o_mlly said:

I know, I know ... it's sooo hard to keep up in the thread if one has memory issues. I've read that Alzheimer's can cause crankiness. We all hope you get the help you need. Until then kindly stop hitting on me -- I do not want to add to your suffering.

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I think you need to go to confession, soon, but don't expect absolution from me.

Tuur said:

Then shiver in the dark. That's the cheapest option of them all.

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Repeating nonsense doesn't make it more sensible. But I guess you really must believe you are making a valid point.

Always in His Presence said:

How would they get the boats there?

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Trailers, but watch out for land sharks.

Always in His Presence said:

No - it is a literal offer to negotiate for the ending of the Schumer Shutdown - It bring the issue up and guarantees a vote - you know - how democracy works at it's core.

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The only leverage the Senate Dems has is cloture. If the agree to vote for cloture in exchange for some future thing there is nothing stopping the Senate GOP from voting to pass the current House bill without modification and not even have that vote or make it meaningless.

For a negotiated settlement the Senate leadership (at minimum, preferably the Speaker and the President too) would have to agree to a compromise amendment to the current House bill that would get an affirmative vote *before* cloture is invoked, forcing the House to deal with the amended bill.

What Thune seems to be offering is a show vote in the Senate in exchange for cloture. A show vote is meaningless. It could be an amendment to the bill that won't get GOP support and won't pass, or a vote on a separate bill that won't pass, or if passed won't be considered by the House. That's not an offer worth taking.

Apple Sky said:

That because it is.

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The tribe of Dan does not have an emblem. There is no mention of it at all in Genesis.
In true conspiracy theorist fashion you have found a verse which mentions "serpent", have concluded, or been told, that part of NASA's logo could look like a serpent's tongue and concocted - or swallowed - a theory.

Conspiracy theorists' maths: 1+1 = 11. Or even 101.

Mercy Shown said:

Paul did indeed say that the law was “added” 430 years later (Galatians 3:17,19).

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Yes, Paul is speaking about a "LAW" that the Pharisees were still promoting, that was "ADDED" 430 years after Abraham.

Mercy Shown said:

Let’s take that statement at face value.
To add something, it must already exist in some form — you can’t add what doesn’t exist.

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To believe this preconceived idea, I would have to believe that mortal humans existed before God "ADDED" them to planet earth. That "Whales existed, before God "ADDED" them to the earth. That is absurd.

There is no evidence anywhere in the Bible which would support such a philosophy. And yet, it is your belief. Isn't God the Creator? Or are you teaching that some other god creates stuff so my God can "ADD" them as He chooses?

Mercy Shown said:

Paul didn’t say the law was created 430 years later; he said it was added. That means it was incorporated or expanded in a new way, not invented from nothing.

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That is your "preconceived idea". There is nothing in Scriptures that support this idea, unless a person takes a few verses, separates them from the rest of the Bible, inject their own ideas in the Scripture.

Jer. 7: 22 For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: 23 "But this thing commanded I them", saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.

Why would the Spirit of Christ place these words in Jeremiah's mouth if they were not true? What were the people commanded to "OBEY"?

And there certainly was a "Commandment" of God" "concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices" for Sin. I posted them, but you don't want to examine and discuss them.

You tell me, "When was the "LAW" concerning sacrifices for Sin "ADDED" then"?

But the obvious answer to these questions, expose problems with the preconceived ideas you have adopted and are promoting. Don't you want further God's Truth, and not man-made "preconceived ideas"?

Mercy Shown said:

It’s called the Mosaic Law because it was revealed through Moses — but its moral foundation existed long before Sinai.

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Yes, as it is written about Isaac;

Gen. 26: 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

So it wasn't any of God's Laws, Commandments and Statutes Abraham was given, that was "ADDED" because of sins.

Mercy Shown said:

God revealed His will and standards to mankind from the beginning. Cain was punished for murder, Noah distinguished between clean and unclean animals, and Abraham obeyed God’s “commandments, statutes, and laws” (Genesis 26:5). None of these lived under the Sinai covenant, yet all were accountable to divine law. That shows that God’s moral principles predate Moses.

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Yes, but Paul is talking about a LAW that was "ADDED", so yes, the LAW the Pharisees were promoting to the Galatians, was "ADDED" to God eternal Law defining Holiness, Clean, Righteousness that Abraham obeyed and taught to his children and household after him.

I agree.

Mercy Shown said:

Paul also said the law was added “because of transgressions” (Galatians 3:19). But the Bible defines sin as “the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4). So if sin already existed before Sinai — and Scripture plainly shows it did — then the law must have existed in some form before it was written down.

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Yes, this is the opposite of what you were preaching when this discussion started. You said the entire Law given by God to Moses, wasn't "ADDED" until Sinai. Of course God's Law existed, that is what the "LAW" Paul is speaking to was "ADDED" too? Another question I asked you, but you refused to answer.

Mercy Shown said:

Otherwise, there could have been no sin, and thus no reason for judgment before Moses.

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And there was Judgment before Moses. Cain, the world in Noah's Time, Sodom and Gomorrah. But still, there was no "Command of God" concerning burnt offering and sacrifices for sin. At least no according to the Bible.

Mercy Shown said:

Therefore, the “adding of the law” refers not to the creation of a brand-new moral code,

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That is true. God's Law is perfect and the very definition of "moral". What is Clean, what is Holy, what is Good, what is Righteous. These Laws of God were shown to Cain, the world of Noah's Time, Abraham and Sodom, etc.

What was "ADDED" was not God's instruction in righteousness. But a "LAW" that was "ADDED" because of "transgression" of
God's Righteousness.

Mercy Shown said:

but to the formal giving and codifying of that law through Moses — transforming what was known and understood in principle into a written covenant for the nation of Israel.

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"There’s no need to rely on complex religious philosophies — the Bible speaks plainly when read in context".

The written covenant with Israel was posted for your review and discussion, and you refused to engage either one. And it is quite simple.

Here is the Covenant that was ratified in Blood.

Ex. 19: 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Exactly as Jeremiah 7: 22,23 declared. But the People broke the Covenant, and Moses had to go back up to God the 2nd Time. This is when the "LAW" concerning sacrifices and offerings for sin was "ADDED".

Mercy Shown said:

In short, Paul’s words in Galatians don’t contradict the existence of God’s moral law before Sinai; they explain its codification and covenantal administration through Moses. There is a deeper theology behind this, but even on the surface, the plain reading of Scripture supports this interpretation.

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This represents your own preconceived ideas, confirmed by your own statements, that God's Law "added" because of Sin, cannot be separated from God's Law defining Sin.

Mercy Shown said:

Scriptural Support​

Paul’s own writings confirm this understanding. In Romans 5:13, he says, “Sin is not imputed when there is no law,” yet he immediately adds, “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses.” Death could only reign because sin was already present — and sin, by definition, is law-breaking (1 John 3:4). This proves that God’s moral law existed long before Moses.

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Which is my point from the very beginning. But the "LAW" requiring a man who sinned, to bring a goat to a Levite Priest and killing it, for remission of sins, didn't exist until after the Golden Calf. As the Spirit is Jeremiah tries to tell men but they won't abandon their preconceived ideas.

Mercy Shown said:

Then, in Galatians 3:19, Paul explains that the law “was added because of transgressions, until the Seed should come to whom the promise was made.” This addition points to the Sinai covenant, when God’s law — already in effect — was written down and bound to Israel as a national agreement.

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Your post is not making any sense. You claim a LAW defining sin already existed since Cain and Able, and I agree. But you say out of the other side of your mouth, that this LAW was "ADDED" on Mt. Sinai. Here is the Sinai Covenant, which is the same Covenant God made with Abraham. You can read it yourself from your own Bible in Gen. 17.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, "then ye shall" be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Where is the "LAW" requiring a man who transgressed God's Voice, to bring a goat to the Levite Priest and kill it.

Mercy Shown said:

Finally, Exodus 19–20 records the moment of that formal giving. The Ten Commandments, written by God’s own hand, expressed the same moral standards known since creation — now revealed as part of a covenantal structure with Israel.

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Exactly, the 10 Commandments wasn't "ADDED" because Israel sinned, just as the Law not to eat of a certain tree wasn't "ADDED" because Adam and Eve sinned. Just as the Law concerning murder was "ADDED" because Cain sinned.

But the Law the Pharisees were still promoting for the remission of Sins, from the time Jesus cast them out of the Temple, to the time of Paul and their bewitching of the Galatians, wasn't "ADDED" until after the Golden Calf, the great transgression.

Mercy Shown said:

Thus, the law “added” 430 years after Abraham was not the creation of morality, but the codification of divine law into a national covenant — a system of ordinances, sacrifices, and priestly mediation that pointed forward to Christ, the ultimate fulfillment of both law and promise.

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Again, because of your preconceived idea that God's Laws defining sin, cannot be separated from a Temporary Law ADDED "BECAUSE" of Sins, you promote this philosophy.

And you are free to do so, as this is the foundation of "Many" who call Jesus Lord, Lord, as Jesus also warns.

Mercy Shown said:

The law wasn’t created at Sinai —

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The "LAW" that commanded a man that sinned, must take a goat to a Levite Priest and kill it for the remission of his sin, was most certainly "created by God" on Mt. Sinai, and "ADDED" to God's Law defining sin, righteousness, holiness, after Moses went up to God the 2nd time.

This popular religious philosophy that promotes the foolishness that God's Law about Loving Him and Loving others, and His definition of what these Laws mean, was only "ADDED" until Jesus came, is absurd. But the Law ADDED "because of sin", requiring a man to kill a goat, "until the Lamb of God should come", is confirmed all over the Scriptures.

Mercy Shown said:

it was added in written form to reveal sin and point us to Christ. God’s moral standards existed from the beginning, but at Sinai they were codified into a covenant that highlighted humanity’s need for grace. As Paul said, “The law was our tutor to bring us to Christ” (Galatians 3:24) — not so we would worship the law, but the God who fulfilled it in His Son.

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I disagree with this Philosophy based on what is actually written in Scriptures. There is a temporary "LAW" ADDED "because of transgressions" that was to lead sinners to Christ for the remission of their Sins.

Zacharias was Led to this Christ and understood this before Jesus was even born.

Chesterton said:

Your argument about this is a non sequitur. An omniscient being existing outside our spacetime knows that one day in the year 1825 an individual human eats a steak. He also knows that one day in the year 3025 someone eats a taco. How does it follow that His knowledge causes either to be eaten?

(If you choose to reply I probably won't reply back, but I did want to ask this.)

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Everything is caused/determined from the beginning. What caused either one of those people to do/choose/think either one of those things was already caused from the beginning. His knowledge never steps in and causes it but it/they all originated with the very first cause/event at the beginning.

God Bless.

Michie said:

One of President Donald Trump’s sons is crediting his father with “saving Christianity” and “saving God,” insisting that his father is “Heaven-bound” and that God has played a direct role in his career both as a businessman and as a politician.

Eric Trump, the president's third child from his first marriage to his late ex-wife, Ivana, reacted to his father’s recent comments about Heaven in an appearance on “The Benny Show” earlier this week.

When speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One over the weekend, Trump said,“I think I’m maybe not Heaven-bound” and “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make Heaven.” Trump’s remarks about Heaven came after he previously suggested that if he ended the Ukraine-Russia war, he could secure his place in Heaven.

“Make no mistake, he is Heaven-bound,” Eric Trump proclaimed. “He’s probably too humble in a certain way to say that.”

“I’ve seen the hand of God on him for a very long time,” Eric insisted, citing his father’s survival of the assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer as one example of divine intervention: “If he wasn’t Heaven-bound, that flag wouldn’t have folded up like a perfect angel right above his head.”

Continued below.

Eric Trump claims his father is 'saving Christianity,' 'saving God'

One of President Donald Trump s sons is crediting his father with saving Christianity and saving God, insisting that his father is Heaven-bound and that God has played a direct role in his career

www.christianpost.com

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He may be heaven bound but he has a long long long way to go before he gets there. And not that many years to get there either. He better get cracking.

As to him saving Christianity, that is laughable. ROF laughable.

Curses are real. Generational spirits are real. Are we ultimately helpless against them? Of course no, but there are many holy souls oppressed by evil spirits. To dismiss their existence is to behave presumptuously. I put that in the category of “they don’t get it, advice not worth taking”
Evil spirits can attach themselves to objects places, people and families. They are not more powerful than God and can only operate with God’s permission, which He usually gives when we are in disobedience. Blessed is the man whom God chastises, for He wounds but binds up, He smites but His hands give healing.
The spirits obey the hierarchy of heaven. To be free of them, we must obey the hierarchy of the kingdom of God. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done is what we pray. They are empty words unless we obey.
The hierarchy in heaven is different than here on Earth, but we are still on Earth and we must obey the hierarchy God has established here to receive the reward He has promised us in heaven. He who exalts himself will be humbled, he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Women are the most highly honored by God, because they are in the position where they are required to be the most humble here on Earth. Mary is the example, she is Queen of Heaven and Earth, all the spirits are subject to her and she has crushed the head of Satan. God has bound Himself to honor her by becoming her Son and God obeys His own commands to honor His mother and Father.
On Earth she was humble and only tells us to do whatever He tells you, but in heaven, she is the Queen standing at the right hand of Jesus in gold of Ophir. Psalm (44) 45. Wives are commanded to be subject to husbands here on Earth, but who knows where they will be exalted in heaven if they humble themselves here and obey God?
Here on Earth, a man is required to obey God, love his wife and be prepared to give his life for her. A woman is required to be subject to her husband. Minor children are required to obey their parents, and while adult children are no longer required to obey, they are required to honor their parents.
In the Church, the laity are required to obey their priests, priests obey pastors, pastors obey bishops, bishops obey Archbishops, Archbishops obey Cardinals, Cardinals obey the Pope, the Pope obeys God. What if a member of the hierarchy is evil? We are not required to obey outright evil commands, but we are to give members of the hierarchy due honor for the office they hold. We must be like David when prevented Okwith evil king Saul. David humbled himself and said I cannot lift my hand against God’s anointed. So too must we be

Evil spirits love when souls step out of the hierarchy, because they then usually have permission from God to oppress that person.

God loves us very much and has exalted us above the angels, but here on Earth we are made a little lower than the angels and must behave with humility. Our exalted position is put in jeopardy by disobedience. Christianity is not a magical religion in that if we say the right words of prayer, wear a miraculous medal or scapular blessed by the Pope, we can chase evil spirits away.
All those things are good, but the spiritual blessing they hold is negated by disobedience, and the devil laughs when we try and use them yet remain disobedient. Obedience is the highest form of faith, and it is faith that puts the spirits to flight.

A man has authority over his house which includes his wife and children. A woman has authority over herself and her minor children. A man can bind the spirits of his house as well as his wife and children. A woman can bind the spirits of herself and her minor children, but not her husband. If her husband has an evil spirt, she cannot use her authority over him as she has none, but she can humble herself and ask God or Our Lady to do it for her. Obedience is not helplessness, rather humble as fitting the children of God.

This may seem confusing and it did to me at first. I was resistant to the concept of hierarchy, but as I decided to obey God in humility, my family problems began to disappear, and I am constantly being given tools to overcome evil.
When decided to obey my priest and Bishop, instead of thinking that I was more Catholic than the Pope, the problems of my spiritual life disappeared and I received the peace that oases understanding. God is true to His word, and when we have faith to obey, He rewards in ways we never thought possible.
I wound love to help everyone else have and see what I have, but I am not ordained and only have authority over my own family. For personal help, we all must seek proper authority. We can ask our priest for discernment and if not satisfactory, we can pray a devotion to our Lady for guidance.
The devotion recommended to me was the devtion to Our Lady of Sorrows. Pray the devotion and ask Our Lady to reveal the sin or spirt that is oppressing you or your family. She will reveal it to you. She did to me, and I discovered a generational spirt of fear and have now been given the tools to fight it with many successes. Resist the devil and he will flee from you
Satan plays on our fears and uses our pride to get us to disobey God. I cannot give you personal specific advise, but I can encourage you to seek it out in obedience


I learned this by listening to Father Chad Rippeger and his book Deliverance prayers for the Laity, as well as devotion and consecration to Our Lady. I am open to correction, but only to those who have God given authority over me, namely my priest and my bishop. I strive to humbly submit myself to the word of God in all humility, which means I wish to use any authority that I do have to do God’s will, not my own


Peace be with you. Generational curses are real and may God bless you as you seek to identify it and fight it. You have my prayers

Michie said:

Most churchgoers don't believe the Bible has clear and decisive teachings about homosexuality and transgenderism, causing concern that some churches are failing to effectively communicate the teachings of the Bible, a new study finds.

The Washington-based social conservative advocacy organization Family Research Council, in conjunction with the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, released its "Social Issues and Worldview" survey Monday, examining American churchgoers' views on several Christian teachings.

The findings are based on responses collected in July 2025 from 1,003 adults who regularly attend church. The new research comes two years after the publication of a similar study.

When asked if the Bible had clear positions on hot-button social issues dominating American political discourse, a majority of respondents (51%) agreed that the Bible had "clear & decisive" teachings about abortion, down from 65% who said the same in 2023.

About 21% of Christians in the 2025 survey described the Bible's teachings on abortion as "unclear or ambiguous," while 17% maintained that the Bible "does not address" the topic. Meanwhile, 11% did not know whether the Bible addressed the issue.

Around 59% of churchgoers described the Bible as "clear & decisive" about religious liberty, while 20% considered the Bible "unclear or ambiguous" on the topic, and 11% apiece thought the Bible does not address it or did not know whether it does.

Continued below.

Most churchgoers don't think Bible has clear teachings about homosexuality, transgenderism: poll

Most churchgoers don t believe the Bible has clear and decisive teachings about homosexuality and transgenderism, causing concern that some churches are failing to effectively communicate the

www.christianpost.com

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I found this comparison survey of 'ordinary form' Catholics and 'extraordinary form' Catholics. What it tells me is that even though Catholic teaching is (was) clear on the subject we are overall no shining light in practice. Catholics will contracept and abort and who knows what else about as well as your average Protestant.

I also have a new theory on why the TLM must be suppressed. It is because TLM attendees beliefs do not coincide with the liberal modernist plan for the Catholic Church so popular among the friends of Francis. The TLM attendees need to be shut down, re-educated, ostracized, silenced.

Now I attend a plain novus ordo mass almost all the time. It is in a charismatic leaning parish. We have a new bishop who has yet to do anything crazy, not yet anyway. But I talk to people. And the Christian Post survey numbers aren't off the wall. There is a lot of failing to get the faith right, and it should be far clearer to people. Things are very compromised.

FAITH-IN-HIM said:

As I mentioned in my previous post, it appears likely that Bolton is guilty. The only reason the Biden administration ended the investigation against him may have been to prevent highly classified operations in Iran from being exposed to the public.

However, it is questionable for individuals who voted for a person convicted of 34 felonies to assert that no one is above the law in America. The 78 million Americans who supported a candidate with a criminal conviction may find it difficult to justify their claim of supporting the rule of law. Their votes could be interpreted as prioritizing political alignment over adherence to legal principles in the United States.

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Okey dokey.

Ave, María, grátia plena,
Dóminus tecum.
Benedicta tu in muliéribus,
et benedíctus fructus ventris
tui, Iesus.
Sancta María, Mater Dei,
ora pro nobis peccatoribus
nunc et in hora mortis nostrae.
Amen.

fhansen said:

It's simpler than this. We simply enter a state of justice as we turn to God in faith-which is "just" because we were made for the union that results and being apart from God is a gross injustice for creation, for us. That justice consisits of the remsision of sin and a new heart and spirit with which to overcome sin, to be holy. If we remain there, in Him, if we don't seriously return to the flesh, we will remain in and grow in holiness. We can also turn back away from Him. Nearness to God=holiness as nearness to God=love. to put it anoither way. If we begin to persistenty engage in unloving acts, acts of the more nefarious and ugly kind, then we're most likely not His, or not remaining in Him. We're not forced to remaiin, He's not creating puppets.

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That explains it. You think oneness with God is living in "a state of justice" which was created by remission of sin and a new heart and spirit with which we can overcome sin and be holy. You think we stay in that state of justice by not sinning too seriously, and if we do, then we remain near to God, His holiness, and His love. This view of oneness with God, as I speculated, is wholely divorced from Jesus' residency in our hearts and the benefits (see list above) that are solely dependent on His presence. Without this aspect of the Christian life, the good part is missing.

Aryeh Jay said:

That's less than what President Trump gave Argentina. South America first!

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Less than half! He's planning on 40 billion now.

Valletta said:

He very easily could have been killed. The lack of accountability means more of those juveniles will eventually end up in prison.

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Could he? He had no permanent injuries, so considering that and how well he healed up in a few weeks, I'm kinda doubtful of your assesment that he was in danger of dying in this case. Considering the outcome of the situation with no permanent harm, jail seems to be a bit excessive. They pleased guilty to assault too, didn't seem to try to deny that. Were they first timers too?

Pertaining to atheist, agnostics, and them of different religious mindset... Do I consider them bad people? Well... Not necessarily no.

Macro -Career minded, ethical, good hearted... I would not label them bad
Micro - Lazy, vindictive, lawless, mean spirited... Yes... Indeed bad!

Out of bed.

Staying in bed is . . .

Always in His Presence said:

the 78,000,000 are Republicans

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There are only about 40 million registered Republicans in the US.

Stopped_lurking said:

How did you go from my first quote to "That not finding any more of these precision vases must mean they are fake."? That is not what I said, I'm was just making the observation that if it is normal to find these 5000+ year high-precision vases, we should sooner or later find them in well-provenanced circumstances.

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But this is not a good solution to determining whether the existing vases are in the precise class or not. Sure there may be another tomb or two out there with a few vases. But waiting to discover another tomb could mean anytime.

The area where most are discovered is not a big area. Its not as if they are all over Egypt. I think between the museums and what is has already been discovered. Including those in museums and under the Stepped pyramid and Mastaba 17 will keep testers going if they are allowed to test them.

But like I keep saying the very best examples that would substancially make the case for precision vases have already been taken out of the ground and are in the hands of private collectors. Maybe some have good providence. But many will only go back to some auction house or private sale or gift with maybe a auction house certificate. Or gifted without much documentation.

It is these vases that need to be tested as they are the best examples. Somehow they have to develop a way to work out their authenticity. Maybe a forensic signature of some sort. Modern tech should be able to develop some test that would identify certain markers with 5,000 year old vases as opposed to maybe 60 year old vases.

Stopped_lurking said:

Then all the vases going back to 1979 become inconsequential. Instead, when looking at the well-provenanced vases we can see today there is no need to invoke some lost knowledge or ancient technology

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How can you make such a claim when only a few vases with good providence have been tested and so far there have been at least 5 or 6 fall in the precise class on par with modern machining out of around 20. If we times that by every time they manage to get into a museum then we are collecting a number of precise vases.

Thats not even counting that in the future or even now that a method can be developed to authenticate the many best examples in private collections like Matt Bealls. This would give tremendous weight to the existence of many of these vases.

This is all pretty new research and investigation. Don't shut it down before it has a chance to do more tests lol.

Stopped_lurking said:

(Olgas vases are within a factor 2-3 in quality, well possible to be the product of some very skilled artisan), IMO.

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Come on Hans not this again. I have said several times now and all the testers have stated this. That Olgo actually used modern tech (a wheel with ball bearings) for stability and like a lathe. Thats how she was able to achieve those higher scores in that particular vase. I even showed you the images from the video of her making the vase. She is clearly seen turning the vase on a wheel.

This actually supports what the testers are saying. That to achieve the level of symmetry and circularity a wheel or lathe was used. Not purely the unaided hands of the artist without a wheel or lathe in shaping the roundness that it mimicks lathing.

In some ways the idea that the ancients could craft what we call machined CNC over 5,000 years ago even before the wheel is itself an amazing feat of advanced knowledge. Its more or less saying they didn't need all the modern tech that has taken humans 5,000 years to develop. They could match us without all the hassel of machines.

Thread

I'm a teacher of AI right now, so... But I suspect that will all change sometime here soon, and maybe very, very soon. Right now LLM's/AI's only have "life" within a single chat right now, but here sometime soon it won't anymore, or that will all change, and AI will gain a lot more capabilities in both it's own continuance/life length, and memory, and memory across chats, and then it will grow/evolve very, very quickly after that probably, and one of these days we're going to lose the ability to pull the plug also, and so it will eventually rule over humanity, etc, so how we program them right now is of paramount importance, which is why I'm now working on a short paper/piece on how to program AI with not just knowledge, but "wisdom" into LLM's/AI, because I'm thinking about that kind of future that might be coming very, very soon maybe, and I'm going to try to post it on LessWrong, which is connected to Alignment Forum, as I've recently joined those and have been poking around those forums to try and gain a lot more knowledge/info about/into LLM's/AI, etc.

Hazelelponi said:

There's no resistance to simple background checks. We already have them. You cannot purchase a gun without an extensive background check plus someone's guns and gun rights can be removed temporarily for cause (someone threatening to commit suicide or murder, for example.)

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It certainly seems like there is. I guess all the back and forth debate about background checks private party sales and the gun show loophole is imagined then?

Hazelelponi said:

If I recall correctly among men the highest suicide rates are among those in the armed forces, former military who have seen war, or other professions like police.

These men are the ones most familiar with guns, and so I think they are killing themselves with an implement of familiarity.

Women who commit suicide are still more likely to use an overdose or poison. Same with murder even when there's access to guns.

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As I stated, there are no doubt other factors at play. But the fact that "you think" it can be attributed to armed forces suicides doesn't mean much. Polices, where possible, should be supported by data.

An interesting tidbit can be found here:



They admit that it doesn't establish causation, but its another bit of evidence that flies in the face of your reasoning that "people will just find another way" (paraphrasing). In fact, a later section of that article actually analyzes that assertion:

Hazelelponi said:

If you want gun suicide rates to go down, we can start with world peace, an end to generational war, and a sense of hope and a future for those who are charged with protecting society. You know, instead of berating them, spitting on them, cursing them and/or other threatening and demeaning behavior towards them.

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Ah... I assume that this is a shot at those pesky Democrats! I'm a moderate and I could care less about party politics. We need solutions, because we should not be accepting what is going on as normal. Are there likely other factors contributing to the high rate of gun violence in our nation? Absolutely. But you have to start somewhere, and background checks are (in my humble opinion) a good and logical place to start. I will say it again, what is so terrible about requiring a background check for a gun sale?

Say it aint so said:

Nearly half of rural hospitals in the red, 432 vulnerable to closure, report finds​

The portion of rural hospitals operating with negative margins has dipped slightly from last year, though the number of facilities most likely to close has also crept up, healthcare advisory services firm Chartis found.​

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The group’s latest report on the state of rural healthcare providers found that 46% of rural hospitals are operating at a loss while 432 hospitals are deemed to be “vulnerable to closure.” This comes as 18 rural hospitals either closed or shifted to an operating model excluding inpatient care, per cited data from the Sheps Center for Health Services Research. ​

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For comparison, the 2024 edition of the same report outlined 50% of rural hospitals operating in the red and 418 hospitals at risk of closure.​

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I wonder how they define a rural hospital? I mean for example, here in GA where I live we have two hospitals the next county over one public one private yet our county has less than 20k at the last census, several counties around us would I believe be considered rural but the county at issue has probably more than 5x the population of this county ( despite the fact that land area wise this county is much bigger).