Eighty-nine percent of convicted drug traffickers are U.S. citizens. Wait a minute, I thought “illegals” were driving drug trafficking at the U.S. – Mexico border. You mean Republicans are lying about the drug crisis? How can these things be? 🤣
Never begrudge a worker for receiving a wage increase. The goal should be to raise everyone’s wages.
American autoworkers are not overpaid. For the past decade and a half, auto manufacturers have extracted wage and benefit cuts from their workers, saying without these cuts they would go bankrupt. Workers did their part, and now it’s time for the auto industry to do theirs.
I am not a Joe Biden fan. I’ve never been a fan. I wish Biden wouldn’t run for re-election, but I’m left wondering who would run in his stead? Name one Democrat who is a viable candidate, one who can beat Trump? I don’t know any, so we are left with Grandpa Joe. Another election where I’m forced to hold my nose.
I attended a local high school band extravaganza on Saturday night. The event began with the emcee giving praise, honor, and glory to the Christian deity for the good weather and opportunity to attend the six marching band concert. The event ended with the bands playing Lee Greenwood’s song, “God Bless the U.S.A.” Both of these things are violations of Federal law. Or, just another day in rural northwest Ohio.
Books sitting on the end table by my chair: A Blessed Life by Laura Hardman; God: An Anatomy by Francesca Stavrakopoulou; Genghis Khan by Jim Weatherford; The Icarus Syndrome by Peter Beinhart; Double Crossed by Matthew Sutton; The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow; War Made Easy by Norman Solomon; War Made Invisible by Norman Solomon; A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn; Armageddon by Bart Ehrman; How it Went by Wendell Berry; The Need to be Whole by Wendell Berry; Black Snow by James Scott; The Face of War by Martha Gellhorn; Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver; The Dawn of a Mindful Universe by Marcelo Gleiser; Meditations by Marcus Aurelius; Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh; Not the Bible
Likelihood that I will read all of these books before I die? Zero.
Fifteen months to the 2024 presidential election. I’m already sick of campaign ads — especially yours, Matt Dolan. Time to mute and fast forward.
I want to own and drive an orange 1970 Nova SS before I die. Should only set me back $40,000. Maybe my kids can buy me this car for my next birthday. I had to say “next” birthday lest my children say “Sure Dad. How about for your eightieth birthday? 🤣 Safe bet, because it is unlikely I will make it to seventy, let alone my eightieth birthday.
While I generally tell the truth, there are times when lying is warranted. Absolute morality always causes harm.
Bonus: One of my critics recently said he wishes I would become a Christian so we could be “friends.” To quote the Prophetess Polly, “ Is he fucking kidding?” Not a chance. Lie about me, attack my character, misrepresent my beliefs , and steal my content, and all possibility of friendship goes out the window. My friendships are based on mutual love, compassion, and concern, along with common beliefs and interests. Even if I became a Christian again, I wouldn’t embrace his hateful, Fundamentalist flavor of the Christianity. No thanks. I left the cult, and I have no intention of going back.
A fundie wanted to be your friend if you were a Christian? He probably thinks this was a big compliment, and not the insult it is. Insult as his behavior disqualifies him from being an ethical person’s friend, like you.
two words: Vermin Supreme!
Bruce as a practicing Catholic I consider you an online friend, just the way you are. I sense that you actually care about other human beings. That is good enough for me.
I hope you find the Orange Nova! I would like to see one of those myself.
Another fundie – I’ll give you three guesses who and the first two don’t count – recently commented that he thinks the two of you would be friends if you were still a Christian. But hey, take that for what it’s worth, he doesn’t think I’m a Christian because I’ve spoken out against him. (He dresses it up in terms of me not coming to him privately, except for the part where I did, multiple times, and he ignored me.)
Which reminds me. He also feels sorry for you having unwittingly allowed yourself to be used by the guy who allowed you to vet statements he made on your site.
It would exponentially less pathetic if he would just quit whining and confront me directly. But then, he’s a pathetic individual.
Of course, he who is twice divorced and was twice found guilty of domestic violence in a court of law is also pontificating about the keys to a successful, harmonious marriage (summarized: “women, accept that your husband will subordinate your needs to the needs of Super Leader Man, even though the actual instruction book stipulates otherwise”) so there you are.
When Jesus said we should love our neighbor, he did not add “but only if your neighbor agrees with you.” If your critic were truly following the teachings of Jesus, he would be your friend unconditionally.
American Christianity seems to have abandoned the core of what it is to be Christian.
I like Hot takes, you don’t have the eyebrows, but makes me miss the ticking stop watch for 60 minutes and you’d hear Andy Rooney’s curmudgeonly comment for the week. They ended the segment when he died, now that I think about it I don’t think you could replace him. It would either seem like a phony or a greenhorn.
I’m not going to try to make you like Joe Biden, but I’ve always been a fan. Too old? Yes, that I’ll grant you. When Joe was just a Delaware senator he did the Sunday talk shows and I always thought he had a good take on foreign policy. And of course if we had just listened to him to partition Iraq, we could have preempted a lot of sectarian problems (not to mention helping the Kurds). Of course Iraq’s Shia majority now dominates and this just makes them very friendly with Iran. Recently I read Newt Gingrich thinks the GOP needs to stop underestimating Biden. While Newt thinks it is just a competent administration headed by a senile infirm coot, I dunno? I actually think he’s doing the work, he’s not watching Fox News and tweeting that’s for damn sure. Not only that guy not only still rides a bike and even uses those clippy-do shoes that snap into the pedals.
Lee Greenwood song, how I hate thee!
Yes, those books are an impractical imposition. Of course “Not the Bible” will at least make you laugh and give fodder for blog material. That said some of the titles sound interesting, though I can’t seem to crack a book without summoning ZZZzzzs.
Not against auto workers getting a raise, but 40% seems a bit much. We’ve had about 15% inflation post pandemic double it to 30% and it is more than fair. Also I already think American vehicles are too pricey, so there’s that.
I read Howard Zinn’s book. It’s a good one to start with. Regarding friendship with an evangelical? I also would find it difficult to be anything but neutral. They can’t seem to avoid or resist parroting the jargon of their cult. When they do, it’s offensive. I recently abandoned one of the longest friendships of my life because he couldn’t help repeating fanatical propaganda he unwittingly absorbed. He did it innocently enough but it left me so repulsed I decided the relationship wasn’t worth it. No cross words were spoken but I just don’t take the calls anymore. Close family members do become estranged over political and religious fanaticism. Now I understand how that happens.
😂🤣😂 well said Bruce ! Thanks for the chuckles ! DL
Thanks! ❤️
“ While I generally tell the truth, there are times when lying is warranted. Absolute morality always causes harm.”
Great, now I don’t know if I should believe this or not….🤪😁😁
🥰🥰
You didn’t ask, but I’d suggest prioritizing A People’s History of the United States. (Full disclosure: I’ve not read any of the other titles you listed.) I read Zinn a few months ago, and the book was a real eye-opener about so much history from the perspective of those oppressed that was swept under the rug – even in my public school education. I can’t imagine how much worse things are for kids being raised on PragerU.
It’s not “become a Christian again”. It’s be genuinely saved! Born again by the Spirit of God through Jesus Christ! Judas Iscariot spent three years physically walking with Christ but never truly received him.
May the Lord bless that high school for choosing to honor the Savior! Public school is a major mission field. And regardless of what the Ant-theistic government thinks WE WILL STORM THE GATES OF HELL! and Jesus Christ will be put back in American public school and this country!
“Blessed be the nation whose God is the LORD” Psalm 33:12
“If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14
WE WILL STAND AND HOLD ON TO THE WORD OF GOD!!
WE WILL STAND ON THE PROMISES OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!
WE WILL PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL!!!
REVIVAL WILL WILL FLAME UP IN THIS NATION!!! PRAISE GOD HALLELUJAH!!!
Friends reading you can be saved tonight by recognizing you are a sinner.
“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23
Placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for eternal salvation and forgiveness of sins.
“For I delivered unto you that first of all which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and was buried and rose again the third day according to the scriptures “ 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31
Pray sincerely,
“Lord God I am a sinner and I cannot save myself I believe that you died and rose again to save me! Lord Jesus come into my life and change me and save me from sin and hell and the gutters of unbelief I receive you now thank you for loving me forgiving me and saving me in Jesus name Amen”
You and Zombie Jesus and the Holy Spook can all fuck right off, Dumpster Fire. Your silly little prayer won’t save anyone – our destiny is death and insentience, not eternal life.
Good thing, too. Eternity with the likes of you would merit its very own circle of hell. 😀
@RF
All I glean from that is that you’re cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
Revival Fires, listen. Watch my lips move…well imagine it anyhow. There never was a Jesus as portrayed in the bible, and he certainly isn’t coming back. There’s no such place as hell, and when we die we die. There’s no such thing as either sin or evil in the world, just bad people.
If you’d actually received a proper education you might know these things. You’d at least be able to compose a comment that has some grammatical relationship to English.
I think RF is not and never has been saved.
Hey Revival….I can’t get past the part where you want to storm the gates of hell…wtf??? Are you wanting in that badly??
Good luck with that, by the way, since your very own god created hell and any gates it may or may not have. I don’t think your god would be overly happy if you were to storm the gates your god built, and I kinda suspect that storming hells gates isn’t exactly something you can achieve.
And why does hell need gates anyway? Isn’t your god powerful enough to keep whatever it puts in hell without a gate ?
Seriously, a god who needs gates to control lesser beings is not really high on the god power list. Mean, it puts this god on the level of Greek gods who couldn’t keep humans out of Hades’ or Olympus.
Not a a great look for a god claiming all powerfulness and whatever,
Oh..wait…maybe your god is a tad bit Sisyphean! Yes..now I see your point very clearly. It all makes so much sense now. It really explain everything and all of your past and future posts.
Wow!!! Now I truly understand your god and you! Thank so much for enlightening me and helping me understand how your god is truly using you. I have a new perspective.
🤔🤔😏😏
Ok..now I am going to go eat a cookie. They have rainbows. Yum.
🌈🏳️🌈🦄
This zealot reminds me of my dear older brother, expecially when he descends into ALL CAPS expression. You know, Revival, you sound entirely and exactly like any dope-fiend just after he fixes and is slobberingly effusive. You are drunk with letting the bully in you freely abuse others. The Prince of Peace sports brass knuckles!
@BRIAN VANDERLIP
When I see the ALL CAPS, that’s when I imagine he starts howling like a rabid wolf.
@RevivalFire Thank you for your fire and brimstone sermon. It reminded me of why I quit being a Christian. An eternity with people like you would be the true Hell.
Thanks. Love it.
Just met with a sister-in-law (yes, we have kept reaching out simply to show we’re decent humans) last week and one of her first comments was that she had discussed us with two other siblings and all had decided they would meet with us in spite of our beliefs (we are non-believers, a-theists). How kind. But, she added, her sons have come back to God because of OUR example (of not believing).
I wondered if, while all-in for 5 decades, I had ever been quite this cruel. I hope not.
My own father told me before he died his life had been a failure “because (I) you are not where you should be with ‘spiritual things’.” As he said that, pointing his preaching finger at me, I thought “F*** you.” I would never be so cruel to my own children. I will not honor someone who knows better and treats a loving child in that way. But, it’s very Yahweh of him, isn’t it?
I too have decided I’m done with them all. I won’t receive notification of their messages any longer and I will not acquiese to their hate (in the name of love. right?).
No gods, no superstitions, no bumps in the night.
Thanks again, Bruce.