wmw999

And it’s equally why an atheist doesn’t do much good telling a believer about their beliefs, either. To me, the discussion of theology as an intellectual construct is just fine. As a discussion of what’s right and what’s wrong, that’s a little more arrogant — because it’s saying that a wise human knows God. And if God is as far from our plane as all of the divine scriptures make them appear, then we don’t know shit. What I know is the amorphous mess that feels comfortable to me, and I know that’s all it is. Wendy P.

However, that constitutional republic uses democratic elections to select most leaders. According to its constitution. If people who don’t share your religious and political values outvote your, is that valid? And what differentiates it from “mob rule?” Because sometimes they will Wendy P.

Lately, where I live there’s been a contentious school board issue. Things have gotten testy, and now several members of the school board have resigned due to relentless personal attacks and threats. I’m saying this because lately in here the line between calling someone’s argument wrong and calling them an asshole has gotten to be very fine indeed. And while there are other venues where anything goes, this still isn’t one of them. Sangiro said to consider it as though it were his porch. That still applies. Attack the idea, not the person. And it’s better to come up with an actual countering argument, instead of did not-did too, or nyah-nyah-nyah Wendy P.

And a good morning to you. I’m sitting out on a dock, looking at a pond, so it is a good morning Wendy P.

One can but hope. But after the debate (I’ll admit I didn’t watch it — no TV where I am right now, and no desire regardless), I’m not so sure. Wendy P.

It’s what I’m scared of, and what they probably hope we’re scared of. Nothing like bullies running the country, eh? Wendy P.

Number 1: I’d expect that damage visible on opening in a dz-packer packed canopy to be the DZ’s responsibility, barring Supra-terminal openings or something like that. But the rental agreement may have said something different. Were you solo jumping, or did someone watch your exit and opening? As far as the second, shit happens to everyone. I don’t know how busy the DZ is, how often the rigs are in use. So I don’t know. Wendy P.

He’s a veteran, very possibly a combat veteran if I recall at. Very different thing. Really. Wendy P.

I can believe it. Worst I did was drag off a diamond from a 182 right at 2000. But we split after that. Very few dirty low-pulling women out there. I don’t think it was our thing Wendy P.

I went to a big engineering school. There was enough time if you were dedicated. Wendy P.

Put me down for 295. Wendy P.

My only funny hat is one of the hiking hats with a flap that hangs down over your neck for more protection. It’s a real fashion statement Wendy P.

Pretty much every encounter is just an opportunity to talk past each other, raising one’s points. Interviews, news conferences, town halls. Everyone reacting to the questions they wish had been asked, or the situation they’ve prepared for, instead of what’s actually happening in the world. Its much better theater, and gets more views Wendy P.

Trump is aspirational power for Maga-types. Putin is aspirational power for Trump. Wendy P.

Why do you rely on videos for information? They’re just about the worst thing. Wendy P.

40 years ago they were illegal immigrants. I believe it was the Fox spin machine that jammed it over to aliens. Wendy P.

Integrating the military was a diversity effort; adding women during WW2, no, but the expansion of available jobs over the years, yes. That seems to have worked, too. Just because we're used to something doesn't make it perfect Wendy P.

From something by some chess dude in The Conversation (at least as authoritative as Youtube) Wendy P.

If you just ignore all the facts that don't support your hypothesis, or declare them lies, that's not science, it's bullshit. I hope you haven't taught your son that lying is OK as long as he thinks its right, or funny, or skewers someone he disagrees with. Your son deserves better than that. Wendy P.

It may not have been as safe, but those of us who survived do have better stories... Wendy P.

No, I don't. It's the system we've backed our way into. And I mean everyone in the US -- there are millions of drug consumers for medical reasons; we're deep in a "there's a pill for it so I'll let that deal with it" culture. Everything is more complex than it used to be, but we like the results -- no one just casts a broken leg any more, it's surgically repaired. Better results, and faster -- most Americans are happy to let their insurance pay for faster and better. Do you propose simply doing away with pharma companies? They do most of the research, with the profit motive topmost in their minds. How'd we get there? Cutting taxes to the FDA (because, after all, the pharma companies were already doing that research, and it was getting expensive, especially with all the new drugs coming online. Improving medical care on the curing side, without investing similar amounts into the maintenance of health (after all, that's "personal responsibility," right?). That takes more drugs. Allowing the public advertising of drugs on TV and in periodicals, so people ask for them by name. In the cause of deregulation. Let's not forget the huge explosion in cancer treatment -- using drugs. And, of course, our reliance on antibiotics means that we keep needing new ones, because evolution means that organisms develop resistance to the old standby ones. It's where we are. We can't get anywhere from where we coulda-shoulda-woulda been, only from where we are right now. Which means that any Tom, Dick, and Harry (preferably either with insurance or money) can ask for any old drug that they've seen advertised for whatever they think ails them. And now we have the people who are taking Ozempic or whatever to lose weight. Weight loss is an issue -- the crappy food that we've also been sold for the last 60-70 years has been designed to addict, just as tobacco products, hydrocodone, and video games are. We've back ourselves into a reasonably fucked corner. And it's not going to be private enterprise or revolutions that are going to get us out. It's not going to be governments, either -- but at least governments can make legislation. They don't always get it right, but I'd trust a publicly-elected body more than most publicly-traded companies. Because the companies are after our money, and they don't really care how they get it. They have a continuity that goes beyond individuals, where elected governments, especially on the local level, are subject to faster recall. Wendy P.

Oh for God's sake. Do you really think that another way would be better? Maybe just letting the pharma companies do whatever they want to? FDA has been hamstrung by budget cuts like pretty much all agencies; they depend in large part on the documentation by the pharmacompanies. Do you have any better suggestions, or are you just trying to poke as many holes to gen up support for the "coming revolution?" Wendy P.

No it didn't. Pharma companies gave out free samples to entice people to request it once its expected approval happened. Only it wasn't approved. Wendy P.

So far so good, huh? Wendy P.

Not to mention that it was specifically blocked by the FDA, not just approved. Sounds like the FDA was doing its job. I'll bet there were a lot of pissed off people who wanted to take something that the big bad government wouldn't let them. Wendy P.