How genuine is your smile?

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

No I don't. I think there was a substantial improvement in my smile after I got all my implants in. ?

To all agnostic users, My time here on agnostic has come to an end.

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

In everyone's life, there comes a time when you just gotta book. I hope you get to where you are going. All the best, bro.

Save me. I'm surrounded by narcissists ?

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

If you can't move or find other work, like folks have suggested in the comments, at least talk to your doc about some anti-anxiety stuff. SAM-e is a pretty good mood enhancer that you don't need a prescription to get. Good luck to you, you certainly hit the unlucky jackpot there.

"Left-wing and right-wing political ideologies have themselves become secular religions, providing ...

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

You can look at the extremes on both sides and this bears out. The right wing overtly and regularly conflates political ideology with religion, even in their mainstream. I see less of that on the mainstream left, and more flexibility regarding policy issues based on facts. But the quest for ideological purity cuts both ways.

Proselytizing

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

The most I've done is explain my own beliefs without any expectation or intention of changing someone's mind about the advantages of practical rationality over silly superstition. I have no idea if that influenced anyone to become secular or not.

One of my favorite things today.

zeuser comments on Jul 13, 2018:

This gag brought me to my knees.

Dating tip! If you don't floss your teeth people who do are not going to want to kiss you.😁

zeuser comments on Jul 12, 2018:

Does this come up? Goodness.

Does it annoy you when people blame the devil for things that may go wrong in life?

zeuser comments on Jul 12, 2018:

It bothers me a lot more when they blame me. The devil can take it, since it's just a fictional character in a sorry and ridiculous fairy tale.

Sorry this is a FB link but worth watching: German News Caster losing it when covering Trump at ...

zeuser comments on Jul 12, 2018:

It's embarrassing.

Does anyone else assume when they're talking to someone new that they're a right-leaning, ...

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

Mixed bag here in NC urban areas, but down east it's a safe bet.

Argued with someone about the Bermuda Triangle last night.

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

Don't waste any more energy on guys like this. You cannot fix stupid, that has to be up to each of us for ourselves.

Reverse psychology

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

There's that famous wingnut sense of humor. ?

Overweight shows weakness?

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

Sometimes it's your family that comes up with the most stupid shit. It hurts a lot more than hearing it from some random stranger. First, I'm suspicious of any idea applied as a generalization that covers all cases. Second, even if that's what you think, why broadcast it? What do you gain at the cost of hurting someone else? But finally, what exactly makes someone else's weight (or status, or any other characteristic) your business?

"Pay attention when I am talking...he is dumb as a bag of hammers."

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

That boy, I say that boy, is about as sharp as a sack of wet mice.

Interesting and depressing... [educateinspirechange.org]

zeuser comments on Jul 11, 2018:

That's a lot of insight creatively expressed.

What are your opinions on mukbang videos?

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

With all the other things more deserving of my time and attention available both on the net and in hardcopy, this wouldn't even make the top ten thousand. What in the holy hell?

Still at it, comrades! [m.facebook.com]

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

People fall for this crap? Oh ffs, really?

Have you ever just lost your self control when someone is babbling pseudoscientific bullshit in your...

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

Yeah, I've given lectures on climate science, Chem trail bullshit, homeopathy crap and healing with crystals nonsense. Sometimes, you can only put up with so much.

WILL KAVANAUGH PROVIDE COVER FOR TRUMP? NY times [nyti.ms]

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

You can't really predict what he'll do if confirmed, but I don't like the direction this is heading.

Would you date someone who is a self-proclaimed psychic/intuitive?

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

There's a wide continuum of reasons to date or not date someone. You have to balance that together with your goals. For certain considerations, I'd sit for a tarot reading. Hell, I've done them, for reasons that seemed like a good idea at the time, you know? Heh.

I posted this in the Poetry group but it is a poem about Trump so I am posting it here as well.

zeuser comments on Jul 10, 2018:

Nicely done. Truth is often sad. Truth distilled into poetry packs a more powerful punch.

Who is your favorite guitarist?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Johnny Cephas, Roy Buchanan, Stevie Ray, Doc Watson, Clapton. Honorable mention to Jimmy Page and Hendrix.

Complaining.

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

My daughter taught me to try to look at some positive aspect of any situation. It's not easy, and it doesn't always work, but it's energy invested into something other than complaining. People who always complain tend to blame everyone for their problems and not consider their own part in the path to resolution. People who think like that are never happy. And I do try to steer clear of them. Good on you for looking for the positive in the face of adversity. Not easy. Highly commendable.

Maine Governor Vetoes Gay Conversion Ban Citing Religious Freedom - The Intellectualist

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

This guy has been a major tool bag for a while. It should be about time for him to face the electorate again, no?

I love the way Kristen Russell handled this. I would not want to play Scrabble against her either ?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

You gotta do the best you can with what they give you to work with.

One pillow, two pillows or more?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Two, both under my head. If I am in some other bed, one pillow will work if I double it up.

Do you sleep with your bedroom door open or closed?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Closed. I got into the habit when I had small children poking around, and it feels funny if I leave it open now.

What's the best coffee you've ever had and where did you have it?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

I was in Austin Texas for a conference early in the century, and I was hung over as hell. I went to a little Mexican place for some huevos with some legitimate frijoles and ice cold salsa with a warm tortilla, and a cup of hot, strong coffee that made me moan with the first sip. I grind my beans (dark roast Arabica, usually) and use a French press, and that is good java, but that cup in Austin from almost twenty years ago still lives on in my memory.

Hmm mmmm. Mmm

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Ricky Gervais, Daniel Radcliffe, Billy Joel, all well and good, but my all time atheist hero is Linus Pauling. "I believe that all complicated phenomena can be explained using simpler scientific principles." That quote galvanized my atheism decades ago, and I still use it when people ask me what I believe.

What small act of kindness was once shown to you that you'll never forget?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

After I was done with public elementary school, my mom decided she didn't want me to go to public junior high, so she got me into a local parish school. An Italian parish school. Here I am, 12 years old, one of the most awkward times of your life, and it's a brand new group of kids that I never laid eyes on before in my life. So there I am before school starts, looking like a real polak - all blue eyes and blond hair among all of these olive skinned kids, everyone is in their group of friends and I'm just standing around looking out of place, and a kid came over and said "Hi, my name is Louie. You're new here, right?" and he introduced me to a number of people before class started. One of the people he introduced me to turned out to be a best friend with whom I remain in contact to this day, and I still keep in touch with Louie too. It was just what I needed at that time, and not that big a deal for Louie. I try to pay that forward each time I see someone looking out of place or unsure of what to do. Good question, thanks for the memory. 8-)

Life Lessons ....

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Buy based on quality, not price. Whatever seems like a good idea, do it sooner rather than later. When people show you that they cannot be trusted, believe them. Always go for the laugh, good comedy requires risks and speed. If it doesn't feel right, it ain't right. It's ok when refusing an invitation to say "because I don't want to".

How does the brainwashing in televangelism work?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Mostly, it's shills. Some people feel peer pressure to fall in with the program and do it because they think they are supposed to.

MEN: What would your reason be for asking a woman what she does for a living, upon meeting her?

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

If you just meet someone, the topics available for conversation are limited. This question opens up some avenues for conversation. That's about it. If you find you are both involved in similar or related fields, this can make the first meeting more interesting.

I would like to begin a discussion of the validity of posting a credit score limit on your profile ...

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Maybe your LinkedIn profile. Or, if you find personal relationships that are transactional appealing, a lot of people do. I wouldn't myself.

I found a brilliant post, it says EXACTLY what I think.

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

I don't have any family members on the crazy train, and I feel sorry for those of us who do.

Irresistible

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

Yes, only twice in my life (well, so far, but I think that I hit my limit). All logic and rational thought just disappear, and the only important thing is to be in each other's company. You think it's gonna last forever. But it doesn't.

US threatens countries supporting breadtfeeding resolution! [cnn.com]

zeuser comments on Jul 9, 2018:

And the frigging russkies wound up sponsoring the resolution!!

More Civil war letters

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

"These are all "Harleys*? We can't ride these!" Good ones. ?

I could happily throttle my kids today, wanted to go to the beach, no, made pancakes for breakfast ...

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

Well, in my experience, if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. Time for tough love, and an excellent opportunity for the youngsters to learn how to do some of the things mama does as you withdraw your services. Good luck, raising kids ain't easy.

Would you rather?

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

Maybe it's different for other people, but in my experience, competition in a relationship usually doesn't end well. There are *lots* of good ways for a walk on the beach to end. 8-)

In case you had missed it

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

Soccer? Soccer?! I barely know her!! LOL

Would you get married if you met the right person and what would the marriage actually mean to you?

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

If I meet the right person? That's BIG if. I can't answer without knowing who that would be, but just based on what I know about marriage after a 28 year run that ended 8 years ago, I'd say no, no I wouldn't.

Star Trek vs.

zeuser comments on Jul 8, 2018:

Trek has a deeper inventory. And cool captains.

I was messing around on Pinterest earlier and picked this up.

zeuser comments on Jul 7, 2018:

It's a good idea to keep just a little bit of assholishness up your sleeve. Then, when you run into one, which is almost a given, you've got something special just for them. My theory is this : of two people were left alive after a planet wide holocaust, chances that at least one of them is an asshole is 75%,but odds that both of them are assholes is 99%. Don't worry about the math, it's a joke. ?

Dating after 50

zeuser comments on Jul 7, 2018:

If I had the moral profile that allowed me to date married women, I'd have it made, at least a far as dating is concerned. For whatever the reason, married women are fascinated with me. No I don't go there. It's been tempting.

This could go for either gender. :) Just a great one liner, had to share

zeuser comments on Jul 7, 2018:

Oh I am so stealing this! ?

There is no agnostic vs. atheist! The peeve I have...

zeuser comments on Jul 7, 2018:

I identify as openly secular. I consider myself both atheist and agnostic. You make a good case, and I agree with it.

Enjoy the trade wars, Trump voters.

zeuser comments on Jul 6, 2018:

Well, the russkies are having a GREAT time laughing at the witless capitalist racists who elected this idiot and his numb-nutted accomplices. So there is that.

Don't let the door hit you in the ass...

zeuser comments on Jul 6, 2018:

Pruitt should be in jail.

I've been a vegetarian for over 8 years.

zeuser comments on Jul 6, 2018:

It's a bit inconvenient to locate suitable options when dining out with a vegetarian, but it isn't too bad. It's similar to dining out with gluten free people. If someone makes a big deal about it, I'd consider changing dinner companions. I make a lot of vegetarian meals. If it's got cheese, it's hard to dislike.

Beard or no beard

zeuser comments on Jul 6, 2018:

Through the centuries, the beard has been a visible and robust symbol of masculinity, and should neither be disregarded nor mocked. Wear the beard, brother, proudly and with good grace. ?

Do you know what a personal "user's manual" is, and have you written one for yourself?

zeuser comments on Jul 5, 2018:

I wrote software manuals for a while, but I never heard of this. I might try it, sounds like it might be fun.

Can you "read" a person?

zeuser comments on Jul 5, 2018:

This is different, but after I get to know somebody, I can usually paint a pretty accurate profile of that individual. I discourage people from asking me to do it for them, because an accurate profile always has some parts that the person would find unpleasant to confront. Some folks don't even take much effort to deconstruct. But I could not care less if someone reads me correctly, incorrectly, or not at all.

Sparked by another member's question: what are your thoughts on girls calling their guys "daddy"?

zeuser comments on Jul 5, 2018:

My kids called me daddy when they were younger. That's enough, I don't need that from a grown up woman. But if some other couples are into that, OK.

Argentina just signed into law the Justine bill (organ donation).

zeuser comments on Jul 5, 2018:

If opting out is easy, I'm OK with this. You're dead, ffs. It would be easy to screw this up, though. Not sure how far I'd trust Argentinian government enforcement. But the concept sounds all right to me .

If You Were A Former Believer, What Was The Last Religion You Were Affiliated With?

zeuser comments on Jul 4, 2018:

I attended a parish school for grades 7 and 8, a catholic high school, and a Jesuit university. Oddly, the Jesuits gave me the intellectual ammunition to effectively analyze, question, and ultimately reject first catholicism, and then religion and theism in general . What a relief!

Men, what would you think of a woman if they were forward with you and asked you out on a date.

zeuser comments on Jul 4, 2018:

This would make things a lot easier, wouldn't it ? Come at me, ladies !

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND MAGIC?

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

Magic is what you say it is. Or sing it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUljHEpeIgs

If you were to go to a ComicCon like convention, what superhero, cartoon character etc.

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

I think I could pull off a respectable Dr. Strange .

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION AND MAGIC?

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

Well, stage magic at least is real. You can see how the tricks actually work, and the magic part is all about hiding the true mechanics during the performance. But magic magic, like religion in general, is just something people made up without bothering to investigate whether there's anything there to make the tricks work - and indeed they do not. But I admit, I'd love to be able to say "forzare" and unleash a force of nature, like one of my fictional favorites Harry Dresden.

I rarely post anything in the Love category, so I figured perhaps it was about time.

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

Good looking guy! That's a sweet post. 8-)

The doctor answers his door to see Donald Trump standing there with a frog sitting right in the ...

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

The classics never get old. Good one, OWA.

I don't know how many are ready for this one.

zeuser comments on Jul 3, 2018:

Good likeness. Heh.

Just had to share this with everyone more hypocrisy I was talking to customer the other day and said...

zeuser comments on Jul 2, 2018:

Hey, now wait just one minute here. Nobody told me about any of that stuff.

We're happy to roll out an update to our "likes" button.

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

Nice upgrade, folks. Keep it rollin'.

Are we ready for the 4th?

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

Potato salad. You left off potato salad.

What nonbelievers do you remember from TV growing up?

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

Michael and Gloria Stivic from All in the Family come to mind. I remember the show where Archie snuck the new Stivic baby into a church to secretly baptize him, and really pissed off atheist mom and dad.

“Turning a Breakup Into a Positive Experience.

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

Some of the suggestions are good, but going through a breakup is a highly subjective experience. Some sting a lot worse than others. Some of your exes can be friends, some just disappear, only to pop up later, and others can carry a grudge to their graves. Navigating each of these scenarios require very different responses. But the article is good as far as it goes.

I want you all to know that a friend of mine - who voted for Trump - now sees the evil that's going ...

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

Those guys in Missouri losing the nail factory jobs, the soybean farmers, and all those former Harley guys are probably reconsidering their choices.

Do you have a room in your home that is "your room?

zeuser comments on Jul 1, 2018:

The master bathroom. ?

I stole this. You don't have to believe in fairytales to get the moral of the story.

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156707753704728&id=99536044727

Holiday Characters

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

My kids liked Santa. The bunny always creeped them out, but they liked the candy. When my daughter was about 5, driving home, she asked me "Daddy, Will Santa ever die?" I told her no , Santa is a legend , and legends never die. Short pause. "What about Mrs. Santa?" No, she's a legend too. Short pause. "What about the reindeer?" Me: Hey, how about some French fries? ?

Random thought.

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

7 is my magic number. My birthday is 7/28/1953, each part is divisible by 7. I can easily divide the major eras in my life into 7 year segments , each one distinctive and profoundly different from each of the others. This era saw me downsize and retire. I dunno what 70 has in store for me, but I have 5 years to prep for it . ?

They don't even try to hide the corruption anymore. [esquire.com]

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

I follow this stuff pretty closely, and this connection between the talking yam and Justice Kennedy went right over my head, which evidently was by design. It makes me wonder about any other shifty connections between other members of the SCOTUS and other notorious types, including ComradeTangerine. I want to know, but I don't want to know. This shows a rot right at the core of the republic. Not a good thing, no matter who you back.

True Confession.

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

My last dog would bark back at both thunder and fireworks. The appeal of fireworks for me has declined over the years. I like professional pyrotechnics every so often, but I don't like fighting crowds just for that anymore, and hearing the locals shoot bottle rockets does get irritating.

My dad is a trip(oldman77) he posted this to facebook today I have been an ardent supporter of ...

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

I had to make a couple mid course adjustments to follow you here, but ok, it's pretty accurate.

Civility? What's that?

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

Yeah, there is that.

[republicansexposed.org]

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

As irritating as it is, we all need to remember how we all got jobbed. Don't let this shit keep happening.

Why do we put up with it.

zeuser comments on Jun 30, 2018:

Who's got a plan? I'm in.

I love summer! The kids next door just challenged me to a water fight! I''m waiting for my water to ...

zeuser comments on Jun 29, 2018:

You ain't right, brother.

Oh, FFS.

zeuser comments on Jun 29, 2018:

This is sort of the same kind of ritual humiliation I experienced with the catholic "sacrament" of confession and absolution. It was the single thing that started my disenchantment and eventual rejection and repudiation of catholicism first, and all religion next.

Would you have a wedding with religious aspects incorporated in it?

zeuser comments on Jun 29, 2018:

Well first of all, there ain't gonna be any wedding at all in my future. That ship already sailed and sunk once, that's enough of that. But for the sake of conversation, if I were to once again try out matrimony, the ceremony would be minimal and would not contain any religion in it at all. If my potential spouse was religious and insisted, I would drop her like a bowling ball in a well, but chances are I wouldn't make it that far with someone who was that religious.

Do you ever experience lucid dreams?

zeuser comments on Jun 29, 2018:

This happens to me when I sleep in specific places. Like when I visit my dad in PA and sleep in my old room, I get very vivid and lifelike dreams. If I wake up and fall back asleep, the dream picks up where it left off. There are definite plot lines, and sometimes a surprise ending. Happens much less frequently in my own home, but occasionally I get them here too.

Is this now the equivalent to Allahu akbar

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

Sounds like a bunch of shit to me...oh, wait..

I expect most of the people here know who I am, for those of you that don't, I host the Gun Control ...

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

Oh, the talking yam will get the judge he wants. The most important thing is to keep this bunch of nazis from destroying the country. Start with the shit that will tank the economy and invite military action. If we can get past that, even though we are looking at 30 years or so of shitty SCOTUS decisions, the republicans have lost any credibility for at least 3 generations. P.S. That doesn't mean stop resisting. On the contrary. But realistically, we are screwed.

I took an internet quiz the other night out of curiosity.

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

Oh, you are SO in denial here. 8-)

That which does not kill me... Well, that's everything so far.

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

Don't get cocky, Duke, something eventually will get you.

How can anybody in their right mind still believe in and support this guy?!

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

It goes beyond rational thought. The response this idiot evokes is pure tribalism, the primitive social instinct that is behind all wars and a good deal of unnecessary conflict. When you identify with a side based solely on the amygdala, logic and reason are not a part of the decision.

With three young women I mentored, I hiked Icicle Gorge trail near Leavenworth today for four miles.

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

Good for you, the world needs more positive role models willing to give the time and energy to help shape those willing to listen. Congratulations to your young friends, I wish them all well.

Am I on the right track?

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

That's a little harsh, isn't it? Anyone can change, and I'd prefer trying to be an agent of that change, at least in part. However, I believe in tough but fair. When being fair doesn't work out and you see these kind of tactics being deployed against you, your approach should be considered.

You know what makes me incredibly sad?

zeuser comments on Jun 28, 2018:

The worst part is that you wind up surrounding yourself with people that your true self actually despises because they value all the traits you don't really have. In seeking acceptance by pandering to people who don't deserve our friendship, we set ourselves up for losing our own self-respect in the process. A lot of people do this, and it shouldn't make you sad - that is what they choose to do.

What position do you sleep in?

zeuser comments on Jun 26, 2018:

I flop around a lot from side to side, every so often on my back.

The Supreme Court this week

zeuser comments on Jun 26, 2018:

The stolen SCOTUS majority ruled in favor of the administration that gained office by cheating with the assistance of a foreign adversary. Now, we have an immigration policy based on religious bigotry. Yay, democracy, right?

13 years today since my beautiful wife and I said 'I DO' in front of some family and friends and ...

zeuser comments on Jun 25, 2018:

Happy anniversary and all, but isn't it time for you to change your underwear? Not that I want to get between a husband and wife, but 20 years? Heh. Congratulations, you two crazy kids. B-)

What Do you Think About Monday's?

zeuser comments on Jun 25, 2018:

Since my transition out of the workforce, Mondays are a day to which I look forward. All the weekend crowds are back at work, and I am free to pursue my public agenda at a more leisurely pace, undisturbed by the throngs moving quickly to finish their objectives before the week forces them back to work. I actually did enjoy most of the things I did for a buck, and I really didn't mind Mondays. But this is much, much better.

Assuming evolution is correct, do you think that if humans went extinct another species as ...

zeuser comments on Jun 25, 2018:

There are a lot of different traits that could conceivably give some future species an evolutionary advantage, depending on what the environment eventually turns out to be. Remember, evolution based on natural selection just continues the characteristics that are conducive to a species' survival - the ones that have the traits that help them survive do, and they pass on those traits to their offspring. I can see where consciousness and intelligence could become important survival characteristics once again, but I can also see a lot of other things that would be useful too. You really can't predict it, but I certainly don't think intelligence and consciousness are the inevitable result of future evolution.

From Facebook

zeuser comments on Jun 25, 2018:

Soon enough, I hope someone will be calling you "sweet lips", and I ain't talking about Stormy.

Find this to be so true.

zeuser comments on Jun 25, 2018:

They missed the one "Just likes to piss off the libtards."

Please read and listen to how trump and the Fascist republicans are stealing from us wholesale! ...

zeuser comments on Jun 24, 2018:

Yeah, that's all correct.

Hello all :) This is my first post.

zeuser comments on Jun 24, 2018:

I'll listen to anything and love to learn about new music types. You got some links? And yes, welcome to the monkey house. B-)