Memphis poll worker fired for turning away voters wearing BLM shirts.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

I was once told I had to cover up my *Firefly* fan t-shirt, just like this one. Even though the Browncoats only exist in science fiction. EDIT- that's Brown*COATS*, not brown*shirts*

Paul4747 replies on Oct 22, 2020:

@dave1459 An election worker, the one who checked me in

Who wants to bet on Trump trying to physically charge across the stage at Biden during the debate?

Lauren comments on Oct 22, 2020:

Given how he stalked Clinton during the last election, odds seem pretty even I think. That's if he shows up at all. Are you taking bets on that, too?

Paul4747 replies on Oct 22, 2020:

Currently paying 1:7 Biden, 2:1 Trump, 15:1 bar. :D All payouts in quatloos or gold-pressed latinum.

Editorial: Barrett's moral relativism is cause for rejection from the bench | National Catholic ...

Flowerwall comments on Oct 22, 2020:

Why do people consistently mention RBG's dying wish , as the Notre Dame faculty members did? Do they not realize how illegitimate personal wishes are in these circumstances? Is our government meant to function that way? I do think there are some legitimate concerns that need to addressed in the ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 22, 2020:

@Flowerwall Claptrap. Again, you're deliberately ignoring the overt politicizing of the entire process by the Republican Senate leadership. Trump boasts about how many Federal judges he's installed and says Pres. Obama "failed" because he "left those seats open". "You don't leave all those seats open." The fact is that McConnell blocked hearings on over 200 Federal judicial appointments, along with a Supreme Court Justice, during Pres. Obama's terms. Obama deliberately nominated center of the road, nonpartisan judges who follow the Constitution, respect *stare decisis*, and particularly respect the principle embodied in 10th Amendment; "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or *to the people*." Hence the right of privacy, the foundation of Roe v Wade, which the Republicans have been trying to overturn for 40 years. The Senate was never given an opportunity to consent to the nomination of Merrick Garland, nor were they able to consent or deny hundreds of other nominees, because they were denied a hearing for narrow partisan reasons. The Senate never advised on Barrett's nomination; their advice was never sought. If Trump truly wanted the advice and consent of the Senate, he would have consulted both parties' leadership, rather than cram this nomination down the nation's throat. Knowing the history of these appointments, Justice Ginsberg was well aware of what would likely follow her death. Her wish was that America not be subjected to another partisan battle, where the stakes are so unimaginably high. Justice Ginsberg was a giant of the justice system. Her words have weight, as much as Eisenhower's warning about the military-industrial complex or Lincoln's words at Gettysburg. It's ill-advised to simply brush aside the opinion of someone who spent their adult life thinking about the role of the courts in America.

First covid-19 death linked to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally reported in Minnesota If it only effected ...

AmyTheBruce comments on Oct 21, 2020:

I don't understand the pushback you're getting for saying "If it only effected bikers..." I understood that to mean "If it only effected those in attendance at the motorcycle rally...", which implies that you are unhappy that the contagion spread to others. Did I get that right? If so, it ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 22, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp There's a bumper sticker/ t-shirt/ etc. design I've seen with the Harley Davidson logo surmounting the slogan, "If You Have To Ask, You'll Never Understand". Well, exactly. I'll never understand. It's one brand of motorcycle among many. Big fat hairy deal. There's nothing magical about it, you can't tell me how it has superior performance or mileage... if the slogan was "Harley Davidson: I Prefer This Brand", I would accept that. I like my Pontiac. I liked my Chevy better than the Ford I had. But for god's sake, they make it a mystical in-group symbol; "it's not a 'real' motorcycle unless it's a Harley!" Put a damn muffler on your Harley. It's loud and annoying. Maybe then I'll stop crowding toward the center line when I see you coming the other direction. (And what is it with Harley riders that they always seem to ride 2 abreast, with one on the yellow line? Move over, dumbass!)

Editorial: Barrett's moral relativism is cause for rejection from the bench | National Catholic ...

Flowerwall comments on Oct 22, 2020:

Why do people consistently mention RBG's dying wish , as the Notre Dame faculty members did? Do they not realize how illegitimate personal wishes are in these circumstances? Is our government meant to function that way? I do think there are some legitimate concerns that need to addressed in the ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 22, 2020:

Why refer to Justice Ginsberg's wish that her seat not be hurriedly filled as a raw political power play? How is that "illegitimate"? It's certainly no more illegitimate than the hypocrisy by which Mitch McConnell holds open a seat for 9 months, denying President Obama's nominee even the courtesy of a hearing, but rams through Trump's nominee in less than 9 weeks. Why is Justice Ginsberg's personal wish less legitimate than Donald Trump's and Mitch McConnell's? I would say hers is far more legitimate, seeing as she had no partisan axe to grind; rather, she didn't want to see the Supreme Court become yet another political football to be punted around for party advantage. The law is supposed to be above partisan considerations, but in my lifetime it has become the avenue by which the minority party (the Republicans) have sought to undo the will of the majority of the people and preserve their outdated, right-wing religious agenda, when the tide of history is clearly against them. Not since Roger B. Taney wrote the Dred Scott decision has a Supreme Court been poised to stand so utterly against the principles of freedom.

Where is the weirdest place you have seen religious propaganda?

creative51 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

There is a regional potato chip maker, who sell "Uncle Ray's" potato chips. "Ray" (supposedly a real person), put supposedly true religious stories on the back of his packages. I do buy them, because they are less expensive then other brands and do taste good. After realizing what his stories were ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

@creative51 Indeed. All the important information (viz. the price tag) is on the front.

Where is the weirdest place you have seen religious propaganda?

AnneWimsey comments on Oct 20, 2020:

Just a BTW, I have noticed many times that "dollar store groceries" are More expensive than the exact same thing at a Walmart grocery, not to mention less choice!

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

At a smaller store, I accept that I'm paying for the convenience of not having to walk 1/4 mile to get a roll of toilet paper. I get my groceries at a local chain with only 4 stores in the state, the prices are maybe 5 to 20% higher depending on what you're buying but the selection is fine and I can get my groceries in 20 minutes compared to 45 minutes wandering through the other big box store we have; and it's 10 minutes closer to my place (so a 20 minute round trip difference). I refuse to patronize Wal Mart. (I'm sorry if that's the only other choice you have, but I understand how they drive competition out.)

Where is the weirdest place you have seen religious propaganda?

snytiger6 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

At In and Out burgers, they put scriptures on the cups. They do make the best and reltively heathiest fast food, but I didn't patronize them when I lived in southern California. Now, I don't eat fast food period. But, my not goign to In and Out had to do with the scriptures on the cups.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

We had an In And Out Burger here in Michigan, but I don't think it was the same chain, somehow. Maybe the owner borrowed the name though?

Where is the weirdest place you have seen religious propaganda?

creative51 comments on Oct 20, 2020:

There is a regional potato chip maker, who sell "Uncle Ray's" potato chips. "Ray" (supposedly a real person), put supposedly true religious stories on the back of his packages. I do buy them, because they are less expensive then other brands and do taste good. After realizing what his stories were ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

That's weird, I've bought that brand occasionally for years and never looked at the back....

I have always thought that A.

Detritus comments on Oct 20, 2020:

IMHO evil is a descriptor much like beauty. Both only exist in the eye (opinion) if the beholder.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

@Detritus Ah, but minimize harm to whom? The problem is that people tend to view morality in terms of in-groups and out-groups. What is immoral when it's inflicted on a member of your in-group, is completely acceptable if your in-group is inflicting it on members of an out-group. Let's take the example of "enhanced interrogation", which is, bluntly, a euphemism for torture. American conservativs would be enraged and call for retaliation and revenge if it came out that American POWs were being waterboarded, forced to stand naked in stress positions, and threatened by dogs in a foreign nation; yet they had no problem at all learning that American soldiers were doing it to Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison or CIA interrogators to Al Qaeda suspects at Gitmo. Rush Limbaugh even said, of Abu Ghraib, that he had seen worse at fraternity hazings. These are low-empathy and low-imagination individuals. They can't imagine what it would be like to be in that situation, or to have someone they care about in that situation, and therefore they can't empathize with members of an out-group who are in that situation now. Those who easily tolerate suffering among others can't put themselves in someone else's place. The more one builds imagination and empathy, the harder it is to see others suffer- no matter what group they belong to. Eventually one ceases to think in terms of in-groups and out-groups at all, at the highest levels of empathy; but that's a rare point to reach. We can try, though.

I have always thought that A.

JoeB comments on Oct 20, 2020:

What sometimes happens with people is they can be persuaded to turn off their capacity folr higher cognitive reasoning and behave like chimpanzees. There are a number of consequences of this, but the one which I suspect is bothering you at the moment is how chimpanzees resolve leadership struggles. ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 21, 2020:

Also, many tend to follow the one who does the most chest-thumping, since it seems very impressive even if it doesn't objectively accomplish anything.

How the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally may have spread coronavirus across the Upper Midwest - The ...

Lauren comments on Oct 19, 2020:

It boggles my mind that the delusion runs so strong that people won't change their minds even when one of their own has a "come to Jesus" moment and tells their story.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 20, 2020:

@Lauren Another quote in the Post: "The administration isn't making evidence-based policy, they're creating policy-based evidence." Or words to that effect.

How the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally may have spread coronavirus across the Upper Midwest - The ...

Lauren comments on Oct 19, 2020:

It boggles my mind that the delusion runs so strong that people won't change their minds even when one of their own has a "come to Jesus" moment and tells their story.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 19, 2020:

Alas, he told his story to the *Washington Post*, which the Trump crowd will immediately dismiss as "Fake News!!" And Fox will never go within ten miles of carrying this story; or they'll spin it as "Half a million fearless people, unintimidated by the Liberal Fake News Media, have a great time at The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally." :|

Who believes in the Scientific Big Bang myth?

Paul4747 comments on Oct 19, 2020:

Please.... Get a dictionary.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 19, 2020:

@Word adverb: please used in polite requests or questions As in, please just use some common sense for once. Or, *pretty* please, with sugar on top; don't be such a twerp.

Amy Siskind’s list of norms President Trump abandoned - Washington Post

FearlessFly comments on Oct 17, 2020:

https://medium.com/@Amy_Siskind/week-197-experts-in-authoritarianism-advise-to-keep-a-list-of-things-subtly-changing-around-you-d5ffbfc03b33

Paul4747 replies on Oct 17, 2020:

Oh lord. I'm only at week 50. I had to take a break and play video games with my daughter. I took my brain off the hook for a while.

One last vote: In Michigan, a terminally ill man’s mission to cast a ballot - The Washington Post

FearlessFly comments on Oct 17, 2020:

. . . paywall . . . cut-paste of the entire article is highly likely a copyright violation. :P

Paul4747 replies on Oct 17, 2020:

@barjoe Well, I'm not a pirate, but this particular story was touching enough that I wanted to share it mostly intact. I'll probably edit it for fair use.

One last vote: In Michigan, a terminally ill man’s mission to cast a ballot - The Washington Post

FearlessFly comments on Oct 17, 2020:

. . . paywall . . . cut-paste of the entire article is highly likely a copyright violation. :P

Paul4747 replies on Oct 17, 2020:

Luckily I omitted sections of the article. Hopefully the Post won't mind the extended quotation.

Waitress Fired After Refusing to Serve Transphobic Customers | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly Atheist |...

K9Kohle789 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

Oh switching tables from bigots is now a fireable offense? I don't think bigots should ask someone outside their group to agree with their bigotry. I would do the same thing or ask who in their family is gay? Because there is a gay person in almost everyone's family whether they know it or not.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Again, false equivalency. Being a fan of a sports team is a choice. Orientation isn't. When I stop replying to you, it's because we're debating past each other.

Waitress Fired After Refusing to Serve Transphobic Customers | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly Atheist |...

K9Kohle789 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

Oh switching tables from bigots is now a fireable offense? I don't think bigots should ask someone outside their group to agree with their bigotry. I would do the same thing or ask who in their family is gay? Because there is a gay person in almost everyone's family whether they know it or not.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay "Being exposed to" is not the same as "being asked to participate in". As usual, you're dancing around the point and, I suspect, willfully ignoring it. No, white supremacists are not worth equal service, and you're making an entirely false equivalence when you then offer, "If I was offended by black people, would that give me the right to not serve them?" Skin color isn't a choice. Sporting racist tatts is 100 percent a choice. > The boss is saying your being offended for others should not affect your job performance and if it does, then you are not fit for this job. Again, that's not what happened. Did you read the column? Read the column. > ... when she overheard two customers making transphobic comments about another customer. When she arrived at their table, **the customers asked her if she agreed that other person was “disgusting.” ** They tried to get her to endorse their bigotry. They tried to get her to be their accomplice. They tried to pull her into insulting other customers. That's unacceptable. It was a lose-lose for her. Her boss should have asked them to confine themselves to asking his servers for food and drink, and leave his staff out of their prejudice, or *they* would need to leave. A good boss has his staff's backs.

Waitress Fired After Refusing to Serve Transphobic Customers | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly Atheist |...

K9Kohle789 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

Oh switching tables from bigots is now a fireable offense? I don't think bigots should ask someone outside their group to agree with their bigotry. I would do the same thing or ask who in their family is gay? Because there is a gay person in almost everyone's family whether they know it or not.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay Wrong. It wasn't "overheard comments," they tried to get her to join the conversation and endorse their bigotry; to agree with them. Some "creeds" do not deserve service. Just for example, are a bunch sporting swastika tattoos entitled to equal service, or would a server be entitled to feel uncomfortable and ask for someone else to serve that table? (Yes, Godwin's Law, and I don't give a shit. Anybody with Nazi insignia tattooed on their bodies is a fucking disgrace.) The issue here is hypocrisy. Religious conservatives want to be able to refuse service to LGBTQ because they're offended by their orientation, but this server is not allowed the privilege of refusing service to bigots because she is offended by bigotry (which, unlike being LGBTQ, actually IS a choice; nobody is born a bigot). Essentially, the owner was saying "bigots are a protected class and you are obligated to serve them."

Waitress Fired After Refusing to Serve Transphobic Customers | Beth Stoneburner | Friendly Atheist |...

barjoe comments on Oct 16, 2020:

I wasn't there. If they were harassing other customers they should be asked to leave. If they were bantering comments among themselves, they are customers. Bigoted customers but still patrons. As I said, I was not there. I've been in restaurant business for 40 years. There's a lot of ignorant people...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

The issue here is hypocrisy. Religious conservatives want to be able to refuse service to LGBTQ because they're offended by their orientation, but this server is not allowed the privilege of refusing service to bigots because she is offended by bigotry (which, unlike being LGBTQ, actually *IS* a choice; nobody is born a bigot). Essentially, the owner was saying "bigots are a protected class and you are obligated to serve them."

Well, I've done it again.

Lavergne comments on Oct 16, 2020:

There seem to be two kinds of people in this world.....the ones that can close their eyes and catch a nap for 20 minutes - an hour - whatever - and pop up feeling refreshed and energized. And the other ones who feel like they've been hit by a bus if they get anything less than a full night's ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

My feeling is that if I were ever in a sleep study, they'd find that my ideal operating day is 30 hours, followed by 15 hours of sleep.

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Caroline on Voting for Joe Biden | Vanity Fair

Paul4747 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

It never occurred to me to compare Trump to a Bond villain, but now it's going to stick forever. He's almost crossed that line between everyday villainy and cartoonish super-villainy. Like Mr. Burns, without the spark of humanity. https://comb.io/xKgpsO

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@David1955 And arguably Shaw's best film work was in *Jaws*. Go figure.

I wish I was allowed to access the internet for nonprofessional use while at work.

prometheus comments on Oct 16, 2020:

And sometimes it is much more than 22,000, an exceptionally bad season might be 60,000. But all the co-morbidity arguments they try to use against COVID also apply, In 6 months with massive national effort (although nowhere near as massive as many other countries have applied) we got it down to ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

America has 5% of the world population and 20% of the world's covid deaths. This can't be anything other than a failed national response.

I wish I was allowed to access the internet for nonprofessional use while at work.

girlwithsmiles comments on Oct 16, 2020:

It’s all there, like you found the facts so could these other people. When I was still on FaceBook I spend time educating various randoms that my friends were connected to, but in the end I gave up. Good luck with the polls, I hope the fall out from the result isn’t too dangerous for you guys....

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@girlwithsmiles "Nation with some of the wealthiest people"

I wish I was allowed to access the internet for nonprofessional use while at work.

girlwithsmiles comments on Oct 16, 2020:

It’s all there, like you found the facts so could these other people. When I was still on FaceBook I spend time educating various randoms that my friends were connected to, but in the end I gave up. Good luck with the polls, I hope the fall out from the result isn’t too dangerous for you guys....

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

Cheers. At least the PM seems to have been somewhat humbled by his visit to the hospital. Our conservatives, not so much. Evidently, since someone with the very best health care the richest nation on the planet can provide pulled through, there's no reason for anyone to worry and we should just get on with it. :|

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Caroline on Voting for Joe Biden | Vanity Fair

Paul4747 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

It never occurred to me to compare Trump to a Bond villain, but now it's going to stick forever. He's almost crossed that line between everyday villainy and cartoonish super-villainy. Like Mr. Burns, without the spark of humanity. https://comb.io/xKgpsO

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@David1955 I'll have to put it on my list. There are so many Bond films. I always enjoyed *From Russia With Love*, other than that I haven't got very deeply into the classics. Robert Shaw was a great villain. He was one of the only ones that looked like he could give Connery a real beating.

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Caroline on Voting for Joe Biden | Vanity Fair

Paul4747 comments on Oct 16, 2020:

It never occurred to me to compare Trump to a Bond villain, but now it's going to stick forever. He's almost crossed that line between everyday villainy and cartoonish super-villainy. Like Mr. Burns, without the spark of humanity. https://comb.io/xKgpsO

Paul4747 replies on Oct 16, 2020:

@SeaRay215ex I think his days right now must be miserable. How happy can a person be seeing conspiracies and enemies everywhere, convinced that the world is out to get them, while megalomania puts them hopelessly out of touch with reality?

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Caroline on Voting for Joe Biden | Vanity Fair

BestWithoutGods comments on Oct 15, 2020:

I just returned from early voting. I gave my vote to Biden & Harris. :D

Paul4747 replies on Oct 15, 2020:

I filed my absentee ballot in person a couple weeks ago.

Kenneth Copeland: “Lazy Christians” Are Why Michele Bachmann Isn’t President | Hemant Mehta | ...

Alienbeing comments on Oct 14, 2020:

I think that obvious fact that Michele is bat shit crazy has more to do with it.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 15, 2020:

@KKGator Nutter? (I notice the N key is right next to B, it got me thinking)

Watching Rachel Maddow Tuesday the 12th, talking about how the current " leadership" has decided ...

dave1459 comments on Oct 14, 2020:

I don't believe the person elected will have ANY impact on the virus! If you believe that you shouldstart believing in god too.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 14, 2020:

@AnneWimsey Well that's crazy talk.

BIDEN-HARRIS VICTORY DANCE.

silverotter11 comments on Oct 13, 2020:

There be dancin' in the streets! Martha and the Vandellas had nothing on Mick and David! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOBFzb83Pl0

Paul4747 replies on Oct 14, 2020:

That happened. And we let it happen.

More proof that there did not need to be a god involved to create life.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 13, 2020:

I feel it's sufficiently proven that there is no Creator, simply because there's no way to answer the question, "Who created her? him? it?" There is no solution to this infinite regress. Saying "the creator has always been here" is far less satisfactory than accepting that the Universe, in some ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

@Triphid We're more in the situation of someone who finds a working motorcycle but wants to know how the whole thing came about. That's a bad analogy though, it's exactly what the "design" people have been saying for years. "The universe works so well that it must have been put together this way."

Authorities investigating large religious event in Nashville with maskless crowds

jeshuey comments on Oct 13, 2020:

I am tired of worrying about this crap. Let them have their event and then Darwin can sort it out.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

The thing to worry about is the fact that they will spread infections to unsuspecting people who never came within miles of the place. Innocent victims will pay for their arrogance.

I am not a religious person, I don't give a damn about religions but .

KKGator comments on Oct 12, 2020:

It's a great song. You don't have to defend the music you like, to anyone. I like Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky". It's a great song, too. The guitar riffs are awesome.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

@KKGator I feel we may be straying rather from the original topic. But I'm going to mention "The Lumberjack Song", nevertheless. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshU58nI0Ts

I am not a religious person, I don't give a damn about religions but .

KKGator comments on Oct 12, 2020:

It's a great song. You don't have to defend the music you like, to anyone. I like Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit In The Sky". It's a great song, too. The guitar riffs are awesome.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

For that matter, I never put much significance in George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord", other than it has a great beat and you can hum to it.

I am not a religious person, I don't give a damn about religions but .

p-nullifidian comments on Oct 12, 2020:

Sir Elton Hercules John ... an enduring icon! "Holy Moses, let us live in peace Let us strive to find a way to make all hatred cease There's a man over there, what's his color? I don't care He's my brother, let us live in peace, oh He's my brother, let us live in peace, oh He's my brother,...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

Very timely as well.

Cardinal George Pell meets Pope Francis for first time since acquittal [bbc.com]

Redheadedgammy comments on Oct 12, 2020:

It makes me sick how these bastards get away with raping children just because they are affiliated with the church, and the Catholic Church covers for all of them!😡

Paul4747 replies on Oct 13, 2020:

@raymetcalfe I am quoting from the news reports. He was at least more privileged than I was.

Cardinal George Pell meets Pope Francis for first time since acquittal [bbc.com]

Redheadedgammy comments on Oct 12, 2020:

It makes me sick how these bastards get away with raping children just because they are affiliated with the church, and the Catholic Church covers for all of them!😡

Paul4747 replies on Oct 12, 2020:

Do you know that he did? The court found that the jury did not consider the witnesses who presented alibis, in other words, contradicting the accuser's claims. That's nothing to do with the church, it's the legal system. I am not sticking up for abusers. But accusations are not proof, and juries have been wrong before. Juries are as fallible as the rest of us. We can't know the truth of what happened.

Cardinal George Pell meets Pope Francis for first time since acquittal [bbc.com]

K9Kohle789 comments on Oct 12, 2020:

The pope actually wants to meet this guy? "A jury in December 2018 had found him guilty of sexually abusing two 13-year-old choir boys in St Patrick's Cathedral in the mid-90s when Archbishop of Melbourne." Birds of a feather flock together. FLOCK again as in sheeps.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 12, 2020:

Yes, and Robert Kelly and 3 others were convicted of abuse during the "Little Rascals Day Care" trial. He was convicted on 99 out of 100 counts, even though the description of events at the day care were so unbelievable on their face (including the murder of babies, torture and being thrown into a school of sharks) that any sane juror would dismiss them without a thought. (Where do you keep sharks at a day care, anyway?) Of course sex abuse happens. But so do wrongful convictions. None of us know what actually happened. Let us not indulge in stereotypes and prejudices.

Christian Preacher Sean Feucht Holds COVID Super-Spreader Concert in Nashville | Hemant Mehta | ...

PadraicM comments on Oct 12, 2020:

Is there a word in English that would mean to be completely devoid of inelegance? I mean something that acts like a black hole for anything that could pass as a sign of intellect beyond basic biological functions. If not, can we consider a word like "Feucht"?

Paul4747 replies on Oct 12, 2020:

Is that pronounced "Fookd", "Fyookd", or "Fukd"? Because, if it's the latter, we already have a word like that...

Trump in Jail- the best carved pumpkin of 2020

RichCC comments on Oct 12, 2020:

I always chuckle when people complain that's it's 'inappropriate' to keep bringing up tRump's criminality, hair, and orange skin tone. But then you see something like this. The artist doesn't have to label it -- it's immediately apparent who the piece is referring to. Ha, ha.😍

Paul4747 replies on Oct 12, 2020:

Do those people also complain to the White House every time Trump throws out another bogus treason charge, every time he labels the press (well, except Fox, and even they have their moments) the "Enemy of the People", every time he revels in another chant of "Lock Her Up"? Why is it only the mainstream that is policed? Let's concentrate on the Offender-In-Chief, and once he's gone, we can talk about the civility of our own discourse (which you must admit is pretty tame by comparison).

French knots make it snow!

Paul4747 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

So you believe in sympathetic magic? I would never have guessed it, knowing you as we do.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 12, 2020:

@LiterateHiker I was just reacting to your title, "French knots make it snow". Weather magic?

Is anyone here any good at video manipulation?

MaryJane comments on Oct 11, 2020:

Love your idea. Unfortunately I can't do any of that.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

Actually, I'm surprised someone hasn't done it already.

Here's my follow-up article to the priest having a threesome in the church.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

I don't think the argument about a church being a "private place" is valid. Churches are open to the public; that means by definition it's not a private place. A church is equivalent to a business or school, not a private home (ignoring all the blather about being "the house of God"). ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

@UrsiMajor I'm pretty sure I read the same thing. But that's talking about anti-discrimination law, not public indecency statutes. Any activity on private property that is still visible to the public, counts as public indecency. Example- your yard is private property, but (unless your locality allows this) you can't sunbathe nude in full view of the neighbors. You need to keep your activity private by having a fence.

“There’s a transition integrity project, high-level people from the Republicans and the ...

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 11, 2020:

Then it’s war, fuck Trump.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

I've been trying like a MF to paste a Trump head onto this... if only I were better at video manipulation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3oSAVwcD4U

“There’s a transition integrity project, high-level people from the Republicans and the ...

Storm1752 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

Yeah I'm not worried. This is why we have elections in the first place. I just hope Joe tamps down the expectations of all the thousands of liberal groups coming to him with arm outstretched, palm up. And that's coming from a liberal of the highest order.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

Indeed. I have this sneaking feeling that there are a lot of Sandernistas who think that, since Bernie has been enthusiastically endorsing the nominee this time instead of just tepidly saying, "Well, whatever," as in 2016, Biden will *owe them* if he wins. The quickest way to a 1-term Democratic administration is for a Pres. Biden to govern as far left as Trump, Hannity, et. al. have been claiming he would, thus giving ammunition to the far Right to say, "A-ha! Told you so!" We need a solid, centrist administration, which will only *look* leftist because of how far right the Republicans have moved in the last 20 years. (Well, the last 30 years, be fair. Okay, 40 years. Shit, in my adult lifetime. Since I hit puberty, anyway. They never really forgave us for Watergate.)

Here's my follow-up article to the priest having a threesome in the church.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

I don't think the argument about a church being a "private place" is valid. Churches are open to the public; that means by definition it's not a private place. A church is equivalent to a business or school, not a private home (ignoring all the blather about being "the house of God"). ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

@UrsiMajor That certainly does play a big part. But I think also, critically, although churches are not considered a place of public *accomodation* under the law, they are a place of public *worship*. And while a church is the private property of the diocese (in the case of the Catholic church), the public is welcome. It's not a private club. It's a very borderline case, but certainly not one where someone should treat it as their home to the point of having sex there; nor should anyone feel they have a "right to privacy". People can and do come up and look in the windows of churches to see if anyone is there, if the building is open, if the priest/reverend/etc is in the office, and so forth. I know I did, way back when, when I sought disputation on religious matters and went by the neighborhood church to see if I could find a professional to talk to. I would have been very surprised to find anyone having sex, I can tell you that much.

When he is out of office.

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 10, 2020:

He’ll pardon his kids and he’ll try to pardon himself. I’m not a big “There ought to be a law against that” but in this case I make an exception, because there isn’t a law.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

@Willow_Wisp Okay, I stand corrected.

“There’s a transition integrity project, high-level people from the Republicans and the ...

Paul4747 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

What you don't mention is that this is Noam Chomsky *talking about* the work of the transition project, not the words of the actual project members themselves. The actual conclusions of the Transition Integrity Project, if you're interested, were: Game One: Ambiguous. The first game ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

@rainmanjr It's not me, I shamelessly cut & paste from the wiki article which quotes the study group's conclusions. See the link. As for Chomsky, anyone who believes that *every single war* the U.S. has been involved in- including WW2 and, presumably, the Civil War- was an act of immoral aggression, is not where it's at. I respect personal pacifism and indeed at one time I practiced it. But there are wars that need to be fought, and when there is a clear aggression on the other side, it is a moral duty to oppose it.

When he is out of office.

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 10, 2020:

He’ll pardon his kids and he’ll try to pardon himself. I’m not a big “There ought to be a law against that” but in this case I make an exception, because there isn’t a law.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

You can't preemptively pardon. As long as no charges have been filed yet and no verdicts rendered, there's no possibility for a pardon. Trials take more time than they have before the election.

Anyone else making Christmas gifts?

Paul4747 comments on Oct 11, 2020:

Wait- you're thinking about Xmas and it's not even Halloween yet? I have to file a report with the Holiday Police. I'm sorry, but that's a violation of code XT9-77R, "Separation of Holidays Act". It is *wayyyy* too early for that stuff. :D

Paul4747 replies on Oct 11, 2020:

@LiterateHiker I have a saying that I use on occasions like holidays, birthdays, deadlines, whatever- "It's not the last minute yet!"

President—Forecasting the US 2020 elections | The Economist

t1nick comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Does the model take into account the increase in early and absentee voting that is occurring across the nation?

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

It uses polling data, that wouldn't change with early voting I imagine.

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Gwen beats her head against the desk.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@Gwendolyn2018 Wellll, it's not like you're plotting a kidnapping or something.... and that brings us back to the thread topic...

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Gwen beats her head against the desk.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@Gwendolyn2018 I was just thinking that's a head you could beat on the desk.

Democrats need to believe Joe Biden will win. 2020 is not 2016.

Willow_Wisp comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Don’t rely on faith, vote.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

True, but optimism doesn't cost a dime.

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Jolanta comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Oh, yeah, she is soooo desirable to them.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

Well, *I* think she's hot, but that doesn't translate to kidnapping her, FFS. I mean, look at her! She's gorgeous!! (And I mean this in an admiring and respectful of women way, not like those idiots who criticized her for wearing a "tight" dress... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6713347/Michigan-Governor-hits-trolls-criticizing-curvy-looks-State-State-address.html)

Christian Activist: Let’s Show Love By Putting a “Noose around Hillary’s Neck” | Hemant ...

Paul4747 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

This is the same kind of "love" that makes people plot to, just for example, foment rebellion at a State House, kidnap the Governor, and try her for treason. (And by the way, these bozos need to get a dictionary. "Treason" is defined as "levying war against one's own nation", as the people flying ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@Jolanta Or something stronger.

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Gwen beats her head against the desk.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@oldFloyd With provocation.

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Gwen beats her head against the desk.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@Gwendolyn2018 Print out a Trump photo.

Rick Wiles Blames Gov.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 10, 2020:

Gwen beats her head against the desk.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

Don't do that. Do what I do. Beat someone else's head against a desk.

At least 6.

Bigwavedave comments on Oct 10, 2020:

So what do you conclude from that

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

I personally conclude that Trump's managed to convince so many people that ballots cast by mail are going to get thrown into a ditch, or sold, or lost- or, more realistically, that they'll be challenged in court and not counted at all if they don't arrive by election day- that voters are coming in early to make sure that doesn't happen to them. Especially Democrats, who know Trump is going to try to challenge any late ballot that doesn't go his way, while paradoxically wanting to count any that are for him.

"High As a Giraffe's Ass." Trump's rambling calls torched on Twitter.

wolf041 comments on Oct 9, 2020:

Dead links.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

@LiterateHiker Still not working for me. Methinks some malfeasance may be afoot? Maybe try https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/listen-10-batshit-things-trump-told-rush-limbaugh-1073741/ instead, if this is the same article.

"High As a Giraffe's Ass." Trump's rambling calls torched on Twitter.

Holysocks comments on Oct 9, 2020:

The man needs a nanny and a damned good spanking.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 10, 2020:

He might enjoy that too much. Let's just make it a good beating instead. I hear Dwayne Johnson's available.

Halloween is just around the corner, time for the old classics... [youtube.com]

barjoe comments on Oct 8, 2020:

One of the funniest movies ever! What a cast! Teri Garr was a cutie. She's very sick, has MS must be in her late 70s. Everyone else is gone. Mel Brooks still alive in his 90s.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 8, 2020:

Just one reason why I prefer to live in the past.

New Tinnitus Treatment Alleviates Annoying Ringing in the Ears A noninvasive device designed to ...

Paul4747 comments on Oct 8, 2020:

Speak up!!!

Paul4747 replies on Oct 8, 2020:

@FearlessFly I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over that ringing in my ears

I would like to submit the idea that religion IS politics.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 7, 2020:

Well.... politics is frequently religion. Witness the number of people who adhere to the Cult of Donald, and can't articulate why, even though they admit that he lies, fornicates, cheats, has been an adulterer, and contradicts all the values they say they hold, they still claim he's more moral than ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 7, 2020:

@JeffMurray Yyyeahhhh.... that was your post, wasn't it...

US election: Do you need Jesus to win the White House? [bbc.com]

Sgt_Spanky comments on Oct 6, 2020:

Trump is the antithesis of everything Jesus ostensibly stood for and has barely been to church his entire life and even he claimed to be a man of God to get the Xian vote and they gave it to him...cuz they're stupid. So, yeah, Jesus is good for your political career but you don't have to actually ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 7, 2020:

@JeffMurray Hold me. I'm frightened.

US election: Do you need Jesus to win the White House? [bbc.com]

Sgt_Spanky comments on Oct 6, 2020:

Trump is the antithesis of everything Jesus ostensibly stood for and has barely been to church his entire life and even he claimed to be a man of God to get the Xian vote and they gave it to him...cuz they're stupid. So, yeah, Jesus is good for your political career but you don't have to actually ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

@JeffMurray That is hi-larious. Yes, the Evangelicals are truly riding into battle with the double-edged sword of hypocrisy.

Has the display size changed on the site page?

ReadyforaChange comments on Oct 6, 2020:

Sounds like user error to me...but only because I am so often the user making the errors LOL.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

:D Seriously though, the only way it looks normal to me is if I reduce my display size to 90%. Every other site looks the same as always.

So now Trump is trying to hold the economy hostage

Fred_Snerd comments on Oct 6, 2020:

Trump has been shown throughout his life that he can throw his weight around. Americans not only give a free pass to the elite, they support the con artists.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

Sad but true. Trump associate Anthony Scaramucci, who worked in the communications office for an entire 11 days (just goes to show what utter chaos the White House is in; he was hired solely to put bad press out on chief-of-staff Reince Priebus, and once Priebus was gone, new chief of staff John Kelly fired *him* in turn), claims he once said to Trump, "I don't see how people don't get what a fucking liar you are." Trump allegedly replied, "I'm an act. I'm a total act. I don't understand how more people don't see it."

Trump just became Exhibit A in the case that he failed on coronavirus.

freedom41 comments on Oct 2, 2020:

I wonder how many fools are willing to vote for him after he countered his on lies about covid.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

Probably the exact same number as before. Trump is running to rile up his base. He's convinced that he doesn't need to attract independents, and that he has enough voters who secretly love him to get him in a second term- even though he didn't win the popular vote last time. And this time the polls are adjusting for not only likely voters, but for voter enthusiasm, and Biden is still way ahead. Trump is in his own world.

“According to the leadership of the evangelical community, the man on the left is the savior of ...

Mvtt comments on Oct 5, 2020:

I don’t understand why the evangelicals back Trump. Is it because of the highly religious Pence? What has trump actually done for them?

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

He ran on the Republican ticket. That's it. In 2001, Trump registered as a Democrat, probably because he was pondering a run against G W Bush. He switched back in 2009 because he hated Obama and realized that he could capitalize on the hatred of a lot of right-wingers to become popular again and eventually run as a Republican. Since 1987, according to Wiki, he's changed parties 5 times. 'In a 2004 interview, Trump told CNN's Wolf Blitzer: "In many cases, I probably identify more as Democrat," explaining: "It just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans. Now, it shouldn't be that way. But if you go back, I mean it just seems that the economy does better under the Democrats...But certainly we had some very good economies under Democrats, as well as Republicans. But we've had some pretty bad disaster under the Republicans." In a July 2015 interview, Trump said that he has a broad range of political positions and that "I identify with some things as a Democrat."' He was also pro-choice at various points. Come 2016, the entire Republican party managed to forget everything Trump had ever said, and he became a lifelong crusader for all things conservative- because the "deplorables" went for him. The evangelical establishment saw which way the wind was blowing and saw that he was their only hope against Clinton, figuring that another 4 years of Democrat government would put the nail in the coffin of things like "faith-based initiatives", whereas Trump and a Republican legislature would once again pump money the churches' way. So they backed him to the hilt, knowing that they'd get nothing from Hilary. The alliance between right-wing evangelicals and the Republican party over abortion goes way back to the Carter administration, and it was pumped up into a fake issue purely for the purpose of getting votes. Prior to that, abortion had been a non-issue. Now it's life and death (pardon the pun).

Amy Coney Barrett, Supreme Court nominee, spoke at program founded to inspire a ‘distinctly ...

BlizzardMan comments on Oct 6, 2020:

She just disqualified herself. https://allthatsinteresting./founding-fathers-religion

Paul4747 replies on Oct 6, 2020:

Not that it matters to conservatives, who don't realize what the founders believed and have never read the bill of rights. They fixate on the line "that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights", not realizing that it comes from the Declaration, nor that it reflects a deist belief in an impersonal god at best.

Well... kinda hard to argue with that logic.. 😁 [youtube.com]

Paul4747 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

Okay, let's discuss what she thinks is the the "Democrat mythology", just 1:38 in, and see if she explodes it in any way. "Republicans are for the rich"; Which party, in the last 20 years, has passed 4 major tax cuts, heavily slanted toward the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans? A) ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 4, 2020:

@Krish55 Whether you meant "good at looking for technical stuff" or "a good person", either way, thank you.

Now they’ve No Platformed Richard Dawkins

Paul4747 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

They already knew what he said and wrote when they invited him. Retracting the invitation simply shows a lack of intestinal fortitude. It's a debating society, the point isn't to have speakers with whom everyone already agrees. In that case, why not just talk amongst themselves and save the ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 4, 2020:

@HenAgnDon Dawkins never claimed to have enjoyed it that I'm aware. All he ever said, that I've read (and I admit I haven't read all his writing by far, so find me a quote and I'll retract my comment), is that the attentions he suffered were mild by comparison and that not everything automatically rises to the level of sexual abuse. That does not constitute condoning sexual abuse.

Well... kinda hard to argue with that logic.. 😁 [youtube.com]

Paul4747 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

Okay, let's discuss what she thinks is the the "Democrat mythology", just 1:38 in, and see if she explodes it in any way. "Republicans are for the rich"; Which party, in the last 20 years, has passed 4 major tax cuts, heavily slanted toward the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans? A) ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@Krish55 I can't help it; I go out of my way to be fair, even to (especially to) people I know are talking out their asses. It's just my nature. I didn't even mention the frequent cuts in the video, that are staged to be almost imperceptible unless you look for them. It does appear to be produced, not a home video presentation. And what's with the wire and earphone? Who wears one of these while taping a video? How was that supposed to look natural? Is it so the director can give her cues?

Has the state of Nebraska gotten it right?

barjoe comments on Oct 2, 2020:

Nebraska has a stupid electorate so it doesn't matter.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@barjoe This is not a helpful dialogue. I know a great many people who, regrettably, voted for Trump. This is a red county. But they're not "stupid" by any means. Misinformed; opinionated; angry; stubborn; perhaps unwilling to listen to another view; but certainly not stupid.

Let's Discuss What Islam Offers...

Paul4747 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

So, Christianity or Judaism but with a different logo? As @Mitch07102 says, there's no qualitative difference between Islam now, and any Middle Eastern monotheist religion other than the passage of time. Given the power, fundamentalist Xians in the United States would be carrying out crusades, ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@JeffMurray The argument that calling out bigotry makes one bigoted is, in fact, what the "all lives matter" people claim. Violent fundamentalist Islam is a problem for the world; but no more so than violent fundamentalist Judaism, violent fundamentalist Christianity, violent fundamentalist Hindusim, violent fundamentalist Buddhism, violent fundamentalist Sikhism... So let's have a poster that says, "Let's discuss what *religion* offers." That's the point I'm making. Picking out one among the many is in fact biased, and makes it seem as if that one religion is worse than all the rest, and deserves special disapproval.

Now they’ve No Platformed Richard Dawkins

Paul4747 comments on Oct 3, 2020:

They already knew what he said and wrote when they invited him. Retracting the invitation simply shows a lack of intestinal fortitude. It's a debating society, the point isn't to have speakers with whom everyone already agrees. In that case, why not just talk amongst themselves and save the ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay I doubt that, somehow. It seems incumbent upon the institution to have done the reading. I read *The God Delusion* and I was aware of his attitude toward the incidents of his youth. What seems likely to me is that some of the *membership* was unfamiliar with Dawkins' comments, and were outraged when they read some of his works; and to save face, the Hist is now pretending they'd never read a word of Dawkins' books before.

Has the state of Nebraska gotten it right?

barjoe comments on Oct 2, 2020:

Nebraska has a stupid electorate so it doesn't matter.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@barjoe Yeah, but it's all relative. People in Nebraska probably don't think Pennsylvanians are that smart for electing Bob Casey, either.

Has the state of Nebraska gotten it right?

barjoe comments on Oct 2, 2020:

Nebraska has a stupid electorate so it doesn't matter.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

Now there's thoughtful commentary.

Let's Discuss What Islam Offers...

barjoe comments on Oct 3, 2020:

They blew up the Twin Towers.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

19 Muslim hijackers did. Correct. And among the victims were over two dozen Muslims, including an NYPD cadet. Two were passengers on American Airlines Flight #11. Shabbir Ahmed: 47, Windows on the World Restaurant Tariq Amanullah: 40, Fiduciary Trust Co. Michael Baksh: 36, Marsh & McLennan Touri Hamzavi Bolourchi: 69, retired nurse on United #175 Abul K. Chowdhury: 30, Cantor Fitzgerald Mohammad Salahuddin Chowdhury: 38, Windows on the World Jemal Legesse De Santis: 28, World Trade Center Simon Suleman Ali Kassamali Dhanani: 63, Aon Corp. Syed Abdul Fatha: 54, Pitney Bowes Mon Gjonbalaj: 65, Janitor, World Trade Center Nezam A. Hafiz: 32, Marsh & McLennan Mohammed Salman Hamdani: 23, NYPD Cadet Zuhtu Ibis: 25, Cantor Fitzgerald Muhammadou Jawara: 30, MAS Security Sarah Khan: 32, Forte Food Service Taimour Firaz Khan: 29, Carr Futures Abdoulaye Kone: 37, Windows on the World Abdu Ali Malahi: 37, WTC Marriott Nurul Hoque Miah: 35, Marsh & McLennan Boyie Mohammed: 50, Carr Futures Ehtesham U. Raja: 28, TCG Software Ameenia Rasool: 33, Marsh & McLennan Rahma Salie & child: 28 (7 months pregnant), American #11 Khalid M. Shahid: 25, Cantor Fitzgerald Mohammed Shajahan: 41, Marsh & McLennan Nasima Hameed Simjee: 38, Fiduciary Trust Co. Michael Theodoridis: 32, American #11 Abdoul Karim Traore: 41, Windows on the World Karamo Trerra: 40, ASAP NetSource Shakila Yasmin: 26, Marsh & McLennan So, for example, if an atheist robs a convenience store, would it be fair commentary to say, "Atheists rob 7-11s", with the implication that this is a characteristic of all atheists everywhere? *Please* don't tar with the same brush.

Donny Dumb-Dumb and Melania tested positive for COVID-19.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 2, 2020:

So, I guess that gets him out of the next debate?

Paul4747 replies on Oct 3, 2020:

@VeronicaAnn Let's consider the timeline: 30 days until the election. 14 days of isolation, assuming no complications arising from the COVID infection or from Trump's preexisting conditions (obesity, age, rumored heart condition). The next debates are scheduled for the 15th and 29th. The 15th is out the window, unless the doctors make a generous assumption about when Trump was infected. It may have been last Saturday, but it may have been anywhere from 2 to 5 days ago. Given Trump's disregard for any precautions against COVID, there's no way to guess. Rescheduling the second debate would probably mean 2 debates, a week apart. I don't know if either camp would plump for that, given their packed campaign schedules. Even if they did, the debate commission might be hesitant at trying to make the arrangements so quickly.

Do not wish death upon anyone anytime anywhere for any circumstance.

Gwendolyn2018 comments on Oct 2, 2020:

And let us not forget this: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-mocks-hillary-clinton-9-11-faint-collapse-pneumonia-a7341451.html

Paul4747 replies on Oct 2, 2020:

@TheMiddleWay > We hate that in Trump. We should hate that in ourselves. I agree with you on this. Nevertheless, it can't stop the rational calculation that the world would almost certainly be better off now, had Donald Trump died a natural death 5 years ago, before running for President. Or before taking office. Or pretty much at any time since. It's almost incalculable how much harm he has done, not just to America. He has ignored climate change, encouraged other nations to do the same, abandoned democracies that were our allies while embracing and encouraging dictators who flattered and fawned over him, and last but not least has helped worsen the global pandemic by abandoning the WHO and casting doubt on actual science, while endorsing quack cures and conspiracy theories. It's really hard for me to envision how it could have been worse with out him. And a lot of ways it could be better.

The Most Important Thing Biden Did During Tuesday’s Debate

Paul4747 comments on Oct 1, 2020:

"Will you just shut up, man" was nice too. I've been wishing I could say it in person for over four years now.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 2, 2020:

@BudFrank Biden's campaign had some official shirts, they sold out in hours

Karmic justice is a bitch We'll see how this plays out.

Paul4747 comments on Oct 2, 2020:

My neighbor just speculated aloud something that was in the back of my own mind- Supposing it's all a hoax to avoid the next debate, where Trump would have to face questions from and interact with members of the general public? It's established that he's the absolute worst at the town hall ...

Paul4747 replies on Oct 2, 2020:

@LenHazell53 I think physical therapy would be more effective. As seen here:

The Most Important Thing Biden Did During Tuesday’s Debate

Paul4747 comments on Oct 1, 2020:

"Will you just shut up, man" was nice too. I've been wishing I could say it in person for over four years now.

Paul4747 replies on Oct 1, 2020:

@BudFrank Do you have a website for them?

It seems that religion evolved to justify hatred and disbelief of human differences.

Paul4747 comments on Sep 26, 2020:

There's an evolutionary explanation for religion. Human beings tend to see "agency", an intention behind everything that happens. It's an evolutionary winning strategy. The rustle in the grass could be the wind, or it could be a leopard. If you think "Leopard!" and it turned out to be the wind, ...

Paul4747 replies on Sep 30, 2020:

@Pedrohbds I tend to agree. The history of the human race has been one of forming larger coalitions; villages, towns, cities, nations, alliances. A town by itself is screwed when a natural disaster hits or an enemy threatens. As part of a nation, it has neighbors to turn to, a government with relief agencies prepositioned to come to its aid (at least, ideally) and usually a military to protect it. Likewise, a nation that eschews allies is crippling itself. Survival in the international arena demands that one makes friends, because enemies come about of themselves.

I Could Have Suffered Breonna Taylor's Fate. Being White May Have Saved My Life.

Desertcactus comments on Sep 29, 2020:

I am autistic and misunderstand directions easily (ESPECIALLY IN STRESSFUL SITUATIONS) and have had cops pull a gun on me multiple times. Once they accused me of stealing a car because I didn't answer their questions right (I was struggling to understand why I was pulled over and getting yelled at) ...

Paul4747 replies on Sep 30, 2020:

I fully support former VP Biden's proposal to fund psychologists or mental health professionals to ride along with police officers and respond to incidents, so they can assist and lend expertise where many law enforcement officers either don't have the training or didn't care to absorb the knowledge. Far too many lives have been lost in what should have been routine interactions if only the supposed professionals had kept calm and seen the signs.

It seems that religion evolved to justify hatred and disbelief of human differences.

Paul4747 comments on Sep 26, 2020:

There's an evolutionary explanation for religion. Human beings tend to see "agency", an intention behind everything that happens. It's an evolutionary winning strategy. The rustle in the grass could be the wind, or it could be a leopard. If you think "Leopard!" and it turned out to be the wind, ...

Paul4747 replies on Sep 29, 2020:

@Desertcactus The US legal system, inasmuch as that is the Constitution, is explicitly NOT based on religion; in fact it excludes established religion in the 1st Amendment. Where religioun crept in was on the level of statute law, meaning state and local laws, which were most definitely religiously founded. Many laws forbade blasphemy (and are still on the books in some places, just not enforced). There are still laws against sodomy in some states, which most people don't realize includes heterosexual oral sex as well- and they would have been quickly stricken down if the laws had been enforced across the board, not just against gay men. The founders envisioned a legal system based on ethics, rather than religion. There's some overlap, to a degree. Not murdering, not stealing, not committing adultery, not bearing false witness (perjury) make sense ethically, because they keep order in society. You don't want to be murdered or robbed, so it makes sense to have laws that forbid this kind of behavior. Lying under oath should be a serious matter, so there are perjury laws. And in the small communities of the time, adultery was likely to stir up violence and killing, so one can see how laws against adultery would be seen as being in the public interest. The fact that these are also some of the Mosaic commandments don't mean they're exclusively religious. An atheist can consider "Don't commit murder" as being a worthy rule on its own merits, it needs no deity in the clouds to hand down such a law.

Amy Coney Barrett: GOP sells 'Notorious ACB' T-shirts after nomination

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 27, 2020:

Disgusting. I wish there was a button to push to make them all disappear forever.

Paul4747 replies on Sep 28, 2020:

@JeffMurray Here's the thing: Your analogy isn't apt. Nobody is breaking into your home. The existence of right-wing ideologues is not, in itself, an imminent threat to life. As polarized as our discourse is right now, we need desparately to seek the middle ground. There are people of good will on the right. Their voices aren't the loudest, but they're getting louder all the time. For example, the Lincoln Project, lifelong Republicans who are endorsing Biden and fighting to push Trump out. Just recently 500 former military and national security veterans publicly endorsed Biden. This is the middle-right, conservatives who want to work together for a common good. For that matter, I have certain reactionary views myself; like, the free market is a good thing, and if there were a Revolution we wouldn't like it either. We have a political process. We have free speech, And as much as I disagree with what many people say, I will still defend to the death their right to say it. Fight ideas with ideas, don't just wish those ideas would go away.

Amy Coney Barrett: GOP sells 'Notorious ACB' T-shirts after nomination

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 27, 2020:

Disgusting. I wish there was a button to push to make them all disappear forever.

Paul4747 replies on Sep 28, 2020:

@JeffMurray Ah. The ends justify the means, gotcha.

It seems that religion evolved to justify hatred and disbelief of human differences.

Paul4747 comments on Sep 26, 2020:

There's an evolutionary explanation for religion. Human beings tend to see "agency", an intention behind everything that happens. It's an evolutionary winning strategy. The rustle in the grass could be the wind, or it could be a leopard. If you think "Leopard!" and it turned out to be the wind, ...

Paul4747 replies on Sep 28, 2020:

@Pedrohbds > there are many places in the world that religion is still the only form of organization that can keep the people cooperating. And yet I can't help thinking of Christopher Hitchens' argument that the combination of ancient religious beliefs and 21st-century technologies spells almost inevitable disaster. For example, fundamentalist Muslim fanatics could never have invented the skyscraper or the jet airliner; all they could do was bring these two inventions of modern, secular society into deadly conjunction. Perhaps the people cooperate with one another in the name of religion, but just as often it's a force to unify against everyone else; whereas there is no reason a secular society can't unite just as well without the need for declaring war on everyone who doesn't believe the same.

Amy Coney Barrett: GOP sells 'Notorious ACB' T-shirts after nomination

ChestRockfield comments on Sep 27, 2020:

Disgusting. I wish there was a button to push to make them all disappear forever.

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

@K9Kohle789 But consider, that's the attitude the far right has toward liberals. And they're not kidding. I want to believe you are.

Classy with sexy Brazilian legs!

Paul4747 comments on Sep 27, 2020:

How can you tell if she's got a Brazilian or not? 🤔

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

@Merseyman1 Sorry, my mind was completely elsewhere

I see panty lines.

Cutiebeauty comments on Sep 27, 2020:

I see one line!!

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

Look more closelier :D One around the cheek and a V underneath

Things Exist Without Being Tangable | Ram - New Delhi, India | Atheist Experience 21.08 - YouTube

LenHazell53 comments on Sep 26, 2020:

What the fuck is "Tangable"? A Tan gable would be the end wall of a house painted light brown. The word is Tangible

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

"Tang-able"; can be made into a drink for astronauts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tang_(drink_mix)

It seems that religion evolved to justify hatred and disbelief of human differences.

Marionville comments on Sep 27, 2020:

@Paul4747 has verbalised my thoughts perfectly already...so no need for me to repeat them.

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

Aw, shucks.

The role of death anxiety in police culture.

MikeInBatonRouge comments on Sep 26, 2020:

This article is right. It is also only part of the picture. But it reinforces, without addressing directly, what I have been saying for several years, which is that the flood of unregulated highpower weaponry on American streets has garanteed that police officers go to work every day facing what ...

Paul4747 replies on Sep 27, 2020:

@MikeInBatonRouge I agree to the extent that we need comprehensive, universal background checks along with training and education for law enforcement in community policing, to counter these assumptions. "Sensitivity training", to use a much-derided term.