Jason

The sanctions are not affecting Russia (due to trade with China, India etc.).  On top of that, even stuff like McDonalds has just been remade into Russian copies that are the same or near the same probably.   Has anyone seen news of that?

Do you feel Russia deserves sanctions?

Being a Christian, I think people should pray.  However, I am cynical about the movement to seemingly impose prayer on people outside a religious school setting.   I mean, as I said before, there's this whole conservative movement that thinks prayer will do a 360 on moral decline in the US (and other countries).

On 2/4/2024 at 8:47 AM, Grungie said:

We have a few with welding classes around here. Though we also have quite a few factories, and construction is "popular" here.

There's been a movement against blue collar work, but it's losing steam with a lot of people.   In fact, college has been looked on cynically.

Anyway, I got nothing against higher education, but I think people need double majors as insurance against the job market.

They say cursive writing isn't taught,  What else isn't taught?  Well, I'm sure they still have typing, but it's done now on computers.

Question:

Should some skills be done away with?   What are some pros and cons of this idea?

Should kids move out at 18?    Do you feel kids are too immature these days?   If they were mature, would that mean they could even marry at a younger age, like in the old days (from a western perspective)?

Why are they doing this?    If you think they're not, what is you reasoning?  Myself, I haven't made up my mind.

Alien Cartoon - ha ha

14 hours ago, Uncrowned Guard said:

This is more to the reason that I support kids-focused social media.  Most content and activities on social media and even the web as a whole are not great or even outright dangerous for kids.  However, kids are finding this content and using those platforms.  While I fully support parents who don't want their kids on any of it until they are older, as a parent, I also know that it took until 1st grade for our youngest to have a classmate with access to their own phone.  I'd call that insane, but I know that I can't prevent the use of social media and I also have no answer to how to prevent it as they get older and now 90% of their classmates and friends have access.  This is actually why I support the idea of sites and social media just for kids, it isn't so much "kids need access to the web", it is much more "we can't stop it, so let's reinforce safe platforms for them".  I would still fully support parents not wanting their kids online, but I would also feel much better if the videos going around class or the sites kids found a way to access from school computers were designed to protect the kids and were not just TikTok and the like.  

And don't get me wrong, I do fully support less electronics for kids and less electronics in at least elementary level education. Sadly this is not exactly the experience anymore. Even our 6-year-old has been assigned a Chromebook from school in order to do work on. He's not allowed to turn on the TV at home without asking for permission first, but he has a laptop that he can use at any time during school. So essentially I just feel like the goalposts have moved to the point that we need to find a better way to embrace the technology then to try and avoid it.

I still think it's overkill.  In fact, kids shouldn't do homework on computers until they get in the 6th grade - and even at that age - it should be only at school (opinion).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Peace_Is_None_of_Your_Business

This song is a swipe at governments who, in the name of the people, make condescending decisions on the world stage.   

Question:

What is your view on the matter?  What examples of this have you seen?  What about the argument that people elected the governments?

On 1/25/2024 at 10:01 AM, Heatman said:

Well, I would say that it's the geography of Puerto Rico that's playing a part in how it's economic growth and development have been going for a while. As a result of its obvious small size as an island, it have always lacked of natural resources used to produce raw materials and they depend heavily on imports, this is what slows down its prosperity. 

You could say it's cause Ireland is close to Europe while PR is not, but PR is close to the United States, somewhat.

Myself, I think it's cause there has been more investment into education in Ireland.   That's just a guess.

On 1/25/2024 at 10:29 AM, Heatman said:

Too much patenting isn't good, I'm very much in support of that because it makes kids/teenagers to behave like puppets. Yes, I understand that parents have to play a big role in the lives of their kids but there should be a limit to everything. There should be a point where they are to sit back and just observe. After, they can give corrections but it's important to allow the kids to start making some decisions of their own at some point. 

Yes, that's about right.  I couldn't say it any better, but I wonder why parents can't get it?  I suppose it's because they love the kids and they don't understand that smothering them isn't love.

On 1/25/2024 at 9:20 AM, Heatman said:

Personally, I wouldn't say that the backlash is too looking at how far he let his tongue took control of his senses. I will always tell people to be very careful of what they say in the public especially when it's about politics and they are some sort of a public figure. 

Morrisey like Axl Rose, seems to just be more "real" than many people.  I don't think they are "bad people", so to speak.   I think the real problem is that some people are oversensitive, but that can lead to declining record sales and opportunities sometimes.

Should we leave them alone?  I mean, I see it as possibly damaging something like a National Park. Anyway, I doubt if a lot of people agree as the Earth's population is exploding.

My brother had an Apple back in the early 90s.  I would play this airplane bomber game.  It was awesome, even in those primitive days.

Someone who can't afford air conditioning might be interested in an extreme setup. I mean, that would make sense.  Is that what really goes on?

I'm into web development, not fixing or building computers.  However I admire somebody who can, but I've never been interested in getting into it, even for money.  Anyway, I have considered buying a homemade computer, though due to getting a lower price.

23 hours ago, Uncrowned Guard said:

Ya, this is a huge issue and it worries me quite a bit as most of these platforms are throwing half-naked women and dangerous "challenges" as the standard recommendation for brand-new users.  Essentially the exact thing a child making an account as an adult will land on.

Cyberbullying is a major issue, and I would say that a platform dedicated to kids could help with that by taking practical steps to discourage the practice.  Of course, it sadly is not something that I believe will ever be fully gone or completely avoidable.

Sorry to sound old, but back in my day, there was none of this.  Video games, and primitive ones at that, was all that was available.  Anyway, I'm not sure if online chatting is good for kids, but I don't want to be judgemental.

It's tough to have faith, but in fact, it's a sin for Christians to worry.  Who has heard of that?  How do you deal with it?

I know this cyberbullying with kids goes on cause my close relative was the bully back in the late 90s.  This was before social media was on the scene.  It was on chat boards. 

16 hours ago, Heatman said:

I would say that it's going to be HubSpot and Wix that are my favourite best when it comes to alternatives to WordPress software. I have used both of them and was very satisfied with what they offered for blogs. 

What exactly do you find interesting?  How does WordPress compare?

16 hours ago, Heatman said:

Well, I have used free forum software like ProBoards when I started out my journey as a webmaster. It wasn't that bad but that's for my beginning stage. Right now, I'm all for paid from softwares because of the level of support you get from it. XenForo will always be my favourite, even though it's expensive but it's worth every penny paid for it. 

Yeah, that's what I use and it's worth the money, but even free stuff can be just as good.  It depends on the forum owner's work on it.

What are some pros and cons of WordPress?  What have you used?  Have you ever changed your mind about the thread topic?

What are some pros and cons of each?  What have you used as an admin and/or user?  Have you changed your mind about the thread topic before?

What do you like?  What have you used as an admin and/or visitor?  What might you use in the future?

So many ad-blockers show why ads don't work for many niches.  Instead, sites need other ways of revenue.  What might they be?

A strong password might be good enough for an admin, but I use 2-factor nonetheless.  Well, what might be pros and cons?  A pro is preventing a situation where a stranger might get in the admin area on a public computer, for instance.