There are people who are paid to do this kind of thing – professional philosophers. I think most of them are professors at universities and therefore are required to teach as well.

True, but do they get scientific grants from labs, either corporate or governmental, for their speculations, however interesting they may be?

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Even the most generous bankroller of Science has to have priorities.

If the Thomas Nagels of the world want to be a Furrie, a Smoothie, a Scaleie, an Exoskelie, or a Membraneie and then navel-gaze over it, that’s their own business, but that may have to be on their own time and Dime.

There are people who are paid to do t…[Read more]

Actually, thinking about this again, humans who could be another species and who could communicate to other humans about the experience could do many useful things.

It could give greater insights on diseases that cross species, similarities between biological functions of our species and other species, give further substantiation for…[Read more]

I disagree, you never know when something might turn out to be valuable. There’s a whole picture of reality to be painted, and it needs all the pieces in place.

All this is true, but when there are problems like:

*Chronic, degenerative diseases and conditions on top of resurgent infection diseases keeping humans from living longer, h…[Read more]

TheEncogitationer wrote:
Being a bee while being a bee, being a bat while being a bat, and being a flying squirrel while being a flying squirrel do not fit in the budget.🐝🦇🐿️💲

I disagree, you never know when something might turn out to be valuable.  There’s a whole picture of reality to be painted, and it needs all the pieces in…

A reminder that the Left and the Islamists stand weighed the balance as much as MAGA:

Election 2026: Lessons for Liberty
Voters punished failed leadership. More government isn’t the answer.
https://vanceginn.substack.com/p/election-2026-lessons-for-liberty

Trump ally suffers an epic ‘meltdown’ after GOP midterm destruction: ‘Our country is over’
By:
David McAfee
Nov 04, 2026
8:43AM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/laura-loomer-2678241160/

Ms. Skelator de Droit is right about something:

“God isn’t going to save you from Islam,” she wrote. “People need to stop using religion as a co…

[Read more]

More Meh! 🤷🏻‍♂️

Elon Musk sulks after blowing $400 million on GOP midterm wipeout
By:
Travis Gettys
Nov 04, 2026
8:12AM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/elon-musk-wipeout-new-report/

Meh! 🤷🏻‍♂️

‘Losing it while hate-watching Fox’: Trump’s Election Night spiral begins early
By:
Matthew Chapman
Nov 03, 2026
7:59PM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2678217536/

Another thing about Questions: Tucker Carlson and others like him are not “Just asking questions.”. Rather, they are mispunctuating statements with a question mark. Also, they have a bad habit of turning people into questions. None of that fits in the budget either.

The most important thing a scientific institution can fund is the freedom to investigate a question whose importance nobody yet understands.

For the funding, though, it should at least deliver understanding for the importance of the question, and ideally as an added bonus, the answer for the question.

Being a bee while being a…[Read more]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
The most important thing a scientific institution can fund is the freedom to investigate a question whose importance nobody yet understands.

Trump seems to want to stuff “free enquiry” into some kind of box, but I can’t work out what kind.  I think he wants to make science come up with more answers.  I don’t think t…[Read more]

We shouldn’t reason with the Religious Right.

Drew McCoy a.k.a. Genetically-Modified Skeptic is correct that the way we have engaged with religion and the Religious Right in particular, has not been effective in getting people that least re-think religion.

For one thing, we need Science Influencers and Educators who aren’t squeamish a…[Read more]

I meant “Orifrice” not “Office,” though Trump’s Oval Office could also be full of very full orifices.

I wonder if all this talk brought out our latest member updating a profile? Hmmm…Perhaps I should keep my orifice shut on orifices and see what happens. For the record, I’m not interested in a trip all the way to Manila.

Some great news in the midst of an otherwise insane world: Bobby Brainworm’s Danish allies’ attempt to discredit the Hepatitis B vaccine with a Tuskeegee-type placebo clinical Trial has been closed down by Guinea-Bissau health authorities…for now at least:

Cops raid office of RFK Jr. allies planning “unethical” vac…[Read more]

Pew Research: Reports of God’s Resurrection have been greatly exaggerated

I don’t know what to make of any of these polls.

One example: Every month The Drudge Report links an article about Trump’s polls, it has him at a consistent 30 Percent approval, even through his latest tariffs, his latest “enrichment” scheme, his latest breach of t…[Read more]

Is Nicki Minaj’s ass going to be the next speaker of alternative facts? Maybe I misheard…..

It will be whenever it distracts Trump from his sausage fest…But of course, it’s not polite to speak when one’s office is full.

Kentucky man becomes the first humanist granted religious exemption from AI.

Doesn’t this just continue Religion Privilege but merely expand Religion to include any pursuit that involves “being a moral actor,”. like maybe “I believe I’ll have another drink?”

Shouldn’t a Humanist position on AI be that it’s use should further human…[Read more]

Wow! Jesus-facing with a glam get-up and an all-male entourage! I bet The Nekkid Orange Emperor Nero–er–Trump would give them guys a gandering glance if they cruised around his golf course in Ireland!

The son of a friend of mine took on the role of playing “very camp Jesus” a few years ago. He wore a white silk bed sheet as a toga, with a rainbow-colored crown of thorns made from birthday cake candles and pink roman sandals. (He ruined a pair of crocs to make them). The cross was…[Read more]

If atheism is a religion, which of its doctrines do you disagree with? 

– RTFF

Anybody else here ever see someone playing Jesus on Halloween? Or have you ever played Jesus on Halloween?

Well I saw it myself. A black guy in dredlocks with a stuffed plush crown of thorns, the red sash and a bone white colored robe.

He passed through the store too quickly. I was going to ask him: “Hey, JC! What it…[Read more]

Today at the store, one of our regular customers known for evangelizing and rhapsodizing Trump and MAGA came in and decided to check out in my line.

After I rang up his order and gave him his change, I reminded him that if he has any large checks coming his way, we couldn’t cash them at the registers, but the bank located in…[Read more]

The jist of this post below from Bobby Brainworm is true, but as George Zimmer of Men’s Warehouse would put it, I guaran-damn-tee it that Bobby Brainworm didn’t write this post:

https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/2116195007203840288

He had a better mind do it for him, to make up for his tripping over his own tongue about…[Read more]

Oh, and Extinction Rebellion makes it official. Wonder how much fossil fuel it took to make a giant nylon Palestinian Flag, then travel to Paris to fly it?:

So I guess the slogan has changed to:
“From the Riviera to The North Sea,
France will be Zionist and Jew Free!”

…And the students still couldn’t tell you the locations!

This guy gets it! And he heckled Trump and MAGA from within their lair in such a way that he didn’t disrupt anything and get forcibly expelled! He also most likely played upon the FOX News-caster’s stereotypes of what MAGA members look like! Sheer Genius!

I just finished the video interview with Louis Sarkozy by Zoe Sankery. A great summary of French history and of the shambolique status of present French society from Louis. Zoe’s also quite the Shelia as the Aussies would put it!

Pol Pot’s studies in France before taking over Cambodia clearly informed Pol Pot’s declaration that his…[Read more]

Curious enough to watch from across the drink, but not enough to go there, nor Italy, Spain, Germany, or Greece.

I love my air conditioner and hygiene and unburned stores and cars too much. Though how long before Europe’s urban strife comes to our streets is another story.

What started as student protests has expanded to sector strikes,…[Read more]

Enco,

Anyone who remembers ALL of Trump’s transgression is either obssessed and gets reinforcement and lots of that or has an eidetic memory.

It is almost daily…at a minimum weekly…that is a lot of shite to recall…

You’re right that it is a lot to take in, though, fortunately not all eidetic, because not all images are good to retain.…[Read more]

Anyone who remembers ALL of Trump’s transgression is either obssessed and gets reinforcement and lots of that or has an eidetic memory.

It is almost daily…at a minimum weekly…that is a lot of shite to recall…

Who among us can cite the seemingly endless litany of fucked up shit committed by Trump?

<//blockquote>

To answer a question with a question, who can not cite his endless litany of fucked up shit if they have any situational awareness and a regular news feed?

I was not aware of those specific allegations relative to Epstein but in…

[Read more]

Enco,

It is reckless and negligent or deliberate and sadistic to bring a human into this abomination known as civilization on planet earth.

I am manically ambivalent about both Antinatalist Pessimism and Transhumanist Techno-Optimism.

I love and adore every little one that is here already and have nothing but kind words and deeds for…[Read more]

It is reckless and negligent or deliberate and sadistic to bring a human into this abomination known as civilization on planet earth.

In other news i beseech you and preach to you not to deride and belittle our great leader Mr. Trump. It is in bad taste to make fun of the retarded particularly when they are criminals, convicts, swindlers…[Read more]

Should social services just remove children from religious extremist parents or from any other cult members?

These two stories need to be shown prominently to everyone who’s in a snit over the world’s decreasing fertility rates.

How about making the world a place worth bringing children into?

How about making a world so great no one…[Read more]

Here below is a collection of scenes from a movie I saw on the Universal Monsters streaming channel, not my usual viewing of Mystery Science Theater 3000.

The scenes are from Dracula’s Daughter, the 1936 sequel to the original 1931 Dracula starring Bela Lugosi as the title role.

Dracula’s Daughter (1936) | Movie Scenes |…[Read more]

Oh I forgot: Mark Levin actually granted Trump the honor of being The First Jewish President. Thankfully, no word about Bar Mitzvahs< or bris ceremonies.

So the racist, Antisemitic Christian Nationalists have yet another reason to flip out.

And Mark Levin is not only shouting at clouds, but shouting at McDonald’s and KFC fart…[Read more]

Christian racists and conspiracy driven fascists will gather in Texas to plan how to seize power in the name of their imaginary god.

I wonder how they are going to react to the revelation of The First Bisexual President* and his desire to “swirl it up,” as the kids say, with Nikki Minaj?

* (The honor of The…[Read more]

“I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that.” To give AI rights is the most frightening idea I’ve ever heard. It’s already sociopathic, or psychopathic, in that it has no morality whatsoever, it’s entirely instrumental, although so far, morally neutral in every way.

Great description of the present ownership and wanna-be owners of AI.😁

Einat and her peers in Israel are not going to gratuitously call out or alienate an ally like Trump. Well a sometimes ally. And they still need USA to help end the threat of ballistic weapons/nucs and the IRGC.

So it’s “Trump uses Israel and she uses Trump and neither one cares”* …only it’s the Mullahs, the IRGC, and their terrorist…[Read more]

As long as political ideologies keep reinforcing the us v them and the constructs about innate characteristics aine nuthin gonna change.

No argument with the article but the…[Read more]

A fantastically brilliant article from a suitably-named Substack:

The ‘Pro-Pal’ Scam
Nobody Really Gives a Damn About Palestinians
by Danielle Pletkin
https://whatthehellisgoingon.substack.com/p/wth-the-pro-pal-scam

I hate to use Quick-Draw McGraw psychobabble, but the people of Gaza and the West Bank are going to need to have aa…[Read more]

Reg the Fronkey Farmer wrote:
Humans are debating the possible moral status of AI while using AI systems to help formulate their arguments.

“I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that.”  To give AI rights is the most frightening idea I’ve ever heard.  It’s already sociopathic, or psychopathic, in that it has no morality whatsoever, it’s entirely i…[Read more]

Medical breakthroughs are fantastic. Too bad countries were not devoting their military expenditures to science and medicine. Competition might be based on pride in delivering the goods instead of weapons and defense to those weapons. But hey….we are human…

We’ll always need some arms. As Thomas Paine observed, Invaders and plunders are…[Read more]

Why Joshua 10:12-14 is bogus, though Inherit The Wind was more dramatic in it’s description:

What Would Happen If The Earth Staps Rotating
https://www.sciencenorway.no/planets-the-universe/what-would-happen-if-the-earth-stops-rotating/2725348