No one is required to take religion seriously here but there's no need to be a dick about it either. Anyhow, the Shoutbox is not really the place for this.

To be fair, the guy spends an awful lot of time in the pool which doesn’t leave a lot of time to ‘get’ anything besides.

No one is required to take religion seriously here — Baden

I would say, "No one is required to have religious beliefs here". Not taking religion seriously, however, seems ill-advised, at best. Religion is part of the core operating system of at least a few billion people, and has been part of human mind for a long time. We can't understand ourselves if we dismiss religion as a defect, something irrelevant, and beneath philosophy's concern.

Totally agree. 'Poo' and 'poop' are kiddy terms which have vanquished feces, bowel contents, etc., even by doctors.

Anyhow, the Shoutbox is not really the place for this. — Baden

?

ravioli — Hanover

This was my favourite bit, because it reminded me of the ravioli I had yesterday for lunch. Each raviolo was packed with mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes. You should've been there.

Not taking religion seriously, however, seems ill-advised, at best. Religion is part of the core operating system of at least a few billion people, and has been part of human mind for a long time. We can't understand ourselves if we dismiss religion as a defect, something irrelevant, and beneath philosophy's concern. — BC

I agree but it's not a requirement. You're not going to be banned for being dismissive of religion.

You're not going to be banned for being dismissive of religion — Baden

Phew

You should've been there. — Jamal

I was there. I was the guy with the pepper grinder who held the pepper grinder out in front of you and said "pepper?"

How long have ever let the guy go on grinding your pepper? I've always wanted to have him empty the entire thing and then have to get a second one while the pepper piled up on my plate. Then I'd do the same for the mozzarella cheese guy, and then I'd have them fill my drink all over the floor. That's what I'd do.

I went to a restaurant once, and the old guy I was with asked to swap his white napkin for a dark one, and they went and got him a maroon one, and he asked if I too wanted a maroon one. I didn't, but being the shybird I was stuck with white, but, next time, may God be my witness, I'm going to insist upon a navy blue one.

So, next time, mound of pepper and cheese on my plate, water all over the floor, and a blue napkin in my lap, and one shit eating grin from the happiest diner of all time, enjoying the living shit out of life as it's meant to be lived.

Feel me?

I'm killing it with the nonsense today. Killing it!

Oh, and by mozzarella, I mean parmesan.

How long have ever let the guy go on grinding your pepper? — Hanover

3 to 4 seconds max.

I've always wanted to have him empty the entire thing and then have to get a second one while the pepper piled up on my plate. Then I'd do the same for the mozzarella cheese guy, and then I'd have them fill my drink all over the floor. That's what I'd do. — Hanover

An excess of cheese I can handle. An excess of pepper is another matter.

I went to a restaurant once, and the old guy I was with asked to swap his white napkin for a dark one, and they went and got him a maroon one, and he asked if I too wanted a maroon one. I didn't, but being the shybird I was stuck with white, but, next time, may God be my witness, I'm going to insist upon a navy blue one. — Hanover

I don’t like restaurants that don’t provide me with a large white cloth napkin, preferably the size of a bath towel. Maroon or navy are ok, it’s the size and durability that count.

enjoying the living shit out of life as it's meant to be lived. — Hanover

Hard to argue with this.

I'm killing it with the nonsense today. Killing it! — Hanover

You have some healthy competition.

Excellent.

I think our collaborative approach is the best, bringing together all of our creative strengths. With this pooling together of resources maybe we can one day emerge from this generational cycle of failure that has plagued us all here. — Hanover

Hear! Hear! (or Here! Here!) Good show. Well said! A round of drinks for everyone! :blush:

(Though I’d only maybe change “creative strengths” to... I don’t know... “collective psychosis”?)

Phew — Jamal

Clarky's not going to like that. *Runs and ducks*

ducks — Baden

I have not seen a pig picture in like, 2 thread pages. Is Shawn alive? :yikes:

I would say, "No one is required to have religious beliefs here". Not taking religion seriously, however, seems ill-advised, at best. Religion is part of the core operating system of at least a few billion people, and has been part of human mind for a long time. We can't understand ourselves if we dismiss religion as a defect, something irrelevant, and beneath philosophy's concern. — BC

Amen! :pray: (and for those who might object to the word “amen”... A-women!!! :flower:

You're on a roll. I haven't read anything except the bit about your shit tattoo but I commend you on the word count. :up:

Quantity over quality, as they always say. :pray:

@T Clark

Looks like our new champion swimmer friend has an evangelistic bend. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, besides the creepiness.

even by doctors. — BC

Even by scientists.

No one is required to take religion seriously — Baden

Agreed.

One is as not required to take religion seriously as one is not required to take @Baden seriously.

:100:

Um, wait, unless I'm modding, of course. :victory:

You can now live on a cruise ship for $30,000 per year

That's per person double occupancy, an inside cabin. So, about $180,000/year. I can afford that, but when I get back I'll have to move in with @Hanover's goats. Here's a link:

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/3-year-cruise-mv-gemini/index.html

China has a 'stunning lead' over the US in the research of 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies, new study finds
^{— Huileng Tan · Business Insider · Mar 3, 2023}

elected officials like the Frump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Wendy Rogers, Ted Cruz, ..., look a bit like societal decline — Jan 27, 2023

Am I being too critical?

China has a 'stunning lead' over the US in the research of 37 out of 44 critical and emerging technologies, new study finds
— Huileng Tan · Business Insider · Mar 3, 2023 — jorndoe

Jorndoe always brings bad news. I saw that article previously and I don't buy it. I remember in the 1980s when Japan was ahead of us in just the same kinds of ways. They were taking the lead and would manufacture us into irrelevance. Of course that never happened. Japan's economy has been pretty stagnant since the 1990s. There having all sorts of social problems. High among them is their birth rate, which is far below the replacement level.

It's hard to get excited about this. Those types of studies are performed by institutions that have vested, often financial, interests in focusing attention and urgency on the specific issues they are interested in.

Breakfast: Rye bread with tomato, salt and Cornicabra virgin oil, accompanied by soy milk mixed with toasted coffee.

Breakfast: fried egg sandwich and instant coffee. I don’t really have to justify the instant coffee. Just know that there are reasons.

Name this freshly baked treat: