TheFifthApe

Has Donald Trump ever rescinded his strong opinions on that Ed Snowden should be killed by the American government for revealing private documents? Does anybody still remember him saying that? Does anybody agree or disagree with Trump? Ever since he entered the Presidential Race, this has been on my mind. So let's discuss it. Here's the news article. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/2/donald-trump-edward-snowden-kill-traitor/. Donald Trump has said things like this repeatedly in public, on Fox News he said, "You know there is still a thing called execution". This is all back in 2013 and Donald Trump hasn't touched the subject since (correct me if I am wrong). What are your thoughts?

By the way I agree with a lot of what you said especially with regards to wheat, but I was simply adding to the discussion, no need to be rude by implying that I am dumb. I know what empirical observation is and I wasn't confused by your humor. If I never heard of Furious Pete and I saw him at my gym, I would say he looks healthy, but I would be wrong. He has been diagnosed with cancer... twice. So I disagree with health being purely observational and prefer measurements such as blood tests, MRI scans, and etc. BMI measurements lacks integrity because it can be over-generalized (bodybuilders are overweight), but it is not 100% useless because it can help spot things like being underweight. I do have one question about homebrewing Kombucha if you don't mind. Does it taste better than the organic ones they sell at Wholefoods? If so, I'm sold!

I thought I was the only one here with a Kombucha obsession. Interesting how you liken yourself to a pornstar's penis... (on your FB post). But sure you don't really look unfit, although I don't know how fast you can run or how much you can bench press and etc. But do you look healthy? Health is largely implicit (once you are of normal BMI), so one cannot precisely answer that question solely based on a single photo. Have you heard of Furious Pete?

It would feel grossly disingenuous if a friend celebrated the anniversary of my birthdate simply because they had hoped that I'll celebrate theirs. From a business perspective, that's not a bad trade off if the goal is to get more faces at your dinner party, but I would have to question my friendship with someone like that. Either way you proved my point. We celebrate theirs, so they can celebrate ours because nobody would celebrate my birthday if it was declared a national Holiday. Why not? Because I haven't done anything remarkable or revolutionary that is worth celebrating (i.e., "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day", "Washington's Day", and "Columbus Day"). This point is the crux of my philosophy. Acts, deeds, accomplishments and what have you are fertile grounds for celebratory gatherings and a day on a calender is just a day on a calendar. Yes it's too late, I've already drawn my sword haha Fundamentally your kids just do what you tell them by following your lead and they conform to their environment to fit in and to be well liked to optimize their survival and happiness. I agree celebrate or don't, whatever floats your boat but I am trying to get deeper than that. Look at it this way. If nobody else on the planet was celebrating Christmas would you? (or Hanukkah - apply my assumption accordingly). I know there are some good feelings involved in things like this so generally they aren't questioned, but I don't know if this approach is completely rational. And if one is after good feelings then wouldn't random celebrations, get well parties, picture drawings, and surprise gifts because daddy had his arms about me when I was crying over a stubbed toe or what have be preferred behaviors that rewarded your preferred behaviors. Rather than a fixed date on a Gregorian calendar? Technically the Earth doesn't orbit around the sun, it orbits around the center of mass in the solar system.

Great topic. I think Wuzzums summed it up quite well. It is valid if you apply it inversely to the proposition at hand. For example, let's say you are black and tall and most NBA players are black and tall thus you have a better chance at playing in the NBA. But obviously because you are black and tall that does not mean you will play in the NBA. This is where many other important factors come into play; socioeconomic status, likeability, passion, IQ, willingness, determination, forunate circumstance, location and so on. Predictability is based on a high or low probability and probability is based on a wide range of factors (IQ is just one of them). An individual has complete control over themselves (to a degree), but one's destiny or the effect that one's environment has on oneself is out of one's direct control.

Delighted that the one and only Kevin Beal chimed in , now I’m just waiting for Stef haha. But seriously, I’m questioning why even acknowledge it at all, let alone find a cause for celebration. The date I was born is long gone, our birthdays are just an approximate yearly anniversary. I guess most if not all would agree that celebrating life is important, but I don’t want someone to celebrate me just because I’m alive. To have a preference with this date over another date does seem trivial or at the very least it doesn’t feel genuine. My life supersedes the date I was born and I am happy as shit that I woke up this morning, but when I reward myself it is based on the merits of good deeds. I agree, if you love your wife go and celebrate your togetherness right now instead counting down the clock. She might not be there for the next anniversary or even worse you might not be there, but she's here right now. Honestly, I am just not too sure that delineating things like this is appropriate. You're right it is not arbitrary and rituals are fine (unless it involves going to church lol). I just think that there should be an element of surprise of some sort. Spontaneous celebrations are great, a spur of the moment road trip, finding front row seats to an Arctic Monkeys concert underneath my pillow and what have you all feels genuine and real. Delineation does not.

Sorry to hear that. In general, I find texts to be lacking in emotional value especially when people become reliant upon using them opposed to real physical interpersonal communication. I prefer calls and in-person visitations, but don't we all. Interesting perspective, but elaborate. “To celebrate you”, how and why am I being celebrated or should be celebrated? Shouldn’t acts of virtue and achievements be celebrated, instead of just celebrating someone because they have been succesfully consuming oxygen for 365 days? Explain your reasoning as to why there is a difference between; birthdays amongst family is a facade vs birthday amongst friends is not.

Objectively, is celebrating one’s birthday normal? Mine is coming up any day now, but I have long decided that it is just a day like any other: I am going to wake up more or less around the same time, eat my Paleo meals, lift weights, head out to work and sleep after sunset. I have been trying to psychoanalyze my approach to things. Perhaps it is because I have few friends? Perhaps it is because I’m preoccupied with business planning? But still my friends will come out to play if I asked them and we can have dinner or something… but what for? I rather celebrate an achievement, an honorable deed, or an act of pure bravery. If I am celebrating my life then I can celebrate it right now, I get older everyday. Why wait once a year to get drunk? And what’s so great about getting old anyways?

Well have you started that gaming channel yet?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00bk5E7gecI "Like the beginning of Mean Streets you can be my babyyy"

NOTHING is wrong with playing video games. The issue here is the addiction, it is like the tail wagging the dog scenario. You now no longer play it because you want to, you play it because you have to. If you withdraw, you'll get withdrawal symptoms; such as depression. However, playing it also makes you depressed because you could be out changing the world, starting a business, or sleeping with hot women. Get out a pencil and paper… (I am waiting) and then clear your mind. Write down a list of at least ten things that you love doing for it’s own sake (the activity is its own reward). The more things you write down the better, even it it’s just sitting on your ass eating ice cream. Now, how many hours a day you spend playing video games? What are you avoiding? What historical significance does video games have on your life (i.e., the first time you started playing it, when you realized you were addicted, etc.)? What else could you be doing? Well you could be doing at least one thing on that list. The next step is to supplement some of the countless of hours you waste away playing video games. For example, you will only play video games 95-90% as many hours as you did yesterday - for a week (10 hours of video games yesterday, only 9 hours today and everyday for the rest of the week). Start the exact second you finish reading this post. Supplement with anything on that list; (i.e., join a crossfit gym, jog 1 mile a day, read a book, listen to Stef’s podcast, and so on). Each week cut it down at your own pace, roughly 8 hours one week, followed by 7 hours the next week. This will only work if you DO it. The sooner the better because you only have one chance at life and youth is such a valuable thing my friend. Or you can just ignore everything I said and start a gaming channel. I wish you all the best.

Weird topic, here are my thoughts as they come. Anthropomorphism, attributing human characteristics or behavior to an animal or object, is a cultural phenomenon. A passive approach to this with regards to one’s belief might lead one to own a pet. An unhealthy extreme to this might be marrying your dog or literally thinking that your pet iguana understands how you feel. The passive approach here has cultural and social acceptance in America. I can put on my jacket right now and take a stroll down Manhattan and see dogs wearing jackets, shoes and being kissed by their owners. I would probably never see that in the heart of Haiti or Jamaica. There are universal characteristics and behaviors amongst all living things; humans included. But to call those similarities anthropomorphic would be troublesome and oxymoronic. For example, are we more like birds because they have eyes or are bird like us because they have eyes? Is water wet because it is water, or is something wet because it contains water? The "teddy bear” became a stuffed toy due to then President Theodore Roosevelt refusing to physically gun down a real life bear out of it being “unsportsmanlike”. I think Kevin Beal is on to something with the term “arrested development”, but the result - furry fandom - may not be that linear in causation. That is to say “furry” fandom may have numerous causes none based on the real similarities between real living organisms and all based on falsely imposed one. The falsity in these imposed opinions rather than factual similarities leads to depictions of disfigured animals. For example, a teddy bear doesn’t look quite like a real bear. But if a model of a bear was rendered, whether by painting or sculpture, to look identical to a real bear that wouldn’t be seen as neither furry fandom nor anthropomorphism. Thus, furry fandom is the extremity in this equation relative to reality. I am not sure as to what degree any of this can objectively be called normal, but either position (proximate bear drawing vs. bear-human stuffed toy) isn’t morally right or wrong.

I'm curious, how do you feel now looking back at your original post?

Well I appreciate you putting yourself out there like that on this forum. I don’t know much about electrical engineering, but I have been to both High School and University and I know what it’s like being a senior… you just want to graduate and get out! So I say get your H.S. diploma, then enter a trade school or vocational school and continue following the necessary steps to become an Electrician. I think you already have it all figured out you just need someone to believe in you and encourage you along the way. You’ll meet new people there and hopefully by then you’ll have enough money saved up so that you can finally DeFoo. As an Electrician, correct me if I’m wrong, you are your own business: you can do jobs for home owners (who, by word of mouth can get you more clients), and you can work for a company (your main salary). There is absolutely no shame in being an Electrician; I have done electrical work myself and I am skilled in home remodeling (i.e. interior designer/handyman). Listen to your instincts and do what makes you happy.

I probably damaged my precious hearing cells listening to this song on repeat.

I’ll choose both. This topic reminds of the advertisements I’d see in subway cars, here in New York City. “Hear today. Gone tomorrow.” is the meme juxtaposed with two photos; one with a female listening to her ear-phones, and another with the same person, but now wearing a hearing aid. Below that it says, “Turn down your music before you can’t hear it anymore. People who use headphones report twice as many hearing problems." I listen to my music with full enjoyment and as loud as I feel at the moment. I am completely arbitrary when it comes to volume, although I’m aware of the possibility of my hearing going by the wayside in my later years. Besides, I grew up going to night-parties with huge speakers that produced extremely loud chest-thumping music (you can feel your sternum vibrate) and my hearing is still pristine.

Hey, I am new here, pleasure to make my acquaintance.

Great info villagewisdom, I too am interested in starting a podcast. How long have you been podcasting for? I assume it’ll take years before one begins to bring in a large number of subscribers. IndianaLee, I don’t know the exact equipment either Stef or Michael use on the podcasts. But I do know what professional musicians and bands use to upload, record, edit and etcetera. Shure.com (Microphones) PG56-LC, PG81, PG52-LC, SM57 Canon.com (Video recording) Camera Rebel t3i HD 1080 Apple.com (Editor) Final Cut Studio Logic Pro X PreSonus.com Firestudio (record audio) Tube Firewire Recording Interface Hope that helps!

Hey Marc, interesting story. I also went to Catholic School for pretty much all my life and I never had any real desire to conform with the ideaology either. From your words, I don't think your head is in a hole; you're facing reality, you've joined this board and we know it's never too late. And my friend, thank you for existing!

Hey Macaman, sounds like you've been through quite a bit. Philosophy has opened a new world for me as well. Glad to have you here and it's great that you are optimistic for the future. P.S. I am into photography as well, maybe we can chat a bit about that.