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Long ago I was with a group at a get-together after a funeral.
DavidLaDeau comments on Jan 29, 2020:
In psychology religion does not fit into the diagnosis of delusion. It is sad as many people that need treatment are ignored.
racocn8 replies on Jan 29, 2020:
But, does psychology forego including religion within its diagnosis of delusion as a issue validated by science or as an issue to be omitted for the sake of political correctness (administrating a service which would be rejected by a large percent of society) ?? Seriously, the adherence to political correctness is too often its own form of delusion.
Shame on those who 'go along to get along,' but then live a lie for their whole life. So much greater shame on those who lie and support misleading others to line their own pockets. That represents the bulk of religion - - control in exchange for cash. Loyalty to evil while claiming a moral highground? Truth matters. Blocking truth is harmful. Blocking truth with selfish intent is degenerate and cruelly immoral.
DavidLaDeau comments on Jan 29, 2020:
In psychology religion does not fit into the diagnosis of delusion. It is sad as many people that need treatment are ignored.
racocn8 replies on Jan 29, 2020:
But, does psychology forego including religion within its diagnosis of delusion as a issue validated by science or as an issue to be omitted for the sake of political correctness (administrating a service which would be rejected by a large percent of society) ?? Seriously, the adherence to political correctness is too often its own form of delusion.
Shame on those who 'go along to get along,' but then live a lie for their whole life. So much greater shame on those who lie and support misleading others to line their own pockets. That represents the bulk of religion - - control in exchange for cash. Loyalty to evil while claiming a moral highground? Truth matters. Blocking truth is harmful. Blocking truth with selfish intent is degenerate and cruelly immoral.
Why Religion Is Not Going Away and Science Will Not Destroy It
racocn8 comments on Jan 26, 2020:
I remain hopeful that science with discover cure. Unfortunately, that cure may have to be imposed against their will, as they are unlikely to seek positive change on their own.
Specifically, an otherwise harmless virus is edited to include a sequence of RNA that matches what is produced and ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 26, 2020:
@Geoffrey51 Homosexuality, Eugenics and Master Race might come to mind, but they would be false analogies. People aren't born with religion, it is nearly always gained by forced indoctrination. Also not corresponding is the notion that the absence of myth is advocated by the ruling regime. Non-belief remains as blasphemy to the ruling regime. Both the ruling regime and the religion that supports it have become existential threats to the human species. Many of the religionists clamor to instigate Armageddon. Removing both the ruling regime and it's religion are necessary to avoid extinction for everyone. It might be different if the religionists genuinely believed in martyrdom, but they always want non-believers to go first. Infecting the deranged with an otherwise harmless virus seems far more humane than the murderous solutions they have always resorted to.
racocn8 comments on Jan 26, 2020:
I remain hopeful that science with discover cure. Unfortunately, that cure may have to be imposed against their will, as they are unlikely to seek positive change on their own.
Specifically, an otherwise harmless virus is edited to include a sequence of RNA that matches what is produced and ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 26, 2020:
@Geoffrey51 Homosexuality, Eugenics and Master Race might come to mind, but they would be false analogies. People aren't born with religion, it is nearly always gained by forced indoctrination. Also not corresponding is the notion that the absence of myth is advocated by the ruling regime. Non-belief remains as blasphemy to the ruling regime. Both the ruling regime and the religion that supports it have become existential threats to the human species. Many of the religionists clamor to instigate Armageddon. Removing both the ruling regime and it's religion are necessary to avoid extinction for everyone. It might be different if the religionists genuinely believed in martyrdom, but they always want non-believers to go first. Infecting the deranged with an otherwise harmless virus seems far more humane than the murderous solutions they have always resorted to.
The Proof: That God Exists
There is a hierarchy in Animalia, not only as quantified by the DNA ...
dalefvictor comments on Jan 15, 2020:
Great sarcasm.
racocn8 replies on Jan 17, 2020:
@Gwendolyn2018 You are casting pearls before a swine.
@AnneWimsey You are wrestling with a pig, and the pig likes it.
If you look at how this guy responds, you can see that he is utterly, deliriously, desperate for attention. It is pathetic to run across people who are so in need of help, but terrified of getting any. The rest of us may be glad not to be them.
dalefvictor comments on Jan 15, 2020:
Great sarcasm.
racocn8 replies on Jan 17, 2020:
@Gwendolyn2018 You are casting pearls before a swine.
@AnneWimsey You are wrestling with a pig, and the pig likes it.
If you look at how this guy responds, you can see that he is utterly, deliriously, desperate for attention. It is pathetic to run across people who are so in need of help, but terrified of getting any. The rest of us may be glad not to be them.
Every American should be required to watch this.
[msnbc.com]
Poll question: Is Sen Kerry right?
racocn8 comments on Jan 12, 2020:
The real (and intended) beneficiaries of Trump's strike were Russia and Saudi Arabia.
-Russia benefits because Iran gets to restart its nuclear program which was largely purchased from Russia.
-Saudi Arabia would have had the benefit of Soleimani's support for Yemeni rebels being interrupted, if ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 15, 2020:
@rainmanjr The horrific plane crash outside Tehran could also be the work of Putin. I'd say it is 60% likely that Putin arranged to have the SA-15 fire on the airliner. From Forbes: "Given the multiple means of detection and the distinctive flight profile of an airliner, there’s no excuse for the deadly mistake," says Carlo Kopp, cofounder of the think tank Air Power Australia. I believe it is entirely plausible that the Russians hacked the SA-15 in order to throw the Iranian government into the chaos we now see. If the Russians were coordinating Trump's assassination targets, it would be prudent to also take advantage of the situation by destabilizing Iran's government. Sowing division is Putin's favorite play.
Note that Russia suffered no consequences from shooting down the Malaysia Flight 17 in Ukraine.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2020/01/09/how-iranian-air-defense-forces-could-have-mistaken-a-737-for-a-military-threat/#1df6767722e3
racocn8 comments on Jan 12, 2020:
The real (and intended) beneficiaries of Trump's strike were Russia and Saudi Arabia.
-Russia benefits because Iran gets to restart its nuclear program which was largely purchased from Russia.
-Saudi Arabia would have had the benefit of Soleimani's support for Yemeni rebels being interrupted, if ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 15, 2020:
@rainmanjr The horrific plane crash outside Tehran could also be the work of Putin. I'd say it is 60% likely that Putin arranged to have the SA-15 fire on the airliner. From Forbes: "Given the multiple means of detection and the distinctive flight profile of an airliner, there’s no excuse for the deadly mistake," says Carlo Kopp, cofounder of the think tank Air Power Australia. I believe it is entirely plausible that the Russians hacked the SA-15 in order to throw the Iranian government into the chaos we now see. If the Russians were coordinating Trump's assassination targets, it would be prudent to also take advantage of the situation by destabilizing Iran's government. Sowing division is Putin's favorite play.
Note that Russia suffered no consequences from shooting down the Malaysia Flight 17 in Ukraine.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeremybogaisky/2020/01/09/how-iranian-air-defense-forces-could-have-mistaken-a-737-for-a-military-threat/#1df6767722e3
The Proof: That God Exists
There is a hierarchy in Animalia, not only as quantified by the DNA ...
racocn8 comments on Jan 15, 2020:
Please take your meds. They really do help. Otherwise, it's back to the padded room and straight-jacket.
racocn8 replies on Jan 15, 2020:
@GlyndonD Oh, you're an Ayn Rand cultist. That explains it. Meds won't help. You need a lobotomy.
And yes, I do have experience with my ex who would stop her meds and then go catatonic.
racocn8 comments on Jan 15, 2020:
Please take your meds. They really do help. Otherwise, it's back to the padded room and straight-jacket.
racocn8 replies on Jan 15, 2020:
@GlyndonD Oh, you're an Ayn Rand cultist. That explains it. Meds won't help. You need a lobotomy.
And yes, I do have experience with my ex who would stop her meds and then go catatonic.
Robert Rathswohl Just a note to all trump supporters in the greatest country in the world.
racocn8 comments on Jan 4, 2020:
Any of the Democrat candidates are better than Trump. That being said...
My objection to Yang is that he wants a national sales tax. That is a severely regressive proposal and shows he doesn't understand basic economics.
All the candidates are absurdly flawed...
Warren took months to come ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 5, 2020:
@RoboGraham I stand corrected. However, a value added tax still ends up increasing the costs of goods to the general population. Assuming the costs of the taxes are passed along in the final price tag of the item, the customer still ends up paying those costs. As a general tax to the consumer, it is still wholly regressive.
racocn8 comments on Jan 4, 2020:
Any of the Democrat candidates are better than Trump. That being said...
My objection to Yang is that he wants a national sales tax. That is a severely regressive proposal and shows he doesn't understand basic economics.
All the candidates are absurdly flawed...
Warren took months to come ...
racocn8 replies on Jan 5, 2020:
@RoboGraham I stand corrected. However, a value added tax still ends up increasing the costs of goods to the general population. Assuming the costs of the taxes are passed along in the final price tag of the item, the customer still ends up paying those costs. As a general tax to the consumer, it is still wholly regressive.
"I like biting if done in the right way(s)" a man wrote.
mordant comments on Jan 1, 2020:
Well when people tell you who they are, believe them.
If two consenting adults want biting and scratching as part of their sex life, it's none of my business, but I can't figure out a way to regard it as healthy. We're humans, not Klingons.
racocn8 replies on Jan 2, 2020:
Biting need not injure. The idea is to provide a particular tactile sensation. Unless you're a Klingon.
mordant comments on Jan 1, 2020:
Well when people tell you who they are, believe them.
If two consenting adults want biting and scratching as part of their sex life, it's none of my business, but I can't figure out a way to regard it as healthy. We're humans, not Klingons.
racocn8 replies on Jan 2, 2020:
Biting need not injure. The idea is to provide a particular tactile sensation. Unless you're a Klingon.
Who has noticed in the last day or so there has been a resurgence of Islam bashing.
David_Cooper comments on Dec 31, 2019:
Well, there's a lot of Nazi-bashing and fascist-bashing that goes on all the time and no one complains about that because they made the stupid mistake of not tying a God to their sick ideologies.
racocn8 replies on Jan 1, 2020:
Hardly. I don't think the Nazis had many agnostics nor atheists in their number. Pretty sure they were all Christians.
David_Cooper comments on Dec 31, 2019:
Well, there's a lot of Nazi-bashing and fascist-bashing that goes on all the time and no one complains about that because they made the stupid mistake of not tying a God to their sick ideologies.
racocn8 replies on Jan 1, 2020:
Hardly. I don't think the Nazis had many agnostics nor atheists in their number. Pretty sure they were all Christians.
Many people believe that the federal government needs to tax or borrow to spend.
racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
You may note that even while Trump has been touting the economy as being so wonderful, he has also cowed the Fed into reducing rates.
First, the tax breaks Trump gave to the wealthy were like a shot of heroin, stimulating the economy momentarily, but boosting the deficit bigly.
Second, the ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
@ToolGuy OK...
Why this guy is wrong...
Steven Hall talks about how Australia has the highest household debt, but doesn’t say why this is a problem. It does suggest that Australians are overconfident about their ability to repay that debt, and perhaps they’ve been misled by their politicians and their gov’t policies. Where's the press?
At one point, Hall claims that governments invented money. Money certainly has a long history, but currently, it is the banking system that creates and manages money and continues to do so. The Fed is not part of the government. Governments do not control interest rates through bond sales. The banking systems control interest rates. Maybe Australia is different, but I doubt it.
36:16 There isn’t any government debt (in Australia). If that’s so, they needn’t be paying interest to the banks. They do, so, yes, there is indeed government debt in Australia.
Governments become insolvent when the currency is deemed by the citizenry to be worthless and resort to bartering. So in that sense, a government can indeed run out of money or max out its credit card. If a government overspends to the point of spooking its citizens, yes, any government can run out of money.
42:40 You better believe the rest of the world will be hurting when the US financial system collapses because it ran out of money. Steven Hall says hyperinflation isn’t worth worrying about. Wrong. If, for whatever reason, Saudi Arabia or China start dumping dollars, you can be sure Australia will be hurting along with the U.S.
Hall goes on to say that Australia does, must and should run a government deficit. Wrong. That would only be right if you wanted your tax dollars going to pay more and more interest to the banks. Indeed, Hall denounces Clinton for seeking to pay down the U.S. debt, but this absurd canard is but an example of Hall’s political bias. Political bias is the biggest degrader of economic theory; Milton Friedman being among the most disingenuous.
And that’s the problem with economic ‘theory’. It has no grasp of technology’s contribution and it is consistently biased based on (mainly right-wing) politics. At the same time, Hall does have it right when he says that taxes should increase for redistributive purposes. Wealth inequity is the major fundamental structural problem that needs to be addressed to prevent abuse of financial power and corruption of government institutions.
Full employment? Good luck with that!! Increasing government deficits don’t burden future generations? Absurd.
Wealth primarily comes from the effective application of new technology, not from gross domestic production of common goods. Wealth disparity comes from unfair tax and tax evasion policies, coupled with familial dissemination of wealth ...
racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
You may note that even while Trump has been touting the economy as being so wonderful, he has also cowed the Fed into reducing rates.
First, the tax breaks Trump gave to the wealthy were like a shot of heroin, stimulating the economy momentarily, but boosting the deficit bigly.
Second, the ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
@ToolGuy OK...
Why this guy is wrong...
Steven Hall talks about how Australia has the highest household debt, but doesn’t say why this is a problem. It does suggest that Australians are overconfident about their ability to repay that debt, and perhaps they’ve been misled by their politicians and their gov’t policies. Where's the press?
At one point, Hall claims that governments invented money. Money certainly has a long history, but currently, it is the banking system that creates and manages money and continues to do so. The Fed is not part of the government. Governments do not control interest rates through bond sales. The banking systems control interest rates. Maybe Australia is different, but I doubt it.
36:16 There isn’t any government debt (in Australia). If that’s so, they needn’t be paying interest to the banks. They do, so, yes, there is indeed government debt in Australia.
Governments become insolvent when the currency is deemed by the citizenry to be worthless and resort to bartering. So in that sense, a government can indeed run out of money or max out its credit card. If a government overspends to the point of spooking its citizens, yes, any government can run out of money.
42:40 You better believe the rest of the world will be hurting when the US financial system collapses because it ran out of money. Steven Hall says hyperinflation isn’t worth worrying about. Wrong. If, for whatever reason, Saudi Arabia or China start dumping dollars, you can be sure Australia will be hurting along with the U.S.
Hall goes on to say that Australia does, must and should run a government deficit. Wrong. That would only be right if you wanted your tax dollars going to pay more and more interest to the banks. Indeed, Hall denounces Clinton for seeking to pay down the U.S. debt, but this absurd canard is but an example of Hall’s political bias. Political bias is the biggest degrader of economic theory; Milton Friedman being among the most disingenuous.
And that’s the problem with economic ‘theory’. It has no grasp of technology’s contribution and it is consistently biased based on (mainly right-wing) politics. At the same time, Hall does have it right when he says that taxes should increase for redistributive purposes. Wealth inequity is the major fundamental structural problem that needs to be addressed to prevent abuse of financial power and corruption of government institutions.
Full employment? Good luck with that!! Increasing government deficits don’t burden future generations? Absurd.
Wealth primarily comes from the effective application of new technology, not from gross domestic production of common goods. Wealth disparity comes from unfair tax and tax evasion policies, coupled with familial dissemination of wealth ...
Dear Nancy; You need to win this....
racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
One scenario: Pelosi holds onto the articles until 2021 when the new Congress is sworn in. The new Democratic majority then convicts and unseats Trump, even though reelected (again, illegitimately),... or directs the various State prosecutors to proceed with their legal actions to convict Trump ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
@Robecology The GOP/Trump have no story line that can exhonerate Trump, and you cannot suggest that the witnesses can stick to a lie and not be blatently obvious. They'd surely cut their own throats, and that would be fine. Every one of the GOP would violate their oaths of office as well as the oath they take to be impartial. Most of them are on Putin's payroll and those that aren't have other compremat gathered by the Nat. Enquirer. Trump only has a strong chance of winning in 2020 if the electorate are brainwashed by the Russians the same way as in 2016. That is why the Dems do expect to lose again... along with pervasive voter suppression throughout the red states.
racocn8 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
One scenario: Pelosi holds onto the articles until 2021 when the new Congress is sworn in. The new Democratic majority then convicts and unseats Trump, even though reelected (again, illegitimately),... or directs the various State prosecutors to proceed with their legal actions to convict Trump ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
@Robecology The GOP/Trump have no story line that can exhonerate Trump, and you cannot suggest that the witnesses can stick to a lie and not be blatently obvious. They'd surely cut their own throats, and that would be fine. Every one of the GOP would violate their oaths of office as well as the oath they take to be impartial. Most of them are on Putin's payroll and those that aren't have other compremat gathered by the Nat. Enquirer. Trump only has a strong chance of winning in 2020 if the electorate are brainwashed by the Russians the same way as in 2016. That is why the Dems do expect to lose again... along with pervasive voter suppression throughout the red states.
No one teaches a newborn human to breath.
snytiger6 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
I like your argumentative point. I may use it.
It does seem logical that an all powerful being would make knowledge of himself/herself innate, and then it would be up to each individual to chose from there. It is a more reasonable, rational and logical system under the idea of there even being ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
If a god were to instill knowledge of itself in animate beings, imagine the temples the bees, ants and termites would build!!
I have to laugh at religionists that point to their own pathetic consciousness as being superior to other organisms and thus worthy of god's interest.
snytiger6 comments on Dec 22, 2019:
I like your argumentative point. I may use it.
It does seem logical that an all powerful being would make knowledge of himself/herself innate, and then it would be up to each individual to chose from there. It is a more reasonable, rational and logical system under the idea of there even being ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 22, 2019:
If a god were to instill knowledge of itself in animate beings, imagine the temples the bees, ants and termites would build!!
I have to laugh at religionists that point to their own pathetic consciousness as being superior to other organisms and thus worthy of god's interest.
I know people love their animals, but I wonder what would happen if you were required to sponsor a ...
racocn8 comments on Dec 11, 2019:
Do you seriously believe we should work toward sustaining this level of human population? I contend it is a recipe for extinction.
racocn8 replies on Dec 11, 2019:
@Grahame It's true, we could feed the world. But then what? Our imminent extinction is a much more serious problem. The people we help survive will die with us when we go, whether it's WW III or ecological collapse.
If it makes you feel better to help the destitute, please proceed. However, do not imagine that you are doing anything more that putting off the inevitable. (I recently hosted a pair of homeless in my house for more than a year. While they were wonderful people, they became problematic. I've done my goodwill for a while.)
Religious beliefs functionally endorse the inverted morality of "more power-less responsibility." We will never be able to help the poor, OR save our own skins until we figure out how to stop corruption.
racocn8 comments on Dec 11, 2019:
Do you seriously believe we should work toward sustaining this level of human population? I contend it is a recipe for extinction.
racocn8 replies on Dec 11, 2019:
@Grahame It's true, we could feed the world. But then what? Our imminent extinction is a much more serious problem. The people we help survive will die with us when we go, whether it's WW III or ecological collapse.
If it makes you feel better to help the destitute, please proceed. However, do not imagine that you are doing anything more that putting off the inevitable. (I recently hosted a pair of homeless in my house for more than a year. While they were wonderful people, they became problematic. I've done my goodwill for a while.)
Religious beliefs functionally endorse the inverted morality of "more power-less responsibility." We will never be able to help the poor, OR save our own skins until we figure out how to stop corruption.
A history lesson : : the consequences of immigration and the self destruction of culture : : : and ...
TimeOutForMe comments on Dec 3, 2019:
What's your point? Were you yourself not black or colourful before you turned pale. I'm just asking.
Did Britain not become a super power by colonising other countries and enriched itself that way for too long? and continue to do so. It's called looting. The immigrants are working and living ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 4, 2019:
Actually, with their breeding program, we'll all be a bit grayer too.
TimeOutForMe comments on Dec 3, 2019:
What's your point? Were you yourself not black or colourful before you turned pale. I'm just asking.
Did Britain not become a super power by colonising other countries and enriched itself that way for too long? and continue to do so. It's called looting. The immigrants are working and living ...
racocn8 replies on Dec 4, 2019:
Actually, with their breeding program, we'll all be a bit grayer too.
Should the USA try to keep Muslims out of their country?
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 30, 2019:
@Grecio Keeping religious people out is the sane, logical, rational thing to do... But the US general population would not agree to it.
Seriously, it's long past time to revisit the Constitution.
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 30, 2019:
@Grecio Keeping religious people out is the sane, logical, rational thing to do... But the US general population would not agree to it.
Seriously, it's long past time to revisit the Constitution.
Should the USA try to keep Muslims out of their country?
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
At this particular historical instant, I agree, Islam is way worse that Christianity on account of its intolerance and adherence to violent methods. But to be clear, that is only because Christianity has been the prevailing religion in the West during its age of reason and advent of science. Islam has remained intellectually isolated and radicalized in response to the decades of colonial oppression. The main truth is that both lobotomize their believers into psychotic behavior.
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
At this particular historical instant, I agree, Islam is way worse that Christianity on account of its intolerance and adherence to violent methods. But to be clear, that is only because Christianity has been the prevailing religion in the West during its age of reason and advent of science. Islam has remained intellectually isolated and radicalized in response to the decades of colonial oppression. The main truth is that both lobotomize their believers into psychotic behavior.
Should the USA try to keep Muslims out of their country?
Grecio comments on Nov 24, 2019:
Of course, all Muslims are not bad people. However, if one reads the Koran and other Islamic literature, there seems to be a lot of "kill apostates". etc.. In addition, Muslims that immigrate to the USA don't seem to assimilate. They take over neighborhoods and towns. Look what is going on in ...
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
@oldFloyd Remember that before Gilligan, Denver played a 'beatnik' on Dobie Gillis. It would be reasonable to infer that the Maynard character was a pot-smoking forerunner of 'hippie.'
Grecio comments on Nov 24, 2019:
Of course, all Muslims are not bad people. However, if one reads the Koran and other Islamic literature, there seems to be a lot of "kill apostates". etc.. In addition, Muslims that immigrate to the USA don't seem to assimilate. They take over neighborhoods and towns. Look what is going on in ...
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
@oldFloyd Remember that before Gilligan, Denver played a 'beatnik' on Dobie Gillis. It would be reasonable to infer that the Maynard character was a pot-smoking forerunner of 'hippie.'
Any of you read Breaking the Spell by Daniel Dennett?
Matias comments on Nov 27, 2019:
A motto very dear to me is: "Nothing in life makes sense except in the light of evolution".
If we treat religions as natural phenomena, and if we look at their evolution, we are tempted to
view them as mental "parasites" which spread to the detriment of their hosts.
But if we look at the ...
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
You're right as far as equating religions to parasites. However, you should realize that evolution works on much greater time scales than a few millenia of human history, especially with such a long-lived species.
Also, sad to say, but atheism and agnosticism would quality as parasitic memes as much as conventional religions. More accurately, these viral memes are in competition with each other. What is notable is that considerable mutation of the memes does occur in historical time-frames. Christianity has morphed extensively, both in content via text translations, and in practice. Indeed, the various forms of Christianity have evolved to where the rituals and lifestyles are entirely different.
The practice of religion is poorly related to pure parasitism because, as you point out, conventional parasite reduce the fitness of the host. An argument may be made that religion enables people to be more fit in certain respects than a non-religious person. Specifically, by analogy, a single ant may be less fit as an individual than the ant colony. Religious practice may be viewed as humans leaning into colonial behavior with discrete hierarchy and separation of function.
Matias comments on Nov 27, 2019:
A motto very dear to me is: "Nothing in life makes sense except in the light of evolution".
If we treat religions as natural phenomena, and if we look at their evolution, we are tempted to
view them as mental "parasites" which spread to the detriment of their hosts.
But if we look at the ...
racocn8 replies on Nov 27, 2019:
You're right as far as equating religions to parasites. However, you should realize that evolution works on much greater time scales than a few millenia of human history, especially with such a long-lived species.
Also, sad to say, but atheism and agnosticism would quality as parasitic memes as much as conventional religions. More accurately, these viral memes are in competition with each other. What is notable is that considerable mutation of the memes does occur in historical time-frames. Christianity has morphed extensively, both in content via text translations, and in practice. Indeed, the various forms of Christianity have evolved to where the rituals and lifestyles are entirely different.
The practice of religion is poorly related to pure parasitism because, as you point out, conventional parasite reduce the fitness of the host. An argument may be made that religion enables people to be more fit in certain respects than a non-religious person. Specifically, by analogy, a single ant may be less fit as an individual than the ant colony. Religious practice may be viewed as humans leaning into colonial behavior with discrete hierarchy and separation of function.
Most common/ridicuous argumento pro religion?
JohnnyQB comments on Nov 26, 2019:
When people mix their politics with religion and stand up for islam because they hate the US.
racocn8 replies on Nov 26, 2019:
Most interpretations of Islam say that Islamic law, Sharia, should govern the state.
JohnnyQB comments on Nov 26, 2019:
When people mix their politics with religion and stand up for islam because they hate the US.
racocn8 replies on Nov 26, 2019:
Most interpretations of Islam say that Islamic law, Sharia, should govern the state.
Most common/ridicuous argumento pro religion?
Sgt_Spanky comments on Nov 26, 2019:
*"If you accept the sacrifice of Jesus and open your heart to him, he will come into it. *
So basically, all I have to do is to believe he's real, talk to him like he's listening, and acknowledge his part in my life and then I'll know him.
Yes, that is exactly how delusions work.
racocn8 replies on Nov 26, 2019:
I tried that. I really did. It didn't work.
Sgt_Spanky comments on Nov 26, 2019:
*"If you accept the sacrifice of Jesus and open your heart to him, he will come into it. *
So basically, all I have to do is to believe he's real, talk to him like he's listening, and acknowledge his part in my life and then I'll know him.
Yes, that is exactly how delusions work.
racocn8 replies on Nov 26, 2019:
I tried that. I really did. It didn't work.
Should the USA try to keep Muslims out of their country?
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 25, 2019:
@blzjz @Grecio Actually, snakes are lizards... but being repelled by Islam has absolutely nothing to do with racism. Islam infects different races with equal opportunity.
Imatheistically comments on Nov 25, 2019:
There is no greater threat to civilization on this planent, then the terrorist based death cult known as "Islam"! It is one "religion" that does NOT deserve the freedom to exist! Not in the USS, nor anywhere else on the planet!
racocn8 replies on Nov 25, 2019:
@blzjz @Grecio Actually, snakes are lizards... but being repelled by Islam has absolutely nothing to do with racism. Islam infects different races with equal opportunity.
The GOP have a decision to make: allegiance to Putin or to America.
Druvius comments on Nov 22, 2019:
Right, relations with Russia and sanctions on them are worse than ever, and we are arming Ukraine to the teeth. How is Russia benefiting from this?
racocn8 replies on Nov 22, 2019:
@Druvius Or is it Infiltrate and Subvert 2.0? If you look across Europe, you see the governments wrestling with populism advocated by revealed Putin stooges, and abetted by the naive and worse.
Druvius comments on Nov 22, 2019:
Right, relations with Russia and sanctions on them are worse than ever, and we are arming Ukraine to the teeth. How is Russia benefiting from this?
racocn8 replies on Nov 22, 2019:
@Druvius Or is it Infiltrate and Subvert 2.0? If you look across Europe, you see the governments wrestling with populism advocated by revealed Putin stooges, and abetted by the naive and worse.
The GOP have a decision to make: allegiance to Putin or to America.
Druvius comments on Nov 22, 2019:
Right, relations with Russia and sanctions on them are worse than ever, and we are arming Ukraine to the teeth. How is Russia benefiting from this?
racocn8 replies on Nov 22, 2019:
Russia is positioning itself to re-take Ukraine. Russia benefits by weakening the West and has been successful in sowing division almost everywhere. Mostly, Russia has de facto control of our country through its connections: Trump, Giuliani, Perry, Nunes, McConnell, Barr, and many more, and suspect on the other side: Gillibrand, Gabbard, Warren and Sanders.
Druvius comments on Nov 22, 2019:
Right, relations with Russia and sanctions on them are worse than ever, and we are arming Ukraine to the teeth. How is Russia benefiting from this?
racocn8 replies on Nov 22, 2019:
Russia is positioning itself to re-take Ukraine. Russia benefits by weakening the West and has been successful in sowing division almost everywhere. Mostly, Russia has de facto control of our country through its connections: Trump, Giuliani, Perry, Nunes, McConnell, Barr, and many more, and suspect on the other side: Gillibrand, Gabbard, Warren and Sanders.
I had a revealing discussion with a group of Trump supporters last weekend.
hankster comments on Oct 30, 2019:
they are worse off and more misguided than the most Ardent Christian. Christians have no evidence to believe yet still do. Trump supporters have a mountain of evidence indicating this man's rancid character and overlook it in favor of their own stupidity.
racocn8 replies on Nov 17, 2019:
Both GOProbots AND Christians develop blinders to avoid seeing contradictions to their views. They choose to live in a bubble and to maintain its purity.
hankster comments on Oct 30, 2019:
they are worse off and more misguided than the most Ardent Christian. Christians have no evidence to believe yet still do. Trump supporters have a mountain of evidence indicating this man's rancid character and overlook it in favor of their own stupidity.
racocn8 replies on Nov 17, 2019:
Both GOProbots AND Christians develop blinders to avoid seeing contradictions to their views. They choose to live in a bubble and to maintain its purity.
I am listening to the impeachment hearings, not being surprised by, but just appreciating the deep ...
bingst comments on Nov 13, 2019:
Not with the Russians running the RNC. No doubt they have enough dirt on every Republican in order to keep them in line.
racocn8 replies on Nov 14, 2019:
You can be sure we have a boatload of compromised democrats too. I'm not claiming a false equivalence thing - - I'm just saying Putin has been working hard on infiltrating the whole government. If I were to guess, I'd say 45% of GOP are bought off and the rest have comprimat by the Enquirer or other GOP 'allies'. The percent of Dems could be 10%, but a lot on both sides are also paid by Saudi Arabia or other countries.
Our government has been corrupted because it's been corrupt for a long time and it's built up an assembly-line of corporate and international bribery and influence peddling. Those that would plug up the holes have to get their proposals past a corrupt majority, so nothing gets done.
I'm blown away by how the GOP can, after 70 years of anti-Communist rhetoric, do an about-face and embrace an obvious puppet from those very same Russians. At that level of hypocrisy, we are dead and just don't know it yet.
bingst comments on Nov 13, 2019:
Not with the Russians running the RNC. No doubt they have enough dirt on every Republican in order to keep them in line.
racocn8 replies on Nov 14, 2019:
You can be sure we have a boatload of compromised democrats too. I'm not claiming a false equivalence thing - - I'm just saying Putin has been working hard on infiltrating the whole government. If I were to guess, I'd say 45% of GOP are bought off and the rest have comprimat by the Enquirer or other GOP 'allies'. The percent of Dems could be 10%, but a lot on both sides are also paid by Saudi Arabia or other countries.
Our government has been corrupted because it's been corrupt for a long time and it's built up an assembly-line of corporate and international bribery and influence peddling. Those that would plug up the holes have to get their proposals past a corrupt majority, so nothing gets done.
I'm blown away by how the GOP can, after 70 years of anti-Communist rhetoric, do an about-face and embrace an obvious puppet from those very same Russians. At that level of hypocrisy, we are dead and just don't know it yet.
Criticizing the doctrine of Islam does not mean the person doing so is a xenophobe,Islamophobe, or ...
racocn8 comments on Nov 5, 2019:
You are challenging the CLAIM that criticizing Islam is racist, or comparably immoral.
I suspect that this claim is being marketed by Saudi Arabia and by similar Islamic entities. Religions do act on their own behalf. Distributing a false claim like this seeks to disarm opponents of the religion....
racocn8 replies on Nov 5, 2019:
@OwlinASack There's a gigantic difference between those who criticize the nonsense of Islam versus the propaganda from white supremacists, but you seek to conflate the two. Then you say:
"those who seek to oppose the ignorant end of criticism of 'Islam' are seeking to protect ordinary muslims who are being targeted by people who say the things you say." (Just what was it you think I said?)
Bullshit. Trolling bullshit.
As to Tyson and Krauss admitting wrongdoing, WRONG. They have expressed regret if their accusers misunderstood their comments, but they've admitted no wrongdoing, so you're just lying here. Nor has there been any indication of a common motivation, that's in YOUR head.
Also, in YOUR head is the claim that these imaginary evil motivations are 'standard for men in atheism'!!! STANDARD??!!! How would you know that? Projection much?
As for Buzzfeed's hit job on Silverman, this was the same Buzzfeed that ran the bogus accusations against Krauss.
So much for seeking to be a man of letters. You need only three to write you down...
racocn8 comments on Nov 5, 2019:
You are challenging the CLAIM that criticizing Islam is racist, or comparably immoral.
I suspect that this claim is being marketed by Saudi Arabia and by similar Islamic entities. Religions do act on their own behalf. Distributing a false claim like this seeks to disarm opponents of the religion....
racocn8 replies on Nov 5, 2019:
@OwlinASack There's a gigantic difference between those who criticize the nonsense of Islam versus the propaganda from white supremacists, but you seek to conflate the two. Then you say:
"those who seek to oppose the ignorant end of criticism of 'Islam' are seeking to protect ordinary muslims who are being targeted by people who say the things you say." (Just what was it you think I said?)
Bullshit. Trolling bullshit.
As to Tyson and Krauss admitting wrongdoing, WRONG. They have expressed regret if their accusers misunderstood their comments, but they've admitted no wrongdoing, so you're just lying here. Nor has there been any indication of a common motivation, that's in YOUR head.
Also, in YOUR head is the claim that these imaginary evil motivations are 'standard for men in atheism'!!! STANDARD??!!! How would you know that? Projection much?
As for Buzzfeed's hit job on Silverman, this was the same Buzzfeed that ran the bogus accusations against Krauss.
So much for seeking to be a man of letters. You need only three to write you down...
Whatever our reservations as skeptics, whatever our doubts about the admixture of Native American ...
Atheist3 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
As an environmentalist, I am attune to, spiritually aware of, the plight of the planet. The mosquitoe is as deserving of respect as the eagle. Is it not? I have little hope in the future of humanity. ☹️
racocn8 replies on Nov 5, 2019:
I respect the mosquito as another remarkably unique and bizarre life form. I wouldn't kill an eagle if it was flying by me. Mosquitos circle me at their peril. It mosquitos went extinct, I wouldn't shed as many tears as for the eagle. I'm biased toward Chordates I guess.
Atheist3 comments on Nov 3, 2019:
As an environmentalist, I am attune to, spiritually aware of, the plight of the planet. The mosquitoe is as deserving of respect as the eagle. Is it not? I have little hope in the future of humanity. ☹️
racocn8 replies on Nov 5, 2019:
I respect the mosquito as another remarkably unique and bizarre life form. I wouldn't kill an eagle if it was flying by me. Mosquitos circle me at their peril. It mosquitos went extinct, I wouldn't shed as many tears as for the eagle. I'm biased toward Chordates I guess.
Religious Conservatives Lash Out at Kellogg’s Over “Anti-Christian” Cereal | Hemant Mehta | ...
PinkyandtheBrain comments on Oct 28, 2019:
Guys Kellogg's teamed up with glaad. (Gay lesbian alliance against defamation).In an attempt to avoid bullying. This organization has Absolutely no right to be in children cereal . Cereal for my kids is something you eat for breakfast and then go to school or play afterwards. But forcing diverse ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 30, 2019:
Bullying is a major serious problem in schools. Who is unaware of this? The so-called 'forcing' of diverse sexuality is an 'Absolute' part of our society - - except for those who are offended on account of their own problems regarding diversity. Sadly, the expression of offense speaks for itself.
PinkyandtheBrain comments on Oct 28, 2019:
Guys Kellogg's teamed up with glaad. (Gay lesbian alliance against defamation).In an attempt to avoid bullying. This organization has Absolutely no right to be in children cereal . Cereal for my kids is something you eat for breakfast and then go to school or play afterwards. But forcing diverse ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 30, 2019:
Bullying is a major serious problem in schools. Who is unaware of this? The so-called 'forcing' of diverse sexuality is an 'Absolute' part of our society - - except for those who are offended on account of their own problems regarding diversity. Sadly, the expression of offense speaks for itself.
How do you deal with unwanted advances?
racocn8 comments on Oct 29, 2019:
Tell them you're an ardent NRA member and you'd love an excuse to try out your newest derringer.
or, "Fuck off or I'll start screaming." then take your chair somewhere else, and report the pervert. It's the YMCA and you shouldn't have to put up with that if you are paying their excessive dues. ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 29, 2019:
@LiterateHiker The YMCA is aligned with Christianity, which is a wacko cult, albeit a big one. The YMCA is a mere extension; it is content with keeping the name, Young Men's Christian Association, none of which remains valid, except the bias towards Christianity. Christianity is anti-Truth, anti-reality and anti-sanity, put they're Pro-life, and apparently that's all that matters.
racocn8 comments on Oct 29, 2019:
Tell them you're an ardent NRA member and you'd love an excuse to try out your newest derringer.
or, "Fuck off or I'll start screaming." then take your chair somewhere else, and report the pervert. It's the YMCA and you shouldn't have to put up with that if you are paying their excessive dues. ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 29, 2019:
@LiterateHiker The YMCA is aligned with Christianity, which is a wacko cult, albeit a big one. The YMCA is a mere extension; it is content with keeping the name, Young Men's Christian Association, none of which remains valid, except the bias towards Christianity. Christianity is anti-Truth, anti-reality and anti-sanity, put they're Pro-life, and apparently that's all that matters.
Ideally, should religious people be:
DenoPenno comments on Oct 16, 2019:
None of the above. I did not vote. I was so very tempted to check "forcibly educated" but decided if they want to believe nonsense then let them do so.
racocn8 replies on Oct 17, 2019:
@mooredolezal Your comment helped me realized that while 'forcibly educating' sounds harsh, it is certainly no worse than what was done to them - - brainwashing them into religion. So, surely the 'state' should be entitled to at least try to undo the damage. That's what education is partly about, enlarging ones understanding of the universe.
DenoPenno comments on Oct 16, 2019:
None of the above. I did not vote. I was so very tempted to check "forcibly educated" but decided if they want to believe nonsense then let them do so.
racocn8 replies on Oct 17, 2019:
@mooredolezal Your comment helped me realized that while 'forcibly educating' sounds harsh, it is certainly no worse than what was done to them - - brainwashing them into religion. So, surely the 'state' should be entitled to at least try to undo the damage. That's what education is partly about, enlarging ones understanding of the universe.
Carbon Negative SpaceX Starship Possible
Elon Musk suggested that SpaceX can make methane fuel ...
racocn8 comments on Oct 11, 2019:
You don't need air, just water and solar energy to perform electrolysis on the water (water which is abundant on the moon and elsewhere).
Trying to pull CO2 out of the air and then convert it to methane is doing a lot of work for little benefit. Unless one is trying to cleanse the CO2 out of the...
racocn8 replies on Oct 11, 2019:
@EdEarl Hydrogen is certainly a problematic substance: tiny and very chemically reactive. Slush hydrogen and hydrogen reversably stuck onto a porous absorbent have been advanced as solutions. There might be linings that could reduce leakage, or engineer to tolerate and sequester the leakage.
racocn8 comments on Oct 11, 2019:
You don't need air, just water and solar energy to perform electrolysis on the water (water which is abundant on the moon and elsewhere).
Trying to pull CO2 out of the air and then convert it to methane is doing a lot of work for little benefit. Unless one is trying to cleanse the CO2 out of the...
racocn8 replies on Oct 11, 2019:
@EdEarl Hydrogen is certainly a problematic substance: tiny and very chemically reactive. Slush hydrogen and hydrogen reversably stuck onto a porous absorbent have been advanced as solutions. There might be linings that could reduce leakage, or engineer to tolerate and sequester the leakage.
Do the GOP and their Evangelical enablers constitute an Existential Threat to Humanity?
yvilletom comments on Oct 11, 2019:
Human extinction due to the tipping point you have in mind is your conclusion.
A tipping point and the deaths of many humans is my conclusion.
racocn8 replies on Oct 11, 2019:
Not so much a conclusion, but an escalating probability.
Once the insects die off and infrastructures are lost, maintaining a food supply becomes problematic. The competition for scarce resources is certain to initiate a nuclear exchange and game over.
yvilletom comments on Oct 11, 2019:
Human extinction due to the tipping point you have in mind is your conclusion.
A tipping point and the deaths of many humans is my conclusion.
racocn8 replies on Oct 11, 2019:
Not so much a conclusion, but an escalating probability.
Once the insects die off and infrastructures are lost, maintaining a food supply becomes problematic. The competition for scarce resources is certain to initiate a nuclear exchange and game over.
He only hires the best people.
Beowulfsfriend comments on Oct 9, 2019:
Ivanka is doing her best to bring back the blonde joke as an important genre.
racocn8 replies on Oct 10, 2019:
What do you call three blondes sitting side by side? A wind tunnel.
Beowulfsfriend comments on Oct 9, 2019:
Ivanka is doing her best to bring back the blonde joke as an important genre.
racocn8 replies on Oct 10, 2019:
What do you call three blondes sitting side by side? A wind tunnel.
So... would I get in trouble for writing something like this?
racocn8 comments on Oct 10, 2019:
It's not that you're off base. It would be nice if we could treat everyone the same. At the same time, we are far, far from being the same.
When it comes to a relationship, people expect to spend a LOT of time with their prospective partner. The truth is that people do develop an affinity for ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 10, 2019:
@Paul4747 Culture will be manifested in physical objects or in behaviors. Each of these possessed objects or behavioral memes will be associated with people identifying with a culture at some (generally higher) level of probability or frequency than in other cultures.
Gamers are likely to have pewter dragons and engage in role-playing games...
racocn8 comments on Oct 10, 2019:
It's not that you're off base. It would be nice if we could treat everyone the same. At the same time, we are far, far from being the same.
When it comes to a relationship, people expect to spend a LOT of time with their prospective partner. The truth is that people do develop an affinity for ...
racocn8 replies on Oct 10, 2019:
@Paul4747 Culture will be manifested in physical objects or in behaviors. Each of these possessed objects or behavioral memes will be associated with people identifying with a culture at some (generally higher) level of probability or frequency than in other cultures.
Gamers are likely to have pewter dragons and engage in role-playing games...
I often find it extremely mind-boggling just how many "Christians" have never read the Bible.
racocn8 comments on Oct 2, 2019:
The tragedy is that we do have transcendental knowledge and profound wisdom. However, because religion teaches believers to ignore everything else, they are blocked from becoming better people.
racocn8 replies on Oct 3, 2019:
@Gawd Of course my notion of transcendental knowledge is my own, and I thus cite those scientific discoveries which elude everyday experience, but are nonetheless critical to our existence. I would cite evolutionary processes, E=mc^2, Maxwell's Equations, Quantum Mechanics, the virtual nature of matter, fission & fusion, The Standard Model, kinetics, the use of imaginary numbers for network analysis, etc.
racocn8 comments on Oct 2, 2019:
The tragedy is that we do have transcendental knowledge and profound wisdom. However, because religion teaches believers to ignore everything else, they are blocked from becoming better people.
racocn8 replies on Oct 3, 2019:
@Gawd Of course my notion of transcendental knowledge is my own, and I thus cite those scientific discoveries which elude everyday experience, but are nonetheless critical to our existence. I would cite evolutionary processes, E=mc^2, Maxwell's Equations, Quantum Mechanics, the virtual nature of matter, fission & fusion, The Standard Model, kinetics, the use of imaginary numbers for network analysis, etc.
Amber Guyger, Ex-Dallas Officer Who Killed Botham Jean, Found Guilty Of Murder : NPR
silverotter11 comments on Oct 1, 2019:
Correct call. Glad we don't have to see any civil up risings.
racocn8 replies on Oct 2, 2019:
We'll see...
silverotter11 comments on Oct 1, 2019:
Correct call. Glad we don't have to see any civil up risings.
racocn8 replies on Oct 2, 2019:
We'll see...
No Need To Cut Back On Red Meat? Controversial New 'Guidelines' Lead To Outrage : The Salt : NPR
LiterateHiker comments on Sep 30, 2019:
Forty years ago, we knew processed and preserved meats increase your chance of getting cancer.
Decades of studies show eating red meat, processed and preserved meat increase heart disease, cancer and stroke.
These scientists must have been paid by the beef industry.
racocn8 replies on Sep 30, 2019:
40 year ago, my Nucleic Acids class professor warned us against combining Nitrates and caffeine, which in the presence of stomach acid, became the potent carcinogen, nitrosamine. That combination is endemic with hot dogs or hamburgers and coke, or coffee and bacon. I've never seen the warning in the press, but I'll bet it accounts for a lot of cancer.
LiterateHiker comments on Sep 30, 2019:
Forty years ago, we knew processed and preserved meats increase your chance of getting cancer.
Decades of studies show eating red meat, processed and preserved meat increase heart disease, cancer and stroke.
These scientists must have been paid by the beef industry.
racocn8 replies on Sep 30, 2019:
40 year ago, my Nucleic Acids class professor warned us against combining Nitrates and caffeine, which in the presence of stomach acid, became the potent carcinogen, nitrosamine. That combination is endemic with hot dogs or hamburgers and coke, or coffee and bacon. I've never seen the warning in the press, but I'll bet it accounts for a lot of cancer.
Whats the biggest difference being atheist/agnostic has made in your life so far?
linxminx comments on Sep 28, 2019:
I never felt as though something else was in charge of my life, other than me. And I can tell you for damn sure that I've never had a prayer answered. Embracing atheism, for me, was putting a voice to what I already knew but never acknowledged. For me, it was a very satisfying moment. I always ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 28, 2019:
Thanks for the insight.
linxminx comments on Sep 28, 2019:
I never felt as though something else was in charge of my life, other than me. And I can tell you for damn sure that I've never had a prayer answered. Embracing atheism, for me, was putting a voice to what I already knew but never acknowledged. For me, it was a very satisfying moment. I always ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 28, 2019:
Thanks for the insight.
Is einstein's e=mc2 even possible?
glennlab comments on Sep 22, 2019:
You are trying to understand a theory, without understanding the individual terms and their relational value, or what is being explained. This formula is the explanation of how matter and energy are related to each other. It builds on Newton's theories on Kinetic and Potential energy as well as ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
@remiforce @glennlab Fission does indeed release large amounts of energy; that's what nuclear energy is all about. However, the conversions you cite relate to the fissile material that converted to radioactive daughter nuclei, not the 'mass' converted to energy.
The Hiroshima Bomb liberated 6.3x10^13 joules of energy, while a proton is the equivalent of 1.5x10^-10 joules of energy. Dividing, we get 4.2x10^23 protons or AMU, atomic mass units for the bomb. A mole is 6.23x10^23 units. so the energy of the Hiroshima bomb is 4.2/6.23 moles of hydrogen. At 1 gram per mole of hydrogen, that's about 0.7 grams, or the mass of 2 paperclips converted to energy in the Hiroshima Bomb.
It is indeed surprising that the energy from a nuclear bomb can create a plasma that would briefly be suitable for fusion. This fusion then unleashes still more energy via a different mechanism than fission. And yet, the mechanism is the same as far as converting the differences in nuclear rest mass to energy
glennlab comments on Sep 22, 2019:
You are trying to understand a theory, without understanding the individual terms and their relational value, or what is being explained. This formula is the explanation of how matter and energy are related to each other. It builds on Newton's theories on Kinetic and Potential energy as well as ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
@remiforce @glennlab Fission does indeed release large amounts of energy; that's what nuclear energy is all about. However, the conversions you cite relate to the fissile material that converted to radioactive daughter nuclei, not the 'mass' converted to energy.
The Hiroshima Bomb liberated 6.3x10^13 joules of energy, while a proton is the equivalent of 1.5x10^-10 joules of energy. Dividing, we get 4.2x10^23 protons or AMU, atomic mass units for the bomb. A mole is 6.23x10^23 units. so the energy of the Hiroshima bomb is 4.2/6.23 moles of hydrogen. At 1 gram per mole of hydrogen, that's about 0.7 grams, or the mass of 2 paperclips converted to energy in the Hiroshima Bomb.
It is indeed surprising that the energy from a nuclear bomb can create a plasma that would briefly be suitable for fusion. This fusion then unleashes still more energy via a different mechanism than fission. And yet, the mechanism is the same as far as converting the differences in nuclear rest mass to energy
So many people today label themselves as Atheists.
desertastronomer comments on Sep 23, 2019:
"In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
By that flippant reference to cattle mutilations, Sam shows himself to be wholly ignorant of the subject. If you want an eye-opener, check out the FBI FOIA files.
desertastronomer comments on Sep 23, 2019:
"In fact, "atheism" is a term that should not even exist. No one ever needs to identify himself as a "non-astrologer" or a "non-alchemist." We do not have words for people who doubt that Elvis is still alive or that aliens have traversed the galaxy only to molest ranchers and their cattle. Atheism ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
By that flippant reference to cattle mutilations, Sam shows himself to be wholly ignorant of the subject. If you want an eye-opener, check out the FBI FOIA files.
Is einstein's e=mc2 even possible?
glennlab comments on Sep 22, 2019:
You are trying to understand a theory, without understanding the individual terms and their relational value, or what is being explained. This formula is the explanation of how matter and energy are related to each other. It builds on Newton's theories on Kinetic and Potential energy as well as ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
@remiforce @glennlab Only a minute fraction of the uranium in the atom bombs got converted into energy. The atoms that were split generated other nuclei known as daughter products. All the energy derived from conversion of the rest mass of the nuclei, and the subsequent decay processes.
Elements like uranium seek a ratio or balance in the number of neutrons to protons. In this case, 143 neutrons to 92 protons. However, in a fission reaction, the splitting is uncontrolled as the high-speed neutrons bash the nuclei into fragments. Usually, the daughter nuclei have too many neutrons and decay by emitting electrons. This decay converts a neutron to a proton, getting the nucleus closer to the ideal ratio.
However, if the daughter nucleus happens to have too many protons to neutrons (less likely, but it happens) then the decay mechanism is to emit a positron, converting a proton to a neutron and moving the nucleus closer to the ideal balance. The emitted positron is a positively charged electron, an opposite to an electron, as far as charge is concerned. When the positron encounters an electron, the charges cancel and both particles are converted into a great deal of energy.
Because conventional matter is mostly expressed with electrons orbiting nuclei, an emitted electron can travel several feet before it slows down and dumps its energy into its surroundings. In contrast, a positron annihilates almost immediately given the abundance of electrons it can encounter. As noted, the entire rest mass of both electron and positron are converted to either 2 or 3 high energy photons. As the rest masses of both electron and positron are 511 keV, the total energy is 1022 keV. Thus the 2 emittted photons are 511 keV, or if 3 are emitted, 341 keV.
glennlab comments on Sep 22, 2019:
You are trying to understand a theory, without understanding the individual terms and their relational value, or what is being explained. This formula is the explanation of how matter and energy are related to each other. It builds on Newton's theories on Kinetic and Potential energy as well as ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 24, 2019:
@remiforce @glennlab Only a minute fraction of the uranium in the atom bombs got converted into energy. The atoms that were split generated other nuclei known as daughter products. All the energy derived from conversion of the rest mass of the nuclei, and the subsequent decay processes.
Elements like uranium seek a ratio or balance in the number of neutrons to protons. In this case, 143 neutrons to 92 protons. However, in a fission reaction, the splitting is uncontrolled as the high-speed neutrons bash the nuclei into fragments. Usually, the daughter nuclei have too many neutrons and decay by emitting electrons. This decay converts a neutron to a proton, getting the nucleus closer to the ideal ratio.
However, if the daughter nucleus happens to have too many protons to neutrons (less likely, but it happens) then the decay mechanism is to emit a positron, converting a proton to a neutron and moving the nucleus closer to the ideal balance. The emitted positron is a positively charged electron, an opposite to an electron, as far as charge is concerned. When the positron encounters an electron, the charges cancel and both particles are converted into a great deal of energy.
Because conventional matter is mostly expressed with electrons orbiting nuclei, an emitted electron can travel several feet before it slows down and dumps its energy into its surroundings. In contrast, a positron annihilates almost immediately given the abundance of electrons it can encounter. As noted, the entire rest mass of both electron and positron are converted to either 2 or 3 high energy photons. As the rest masses of both electron and positron are 511 keV, the total energy is 1022 keV. Thus the 2 emittted photons are 511 keV, or if 3 are emitted, 341 keV.
Conspiracy?
racocn8 comments on Sep 20, 2019:
As the damage was minimal, I'd say this was a warning to Saudi Arabia to back off from Yemen or a real strike would shut them down for real.
Sadly, these two have been at each other for decades. The US wants them to stay peaceful so we can keep selling weapons systems.
racocn8 replies on Sep 20, 2019:
@Austin-Cambridge They don't need to work at all. They just have to be profitable enough to keep a few Trump voters employed.
racocn8 comments on Sep 20, 2019:
As the damage was minimal, I'd say this was a warning to Saudi Arabia to back off from Yemen or a real strike would shut them down for real.
Sadly, these two have been at each other for decades. The US wants them to stay peaceful so we can keep selling weapons systems.
racocn8 replies on Sep 20, 2019:
@Austin-Cambridge They don't need to work at all. They just have to be profitable enough to keep a few Trump voters employed.
The Christian Right Is Helping Drive Liberals Away From Religion | FiveThirtyEight
ShadowAmicus comments on Sep 19, 2019:
Mixed feelings on this
Good - that more people are leving organised religions
Bad - the split between left/right religious/non religious becomes deeper and even less interactive
I fear that a divided social structure may eventually lead to greater conflict - I see too many similarities with the...
racocn8 replies on Sep 19, 2019:
Sadly, no one even realizes that we are fully into CIVIL WAR 2.0. We've had thousands of 'incidental casualties' but because they have more than one cause, the contributing cause of cultural conflict is only rarely mentioned. They have voted to leave the Union and the rest of us are wasting our time trying to pick up the pieces.
ShadowAmicus comments on Sep 19, 2019:
Mixed feelings on this
Good - that more people are leving organised religions
Bad - the split between left/right religious/non religious becomes deeper and even less interactive
I fear that a divided social structure may eventually lead to greater conflict - I see too many similarities with the...
racocn8 replies on Sep 19, 2019:
Sadly, no one even realizes that we are fully into CIVIL WAR 2.0. We've had thousands of 'incidental casualties' but because they have more than one cause, the contributing cause of cultural conflict is only rarely mentioned. They have voted to leave the Union and the rest of us are wasting our time trying to pick up the pieces.
What's the most outrageous thing one of your parents ever said to you?
racocn8 comments on Sep 15, 2019:
Your Mom's response sounds both accurate and clever; nothing ghoulish about it.
When I was 3, my Grandfather pointed to the big can transformer on a nearby telephone poll and told me that bad boys would be put in there on time-outs. I was horrified, but couldn't quite grasp how children would fit...
racocn8 replies on Sep 16, 2019:
@Winkiedink54 That is pretty gross. Have you been diagnosed with any sort of personality disorder as a result of that or other experiences? Did your Mom have other issues or sources to have promoted that behavior? These questions are probably out of line, so maybe I'm just thinking out loud. I wish you well for having gone through that.
racocn8 comments on Sep 15, 2019:
Your Mom's response sounds both accurate and clever; nothing ghoulish about it.
When I was 3, my Grandfather pointed to the big can transformer on a nearby telephone poll and told me that bad boys would be put in there on time-outs. I was horrified, but couldn't quite grasp how children would fit...
racocn8 replies on Sep 16, 2019:
@Winkiedink54 That is pretty gross. Have you been diagnosed with any sort of personality disorder as a result of that or other experiences? Did your Mom have other issues or sources to have promoted that behavior? These questions are probably out of line, so maybe I'm just thinking out loud. I wish you well for having gone through that.
95% of Black Women plan to vote in 2020
Senex comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I'm just a moderately-interested spectator of US politics but I'd hope that all those elements in your society that want to get rid of that fat sexless fraud who is your current President should be combining to make sure that as many people as possible are on the electoral roll and that electoral ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 13, 2019:
@Bobby9 You're from North Carolina. You tell me. But that's just a start. Then there's McConnell's blocking of bills addressing election security, seeking to reduce the election hacking perpetrated by Trump's sponsor (Putin).
Senex comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I'm just a moderately-interested spectator of US politics but I'd hope that all those elements in your society that want to get rid of that fat sexless fraud who is your current President should be combining to make sure that as many people as possible are on the electoral roll and that electoral ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 13, 2019:
@Bobby9 You're from North Carolina. You tell me. But that's just a start. Then there's McConnell's blocking of bills addressing election security, seeking to reduce the election hacking perpetrated by Trump's sponsor (Putin).
Interplanetary relations
Biblebeltskeptic comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I guess we'd have to go with cosmopolitan. Hahaha
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
I think that's a great one However, it has a different meaning in our own language.
Maybe the original could be modified, such as 'Humaneist' (seeking to act humanely)
Perhaps 'Decusquaero' (meaning seeking beauty or glory) or 'honorquaero' (meaning seeking honor)
Biblebeltskeptic comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I guess we'd have to go with cosmopolitan. Hahaha
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
I think that's a great one However, it has a different meaning in our own language.
Maybe the original could be modified, such as 'Humaneist' (seeking to act humanely)
Perhaps 'Decusquaero' (meaning seeking beauty or glory) or 'honorquaero' (meaning seeking honor)
95% of Black Women plan to vote in 2020
Senex comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I'm just a moderately-interested spectator of US politics but I'd hope that all those elements in your society that want to get rid of that fat sexless fraud who is your current President should be combining to make sure that as many people as possible are on the electoral roll and that electoral ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
Republicans can only win by cheating, and that's what they do. So long as they don't suffer consequences, why should they stop.
Senex comments on Sep 12, 2019:
I'm just a moderately-interested spectator of US politics but I'd hope that all those elements in your society that want to get rid of that fat sexless fraud who is your current President should be combining to make sure that as many people as possible are on the electoral roll and that electoral ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
Republicans can only win by cheating, and that's what they do. So long as they don't suffer consequences, why should they stop.
Been a while since I made a post here.
demifeministgal comments on Sep 11, 2019:
did you ultimately breakup because you were tired of it? Or did she breakup with you when she realized she wouldn't be able to convert you?
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
@DavidGreen1 That's the problem though. Not content to lie to themselves, they lie for Jesus and then compete for lying. Delusion is delusional; it's insanity. Back away and dedicate yourself to sanity.
demifeministgal comments on Sep 11, 2019:
did you ultimately breakup because you were tired of it? Or did she breakup with you when she realized she wouldn't be able to convert you?
racocn8 replies on Sep 12, 2019:
@DavidGreen1 That's the problem though. Not content to lie to themselves, they lie for Jesus and then compete for lying. Delusion is delusional; it's insanity. Back away and dedicate yourself to sanity.
Stop Vaping! CDC issue another warning after series of deaths.
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 8, 2019:
@MattHardy As I said before, smoking anything isn't healthy. However, here are some articles on the subject.
https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/cebp/15/10/1829.full.pdf
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3552780?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://norml.org/component/zoo/category/cannabis-smoke-and-cancer-assessing-the-risk
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 8, 2019:
@MattHardy As I said before, smoking anything isn't healthy. However, here are some articles on the subject.
https://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/cebp/15/10/1829.full.pdf
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3552780?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
https://norml.org/component/zoo/category/cannabis-smoke-and-cancer-assessing-the-risk
Stop Vaping! CDC issue another warning after series of deaths.
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 8, 2019:
@MattHardy Actually, my response was a qualified 'yes'; I do have scientific reason to think smoking canabis helps prevent cancer, beyond cell culture testing. And yes, to the point where cannabis could prevent cancer from cigarette smoking. Cannabis smokers do not have the incidence of cancer that cigarette smokers have, even though cannabis smoke has almost all the ingredients present in cigarette smoke (… the incomplete combustion products thought to cause cancer).
The anecdotes validating the use of Rick Simpson Oil are quite numerous at this point, and a few doctors and hospitals are willing to prescribe cannabinoids for cancer patients in an experimental research context. However, most U.S. doctors are either totally ignorant on the subject or feel they don't want to risk their license by offending federal agencies. The near lack of toxicity, even by levels needed to combat cancer, strongly argues for trying cannabis/hemp when the toxic chemicals that are approved for use are not working. Even with mounting evidence, doctors will proclaim that they need to see published double-blind studies, even though we won't see those for another 20 years. That attitude will (continue to) result in millions of PREVENTABLE cancer deaths.
Cannabis/hemp are certainly not universal panaceas, but, the list of ailments helped by using these materials keeps growing as the legal restrictions are removed.
The question becomes: Why, when presented with a claim that is backed by extensive documentation, you are dismissive?
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 8, 2019:
@MattHardy Actually, my response was a qualified 'yes'; I do have scientific reason to think smoking canabis helps prevent cancer, beyond cell culture testing. And yes, to the point where cannabis could prevent cancer from cigarette smoking. Cannabis smokers do not have the incidence of cancer that cigarette smokers have, even though cannabis smoke has almost all the ingredients present in cigarette smoke (… the incomplete combustion products thought to cause cancer).
The anecdotes validating the use of Rick Simpson Oil are quite numerous at this point, and a few doctors and hospitals are willing to prescribe cannabinoids for cancer patients in an experimental research context. However, most U.S. doctors are either totally ignorant on the subject or feel they don't want to risk their license by offending federal agencies. The near lack of toxicity, even by levels needed to combat cancer, strongly argues for trying cannabis/hemp when the toxic chemicals that are approved for use are not working. Even with mounting evidence, doctors will proclaim that they need to see published double-blind studies, even though we won't see those for another 20 years. That attitude will (continue to) result in millions of PREVENTABLE cancer deaths.
Cannabis/hemp are certainly not universal panaceas, but, the list of ailments helped by using these materials keeps growing as the legal restrictions are removed.
The question becomes: Why, when presented with a claim that is backed by extensive documentation, you are dismissive?
Stop Vaping! CDC issue another warning after series of deaths.
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 7, 2019:
@MattHardy I recently attended a class where the presenter had documented numerous studies (mostly from non-US countries) that evaluated the effects of cannabis and CBD on cancer. The inch-thick folder was indexed according to the predominant forms of cancer, and included discussions on multiple mechanisms of action. It was fully footnoted and referenced. Each section included one or more anecdotal descriptions of people who had each type of cancer.
It is true, most of the studies did not use human subjects, but I would say the preponderence of evidence is not just persuasive, but damning.
The drug war prevents studies of cannabis effects on cancer (and a long list of other maladies) from being conducted in the U.S. Only drug abuse studies that support the drug war are allowed.
Disinformation continues to be promulgated by Federal agencies, even as the patent office registers hundreds of cannabinoid patents describing applications for cancer and a litany of illnesses. Quite a few of these patents are filed by Federal entities.
racocn8 comments on Sep 6, 2019:
These vaping deaths need to be closely investigated as to the specific causes of death.
Vaping is an industry with competition as well as health issues, so any number of parties are inclined to generate negative and/or biased information.
Vaping is often obnoxious, but a lot of things are ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 7, 2019:
@MattHardy I recently attended a class where the presenter had documented numerous studies (mostly from non-US countries) that evaluated the effects of cannabis and CBD on cancer. The inch-thick folder was indexed according to the predominant forms of cancer, and included discussions on multiple mechanisms of action. It was fully footnoted and referenced. Each section included one or more anecdotal descriptions of people who had each type of cancer.
It is true, most of the studies did not use human subjects, but I would say the preponderence of evidence is not just persuasive, but damning.
The drug war prevents studies of cannabis effects on cancer (and a long list of other maladies) from being conducted in the U.S. Only drug abuse studies that support the drug war are allowed.
Disinformation continues to be promulgated by Federal agencies, even as the patent office registers hundreds of cannabinoid patents describing applications for cancer and a litany of illnesses. Quite a few of these patents are filed by Federal entities.
What scares you most...?
dare2dream comments on Sep 6, 2019:
Sooner or later we all will rejoin the immense oblivion of the nothingness from which we came. What scares me the most is living a life without meaning or purpose while I'm here.
racocn8 replies on Sep 7, 2019:
And what should meaning or purpose be? Sadly, we are so brainwashed by the prevailing religious milieu that we assume such words have genuine underlying meaning. That's what critical thinking is all about. Why should someone be scared? What is purpose or meaning of being afraid?
dare2dream comments on Sep 6, 2019:
Sooner or later we all will rejoin the immense oblivion of the nothingness from which we came. What scares me the most is living a life without meaning or purpose while I'm here.
racocn8 replies on Sep 7, 2019:
And what should meaning or purpose be? Sadly, we are so brainwashed by the prevailing religious milieu that we assume such words have genuine underlying meaning. That's what critical thinking is all about. Why should someone be scared? What is purpose or meaning of being afraid?
Column: Break some eggs, Elizabeth Warren: Drop out and back Bernie - Chicago Tribune
CuriosityExtant comments on Sep 4, 2019:
I still don't respect or trust the DNC establishment for what they did in 2016, but I WILL vote for Bernie (or the closest whomever in the spot), however they register to run. That millinial "I'm not gonna vote" crap I heard about is simply asinine. VOTE or love the stupid consequences!
racocn8 replies on Sep 5, 2019:
Who the hell can you trust anymore anyway. No, the only thing we can do now is to temporarily suspend mistrust.
CuriosityExtant comments on Sep 4, 2019:
I still don't respect or trust the DNC establishment for what they did in 2016, but I WILL vote for Bernie (or the closest whomever in the spot), however they register to run. That millinial "I'm not gonna vote" crap I heard about is simply asinine. VOTE or love the stupid consequences!
racocn8 replies on Sep 5, 2019:
Who the hell can you trust anymore anyway. No, the only thing we can do now is to temporarily suspend mistrust.
George Galloway makes a lot of sense .
racocn8 comments on Sep 3, 2019:
Brexit would never have passed but for Putin's social media campaign. Continuing to pursue Brexit is not only illegitimate, but probably not in England's best interest. The inability to develop a cogent Brexit should be a hint that it is not a good idea. Also note the complete resistance of the ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 4, 2019:
@Moravian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/russian-influence-brexit-vote-detailed-us-senate-report
racocn8 comments on Sep 3, 2019:
Brexit would never have passed but for Putin's social media campaign. Continuing to pursue Brexit is not only illegitimate, but probably not in England's best interest. The inability to develop a cogent Brexit should be a hint that it is not a good idea. Also note the complete resistance of the ...
racocn8 replies on Sep 4, 2019:
@Moravian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/russian-influence-brexit-vote-detailed-us-senate-report
The DEA just made a huge change to how the government treats medical marijuana
A bland ...
desertastronomer comments on Sep 3, 2019:
What is Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency?
https://echoconnection.org/clinical-endocannabinoid-deficiency/
racocn8 replies on Sep 3, 2019:
I assume you read the article. What the article doesn't mention is that Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency could include a major suite of personality disorder, including narcisism and paranoia. Finding out that cannabis can cure not only cancer and a hundred other medical conditions is one thing, but actually moving the culture towards sanity is a scary proposition.
desertastronomer comments on Sep 3, 2019:
What is Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency?
https://echoconnection.org/clinical-endocannabinoid-deficiency/
racocn8 replies on Sep 3, 2019:
I assume you read the article. What the article doesn't mention is that Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency could include a major suite of personality disorder, including narcisism and paranoia. Finding out that cannabis can cure not only cancer and a hundred other medical conditions is one thing, but actually moving the culture towards sanity is a scary proposition.
Interesting...
[fee.org]
racocn8 comments on Aug 31, 2019:
Carefully misleading disinformation by Rethuglicans.
Yeah, the problem with other countries is that they impoverish their citizens by developing green energy instead of "cheap" fossil fuels. (Pay no attention to how the US has raped the world's resources for it's own benefit).
racocn8 replies on Aug 31, 2019:
Captain_Feelgood I made my comment because I looked at the other articles. It's pretty clear where these idiots are coming from. Sorry if you don't like it (cognitive dissonance strikes again), but if you don't want to get called on bullshit propaganda, don't post it. Trump is the purest distillation of right wing evil anybody's ever seen, and the continued support by Rethuglicans means they own it now. They are the neonazi KKK party. And dying. Or, to be replaced!!!
Yeah, your grip on reality is so much better than mine.
racocn8 comments on Aug 31, 2019:
Carefully misleading disinformation by Rethuglicans.
Yeah, the problem with other countries is that they impoverish their citizens by developing green energy instead of "cheap" fossil fuels. (Pay no attention to how the US has raped the world's resources for it's own benefit).
racocn8 replies on Aug 31, 2019:
Captain_Feelgood I made my comment because I looked at the other articles. It's pretty clear where these idiots are coming from. Sorry if you don't like it (cognitive dissonance strikes again), but if you don't want to get called on bullshit propaganda, don't post it. Trump is the purest distillation of right wing evil anybody's ever seen, and the continued support by Rethuglicans means they own it now. They are the neonazi KKK party. And dying. Or, to be replaced!!!
Yeah, your grip on reality is so much better than mine.
I suffer with really bad anxiety and so when it came to the first day of college, i was really ...
racocn8 comments on Aug 31, 2019:
Now that it is legal, you should at least try full spectrum hemp extract. Pure CBD is a poor substitute, but might work also. If you wanted to try some hemp pills that I'm developing, email me.
racocn8 replies on Aug 31, 2019:
@averykings I should add the caution that full spectrum hemp could contain enough THC to cause you to fail a drug test, in case that's an issue. It could also be true of pure CBD extract.
racocn8 comments on Aug 31, 2019:
Now that it is legal, you should at least try full spectrum hemp extract. Pure CBD is a poor substitute, but might work also. If you wanted to try some hemp pills that I'm developing, email me.
racocn8 replies on Aug 31, 2019:
@averykings I should add the caution that full spectrum hemp could contain enough THC to cause you to fail a drug test, in case that's an issue. It could also be true of pure CBD extract.
Man... I bet this is going to be a favorite to a bunch of folks on here... 😂[socialismgame.com]
AnneWimsey comments on Aug 29, 2019:
Another bunch of morons confusing Socialism & Communism, perhaps on purpose?
racocn8 replies on Aug 29, 2019:
Yup, on all counts.
AnneWimsey comments on Aug 29, 2019:
Another bunch of morons confusing Socialism & Communism, perhaps on purpose?
racocn8 replies on Aug 29, 2019:
Yup, on all counts.
Oh baby, pull my hair...
racocn8 comments on Aug 29, 2019:
They had feathers, not hair.
racocn8 replies on Aug 29, 2019:
@ProudMerrie Hard not to know when you're covered by them. The colors were likely used for mate selection as birds are now.
racocn8 comments on Aug 29, 2019:
They had feathers, not hair.
racocn8 replies on Aug 29, 2019:
@ProudMerrie Hard not to know when you're covered by them. The colors were likely used for mate selection as birds are now.
Religion is a Distortion of Reality. From the show Mr. Robot
[youtube.com]
DavidLaDeau comments on Aug 27, 2019:
This is interesting. I wish I knew who wrote this. It starts with the person questing god and then goes to ALL religion and how it controls. Then the character again questions why a god would allow this and changes again to proffer an imaginary friend. This seems to represent an undecided "atheist"...
racocn8 replies on Aug 27, 2019:
Like I said below, "The problem with saying "Fuck God" is that it signifies an acceptance of the God concept." Believers always assume that atheists are angry at God, and in response, atheists must constantly repeat that they cannot be angry at nothing.
I wouldn't say that atheists have cognitive dissonance; the atheist view is not in conflict with the world they see. Indeed, what sort of God would be content with billions of people believing in a miscellany of goofy myths? That is part of the cognitive dissonance believers face. Atheists may well be frustrated with the stupidity and gullability of believers, but this does not represent a logical conundrum, but does have a variety of good explanations within psychology and psychobiology.
DavidLaDeau comments on Aug 27, 2019:
This is interesting. I wish I knew who wrote this. It starts with the person questing god and then goes to ALL religion and how it controls. Then the character again questions why a god would allow this and changes again to proffer an imaginary friend. This seems to represent an undecided "atheist"...
racocn8 replies on Aug 27, 2019:
Like I said below, "The problem with saying "Fuck God" is that it signifies an acceptance of the God concept." Believers always assume that atheists are angry at God, and in response, atheists must constantly repeat that they cannot be angry at nothing.
I wouldn't say that atheists have cognitive dissonance; the atheist view is not in conflict with the world they see. Indeed, what sort of God would be content with billions of people believing in a miscellany of goofy myths? That is part of the cognitive dissonance believers face. Atheists may well be frustrated with the stupidity and gullability of believers, but this does not represent a logical conundrum, but does have a variety of good explanations within psychology and psychobiology.
(SORRY EVERYONE, I thought I was posting this under "Politics")
On behalf of my state, let me ...
itsmedammit comments on Aug 26, 2019:
Things like this just make me ask, WTF is wrong with people?
racocn8 replies on Aug 26, 2019:
@citronella Stand on your head and you'll see all the bigoted people under the rock. (~8000 miles across).
itsmedammit comments on Aug 26, 2019:
Things like this just make me ask, WTF is wrong with people?
racocn8 replies on Aug 26, 2019:
@citronella Stand on your head and you'll see all the bigoted people under the rock. (~8000 miles across).
No one can tell me why I am here in this mystery.
racocn8 comments on Aug 22, 2019:
That is the serenity of evolution, to give answer, or at least context to these great questions. You may not like the answers evolution gives; they are not wish-fulfillment happy stories. Still, the context is as eternal as it get, and probably Universal in scope. What religion can claim that with a...
racocn8 replies on Aug 22, 2019:
@genessa Evolution tells us how we and all other life forms got here, what we are, where we are likely going. It describes a radically different process from the miracles of yore. Maybe more mundane, maybe not. Evolution describes a dynamic process that is consistent with the other physical processes, casting aside miracles such as spontaneous generation. That a single principle could result in the variety of life gives hope that other processes can be discerned to account for the origin of life or the development of cognition or self-awareness.
racocn8 comments on Aug 22, 2019:
That is the serenity of evolution, to give answer, or at least context to these great questions. You may not like the answers evolution gives; they are not wish-fulfillment happy stories. Still, the context is as eternal as it get, and probably Universal in scope. What religion can claim that with a...
racocn8 replies on Aug 22, 2019:
@genessa Evolution tells us how we and all other life forms got here, what we are, where we are likely going. It describes a radically different process from the miracles of yore. Maybe more mundane, maybe not. Evolution describes a dynamic process that is consistent with the other physical processes, casting aside miracles such as spontaneous generation. That a single principle could result in the variety of life gives hope that other processes can be discerned to account for the origin of life or the development of cognition or self-awareness.
Don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Donna_I comments on Jul 24, 2019:
How long til we see the retaliatory Socialist vs Republican signs.
racocn8 replies on Jul 24, 2019:
@Donna_I @NoPlanetB They are already calling democrats Communists, even though it's their Fuhrer that takes dictation from Comrade Putin.
Get ready for Martial Law. It's coming because it's the only way Trump can restrain the majority from marching on the White House. It's pretty bad when our only hope is a military coup.
Donna_I comments on Jul 24, 2019:
How long til we see the retaliatory Socialist vs Republican signs.
racocn8 replies on Jul 24, 2019:
@Donna_I @NoPlanetB They are already calling democrats Communists, even though it's their Fuhrer that takes dictation from Comrade Putin.
Get ready for Martial Law. It's coming because it's the only way Trump can restrain the majority from marching on the White House. It's pretty bad when our only hope is a military coup.
About a year ago, the long-serving president of American Atheists, David Silverman, was asked to ...
racocn8 comments on Jul 23, 2019:
I count Lawrence Krauss and Al Franken as being victims of GOP using women's false accusations. Men should not have their careers destroyed because of a scandal-hungry press and overeager social justice warriors.
The #metoo has not stepped up to address this problem, and have thus allowed the ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 23, 2019:
@brainyactress The picture was a staged joke. No physical contact was made. Real abusers have a long list of real and resentful people with corroborating details, while the bogus complaints can be seen as contrived BS from those with an agenda. The presence of contrition is a major but ignored clue. They're big differences which #metoo won't admit. Al Franken is nothing like Trump. Trump has numerous accusers including a 13-year-old. Franken got persecuted by Gillibrand because she naively believed she could hound Trump from office. She still won't admit she made a terrible mistake. She's an opportunistic creep.
Yeah, Joe Biden is yet another example of weaponized accusations for political purposes, but without the severe repercussions.
racocn8 comments on Jul 23, 2019:
I count Lawrence Krauss and Al Franken as being victims of GOP using women's false accusations. Men should not have their careers destroyed because of a scandal-hungry press and overeager social justice warriors.
The #metoo has not stepped up to address this problem, and have thus allowed the ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 23, 2019:
@brainyactress The picture was a staged joke. No physical contact was made. Real abusers have a long list of real and resentful people with corroborating details, while the bogus complaints can be seen as contrived BS from those with an agenda. The presence of contrition is a major but ignored clue. They're big differences which #metoo won't admit. Al Franken is nothing like Trump. Trump has numerous accusers including a 13-year-old. Franken got persecuted by Gillibrand because she naively believed she could hound Trump from office. She still won't admit she made a terrible mistake. She's an opportunistic creep.
Yeah, Joe Biden is yet another example of weaponized accusations for political purposes, but without the severe repercussions.
What are your thoughts on the protests in Hawaii over construction of a new telescope on Mauna Loa?
racocn8 comments on Jul 22, 2019:
A couple decades ago, my friends and I sought to see the the newly completed Keck Telescope. It was the first large scale application of active optics. At the Visitor Center, they told us they didn't conduct public tours, but we decided to go up anyway. At the top, we saw people skiing and sledding ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 22, 2019:
The crowd of people who left were the staff contractors and scientists and their families who were invited for a one-time open house. We we insanely lucky.
racocn8 comments on Jul 22, 2019:
A couple decades ago, my friends and I sought to see the the newly completed Keck Telescope. It was the first large scale application of active optics. At the Visitor Center, they told us they didn't conduct public tours, but we decided to go up anyway. At the top, we saw people skiing and sledding ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 22, 2019:
The crowd of people who left were the staff contractors and scientists and their families who were invited for a one-time open house. We we insanely lucky.
These Democrats are as deplorable as Republicans.
racocn8 comments on Jul 19, 2019:
You and some others need to learn about the concept of false equivalence. However, it's likely that understanding false equivalence won't affect the true motives behind these views (or is it just lack of motive?).
racocn8 replies on Jul 20, 2019:
@WayneDalton To be sure, Democrats bargain with the Republicans to pass anything, so complicity (and corruption) is unavoidable. However, equating the two parties, who are so extremely different in their values and goals, demonstrates an intellectual sloth only a sliver above trolldom. It's akin to how racists are unable and unwilling to understand their lack of empathy. The impairment of our species is breathtaking to behold, and the post question is a perfect example.
racocn8 comments on Jul 19, 2019:
You and some others need to learn about the concept of false equivalence. However, it's likely that understanding false equivalence won't affect the true motives behind these views (or is it just lack of motive?).
racocn8 replies on Jul 20, 2019:
@WayneDalton To be sure, Democrats bargain with the Republicans to pass anything, so complicity (and corruption) is unavoidable. However, equating the two parties, who are so extremely different in their values and goals, demonstrates an intellectual sloth only a sliver above trolldom. It's akin to how racists are unable and unwilling to understand their lack of empathy. The impairment of our species is breathtaking to behold, and the post question is a perfect example.
I am not an atheist.
racocn8 comments on Jul 17, 2019:
I am a non-theist, which is now the proper term for atheist. The Christians have misrepresented the definition of atheist to the point where the misrepresentation became the prevailing definition. Assholes.
What really matters is what humans should supposedly do if a God exists. Currying favor to...
racocn8 replies on Jul 18, 2019:
@Stuttrboy Please don't feed the trolls; I know it's hard to ignore them...
racocn8 comments on Jul 17, 2019:
I am a non-theist, which is now the proper term for atheist. The Christians have misrepresented the definition of atheist to the point where the misrepresentation became the prevailing definition. Assholes.
What really matters is what humans should supposedly do if a God exists. Currying favor to...
racocn8 replies on Jul 18, 2019:
@Stuttrboy Please don't feed the trolls; I know it's hard to ignore them...
Trump's "RACISTS" twit.
racocn8 comments on Jul 16, 2019:
What is racist is telling these non-white women to go back to their own country. To ask what is racist, one would have to interpret the tweet in isolation from the very long history of racist actions taken by Trump, such as excluding non-whites from renting his properties, condemning the Central ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 16, 2019:
I answered your question in my own words. Where did I attack you? I didn't. I asked for clarification and suggested improving your posting. Elsewhere you claim Trump's remarks were not racist, but you have never explained your (GOP) interpretation of these remarks (as I invited you to do). Apparently you don't believe that Trump's many racist behaviors are racist, and that helps explain your original question. And you wrote "whities" twice!! I've never seen that term in print.
You are fond of saying: "Typical leftist response" as an epithet.
You say Trump has said the same thing to Whites. You can provide a reference for that?
You don't like that your tax dollars being used to help these people. Your motives are indeed clearer.
racocn8 comments on Jul 16, 2019:
What is racist is telling these non-white women to go back to their own country. To ask what is racist, one would have to interpret the tweet in isolation from the very long history of racist actions taken by Trump, such as excluding non-whites from renting his properties, condemning the Central ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 16, 2019:
I answered your question in my own words. Where did I attack you? I didn't. I asked for clarification and suggested improving your posting. Elsewhere you claim Trump's remarks were not racist, but you have never explained your (GOP) interpretation of these remarks (as I invited you to do). Apparently you don't believe that Trump's many racist behaviors are racist, and that helps explain your original question. And you wrote "whities" twice!! I've never seen that term in print.
You are fond of saying: "Typical leftist response" as an epithet.
You say Trump has said the same thing to Whites. You can provide a reference for that?
You don't like that your tax dollars being used to help these people. Your motives are indeed clearer.
I wonder what he found.
1of5 comments on Jul 15, 2019:
Hopefully he finds some jail time.
"The US authorities stated he deleted critical files from operating systems, which shut down the United States Army's Military District of Washington network of 2,000 computers for 24 hours. McKinnon also posted a notice on the military's website: "Your security...
racocn8 replies on Jul 15, 2019:
$700,000 was an exceptionally inexpensive cost to find out their security was near non-existent. A consultant would charge 100 times that much.
1of5 comments on Jul 15, 2019:
Hopefully he finds some jail time.
"The US authorities stated he deleted critical files from operating systems, which shut down the United States Army's Military District of Washington network of 2,000 computers for 24 hours. McKinnon also posted a notice on the military's website: "Your security...
racocn8 replies on Jul 15, 2019:
$700,000 was an exceptionally inexpensive cost to find out their security was near non-existent. A consultant would charge 100 times that much.
Peterson thinks we got our ethics from our Judeo-Christian heritage.
racocn8 comments on Jul 9, 2019:
Peterson is a propagandist and demagogue for the right wing.
At 3:05 he excoriates Sam Harris with an absurdity wherein he falsely claims Harris advocates that people give up their connection with the *grounding in the transcendent* , a concept he dishonestly substitutes for religiosity. The ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 9, 2019:
@brenton I believe that Voltaire would have promoted atheism except he feared that common people could not function without moral teachings, and that the masses would degenerate into rioting thugs. So, Peterson's concern is far from original, and suffers from the same fallacy as Voltaire, the belief that common people need a concocted morality to corral their behavior.
I don't believe Harris ever believed that a new rationality would come pre-equipped with axioms comparable to those in the scriptures. With or without scriptures, people behave well enough. However, it is likely that as people leave the myths behind, ordinary reflection provides ethical direction.
Plus, the supposed axioms developed in ancient scriptures are far from a moral high ground; our society has take impressive steps that best divine morality, and now, it is the divine morality from scripture that impedes that progress. Does Peterson ever admit that? (To be sure, Eastern Orthodoxy is every bit as idiotic as all the other forms of Christianity.)
racocn8 comments on Jul 9, 2019:
Peterson is a propagandist and demagogue for the right wing.
At 3:05 he excoriates Sam Harris with an absurdity wherein he falsely claims Harris advocates that people give up their connection with the *grounding in the transcendent* , a concept he dishonestly substitutes for religiosity. The ...
racocn8 replies on Jul 9, 2019:
@brenton I believe that Voltaire would have promoted atheism except he feared that common people could not function without moral teachings, and that the masses would degenerate into rioting thugs. So, Peterson's concern is far from original, and suffers from the same fallacy as Voltaire, the belief that common people need a concocted morality to corral their behavior.
I don't believe Harris ever believed that a new rationality would come pre-equipped with axioms comparable to those in the scriptures. With or without scriptures, people behave well enough. However, it is likely that as people leave the myths behind, ordinary reflection provides ethical direction.
Plus, the supposed axioms developed in ancient scriptures are far from a moral high ground; our society has take impressive steps that best divine morality, and now, it is the divine morality from scripture that impedes that progress. Does Peterson ever admit that? (To be sure, Eastern Orthodoxy is every bit as idiotic as all the other forms of Christianity.)
Maybe I'm looking for the impossible.
racocn8 comments on Jun 28, 2019:
Try to wrap your head around this: the Theory of Evolution has nothing ( nada, zero, empty set) to do with the origin of life. You claim you have studied evolution for 5-6 year and you still don't know this?
Now you have to prove that you are not a troll.
Just what aspect of life appears ...
racocn8 replies on Jun 29, 2019:
I'm always happy to help. Of course, adding ad hominem to ignorant incredulity defines who you are too.
Maybe you could have shown you are not a troll by answering my question ( what you think is designed?). It truly is the tragedy of our time that folks like yourself either don't care about the implications of evolution or are unable to understand it. Or is it unwilling to understand it.
Some aspects of reality will always elude our comprehension. How life works will retain mysteries we'll never solve, but that evolution happened is not up for debate.
Maybe, on a personal level, you should ask what gap you want to fill and why.
racocn8 comments on Jun 28, 2019:
Try to wrap your head around this: the Theory of Evolution has nothing ( nada, zero, empty set) to do with the origin of life. You claim you have studied evolution for 5-6 year and you still don't know this?
Now you have to prove that you are not a troll.
Just what aspect of life appears ...
racocn8 replies on Jun 29, 2019:
I'm always happy to help. Of course, adding ad hominem to ignorant incredulity defines who you are too.
Maybe you could have shown you are not a troll by answering my question ( what you think is designed?). It truly is the tragedy of our time that folks like yourself either don't care about the implications of evolution or are unable to understand it. Or is it unwilling to understand it.
Some aspects of reality will always elude our comprehension. How life works will retain mysteries we'll never solve, but that evolution happened is not up for debate.
Maybe, on a personal level, you should ask what gap you want to fill and why.
Chinese authorities blow up Christian megachurch with dynamite | The Independent
TheDarkNolanite comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Y’all would cry your eyes out if they did the same thing to a mosque.
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Only idiots who carry water for Saudi Arabia care about the Muslims.
Blowing up Mosques? I'd cheer that too. Indeed, China is reeducating and deprogramming Muslims. Some denounce this but Islam is so utterly without merit. Sadly, the Communist ideology is its own screwball cult relying on Marx's ignorant and simplistic rants. Really, our species has not got a clue.
TheDarkNolanite comments on Apr 30, 2019:
Y’all would cry your eyes out if they did the same thing to a mosque.
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Only idiots who carry water for Saudi Arabia care about the Muslims.
Blowing up Mosques? I'd cheer that too. Indeed, China is reeducating and deprogramming Muslims. Some denounce this but Islam is so utterly without merit. Sadly, the Communist ideology is its own screwball cult relying on Marx's ignorant and simplistic rants. Really, our species has not got a clue.
The reason I am agnostic is because there is no proof that a God told man to compose religious texts...
Storm1752 comments on Jun 23, 2019:
I came to my conclusion by simple logic. Atheists love to state the simplistic obvious, then make a totally unjustified leap to an absolutist verdict: there is no proof there is a god by any definition, therefore there is no such thing.
Well there's no proof there ISN'T a god of sorts either, but I...
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Usually only true believers are so ignorant of the meaning of atheist. The evangelicals have done a good job of perverting the meaning of atheism from 'without belief' to 'hating god'. Now some are marketing the new term, NON-THEIST to take the place of atheism.
Storm1752 comments on Jun 23, 2019:
I came to my conclusion by simple logic. Atheists love to state the simplistic obvious, then make a totally unjustified leap to an absolutist verdict: there is no proof there is a god by any definition, therefore there is no such thing.
Well there's no proof there ISN'T a god of sorts either, but I...
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Usually only true believers are so ignorant of the meaning of atheist. The evangelicals have done a good job of perverting the meaning of atheism from 'without belief' to 'hating god'. Now some are marketing the new term, NON-THEIST to take the place of atheism.
Yesterday's Taboos Now Gone
01.
Boxdoc comments on Jun 24, 2019:
Add a couple more emerging taboo's
Being a Conservative
Criticising Islam
Criticising Feminists
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Hardly. Conservatism, Feminism and Islam will always be ripe for criticism and deservedly so.
Boxdoc comments on Jun 24, 2019:
Add a couple more emerging taboo's
Being a Conservative
Criticising Islam
Criticising Feminists
racocn8 replies on Jun 25, 2019:
Hardly. Conservatism, Feminism and Islam will always be ripe for criticism and deservedly so.
Justice Dept. argues against providing soap, toothbrushes, beds to migrant kids
GipsyOfNewSpain comments on Jun 21, 2019:
...but it is Not a Concentration Camp!
racocn8 replies on Jun 21, 2019:
It just happens to be managed by white nationalists who consider non-whites to be inferior, and routinely create false-flag 'crises' to further their agenda.
GipsyOfNewSpain comments on Jun 21, 2019:
...but it is Not a Concentration Camp!
racocn8 replies on Jun 21, 2019:
It just happens to be managed by white nationalists who consider non-whites to be inferior, and routinely create false-flag 'crises' to further their agenda.
If any, which 3 public figures have inspired you to make ANY change in your life that had staying ...
racocn8 comments on Jun 19, 2019:
R. Buckminster Fuller for his poetic examination of the future and fondness for efficient geometric solutions.
racocn8 replies on Jun 19, 2019:
Bucky Balls were named after Fuller, but he died a year ('83) before they were discovered. I have followed Fuller by researching tensegrity structures.
racocn8 comments on Jun 19, 2019:
R. Buckminster Fuller for his poetic examination of the future and fondness for efficient geometric solutions.
racocn8 replies on Jun 19, 2019:
Bucky Balls were named after Fuller, but he died a year ('83) before they were discovered. I have followed Fuller by researching tensegrity structures.
For the 2020 presidential election, who do you like and why?
m16566 comments on May 24, 2019:
Why Donald J Trump will win in 2020.
his base is primarily made of one issue voters.
his base is very loyal and regardless of his I will follow him to the ends of the Earth.
although the one issue voter really only cares about one issue.
they will except the rest all of the Republican / ...
racocn8 replies on May 25, 2019:
What do you mean by polymerization?
m16566 comments on May 24, 2019:
Why Donald J Trump will win in 2020.
his base is primarily made of one issue voters.
his base is very loyal and regardless of his I will follow him to the ends of the Earth.
although the one issue voter really only cares about one issue.
they will except the rest all of the Republican / ...
racocn8 replies on May 25, 2019:
What do you mean by polymerization?
For the 2020 presidential election, who do you like and why?
rogueflyer comments on May 24, 2019:
We need to get rid of McConnell and all the other Republicans that are trump followers. They put fear of trump and their reelection ahead of the country. How could any rational congressman or senator be a trump supporter? trump may have destroyed the the modern Republican party.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
The Dems are close to splitting into progressive green vs corporate moderate parties. The GOP is subject to it's own degeneration of Christian White Nationalist vs Kleptocrat Class.
Your concern that Dems would run amuck seems entirely improbable to me. Too many indians and no Chiefs means no agreement on an agenda. You're welcome to cite broadly supported Democrat initiatives that you consider problematic.
rogueflyer comments on May 24, 2019:
We need to get rid of McConnell and all the other Republicans that are trump followers. They put fear of trump and their reelection ahead of the country. How could any rational congressman or senator be a trump supporter? trump may have destroyed the the modern Republican party.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
The Dems are close to splitting into progressive green vs corporate moderate parties. The GOP is subject to it's own degeneration of Christian White Nationalist vs Kleptocrat Class.
Your concern that Dems would run amuck seems entirely improbable to me. Too many indians and no Chiefs means no agreement on an agenda. You're welcome to cite broadly supported Democrat initiatives that you consider problematic.
Lol yes there are NO references to Jesus Christos in Star Wars, so turn about....👣
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
@bisgoodenuff So certain are you!?! Projection?
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
@bisgoodenuff So certain are you!?! Projection?
For the 2020 presidential election, who do you like and why?
rogueflyer comments on May 24, 2019:
We need to get rid of McConnell and all the other Republicans that are trump followers. They put fear of trump and their reelection ahead of the country. How could any rational congressman or senator be a trump supporter? trump may have destroyed the the modern Republican party.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
The job needs to be finished. (The job of destroying the GOP).
rogueflyer comments on May 24, 2019:
We need to get rid of McConnell and all the other Republicans that are trump followers. They put fear of trump and their reelection ahead of the country. How could any rational congressman or senator be a trump supporter? trump may have destroyed the the modern Republican party.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
The job needs to be finished. (The job of destroying the GOP).
Lol yes there are NO references to Jesus Christos in Star Wars, so turn about....👣
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
I did find it funny and perhaps should have said so, but I wanted to make my point. Perhaps I should have been more mindful to have acknowleged the humor.
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
I did find it funny and perhaps should have said so, but I wanted to make my point. Perhaps I should have been more mindful to have acknowleged the humor.
Lol yes there are NO references to Jesus Christos in Star Wars, so turn about....👣
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
@bisgoodenuff What is it you think I don't get?
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 24, 2019:
@bisgoodenuff What is it you think I don't get?
PETE BUTTIGIEG GOES NUCLEAR
Mayor Pete claims Trump faked disability to avoid draft
...
J75243 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yup.
Funny how dipshit Republicans talk about the military and all that shit, but get behind cowards that never seen combat then send other kids to war.
I know I know, that Jesus guy.
By the way, I am a veteran. I never saw combat and but I go have if ordered to. I did sign up.
Fuck ...
racocn8 replies on May 23, 2019:
In case you haven't noticed, GOP hypocrisy is a bottomless pit.
J75243 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yup.
Funny how dipshit Republicans talk about the military and all that shit, but get behind cowards that never seen combat then send other kids to war.
I know I know, that Jesus guy.
By the way, I am a veteran. I never saw combat and but I go have if ordered to. I did sign up.
Fuck ...
racocn8 replies on May 23, 2019:
In case you haven't noticed, GOP hypocrisy is a bottomless pit.
Lol yes there are NO references to Jesus Christos in Star Wars, so turn about....👣
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 23, 2019:
The claim is that Jesus carries us all though the really hard times in our lives. It's supposed to be comforting propaganda, but it steals credit from people who often marshal their own resiliance, or, simply wait it out. Considering that Jesus is an imaginary demigod, it just comes off as asinine.
racocn8 comments on May 23, 2019:
Yeah, I really hate that meme.
racocn8 replies on May 23, 2019:
The claim is that Jesus carries us all though the really hard times in our lives. It's supposed to be comforting propaganda, but it steals credit from people who often marshal their own resiliance, or, simply wait it out. Considering that Jesus is an imaginary demigod, it just comes off as asinine.
In light of recent legislation, some food for thought.
thinktwice comments on May 22, 2019:
Regulating morals...that is what they are trying to do...and those morals seem to target women and sex..it has always been their goal: to keep women from having a fuller sexual life than men.
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
It is surely a fool's errand to imagine men engaging in sex for anything more than their own pleasure. It is my suspicion and belief that most men are generally incompetent in bed and in love. Women have their own issues. Both sexes are notorious for their inhibitions and are too self-concious to instruct their partners in improved techniques, much less innovation and growth.
thinktwice comments on May 22, 2019:
Regulating morals...that is what they are trying to do...and those morals seem to target women and sex..it has always been their goal: to keep women from having a fuller sexual life than men.
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
It is surely a fool's errand to imagine men engaging in sex for anything more than their own pleasure. It is my suspicion and belief that most men are generally incompetent in bed and in love. Women have their own issues. Both sexes are notorious for their inhibitions and are too self-concious to instruct their partners in improved techniques, much less innovation and growth.
In light of recent legislation, some food for thought.
thinktwice comments on May 22, 2019:
Regulating morals...that is what they are trying to do...and those morals seem to target women and sex..it has always been their goal: to keep women from having a fuller sexual life than men.
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
The insistance on monogamy does far, far more to keep women from having a full sex life as anything men do with legislation.
thinktwice comments on May 22, 2019:
Regulating morals...that is what they are trying to do...and those morals seem to target women and sex..it has always been their goal: to keep women from having a fuller sexual life than men.
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
The insistance on monogamy does far, far more to keep women from having a full sex life as anything men do with legislation.
Susan Sarandon, Pamela Anderson & Roger Waters question silence on OPCW report on Douma ‘attack’...
racocn8 comments on May 21, 2019:
@THHA
https://www.gppi.net/media/GPPi_Schneider_Luetkefend_2019_Nowhere_to_Hide_Web.pdf
The OPCW may well have found that the Douma attack was staged. Indeed, the linked report shows that somewhere between a third to two/thirds could have been faked by the rebels. However, the report notes ...
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
The motive for framing Assad would be to get his international opponents to react with a retaliatory strike, sending a message that using chemical weapons is (supposedly) a violation of international norms.
racocn8 comments on May 21, 2019:
@THHA
https://www.gppi.net/media/GPPi_Schneider_Luetkefend_2019_Nowhere_to_Hide_Web.pdf
The OPCW may well have found that the Douma attack was staged. Indeed, the linked report shows that somewhere between a third to two/thirds could have been faked by the rebels. However, the report notes ...
racocn8 replies on May 22, 2019:
The motive for framing Assad would be to get his international opponents to react with a retaliatory strike, sending a message that using chemical weapons is (supposedly) a violation of international norms.
Cruel Christians Leave Fake $20 Tips Promoting Jesus | Michael Stone
freeofgod comments on Jan 19, 2019:
Fake christians.
racocn8 replies on May 20, 2019:
Can a real Christian exist when the dogma itself is self-contradicting?
freeofgod comments on Jan 19, 2019:
Fake christians.
racocn8 replies on May 20, 2019:
Can a real Christian exist when the dogma itself is self-contradicting?
I am not an Atheist, I am Agnostic. There is a difference, actually a huge difference.
IamNobody comments on May 16, 2019:
IamNone and it doesn't really matter
racocn8 replies on May 16, 2019:
How do you know if it matters or not? You don't. But, you are probably right.
IamNobody comments on May 16, 2019:
IamNone and it doesn't really matter
racocn8 replies on May 16, 2019:
How do you know if it matters or not? You don't. But, you are probably right.
I am not an Atheist, I am Agnostic. There is a difference, actually a huge difference.
benhmiller comments on May 16, 2019:
Agnostic is questioning Atheist no longer question they can't believe
racocn8 replies on May 16, 2019:
Dzzzzt. Wrong.
Atheist means without belief. Not they no longer question nor can't believe.
Agnostic means without knowing. Neither term have bearing on questioning; The attitude of the person may or may not be one of questioning.
benhmiller comments on May 16, 2019:
Agnostic is questioning Atheist no longer question they can't believe
racocn8 replies on May 16, 2019:
Dzzzzt. Wrong.
Atheist means without belief. Not they no longer question nor can't believe.
Agnostic means without knowing. Neither term have bearing on questioning; The attitude of the person may or may not be one of questioning.
Study: At least 78% of humanitarian aid intended for Palestinians ends up in Israel's coffers
racocn8 comments on May 15, 2019:
Would you like to buy a bridge?
racocn8 replies on May 15, 2019:
"Israel also uses the occupied territories as laboratories for testing weapons and surveillance systems on Palestinians – and then exports its expertise. Israel’s military and cyber industries are hugely profitable, generating many billions of dollars of income each year."
Kind of like a bank robber complaining that the bank has insurance.
It is so fun to watch people kiss the asses of the Palestinians/Saudi Arabia because they hate Jews so much. Need a napkin?
racocn8 comments on May 15, 2019:
Would you like to buy a bridge?
racocn8 replies on May 15, 2019:
"Israel also uses the occupied territories as laboratories for testing weapons and surveillance systems on Palestinians – and then exports its expertise. Israel’s military and cyber industries are hugely profitable, generating many billions of dollars of income each year."
Kind of like a bank robber complaining that the bank has insurance.
It is so fun to watch people kiss the asses of the Palestinians/Saudi Arabia because they hate Jews so much. Need a napkin?
Here's what I have to say about "Russiagate" | Ted Rall's Rallblog
Darthpug comments on May 11, 2019:
I will choose to trust the US Intelligence community over William Charles. The Intelligence Community produces no political input other than facts. Politician take those facts and spin them in any direction to suit their agenda. I trust Republican Robert Mueller and his investigation that Russia ...
racocn8 replies on May 14, 2019:
@WilliamCharles Why do you suppose Israel attacked the USS Liberty?
On your comment about Podesta making up Russiagate after the election was lost, how did Hillary bring it up during the debates?
Are the Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine, France, and England, before the US election, also made up by the Deep State?
Darthpug comments on May 11, 2019:
I will choose to trust the US Intelligence community over William Charles. The Intelligence Community produces no political input other than facts. Politician take those facts and spin them in any direction to suit their agenda. I trust Republican Robert Mueller and his investigation that Russia ...
racocn8 replies on May 14, 2019:
@WilliamCharles Why do you suppose Israel attacked the USS Liberty?
On your comment about Podesta making up Russiagate after the election was lost, how did Hillary bring it up during the debates?
Are the Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine, France, and England, before the US election, also made up by the Deep State?
A peaceful religion?
Unity comments on May 9, 2019:
Most religion have bloodshed in their history in the name of GOD.
racocn8 replies on May 14, 2019:
@Biosteelman Don't forget the Tamil Tigers. Buddhism is still rank superstition, and assinine to describe all existence as suffering.
Unity comments on May 9, 2019:
Most religion have bloodshed in their history in the name of GOD.
racocn8 replies on May 14, 2019:
@Biosteelman Don't forget the Tamil Tigers. Buddhism is still rank superstition, and assinine to describe all existence as suffering.
Joe Bidon.
Jolanta comments on May 2, 2019:
Oh, I think that this is deliberately, if you look at the Republicans and the Democrats in the US you will find that they are very similar. Most of Democrats are not interested in the average American but to serve big business, that is why they do not want to endorse Bernie, because he favors the ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Still not saying anything. Could you be specific?
Jolanta comments on May 2, 2019:
Oh, I think that this is deliberately, if you look at the Republicans and the Democrats in the US you will find that they are very similar. Most of Democrats are not interested in the average American but to serve big business, that is why they do not want to endorse Bernie, because he favors the ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Still not saying anything. Could you be specific?
MAH.
TheMiddleWay comments on May 2, 2019:
It's not the facts go against FB. It's that conspiracy minded interpretation of facts, such as the one you present, go against FB. ;)
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Just two Social Justice Warriors skinning each other alive. Nothing to see here. Move along. Move along...
TheMiddleWay comments on May 2, 2019:
It's not the facts go against FB. It's that conspiracy minded interpretation of facts, such as the one you present, go against FB. ;)
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Just two Social Justice Warriors skinning each other alive. Nothing to see here. Move along. Move along...
I am an old, married man intending to stay married.
racocn8 comments on May 3, 2019:
It is the age old debate between direct honesty and politically correct diplomacy. The problem with direct honesty is that it tends to be brutal and insensitive. You may offend someone worth knowing, but then it's too late. (Men only get a second chance in the movies; Women feel so embattled that ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Are you kidding?
racocn8 comments on May 3, 2019:
It is the age old debate between direct honesty and politically correct diplomacy. The problem with direct honesty is that it tends to be brutal and insensitive. You may offend someone worth knowing, but then it's too late. (Men only get a second chance in the movies; Women feel so embattled that ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
Are you kidding?
Joe Bidon.
Jolanta comments on May 2, 2019:
Oh, I think that this is deliberately, if you look at the Republicans and the Democrats in the US you will find that they are very similar. Most of Democrats are not interested in the average American but to serve big business, that is why they do not want to endorse Bernie, because he favors the ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
You're just wrong. Similar? Yeah, they're both from the same species. You can be excused for the absurd false equivalency because you're an Aussie.
Jolanta comments on May 2, 2019:
Oh, I think that this is deliberately, if you look at the Republicans and the Democrats in the US you will find that they are very similar. Most of Democrats are not interested in the average American but to serve big business, that is why they do not want to endorse Bernie, because he favors the ...
racocn8 replies on May 3, 2019:
You're just wrong. Similar? Yeah, they're both from the same species. You can be excused for the absurd false equivalency because you're an Aussie.
"Atheism deserves better than the new atheists whose methodology consists of criticizing religion ...
A2Jennifer comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The solution to bad cancer is good cancer not no cancer. 🙄
racocn8 replies on May 1, 2019:
Mother Teresa did not fight against poverty, she fought FOR it. Please review Christopher Hitchens's comments for what is a more objective take. As for the others, remember that they are doing it because they've been threatened with damnation; it's not out of the goodness of their heart.
A2Jennifer comments on Apr 27, 2019:
The solution to bad cancer is good cancer not no cancer. 🙄
racocn8 replies on May 1, 2019:
Mother Teresa did not fight against poverty, she fought FOR it. Please review Christopher Hitchens's comments for what is a more objective take. As for the others, remember that they are doing it because they've been threatened with damnation; it's not out of the goodness of their heart.
Even though it's still early, I just wanted to put this thought into people's heads:
If you ...
seattlepanda comments on Apr 29, 2019:
My take on FB is that the 2016 election was decided by Sanders supporters who stayed home rather than vote for Clinton...Will this happen again?
racocn8 replies on Apr 29, 2019:
It depends on whether our intelligence services deem Russian social media bots to be an unwanted interference in the election. In 2016 the bots blasted Bernie supporters who might vote for Hillary. Will they be stopped this time? Apparently not.
seattlepanda comments on Apr 29, 2019:
My take on FB is that the 2016 election was decided by Sanders supporters who stayed home rather than vote for Clinton...Will this happen again?
racocn8 replies on Apr 29, 2019:
It depends on whether our intelligence services deem Russian social media bots to be an unwanted interference in the election. In 2016 the bots blasted Bernie supporters who might vote for Hillary. Will they be stopped this time? Apparently not.
I've recently given up my faith because of a few comments people gave made to me here.
Holden comments on Apr 15, 2019:
You don’t know for sure that there is no god. You can’t. No one knows.
racocn8 replies on Apr 17, 2019:
God is a meaningless term. No one can say anything meaningful about god. Anyone who claims such knowledge is lying or delusional. If there were a god, so what? In the same way, Purpose is also a meaningless term. A god could not confer purpose and purpose does not derive from any particular religion. Purpose is a semantic paradox. Advice: Live as if there were a god, but retain the understanding that purpose comes from you; you create your own purpose. The rest of religion comes from greed and the desire to control others.
Seek to understand the motives of yourself and others. Distill this understanding to its essence. You will clarify your own aspirations and understand the aspirations (or lack thereof) of others.
Holden comments on Apr 15, 2019:
You don’t know for sure that there is no god. You can’t. No one knows.
racocn8 replies on Apr 17, 2019:
God is a meaningless term. No one can say anything meaningful about god. Anyone who claims such knowledge is lying or delusional. If there were a god, so what? In the same way, Purpose is also a meaningless term. A god could not confer purpose and purpose does not derive from any particular religion. Purpose is a semantic paradox. Advice: Live as if there were a god, but retain the understanding that purpose comes from you; you create your own purpose. The rest of religion comes from greed and the desire to control others.
Seek to understand the motives of yourself and others. Distill this understanding to its essence. You will clarify your own aspirations and understand the aspirations (or lack thereof) of others.
If I cannot walk around naked without being arrested for indecency why should any of these people be...
Deb57 comments on Apr 8, 2019:
What you wear on you body does not offend me. Self expression is a right.
racocn8 replies on Apr 16, 2019:
@FrayedBear Please see the link from Deb57 above: [kwqc.com]
Deb57 comments on Apr 8, 2019:
What you wear on you body does not offend me. Self expression is a right.
racocn8 replies on Apr 16, 2019:
@FrayedBear Please see the link from Deb57 above: [kwqc.com]
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