1.? Are
you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
Probably not.
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western
European countries in the next five years?
Probably not.
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate
countries?
No.
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their
borders without creating new states?
No.
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question
at the present time?
Will Trump be impeached and will it succeed?
Aloha,
Celeste Rogers
|
Re: [PhilosophicalM] Friday Five May 30
?
?
1.? Are you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
Not unless they are free
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western European countries in the next five years?
Probably so - too many people not assimilating
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate countries?
Joel Garreau wrote an absolutely fascinating book about this forty five years ago - The Nine Nations of North America.
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their borders without creating new states?
Emphatically yes - Greater Idaho, Jefferson in California and Oregon, a confederation of the Southeastern States, etc
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question at the present time?
Whether the Democrats will get their act together before the next national election
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1.? Are you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
It depends on the reviews.? I won't read a puff piece or anything written by a Biden family member.? However if a reputable book comes out I might read it.
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western European countries in the next five years?
No.
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate countries?
No.
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their borders without creating new states?
Perhaps.? I like the Greater Idaho concept, and something like it was tried a hundred years ago in forming a separate state out of northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and western Montana. ? That made sense at the time.
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question at the present time?
Getting rid of entrenched, ?ineffective leaders.? Jettisoning Biden was good, but others in both parties need to leave and younger leaders need to emerge.
Ed
?
?
1.? Are you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western European countries in the next five years?
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate countries?
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their borders without creating new states?
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question at the present time?
|
1.? Are you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
There are many prepper manuals and novels left to read before I descend into political drama. Probably never get to them.
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western European countries in the next five years?
Is the U.S. in the "
western European countries" category? (Humor)
I have not even looked at this. I imagine the possibility?is there as Germany seems to generate a few reports of unrest, but I would expect more eastern activity such as within Russia. Right now, I would say not as these locations are threatened by overpowering external?enemies and this may drive internal bonding and alliances with neighbors in similar straits. I do see possibilities for civil war within the U.S., though, and I feel much of the world is right on up to the edge of global conflict.
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate countries?
The U.S. has already subdivided into the?Continental 48, Mexico and Canada. How much more do you want?! (Sacrilegious?sarcastic humor...)
I vacillate?on this. The model seems similar to what was envisioned?with "The United States" in the first place and with that the E.U. is trying to do. This does not seem to be optimal in either case, although for differing reasons. The U.S. has foresworn?due diligence on the state level under the pressure of a smaller globe, gradually subsuming the?independent?ferocity of geographically separated?pioneers into a more homogenous national whole. We return to classical?Rome. The U.S. need only move more toward a state-based federation in order to achieve the effect in question.
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their borders without creating new states?
If you mean cooperatively, I cannot come up with an objection offhand. FOr a moment, I had a flash?visual of National Guard and State?Police units brawling in local territorial expansion wars...
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question at the present time?
Should politics (especially political drama) be criminalized?
If that seems too extreme, then I suppose we should ask ourselves if the globe has gotten too small, too overcrowded with humans, to?be sustainable. I was overjoyed to hear that reproduction was slowing, although?a bit dismayed when I realized so many thought this to be a problem. Until Elon gets us a reasonable exodus to extraterrestrial territory, I feel we should seek more harmonious balance and less roach-like scrambling for larger nests. We are creating or being subjected to too many social stressors and I expect the human structure to push further into an accelerating systemic decay. We are risking a global Gaza that will enforce?depopulation via perfectly natural means. Stop the consumer?culture scrambling for callous personal advancement and put the Dalai Lama in charge of things, fer God's sake!
(I am in a humorous mood this morning...)
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?
?
1.? Are you going to read any of the tell all books on Biden?
2.? Do you think internal war will break out in any western European countries in the next five years?
3.? ?Should the US break up into a number of separate countries?
4.? Should individual states be allowed to realign their borders without creating new states?
5.? What do you see as the most pressing political question at the present time?
|
Heaven only knows, Mister King. ?
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Show quoted text
On May 22, 2025, at 11:45, Darrell King via groups.io <DarrellGKing@...> wrote:
?
David opined, "
t measures what it measures.? Call it intelligence or call it banana.? From the childish nastiness I've been hearing about political infighting in American Mensa, I incline to banana."
And Darrell wondered, "Does this mean they are fighting about who has a bigger banana...?"
(Sorry...I could not resist!)
?
?
On Wed, 21 May 2025 19:22:44 -0400, chapman@... wrote:
?
?
?
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
Iv
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
I've read that if it's as far along as they're saying it is, he's had it for a long time.
I think I've also read that his doctor said he wasn't tested for it while he was President, but that the doctor wouldn't reply to questioning about who made the choice not to test.
The Biden presidency will live in history like a sore thumb, but since the present and probably the future establishment are loyally Democratic, it may be a long time before its treatment will be anything other than soft-pedaled.?
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the counrty came up?
Haven't read beyond the headlines.? Must have been awkward.? Does SA have nuclear weapons?
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
Best of times, worst of times.? The future's not ours to see.? Fingers crossed.
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
We don't now?? Who does?
|
?
?
?
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
I think it is measurable as much as anything is measurable - but the question of what is measured and whether it is meaningful is still up in the air.
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
First how did it get to the point of metastasizing without being diagnosed - or was it hidden from the public for some stupid reason.
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the country came up?
I thought it was interesting - he certainly has a talent for telling people what is on his mind.
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
I think it is scattered - mine is getting better but I know a lot of young people - under thirty who are really struggling.
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
At least we should deliver the ones they have already paid for.
?
|
David opined, "
t measures what it measures.? Call it intelligence or call it banana.? From the childish nastiness I've been hearing about political infighting in American Mensa, I incline to banana."
And Darrell wondered, "Does this mean they are fighting about who has a bigger banana...?"
(Sorry...I could not resist!)
?
?
On Wed, 21 May 2025 19:22:44 -0400, chapman@... wrote:
?
?
?
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
Iv
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
I've read that if it's as far along as they're saying it is, he's had it for a long time.
I think I've also read that his doctor said he wasn't tested for it while he was President, but that the doctor wouldn't reply to questioning about who made the choice not to test.
The Biden presidency will live in history like a sore thumb, but since the present and probably the future establishment are loyally Democratic, it may be a long time before its treatment will be anything other than soft-pedaled.?
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the counrty came up?
Haven't read beyond the headlines.? Must have been awkward.? Does SA have nuclear weapons?
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
Best of times, worst of times.? The future's not ours to see.? Fingers crossed.
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
We don't now?? Who does?
|
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely a way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
Such tests obviously are comparative in nature, so I lean more toward the latter. As will attempts to measure time, distance, or my greatness, they are all part of the human mind's?drive to organize the world in pursuit?of more efficient thinking.
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
Sympathy toward him?and his family.
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the country came up?
I did not pay much attention to it. I may be getting jaded on the media volleys of bad news!
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
Fairly stable?right now, although this might be expected as I am retired?and on a fixed income!
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
If they can pay, sure.
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On May 21, 2025, at 20:53, mrvnchpmn via groups.io <Chapman@...> wrote:
?
?
On Wed, 21 May 2025 19:22:44 -0400, chapman@... wrote:
?
?
?
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
It measures what it measures. ?Call it intelligence or call it banana. ?From the childish nastiness I've been hearing about political infighting in American Mensa, I incline to banana.
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
I've read that if it's as far along as they're saying it is, he's had it for a long time.
I think I've also read that his doctor said he wasn't tested for it while he was President, but that the doctor wouldn't reply to questioning about who made the choice not to test.
The Biden presidency will live in history like a sore thumb, but since the present and probably the future establishment are loyally Democratic, it may be a long time before its treatment will be anything other than soft-pedaled.?
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the counrty came up?
Haven't read beyond the headlines. ?Must have been awkward. ?Does SA have nuclear weapons?
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
Best of times, worst of times. ?The future's not ours to see. ?Fingers crossed.
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
We don't now? ?Who does?
|
1.? Is
intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests
merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the
norm?
Yes, intelligence is measurable. However, it is also culture
specific. So intelligence tests need to be either customized to a
specific culture or be culture fair (as American Mensa has provided
tests for).
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is
suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
Very sad, but if treatment works then it looks like he has many
years ahead of him.
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the
president of South Africa where the issue of white
settlers being attacked and forced out of the counrty came
up?
Trump certainly ended up looking foolish. He has a tendency to
believe fake news.
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or
remaining the same?
So far remaining the same.
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
Yes.
?
Aloha,
Celeste Rogers
|
?
On Wed, 21 May 2025 19:22:44 -0400, chapman@... wrote:
?
?
?
1.? Is intelligence? measurable - or are intelligence tests merely way of differentiating people who don't fit the norm?
2. What is your reaction to the disclosure that Biden is suffering from metastasized prostate cancer?
3.? What did you think of Trump's meeting with the president of South Africa where the issue of white settlers being attacked and forced out of the counrty came up?
4.? Is your economic situation getting worse, better, or remaining the same?
5.? Should the US sell weapons to Taiwan?
?
|
For me, 86 has had the connotation of tossing something aside, as in trashing it. A non-lethal association in politics would just mean the politician is unsuited to the job and should be impeached or simply not reelected.
D
// ? ? ?You can 86 someone without assassinating that person.?? ? ?//
Perplexity:
The exact origin of “86” is unclear, but it dates back to at least the 1930s. Some theories suggest it comes from diner lingo, where “86” meant an item was out of stock. Over time, it evolved to mean removing a person as well.
? 1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
Well, he got a nice airplane. As I had said many times, he is a businessman by trade and a politician by happenstance. There is a lot of money in the Middle East and I suspect there will be an attempt to funnel some back to the U.S. I do not know if this is secured yet, but I will be watching.
At this point, I am uncertain whether he is being effective.
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
Only his publicity. He had plenty of support (direction) to guide the presidency, so no.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
To do their job, which means protecting taxpayers and?influential community interests, yes. As paladins of idealistic justice and champions of abstract law, I would suspect not. This is just a practical stance on the part of the police: they are hired to do the job and they are beholden to those paying the bills.
I can imagine a tribe of cavemen having problems with a few caveman hooligans, especially while the hunting?parties are away. A group of caveman musclemen from the local gym cave offer to keep watch over the tribal home and to rein in the hooligans, but they ask for a share of the hunting spoils because they cannot hunt and?watch the place. Poof! The first?police force. Of course they are going to answer primarily to the hunters...
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed the way armies fight and what weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
I think?it is having a significant impact, although I am unsure how radical that might be. Combat without human life at the forefront is a significant but logical direction to take when practical. Like the Iron Dome concept, we have a tinshield?instead of meatshields between us and the threat.
As for obsolete, you try hitting a drone with a rifle.
5.??Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
No. You can 86 someone without assassinating that person. More ridiculous?theatrics. Waste of time and money.
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// ? ? ?You can 86 someone without assassinating that person.?? ? ?//
Perplexity:
The exact origin of “86” is unclear, but it dates back to at least the 1930s. Some theories suggest it comes from diner lingo, where “86” meant an item was out of stock. Over time, it evolved to mean removing a person as well.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On May 16, 2025, at 08:58, Darrell King via groups.io <DarrellGKing@...> wrote:
? 1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
Well, he got a nice airplane. As I had said many times, he is a businessman by trade and a politician by happenstance. There is a lot of money in the Middle East and I suspect there will be an attempt to funnel some back to the U.S. I do not know if this is secured yet, but I will be watching.
At this point, I am uncertain whether he is being effective.
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
Only his publicity. He had plenty of support (direction) to guide the presidency, so no.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
To do their job, which means protecting taxpayers and?influential community interests, yes. As paladins of idealistic justice and champions of abstract law, I would suspect not. This is just a practical stance on the part of the police: they are hired to do the job and they are beholden to those paying the bills.
I can imagine a tribe of cavemen having problems with a few caveman hooligans, especially while the hunting?parties are away. A group of caveman musclemen from the local gym cave offer to keep watch over the tribal home and to rein in the hooligans, but they ask for a share of the hunting spoils because they cannot hunt and?watch the place. Poof! The first?police force. Of course they are going to answer primarily to the hunters...
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed the way armies fight and what weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
I think?it is having a significant impact, although I am unsure how radical that might be. Combat without human life at the forefront is a significant but logical direction to take when practical. Like the Iron Dome concept, we have a tinshield?instead of meatshields between us and the threat.
As for obsolete, you try hitting a drone with a rifle.
5.??Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
No. You can 86 someone without assassinating that person. More ridiculous?theatrics. Waste of time and money.
|
1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
Well, he got a nice airplane. As I had said many times, he is a businessman by trade and a politician by happenstance. There is a lot of money in the Middle East and I suspect there will be an attempt to funnel some back to the U.S. I do not know if this is secured yet, but I will be watching.
At this point, I am uncertain whether he is being effective.
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
Only his publicity. He had plenty of support (direction) to guide the presidency, so no.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
To do their job, which means protecting taxpayers and?influential community interests, yes. As paladins of idealistic justice and champions of abstract law, I would suspect not. This is just a practical stance on the part of the police: they are hired to do the job and they are beholden to those paying the bills.
I can imagine a tribe of cavemen having problems with a few caveman hooligans, especially while the hunting?parties are away. A group of caveman musclemen from the local gym cave offer to keep watch over the tribal home and to rein in the hooligans, but they ask for a share of the hunting spoils because they cannot hunt and?watch the place. Poof! The first?police force. Of course they are going to answer primarily to the hunters...
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed the way armies fight and what weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
I think?it is having a significant impact, although I am unsure how radical that might be. Combat without human life at the forefront is a significant but logical direction to take when practical. Like the Iron Dome concept, we have a tinshield?instead of meatshields between us and the threat.
As for obsolete, you try hitting a drone with a rifle.
5.??Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
No. You can 86 someone without assassinating that person. More ridiculous?theatrics. Waste of time and money.
_._,_._,_
|
?
?
?
1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
Certainly more effective than anyone else recently
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
I would be cautious is using the term " mental problems" but certainly would say that the dimenishment of his mental acuity definitely effected his performance - latelyh unnamed memebers of the cabinet have been coming out and saying he simply wasn't available.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
At the local level yes - but as it gets hgher ijn the level of government less and less.? I wouldn't trust the high levels of the FBI as far as I can throw them - and the air traffic control system seems to have the same type of problems.
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed tthe way armies fight and whate weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
yes - what will happen next is yet to be seen, The same thing happened in the Yom Kippur War when the Israelis did'nt pull back from the Suez Canal and got massacred initially by RPGs - but eventually the deciding battle was tank on tank at a level not seen since Kursk in 1943.
5.? Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
Yes but the question may well be should he be prosecuted for threatenin the president or for being incredibly stupid
|
1.? Is
Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
It certainly doesn't look like he's being effective for anyone other
than himself.
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his
presidency?
Probably not.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
I have confidence in them. My next-door neighbor was the acting
police chief until Honolulu PD found a new chief (took a couple of
years or so). The previous police chief turned out to be a con man
and is now in prison. In fact, his wife is also in prison for
related offenses.
4.? ?Has
the employment of drones on the battlefield radically
changed tthe way armies fight and whate weapon systems are
effective and which ones are obsolete?
I wouldn't say radically, but it has changed many engagements.
5.? Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of
prosecution?
Absolutely not. I've been seeing that same "8647" theme being posted
in various forms by hundreds of others. To me the term "86" has
always meant ejecting someone from the premises.
Aloha,
Celeste Rogers
|
1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
Time will tell....
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
Of course it did.? Someone else was running the country and we don't know who it was.
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
Yes, up to a point.? I'd hate to have one of them testify against me if they had an axe to grind or if they thought that I was a druggie who should be put away.
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed tthe way armies fight and whate weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
Of course; tanks and other?armored?vehicles are as obsolete?as aircraft?carriers and battleships are now.
5.? Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
I don't know enough about that to?have an?opinion on the?matter.
Ed
|
?
?
1.? Is Trump being effective in his Middle East visit?
2.? Did Biden's mental problems adversely affect his presidency?
3.? Do you have confidence in your local police force?
4.? ?Has the employment of drones on the battlefield radically changed tthe way armies fight and whate weapon systems are effective and which ones are obsolete?
5.? Was the internet post by James Comey a crime worthy of prosecution?
|
Homo god. ?'Twas ever thus.
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On May 11, 2025, at 11:51, Darrell King via groups.io <DarrellGKing@...> wrote:
? Elon will get us to Mars. Have faith. Besides?that, we could also imprint our personalities into a quantum computer and launch?the whole virtual world into the void like Voyager...
D
They've gotten good at keeping people alive past the old expiry dates.? In fact, it seems to be an important part of the plan to make people live forever, in memory circuits.? But first, they'll kill off the body.? Another goal, one I've not seen mentioned yet, has got to be to make all "human" life virtual, electronic.? They'll improve on Brave New World by doing away with the messy organic stuff.? Of course, then there'll be a meteor strike or a new ice age or both.? Darn, didn't get to Mars in time. ? "Fairly so - I am going to my 58th High School reunion this year - the sponsor told me she didn't think enough people would survive to 60 to have a reunion."
I am 66. I remember in my 20's thinking I would certainly not survive past 30 given my lifestyle. While I would be fine doing?any reunions solo as it is way more peaceful, Facebook tells me plenty of my senior class is still alive and doing things. I guess 60 is not so old right now...
D
?
1.? Is race a genetic or cultural phenomena?
I see it as more of a cultural than genetic.? Melanesian Pacific Islanders and a lot of Subcontinental Indians are darker skinned than the average American Black but they are not considered Blacks.? I am of the opinion that culture drives behavior more than genetics.
2.? Will the war between Pakistan and India go nuclear?
Hasn't for the last forty years - hopefully they will continue the good work.
3.? Are you?optimistic about the remainder of tis year?
Fairly so - I am going to my 58th High School reunion this year - the sponsor told me she didn't think enough people would survive to 60 to have a reunion.
4.? Should Alcatraz be reopened as a federal supermax prison?
An interesting idea - certailnly escapes are extremely unlikely
5.? Were you surprised at the new Pope?
I was hoping a candidate from one of the three unrepresented continents would be named - but was amazed than an American was chosen
?
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David Smith
David Smith