61

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 30, 2021, 11:20:58 AM »

There are lots of people who don't even know we're supposed to be free.

62

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 30, 2021, 10:33:18 AM »

Let's argue about COVID passports!

Marjorie Taylor Greene - Biden's mark of the beast and corporate communism

I am a bit worried about the idea of a vaccine passport, because it's going to be one more arm of the surveillance state. If it was just a vaccination card like kids need for school, I would be okay with it, though.

63

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 27, 2021, 10:36:15 AM »

https://twitter.com/cjwerleman/status/1374117636271861763?s=20

The suspected gunman in the Boulder, Colorado mass shooting is a white guy. Seven reported dead!

Cue “mental issues,” “bad day,” “parking dispute,” or anything else other than what he most likely is - a white domestic terrorist.

It was a pretty common take on Twitter when the image of Ahmad al-Issa being led away by police was released. The media and Twitter are completely intertwined.

64

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Why do you support Joe Biden?

« on: March 25, 2021, 06:12:30 PM »

Uncle Joe is not letting the press inside the "overflow facilities" https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/22/politics/border-patrol-overcrowded-photos/index.html   How long before they start calling them kids in cages again? https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/22/politics/biden-administration-press-access-border-facilities/index.html

65

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 25, 2021, 08:29:36 AM »

That makes me feel better about my mom getting the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. When they make it available for everyone, I will be glad to get it.

66

The Lounge / Re: 200 years of Greek revolution

« on: March 25, 2021, 06:55:57 AM »

I live too far from the city that has the biggest Greek population in Florida, but I bet they are celebrating.

67

Flat Earth Q&A / Re: how high is the dome?

« on: March 24, 2021, 05:32:54 PM »

Solarwind, this is Q&A. People don't come to this part of the forum to get answers from round earthers.

68

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 24, 2021, 03:13:10 PM »

My bloke got exposed to covid at work so he's isolating from us and I'm kinda jealous right now- he gets to sit in the basement all day playing computer games while I bring down food and drink to him and look after the glorious leaders without a break.

You should throw chicken nuggets at him. Also, I hope he'll be okay.

69

The Lounge / Re: Australia is like setting life's difficulty to Extreme

« on: March 24, 2021, 03:11:45 PM »

Is it flooding where you are?

70

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 23, 2021, 06:00:29 PM »

I wonder if you have to be convicted of something to trigger the red flag law?

71

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 23, 2021, 03:46:29 PM »

https://www.foxnews.com/us/boulder-shooting-suspect-ahmad-al-aliwi-alissa-what-we-know

So far it doesn't look like a radical Islam thing.  The guy just seems like a violent asshole.

They should have prosecuted him for assault when he beat another guy up when he was 18.

72

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 23, 2021, 10:03:36 AM »

It's very quaint.  Of course all we know is his name.  Totally possible it isn't a radical Islam thing.

Apparently Facebook has scrubbed his profile.

73

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 23, 2021, 07:04:40 AM »

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/colorado-king-soopers-shooting/index.html

Colorado incident is seventh mass shooting in US in past 7 days

Monday's mass shooting at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado, comes less than a week after eight people were killed in a series of attacks on spas in Atlanta.

The two incidents are likely to spur discussion about gun control legislation in the United States, where firearm deaths are tragically common. They are also among at least seven mass shootings in the past week across the US -- including three incidents on Saturday alone.

Atlanta, March 16: Eight people, including six Asian women, were killed when a White gunman stormed three spas, police said.

Stockton, California, March 17: Five people who were preparing a vigil in Stockton, in California's Central Valley, were shot in a drive-by shooting, the San Joaquin Sheriff's Department said. None had life-threatening injuries.
   
Gresham, Oregon, March 18: Four victims were taken to the hospital after a shooting in the city east of Portland, police said in an initial report on Twitter.
   
Houston, March 20: Five people were shot after a disturbance inside a club, according to police. One was in critical condition after being shot in the neck, the rest were in stable condition, according to CNN affiliate KPRC.
   
Dallas, March 20: Eight people were shot by an unknown assailant, one of whom died, according to police.
   
Philadelphia, March 20: One person was killed and another five were injured during a shooting at an illegal party, CNN affiliate KYW reported. "There were at least 150 people in there that fled and believed they had to flee for their lives,” Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said.
   
Boulder, Colorado, March 22: Ten people, including a Boulder police officer, were killed in a shooting at the King Soopers supermarket, according to police.

I didn't realize there had been so many this week.

74

Arts & Entertainment / Re: Favorite YouTube channels

« on: March 22, 2021, 03:16:10 PM »

The channel is called The Ulengovs. It's about life in Russia.

75

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 21, 2021, 10:23:32 AM »

Brothels pretending to be massage parlors are a thing in Florida, too. They're all mostly Asian women, and trafficking is an issue.

76

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 21, 2021, 07:32:47 AM »

I just remembered we have an anti Falun Gong person who posts here sometimes named phermino who spams weird shit now and then.

77

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 20, 2021, 12:43:02 PM »

I got a sample of The Epoch Times in the mail yesterday. It's a super right wing paper. They refer to COVID as the CCP virus! That's the first time I've seen it called the Chinese Communist Party virus anywhere. I don't think they'll be able to make that stick. lol

You know the Epoch Times is owned by the Falun Gong, don't you?  The organisation that is illegal in China and detests CCP and does everything in their power to bring em down.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/24/technology/epoch-times-influence-falun-gong.html

No, I didn't know anything about them. I guess it makes sense they refer to COVID as the Chinese Communist Party virus, then! There was even an article titled "Multiple Governors Roll Back CCP Virus Restrictions".

Since it was a free sample paper some of the articles were kinda old, like from February, but some of them were newer. Lots of articles about Trump, and how great Trump is. There was a reader poll that found Obama to be the most hated president and Trump the most loved. Lots of illegal immigrant/border wall crap. Lots of references to socialism.  It was all kinda hilarious.

78

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 20, 2021, 06:29:47 AM »

I got a sample of The Epoch Times in the mail yesterday. It's a super right wing paper. They refer to COVID as the CCP virus! That's the first time I've seen it called the Chinese Communist Party virus anywhere. I don't think they'll be able to make that stick. lol

79

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 19, 2021, 11:07:14 AM »

When I have a bad day I do not go out and shoot people. Sometimes I am a bit short with internet weirdos, but I have managed not to murder them.

Likely story. I'm gonna just go ahead and run that by Gotham OH WAIT I CAN'T. Hmm.............

Gotham is fine! He's gone to live on a farm!

80

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: An LGBT Discussion Thread

« on: March 19, 2021, 10:54:32 AM »

You know what's weird? Wearing pantyhose in the summertime.

Less weird in an British summer than a Florida one.  Also known as tights.

You gotta be a real man to wear tights!

81

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 19, 2021, 10:32:08 AM »

https://twitter.com/NBCAsianAmerica/status/1372940619522392064?s=20

The names of the 8 people killed in Atlanta-area spa attacks Tuesday:

• Soon C. Park, age 74

• Hyun J. Grant, age 51

• Suncha Kim, age 69

• Yong A. Yue, age 63

• Delaina Ashley Yaun, age 33

• Paul Andre Michels, age 54

• Xiaojie Tan, age 49

• Daoyou Feng, age 44

82

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Why do you support Joe Biden?

« on: March 19, 2021, 10:21:40 AM »

Was this an issue for security clearance in Obama or Trump's administration?

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/past-marijuana-use-won-t-automatically-disqualify-biden-white-house-n1258917

https://nypost.com/2021/03/19/biden-white-house-fires-staffers-over-past-marijuana-use/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/biden-white-house-sandbags-staffers-sidelines-dozens-for-pot-use

Daily Beast article is paywalled so I will paste it.

Biden White House Sandbags Staffers, Sidelines Dozens for Pot Use

Several staffers were informally told by transition officials that some past marijuana use would be overlooked, only to be told later that they were being asked to resign.

Dozens of young White House staffers have been suspended, asked to resign, or placed in a remote work program due to past marijuana use, frustrating staffers who were pleased by initial indications from the Biden administration that recreational use of cannabis would not be immediately disqualifying for would-be personnel, according to three people familiar with the situation.

The policy has even affected staffers whose marijuana use was exclusive to one of the 14 states—and the District of Columbia—where cannabis is legal. Sources familiar with the matter also said a number of young staffers were either put on probation or canned because they revealed past marijuana use in an official document they filled out as part of the lengthy background check for a position in the Biden White House.

In some cases, staffers were informally told by transition higher-ups ahead of formally joining the administration that they would likely overlook some past marijuana use, only to be asked later to resign.

“There were one-on-one calls with individual affected staffers—rather, ex-staffers,” one former White House staffer affected by the policy told The Daily Beast. “I was asked to resign.”

“Nothing was ever explained” on the calls, they added, which were led by White House Director of Management and Administration Anne Filipic. “The policies were never explained, the threshold for what was excusable and what was inexcusable was never explained.”

In response to this news story, White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted out on Friday an NBC News report from February stating that the Biden administration wouldn’t automatically disqualify applicants if they admitted to past marijuana use. Psaki said of the hundreds of people hired in the administration, only five who had started working at the White House are “no longer employed as a result of this policy.”

Psaki didn’t note how many had been disqualified for a White House job before actually starting, nor did she note how many were suspended or relegated to remote work, but she did send an additional statement to The Daily Beast on Friday.

“In an effort to ensure that more people have an opportunity to serve the public, we worked in coordination with the security service to ensure that more people have the opportunity to serve than would not have in the past with the same level of recent drug use. While we will not get into individual cases, there were additional factors at play in many instances for the small number of individuals who were terminated,” Psaki said.

The White House said in February it intended—for some candidates—to waive the requirement that all potential appointees in the Executive Office of the President be able to obtain a “top secret” clearance. The rules about past marijuana use and eligibility for the clearance vary, depending on the agency: For the FBI, an applicant can’t have used marijuana in the past three years; at the NSA, it’s only one. The White House, however, largely calls its own shots, and officials at the time told NBC News that as long as past use was “limited” and the candidate wasn’t pursuing a position that required a security clearance, past use may be excused.

Asked about the policy and its effect on the administration’s staffing Thursday night, a White House spokesperson disputed the number of affected staff, but said the Biden administration is “committed to bringing the best people into government—especially the young people whose commitment to public service can deepen in these positions,” and noted that the White House’s approach to past marijuana use is much more flexible than previous administrations.

“The White House’s policy will maintain the absolute highest standards for service in government that the president expects from his administration, while acknowledging the reality that state and local marijuana laws have changed significantly across the country in recent years,” the spokesperson added. “This decision was made following intensive consultation with career security officials and will effectively protect our national security while modernizing policies to ensure that talented and otherwise well-qualified applicants with limited marijuana use will not be barred from serving the American people.”

A candidate’s personal drug history, barring past convictions for possession, is largely based on the honor system, as well as supplemental interviews with family and friends by the FBI—although lying on the 136-page SF-86 form is a felony, and effectively bars a candidate from ever working for a federal agency. Over the years, some rules have been relaxed or altogether eliminated (the existence of nude photos of a candidate are no longer automatically disqualifying, for example).

Some of these dismissals, probations and remote work appointments could have potentially been a result of inconsistencies that came up during the background-check process, where a staffer could have, for example, misstated the last time they used marijuana. The effect of the policy, however, would be the same: The Biden White House would be punishing various staffers for violating thresholds of past cannabis use that would-be staffers didn’t know about.

Previous drug use can pose problems for obtaining a security clearance. While practices across the federal government vary, in general agencies may consider the type, frequency, and recency of drug use as mitigating factors when granting a clearance.

If they are relying on the honor system, they will have more people lying about it. Lying is what creates the potential security issue, since it could give someone leverage over the liar.

Also, they need to fix the federal law regarding marijuana. 

83

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: An LGBT Discussion Thread

« on: March 19, 2021, 10:11:11 AM »

You know what's weird? Wearing pantyhose in the summertime.

84

The Lounge / Re: Hi!

« on: March 19, 2021, 10:05:54 AM »

Interesting how the first half of this thread was axed, and this being created a thread upon itself.... as I mentioned, I've got a lot to learn here.

The first half of this thread is still where it belongs, this part of the thread was split off and given a new thread since it was off topic.

The original thread is here in Suggestions & Concerns https://www.theflatearthsociety.org/forum/index.php?topic=88111.0

85

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: Another mass shooting...

« on: March 19, 2021, 08:35:08 AM »

When I have a bad day I do not go out and shoot people. Sometimes I am a bit short with internet weirdos, but I have managed not to murder them.

86

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 18, 2021, 03:19:53 PM »

https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2021/03/18/watch-live-gov-spencer/

Woohoo!  Vaccines for everyone in Utah next week.

The numbers for J&J are a little weird.  It's like 70% effective against catching it but nearly 100% effective against serious symptoms from covid.  Not sure how they managed that.

Isn't that kind like the flu vaccine's effectiveness? I wonder if the 70% is because of the variants.

87

The Lounge / Re: How do you make Jam?

« on: March 18, 2021, 11:39:22 AM »

You can can butternut squash (or any vegetable, I think) but you need to learn how to can properly.

My mum still uses the ancient art of "bottling" fruit for preservation.  Have childhood memories of autumn kitchens looking like a cross between a science experiment and factory - bottles lined up and blackberry juice everywhere.

I bet that is delicious!

88

The Lounge / Re: Hi!

« on: March 18, 2021, 08:42:15 AM »

Welcome to the FES, ge.wat_nyc. What's up with your username?

89

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 18, 2021, 08:40:10 AM »

She's getting the Johnson and Johnson one. She would have gotten the other one, but she just never could get an appointment, or the only ones available were 50 miles away.

90

Philosophy, Religion & Society / Re: nCoV public service announcement. (IMPORTANT)

« on: March 18, 2021, 07:41:41 AM »

My mom finally got an appointment!