Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies,...

David1955 comments on Jan 17, 2019:

Why doesn't Mueller release an initial broad finding report now? I know he's very professional, but he could surely release an interim report confirming that Trump interfered with justice, or collided with the Russians, or is a co conspirator in a range of crimes, etc and then he can release a full report later with the fines and executions to follow. That happened to Nixon. Also Clinton. I think Mueller is making a big mistake working towards one Big Bang at the end. The great majority of Americans are desperate to know if he has good evidence to charge, indict, or implicate Trump. If Mueller is not careful his own professionalism and 'by the book' approach will be his undoing. It seems to me that Trump's crimes, up to and very possibly including treason, make Nixon look like a kid stealing from the corner shop.

Why did religions originate in the first place?

David1955 comments on Jan 17, 2019:

No it's not a natural by-product of human cognition but a distortion of human thinking due to ignorance, a commonly accepted neurological disorder, reinforced by the theatre, architecture and performance of religion from which it draws false respectability. Altruism? The more we look at the religion, the less real altruism there is to be found. They are businesses, and business has nothing to do with altruism.

Humpty Trumpty wanted a wall Humpty Trumpty is gonna fall All of his lawyers and all of his ...

David1955 comments on Jan 16, 2019:

Hah! Yes, Trump is going to make America walled again. How did it come to this - a crook, grifter, lier, cheat, retrobate, backslider, Russian apologist, or worse, become President of the US, and potentially destroyer of the western alliance and the values underpinning it? As a student of history I truly hope the judgement of history on Trump and that dispictable Republican Party will be savage.

The 4 stages of my atheism.

David1955 comments on Jan 15, 2019:

David1955 4 Stages of Atheism: Stage 1. I think all this religion stuff is crap. Stage 2. Now I'm sure this religion stuff is crap. Stage 3. Now I not only know that this religion stuff is crap, I'm angry at the awful things it does to our world. Stage 4. I'm so angry about religion in this world I'm going to do anything I can, even in a small way, to help rid the world of it. I thank you.

'McJesus' sculpture sparks outrage among Israel's Christians

David1955 comments on Jan 15, 2019:

Hah! Should be BurgerJesusKing. Home of the Whopper! And what a whopper it is. :-)

Does anybody really still think that accusations of treason against the President are ridiculous ...

David1955 comments on Jan 14, 2019:

I don't know if it's treason or not. The definition seems precise. But Trump has clearly acted to the benefit of an external and hostile power at the expense of his own country. Betrayal and collusion, without doubt. Even his supporters know it now. They just can't accept, can't acknowledge that we were right all along. Typical cult behavior.

Mueller looks to tack Trumps hide to the barn wall. [newsweek.com]

David1955 comments on Jan 14, 2019:

My fear is that the core Trump Cult that we now know comprises 25% or so will never, as cultists do, renounce their cult leader, and will be oblivious to all facts, findings and evidence, like cultists are religionists always are, and dig in and become more toxic and belligerent and a dangerous base for Trump or Trump like figures. Some will never see this as anything more than "the system" which their "hero" took on, destroying him. It's fantasy. There is a system, but Trump is part of it, albeit a fringe crazy, and he never had any intention of doing anything other than rorting it for himself. Discrediting Trump won't make this toxic base evaporate, I'm sure if it.

Hopefully the first contact aliens will have a universal translator.

David1955 comments on Jan 13, 2019:

Yes, I can see it now. Humans: "Hello aliens" (universally translated) Aliens: "Blip blip blu blu blu" Universally translated. "You humans are toast. Good bye". :-)

CNN has quoted the NYT that the FBI has opened an investigation of 45 being a Russian asset, which I...

David1955 comments on Jan 12, 2019:

Like we haven't known that from the beginning. One of my early posts here, well over a year ago, I called Trump The Siberian Candidate, and I got comments of a negative kind, but I have thought so from the very beginning. Trump is the most audacious Russian subsersive operation ever, and had Trump been less stupid he might have gotten away with it. Putin all but admitted it. It's shocking.

Here's a question for the group: Does anyone know if Mueller has interviewed the Keebler elf ...

David1955 comments on Jan 11, 2019:

Since he had dealings with Russians, hence his recusal, I'd say he would have to be at some point. Since he's now a Trump weasel, I hope he gets himself into trouble for falsehoods. But that guy, to quote a Blackadderism, is as slippery and as as slimy as a slippery slimy thing.

I spent ten years in a Christian cult here in Texas.

David1955 comments on Jan 11, 2019:

Really liked your post, apart from .....Satanist? Really? Satanism is another form of religion. I don't get that.

When in defence of religion, people say ‘Well the church does a lot of good’ but is it not like ...

David1955 comments on Jan 10, 2019:

It's one of the worst defences of religion I hear. Churches "do a lot of good." I retort sharply: "Well then, do genuine good, spare us the Bronze Age mumbo jumbo, and clean up your act." It's pointless of course. The "good" is a ruse, a cover. Reminds me of gangsters like Al Capone, who used to give money to the poor and help people, letting everyone know it. All the time he was peddling bad booze, running brothels and protection rackets, not to mention murder to the point of mass slaughter. Won't do.

According to CNN, 7 independent investigative studies undertaken within the last two years, have ...

David1955 comments on Jan 10, 2019:

I've said before, and it's an opinion of mine, that at any one time around a quarter or more of a population is authoritarian inclined. They are attracted to simplistically described problems, simplistic solutions, and most of all scapegoats to blame. Your post also describes them in part. In compulsory voting systems their votes are spread across various extreme politicians, or right wing parties. In non compulsory systems they often don't vote. When messianic or demagogic leaders come along, they coalesce around them and they feed their need for authoritarian slogans and banter. Trumpism is a classic example of that. We should remember that in the 1930s, and even into WW2 itself, there was solid support amongst portions of the populations of the western countries in support of fascism and nazism. After the war this was conveniently forgotten, except by historians.

The cows are coming home.

David1955 comments on Jan 8, 2019:

I'm not sure Professor, but are you perhaps possibly suggesting that Mr Trump's preference for living in a fantasy world of his own making might perhaps be beginning to unravel? Lordy, who'd have thought it? :-) Careful Professor, but there are some shall we say more conservative minded folk on this site who get just a wee tad bit upset if their favourite President is attacked. We don't want to that now, do we? Speaking for myself I'd like to do a Dirty Harry on Trump and say to him, "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do you feel lucky? Well, do you, punk?" :-)

I know, uncomfortable.

David1955 comments on Jan 8, 2019:

It's a phenomenon wider than Clinton. Tony "Kiss Ass" Blair did the same in the UK, though the Labour Party there has swung back now. In Australia it happened in the 80s and early 90s with two right wing Labor leaders who helped push the entire spectrum to the Right, much to the loss of working people. (They still argue over who was greater, assholes). It was based on a false strategy. Namely, move parties of the Left to the Right, adopt right wing policies, and wedge conservatives out electorally. It failed. Instead, they implemented right wing policies, moved the whole debate to the right, the Right Wing parties came back, pursued even more right wing policies, and wedged left parties into electoral oblivion. It has been catastrophic, with the results we now see.

The liberals running this website tolerate all kinds of crap from the Trump bashing left wing ...

David1955 comments on Jan 8, 2019:

Do you know the irony of this issue? For decades, conservatives have been in the ascendant, attacking progressive social and economic policies, imposing loopy free market fantasy economics on centre and centre left parties, attacking liberals, progressives and socialists personally, dismantling structures created after WW2 to create social safety nets, skewing taxation and income policies to create massive wealth inequality, flirting with authoritarianism ... And NOW that forces of the left are finally rallying and saying ENOUGH! and the balance needs to be restored to socio-economic policy, the forces on the Right squeal like stuck pigs, and claim they are being unfairly treated and they want respect for their discredited philosophy and economics. Like on this site. What a joke.

The liberals running this website tolerate all kinds of crap from the Trump bashing left wing ...

David1955 comments on Jan 7, 2019:

If Conservatives, or more accurately reactionary conservative extremists, can't take the heat of this predominantly progressive kitchen, then I suggest they seek the comfort of some other reactionary conservative abode, *as I would, were I to find myself in a place where I felt out of place*. Such whining, really. Their Trump is unravelling in his own cesspool of lies and corruption, possibly treason, and they blame us! Sublimated anger, I believe it is called.

MITHRA.

David1955 comments on Jan 6, 2019:

Oh yes. Telling Christians that their Jesus has scant historical basis, or is a composite of various pre-Christian figures, or may have been several Jewish preacher-saviours from the first century blended together, or was just a story that became so "real" to people over time they forgot it was a story (like if people forgot that Sherlock Holmes was a fictional character), and so on, only gets their backs up and makes them dig in. Citing historians with Doctorates and lists of peer recognized publications only ticks them off further. Is it so different now? Trying telling Trump supporters that he's not a billionaire; that he isn't a great deal maker; that he isn't making America great again; that his word means nothing; that he doesn't give crap about 'the little guy'; that he isn't draining the swamp but rather snorting the swamp in every way, and so on, the evidence so obvious. It's called faith based belief. The reasoning part of the brain is turned off. It's tough dealing with people like that.

Hi all.

David1955 comments on Jan 5, 2019:

Why oh why are right wingers and religionists on this site? I would never spend my time on a right wing discussion group, or a religious one. Are they so insecure they feel the need to attack cyber windmills?

At what "level" do your aspirations end?

David1955 comments on Jan 5, 2019:

What I am going to do is, when I reach level 8, assuming I do before I drop off the twig, I am going to get a shirt made with Unbelieve.Org on it. I decided it wouldn't be cricket to do it before reaching level 8. As an atheist, agnostic on my chest is a little problematic, and unbelieve.org still promotes the site and links it back. Anyway, that's where I am with the levels.

Happy new year to admin dude and site support and everyone who is giving me this site .

David1955 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

Totally.

Of course the Australian Federal Governments have their citizen's backs - or do they: ...

David1955 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

The Australian political parties are a club, a club of self interest, competing for the prize, and the prize is Government, with all the trimmings and goodies that go with it. The irony is that they still think we don't know, that we still believe their focus-group based pretend policies. At one time I had some hope for the Greens, but now they've turned into a scene from Life of Brian, fighting amongst themselves and not the Romans. Dispirited am I.

Happy new year, all.

David1955 comments on Jan 1, 2019:

I'm a couple of years younger, but I get you on this. In fact I feel it more and watching TV shows and listening to this era music, and other media. Without wanting to insult McCartney and Starr, I also feel the loss of the lost two; Lennon, extraordinary, for all his faults, a Harrison, who was making great music right up to the end. Lennon, taken so cruelly at 40, and Harrison taken so sadly at just 57 or so. I think a lot us in this generation feel the same.

Do you believe in the concept of "a soul"?

David1955 comments on Dec 30, 2018:

Since it can't be located and there's no agreed definition of what it is, I cannot see how anyone can "believe" in it. Colloquially some people use it to mean the essence of a person, their core personality perhaps. Ok, I won't argue with someone about that. It's matter of semantics. But as a kind of metaphysical "thing" that lives on after us, floats to heaven, or a parallel universe or whatever, no, I don't buy that.

Would it be hypocritical for an agnostic/atheist website to hold a prayer vigil to petition God to ...

David1955 comments on Dec 30, 2018:

Well, if he's an Impersonal God, he won't do anything, since an IG follows non-interventionist free will, but if he's a Personal God then you are also out of luck, since a PG probably sent, or at least allowed Trump to be, so no reason to assume he would take corrective action against the Rocky Horror Trump Show, which, by the way, due to omniscience a PG would have foreseen, as well as your prayer to stop Trump. So, all in all, you're screwed.

New Jersey AG has obtained evidence of possible crimes at Trump's golf club — and Mueller, FBI are...

David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2018:

And the noose tightens. If they go back to Trump's lemonade stand when he was 10 years old, they'd probably find he stole the recipe, cheated with small cups, and swindled his friend out of the take. Honestly.

So much of what is billed as "news" isn't really factual news at all.

David1955 comments on Dec 29, 2018:

When I was a young sprog, the TV stations would only have "Breaking News!" splashed over the screen for real things, like assassinations and huge events. Now, CNN, for example, has "Breaking News!" just about every five minutes, for every half-baked rumour, minor nothing story, or beat up report. At some point news stopped being about reporting information about the world, to become infotainment. Sad.

The fastest growing group of people in the country has been measured as being those who have no ...

David1955 comments on Dec 28, 2018:

Let's be clear. By saying "As conservative atheists we...." you are referring to a subset of people who call themselves atheists, and a small one at that. From research, eg Pew, we know atheists are generally politically and socially progressive. So, please address yourself to your small subset choir. You'll find them in the Conservatives Group here, cheering Trump, clutching their guns, and having parties hating "liberals" and "lefties". From my experience of so-called conservative atheists, they are much more conservative than atheist.

MSNBC ratings top Fox News for first time in 18 years

David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2018:

I stream NBC a lot, and like Maddow, O'Donnel, and Williams, and others, but jeez I wish they would cover real progressive left, not just Democratic Party phoney left. I can't remember seeing any Sanders et.al people ever on it. A constant stream of approved Democratic Party people appear. No wonder the anti corporatists and left activists have nothing but scorn for NBC.

My daughter, who move in with me this year, thought I ought to have a Xmas stocking of my own.

David1955 comments on Dec 27, 2018:

Falling pictures, glitter cover.... your poor cat does have some challenges, doesn't she. :-)

If you think Jesus was born in the year 0 you're dead wrong - Science & Health - Haaretz.com

David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2018:

My understanding is that if, and it's a big if, a single person, Joshua, later turned into the Christ figure, had been born, it was around 4BC. But honestly, the scholars argue over this, and no one really knows for sure, even if you believe in a historical figure, which personally I don't. Then again, there are scholars like Richard Carrier who speculates that several preachers called Joshua may have existed in the first century, fulfilling the earlier Jewish prophecy of such a preacher turned saviour of the Jews, and over time these got moulded into the Jesus story. Historically speaking it's a mess, and only believers believe otherwise.

An interesting article on out growing religion and why those belief systems remain long after we no ...

David1955 comments on Dec 26, 2018:

For some, not all. There are those who go through the weening off period, and still have residue religious or mystical traits in them. I indeed call them residue religionists. New Age nonsense believers fall into this category, and some agnostics, I'm sorry to say. It's like they have a side bet on Pascal wager, kind of. But many of us never believed religious nonsense, not even slightly, not a scrap of it, even as children, even if our arguments were basic. There was no guilt or fear, just an internal knowledge that it was all crap. When we got older we were able to present mature arguments. If I had to guess I'd say our brains are not wired, meaning suspectible, to religion. If a person says they don't believe, but inside they sort of do, or at least a bit, or some mystical nonsense holds them, then there is problem. But if you truly believe it's nonsense, whatever your age, then you are free of it.

Karma, real or imagined?

David1955 comments on Dec 25, 2018:

Imagined. In human lives, as in science, there is cause and effect, and there is probability. Effects resulting from causes, the probability, greater and lesser, of things happening. Karma is a typical result of human subjective thinking, the human brain's need to create patterns and structures to explain what we call reality. We subjectively combine observation of cause and effect and probability outcomes, and create a mystical "law" or "principle" of karmic retribution, and somehow we fool ourselves into thinking we understand reality a little better. It's an illusion. Worse, it's dangerous. I've lived in a Buddhist country and have seen how this concept is contorted to human biases and prejudices. Example? Beggars in the street - explanation? Bad karma. Charming.

The caption for Spock sounds more like something Sheldon Cooper would say. :P

David1955 comments on Dec 25, 2018:

Spock could always mind-meld with the Xmas tree. He mind-melded with everything else, including once a rock creature, so no problem there.

The one thing that religion offers that secularism fails to equal is the transcendence of self, the ...

David1955 comments on Dec 25, 2018:

This post is a thinly disguised typical religious argument, namely that religion is about the "bigger" issues in life, the big profound questions, and fulfils our need to connect to something bigger than ourselves, while secularism is about our selfish selves and needs. Baloney. Philosophies are about ideas bigger than selfish selves, not religion. Religion is not based on reason, so how can it produce anything but lack of reason. If you consider the Dark Age, endless religious wars, religious destruction of human knowledge, regressive attitudes on you name it, corruption, hypocrisy, and scandal, as escaping beyond our selfish limits, then that would a strange argument. I've heard these kinds of emotional blackmail arguments from religionists all my life, and have never believed them. Secularism doesn't have to be defended from assertions like these. They are false.

Ideas for family fun for the holidays.

David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2018:

"White baby boomers' descent into fascism has turned me into a hardcore socialist.." is so good I wish I'd thought of it. And to think many of them were of the Woodstock generation. Never thought I'd get to loathe many of my own generation.

Am I missing something here.

David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2018:

Ha! Just wait til the run up to the next election. PM Go Bo (God Botherer) will be doing some prayin' alright. With any luck he'll be politically crucified. As much as I dislike Bill Shortning and the Absolutely Lightweight Party (ALP), I still long to see the end to Go Bo and his gang of Pre-Enlightenment deplorables (sorry Hillary) bite the dust. Jesus won't bring the rain, and he won't save their assess either.

Flint is still without water because it's too expensive.

David1955 comments on Dec 24, 2018:

That's 5 billion, taint it? If he could build the damn thing for 5 mil I'd say give it to him, to shut him up like a spoil brat wanting an ice cream.

Trump Biographer: President’s Entire Campaign Was Likely a ‘Criminal Conspiracy’

David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2018:

Yes, no doubt. The arrogance of Trump to think he could get away with it. A dude might go into politics worrying about a skeleton in the closet, but Trump had an entire graveyard in his house.

For ancient history fans

David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2018:

That second one could be Trump talking to Roger Stone. Cave men with clubs is about their level.

John de Lancie on Freethought Radio (Freedom from Religion Foundation) I haven't listened to it ...

David1955 comments on Dec 23, 2018:

I really like JDeL's video on Openly Secular website. He really is great to listen to and watch. Q is my favourite character on ST anyway, often misunderstood by the less thoughtful.

Xmas in Australia.

David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2018:

Except for those, like me, who prefer an air conditioned house, turkey, vegetables, pudding, and iced honey lemon tea, followed by good coffee. We're not all the stereotype. :-)

Conflating possible with probable

David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2018:

Well of course all this is depressingly and reality-checkingly true. But I ask how can we statistically determine the likelihood that alien species elsewhere, that have been around far longer than we, may have invented faster than light drives, mastered worm-hole travel, or discovered pathways in the universe, or similar, which permit them to do what seems impossible to us now? Saying that it is statistically highly unlikely or in effect impossible is, in the end, an opinion only, is it not? Taking your lottery analogy, every week millions of people buy a ticket in lotteries in which the odds for each individual to win are seemingly impossible. Yet, every week, some do.

I remember when TV changed colour in Adelaide in 75, an episode of this was on TV and it changed ...

David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2018:

Me too. The irony is that now I happily stream TV from the golden age of the 50s and 60s, including a lot of B and W in preference to the crap that mostly passes for modern TV shows these days. I no longer care about colour, only quality.

Ruth Bader Ginburg has 2 cancerous tumors remove from her lungs.

David1955 comments on Dec 22, 2018:

Well, why not. A corrupt, fraudulent, unrepresentative, gerrymandered Senate, representing a fraction of the population, supporting a predominantly white oligarchy, rigging your Supreme Court to enforce a Right Wing reactionary agenda of a minority over a progressive majority. Let's hear it for autocracy, oligarchy, regressive political agendas, voter suppressed, gerrymandered sham democracies, and white suprematist rule generally. Happy Days. Another chapter in the decline of the American Empire. Throw in lead in the pipes and it'll be Rome all over again.

Does anyone else find it ironic that "can't prove a negative" is a negative statement?

David1955 comments on Dec 18, 2018:

There is nothing negative in saying that you cannot prove a negative. In fact not only can you not prove a negative, it is not necessary to do so, and the affirmation of that fact effectively rebuffs those who claim it is necessary to do so. For example, religionists, and sadly some agnostics, who claim atheists should prove that God *doesn't* exist, which is absurd, as would be an argument that those not believing in fairies must prove that they don't exist. In this regard, a statement that a negative cannot be proven is not a negative statement, but an affirmation of correct logic.

Guns: Give them to everyone as a government program.

David1955 comments on Dec 15, 2018:

Well, is that the latest idea form your NRA and their Russian best friends? Why only a hand gun? Why not one of those automatic machine guns? If you're going to reduce the country to chaos and slaughter, then why not do it well. Yes, Sir.

Always fun to find out who is who on this site.

David1955 comments on Dec 13, 2018:

If I were Ms Butina, I'd worry more about what will happen to her after she tells all to the US authorities and then gets sent back to the welcoming arms of Vlad and his boys. I don't see the US allowing her to say, and anyway, Vlad would still find a way to get her. Movies aside, spy craft is a nasty business. .... May her story help bring down that horrible NRA.

The Year of the Woman just roared in Trump's Oval Office - CNNPolitics

David1955 comments on Dec 12, 2018:

I think that roar was the outcome that came from the roar of women voters during the mid term elections. He looked pathetic. He is pathetic. Someone should put him out of his misery, politically speaking.

Ok guys and gals Lily Munster or Morticia Addams

David1955 comments on Dec 11, 2018:

PS. I have found that I can stream these and all other TV shows from the 60s with the "Tea" App for Android. I love Perry Mason too. When I was a kid I wanted to be Paul Drake.

Ok guys and gals Lily Munster or Morticia Addams

David1955 comments on Dec 11, 2018:

Two of my fav TV ladies of the 60s, along with Julie Newmar, Catwoman.

A rude awakening

David1955 comments on Dec 10, 2018:

Maybe time to tone down the criticisms of religion. It must be true: God doesn't have a sense of humour. :-) Hope the cat is ok.

Early Russian outreach to Trump campaign detailed by Mueller

David1955 comments on Dec 9, 2018:

It would appear that Mr Mueller had a choice of either going for the jugular, or death by a thousand cuts with Trump. Wisely, he's chosen the latter. Going for the jugular can miss. A thousand cuts gets you in the end. It also allows for the possibility that a Trump, in his desperation, will do something so illegal it'll be impossible for his base and the sycophants in his party to ignore. I also do not discount the possibility that the Russians will release killer info about Trump. They'd enjoy putting their figurative foot on his neck. What have they to lose? The sensible people in the US know about Putin. He is enjoying humiliating the US, and his prestige with the autocrats in the world would only grow. I predict!

The Darker Side of George H. W. Bush’s Kinder, Gentler Faith-Based Politics - TheHumanist.com

David1955 comments on Dec 7, 2018:

It's always mainstream media. Who owns mainstream media, and what are their true interests? Rarely the real truth and manufactured consent and dissent, as Noam Chomsky has said. Bush whitewashing is par for the course.

Have you guys been spreading discontent?

David1955 comments on Dec 7, 2018:

No need to spread it. It's a self replicating virus. I keep saying that the labor party needs to firmly reject economic rationalism, stand for a real reform agenda, fight on principle, win government with an agenda, not by default, and *fucking stand for something* which they haven't done since the Hawke- Keating contagion in the 80s. (Pardon my French, but I'm sick of the ALP here).

Late news but current for the next 2.5 days. Australian heatwave: [mobile.abc.net.au]

David1955 comments on Dec 6, 2018:

Let's all take a deep breath and remember the wise words of The Mad Monk, Tony Abbott, that climate change is "all crap". :-<

A hypothetical: Suppose @admin is sick of agnostic.

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

None. I want a more atheistic site, not less. On second thought, maybe option 3.

Just saying.

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

I confess, as as Australian, I've never worked out the difference between Republican and Libertarian. Methinks the latter is a Republican who has read too much Ayn Rand. :-)

It has just been brought to my attention that every post I make at Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

Totally agree. If we opt out, as I did, then that's what it should mean. I further note that Admin generally has gone very quiet on admin issues, and is as visible lately as God during the Inquisition, meaning not at all.

There are some insanely mean and hateful people on this site --- just a reminder that the world ...

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

Agreed. I made a joke yesterday about there is revolution in the air about the points system. But it was a joke. Overall, the site works really well.

Say hello to Mr lizard who lives under our house

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

We've got a Blue Tongued lizard in our garden. A real gentleman. I call him Lester. He's very dignified and keeps a low profile, though it's kind of hard for him to do otherwise. :-) He's totally relaxed around us, and attends to his business. He knows it is safe here for him. What species is this one in the pic?

There seems to be a problem with the site.

David1955 comments on Dec 5, 2018:

Revolution is in the air. Oh goody. :-)

Would you feel overwhelmed with guilt if you stole something?

David1955 comments on Dec 3, 2018:

Not if it were Donald Trump's orange hair (?) mop piece. I could live guiltlessly. :-)

[scontent.fbne6-1.fna.fbcdn.net]

David1955 comments on Dec 3, 2018:

Ha! One day we will get a PM in Australia of vision and fortitude and courage, but not any time soon, and not in my remaining lifetime I suspect. Still the personal destiny fulfillers line up for those keys to the Lodge.

I'd like to know exactly what gets a member's points deducted?

David1955 comments on Dec 2, 2018:

Agreed. I wonder if the point system is completely understood even by Admin, I mean, quirks in coding and so on. There seems to be growing chorus calling for greater transparency, with all due respect to Admin.

The fact that the word faith is so closely associated with religion and God is annoying.

David1955 comments on Dec 2, 2018:

I think it is very important to differentiate between two meanings of the word "faith" in everyday language. Faith, as used in religion, means belief in claims and assertions not based on evidence or proven fact. It allows religions to make extraordinary claims about history, with no evidence, obliging followers to believe those claims on that basis. Indeed, religions make a virtue of faith-based beliefs as a sign that they are "worthy" of their imaginary God or saviour. But faith in general language is often used as a synonym for the word hope. People say they have faith in the future, faith that the better nature of human beings will prevail, that they have faith in their children, and so on. This means hope, but it is based on something -- one's opinion of human nature, the reading of history, or knowledge of our children. It's really hope, but expressed in that way, based on something, whether justified or not. We need to reject the religious meaning, loudly and clearly. We should recognize the second meaning as a synonym of language.

I'm sure George H.

David1955 comments on Dec 2, 2018:

Yes, and the business connections and questionable dealings of the Bush Family oligarchy, as well, for that matter. It is a fact that when people like this die in the US, the mainstream media go overboard in praise and eulogy. Same was true for John Mc Cain. It takes the progressive media to balance this eulogizing excess by mainstream media.

My points have been stuck at 65,032 for about a day now.

David1955 comments on Dec 2, 2018:

I think there are some issues with the point system, but it's secondary in my mind. Some people hitting level 7 in a short period, yet you've hardly heard of them. Then stagnation for some at certain levels for months despite active engagement. The cynic in me might think that there is a plan to keep too many reaching 7 and above, yet that wouldn't explain the rapid progress of some people. So, I don't know what to think. The "chill out dude" in me kicks in when I consider that it's a bit lame to feel "in competition" others. Also the level 8 T-shirt thing for me is tempered by the fact that while I acknowledge the name of the site, I'm not keen on wearing 'Agnostic" on my chest because I'm not one, and worry people will think I am. I must remember to order online some "Atheist" T-shirts, with the atheist "A" symbol, and "unbelieve.org" on the bottom, the other site name, which I prefer. These days you can design any T-shirt you want. Yes, I must remember to do that.

What is Socialism? [counterpunch.org]

David1955 comments on Nov 30, 2018:

If you're a conservative, socialism means spending money and reallocating resources on anything of direct benefit to the community -- education, social-economic safety net, health, essential infrastructure, employment, etc -- is wasteful and cannot be afforded, while reallocating resources on unjustifiable military spending, unnecessary or even illegal wars, domestic surveillance, huge tax cuts for the obscene rich, subsidies, lerks, perks, and benefits to the wealthy and huge corporations, is just fine and utterly consistent with a "free market" private enterprise economy. I've often thought that Right Wingers are the biggest socialists of all. They just don't realize it. Oh and I forgot trillion dollar bail outs when capitalism almost destroys itself due to corruption, greed and stupidity. No problem with that if you're a RW.

The 4th National Climate Assessment by the US government that was released the day after ...

David1955 comments on Nov 30, 2018:

I remember in 1998 meeting a computer science guy who'd had a tech company, was very successful, very technically informed and computer fluent. He had sold everything, lived in a backwater, and waited for the Y2K bug disaster to come. He lectured me for hours about the apocalypse to come: the planes would drop from the sky, the trains would crash into each other, the nuclear plants would explode, the financial system would collapse, every computer system known to man would implode and it would be back to the dark ages for us. He was an expert he told me, and all the other experts knew this, he said, but nothing could be done in time, so we were screwed. I didn't believe him, but I was concerned, and waited. On New Year's Eve 1999 I kept it in my mind. But the world didn't end. I've never forgotten that guy. It's not that I don't agree with the science, or that major change isn't needed, and regressive right wing forces live in la la land. It's just I am wary of experts and apocalypticalism, in any form. That's all.

From @heather2367 in the memes group. This made me laugh out loud!

David1955 comments on Nov 28, 2018:

The Commodore 64 is still in the shed. Keeping it as an antique. Those were the days...

Who else feels like religion leads to wars and killing

David1955 comments on Nov 27, 2018:

Religious "logic" here is sadly inexorable. You believe in God. There is the word of God. Non believers are the enemy of God. Enemies have to dealt with. So there are the wars of God. God is never wrong. All wars in his name are righteous. You start with an imaginary God, and wars and violence inevitably follow. Monotheism is the worst here. Look at our history since their rise several millennia ago.

In the news again! Australian airline pilots fly in their sleep.

David1955 comments on Nov 26, 2018:

Are you trying to give me nightmares and fear of flying phobia, FrayedBear? If so, you're succeeding. :-)

Democrats Finally Acknowledging Secular Voters

David1955 comments on Nov 26, 2018:

Slow, aren't they? I've often thought that with all the squabbles that go on here about definitions, like atheist and agnostic, and ignostic and all the rest, that 'secular' might be one term we could all agree on, or most of us. I'm sure I'm wrong. There would be objections I'm sure. Something about the term would not suit some. Oh well.

Agnostic vs Athiest

David1955 comments on Nov 25, 2018:

The atheist says, " I don't have a belief in any God as there's not a scrap of evidence for any of them. Find some evidence and make an appointment. I'll fit you in. So, I'm an atheist, and I mean about all Gods." The agnostic says, "Well, I'm not sure if there's a God. I haven't seen any evidence of a god. I'm not even sure if God is knowable, that is able to be known, so, I'll have to be uncertain about that too. So, I'm an agnostic, mainly about the God I grew up with, but I guess all of them, sort of (if you press me). The atheist says to the agnostic, "Errr, ok, well, I guess we'll both reconsider it if some evidence comes along. But don't hold your breath." :-)

Assange's threat to the Corporatocracy's MSM PR machinery is something they can't allow.

David1955 comments on Nov 25, 2018:

Ok, this is what I don't understand. I was an admirer of Assange. I like whistleblowers exposing the sins of governments, the military, corporations and other structures of power. But someone explain to me how Assange helping the Republicans, Trump puppets, and undermining H Clinton and so on, was in any way good for the world or for him personally. I get the US establishment is out to get Assange. What I don't get is Assange and Wikileaks' intrusion into the 2016 election.

Atheism is a myth.

David1955 comments on Nov 24, 2018:

The usual littany of false assumptions and claims against atheism. Boring! Here's some advice friend: fight "the Romans" instead of fellow nonbelievers. I don't believe in fairies. I'm an a-fairies-ist, because there is no evidence. But according to you, not believing in fairies is a myth too. Right.

Is it against site rules to have two accounts?

David1955 comments on Nov 24, 2018:

It's a form of deception and shouldn't be tolerated. How many such people are believers, I wonder? I've always had the view that this shouldn't be a site for believers.

My post of earlier here has been taken down.

David1955 comments on Nov 22, 2018:

I agree with your concern. There is a little too much of that going on, posts, points and rapid progress of levels. It remains my only concern about the operation of the site. I let it go as I aim to be above it, but I see recent joiners at high level and I have my doubts. That's all I will say.

For 40-50,000 years Australian First Nations People have nurtured and developed the environment.

David1955 comments on Nov 20, 2018:

It's hard to disagree. However, it cannot be said that had the British not arrived and colonized when they did, another colonial power would not have, with equal or worse consequences for the native population. The expansion of colonialism, and then early industrialization, would have made this inevitable. To imagine that the indigenous population of Australia could have been left untouched in an undeveloped land to the present time defies the reality of the growth and spread of global evolution. So the inexorable forces of history are to blame, I suppose, not that that gives any comfort. I'm old enough to remember how indigenous people were treated in the past, not just the people, but the utter disregard of the culture. A lot has changed since then. It started to change after Whitlam, in my view. I can't speak with authority about how to solve all the problems. But at least we remember the history and want to correct it, and that's the difference between imperfect liberal democracies and authoritarian regimes, which black out or rewrite the past.

For those who will meet up with family (and friends) this holiday season, here's some advice from ...

David1955 comments on Nov 20, 2018:

I watched his show and he made a really good point about core Trump supporters. If they haven't woken up by now, they won't, so don't waste your time arguing with them. He's right. It's like religious people. The more you press them, the more they dig in. If their brains are going to rewire, it's going to be self rewiring. Like Nixon supporters who hung on until the obvious couldn't be denied. Like Hitler supporters who had to face the reality of his evil at the end. Sad to say, some Hitler fans never gave it up. I suspect it'll be the same with some Trumpsters. They'll re-channel into another Trumpian autocrat. Inanycase, dialogue is now pointless with them.

Any ideas of capping your daily posts?

David1955 comments on Nov 19, 2018:

Agreed. It's a by product of the point system. Most do the right thing, but a few don't. I think the sensible majority see what is going on.

Do we have any fans of Bill maher on here, I'm sure their are some, I was one up until recently when...

David1955 comments on Nov 19, 2018:

He's an atheist brother and a progressive, funny, insightful, passionate, and enjoys being politically incorrect, and on that I'm with him 100%. I don't agree with those who think you can be atheist and progressive or left wing, but don't say anything to put anyone's nose out of joint whatever you do. We've had that for too long, and as a result we've got this right wing Trumpian backlash, and not just in the US. Enough. I like him and I like the way he jumps both on the Crazy Right and the Regressive Politically Correct Left. Genuine left wingers have a sense of humour and thick skins. I do.

I firmly believe there are three main reasons why trump got in.

David1955 comments on Nov 17, 2018:

I think you need to distinguish between the so-called Trump working class base -- which you are referring to in your post, who got a Trump religion, are TV trained, and loathed Clinton -- and other true-believer conservative Republicans who knew that Trump was a phoney, a fraud, a crook, a liar, and a moral cretin, but once he took the nomination supported him. The first group are delusional and have a faith based belief, like a religion. The latter are not delusional, but frankly would vote for the Devil, if he were Republican.

If you could meet and hold a discussion with one fictional character who would you choose?

David1955 comments on Nov 15, 2018:

"Q" from Star Trek. I think finding Q and the Q Continuum was the real purpose of the Trek in Space. Q basically told Picard that in ST TNG "All good things".

It's time for a different economic system:

David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2018:

Yes, and it has been and continues to be the failure of the political left to rid itself of the failed ideology and economics of economic rationalism and develop new politics and economics based on fairness and shared outcomes. Tweaking current models to just manage to win elections won't cut it anymore.

Random observations from day one exploration.

David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2018:

Trump pinatas? Oh, you mean the asylum section of the community. Yes, enter at own risk. :-)

There is no progress fairy anymore than there is a savior god.

David1955 comments on Nov 14, 2018:

Human belief in inexorable progress is not consistent. In the 19th Century there was enormous faith in technology and progress. WW1 was an enormous reality check on that. We saw a renewal of belief in progress after WW2. It has now waned with global cynicism and almost dispair. I think the underlying belief that technology and progress can solve our problems remains. What we doubt is the capacity of the human species to rise above greed and short term thinking. That will continue unless and until we have structures of power that reflect more noble goals, for the species and the planet. It may get much worse before it gets better, and it may not get better at all. A failed species on a failed planet.

Today Trump is tweeting all his best and kindest lording nationalist is sympathy for California.

David1955 comments on Nov 13, 2018:

Apparently he hates California because he is so unpopular there. As always, it's all about him. What a loathsome poor excuse of a human being he is.

Douglas Rain, the Canadian actor who provided the voice to the HAL 9000 computer in Stanley ...

David1955 comments on Nov 12, 2018:

It's always human error, Dave. RIP Mr Rain. We'll never forget you and HAL.

One more note on how a President respects the military - at of time, personal comforts, or ...

David1955 comments on Nov 10, 2018:

And yet millions of Americans have voted for him, twice in effect, including millions of women, and it boggles the imagination to consider why.

The Aliens land from millions of light years away.

David1955 comments on Nov 10, 2018:

I've come to think that if aliens are intelligent, they'll land and say hello. But if they are really intelligent, they won't.

Half of white women continue to vote Republican. What's wrong with them?

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2018:

I just don't get this. Never have and still don't. But let's face it, it's older white people generally who support Trump, men and women, hanging on to the world they knew fast changing, fearful of non white groups finding their voice and standing up, regressing into the autocratic fantasy that Trump provides that seems to ameliorate their fear. So much of human behaviour is based on fear. That said, how any woman of intelligence with any self respect can support a creep like Trump is totally beyond me. The old white guy Trump supporter I kind of get, but women, no, not so much.

I am now an Athesit. I renounce my Christianity for Atheism

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2018:

Congratulations, especially if you transitioned directly to atheism without the half way house of agnosticism along the way.

The Beatles - Helter Skelter [youtube.com]

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2018:

I'm afraid this song, and indeed the White Album generally, has, in my mind forever been contaminated due to Manson and his Cult and the murdering morons who followed him. Sad to say. Not the Beatles fault, but as a life long fan of Sharon's I can't purge the connection between the evil quasi religious Manson cult and this music.

As a conservative atheist I feel like I am alone in this world socially and romantically

David1955 comments on Nov 9, 2018:

Reading this post and comments, what we seem to have here is a guy who claims to be a conservative and an atheist, and is sort of looking for sympathy. (Or a girlfriend). Really? In this world now I have no sympathy for conservatives, or conservatives masquerading as libertarians, even if they call themselves atheist. *Every atheist I admire, respect, or look up to are progressive or at least progressive-left leaning, and not one is conservative.* The world has changed, and I have no time for conservatism any more.

As a conservative atheist I feel like I am alone in this world socially and romantically

David1955 comments on Nov 8, 2018:

So, you've worked through your thinking on religion, but maybe political-economic thinking is still a work in progress. The key questions to me are: what is it about progressive ideas that alienates me, and is conservatism really consistent with atheist values and seek a non-religious world? I know my answers.

I just recently had a conversation with a lady that says God, angels, devil and Higher spiritual ...

David1955 comments on Nov 8, 2018:

Say goodnight to the folks, Gracie.

For those of you agnostics who find the whole God thing as silly as I do: Remember, being an ...

David1955 comments on Nov 6, 2018:

Being an agnostic means you can believe whatever you want, whenever you want? I've heard some definitions of agnosticism, but that one takes the cake. Glad I am not an agnostic but firmly atheist. I'm assuming your post is tongue in cheek. No one hopes for your blue wave more than me. But temporarily believing in a deity to achieve it I don't think will help. If God didn't stop Hitler, I doubt Trump will motivate him to act. Anyway, I hope your blue wave doesn't turn into a blue funk. Hillary was right. The Trump base is deplorable. I'm done rationalizing them.

Have you ever been called a "clever clog?"

David1955 comments on Nov 5, 2018:

Strange. I thought a clog meant a dummy or a bit of a smuck. New one for me. I like smarty pants, myself. It cuts down pretentious people. Never forget that episode of Frasier when this everyday guy, when asked by Frasier why he didn't like him, replied, "Well, I think you are a smarty pants." Frasier knew he was right, and so did we the audience.