Random Thought Thread Part III: The Thinking

[RCMerchant]

The government is still shut down, prices of everything are sky high, sending his ICE gestapo and troops into American cities,  and this rich pig builds a $350 million dollar ballroom. Still think he cares about you? Gimme a break.  You really are a cultist.

[Rev. Powell]

By saying others have also done things that are wrong (outside of normal behavior), you're conceding that Trump is in the wrong here.

Trump is in the wrong here, but I think the best argument in his defense is that it's so minor that it's not worth making a fuss over. Improvements of some sort were needed because the White House currently doesn't have a space large enough to host large numbers of people. If Trump had gone through proper channels, his request would have been approved.

[Trevor]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

[Rev. Powell]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Nothing, there is no correct way to grieve or quota on the number of tears you should cry. You have expressed your love for her perfectly well and I'm sure she'd be proud of you.

[Leah]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. Grieving comes in different forms, sometimes you'll cry, sometimes you won't.

[Trevor]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Nothing, there is no correct way to grieve or quota on the number of tears you should cry. You have expressed your love for her perfectly well and I'm sure she'd be proud of you.

Thank you Rev, that's very sweet of you ❤️❤️🐢

[Trevor]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Absolutely nothing is wrong with you. Grieving comes in different forms, sometimes you'll cry, sometimes you won't.

😘❤️❤️🌹 Thank you. ❤️🌹

[LilCerberus]

By saying others have also done things that are wrong (outside of normal behavior), you're conceding that Trump is in the wrong here.

Trump is in the wrong here, but I think the best argument in his defense is that it's so minor that it's not worth making a fuss over. Improvements of some sort were needed because the White House currently doesn't have a space large enough to host large numbers of people. If Trump had gone through proper channels, his request would have been approved.

However, you & indy implied that this isn't normal, while ignoring examples of how past presidents have normalized such behavior because it suits your argument.

[Rev. Powell]

By saying others have also done things that are wrong (outside of normal behavior), you're conceding that Trump is in the wrong here.

Trump is in the wrong here, but I think the best argument in his defense is that it's so minor that it's not worth making a fuss over. Improvements of some sort were needed because the White House currently doesn't have a space large enough to host large numbers of people. If Trump had gone through proper channels, his request would have been approved.

However, you & indy implied that this isn't normal, while ignoring examples of how past presidents have normalized such behavior because it suits your argument.

Granting the cases you cite for the purposes of argument, they are also abnormal. The existence of prior abnormal things does not make the abnormal thing under discussion normal. I ignore past examples of abnormal behavior because they are irrelevant to the current example of abnormal behavior. The argument from hypocrisy is a logical fallacy. I gave you what I think is the best defense of Trump's behavior in this case, that it's ultimately rather minor, and meaningless in terms of the ultimate result.

[LilCerberus]

By saying others have also done things that are wrong (outside of normal behavior), you're conceding that Trump is in the wrong here.

Trump is in the wrong here, but I think the best argument in his defense is that it's so minor that it's not worth making a fuss over. Improvements of some sort were needed because the White House currently doesn't have a space large enough to host large numbers of people. If Trump had gone through proper channels, his request would have been approved.

However, you & indy implied that this isn't normal, while ignoring examples of how past presidents have normalized such behavior because it suits your argument.

Granting the cases you cite for the purposes of argument, they are also abnormal. The existence of prior abnormal things does not make the abnormal thing under discussion normal. I ignore past examples of abnormal behavior because they are irrelevant to the current example of abnormal behavior. The argument from hypocrisy is a logical fallacy. I gave you what I think is the best defense of Trump's behavior in this case, that it's ultimately rather minor, and meaningless in terms of the ultimate result.

I still say calling references irrelevant is a cop out.

[Dr. Whom]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Nothing, there is no correct way to grieve or quota on the number of tears you should cry. You have expressed your love for her perfectly well and I'm sure she'd be proud of you.

Exactly

[Trevor]

I haven't been able to cry since I heard my special sister passed away: WTF is wrong with me? 😔😥😥

Nothing, there is no correct way to grieve or quota on the number of tears you should cry. You have expressed your love for her perfectly well and I'm sure she'd be proud of you.

Exactly

Thank you Doc 🌹❤️

[LilCerberus]

Some people speculate if dinosaurs had feathers.....

I'm beginning to wonder if dinosaurs had ears.....

[Rev. Powell]

Some people speculate if dinosaurs had feathers.....

I'm beginning to wonder if dinosaurs had ears.....

I asked AI.

Dinosaur skulls provide evidence that dinosaurs had ears—specifically inner ears—but they likely lacked external ear structures like those seen in mammals.
Here's how paleontologists infer dinosaur hearing from skulls:
🦖 Inner Ear Evidence in Fossils
•    Skull cavities and bones: Fossils often preserve the inner ear bones, such as the stapes, which transmit sound vibrations. For example, the famous T. rex specimen "SUE" had a preserved stapes, indicating it could hear.
•    CT scans and 3D modeling: Advanced imaging techniques allow scientists to examine the braincase and inner ear canals. These reveal the structure of the cochlea and vestibular system, which relate to hearing range and balance.
•    Cochlear elongation: Some dinosaurs had elongated cochlear ducts, suggesting they could detect high-pitched sounds—possibly for communication or parental care.
🦴 No External Ears Like Mammals
•    Soft tissue doesn't fossilize well: External ears (like those of elephants or cats) are made of cartilage and skin, which rarely fossilize. So we don't see direct evidence of them in dinosaur fossils.
•    Comparative anatomy: Dinosaurs' closest living relatives—birds and reptiles—have ear openings rather than protruding ears. These are typically holes behind the eyes, often covered by feathers or scales.
•    Evolutionary context: External ears are a mammalian trait that evolved after mammals diverged from other vertebrates. Dinosaurs likely retained the simpler ear opening structure seen in birds and reptiles.
🧠 Brain Structure and Hearing
•    Large forebrains in some species suggest heightened sensory processing, including hearing and smell.
•    Vestibular system shape also hints at balance and movement capabilities, especially in flying or agile species like Velociraptor.
So while dinosaur skulls don't show floppy ears, they do offer rich clues about auditory capabilities through preserved bone structures and comparative anatomy.

[LilCerberus]

Thank you, Rev.
That was very informative.