‘Supposedly’ being exactly the right word.

That, in my opinion, is one of the best things about the Jewish people - so much time spent looking for ways to make ancient traditions fit with a changing world and findings ways to bend the rules may well have been a contributing factor in producing so many Jewish free-thinkers.

Me neither, and quija boards stopped working for me once I grew up.

Everyone believes religions, that is, other religions, are bullshit. Believing your own religion is right and all the other ones are wrong, is not just bullshit, its dim, deluded, retarded, asinine, moronic, effed-up, etc.

@racocn8 Yes, Howard. IF I had a religion, I would believe it is bullshit.

Actually they can be given away, but usually are tossed aside, plus there are other options, plus you don't need to do it, period. My neighbor is Orthodox and from Israel he has issues with it, as well as the wire around his property. He feels that putting that up is an invasion of others rights. I have told him his religion is rather silly and outright wrong....but since Christians are just Jews who don't follow the rules it says MY religion is as stupid. The Muslims are a day late and a dollar short. &00+ years late actually. Just another obnoxious Jewish Sect.

My neighbor does have that wire and it is so he can handle the grandchildren. If he did not have it, they would never been brought over.

When Jews lived in walled cities, they did not need it, they had the wall. It could be magical privot hedges. As long as you have a delineation from the non Jewish people, you are fine.

This is a Torah law, not a rule of rabbi or cohen, (priests). A lot of stuff they do is very old and not from Torah. It is from Rabbinical additions, etc. As a Jew you can't say no to Torah, but all the other crap is free to be abused.

@LimitedLight And that's crazier than 2,500 times younger? Like so young they think the entire universe was created 1,000 years after the Sumerians were already fabricating copper? Sorry, Scientology wins this round.
It's still possible, I guess, that we could discover the universe is 100 times older than we thought. It is not possible that we could discover the universe is 6,000 years old.
What else ya got?

@LimitedLight Of course. Is that a serious question? I mean, obviously "crazy" isn't a scientific term for which you'll find definitions and defining characteristics for different levels. But could you honestly say simply the word "crazy" or "insane" with no adjectives or clarifications is completely sufficient and accurate to describe both a person that occasionally hears voices and a person that pulls their own teeth out because they believe they are mind control devices and smears the inside of their home with human excrement to help protect against the radio waves from the government brain washing machines?
Even colloquially you've heard differences the likes of "that guy is cuckoo" and "that guy is bat-shit fucking crazy" or "that chick is a level 5 clinger" to "that chick is boil-your-fucking-rabbit nuts", yes?

So back on topic, is it equally "crazy" for me to believe there are billions of years currently unaccounted for by science or that matter did not exist anywhere in the universe when fossils had already been on Earth for millions of years?
To me it's kind of like the difference between me telling you "I'm 100 years old" or "I haven't been born yet". Without knowing me, there's a tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny possibility that I'm 100 and look the way I do, but there's exactly a zero percent chance I haven't been born yet.

I think I put way too much time in to what should be a completely unnecessary response.

@LimitedLight You're the one that contradicted my comment, bro... Anyway, this isn't a fight, at least not to me. I'm pointing out real world applications for knowledge we have about any enemy of truth, logic, and science. That you don't agree with me is both baffling and telling. I ASSUMED everyone here would agree that all religions are crazy and that we can use one religion calling another religion crazy against them. Apparently, you want to give a lot of religions a pass? You may be on the wrong website.

@LimitedLight Dude, "less crazy than other religions" can still be pretty crazy. Of course, I guess it makes sense you wouldn't have picked up on that because you didn't believe there were degrees of craziness... You're keeping it going just as much as I am, Pot.

Wow, @LimitedLight is a fragile motherfucker. He blocked me over this exchange? How does this guy learn anything if he can't even handle a back and forth this mild?

As a Jewish atheist myself, I can confirm Maturin1919 is correct. Jews are an ethnoreligious group: in other words, one is Jewish if one follows the Jewish religion regardless of one's ethnic origin or race , but one can also be Jewish regardless of one's religious faith or lack thereof by being born a member of the Jewish people. So, for example, Sammy Davis Jnr. was Jewish despite not being born into the Jewish people because he adopted Jewish tradition and religious faith, whereas I reject the existence of the supernatural entirely and have done since childhood but, because my mother is Jewish, I am still (proudly) Jewish too.

@Jnei I never could understand why someone should be "proud" of an accident of birth. I am gratefull that I was born and raised in a western democracy and not into poverty in a third world country but that's it.

@Moravian Think of "proud"in this sense as meaning pride in the achievements of those with whom one is associated (such as, Jewish contributions to the arts, science, philosophy, business and society, as well as the simple fact that despite it all we're still around), rather the "pride" people feel when they believe their race or nationality is better than others.

@Jnei Fair enough although I would use the word admiration rather then pride, and so long as it is balanced by the negative aspects. For example the actions of the zionist administration in Palestine.
I admire the works of David Hume and Adam Smith and others involved in the Scottish/European enlightenment but I am in no way proud of my country's involvement in the slave trade.

@Moravian Agreed. Bring proud of things you had no part in (your cultural background, your height, your eye color, your level of intelligence, etc. to me is akin to being proud of your white skin or "race".)

@Moravian, @Jnei Everytime I make a really good meal, (like tonite)I look up and say I don't believe in you, but if you exist thanks for making me Italian...... In matters of food and taste, Italians Rule and others drool.......Jest Say'n! And when some compliments are served I say, " When Mr Farmer does his job, I have very little work to do"

Tonight was Zuccinni Ftatinno with a side of kale,(garlic and evoo)and Chicken cutles coated in Eyetalian crumbs then baked, cooled sauced sprinkle with Peccorino Romano, then a SCHMEAR of Ricotta then sauce more pecorino and sprinkled with crums all baked.

This a spoof of Eggplant Rollatini. Rolatinni is basically, anything rolled. I make it flat, and prefer zukes. Eggplant would require a prebake. Best of course is Fried, but I need to fit through the doors.

Like a good Lentil soup, and plain olden pasta one must remember not to over do it and explode.

Go to Youtube and look up Italy and france by John Pinette. Sadly he is long gone, but his description of eating Italian......too painful..... But nicely done!

@praytothemilkjug So you are "proud" to be of Italian descent ? . Certainly the Italians have given a lot to the world (what did the Romans ever do for us). but I think the French may take issue with you over the best food issue.
I haven't visited Italy but it is on my bucket list. I will steer clear of Venice though. It stinks and is overpriced, and Birmingham has more canals.
Watch that pride doesn't become hubris though.

@Moravian don’t steer clear of Venice, it’s lovely in early May. It didn’t stink the two times I’ve been. Just avoid eating in a restaurant in St Mark’s Square, you’ll need another mortgage!

@robbish_uk Thanks for the info,

@Moravian Escoffie said words to the effect of, The Mother of French Haute Cuisine is Italian. I believe it is in Le Gastronomique.

At School they discussed what kind of restaurant one might want. They , not I , said the single most successful restaurants globally are Italian. then below that is Chinese close but still distant, then french, where the success rate is 40%, that is 40% in business 5 years later.

Provence was ceded to France to gain independence from everybody including the pope, they were Italian and had huge influences, I believe Croatia was about the same, (although that was originally through conquest, then again most of all of the countries conquest was how they became).

We ate in Venice, total shit, we ate in other places I am not sure why they opened. But we ate from Rome North, the farms/vineyards were incredible.

If we ever get back we will go south, just to eat.

I know there can be wonderful things across France, but I have a friend. Born into a very wealthy family, she travelled the world (to this day), on family geldt. We talked food and France. She knows me, we toss around cuisine ideas. She said forget France, Italy has the ancient stuff everywhere, you can see art all over Europe. But no matter where that plane lands the food in Italy is quite wonderful. She retired so I never got to tell her of my culinary misadventures.

I guess in Vencice we simply went to a few lesser quality (read crap) places.

I will admit my favorite cookies are French/German//norse. I think Polish Krystecki are like Manna. I shoved on in the bully's mouth after he dissed me. He choked chewed and smiled, then admitted I was right it was the best dessert ever. I then let him know that was the only one he would ever get. He then was nice to me for 3-4 months.

But all those cuisines have at least a little something. The only glaring non entity in ethnic food is the British Isles.

All of that said, I usually do not eat in Italian Restaurants, I can make most of it that I see, or figure it out. More fun, to me, is trying other stuff. I found one place that made exceptional Empanada, they closed, but the rest of the food was authentic and boring. The rest are over priced and pointless. Then I found an Empanada place where they are so expensive I am sad. Minimum of 3-4 is needed for lunch.

The spice scheme is so different from what I can taste out, I may never figure it out. They are Peruvian empanada. They are perfect, right as they come out of the oven, they give you sauces, that is Gilding the Lilly. That is in Nassau cty LI if anyone needs to know. I do not know if Corona Virus killed them.

I need to go back to see if they still are alive.

If you have Netflix watch salt/fat/acid/heat

[amazon.com]

@praytothemilkjug I was brought up in Scotland and every town had ice cream parlours and fish and chip shops run by Italian families. The stuff they produced was mostly excellent.
Quite recently I said to a friend of Italian extraction something like "weren't we lucky that the immigrants brought their skills over here after the war. He replied " Don't be daft. They couldn't get any other work so they opened fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours"

After all What did the Romans ever do for us

@Moravian They Gave the "pipes" to the world, they forgot to tell them it was a joke! When it comes to food I am even more passionate then on politics. When I see how non Italian Americans cook and what they think is ok to eat , sometimes I just go nuts. I am in Disbelief. But, not all Italians can cook. The Italian food in my mom's family was exceptional. I was a spoilt little rat. The only things I hated were liver, (innards/offal), fish, (most), mushrooms and asparagus. and even those made in certain ways were at least edible.

If you have ever seen Lenny Henry as "CHEF", his description of his mom's cooking vegetables is the way my mom murdered Asparagus. We could not afford fresh ones, or the good ones and she bought canned or frozen and then over cooked them. pointless green slime rods and the other crazy thing was she did not "make a salad dressing" perse, she sprinkled and tossed, which is fine. BUT, she only bought Icebeerg, (which I really like), Then she did not sprinkle she dumped........this could lead to a chunk of curly clumped iceberg that was a pocket of vinegar and salt. Woof, talk about a shock to the system. When she taught my wife how to do it, she did the same ingredients and amounts, but mixed then poured. My wife is more consistent then me with it. I sprinkle , toss and taste/adjust.

My M-I-L did not teach my wife much on how to cook anything, leastways Italian.....like I said, not all Italians can cook or have taste buds worth listening to. Hers were in general, lazy and pointless.

Please enjoy this link

he is from Boston, he was French Canadian and Irish I believe, and how he speaks of Italian food is how I feel.

Don't be eating or drinking as you watch. there is a choking hazard if you do.

@Moravian On a total side note how did you feel about Brexit or Scotland dumping England? I offer no opinion as it is not something I know about.

@Moravian

This is perfect

"He replied " Don't be daft. They couldn't get any other work so they opened fish and chip shops and ice cream parlours" "

When I went back to visit my old HS, I bumped into a maintenance guy who was Greek. Wewere friendly for all the time I was there, and I asked politely, "Dino, why are all the "Diners" in NYC owned by Greeks? " "He thought a moment and said "Well, when you come from Greece and have few skills or none for America, you cook. Everyone can cook right!"

In Ratatoie(animation), August says, Everyone can cook, but not everyone can cook well"

His answer was one of an immigrant family. Perfect. (both your guy and mine)

I dare you to come here to NYC and open a Haggis Parlour !!! chcukle

Plain Haggis, Haggis Frcasee and maybe grilled or smoked Haggis.

@praytothemilkjug Yes I voted for separation from the UK at the referendum in 2014. Now that we have been dragged out of the EU against our wishes I am even more in favour of independence.

@Moravian I read a couple of articles on the Dilemma of Ireland and the check points and the Brexit issues. At least the Scots religiously are closer so a teensie portion of the issue is alleviated, but many just want to all the Brits packing.

@praytothemilkjug The good Friday agreement in 1998 finally put a stop to the sectarian fighting in NI and it included free access for people and goods over the border to the Republic. This was fine so long as both the UK and Ireland were in the EU but it is going to cause problems now that the UK are out of the EU.
There have been several proposals for getting over this problem but none seem to be practical or they give NI special status which is not acceptable to the rest of the UK'
I would like to see a referendum for Irish reunification but it is unlikely.

@Moravian Hi, I appologise for taking so long to respond. I didn't see your response, (user error over here, me!, I am a luddite)

What you described was what I had read about.