Lady Hardanger - Eunice Two-Step This was the second Cajun song towards the end of the movie ...

ZantiMisfit comments on Mar 6, 2019:

What language is she singing in??

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 6, 2019:

My guess is French because Cajun roots are French. Trying to find an English translation. Hey ye yaille jolie catin Garde donc bien quoi t’as fait Tu m’as quitte pour t’en aller Ouais la bas a grand Eunice Tit ma dit cher bebe, tit pouvais mais p’us m’aimer Tit connais cher bebe, T’as une couer aussi (si) criminnelle Hey ye yaille jolie catin Tu ma quitte pour t’en aller Ma quitte pour t’en aller, ouais la bas aussi loin de moi Tit voudrais t’en venir avec moi a la maison Tit connais jolie tit monde, tit seras trop tard pour pardonner

Jaan Pehechan Ho - Les Fanfoireux Cover of the opening song from Ghost World.

Seeker3CO comments on Mar 5, 2019:

Rocking good time

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

Except the guy on the trombone seems to be the only one without a drink wristband. Hmmm... ?

I'd be interested in knowing more about Carl's notions of "spirituality" in this regard.

Athena comments on Mar 5, 2019:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/ I'm a Sagan fan. I believe he means that uncertainty, awe and wonder can remain consistent with science. Things we can't explain don't need to be attributed to a God, just what science has yet to discover or ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

@Redheadedgammy Yup

I'd be interested in knowing more about Carl's notions of "spirituality" in this regard.

Athena comments on Mar 5, 2019:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/ I'm a Sagan fan. I believe he means that uncertainty, awe and wonder can remain consistent with science. Things we can't explain don't need to be attributed to a God, just what science has yet to discover or ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

@Redheadedgammy YVW. That, and his Pale Blue Dot quote. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g&t=71s

I'd be interested in knowing more about Carl's notions of "spirituality" in this regard.

Athena comments on Mar 5, 2019:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/ I'm a Sagan fan. I believe he means that uncertainty, awe and wonder can remain consistent with science. Things we can't explain don't need to be attributed to a God, just what science has yet to discover or ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

@Redheadedgammy Possibly my favorite Sagan quote of all time. "I would love to believe that when I die I will live again, that some thinking, feeling, remembering part of me will continue. But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking. [...] The world is so exquisite, with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better, it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look Death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.” ― Carl Sagan, Billions & Billions: Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium

I'd be interested in knowing more about Carl's notions of "spirituality" in this regard.

mordant comments on Mar 5, 2019:

The problem is that religion is generally unwilling to defer to science when science contradicts one of its dogmatic assertions. The Dali Lama, unique so far as I know among major religious leaders, has said that when science corrects religion, religion must accept it and change its views. Now...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

Two Sagan quotes addressing that. "Who is more humble? The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved?” – Carl Sagan -- and -- "In science it often happens that scientists say, ‘You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’ and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn’t happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion.” – Carl Sagan

I'd be interested in knowing more about Carl's notions of "spirituality" in this regard.

Athena comments on Mar 5, 2019:

https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/06/12/carl-sagan-on-science-and-spirituality/ I'm a Sagan fan. I believe he means that uncertainty, awe and wonder can remain consistent with science. Things we can't explain don't need to be attributed to a God, just what science has yet to discover or ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

Thank you, Athena. I think you nailed it. Carl has always been quite poetic as he shares his love of science and discovery.

It's not our differences that are th problem, it's our inability to accept and celebrate them.

ToolGuy comments on Mar 4, 2019:

Just looked at the 6 kinds of progressives. Interesting stuff. We often fight with one another.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 5, 2019:

Where is that found? On a somewhst related tangent, Prof. Steven Salaita suggests that PEP (Progressive Except for Palestine) might be replaced with RBI (Regressive Because of Israel).

Was digging through some old music, (as I often do), and found some stuff that I haven't heard in ...

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Bryan Ferry live "Let's Stick Together" Awesome live as well. Chris Spedding played with them. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0XD1NFa1I

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_Stick_Together_(song) "Let's Stick Together" or "Let's Work Together" as it was subsequently titled, is a blues song written by Wilbert Harrison, which was released in 1962. In 1969 and 1970, the song was a hit for Harrison and has been recorded by a variety of artists, including Canned Heat and Bryan Ferry, who had chart successes with the song.

Was digging through some old music, (as I often do), and found some stuff that I haven't heard in ...

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Bryan Ferry live "Let's Stick Together" Awesome live as well. Chris Spedding played with them. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0XD1NFa1I

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

And one of the originals for good measure. Wilbert Harrison - Let's Work Together https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kYWiUErA9Kw

George HW Bush, while not an overly favorite person of mine, he had his moments.

daylily comments on Dec 5, 2018:

Decent music, huh? I didn't watch that much. I thought Michelle was showing extra class once again, just by shaking Trump's hand. He was extremely out of place. Toxic to any room he enters anyway. I was wondering what Trump's funeral will be like. I bet he was too. Imagining the crowd size, which ...

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

@GeorgeRocheleau R'amen.

Alternative Housing

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 2, 2019:

This guy is building a project houseboat company from scratch. Seems to be quite well thought out. https://quidnon.blogspot.com/2018/10/a-houseboat-vs-houseboat.html?m=1

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

@RedskyRiver Reduce, reuse, recycle, reclaim, repurpose.

Rapalje "Drunken Sailor" Can't get much more Tiki than a sea shanty, aye? [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Nice! I dated a pirate once. ♥♥♥

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

@CaroleKay

Isaac Nora "Bei mir bist du schön" [m.youtube.com]

Arouet comments on Mar 4, 2019:

Bei mir bist du schön?

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

Translated here. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bei_Mir_Bistu_Shein

Isaac Nora "Bei mir bist du schön" [m.youtube.com]

Arouet comments on Mar 4, 2019:

Bei mir bist du schön?

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

Knew I was off but unsure the correct title. Thx.

Isaac Nora "Bei mir bist du schön" [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 4, 2019:

I'd love it if you could add titles when you post, They are easier to find later. Pretty please and thank you. ♥

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

@CaroleKay Even revised for the reply song links.

Isaac Nora "Bei mir bist du schön" [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 4, 2019:

I'd love it if you could add titles when you post, They are easier to find later. Pretty please and thank you. ♥

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 4, 2019:

Will do. Can add them after to fact to most of them if I move quickly enough.

Was digging through some old music, (as I often do), and found some stuff that I haven't heard in ...

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Bryan Ferry live "Let's Stick Together" Awesome live as well. Chris Spedding played with them. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lj0XD1NFa1I

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2019:

Bryan Ferry/Chris Spedding "Both Ends Byrning" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm-U-wcYg2E

Rebecca Sugar "Time Adventure" The Tiki/ukelele nexus is not to be denied. [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Sweet! Very cool, I couldn't help but crack up from one of the YouTube comments. ;) "Dont let this distract you from the fact that mr krabs sold spongebobs soul for 62 cents"

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2019:

Ashley Lawless "Time Adventure" And a beautiful cover. Truly sublime (and I love the top). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UkOdktMs0yQ

Rebecca Sugar "Time Adventure" The Tiki/ukelele nexus is not to be denied. [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Sweet! Very cool, I couldn't help but crack up from one of the YouTube comments. ;) "Dont let this distract you from the fact that mr krabs sold spongebobs soul for 62 cents"

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2019:

Adventure Time "Time Adventure" "My art is a weapon!" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y5TkZ9bFodQ&t=22s

Rapalje "Drunken Sailor" Can't get much more Tiki than a sea shanty, aye? [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Nice! I dated a pirate once. ♥♥♥

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2019:

Seen in a Savannah GA giftshop.

Rapalje "Drunken Sailor" Can't get much more Tiki than a sea shanty, aye? [m.youtube.com]

CaroleKay comments on Mar 3, 2019:

Nice! I dated a pirate once. ♥♥♥

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 3, 2019:

I once dated a magician. While we were driving, she touched my knee and I turned into a motel. ?

Alternative Housing

indirect76 comments on Mar 2, 2019:

Same, shipping containers. They are modular, inexpensive and can look quite nice. Only downside is that they have a lower ceilings, but my tall friends would just have to deal.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 2, 2019:

Since it's a dream scenario, the construction style is wide open.

Waiting for an answer. Waiting... waiting...

Matias comments on Mar 2, 2019:

How many times have I seen that meme on this site ?

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 2, 2019:

How many? This exact one or one like it?

.

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 2, 2019:

Where do I find the group description (nevermind, found it)?

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 2, 2019:

@CaroleKay I never before read the description, just noticed all the cool off-tracks being posted.

Make time for the important things in life.

Minta79 comments on Mar 1, 2019:

I cannot wait for the sun to return so I can be outside again. The cold and I simply do not get along.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

Maybe stay close to your tanks for warmth. ?

Make time for the important things in life.

Minta79 comments on Mar 1, 2019:

I cannot wait for the sun to return so I can be outside again. The cold and I simply do not get along.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

But you're right... they still look effin' cold.

Make time for the important things in life.

Minta79 comments on Mar 1, 2019:

I cannot wait for the sun to return so I can be outside again. The cold and I simply do not get along.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

@Minta79 For me it's layers, and a Russian style ushanka... earflaps down of course.

Make time for the important things in life.

Minta79 comments on Mar 1, 2019:

I cannot wait for the sun to return so I can be outside again. The cold and I simply do not get along.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

I like the cold well enough if I've got the right gear, but it certainly makes the prep more time consuming.

A matter of perspective.

rogueflyer comments on Mar 1, 2019:

Somehow after reading your post I feel even smaller.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

That's OK. Small but mighty. Big things come from small packages. ---- "Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." ~ Kurt Vonnegut

Fordham confirms that Trump team threatened the school if his grades became public - MarketWatch

wordywalt comments on Mar 1, 2019:

I wish that they had the nerve to actually publish his grades.

WilliamCharles replies on Mar 1, 2019:

@david75090 That's the way it was with student records at my university. Instances of them being leaked caused some serious scandals.

Undeniably true imho.

callmedubious comments on Feb 27, 2019:

i read tolle decades ago (the power of now). my problem is that there is no now. whatever we're trying to do at any instant is for a future instant.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

I was actually part of a religious panel (I was the atheist rep) at my university put on by the Harvarard Veritas Forum. I said the existence of all life amounted to, "What will you do next... and why." I said that for some lifeforms, the "why" might be something that they were occasionally consciously aware of.

Undeniably true imho.

callmedubious comments on Feb 27, 2019:

i read tolle decades ago (the power of now). my problem is that there is no now. whatever we're trying to do at any instant is for a future instant.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

I feel the phrase/concept of "the eternal now" is accurate.

WTF is wrong with people?

Triphid comments on Feb 27, 2019:

Schools, other than religious based ones that is, ARE for teaching FACTS and knowledge of Facts to the children NOT Fantasies, Superstitions, etc, in my opinion.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

Would that history courses followed that model.

Undeniably true imho.

mordant comments on Feb 26, 2019:

Undeniable? Perhaps, but that's a two-edged sword. This is a non-falsifiable statement, and as such, can be neither disproven NOR *proven*.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

@mordant I still beg to differ. See the Watts quote graphic above. Watts also noted that it's less we came "into" the universe, than came "out" of it. Your organs thought of as an individual component of your life form is not you, but in actuality it is most definitely you. Its relation to you changes should it get separated from you, but reattached it doesn't stop being "you" because of the period of separation. You may think of it in purely semantic terms, but I feel even then it supports my take. The line from Hudsucker Proxy about "merging with the infinite" is great, but considers us as having been "unmerged" from it. We're the blobby floaters in a lava lamp but we're still the lava lamp regardless of our continual morphing. It shouldn't be such a difficult concept. The universe by definition is everything that exists. In every direction you look however small a subset you view... you're looking at the universe. "You are not a drop in the ocean. You are the entire ocean in a drop." - Rumi

Undeniably true imho.

mordant comments on Feb 26, 2019:

Undeniable? Perhaps, but that's a two-edged sword. This is a non-falsifiable statement, and as such, can be neither disproven NOR *proven*.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

@Elganned How so? It arose from randomness.

Works without a god too.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 25, 2019:

I think Vonnegut is just putting forth the notion in his own playful way that meaning and purpose is not delivered from on high by non-existent supernatural beings anyway. It mirrors Alan Watts a bit when Watts said he considers the Gospels "inspired" (or other "sacred" texts), but not in the ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

@Elganned Not sure. Didn't create the graphic and mostly unfamiliar with Aslan. Wasn't he a lion?

Undeniably true imho.

Matias comments on Feb 27, 2019:

This sounds as if the "Universe" were a kind of agent - which is undeniably mythological thinking

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

@Matias Again, I completely disagree. It has nothing to do with "needing" us. And the "little while" can apply to both the individual and the species. You seem to be fixating on the term "expressing." There are all sorts of variations of resultant life following the universe coming into being. Certainly on this planet, and most likely elsewhere. Ours just happens to be one that has evolved to a clearer understanding of our origins via our scientific discoveries and pursuits. There is nothing mythological in that perception. The universe itself will at some point go dark. What follows is anybody's guess. But there was at least for a relative flicker within the vast cosmic timescale, life that knew its essentional oneness with everything, in a fully materialistic sense of that concept. Sagan said in Cosmos, "If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, first you must create the universe." This universe is one where we have the ability to do the apple pie part because it exists. The origin of the Big Bang is sometimes explained by cosmologists as, "Something came from nothing because 'nothing' was unstable." It's possible the instability will recur, and some other life will be an "expression" of that universe. It is additionally possible that lifeform will also discover its place in that process.

Undeniably true imho.

Matias comments on Feb 27, 2019:

This sounds as if the "Universe" were a kind of agent - which is undeniably mythological thinking

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 27, 2019:

Not at all. The "expressing" is coming from us. But we undeniably come out of this universe. As Alan Watts once put it, just as an apple tree "apples," the universe "peoples."

Undeniably true imho.

mordant comments on Feb 26, 2019:

Undeniable? Perhaps, but that's a two-edged sword. This is a non-falsifiable statement, and as such, can be neither disproven NOR *proven*.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 26, 2019:

I stand by undeniable. We are star stuff, as Sagan notes, who have evolved to be able to ponder our own origins.

Works without a god too.

mzbehavin comments on Feb 24, 2019:

That's the thing about gods, they just aren't necessary.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 26, 2019:

Though when used correctly as a metaphor has a certain power and profundity. Like, "If it is to be, it is up to me."

Not sure where I stand on this because of the age of this cross monument and how it speaks to a ...

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 26, 2019:

Anything that could be perceived as a religious endorsement by government no matter how seemingly inconsequential is always the camel's nose under the tent situation.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 26, 2019:

@mojo5501 - Yes. It's essentially a variation of the slippery slope concept.

Works without a god too.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 25, 2019:

I think Vonnegut is just putting forth the notion in his own playful way that meaning and purpose is not delivered from on high by non-existent supernatural beings anyway. It mirrors Alan Watts a bit when Watts said he considers the Gospels "inspired" (or other "sacred" texts), but not in the ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 25, 2019:

This also speaks to the meta concept. https://imagejournal.org/article/kurt-vonnegut/

Works without a god too.

WilliamCharles comments on Feb 25, 2019:

I think Vonnegut is just putting forth the notion in his own playful way that meaning and purpose is not delivered from on high by non-existent supernatural beings anyway. It mirrors Alan Watts a bit when Watts said he considers the Gospels "inspired" (or other "sacred" texts), but not in the ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 25, 2019:

This graphic addresses the idea of the shared writings being more a path of action rather than how it's largely interpreted, at least when approached selectively.

This is a remembrance just posted for an online friend who died this past week.

powder comments on Feb 23, 2019:

You are lucky you met her , sounds a wonderful friend and mentor which allowed you both to grow.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 23, 2019:

And that occured on many levels from the mundane to the essential. Thx.

This is a remembrance just posted for an online friend who died this past week.

gigihein comments on Feb 23, 2019:

Wow, that was so beautifully expressed and felt. Though I am unsure, if my paths crossed with hers, it is quite likely they crossed with someone changed or passing on the love from her ripple effect. I aspire to leave others better whether it is brief and a one moment dance or one of a lifetime....

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 23, 2019:

I feel that way too, and share it with that in mind. Thank you.

This is a remembrance just posted for an online friend who died this past week.

whispers comments on Feb 23, 2019:

Very touching...and eloquently expressed.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 23, 2019:

Thank you for that. It is most appreciated.

"How on earth can religious people believe in so much arbitrary, clearly invented balderdash?

Gregory2 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

It's that blindness to how blatantly made up those stories are that baffles me the most. Or is it willingness to disregard the obvious. Even the very premise of an immortal sacrificing his life is so clearly made up. Jesus died for our sins, they say. Is Jesus dead? ? Then he didn't die. He ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 23, 2019:

@Gregory2 It is not a defense of that narrative, just a distillation of it. It agrees with you in not being impressed with the "sacrifice" of a supposedly eternal being claimed to have enacted some sort of magical reality via said illusory "death."

Has anyone read a book & when you were finished you felt sad b/c it was the end?

WilliamCharles comments on Mar 20, 2018:

Almost every Vonnegut book I read.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 17, 2019:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was like that and was always pleased to discover the "trilogy" had more than three books.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

UUNJ comments on Feb 15, 2019:

My friend Al did a Ted Talk on that subject! https://youtu.be/xF-CX9mAHPo

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 16, 2019:

That was a very interesting talk, UUNJ. Thanks for sharing it. The George Carlin bit about the difference between baseball and football reminded me there is an element of baseball that I think still applies to sex, and that is there is no set time limit, with even the possibility of "extra innings." When at its most pleasurable, it progresses at it's own pace, with time ideally not being an issue. [for those unfamiliar, here's the Carlin piece I mentioned - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aIkqNiBASfI ]

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

Marcie1974 comments on Feb 15, 2019:

Not for women. I think men can cum even from bad sex...not the case for women.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 16, 2019:

True the analogy can be seen as mostly from the male's perspective, but I actually think it holds for everyone if looked at the right way. First the pizza part. We're not talking about a child's mud pizza topped with sticks and pebbles, and yes there's a certain category of horror story pizzas (gas station food marts, cheap frozen closeout store brands, etc.), but if you think of it as the type pizza you'd choose for yourself even though the range would be from great to OK, overall it is pretty good (the really crappy ones that inflicted themselves on you out of blue notwithstanding). If you were really famished, the OK range would probably expand a bit. As far as the sex part, generally you'd probably be as least as discriminating as to a partner as you would for your pizza selection, though chance encounters and quickies can also be in the mix. My definition of "sex" is physical intimacy resulting in arousal at some level. If one looks at it as a pleasurable encounter of whatever duration rather than preset expectations requiring evaluation to determine "success" or "failure," then just the simple act of bonding with someone physically like that *is* pretty good. It doesn't have to be predetermined as if it was a project like assembling a piece of IKEA furniture, but rather more like a musical jam session. Some sessions reach greater heights than others, but I feel there's something worthwhile in the attempt. Even in a less than optimal encounter, you still had someone willing to give it a go, and if it didn't go well, you still probably learned something new about your likes and dislikes, and your ability to communicate your particular desires with your partner, and your responsiveness to theirs. Short of a partner or encounter that was an absolute disaster, generally (like pizza) it is pretty good. At least that's the way I see it. Sex with another person is that person essentially giving you the gift of themselves. That usually has some sort of positive effect on your emotional well-being, whether or not the mechanics of the act were as finely tuned as I hope all of us have the opportunities to experience. It's all good. Making love is like a language, and I would always hope to express it in a manner that acknowledges the beauty of that intimacy and bring at least as much pleasure to my partner as I am experiencing. Though the statement was mostly meant in a humorous vein like a punchline, I still think it embodies some essential truth. Your mileage may vary.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

Zster comments on Feb 15, 2019:

Hmm... not always true. I've had sex that was worse than having none, but am hard pressed to recall any pizza that was that bad.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

I think it's a maxim largely intended for the comic effect, and also from the male's perspective for the most part. Like another observation from a comic I remember who said... "In terms of sex, women want A), B), and C) as far the type of things they want you to do. For men, we just need you to be there."

See you soon, friend?

Deb57 comments on Feb 14, 2019:

I feel a bit silly about how mushy I got over a machine.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

I think our tendency to anthropomorphize is rather endearing on the whole.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

Dancing comments on Feb 15, 2019:

I've been disappointed by both before.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

Drive-in pizza was practically cardboard and ketchup. Drive-in sex however...

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

UUNJ comments on Feb 15, 2019:

My friend Al did a Ted Talk on that subject! https://youtu.be/xF-CX9mAHPo

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

The term "nappy dugout" was new to me. Never encountered that phraseology.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

Islandgurl comments on Feb 15, 2019:

I would agree so long as pineapple isn't involved with either one. Anchovies though...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

Love Canadian bacon and pineapple. Hold the anchovies.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

TheGreatShadow comments on Feb 15, 2019:

Even cold?

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

Love cold pizza. Sex... done right it gets things warmed up.

Pizza is like sex. Even when it's bad it's pretty good.

Moravian comments on Feb 15, 2019:

Cheap frozen pizza from the corner store ?. I think I would rather abstain.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 15, 2019:

If you have a bad enough case of the munchies, even that would probably hit the spot.

See you soon, friend?

Deb57 comments on Feb 14, 2019:

I feel a bit silly about how mushy I got over a machine.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2019:

Here I am alone and afraid In a world I never made

[m.youtube.com] I love her dark humor coupled with her wonderfully sweet musicality.

bingst comments on Feb 14, 2019:

Suggestion: change "her" in your description to the person's name, so we know who it's about when we see this post listed on the homepage.

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 14, 2019:

That'll surely raise some eyebrows as her performing name is Kat McSnatch.

"How on earth can religious people believe in so much arbitrary, clearly invented balderdash?

Gregory2 comments on Feb 7, 2019:

It's that blindness to how blatantly made up those stories are that baffles me the most. Or is it willingness to disregard the obvious. Even the very premise of an immortal sacrificing his life is so clearly made up. Jesus died for our sins, they say. Is Jesus dead? ? Then he didn't die. He ...

WilliamCharles replies on Feb 8, 2019:

I find this summary amusing - "Jesus had a bad three day weekend for your sins."

I witnessed a bonafide miracle on my drive home last night.

CarolinaGirl60 comments on Jan 31, 2019:

Drivers in this area are colorblind. Green=go; yellow=go faster; red=Speed Racer. This miracle needs to come here!

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 31, 2019:

Oh dear sister. This was a miracle of unprecedented and undeniable proportions. Truly no other explanation.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 31, 2019:

@ToolGuy Jewish displaced people after WWII were polled in the camps on where they wanted to go. If they answered other than Palestine, they suffered consequences. You always have an answer to why everything is the fault of anyone but the Zionists. Switching to a statement on climate change is a pretty inventive dodge. "Yeah, we're all fucked, so what difference does it make?"

Alan Watts - Nature of God - YouTube

jlynn37 comments on Jan 30, 2019:

Anyone saying anything about an invisible, imaginary entity can only give their opinion and nothing more and we all have opinions so take it for what it is worth.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 31, 2019:

Practically mirror images.

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

Marine comments on Jan 30, 2019:

While I do not believe in any god exists I do not accept the label infidel because of the nasty image conveyed by th word. I am not a bad person as the Muslims imply with the word and many others who use the word in a negative way.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@Marine Thx. U2. https://infidels.org

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@genessa If you were alone on a deserted island, but didn't do anything for your own survival, what would these "rights" as you put them get you? You'd be getting your "right" to air... unless you were under water or in a cave where the oxygen ran out. Your right to "air" needs to be breathable air. What if you did try to survive... fish, forage, hunt... but came up empty, or not enough calories to live, or it made you sick... really sick? You said you have a right to food. Who is denying you your rights?

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@genessa I read it... and disagree. Just like the last time we went round and round. It's OK. We have no need to convince the other. We see the world through our own eyes. How could we do anything but?

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

Marine comments on Jan 30, 2019:

While I do not believe in any god exists I do not accept the label infidel because of the nasty image conveyed by th word. I am not a bad person as the Muslims imply with the word and many others who use the word in a negative way.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

I embrace the word infidel. I started reading "Internet Infidels" early on in my godlessness.

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@genessa It's good to have that right, isn't it?

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

@genessa Again, I disagree. No one can tell you what you're allowed to think. I was once part of a panel on religion for the Harvard Veritas forum at my university. In my opening remarks I thanked them for including me, as in different times, or different parts of the world, merely holding or expessing the views I do could get me ostracized, to suffer discrimination, beaten, tortured, imprisoned, and even executed. It is one of *the* most fundamental human rights to not have that happen to you for holding thoughts out of step with the majority or the powerful. What you listed are needs for survival.

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

And I like the term godview because it is truly *all inclusive* as your "view of god" is something that doesn't even warrant your time. You chose not to be bothered by it in the least. That's a godview.

People are =/= to their religion I am most definitely an infidel in that I have no belief in any ...

genessa comments on Jan 30, 2019:

good statement with one caveat: i do not believe the a person's individual godview is the most basic right. some don't even HAVE a godview (i don't mean believing there are no gods, but not even thinking about it one way or the other). but everyone needs to breathe, and have food and water, and ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

By basic right I mean freedom of thought. People have been brutalized throughout history for expressing the "wrong" godview. Still are. It's why a government endorsement of "In God We Trust" infuriates me. How dare they presume to speak for me. Either the statement is a lie, or they don't consider me part of the "We." Freedom *of* religion requires freedom *from* it as well to have any true meaning. Religionists are always trying to sneak the camel's nose under the tent for one damn thing or another. Dominionists want to govern via the Old Testament. How fucked up is that? Many fundies are near as bad.

"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone ...

Mooolah comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Miss you Molly! We sure could use your wit nowadays.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 30, 2019:

See what she had to say on AIPAC.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Jolanta comments on Jan 26, 2019:

I too try to do what I possibly can. Our Government both the Liberals and Labor are quiet about the atrocities that are happening there. Shame on them. Money seem to be speaking loudly.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 29, 2019:

Twas ever thus, eh Jolanta?

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 29, 2019:

@ToolGuy - you need to clarify. Which people, asked what, about what, and when?

"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone ...

Switchcraft comments on Jan 29, 2019:

Great quote. Wish I could save to my phone and spread. Anyone know how ??

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 29, 2019:

The way I did it with my phone is to do a search for the quote - "Molly Ivans quote prefer burn" and often the entire quote can be seen in the hits. Copy and paste from there. You can also open the link and pull it from the page. I use the search engine dogpile.com as it provides the format most easily used for this. For the image, click on it until it shows the option to download image to your phone. Then you can post that as well. I know what you mean that devices do not allow copy and paste for much text. To do my own, I have to go into "edit" to grab it. Btw, copy and paste is performed by holding your finger down on the text (that allows it) until you see a couple of marker balloons that lets you drag and position to highlight the text you want. Then you select copy from the option bar that shows. PM if you want if you need more help, or just ask here.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 29, 2019:

Here's how I know you're being disingenuous, TG. I guarantee that if my apology had been to Israelis, you wouldn't have jumped in and demanded, "What about King Leopold and the Belgian Congo?" All your comments here are standard boilerplare hasbara. You haven't gotten a single upvote (as of 01/28/19), and you haven't returned to challenge any of the Jewish quotes/citations I provided. Israel pays an army of student online trolls (Project Megaphone). Their hasbara is generally quite weak; so is yours.

"If there is a God, his plan is very similar to someone not having a plan." - Eddie Izzard

jlynn37 comments on Jan 27, 2019:

Most people want to serve god, they only want to do it in an advisory capacity.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 28, 2019:

When believers ask me what I'll say when I find out God is real after I die, I answer, "I'll tell God what She/He/It/They did wrong."

"If there is a God, his plan is very similar to someone not having a plan." - Eddie Izzard

QuidamOutrepont comments on Jan 28, 2019:

Very similar to someone that does not exist.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 28, 2019:

R'amen.

"If there is a God, his plan is very similar to someone not having a plan." - Eddie Izzard

Matias comments on Jan 28, 2019:

Or it is a plan not similar to the kind of plans human beings have in mind. Do bacteria (or even mice) in a lab figure out what happens to them in scientific experiments?

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 28, 2019:

"If there is a God, he is a malign thug." ~ Mark Twain

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 27, 2019:

@ToolGuy Jews dug tunnels in the Warsaw ghetto. The Nazis and Israelis both practiced collection punishment... a war crime.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 27, 2019:

Re: the Two State solution. I wasn't surprised that you seemed to put its failure on the Palestinians. Those defending Israel generally do. ----- : "Without a diplomatic option to the two-state solution, and without the ability to think of that solution in any way other than the formulation that evolved from the Oslo process, the international community must see E-1 construction as the death knell it is for that beleaguered formulation. The difficulties of simple travel for commerce and community that exist under occupation would become entrenched in the very physical nature of a Palestinian state." From: http://souciant.com/2012/12/the-two-state-scam/

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

"Now, Professor Troy says he would prefer if coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict by Carter and others would assign responsibility to both sides. But the problem is, if you look at the international consensus for resolving the conflict, the burden of responsibility for the failure to resolve the conflict falls on the side of Israel and the United States. Carter is very clear on that — in my opinion, entirely accurate. He says the main problem is Israel refuses to recognize international law. The law is absolutely clear. It’s inadmissible to acquire territory by war. Israel acquired the West Bank and Gaza in the course of the 1967 War. The International Court of Justice said, under the U.N. Charter, Article 2, it’s inadmissible to acquire territory by war. Israel has to withdraw to its internationally recognized June '67 borders. It refuses. That's the obstacle. A simple illustration. Every year, the United Nations General Assembly votes on a resolution entitled “Peaceful Resolution of the Palestine Conflict.” Every year, the vote is the same. The whole world on one side — the whole world on one side — and on the other side, the United States, Israel, and usually Palau, Nauru, Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Micronesia. It’s usually six dissenting votes. And that’s it. The problem, I think, is not that the world is — not that the coverage is biased. The problem is, the reality is biased. I was reading a book today, to get to your last point you mention, by Zeev Maoz, a mainstream Israeli military historian, smart fellow, and it’s a good book and called Defending the Holy State. He says in a hundred years from now people are going to be very perplexed by this conflict, because, he says, compared to other conflicts, this is not a particularly complicated one. And it really isn’t. There has been a resolution, a settlement on the table for 30 years. And Israel and the United States have blocked it. That’s the problem. And Carter, to his credit, forthrightly says it. One side is blocking the settlement." From: https://www.democracynow.org/2007/1/8/norman_finkelstein_vs_gil_troy_on

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@ToolGuy Rejecting a two state solution is their right, not something to be imposed from outside (like the creation of Chosanistan in the first place). How about this solution; one side cuts the cake, the other side chooses the slice?

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@ToolGuy Those fighting the invaders get a little more leeway as far as war crimes go in my book. They haven't used white phosphorus on Israelis to the best of my knowledge.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

Also, you should know that genocide is not dependent on how many of the targeted group/victims are left. Israeli abuse of Palestinians *absolutely* meets the UN definition of genocide.

"When you get older, plainer, saner Will you remember all the danger We came from?

WilliamCharles comments on Jan 26, 2019:

That's how I felt when I first heard this song. Luckily it was on KCSN in the car so I was able to look up the artist on their online playlist when I got home. kcsn.org They are great for online listening and have no commercials outside of inhouse promotions and acknowledging benefactor ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

And this one - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NZi4NX7qmEk

"When you get older, plainer, saner Will you remember all the danger We came from?

WilliamCharles comments on Jan 26, 2019:

That's how I felt when I first heard this song. Luckily it was on KCSN in the car so I was able to look up the artist on their online playlist when I got home. kcsn.org They are great for online listening and have no commercials outside of inhouse promotions and acknowledging benefactor ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

There's some great live clips of her doing this on YouTube (be sure to look them up), but I was also thrilled to find some really cool covers of "Lost on You." https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2VtSoLhZxBE

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@ToolGuy The artificial entity known as "Israel" does not keep their promises. They also have undeclared nukes. The Symington Amendment states it is illegal for the US to send them a penny because of this. The same goes for our military aid when it's used to commit war crimes. But yeah, I can see how a Palestinian fertilty doctore helping Israelis somehow counters this /s. You know which Israelis have a high bithrate? The Orthodox and the government supported land theives (euphemistically known as "settlers"). The Orthodox don't serve in the IOF (Israel Occupation Force), and the "settlers" can murder and brutalize with even *less* restrictions than the OIF.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@ToolGuy The so-called "two state solution" is a farce and is dead anyway. Israeli machinations are just stalling tactics. Some whites in the US as well are worried about the shift in demographics and their own birth rates. Much of the gerrymandering and voter suppression here is to try to negate those numbers. Do you also support that?

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

ToolGuy comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Their population continues to increase.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

That's what the Israelis fear... a demographic shift. How dare a segment of the population demand equality in their *own* country, right? Particularly if there's so damn many of them!

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

THHA comments on Jan 26, 2019:

I posted this on Facebook a while back: A thought just crossed my mind that could possibly be translatable to the Palestinian cause, and my bet is that it would have a remarkable effect. Despite the fact that it may be found to be an offensive idea to some Palestinians, it could cause utter chaos ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

Quite a powereful idea. In fact, they (the occupiers known as "Israel") already have specially designated license plates for Palestinians to make sure they don't drive on the "wrong" roads.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

And yet posting this apology, without even a mention of all the deaths caused by those who think there should be no such nation as Israel, is disingenuous at best. How many civilians did the Intifada kill? How many children? How many people have been killed by suicide bombers and random attacks on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@Paul4747 - Paul, you seem at very best PEP (Progressive Except for Palestine). Your appeal of "Quit badmouthing Israel or I'll stop being liberal" is getting tired. That dog won't hunt.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

sassygirl3869 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

This new version of Zionism is not acceptable to me. Israel should not be turning the Gaza Strip into one big ghetto. I think the founders of Israel in 1948 would disapprove how some Israelis treat the Palestineans.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

I'm thinking that last part is more a case of, "act now, apologize later." Canadian historian, Gwynn Dyer remarked in his book/documentary "War" - "Everyone is theoretically against war, as long as they get to freeze the timeframe at the moment of their choosing."

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

And yet posting this apology, without even a mention of all the deaths caused by those who think there should be no such nation as Israel, is disingenuous at best. How many civilians did the Intifada kill? How many children? How many people have been killed by suicide bombers and random attacks on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@Paul4747 - you know, Native Americans were accused of using barbarous tactics in trying to repel the European invaders... but yeah... "both sides." My initial post was directed specifically at Palestinians, and the other peoples my country helps brutalize. You wanted me, nay, insisted, I mention Jews and Israel as well. You want an end to the bloodshed and suffering, do you? I've long felt that if Israel had to learn to murder and oppress on their own dime, that, more than anything, might get them to stop.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Mooolah comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Israel is the only country in the area that changes governments in a consistantly peaceful manner as it is the ONLY democracy surrounded by 12th century kings, chiefs,sultans,sheiks which engage in 12th century justice such as stoning, where as Israel has no death penalty. Jordan is Palestine with ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

"The Auschwitz Logic - by Ran HaCohen So this is the Auschwitz logic in a nutshell. Ramallah is not Auschwitz. Israel is not the Third Reich. We have no death-camps and we haven't massacred one third of the Palestinian population in gas chambers. Therefore, everything we do is quite all right. We may fill the occupied territories with tear gas and blood, we may kill and injure and torture and blackmail and dispossess, we may surround millions by electric fences and tanks in tiny enclaves, we may hold them under siege and daily bombing, we may make pregnant women walk to hospitals, and we shoot ambulances too, don't we. But as long as we fall even an inch short of the atrocities of Nazi Germany, it's all fine and good, and don't you dare make the comparison." http://antiwar.com/hacohen/?articleid=854

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Mooolah comments on Jan 26, 2019:

Lance Thruster is my favorite porn actor.

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

Those were never meant to be released, I'm afraid. ? Glad you enjoyed them, though. I try my best.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

And yet posting this apology, without even a mention of all the deaths caused by those who think there should be no such nation as Israel, is disingenuous at best. How many civilians did the Intifada kill? How many children? How many people have been killed by suicide bombers and random attacks on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

@Paul4747 Paul - yes, Palestian snipers use illegal expanding rounds (a war crime) to maim and murder peaceful Jewish protesters including children, medical personnel, and press (the last two clearly identified, the children however must have been mistaken as "little people" through the sniper scopes). The US even supplies the armanents and munitions to these Palestinian murderers and war criminals despite... Wait... I think I may have gotten the players a bit confused. Never mind.

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

And yet posting this apology, without even a mention of all the deaths caused by those who think there should be no such nation as Israel, is disingenuous at best. How many civilians did the Intifada kill? How many children? How many people have been killed by suicide bombers and random attacks on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

And as far as an apology to Jews, I help bankroll quite a few Holocaust memorials, museums, and educational programs with my tax dollars. Oddly, there aren't comparable programs and institutions, at least in numbers and the extent in the common consciousness, for the genocide of indigenous inhabitants and with the history of black slavery, despite being perpetrated by Americans themselves. If the history of the Holocaust is worthy of such universal condemnation (and it is), shouldn't these other crimes against humanity be addressed in a similar fashion?

To the surviving people of Palestine; I am truly so very sorry that you, your families, your ...

Paul4747 comments on Jan 26, 2019:

And yet posting this apology, without even a mention of all the deaths caused by those who think there should be no such nation as Israel, is disingenuous at best. How many civilians did the Intifada kill? How many children? How many people have been killed by suicide bombers and random attacks on ...

WilliamCharles replies on Jan 26, 2019:

Did the Palestinians do this (the Holocaust) to the Jews, Paul? First off, international law allows for a people invaded to resist by force. Secondly, the King David Hotel bombing was committed by Jews dressed as Arabs (an attempt at a false flag). Thirdly, as most of Israel's population is part of the IDF reserves, as well as Israel using public transportation to mobilize troops, there aren't many targets in Israel that aren't military to one extent or the other. You want to talk rationalism? Please explain why the US government ignores the Symington Amendment with regards to Chosanistan?