City or named place songs. Favorites?

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 24, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rf0fmqWS-kI

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 24, 2018:

Kinda fits. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wMykYSQaG_c

City or named place songs. Favorites?

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 24, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbrnXl2gO_k

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 24, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xjP2O9Qe4Ek

This is with my family and the people in my life.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 23, 2018:

Sorry, Sarah. Just keep being that friend you wish you yourself had.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 24, 2018:

Emme - I agree, no one should be a doormat, but I kinda look at it this way.

Name songs, either ones with your own name, or ones you're particularly fond of (or even ones you ...

LovingAZLife comments on Apr 24, 2018:

I don't know a song with my name in it, but the first songs I think of with names in them that I like are... Angie (Rolling Stones),Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac), Sweet Jane (Lou Reed), Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond), Sweet Baby James (James Taylor) ...[I got on a roll with the "sweets"!], Veronica (Elvis...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 24, 2018:

There's several of my favorites in there.

I am rediscovering oldies! Post your favorites here.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 22, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rXpPj-eVIgE

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 23, 2018:

Great live version. He is a hunk too.

I am rediscovering oldies! Post your favorites here.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 22, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rXpPj-eVIgE

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 23, 2018:

Here's a bizarre novelty for you. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gma5IUNMTn0

Selflessness

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 17, 2018:

I think it starts with small things like letting someone with fewer items go ahead of you at the grocery checkout and stuff. That builds into a habit. I'm pleased when it seems like a big deal to someone. One time I had to take a bathroom break while getting work done at the dental school. I had the...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 17, 2018:

I missed the part about noting incidences of others. The observation in that regard has to do with the ripple effect. Being considerate of others can be its own reward, but so often in my life I've had others do something really thoughtful and generous for me above and beyond any particular courtesy I had shown them. I like to think that it felt important to them to respond with such graciousness. We have the power to build each other up, and bring out the best in others, and have that resonate beyond the interaction of just those two people. Kindness, generosity, and selflessness can be infectious.

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Rugglesby comments on Apr 10, 2018:

A photon being light, wouldn't it travel out at light speed and so roughly the radius of the sun divided by the speed of light? Some minor bending due to gravity? I may be missing something, but often scientists like to make things more complicated than they really are.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 11, 2018:

Lukian - The nuclei are still there so while their state is dependent on the conditions at the core, wouldn't they still be atoms? The science speaks of what is happening to hydrogen and helium in the core. http://scienceline.ucsb.edu/getkey.php?key=4159

Killer cover versions. Bonus points for live.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 10, 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvNHtJOIJ2A

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Longer version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS3yUwFnVGQ

Killer cover versions. Bonus points for live.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 10, 2018:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MTtLZF1ytI

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

And live - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajU8XFaNT4E

A cosmology question.

TerryMoseley comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Interesting question! But firstly, there are two other galaxies that we can see with the naked eye - the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which are best seen from South of the Equator; they are smaller satellite galaxies of our Milky Way, about 70,000 LY away. And if you have good eyesight, and a ...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

A link I provided below clarifies that somewhat so I need to edit my original post to qualify it suitably. One link says the "closest major galaxy" and another says the "closest major spiral galaxy." In one it shows the status of the Magellanic nebulae wasn't established till around 2003. I wasn't aware of the Triangulum galaxy also being visible to the naked eye. That's exactly why I like throwing this stuff out there, and deferring to those more knowledgeable.

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Scoobs comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Is it really the same photon, though? The energy is constantly being absorbed and re-emitted during that journey, so I suspect it's rather difficult to measure the time.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

It's also interesting in their calculations as to the distance it travels before it's emitted and reabsorbed means their guestimate is from 10^4 to 10^7. That's quite a fudge factor.

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Scoobs comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Is it really the same photon, though? The energy is constantly being absorbed and re-emitted during that journey, so I suspect it's rather difficult to measure the time.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

It's part of the same chain reaction so I suspect the analogy holds. Intially a hydrogen atom is fused as the energy is generated. The whole tracking is theoretical as opposed to following any individual photon. But it's the first burst of energy from the hydrogen atom converting to the helium nucleus if I understand the process correctly. One of the links I provided below goes into greater detail.

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Freedompath comments on Apr 10, 2018:

I loved the post...but it has math in it...need time to compute!

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Math is not my strong suit either, but I am in awe of those who can decipher the physics of the universe.

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Rugglesby comments on Apr 10, 2018:

A photon being light, wouldn't it travel out at light speed and so roughly the radius of the sun divided by the speed of light? Some minor bending due to gravity? I may be missing something, but often scientists like to make things more complicated than they really are.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/ita/07_2.shtml

Cosmology again as the last post in this category got some incredible replies.

Rugglesby comments on Apr 10, 2018:

A photon being light, wouldn't it travel out at light speed and so roughly the radius of the sun divided by the speed of light? Some minor bending due to gravity? I may be missing something, but often scientists like to make things more complicated than they really are.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

It has to do with the fusion process in the sun's core. The pressures cause the atomic structure to change, releasing energy in the form of heat and light. The neutrinos take a direct path, where the photons keep bumping into another atom, get reabsorbed, and then expelled again and again. The distance travelled in these tiny steps is so minute, it takes an incredibly long time to reach the surface. http://phenomena.nationalgeographic.com/2015/07/07/sunshines-crazy-sloppy-path-to-you/

A cosmology question.

Rosh comments on Apr 10, 2018:

My bias is form nothing to nothing What is a star How is created What it consists Gas light energy form nothing to nothing My observation

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Cosmologists on the origin of the universe, "Something came from nothing because 'nothing' was unstable."

Compliments

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 10, 2018:

This seems like as good a place as any to put this. Your pictures are cute AF and they always make me smile. I was thinking about sending you a PM stating such, but was worried it might come across as unintentionally creepy.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

No. Thank YOU. xD

Compliments

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 10, 2018:

I once grilled Michael Chertoff at a lecture he gave at our university and co-workers attending came over to congratulate me for holding his feet to the fire. They also told me to watch my back from there on in. LOL.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

From a blog post elsewhere on the encounter. "I asked Michael Chertoff directly at a lecture at my university. I asked him how we as Americans could trust that the recent story of so many false positive of the no-fly watch list is not a serious concern(it’s up to like a bazillion names so clearly the only people in the country not terrorist are me and you…and i’m not so sure about you). He dismissed it with the verbal technique of hand waving and changed the subject. He said (pretty close to an exact quote) That it doesn’t happen that often, the information is not misused, false positives can be corrected so they don’t recur, our people have integrity, I can assure you, and when they don’t the area they are lacking in integrity isn’t relevant to those with privileged information. He then changed to subject by adding that they’ve got some cool spy toys/aids/tools/software on the horizon that meant that trivial concerns we had that were of no real concern would soon be of even less concern, though that would be based on them getting the budget needed to keep that well-oiled machine humming."

Favorite duets?

Spinliesel comments on Apr 9, 2018:

I know it's corny, but I love this one: https://youtu.be/DcpJdRpJR_g

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0RgIK36X3Tw

Favorite duets?

Spinliesel comments on Apr 9, 2018:

I know it's corny, but I love this one: https://youtu.be/DcpJdRpJR_g

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Corny? Not at all. Truly awesome.

A cosmology question.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Turns out after repairing the Hubble space telescope, astronomers were getting readings with some stars being older than the age of the universe (14+ billion years old vs 13+ billion years old). https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=1198s&v=sHA_-XId7BY

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

For those preferring to read about the discrepancy. https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/09/07/the-greatest-cosmic-puzzle-astronomers-find-stars-that-appear-older-than-the-universe/#3212c77c3c44

A cosmology question.

BufftonBeotch comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Are we there yet?

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Don't make me turn this starship around!

A cosmology question.

vcg1234 comments on Apr 10, 2018:

I think this video sums it up. I tried to find a more reputable scientific source but I think this is accurate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYSZRaBCHzA

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

That was very cool. Exactly what I was wondering about. Will have to check out the NOVA btroje mentioned as well. Thanks, both of you.

A cosmology question.

davyjones comments on Apr 10, 2018:

No idea. I'd like to think we'd be able to see quite a few galaxies in the Local Group, since we wouldn't be dealing with the light pollution from nearby stars, but I don't think I'd be willing to make the trip necessary to know for sure.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

In my thought experiment I was thinking of somehow being "magically" transported to the midpoint because who's got time for the trip otherwise?

A cosmology question.

CallMeDave comments on Apr 10, 2018:

Turtles. All the way down. Next?

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

Turtles. Check.

A cosmology question.

IamNobody comments on Apr 10, 2018:

That's a good thought experiment !!!.... Good question too !!. I do believe the universe is symmetric either way we look. We should see stars everywhere we look even half way to Andromeda. Who knows. It would take us 125 million years traveling at the speed of light just to get there. So who really ...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 10, 2018:

I corrected the distance. I swear I pulled up a link that initially said 250 million LY but it is only 2.5 million LY. Practically spitting distance lol.

Favorite duets?

Dooley comments on Apr 9, 2018:

Laurel and Hardy: https://www.facebook.com/michael.gibb.10/videos/10204661976363925/

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 9, 2018:

Seen this? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vHqSOLRQWsU

Boundaries

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 5, 2018:

I often find it an opportunity to express my opposing views. There are indeed though, many times that I choose not to engage. JW's came to my door recently, and I just took their free liturature politely (I like to read - it was an invitation to their "Jesus died for your sins" lecture, with a ...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 5, 2018:

I realize your post was about boundaries in general, but I was mostly responding to the cartoon you included.

Delicate Procedure; Un-Brainwash

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 4, 2018:

Tell her it's always welcomed that someone 'holds a good thought' for you and if it turns out (somebody's) God is real, then it certainly couldn't hurt. You can then add that you see that people helping other people seems to make the most difference and choose to live your life that way. ------...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 4, 2018:

And just for shits and giggles, a rebuttal to Epicurus (Xian apologetics tend to be quite vacuous imho). I agree with Mark Twain's assessment where he said, "If there is a God he is a malign thug." https://carm.org/epicurus-god-willing-to-prevent-evil

Delicate Procedure; Un-Brainwash

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 4, 2018:

Tell her it's always welcomed that someone 'holds a good thought' for you and if it turns out (somebody's) God is real, then it certainly couldn't hurt. You can then add that you see that people helping other people seems to make the most difference and choose to live your life that way. ------...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 4, 2018:

I've always found this a most profound observation. ----- “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” ― Epicurus

Delicate Procedure; Un-Brainwash

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 4, 2018:

Tell her it's always welcomed that someone 'holds a good thought' for you and if it turns out (somebody's) God is real, then it certainly couldn't hurt. You can then add that you see that people helping other people seems to make the most difference and choose to live your life that way. ------...

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 4, 2018:

Plus, there's nothing wrong with finding wisdom buffet style. https://imagejournal.org/article/kurt-vonnegut/

Today I had my appts and now I'm sitting at home on my computer waiting to eat some lunch.

WilliamCharles comments on Apr 2, 2018:

I like how you express good wishes for others as you work to better yourself and your life. What career path are you thinking of? You seem fairly tech savvy as well as compassionate with pretty good people skills.

WilliamCharles replies on Apr 2, 2018:

I think you're a natural. Wishing you much success.

Religion and life on other worlds

Angelface comments on Mar 31, 2018:

There was actually some wingnut evangelical who stated that aliens could not be Christians because they were not from Adam and Eve's lineage. Apparently it has come up in their rarifed circles.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 31, 2018:

Oh, FFS!

Early this a.

Rugglesby comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Wow, a really big WOW, I really admire Musk.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 31, 2018:

http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/20418/Elon-Musk-Workers-low-wage-organizing-unions-silicon-valley

Early this a.

Rugglesby comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Wow, a really big WOW, I really admire Musk.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 31, 2018:

@Maiasaura - When I looked it up it was apparently referring to his Tesla employees.

Early this a.

Rugglesby comments on Mar 31, 2018:

Wow, a really big WOW, I really admire Musk.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 31, 2018:

Admiration for him declining upon learning he's using heavy handed tactics to keep any of his employees from unionising.

Board Games

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 25, 2018:

Haven't played in ages. Was quite partial to Scrabble and Risk. Still enjoy my Yahtzee app. That damn robo-player is good!

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 25, 2018:

I need a drink. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kfW5YLyRfsE

Board Games

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 25, 2018:

Haven't played in ages. Was quite partial to Scrabble and Risk. Still enjoy my Yahtzee app. That damn robo-player is good!

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 25, 2018:

Was enjoying my free bowling and Wheel of Fortune apps, but they wanted to charge me when I ran out of credits. F that! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4duJdeKTwHY

Do grammar Nazis HAVE to correct people all the time or can they ignore the grammatical error ...

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 25, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VGMa3uqQUXw

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 25, 2018:

The item being referenced.

It's snowing where I live and all I can think about is greenery and camping.

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 21, 2018:

Huntington Beach CA midweek last year.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 21, 2018:

Not much green, I'm afraid.

Favorite quotes.

AzVixen52 comments on Feb 2, 2018:

"The true man wants two things: danger, and play. Therefore, he wants woman, as the most dangerous plaything" Nietzsche

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 12, 2018:

Orwell. Who knew?

Do you over-think and over-analyze?

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 11, 2018:

I constantly overthink. I've been able to help myself from keeping my mind racing at night by listening to YouTube lectures. I like Alan Watts, Lawrence Krause, Christopher Hitchens, and many others. Most have soothing voices and I can focus on their words as I drift off. I have it low on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 11, 2018:

You do what's right for you, Sarah. You seem to be pretty well thought out as to the choices you make for your own well-being and intellectual development. All the best to you.

Do you over-think and over-analyze?

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 11, 2018:

I constantly overthink. I've been able to help myself from keeping my mind racing at night by listening to YouTube lectures. I like Alan Watts, Lawrence Krause, Christopher Hitchens, and many others. Most have soothing voices and I can focus on their words as I drift off. I have it low on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 11, 2018:

For example, I enjoyed this to the point that I rewatched it to see it with the slides. https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=246s&v=laqTml7s_a0

Do you over-think and over-analyze?

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 11, 2018:

I constantly overthink. I've been able to help myself from keeping my mind racing at night by listening to YouTube lectures. I like Alan Watts, Lawrence Krause, Christopher Hitchens, and many others. Most have soothing voices and I can focus on their words as I drift off. I have it low on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 11, 2018:

Oddly enough, I generally can't listen to books on tape as my mind drifts and I lose my place and can never tell how much material I missed. Alan Watts is particularly good for listening to as he tends to present his points in a circular fashion. Just when you think he's gone off on a tangent, he brings you back to the main point. I like programming on cosmology but the trick is to find presentations that do not rely too much on visuals. University lectures are good. The cable series How the Universe Works is good to watch, but not so much as just the audio.

Punctuated Equilibrium in Homo Sapiens

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 2, 2018:

Good question. Only know a little. Otherwise have no idea. Your homo evolutus mention reminded me of this on homo loquax. https://www.neh.gov/about/awards/jefferson-lecture/tom-wolfe-lecture

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2018:

Ironically, I found this Wolfe piece searching for info on this live show because Wolfe used the phrase in his essay. Steve Earle - Shut Up and Die Like an Aviator https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzKQLzeWQht-pQG2FkiuCNQZKqyIZfQ9X

Envisioning the future of sex

ScienceBiker comments on Feb 25, 2018:

I like the idea of sex robots. We're not there yet. But think about it. A partner who looks how you want, acts how you want, talks how you want and performs how you want, all with an OFF switch to ensure it's only when *you* want. But the uncanny valley is still too broad. Robots that look ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 28, 2018:

Alan Watts once posited that a partner that responded robotically (in a predictable manner) would become boring. If it was programmed to be unpredictable, how much autonomy would be acceptable?

I tend to try to tread lightly on competing claims unless I have some insight.

JeffB comments on Feb 27, 2018:

Assuming you support the idea that women shouldn't be sexually harassed, what kind of evidence do you need to take action. Most of the time all we get in testimonies from the victims. If we require hard evidence then almost all these people will get away with it. So what would standards of ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2018:

Not sure I have the definitive answer. Multiple accusers goes beyond he said/she said in most cases. Additionally, how egregious the act is comes into play.

Envisioning the future of sex

Akfishlady comments on Feb 25, 2018:

What is sex, what is the future? I can't see any of them so they don't exist. People are already using sexbots, and maybe that is a good thing. If a man would rather have a bot for a lover, then I would not suggest he passes on his genes. Women too. I just can't imagine there is anything less ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 26, 2018:

Comic Bill Hicks once said humans are a "virus with shoes."

Envisioning the future of sex

Charlene comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Hmmm let's see oh yeah..It's Her Body..You have Nothing..absofuckinglutely Nothing to say about how She choses to maintain Her Body..

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 25, 2018:

I think that's why many of these futures are considered dystopian.

I tend to try to tread lightly on competing claims unless I have some insight.

KKGator comments on Feb 25, 2018:

Agreed. I'd really like to know he didn't do what he's accused of. Unfortunately, the likelihood is 50/50, just like you said.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 25, 2018:

And multiple accusers that appear credible pushes the needle against his favor, but by how much? At what % of certainty initiates sanctions of sort and at what level? Things such as declining booksales or speaker invites, versus loss of employment status are part of the discussion across the spectrum.

Oldies but Goodies..

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 20, 2018:

My dad liked big band - born in 1927 - died 2015 (he could swing dance and got free sea cruises later in life to be a shipboard dance partner). As the decades rolled on, he liked an assortment off the pop charts, and there were car rides with him singing along to "Good Morning Starshine" or other ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 21, 2018:

Thanks. He was indeed.

Earworms- songs you don't even like that get stuck in your head.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 19, 2018:

I find this one quite pleasant. It's got a great rhythm and pace for hiking. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0doSWS0Fj24

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 19, 2018:

Plays only in my head.

I'm having a colorful exchange about gun control via fb.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 17, 2018:

It's a difficult discussion, to be sure. My biggest concern is the trading liberty for safety argument. I'm all for keeping deadly weapons out of the hands of the unstable. Proper background checks seem like a no-brainer. One of the aspects of the 2nd Amendment that is often overlooked, imho, is ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 17, 2018:

"If you take the second amendment as a whole, (which the NRA and political Conservatives generally do not), it can be understood as enshrining the right, if not indeed the duty, of citizens to defend their country, and themselves, from aggression, including aggression from the government... The time might come when the people might have to muster against the state." ~ Christopher Hitchens

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 16, 2018:

@273kelvin I thought you'd gone. Your attempt at comedy is a strawman, and further gaslighting. Be comfortable in your bubble.

In the movie Passengers, who would you wake up and how would you choose them?

Crimson67 comments on Feb 16, 2018:

I would be okay alone but I would have to wake up someone to keep the ship working. I always have leftover screws when I put something together...I'd blow that sucker up in a week and kill everyone.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 16, 2018:

Commendable, and a plus to evaluate your skill sets honestly. It was ironic that in the movie (spoiler alert!) that as furious as she was over her twist of fate, no one would have survived unless they were there to help the other as required.

Happy Valentine's Day to all of the taken people.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 14, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZRsEo85NI

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=28s&v=goLsL9dWfnA

Favorite instrumentals?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 14, 2018:

Happy Valentine's Day! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAQdXohpXc

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9d4_YNTg_kc

Happy Valentine's Day to all of the taken people.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 14, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZRsEo85NI

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2018:

@Sarahroo29 Uh-oh. Got pulled?

Favorite instrumentals?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 14, 2018:

Happy Valentine's Day! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1SAQdXohpXc

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AnoV8nU9BCo

I'm going to be absent for a little while.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Sorry about your troubles. Glad you have people here that care for you. Take care of yourself.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 13, 2018:

Maybe, Sarah. But you can't force yourself not to feel something. You can, however, control how you respond to those powerful emotions. I think with many of us, waiting for them to subside a bit before acting helps.

I'm going to be absent for a little while.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 12, 2018:

Sorry about your troubles. Glad you have people here that care for you. Take care of yourself.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 13, 2018:

@Sarahroo29 A dear friend once told me, "Emotions are neither good nor bad... they just are." It's healthy to be in touch with your feelings.

Favorite instrumentals?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 13, 2018:

The original Howard Stern Show opening theme. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g--R0TF1OxM

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 13, 2018:

At least "original" when he first came to LA radio, IIRC. https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/3/16/stern-files-declassified-history-howards-theme-songs/

What are some of your favorite god/secular/spiritual memes?

Sarahroo29 comments on Feb 2, 2018:

This one is funny and true.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 13, 2018:

I also like, "NOTHING fails like prayer."

Nudists?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 8, 2018:

A girlfriend wanted me to go with her to a sun club, but we stopped dating before it ever happened. I'm hoping when I visit her in Vegas she still wants to try. She had breast reconstructive surgery and says it would help boost her confidence (she looks fine). I wonder if I might have a visible ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 13, 2018:

@flowerchild62 Very happy to hear that.

Nudists?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 8, 2018:

A girlfriend wanted me to go with her to a sun club, but we stopped dating before it ever happened. I'm hoping when I visit her in Vegas she still wants to try. She had breast reconstructive surgery and says it would help boost her confidence (she looks fine). I wonder if I might have a visible ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 12, 2018:

I would hope the abuse is low/non-existent. IIRC as per the piece I vaguely remember, it provided the pedophile the opportunity to be around naked children. I have no idea how they claimed to derive their stats. I am not trying to spread misinformation, just open it up for comments.

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 12, 2018:

Or you could simply ask why. You pretend to understand what you do not here as well.

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 12, 2018:

Here's a mention of Zionists and Nazis by one who should know. https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/adri-nieuwhof/last-interview-auschwitz-survivor-urged-palestinians-not-give-their-fight

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 12, 2018:

@273kelvin the fact that you don't seem to understand the "dancing Israelis" reference indicates your level of awareness, I'm afraid. And as to your incredulity regarding Israeli perfidy, my friend James Ennes was an officer on the USS Liberty when Israel tried to murder the entire crew. He wrote "Assault on the Liberty." It was no accident nor was it mistaken identity. At this point, I don't care if you're a troll or just ill-informed. You present very little of substance as far as I'm concerned. http://21stcenturywire.com/2015/09/11/911-revisited-declassified-fbi-files-reveal-new-details-about-the-five-israelis/

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 12, 2018:

@AxeElf quoting Twain when he mirrors my own views saves time when I've engaged in such exchanges countless times before. You have the truth and the keys to the kingdom it seems so be happy in your spevial knowledge. I can't pretend to believe what I don't. Your God would know. I consider sociopaths, planet gobblers, and anyone who would hurt children and the innocent "flawed" (to put it mildly). Furthermore, a being with the power to prevent such unbearable cruelty across the ages but doesn't is to be reviled and pitied. You taking it upon yourself to direct people as to the "proper" god-view shows and incredible amount of hubris...and just how lacking your imagined god is...IMHO. Again, if these are your best shots, I'm underwhelmed, no offense intended.

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 11, 2018:

@273kelvin your gaslighting doesn't work with me. Funny how shining a light on Israel for anything somehow smacks of the Third Reich in your eyes. I answer openly and honestly. I might even err on occasion. If you choose to question my motives, I think we're done. Let me share another example. Reporters digging for info on Iran/Contra were smeared as being completely off base. After CIA asset Eugene Hasenfus was shot down, the truth came out. The reporters got around 80-90% correct, but were dismissed in the mainstream press at the time for the parts they got wrong.

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 11, 2018:

@273kelvin nor was Israel's. The "dancing Israelis" were there to document the moment (as per their Israeli TV interview).

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 11, 2018:

@marmot84 disinformation is part of the process. Makes it easier to discredit. There was a scene in Fahrenheit 9/11 where it was revealed an undercover cop was trying to agitate violence in an anti-war group. Truth is less important than perception.

Conspiracy theories?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 11, 2018:

The official narrative of 9/11 is itself a conspiracy theory by people with an agenda for hiding the truth. They prevented a proper forensic investigation from taking place, which is also a crime. The physics does not support what is claimed to have happened. http://www.csi911.info/CSI911.html...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 11, 2018:

@273kelvin We were humbled by warriors in black pajamas in Vietnam. That's not the point. We're told not to worry about the official narrative as it was just a bunch of remarkable coincidences coupled with incompetence. Nobody got fired, the reviews after the fact were essentially a whitewash, and we got our war on and a security state in place. If you ask me, they got everything they wanted, no matter who it got pinned on. My statement about the physics still stands. Collapsing at freefall speeds means no resistance through the strongest part of the structure.

Am I still single because my face is that hideous?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 9, 2018:

We all wish we had that special connection with somebody, but it's not something that can be forced. I appreciate your struggles. You seem quite sweet and that does wonders for attractiveness. Here's hoping you find some compatible matches.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

@Sarahroo29 "Never forget that you are one of a kind. Never forget that if there weren't any need for you in all your uniqueness to be on this earth, you wouldn't be here in the first place. And never forget, no matter how overwhelming life's challenges and problems seem to be, that one person can make a difference in the world. In fact, it is always because of one person that all the changes that matter in the world come about. So be that one person." ~ R Buckminster Fuller

Where is the most beautiful place near where you live?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 10, 2018:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasquez_Rocks

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

I'm quite enamored with the diverse beauty of Southern California in general, but having moved to the high desert, I find that having starry skies again is a little bit of heaven. We have light pollution ordinances which makes an incredible difference.

I wish everywhere had Moais. Would you like it if they existed where you live?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 10, 2018:

"What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured." Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

@Stevil https://medium.com/@jminderbinder/the-collected-stories-of-kilgore-trout-fb0ac4826b73

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaoR5m4L80

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

The wisdom herein surpasses the so-called sacred texts. http://www.twainquotes.com/God.html

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

"God sent God to die for God so that God could forgive God's creations according to God's unbending rules." ~ LanceThruster Too Rube Goldberg. I find the very concept of blood atonement both ridiculous and barbaric. If we are flawed creatures supposedly requiring such machinations, I blame this imagined manufacturer. I must admit I don't find anything you've presented so far very compelling. You've at least admitted it's more up to your "God" to make its presence known, yet you take it upon yourself to open the eyes of this poor deluded unbeliever. I do not seek to indoctrinate you in non-belief, but rather merely establish that I came about my own honestly. The god(s) as depicted match Twain's assessment when he said, "If there is a God, he is a malign thug."

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

"...a God who could make good children as easily a bad, yet preferred to make bad ones; who could have made every one of them happy, yet never made a single happy one; who made them prize their bitter life, yet stingily cut it short; who gave his angels eternal happiness unearned, yet required his other children to earn it; who gave is angels painless lives, yet cursed his other children with biting miseries and maladies of mind and body; who mouths justice, and invented hell--mouths mercy, and invented hell--mouths Golden Rules and foregiveness multiplied by seventy times seven, and invented hell; who mouths morals to other people, and has none himself; who frowns upon crimes, yet commits them all; who created man without invitation, then tries to shuffle the responsibility for man's acts upon man, instead of honorably placing it where it belongs, upon himself; and finally, with altogether divine obtuseness, invites his poor abused slave to worship him!" ~ Mark Twain - No. 44, The Mysterious Stranger

Favorite instrumentals?

Ohub comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 8 in C Minor, Op. 14, No. 2 "Pathétique" Adagio cantabile Helps calm my brain.... https://open.spotify.com/track/5HPCya6r5vHDXIa4DdCpkH

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

I guess I like my classical with a little more pop sensibilities to it.

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 10, 2018:

@AxeElf - You mentioned proof against God being logical inconsistencies. The Xian God is full of them. You are playing word games it seems if you are combining all the competing gods under one banner. If your definition of this singular god is filtered through human expressions of it, then it has again failed to provide any sort of coherent unified understanding...let alone meassage.

Why didn't God populate nearby planets?

btroje comments on Feb 9, 2018:

maybe because we are the prison planet/penal colony and he is protecting the universe from the likes of humanity

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

The the blame should go on the "manufacturer."

Why didn't God populate nearby planets?

btroje comments on Feb 9, 2018:

maybe because we are the prison planet/penal colony and he is protecting the universe from the likes of humanity

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

The Zanti Misfits.

The "Something Can't Come From Nothing" Logic I recall having this conversation more times than I...

jlynn37 comments on Feb 9, 2018:

Logic will never get you anywhere with delusional thinking.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

"You can't reason someone out of a position they didn't reason themselves into." ~ Anon

You're not going to believe what I'm about to tell you - The Oatmeal

LizBeth comments on Feb 9, 2018:

That was awesome - thank you for the link!

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

I love the things I've come across because someone shared it.

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." ~ Stephen F. Roberts

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

"I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides." [Carl Sagan, 1996 in his article In the Valley of the Shadow Parade Magazine Also, Billions and Billions p. 215]

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 9, 2018:

"Theologian: An uncommon individual who, though possessing finite abilities, has been called by God himself who, though possessing infinite abilities, requires the assistance of the former in explaining Himself to the rest of us." [Translation: if God existed, theologians would be out of work.] ~ "Rev" Donald Morgan

L.A. atheist humor...

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 8, 2018:

"Oldie but goodie. [m.youtube.com]"

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 8, 2018:

@RobCampbell - I found it here just today. I used that q: link from the tutorial.

Enjoyed this though I've never seen the Bojack cartoon.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 8, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R66r_XMoDkk

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 8, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JxDvjWTCmIY

I posted this in response to a Jim Daly article at the Focus on the Family webpage shortly before ...

AxeElf comments on Feb 8, 2018:

As a believer, I guess I'm one of those who can't even entertain the question. If you had said that I could arrive at the conclusion of a godless universe through a logical or scientific proof that WOULD force me to accept that conclusion, then I could probably think about it. But I can't ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 8, 2018:

Arriving at "proof" assumes you could prove a negative. I would offer that the "billions of personal experiences" are merely interpreted as God. I concede that there might be "something" but categorically reject the notion of "revealed knowledge" as wholly unsupported. As technical writers say, if the material is not understood, it is the writer's fault, not the reader's. .

Wabi-Sabi. Do you find beauty in imperfection?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 7, 2018:

https://blog.sleepnumber.com/how-to-wabi-sabi-your-home-the-philosophy-of-imperfection/?acid=soc=Facebook-_-CORE-_-BlogTraffic-_-35-65HealthWellness=141695215 Interesting read with 2 other parts.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 8, 2018:

@silvereyes - For those who might want to link to it directly. https://blog.sleepnumber.com/how-to-wabi-sabi-love-the-best-kept-secret-of-relationship-advice-part-2/

Do you have a favorite lyric you quote?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 3, 2018:

"Rust never sleeps."

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 7, 2018:

"There was a woman he knew About a year or so ago. She had something that he needed And he pleaded with her not to go. On the day that she left, He died, but it did not show." Still hurts, and it's been many years.

I notice a lot of atheist groups, particularly "New Atheists" tend to side with apartheid Israel ...

dabirdguy comments on Feb 4, 2018:

Israel is just the lesser of two evils. There is no "good guy" in their disputes. The Koran is filled with hate, and they are sworn to kill us infidels, so if I had to choose....

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 4, 2018:

The Talmud has some pretty questionable doctrines as well. So does the bible. People advance somewhat beyond their *sacred* texts.

I notice a lot of atheist groups, particularly "New Atheists" tend to side with apartheid Israel ...

273kelvin comments on Feb 4, 2018:

Apartheid?? Over 20% of Israel's population in Arab. The 3rd largest party in the Kinesit is Arab. The chief justice of Israels supreme court is Arab. Does not sound like apartheid to me.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 4, 2018:

@273kelvin - There are rumors that Mossad has their fingers in a lot of subversive sh*t.

I notice a lot of atheist groups, particularly "New Atheists" tend to side with apartheid Israel ...

SageDave comments on Feb 3, 2018:

I left the temple originally because I thought that Israel practices a form of apartheid that rivals South Africa apartheid. More violent and more corrupt. I refused to travel to the country because of the political situation. I have friends who belong to Peace Now in Israel and they agree with ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 4, 2018:

@273kelvin - A dear friend and former coworker is a Russian Jew who serves in the IDF Reserves (intel). I've recommended a book or two for her, but otherwise it's not a subject we discuss much. I came to my current way of thinking based largely on the writing of many principled Jewish voices. I've seen the ugliness and obfuscation against those speaking the truth about Israel's oppression against Palestinians first hand. "Breaking the Silence" are IDF soldiers who speak out. Norman Finkelstein is a courageous scholar who speaks out. There are many others. This is what we are up against, but the smears are not working like they used to. http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2014/08/israeli-propaganda-handbook-7-basic-propaganda-devices.html

I notice a lot of atheist groups, particularly "New Atheists" tend to side with apartheid Israel ...

Uncorrugated comments on Feb 4, 2018:

What is a 'new atheist'? I suspect that part of the problem is the agenda pumped out by the media, that if you say that the jews are not in this instance being persecuted, then you are obviously anti-semitic. My understanding is that in 1948 Israel was created as a Jewish homeland. The Jews ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 4, 2018:

@Countrywoman - Territory by conquest is a war crime. Something determined after the many such crimes in WWII. It's ironic that in this piece, there is no mention of Israel whatsoever. https://www.britannica.com/topic/conquest-international-law

What are some of your favorite god/secular/spiritual memes?

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 4, 2018:

Perseverance...it pays.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 4, 2018:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ahi0rRtyTzA