make it out to be. And it's not like staples are expensive. People can win all the way around.

Here’s a Picture of Mike Pence’s Team Attempting to Pray Away Coronavirus | Hemant Mehta | ...

RichCC comments on Mar 1, 2020:

They're trying to subvert Dog's divine plan. They have to know that he/she/it put the virus here for a reason. (Everything happens for a reason.) As Carlin put it: '*What's the use of being God if a schmuck with a two dollar prayer book can come along and fuck up your plan?* ' I don't know who's more pathetic, them or America(us) for empowering them.

New to the group so I guess I'll introduce my pack.

RichCC comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Growing up we had a couple of heelers. They are amazing dogs. Thanks for the shots.

We all believe in evidence-based science, and that's why we're agnostic/atheist, right?

RichCC comments on Feb 28, 2020:

Fraud isn't evidence. And even if it's not fraud it could be mistaken. One of the hallmarks of science is falsifiability. If the 'evidence' isn't really true, throw it out and get better. Aside -- I thought I was wrong once but it turned out later I was mistaken. Ha, ha.

Why are many Christian people against D&D (Dungeons and Dragons.) playing?

RichCC comments on Feb 25, 2020:

I truly believe that a lot of them don't distinguish between the reality of the world and the fantasy they live in. Years ago I found a late 19th century book of spells at a used book show. It was fascinating to me because the authors seriously believed their stuff. There were probably a dozen useful spells like "*How To Make Your Lover See Your Rival's True Odious Nature*". Lol. And safety warnings about procedures that were supposedly too dangerous for laymen to attempt. I didn't try any of the spells because even the simplest took months of preparation. You had to make your magic brazier and your magic athame knife (among other tools) first. And of course for me it would fail anyway because I didn't believe hard enough. Ha, ha. For me it was a window into the way some people thought then. It was a popular enough point of view to get a book published. Then one weekend my mother visited and later that week I noticed the book was gone. She never mentioned it but I'm sure for the rest of her life she thought she saved me from the forces of evil. Knowing her, she was afraid of Satan's forces corrupting the world with dark magic and she was appalled that I would allow myself to see any of their works. I don't distinguish between Christian magic and Satan's magic. To me it's all fantasy. **Believers don't distinguish either but for the opposite reason. To them it's all true.** I can't imagine trying to live that way -- just accepting everything and not trusting even myself enough to explore and examine ideas because I could be corrupted.

In my household, I do most of the cooking.

RichCC comments on Feb 24, 2020:

How many sisters did you have growing up? We had four brothers and no sisters and as a consequence we all learned not to be afraid of the kitchen. None of us are chefs but we all can cook when it's needed. Lol.😎 My wife and I share the duties. My tastes are broader than her's so I'm careful about a lot of things -- especially spices. She likes smoked veggies and things. Curry is one of my joys. Overlap has to be cautious. 😎

Do You Microwave?

RichCC comments on Feb 23, 2020:

My goto lazy lunch is microwave pasta. A couple of cups of whole wheat dried rotini with water to cover in one of those as seen on TV microwave pasta cookers gives foolproof al dente in 8 min. A little olive oil & cheese & seasoning makes an easy versatile lunch.

This feels like progress! [metro.co.uk]

RichCC comments on Feb 23, 2020:

I didn't see anywhere where the school is yet doing anything to correct the problem. (It may be too soon for all I know.) Is the contract constitutional that they had to sign to be hired? Again I don't know. I suspect that it being a church school is significant. I hope it gets resolved to all the students' and their families' and their teachers' satisfactions. And I feel bad for the disruption in the students schedules (although there obviously is a bit of an implicit civics lesson involved). *** Additional: This is why I personally would prefer that all schools be government-run public services. There is no way to effectively discourage bias from religious or for-profit schools.

This is my dog.

RichCC comments on Feb 22, 2020:

Wow. She's gorgeous! 😍

BIG wobbles in Salt Lake as member ship levels fall so low, the big three have decided to make huge ...

RichCC comments on Feb 20, 2020:

This is one of the cynically mercenary organizations ever -- 'as member ship[sic] levels fall so low'? They wouldn't consider acting because of moral conscience, they're just trying to be more marketable. If I remember right wasn't it in 1978 that their prophet had a revelation that black people were human too? They haven't changed at all.

I came across these gentlemen somewhat by accident, but I can relate with some of their experiences ...

RichCC comments on Feb 20, 2020:

I agree. Here is a link to a Seth Andrews talk I enjoy: 'CHRISTIANITY Made Me Talk Like An IDIOT' https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=URr0O9aHW38

Anyone else hear the phrase, "I'm better than I deserve"?

RichCC comments on Feb 19, 2020:

Interesting. Maybe it's just where I'm from (AZ with family from NE and I lived for a while in WA). But I don't remember ever hearing that phrase. I can definitely see how it would be annoying -- especially if someone thought they were being sincere with it. Ugh. 😖

know why you re an Agnostic because you re not afraid to think.

RichCC comments on Feb 17, 2020:

Depending on who I'm talking to at any given time, I often say I'm an agnostic because I usually don't want to be arrogant enough to claim absolute knowledge that there is a God or that there is not a God (depending on the context of the discussion at that moment). That seems to be the point-of-view a lot of people are most comfortable with and I don't generally care to spend the effort to try to change their beliefs. If they're knowledgeable, then I'd rather listen to them than argue. If they're ignorant, then they're almost never worth my time and energy. *** But in practice I'm an atheist. I believe that there are no 'gods'. And there is no 'supernatural' -- if something exists, it's natural. There are many things in the world that we used to think were supernatural -- sunlight, thunder, luck, love, to name a few. But the more we learn, the less we need supernatural explanation crutches. Going the other way... How many things are there that we used to have secular explanations for but now we know they happen because of that God over there, or that rabbit's foot in my pocket, or that magic spell, or that I prayed really hard -- *exactly zero*. We often may not understand how and why. But that's our problem, not reality's. The world can be complicated, but it's never supernatural.

Air Force One does an illegal 800 foot fly over of the Daytona race track! trump is truly the ...

RichCC comments on Feb 17, 2020:

From what I read they first posted a 2004 Bush image then when they were called on it had to pull that and post a more current tRump picture. Note the much smaller crowd size in the tRump shot. Lol. That detail means nothing of course -- except that the White House these days is relentlessly dishonest and profoundly incompetent. 😓

[independent.co.uk] That's me in the corner,losing my religion, and getting wealthier

RichCC comments on Feb 12, 2020:

Interesting. Thanks. Personally I suspect a causal relationship between ignorance and religiosity -- with prosperity vs knowledge being a side relationship. But if course I haven't tried to do a study. Lol *** From the link: *"Our findings show that secularisation precedes economic development and not the other way around,” said Damian Ruck, the study's lead researcher at the University of Bristol* ... *“However, we suspect the relationship is not directly causal. We noticed that secularisation only leads to economic development when it is accompanied by a greater respect for individual rights.”*

Yup lap dog

RichCC comments on Feb 12, 2020:

I don't see a lap. What are you talking about? Ha, ha. 😎

Someone I know is dying and has expressed that she would like to just fall asleep and not wake up.

RichCC comments on Feb 11, 2020:

It's sounds like a tough situation -- about which I have little comforting to offer except a wish to stay strong. 🤗 It sounds like you may be the adult that people will end up relying on and it's possible that you won't get any better option othet than to just fill your role. I wish you the best. And we're thinking of you. 🤔

Today's hike: Hard ice on trail. Yikes! Feels like Spring.

RichCC comments on Feb 11, 2020:

We had five inches of snow early this morning -- our last gasp of AZ winter I guess. It's already melting and the fences were all bare when I got up. It sure is clear and pretty outside. I look forward to the green transformation each spring and I'm glad you weren't badly hurt with your fall. I enjoy your walks vicariously. Lol.

Getting all essential amino acid/ protein: [forksoverknives.com]

RichCC comments on Feb 11, 2020:

Thanks. I'd heard of complete protein dishes such as Rice & Beans and I long ago heard about not *requiring* animal amino acids but I didn't know that (from the link)** *any single whole natural plant food, or any combination of them, if eaten as one’s sole source of calories for a day, would provide all of the essential amino acids and not just the minimum requirements but far more than the recommended requirements*.** I suspect that my particular vegetarian diet will not be impacted much by this idea but I'll definitely have to study up on it. Lol. Thanks again.

Can you tell which ones my favorite? 😌

RichCC comments on Feb 10, 2020:

I'm guessing the bigger white one. But she cheated. She started earlier than the others. Lol. 😎

A convoluted argument hard to grasp for agnostics, but if it were to succeed...? [sojo.net]

RichCC comments on Feb 6, 2020:

The most religious people I personally know are specifically hoping for the end of the world. It's right in their group name -- 'Latter Day Saints'. I've heard them invoke it in blessings -- they mention 'these latter days'. They are literally praying for the end of humanity. Besides being selfish to the point of being very sick, it's also extremely foolish. I don't know how any rational person could believe that sort of garbage or especially try to nurture it.

Detoxifying

RichCC comments on Feb 6, 2020:

Of course I have rotting plants in my system now. Ha.😎 But I do agree that's almost certainly healthier than dead rotting animals. Ha, ha again.😎

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. 🤗

I would like to know how many of you would vote against someone soley due to their open religious ...

RichCC comments on Feb 5, 2020:

Do you have an example of a person with an 'open religious agenda' that has 'good ideas in other areas'? You don't get to throw out the assumption that such a creature exists without evidence. I'd like to read an example. Just like pretty much everything else, the easiest way to show a statement is supportable is to support it. What's that old saying? It is an ill wind indeed that doesn't blow someone good somewhere. The world is a complicated place and I doubt that you could find anyone with which I disagree with every single attitude they have. But the more someone believes in fantasy, the less likely it is that I would vote for them. To put it another way -- the more likely it becomes that I would choose someone else.

My rainy evening clean-the-pantry soup success: basically chicken/veges, with a surprising flavor.

RichCC comments on Jan 30, 2020:

That looks very good. 😋 I especially like the Tapenade inclusion. It reminds me of Gazpacho. Maybe with some added V-8 or tomato juice and some garlic. And of course I wouldn't use chicken. Lol.

Are we afraid of religion?

RichCC comments on Jan 30, 2020:

I'm only afraid of religion from the standpoint of the things** *people* ** do in its name. In other words, God doesn't scare me at all --* **people** *very much do.

Now what was that you were saying about indoctrination...? 🤣

RichCC comments on Jan 29, 2020:

I don't instantly chuckle out loud all that often. But this got me. LMAO. 😂 I love the look on the child's face. They apparently understand QM better than I do.

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.

Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It

RichCC comments on Jan 26, 2020:

Sadly. True is True. As it is said -- people are born Agnostic or even Atheist. But unfortunately they are also born quite ignorant. It is in our natures to seek answers but if the answers aren't easy it's also in our natures to choose what we find -- even if it's questionable.

New ‘El Chapo’ Beer Readies for Release in Mexico | Food & Wine

RichCC comments on Jan 26, 2020:

What? Does his daughter need the money? She put out a clothing line and now a beer? She sounds aggressive enough that I'm not sure I'd want to be her business partner. I have an old baseball cap from CJ's in Billings Montana that promises free beer tomorrow but I've never managed to arrive on tomorrow to collect. 😎

Hell refuses to accept any more Catholic priests. [theonion.com]

RichCC comments on Jan 26, 2020:

They interviewed Satan himself? Cool. I hope they kept his phone number. I've never been much for praying to the bearded guy/gal but I might be willing to make a deal somewhere else if they offer good terms.😎

Hairy, pot-bellied men posing as mermaids are a hoot!

RichCC comments on Jan 25, 2020:

Years ago I spoke to a woman working at a bead shop ('The Bead Shoppe' ) in Ketchikan Alaska and she said that in the winter they spend a lot of time inside beading at night because the days outside are so short. I wonder if this is the Newfie equivalent. The link says their calendars raised $300,000 in the first year. I have to admit that beats sitting around killing time after dark. Ha, ha.😊

Thoughts on extraterrestrial life?

RichCC comments on Jan 22, 2020:

I don't know what to tell you. All the evidence I've seen I'd including my own experience (with my wife) 30 some odd years ago in our back yard in WA just as the sun was going down we both saw has been unconvincing. We both saw the same flying object. Even now our memories agree on some things -- it was Gray and absolutely silent and nobody in the local news reported it. But a lot of our memories differ -- I remember it only 50 or so feet overhead with a wingspan consistent with a very large bird -- my wife remembers it as being much larger and much higher. We've decided to let it go. Our experiences won't mean anything to anyone. When reliable evidence appears of true ufo sightings, extraterrestrial or not, we'll listen. 😊

Blowing bubbles [facebook.com]

RichCC comments on Jan 21, 2020:

That's hilarious. What could possibly be going through a dog's mind blowing bubbles with their nose in a water dish? Lol. 😍

Mechanically inept. Replaced a lamp on/off switch.

RichCC comments on Jan 19, 2020:

I call shenanigans. I doubt anybody who sews seriously could be mechanically inept. I think you're just inexperienced in some things. And that's not a bad thing. Likely it means you take care of your stuff so it doesn't break often and you don't have to spend a lot of time fixing it. The Sherlock Holmes character in his first story talked about trying to keep details he didn't need from cluttering his mind. You only attend to repair work when you have to.

Leftie Mishap 10,001.

RichCC comments on Jan 17, 2020:

I used to be right handed but nearly all of my MS symptoms are on that side so I've learned to do a lot of things with my left. I tell people I've become ambidextrous -- now I can be clumsy with either side. Lol I guess.

What about believing even if you know it is not true?

RichCC comments on Jan 17, 2020:

If it's a case of "I truly don't have enough evidence to make a decision" then fine -- do what you will. (Subject to the 'if it does no harm' caveat.) I personally think it's a shame when a person's ignorance has to be used to fool them into beneficial behavior as with the magical 'thinking' for bathing above. The people involved don't have all the knowledge. What if the river is contaminated? Making decisions in ignorance can work out -- even a broken clock is right twice a day. But it's not a desirable situation. We should always work to be as informed as possible.

Sounds like a plan to me. Stay at a Holiday Inn for retirement. [gritpost.com]

RichCC comments on Jan 15, 2020:

I've heard about groups getting floating city cruise ships. Lol. Supposedly they have periodic votes to decide the next destination. I'm not a cruise person but I can see how people would go for it.

Kentucky Christian School Expels Student For Eating Rainbow Birthday Cake | Michael Stone

RichCC comments on Jan 15, 2020:

They know that they can't defend 'Whitefield Academy’s beliefs' -- from school's head Bruce Jacobson's sent letter of expulsion -- so all they can do is try to isolate themselves from other views. Read that as "cover their ears and go 'la, la, la' as loud as they can". As others here have noted, the student is much better off elsewhere. I hope it isn't too much trouble to move.

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

Do any of you think that a meaningful relationship can be acheived with a christian?

RichCC comments on Jan 13, 2020:

My parents were married 50 years and they had 4 children. 😍 He wasn't an out-right atheist -- he mostly didn't care. 🙂 She was a devout Mormon -- she taught at the Mesa temple and one of her sons was a bishop. 😐 We are an independent family and some subjects just didn't come up at our table. Lol.😎 It is possible but there is some effort and allowances are involved. I probably wouldn't have answered this post but I'm in the middle of a glass of brandy after dinner. Lol 😋

What if there was never religion in the world?

RichCC comments on Jan 9, 2020:

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. There's a big distance between where we are today mentality and having made all good decisions through time. I personally believe that bypassing all supernatural choices throughout history would have benefited us. But I have little confidence in our society to be able to make such a move -- at any level from organized religion to superstitions on down.

How to make school pizza! I think most people loved this in HS.

RichCC comments on Jan 9, 2020:

Thanks. Searching, I found a link to the same recipe where somebody tried it and made trivial text corrections like adding units to the flour and adding Italian sausage to the meat (the handwritten notes has it). And they added a couple of notes at the end. I don't eat meat myself but I'm looking forward to tweaking this a little for me and trying it. https://www.copymethat.com/r/APbH6QJ/school-pizza/

Let’s not use words like “whacky” and “bizarre” in describing the religious beliefs of ...

RichCC comments on Jan 6, 2020:

It's pretty pathetic. I've become convinced that you can't look too closely at any religion without losing the ability to accept it. That's one of my biggest beefs with theism -- the double standard. Science constantly examines its own conclusions in ever more excruciating detail and enforces correctness. If a conclusion is wrong, it must be fixed or thrown out. Theism(apologetics) works hard to keep its old stuff no matter how ridiculous it is.

Whoa, never considered this, please check for home dangers!: [facebook.com]

RichCC comments on Jan 5, 2020:

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a dog in bed without her collar. I found the collar hanging from some decorative scroll work under a table in the front room. Apparently she got stuck and the only way she could free herself was to slip the collar. Life is different when you're only two feet tall and have paws for hands. You have some good advice. I'm glad the dog didn't hurt herself.

Bad Apple and the Kindness of Strangers

RichCC comments on Jan 5, 2020:

One event comes to mind: A while back we got an opportunity both ways for some goodwill. We were visiting my brother's family at the Coconino county fair south of Flagstaff AZ. He was working a sheriff's booth at the fair so they were staying at the campground. On the way in we realized that we were in the wrong lane to get there so I asked the car in the other lane if they'd let us cut in front of them. They good naturedly said sure. When we got to the booth we went ahead and paid their parking fee. They were so surprised to find their parking paid for that they followed us all the way back to the campground to say thanks. That's the sort of way that we like to live our lives. People should constantly stay aware of the others around them. Opportunities constantly go by to do others good and there is no reason not to take them.

My daughter just turned me on to Bon Appetite Magazine’s YouTube channel Brad Leone ...

RichCC comments on Jan 4, 2020:

Thanks. I used to subscribe to *Bon Appetit* long ago (before the Internet) but it hadn't occurred to me to look for them online.

Many do not know that The Lord's Prayer reveals the true name of god.

RichCC comments on Jan 4, 2020:

That's like one of Dave Allen's standard jokes -- 'In the name of the father, the son, and into the hole he goes'. At ~5:15 of the video. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qj6XAvuRn4Q

Many do not know that The Lord's Prayer reveals the true name of god.

RichCC comments on Jan 4, 2020:

If English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me.😎 This reminds me of the people that say that Moses parted the 'reed' sea. 'Red' sea was just misreading the text. Lol.😎 It only makes sense that blonde-blue-eyed Jesus would speak English. Nobody seemed to be able to directly document anything he said. It all had to be far beyond second hand.

Generally I just prefer vegetables to look like vegetables, and not like meat substitutes.

RichCC comments on Jan 3, 2020:

Thanks. I'll note the brand. I'm like you. The majority of meat substitutes I eat are because someone gives them to me. This Christmas one of our neighbors put an ad in an envelope in our mailbox for a local burger shop that now offers veggie burgers. We're sure that the neighbors were proud of themselves pointing out a treat for us to help us survive our perpetual rut. Ha,ha. 😂 They know we enjoy eating well. But they fundamentally don't understand what that means to us.😎

[yahoo.com] I have nothing to say. Unusual.

RichCC comments on Jan 3, 2020:

I admit I'm something of a nihilist being atheist and all. But I try not to be too depressed. This means 10% of the referenced people changed their behavior for a depressing nihilistic reason. 😔

How do you stop swearing?

RichCC comments on Jan 3, 2020:

I heard a Carlin interview (so long ago that I don't remember the specific words) where he described why he used colorful language in his routines. He said he did it carefully for emphasis. His wording was chosen purposely -- to communicate. Obscene language doesn't bother me at all. Ignorant language annoys me. People who swear constantly -- fucking this, fucking that -- because that's the best they can do to express themselves disappoint me and I have to admit they lose standing in my eyes. An exclamation reaction to a surprising or ironic event isn't necessarily improper. It depends on what you're trying to communicate and to whom.

Not a drinker, I made bread on New Year's Eve.

RichCC comments on Jan 1, 2020:

Wow. You almost called my standard bread recipe right on the screws. The only thing you left out was olive oil. There were some dough conditioner things missing too -- powdered milk and an egg -- but otherwise it matched just about perfect. Good job.😎

What are some of the things you can think of that were originally answered by religion that have ...

RichCC comments on Dec 30, 2019:

What about the other way? How many things are there that we used to think that we had a secular explanation for that we now know to be supernatural? We used to think it was natural. But now we know it's caused by that god over there or that rabbit's foot or that spell? How many -- exactly ZERO! Shout out to Greta Christina who wrote that idea where I read it.

What am I saying?

RichCC comments on Dec 29, 2019:

You're not allowed ** *not* ** to choose. As the ** *Rush* ** song lyric goes: 'If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice'. I'm technically an agnostic, but practically I'm an atheist. I won't claim anything to be certain but my experience makes me believe that the supernatural, including pretty much all human religions, is so poorly evidence supported that in practice I can comfortably treat it as false. If someone wants to bring me evidence to the contrary, I'll certainly pay attention. But until then, don't waste my or your time.

A gift by way of "The adventures of Tom Bombadil" by J.

RichCC comments on Dec 25, 2019:

I didn't vote in the poll because I didn't understand the question. Are you thinking about giving someone a copy of the poem as a gift? What sort of someone? I will say that Tom Bombadil is one of my favorite Tolkien characters. I was disappointed that they left him out of the last round of big movies. 🤔

Afterlife thoughts... Do you believe in an afterlife?

RichCC comments on Dec 22, 2019:

Ghosts would have to literally be perpetual motion machines. They don't eat. So where do they get the energy to do anything? -- even to be seen? If they are solar powered, why do they they tend to hang out in dark places?😎 Sorry but I don't believe in ghosts the same way I don't believe in the supernatural in general. If something is real, it's natural. The further you have to stretch to support something's natural reality, the less likely it is to exist. Ghosts -- and afterlife in general -- have so little objective evidence that they are quite a stretch.

Christmas dinners may be affected: Brussels sprouts block road.

RichCC comments on Dec 16, 2019:

Did you see Friday's '*xkcd*'? On the one hand, they're working on Brussels sprouts, but on the other hand -- it's a trap!! 😎 BTW... I like the newer less bitter taste.😊 https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/10/30/773457637/from-culinary-dud-to-stud-how-dutch-plant-breeders-built-our-brussels-sprouts-bo

The Man Who Slapped a Female Reporter’s Butt on TV is a Christian Youth Leader | Hemant Mehta | ...

RichCC comments on Dec 11, 2019:

Arrogant, insensitive to others and stupid -- sounds like a Christian to me. I hope they find some way to 'correct the situation' that he'll remember longer than the brag session he'll have during the next race since he's been banned. 🙁

Why We Need to Lose Religion to Save America

RichCC comments on Dec 11, 2019:

Faith based 'reasoning' has been creeping into America since before it was founded. Theists are relentless -- it's part of their nature. So we atheists have to keep fighting back just as determinedly. The more decisions get made because of beliefs rather than evidence, the worse it gets. An image from a comment at the link: Additional: I point out that the changes from the image relate back to the 1950s red scare. Fear is a big theist motivation.

Lesson learned: If your pup or cat will be having surgery, be proactive in getting an inflatable ...

RichCC comments on Dec 10, 2019:

I love it. We've used cones of shame three or four times over the years and this looks like a much better, and comfortable for the dog, alternative.

For all the hyper coffee addicts. Ever hear of Kopi Kuwat coffee?

RichCC comments on Dec 9, 2019:

Wow. So at some point someone decided to gather up civet poo and brew it in hot water to see what it tasted like. That's pretty weird. Here's a picture from the link. Eww.🤔

Jesus is a contrived alternate reality just like the obstructionist republican who make up ...

RichCC comments on Dec 8, 2019:

Add my vote to the Valerie Tarico fan club -- good stuff.

Here are 5 historical truths that suggest Jesus never existed

RichCC comments on Dec 8, 2019:

Valerie Tarico is one of my favorite writers and she often contributes to a relatively main stream (if left leaning) news site -- https://www.rawstory.com. I saw this there today. I love to see it.

When a man wants to show a woman how to do something. [facebook.com]

RichCC comments on Dec 7, 2019:

At least she was sensitive enough to not laugh at him. Ha, ha. Guys' egos bruise so easily. 😎

Why do people fall for stupid fads?

RichCC comments on Dec 4, 2019:

From the link: "*One practitioner, who calls herself Metaphysical Meagan, claims that perineum sunning can regulate hormones as well as sleep patterns.* *The man who plays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe saw the Post story and decided to try it out.* " *** How dumb do you have to be to go for that idiocy? Did he really think he'd feel and sleep better with a tan asshole? Wow. Years ago one of my cousins convinced some eastern tourists on a northern AZ bus that they were lucky enough to watch the migration of the rare, white-faced buffalo. At least he thought he did. Even he wasn't sure they were ignorant enough to believe him. It's amazing what people will buy into. But then you see stories like this so often (assuming of course that the story is entirely legit, ha, ha).

This was put on Facebook by a very religious American friend. Who said Americans don't do irony ?

RichCC comments on Dec 2, 2019:

And read in the '** *Goat Herder's Guide To The Universe* **'.

So do not fear death for it is inevitable...

RichCC comments on Dec 2, 2019:

I'm trying to find out who *Sukanta Sarkar* is. So far I've discovered that they(he?) seem(s) to be from India (not too surprising given the name and the 'YourQuote. in' and your screen id). I did find a link to a collection of 'YourQuote. in' quotes including the one you posted. A lot of them look interesting. Thank you. https://www.yourquote.in/sukanta-sarkar-bcsh6/quotes

So do not fear death for it is inevitable...

RichCC comments on Dec 2, 2019:

There are lots of inevitable things I fear -- debt, pain, taxes, personal failure -- to name a few. Death is also on the list -- largely because it * **IS** * inevitable and I don't know much about what it's like to experience it. But that doesn't mean I won't live my life anyway. That part can't be avoided either and there's very little you can do to stop me.

Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

RichCC comments on Dec 1, 2019:

Most adoption mechanisms I'm familiar with are pretty much first-come-first-serve so I'd guess you have the advantage. Good luck.🤗

We are returning to Upton Sinclairs “The Jungle” times.

RichCC comments on Nov 26, 2019:

I've read about a lot of temporary vegans -- motivated by *The Jungle* but unable to stay with it so they went back to meat. It struck an emotional chord with them but they weren't able to keep their positions focused. There are a lot of potentially great ideas in our world (John Stuart Mill's *Utilitarianism* comes to mind) that I doubt we'll ever be mature enough to treat seriously. There are too many short-sighted selfish folks in this world who don't know enough to hold their immediate gratification needs in check -- they see no problem with overall destruction as long as they get the shiny objects in front of them now. I'm afraid the time won't be far away when they'll be forced to relearn their position. I just hope it won't be too late for all of us (as it already is for some).

One that I have yet to try. Has anyone else tried eating succulents?

RichCC comments on Nov 26, 2019:

I've eaten fried Prickly Pear cactus but I wasn't impressed. It was more trouble than it was worth to prepare and the texture wasn't firm. It gave the impression of being greasy without actual grease. And the flavor wasn't remarkable -- it was just eating a plant. For me it rated as a marginal novelty item. Afterwards I could say I tried it but I have no reason to bother again.