1

The Lounge / Jamie Out

« on: July 21, 2021, 05:58:31 AM »

No, not out of the closet.

I'm out, as in leaving. This place is a dump. It's our dump, and I've always known it was a dump. It's fools who find the fantasy of a fucking flat earth more comforting than the reality of a round one. It's desperate people who find a global, evil entity more comforting than a truly rudderless world.

But I sat comfortably on this trash heap of a forum with the rest of you. Now I don't feel so much like this place is very welcoming to me or holds anything more.

So anyways, I won't be posting anymore and you won't be seeing me. Goodbye, and good luck.

Oh, and obligatory:

2

Arts & Entertainment / Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

« on: July 11, 2021, 08:02:28 AM »

I was (once again) absolutely wowed by Joey "Jaws" Chestnut's incredible performance at the 2021 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest, where he scarfed down 76 hots dogs and buns in 10 minutes.

Just an amazing feat of human endurance.

3

Arts & Entertainment / Karen

« on: June 27, 2021, 05:12:01 AM »

SNL sketch is the most apt description for the trailer.

4

Philosophy, Religion & Society / President Biden's Speech

« on: April 29, 2021, 09:02:58 AM »

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/28/bidens-speech-to-congress-five-key-takeaways

Thoughts on President Biden's speech last night?

I appreciated a lot of what he said and I feel like he's competently handling his duties.

5

Philosophy, Religion & Society / The End of the F*cking World

« on: April 03, 2021, 06:11:48 AM »

No, not the TV show. The theme of Robert Frost's poem, Fire & Ice:

"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice."

Honestly, that poem has always struck me as being haunting and troubling. But in the last year or two, seeing just how disastrous our desires have become and how brimming with hatred we've become, I'm a little worried.

The poem has an element of hope -- it's about our feelings and behaviors. We can't always control how we feel, but we can control how we react and conduct ourselves. We get to choose that much. Desire can manifest as passion; hatred can lead to understanding and forgiveness.

I just don't know if it's going that way or not.

What do you think? Is it the end of the world (as we know it)?

6

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Simulation hypothesis

« on: March 10, 2021, 06:30:27 AM »

Moore's law: The number of transistors on a microchip has doubled every two years, i.e., technology is rapidly developing at an increasingly exponential rate.

Bostrom's hypothesis: Three scenarios are posited but only one scenario can be true: 1) Humans will never develop the ability to simulate reality and go extinct; 2) Humans will develop the ability to simulate reality, not go extinct, and choose not to simulate; 3) Humans will develop the ability to simulate reality, not go extinct, and choose to simulate.

Assuming a continuing explosion of technological advancement and the third scenario, there'll be at least one simulation, meaning we have a 50/50 chance of being that simulation. Assuming there'll be more than just one simulation, it will in fact be more likely -- perhaps far more likely -- that we're a simulation than the base reality.

Thoughts?

7

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Hell Really Exists

« on: February 06, 2021, 05:42:35 PM »

Oh boy does it!

And you, too, can find that out through Bill's anecdotal testimony (while his brain was dying or he experienced sleep paralysis or had a horrific nightmare or suffered from a mental delusion or whatever) and a purchase of his DVD.

8

Arts & Entertainment / Any tattoos?

« on: January 30, 2021, 06:56:48 AM »

I've got just one tattoo on my wrist.

9

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Do you support expanding the Supreme Court?

« on: January 13, 2021, 05:43:09 AM »

I've heard Democratic talk of expanding the Supreme Court.

Now I know the Court has been expanded before, but I'm not really familiar with arguments favoring it. I'm pretty ambivalent towards the issue.

What are y'all's thoughts?

10

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Why Americans Got Corona Krane-Kicked

« on: January 04, 2021, 11:41:38 AM »

It isn't entirely strange that Americans have been hit the hardest by COVID.

Sure, we somehow managed to politicize and weaponize a public health crisis, but anyways.

I'm not exactly surprised that, in a nation of fat, lazy office workers with shit diets, we got hit the hardest.

Sure, sure -- Sweden got to stay open, but they don't have double bacon cheeseburgers with donuts for buns. (What they do have are more bike paths.)

Thoughts?

11

The Lounge / Facial hair?

« on: December 07, 2020, 04:22:54 PM »

I rocked a full beard for a few years, but then went clean shaven for quarantine (i.e. instead of growing my 'Rona Beard, I got 'Rona Smooth).

Now I rock a goatee 'cause masks are irritating and I feel that the mask works better without all the hair.

How about y'all?

12

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Rudy Giuliani Tests Postive for the 'Rona

« on: December 06, 2020, 02:58:32 PM »

Ope.

13

The Lounge / Happy October!

« on: October 01, 2020, 06:00:13 AM »

May you all have the spookiest of months.

14

The Lounge / Rabinoz Memorial

« on: August 03, 2020, 08:19:56 AM »

Pretty self-explanatory.

This is a memorial thread for Rabinoz, a long-time member and contributor to the FES forum who very recently and unexpectedly passed away.

Post your favorite quotes of his. Share your favorite memories of him. Do as you see fit and think fondly on him.

15

Arts & Entertainment / Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords

« on: July 03, 2020, 01:47:06 PM »

Any other KOTOR II fans?

It's such a great game. It's a single-player, RPG-style game -- think D&D with a SW skin -- that takes the classic SW mythos and deconstructs them in a really unique, dark sort of way.

It might be 15 years old, but I may or may not have spent a couple of hours today modding the crap out of it for yet another playthrough. 

16

The Lounge / Getting Healthy

« on: March 17, 2020, 11:15:20 AM »

Anyone else been on a health kick the last few months?

Back in November, I was a 200 pound smoker who ate fast food nearly every day. Now, I'm a pretty tall guy, so the 200 pounds didn't look too bad on me, but it did look bad. The smoking and fast food was just bad.

Since then, I'm down 35 pounds, quit smoking, and only eat fast food once or twice a week now. I've been getting better sleep, really watching what I eat, drinking plenty of water, working out and exercising, the whole shebang.

I feel and look a lot better, which is probably good I've gotten a lot healthier given the global pandemic and whatnot. Anyone else gotten their shit together a bit semi-recently?

17

Philosophy, Religion & Society / God is Imaginary

« on: April 26, 2019, 05:02:13 AM »

I adore this website.

Fifty simple proofs that god is imaginary.

18

The Lounge / How Do You Take Your Coffee?

« on: March 28, 2019, 09:15:11 AM »

I haven't had my coffee.  Plus when does the devil need to have proper grammar.

I take mine black.