What's your answer to "what's the meaning of pianistimo?"

[jlh]

Discuss.  The term, the person, the ideologies, the religion, you name it. 

Every aspect is fair game on this thread.

Ready?  Set?  GO!

[ilikepie]

I can only hope the readers are as outraged as I am at Pianistimo. The full truth of my conclusion I shall develop in the course of this letter but the conclusion's general outline is that Pianistimo likes positions that exercise both subtlety and thoroughness in managing both the news and the entertainment that gets presented to us. Could there be a conflict of interest there? If you were to ask me, I'd say that she is utterly versipellous. When Pianistimo's among plebeians, she warms the cockles of their hearts by remonstrating against defeatism. But when she's safely surrounded by her confreres, Pianistimo instructs them to expand, augment, and intensify the size and intrusiveness of her gang. That type of cunning two-sidedness tells us that Pianistimo's chums are tools. Like a hammer or an axe, they are not inherently evil or destructive. The evil is in the force that manipulates them and uses them for destructive purposes. That evil is Pianistimo, who wants nothing less than to deflect attention from her unwillingness to support policies that benefit the average citizen. Pianistimo should clarify her point so people like you and me can tell what the heck she's talking about. Without clarification, Pianistimo's theatrics sound lofty and include some emotionally charged words but don't really seem to make any sense. She parrots whatever ideas are fashionable at the moment. When the fashions change, her ideas will change instantly, like a weathercock.

Pianistimo can't fool me. I've met juvenile malingerers before, so I know that it's easy for Pianistimo to bombastically declaim my proposals. But when is she going to provide an alternative proposal of her own? Although I haven't yet been able to concoct an acceptable answer to that question, I can suggest a tentative hypothesis. My hypothesis is that we must remove our chains and move towards the light. (In case you didn't understand that analogy, the chains symbolize Pianistimo's insincere solutions, and the light represents the goal of getting all of us to create greater public understanding of the damage caused by her jokes.) It is therefore reasonable to infer that the last time I told Pianistimo's pals that I want to shoo Pianistimo away like the annoying bug that she is, they declared in response, "But Pianistimo is the most recent incarnation of the Buddha." Of course, they didn't use exactly those words, but that's exactly what they meant. Many people are shocked when I tell them that I have noticed of late a very strong undercurrent of unscrupulous philistinism among self-centered survivalists. And I'm shocked that so many people are shocked. You see, I had thought everybody already knew that if her helots had even an ounce of integrity, they would disabuse Pianistimo of the notion that she is a perpetual victim of injustice. I know that I'm emotional now, but she is trying to brainwash us. She wants us to believe that it's meddlesome to give our young people the values that will inspire them to prevent the production of a new crop of cocky ignoramuses; that's boring; that's not cool. You know what I think of that, don't you? I think that Pianistimo has recently been going around claiming that she can absorb mana by devouring her nemeses' brains. You really have to tie your brain in knots to be gullible enough to believe that junk. She says that she needs a little more time to clean up her act. As far as I'm concerned, her time has run out.

Essentially, Pianistimo's hired goons have learned their scripts well and the rhetoric comes gushing forth with little provocation. There are three points I need to make here. First, one of history's clearest lessons is that Pianistimo could use a heavy dose of sensitivity training. Second, Pianistimo has more understanding of beer and milk regulations than of farsighted plans for the future. And third, there are lawsuits in Pianistimo's future. That's something you won't find in your local newspaper because it's the news that just doesn't fit.

Rhetoric aside, Pianistimo believes that it's okay for her to indulge her every whim and lust without regard for anyone else or for society as a whole. That's just wrong. She further believes that anyone who resists her deserves to be crushed. Wrong again! Easy as it may seem to take stock of what we know, identify areas for further research, and provide a useful starting point for debate on her besotted declamations, it is far more difficult to give the needy a helping hand, as opposed to an elbow in the face. Be forewarned: She has compiled an impressive list of grievances against me. Not only are all of these grievances completely fictitious, but whenever Pianistimo is blamed for conspiring to worsen an already unstable situation, she blames her compeers. Doing so reinforces their passivity and obedience and increases their guilt, shame, terror, and conformity, thereby making them far more willing to help Pianistimo bribe the parasitic with the earnings of the productive. When a mistake is made, the smart thing to do is to admit it and reverse course. That takes real courage. The way that Pianistimo stubbornly refuses to own up to her mistakes serves only to convince me that if she can overawe and befuddle a sufficient number of prominent individuals, then it will become virtually impossible for anyone to transform our culture of war and violence into a culture of peace and nonviolence. We must hammer out solutions on the anvil of discourse. By "we", I mean all the hundreds of thousands who fundamentally long for the same thing, without, as individuals, finding the words to describe outwardly what they inwardly visualize.

Pianistimo likes to posture as a guardian of virtue and manners. However, when it comes right down to it, what she is pushing is both invidious and uneducated. Her conclusions may not be traditional for a fatuitous blusterer, but if my memory serves me correctly, if one could get a Ph.D. in Unilateralism, she would be the first in line to have one. Doesn't Pianistimo realize that there's a contradiction between her simultaneous condemnation of directionless monomaniacs and her imposition of infernal Pyrrhonism? The only clear answer to emerge from the conflicting, contradictory stances that she and her vassals take is that only by striving to stand up and fight for our heritage, traditions, and values can I halt the adulation heaped upon licentious charlatans. Never have I seen such a gross error in judgment as her decision to anesthetize the human spirit. I'll finish this letter by instructing you not to blindly accept my words or those of others as truth. Investigate, discriminate, and question everything not proven. Only by doing so can you determine for yourself that Mrs. Pianistimo's priorities are inverted.

NOW WHERE HAVE YOU HEARD THIS BEFORE?
https://www.pakin.org/complaint/

[pianistimo]

What is versipellous?

What benefits the average citizen anyways?  Higher taxes?  I suppose that we will find out when the democrats win.  But, hey - everyone gets equal chance in democracy - so Hillary Clinton will fulfill all your dreams if she wins.  Then, you will see that perhaps, just perhaps - the idea that ANYONE in government can benefit the average citizen is a joke.

What I am saying is that Jesus Christ is the only possible King or ruler that could possibly be fair.  Now, how is that intimidating or intrusive, when Jesus Christ isn't here yet?  And, why do people fear this so much?  Is it because a certain part of them thinks it might be true?

Laws affect government.  What kind of laws are part of a just government?  Taxation to where people can't function?

Do you know that if there truly WAS a flood - that we should witness now (with the melting of glaciers) that a lot of water will suddenly reappear?  In China and places in the East - there have been torrential monsoons with huge areas of land put under water.  At the same time, there have been droughts in the West and Mid-west in the USA.  Who can control this?  Governement?  No. Only God.

You have to go to the Source of all things - to find accurate answers and solutions to problems.  People sometimes think it is all up to them.  It's not.  We don't have that kind of power.

[pianolearner]

What is versipellous?

Versipellous is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 83 to 70 Ma (million years ago) during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. It is related to the velociraptor.

[pianistimo]

You don't have to go that far back to prove God's existence.  In fact, I daresay that dating these creatures could be misplaced due to the belief that the geological layers that some of them are under in one place do not match another place on the very same earth.  In fact, in the Carolinas - many supposed geological columned animals died at the very same time and are buried in the same layer.  Nobody really cares - or wishes to explain how this can be true - but, the fact that it's there makes people realize that tapirs DID exist in the USA and their feet look a bit like dinosaurs.

I believe dinosaurs and mastadons, many huge bulky creatures lived and walked on the earth (as tree trimmers of sorts when early man had not spread across the earth) - but do they look like all the dinosaurs in books.  Some might not - because we are only going by bones and possible features.  Some could be the bones of hippos.  Some may be actual lochness type looking creatures that did live - with man - before the flood.  What the bible calls leviathin (sea dragons) or dragons.  In China, the concept seemed real enough that something had to have existed for it to be such an important part of their culture.  I don't doubt the existence of very large creatures - Wooly mammoths, sabre tooth tigers, etc - but I do doubt they lived millions of years apart from mankind.  THe reason?  Because the bones some of these creatures (i believe sabre tooth tigers) have been found in caves in France alongside cave drawings made by early man.

The amount of dirt and debre left by a worldwide cataclysmic flood would not be layers that were laid down millions of years at a time - but suddenly - in huge quantities.  And, some areas - the bones would be scattered to unusual places.  It is a well known fact that some of the Egyptian obelisks and very very heavy stone blocks, etc - were lifted from site and planted in the oceans off of Greece.  Recently (within the last couple years) they found some and brought them back to Egypt.  It was first thought that possibly the Egyptians had allowed them to be built as lighthouses as far as greece - but the inscriptions on the obelisks did not indicate this.  So how did they get that far - weighing TONS.

And, how does one explain the findings of Ballard (the same guy who discovered the Titanic) in the dead sea.  Human dwellings that were probably some of the earliest ever discovered extremely deep into the earth.  His findings were immediately hushed.  Humans were not supposed to have lived at this geological level.  Let alone - be able to build homes.  Yet, there they were - perfectly preserved because of the ph of this particular sea.

PS who are my chums?  I don't really see the point of the saying 'you and your chums.'  I seem to be perfectly fine to explain myself without chums telling me what to say or influencing them.  In fact, I would daresay that I am hugely outnumbered.  What does that say about tolerance?  I suppose I might be what one calls a 'literalist.'  Many Christians are not - but I don't judge them because I think that the training that we get in college is not particularly favoring the idea that the bible could be anything but stories.  But is it?  I don't think it is.  I take it very literally.  but, what we believe and what we do are two things that one can take together or apart.  I hope that I am considered worthy of Christ - and hope that everyone else that hopes is too.  I hope that someday there will be true world peace - and that perfection will be in love and not facts alone.  Although, the facts always come out in the end.  Truth is and always will be truth.

[pianolearner]

Pianistimo, Now you are being completely iguanodon .

[pianistimo]

Iguanadon? 

Popular culture is iguanadon.  It's called 'not thinking at all.'  Or letting others think for you.  What do you really believe?  You can crit - but can you actually put facts together.

'INSINCERE SOLUTIONS' - are those that provide no solution.  Jesus Christ IS the solution.

As I see it - the next 10 years will show exactly what our own thought processes in government have produced.  Basically, all along it's been selfishness.  What if people suddenly became unselfish?  What would happen?  Well, we'd have less waste of tax money and therefore pay less taxes again because it would be used properly.  We'd have peace - because people would be taught self-control and not to grab.  And, we'd have general security - less need for security people around to make sure noone is stealing or hurting anyone.

Do you know (according to REader's Digest - which I know is slightly 'iguanadon') - since 2000, the US government has paid people $1.3 billion a year NOT to farm?  This is ridiculous.  Taking our ability to take care of ourselves and putting it in someone else's hands.  Making farming difficult for smaller farmers, smaller business people, etc - It's a socialist idea to have all the food made by certain people.  THAT is iguanadon, to me.

Also, what is majorly 'iguanadon' is to accept without reservation that our currency should become the standard that it is - and suddenly allow bank takeovers by foreigners to keep things rolling.  Why can't we suddenly accept some pain - and still sacrifice and make it work.  Must we subsume into a world government that is controlled in Brussel's?  I don't really want to.  I don't want freedom and money combined.

[ahinton]

Iguanadon? 

Popular culture is iguanadon.  It's called 'not thinking at all.'  Or letting others think for you.  What do you really believe?  You can crit - but can you actually put facts together.

'INSINCERE SOLUTIONS' - are those that provide no solution.  Jesus Christ IS the solution.

As I see it - the next 10 years will show exactly what our own thought processes in government have produced.  Basically, all along it's been selfishness.  What if people suddenly became unselfish?  What would happen?  Well, we'd have less waste of tax money and therefore pay less taxes again because it would be used properly.  We'd have peace - because people would be taught self-control and not to grab.  And, we'd have general security - less need for security people around to make sure noone is stealing or hurting anyone.

Do you know (according to REader's Digest - which I know is slightly 'iguanadon') - since 2000, the US government has paid people $1.3 billion a year NOT to farm?  This is ridiculous.  Taking our ability to take care of ourselves and putting it in someone else's hands.  Making farming difficult for smaller farmers, smaller business people, etc - It's a socialist idea to have all the food made by certain people.  THAT is iguanadon, to me.

Also, what is majorly 'iguanadon' is to accept without reservation that our currency should become the standard that it is - and suddenly allow bank takeovers by foreigners to keep things rolling.  Why can't we suddenly accept some pain - and still sacrifice and make it work.  Must we subsume into a world government that is controlled in Brussel's?  I don't really want to.

Brussel's? A genitive of Brussel??...

You have no option but to allow bank takeovers and you should think yourself lucky that foreign banks are prepared to buy failing American ones; after all, it's no different in America than anywhere else - there are banks in trouble almost the world over and other banks from other nations sometimes step in and buy them up. "Brussels" (as we call that city in English) - or "Bruxelles" (as it is called in the coutry wherein it is situated) does not control a world government and there is no such govenment anyway. How much of what goes on in China, Canada, Chile, Cameroun, Chad, Congo (either of them) or Chechnya do you really suppose is "controlled in Brussels"? Indeed, the very degree of expanding international linkage might almost conspire against a future world government rather than encourage the possibility of one; have you ever thought of that? No, of coruse not, because you're too blinkered and set in your ways even to imagine that the pursuit of individual national interests across borders simultaneous with the consequent undermining of borders is far more likely to perpetuate a situation in which the possibility of establishment of any kind of world government becomes ever more remote.

And PLEASE leave Jesus Christ out of this! I am increasingly coming to believe that the poor man has really been forced by some to do something worse than merely die for the sins of some of us, not least those that pin responsibility for everything onto Him even 2,000+ years after his untimely death. "Jesus Christ is the solution?" - nonsense! Jesus Christ left an important legacy two millennia ago and He neither is nor can be held responsible for providing "solutions" to anything in the 21st century; the idea that he can and should be is not merely absurd but (some might say) also a grave insult to his memory. It's almost risible to speak of Jesus Christ as a bringer of peace when those who do so won't ever seem to leave HIM in peace!...

The subsidies not to farm are by no means confined to America; we've had similar things happening in the EU. I agree that it is the height of absurdity, but it knows no national boundaries.

Selfishness is nothing new and it, too, is by no means confined to America; how you extrapolate the levying of higher taxes from its widespread existence is, however, quite beyond me.

There has been quite a lot of incoherence in this thread so far - an not all of it yours, either.

Anyway, after that somewhat digressive stuff, let's address the question directly posed in the thread topic. My best answer is that I have no idea.

Best,

Alistair

[pianistimo]

Pianist imo.  It's pretty simple.  Next question.

Btw, Alistair - I take your comments and think about them, too. Notice I don't quote you as much - but, I do read them.  Why do you quote me so much?

[ahinton]

Pianist imo.  It's pretty simple.  Next question.

You want ANOTHER question?...

Btw, Alistair - I take your comments and think about them, too.

Thank you.

Notice I don't quote you as much - but, I do read them.  Why do you quote me so much?

Only for the purpose of trying to clarify exactly what it is that I am responding to.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

She is the epitomy of ignorance and narrow mindedness.

Her Bible and associated brain washing have distorted her mind to the extent that her posts are now only mindless rantings.

I should pity the unfortunate woman, but i do not. She is the worst kind of Christian and gives the faith a bad name.

Thal

[pianistimo]

In what way?

[thalbergmad]

You belittle other religions and have said some disgusting things about gays.

Your opinions are fixed, beliefs immovable and your brain infested.

Sad little woman.

Thal

[pianistimo]

I have never said any disgusting things about gays.  You asked what the bible said about it - and I left it at that.  I probably have several friends and neighbors who are but haven't bothered to ask.  I said a person's sexuality is none of my business.  That is what I said.

I have no 'bones' to pick with people of other faiths if that is sincerely what they think 'works.'  What 'works' for me might be different than for someone else.  All I am saying is pray to the God who answers.  That is what I meant.  THere are some 'gods' that can't do anything for you.  They can be cars, money, intellectual and physcial thrills , but it all leads to the same place - as solomon said.  We all die.  It doesn't matter then if there is no after-life.  I am saying that life does matter because what we do with our time is watched by God.  I suppose PF'ing all the time isn't so good - but hey, you're on a lot too - and you certainly don't hold back. 

I think you try too hard, Thal.  Why don't you relax sometime?  Just think of another opinion besides evolution and just consider it's possibility. Or are you as inflexible as you call me?  After all, what I am espousing does not harm people.  It's called faith.  Faith that our works will be rewarded in the afterlife.  It's concept that's not as hard to grasp when you are a parent.  When you are pleased with your children - they basically are given the 'keys' to whatever - just as God holds out the 'keys' to the kingdom of heaven.  But, He says we have to unload our burdens on Him.  That isn't so difficult really, because he gives all of us burdens that we can't lift ourselves anyways (completely).  It's not hateful to be a Christian.  Why do you want to make it so?

[lisztisforkids]

Faith is kind of like saying 'I really, really hope so'.

[lisztisforkids]

Truthfully I dont know if I would want to go to heaven and then spend eternity thinking about friends or other people that are suffereing eternal torment among other things....

[soliloquy]

Define "meaning".

[pianistimo]

But, God is merciful.  THat torment is reserved for Satan and he wants us to be fearful of his own judgement.  He is the 'great' deceiver and wants for us to doubt the graciousness of God.  Yet all through the bible, God is gracious.  Whatever sins, as long as we admit our fault -He is quick to forgive.  The thief on the cross had no doubts as to his next moments after death - his soul being safe with God.  It must be a very loving and secure feeling.  I do not doubt God.  But, even Thomas doubted - and was a disciple.  Jesus let him put his hand into his side to see where the spear had thrust him after he died - and the holes in his hands.  If he hadn't seen Christ reappear - it would probably have been the end of that disciple.  God shows us, in His own time, the reality of our true existence (which isn't going to always be physical).  He shows us first with the concept of seeds.

There's a very popular verse that says 'God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son...'  If He is concerned about the world - then it's the entire world.  Discipline is only for a moment.

[thalbergmad]

I think you try too hard, Thal.  Why don't you relax sometime?  Just think of another opinion besides evolution and just consider it's possibility. Or are you as inflexible as you call me? 

I consider all possibilities, you only consider one.

[thalbergmad]

Yet all through the bible, God is gracious. 

I thought you had read the Bible

[pianistimo]

Thal, you don't know that because you aren't in my brain and haven't been since childhood.  I just never could prove evolution.  You cannot prove creation.  Therefore, we are at an impasse.  I believe that God is.  I believe that what He says is true.  Why can't you accept it and move on?

God resists the proud, He says - and that is why in bible times enemies were defeated.  Whomever God is for - nobody can be against.  It's rather awesome and frightening at the same time.  And, yet...if we are made in God's image - He obviously made it that way so it would be easier to love us.  Had he made us knats or flies - it would be easier to squash us and not think about it much.  Why does the entire creation seem 'just right' for us to live in?  The beauty?  It's like He had enough love to not just give us what we need - but more than we could imagine.

Also, I think about why this earth has not been destroyed before now by some meteor or huge chunk of ice or debris.  Or, the earth hasn't gone completely out of orbit or lost momentum.  What keeps the energy of the universe flowing so smoothly?  Shouldn't we be amazed by science and at the same time attempt to understand as much about it as we can.  I don't think faith and science conflict at all.  It's just discovering what was made.

[soliloquy]

Thal, you don't know that because you aren't in my brain and haven't been since childhood.  I just never could prove evolution. 

To what reason would Thal have to be in your brain during your childhood, assuming (as we should, considering to whom you speak directly) that indeed we refer to our Thalbergian colleague, or perhaps the lack of specification as to whose brain you allude is contra-indicative to such assertions?  But more importantly, should the authorities be alerted?


Best,

John

[lisztisforkids]

 I cant bring myself to beleive in such a savage creature as the christian god.

But, God is merciful. 

 I think the idea of God created a place were if people screw up for only a few moments they spend the rest of time in pain, and suffering ,and misery kind of cancels the idea that god is merciful. 

[pianistimo]

I was aware of God since childhood, but did not truly come to believe in a deeper way and act on the thought (baptism) until I was 24.  I realize now that 24 is a very small age to God and we're all children no matter what age.  Everyone learns at different paces, but there's no hurry unless you die young.  and, even then - the lessons from the bible show that God is a Master at all He does and if someone dies young - there is a good chance he will let them live out their lives at a later point.  Otherwise, why did Christ show us the distinct evidence of His ability to be ressurrected back to God. 

Science has natural consequences - and so do God's laws.  If we experience pain - we experience a learning curve.  women don't give birth to babies without some pain -and yet we forget it.  why?  Because we learn that living and LIFE is painful sometimes.  It's not that we can overcome sin on our own -but it shows our entire dependence upon God.  Perhaps women can observe this need more easily because it's not shameful to be dependent sometimes.  Yet, women can be extremely strong and resilient, too.  But, I think it is God that gives us courage and strength when things get difficult.

If God made everything easy - we'd be extremely bored.

Btw, I don't believe in an everlasting hell.  That is probably reserved for Satan who is already SPIRIT and cannot die.  As far as I understand.  We are human and capable of dying.  TWICE.  The second time would be at our judgement time.  It is said that every person will stand before the judgement seat of God and that our OWN words will judge us.   For those who accept Christ, the penalty of sin - which is death- will be renounced and He will take our burdens.  That is why our burdens are light with God.  We really don't have much to worry about if we take His word on faith.  Otherwise, Satan would have been correct in the garden of eden.  'You shall not surely die' - or in other words - you already possess eternal life.  It is not a gift. 

[thalbergmad]

Shouldn't we be amazed by science and at the same time attempt to understand as much about it as we can. 

If only you could

[retrouvailles]

Yet all through the bible, God is gracious.

Um, NO. Read the books of Job and Ecclesiastes.

[pianistimo]

Is a thorough knowledge of science a requirement for a musician.  Why should i be a scientist, Thal?  I just read a lot.  That's enough for me.

Retrouvailles,  Job was doubly blessed after Satan tested his faith.  The testing of our faith works patience. and, if all his family will be ressurrected - and death is only for a moment - perhaps we put too much emphasis on death?

About Solomon.  He ASKED God for wisdom.  He got it.  But, with that wisdom came an understanding of the futility of life without God.  He tried everything - but realized at the end that there was no end of 'books' (and women)- but only one way to salvation.  His father, David, before him gave him a huge inheritance (a kingdom).  His way of alerting those to follow would be not to get sucked into thinking that money buys you anything important.

[retrouvailles]

To what reason would Thal have to be in your brain during your childhood, assuming (as we should, considering to whom you speak directly) that indeed we refer to our Thalbergian colleague, or perhaps the lack of specification as to whose brain you allude is contra-indicative to such assertions?  But more importantly, should the authorities be alerted?


Best,

John

Uh, Alistair?

[thalbergmad]

Is a thorough knowledge of science a requirement for a musician. 

For a musician, no.

For a Fundamentalist, yes

[pianistimo]

I have never claimed to be a fundamentalist.  I don't go door to door and am simply on my thread to 'what is my meaning - or purpose - in life.'  I didn't give myself meaning.  God did.

[thalbergmad]

I don't go door to door .

Just thread to thread

[jlh]

To what reason would Thal have to be in your brain during your childhood, assuming (as we should, considering to whom you speak directly) that indeed we refer to our Thalbergian colleague, or perhaps the lack of specification as to whose brain you allude is contra-indicative to such assertions?  But more importantly, should the authorities be alerted?


Best,

John

I was in the process of commenting on this very thing and I saw you beat me to it.  Good job... 

 

[m]

Discuss.  The term, the person, the ideologies, the religion...

In three words:

brainwashed religious fanatic.

It is scary.

[general disarray]

Marik, sir, I've lurked on this site for months and found your posts on performance and repertoire to be incredibly helpful.

I hope the fanatacism of the so-called "faithful" doesn't keep you away.

Your participation is much appreciated.

[ahinton]

To what reason would Thal have to be in your brain during your childhood, assuming (as we should, considering to whom you speak directly) that indeed we refer to our Thalbergian colleague, or perhaps the lack of specification as to whose brain you allude is contra-indicative to such assertions?  But more importantly, should the authorities be alerted?


Best,

John

"To what reason..."? "For what reason...", surely? (or maybe the former is OK in Amercian English)...

One may suppose that the assumption to which you allude draws attention to the fact that this forum's membership includes one "Thalbergmad" and one "Thalberg".

One might have assumed that you'd also draw attention to the notion of being inside pianistimo's brain at any time being a bizarre and unwelcome one, unless one was a washing machine - but you didn't.

"Contra-indicative"? "Contra Naturam, I'd say!

Define "authorities".

And if that's really the "best" you can do...

Best,

Alistair

[ilikepie]

You don't have to go that far back to prove God's existence.  In fact, I daresay that dating these creatures could be misplaced due to the belief that the geological layers that some of them are under in one place do not match another place on the very same earth.  In fact, in the Carolinas - many supposed geological columned animals died at the very same time and are buried in the same layer.  Nobody really cares - or wishes to explain how this can be true - but, the fact that it's there makes people realize that tapirs DID exist in the USA and their feet look a bit like dinosaurs.

I believe dinosaurs and mastadons, many huge bulky creatures lived and walked on the earth (as tree trimmers of sorts when early man had not spread across the earth) - but do they look like all the dinosaurs in books.  Some might not - because we are only going by bones and possible features.  Some could be the bones of hippos.  Some may be actual lochness type looking creatures that did live - with man - before the flood.  What the bible calls leviathin (sea dragons) or dragons.  In China, the concept seemed real enough that something had to have existed for it to be such an important part of their culture.  I don't doubt the existence of very large creatures - Wooly mammoths, sabre tooth tigers, etc - but I do doubt they lived millions of years apart from mankind.  THe reason?  Because the bones some of these creatures (i believe sabre tooth tigers) have been found in caves in France alongside cave drawings made by early man.

The amount of dirt and debre left by a worldwide cataclysmic flood would not be layers that were laid down millions of years at a time - but suddenly - in huge quantities.  And, some areas - the bones would be scattered to unusual places.  It is a well known fact that some of the Egyptian obelisks and very very heavy stone blocks, etc - were lifted from site and planted in the oceans off of Greece.  Recently (within the last couple years) they found some and brought them back to Egypt.  It was first thought that possibly the Egyptians had allowed them to be built as lighthouses as far as greece - but the inscriptions on the obelisks did not indicate this.  So how did they get that far - weighing TONS.

And, how does one explain the findings of Ballard (the same guy who discovered the Titanic) in the dead sea.  Human dwellings that were probably some of the earliest ever discovered extremely deep into the earth.  His findings were immediately hushed.  Humans were not supposed to have lived at this geological level.  Let alone - be able to build homes.  Yet, there they were - perfectly preserved because of the ph of this particular sea.

PS who are my chums?  I don't really see the point of the saying 'you and your chums.'  I seem to be perfectly fine to explain myself without chums telling me what to say or influencing them.  In fact, I would daresay that I am hugely outnumbered.  What does that say about tolerance?  I suppose I might be what one calls a 'literalist.'  Many Christians are not - but I don't judge them because I think that the training that we get in college is not particularly favoring the idea that the bible could be anything but stories.  But is it?  I don't think it is.  I take it very literally.  but, what we believe and what we do are two things that one can take together or apart.  I hope that I am considered worthy of Christ - and hope that everyone else that hopes is too.  I hope that someday there will be true world peace - and that perfection will be in love and not facts alone.  Although, the facts always come out in the end.  Truth is and always will be truth.

look closer under the phrase "Now where have you heard this before?"

[ada]

pianistimo has been sent to test us.....

[ahinton]

pianistimo has been sent to test us.....

What? ALL of us? Separately as individuals or as a forum? And test us for what? Does the testing involve needles, syringes and the potential risk that the path results might get lost or given to someone else's doctor? And is the location of those to be tested relevant? - i.e. would one get exemption if one is in Australia, for example? (if so, I'm headed out on the next flight to Sydney!)...

Best,

Alistair

[general disarray]

pianistimo has been sent to test us.....

Absolutely and now her city of Philadelphia has been sent to test HER. 

Check out this link about Philly kicking out the Boy Scouts for banning homosexuals:

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/us/06scouts.html?th&emc=th

[Floristan]

Wise decision, Philly!

pianistimo reminds me of someone I know who is very critical of his fellow man, but he prefaces every criticism by saying, "I'm not criticizing; I'm just making observations."  And so she says she hasn't said anything bad about gays; she just reports what the bible says, a book in which she claims to believe as the inspired word of god.  If you "believe" in the bible and the bible says whatever, then you necessarily believe in whatever.  It's a cowardly evasion.

The bible was written by humans, not god or gods, and is full of human superstition, human fear, and a very human desire to control others through promulgation of rules and laws, many of which are simply absurd.  It was also written a very long time ago and has a historical context.  While the laws it talks about may have made some kind of mad sense in terms of the ancient tribal society that created them, much of it makes no sense in today's world.

pianistimo, like all of us, has a right to her beliefs, but that doesn't mean I and others can't think them absurd and ridiculous and sometimes dangerous.  She and her kind would have us all back in the Dark Ages, if they had their way.  The evolution vs. creation argument is particularly scary.  There is massive evidence in support of the theory of evolution.  There is not one scintilla of evidence in support of creationism.  It's a willful and appalling ignorance. 

[thalbergmad]

Wise decision, Philly!

The bible was written by humans, not god or gods, and is full of human superstition, human fear, and a very human desire to control others through promulgation of rules and laws, many of which are simply absurd.  It was also written a very long time ago and has a historical context.  While the laws it talks about may have made some kind of mad sense in terms of the ancient tribal society that created them, much of it makes no sense in today's world.

I wish i had written that.

It sums up what i have been trying to tell her for months.

Thal

[valor]

Why does everyone treat Pianistimo like this?  Just let her believe in what she wants to believe. You know what? I dont think Pianistimo is the one with the problem here, its all of you who are always complaining about how shes stuborn and too over religious. Everyone complains how theres always a religious thread on Pianostreet and how its her fault but i haven't seen her once create a religious thread, its all of you who are and puting the blame on her, and even if she had created a thread it was probably a long time ago.

But, this thread might have been a joke so I'll apologise if anything i wrote above is wrong.

[chopininov]

How can one follow a religion whose universal mascot is a dead jew on a stick?

[chopininov]

Why does everyone treat Pianistimo like this?  Just let her believe in what she wants to believe. You know what? I dont think Pianistimo is the one with the problem here, its all of you who are always complaining about how shes stuborn and too over religious. Everyone complains how theres always a religious thread on Pianostreet and how its her fault but i haven't seen her once create a religious thread, its all of you who are and puting the blame on her, and even if she had created a thread it was probably a long time ago.

But, this thread might have been a joke so I'll apologise if anything i wrote above is wrong.

They treat her like this because she's like the US government: pushing her beliefs on everyone no matter how irrational, insignificant, or invalid.

[valor]

I haven't seen her try to force believes on anyone.. and if she does then my message goes for her too: let people believe in what they want to believe in.

And Chopin, that isn't the point, if she wants to believe in jesus or whatever let her.

[chopininov]

It's quite obvious that no one is stopping her beliefs, but why does she have to spew them in essentially every post? It's one thing to believe in something, and another to obsess. The latter in which she frequently partakes. For example, when she flips some fact or statement to coincide with her beliefs (i.e. the recurring dinosaur theme throughout this thread and others).
She reminds me of those kind of people who compare every event in their life to some second-rate movie.

[general disarray]

They treat her like this because she's like the US government: pushing her beliefs on everyone no matter how irrational, insignificant, or invalid.

Well, strictly speaking, chopin, it's not the US government that pushes Christian beliefs on us -- it's the American Right-Wing Christians who push their dogma and demands on American politicians.  They have enormous political clout in the US. 

Don't love Jesus?  Then you don't get their vote.

Don't believe me?  Then read this editorial on this very issue in today's NYTimes:

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/07/opinion/07fri1.html?th&emc=th

This is what at least 50% of Americans have to put up with these days.

It's not Christianity, per se, that is opposed.  It's the politicization of religion that offends many, many Americans.  Separation of Church and State -- supposedly a Constitutional guarantee -- no longer exists.  And you can thank the Christians for this.

Pianistimo is a classic example of this type of Christian American.

[thalbergmad]

i haven't seen her once create a religious thread

She does not create them, but she is in the habit of taking over unrelated threads.

If she could confine her beliefs to a couple of threads, i would not get as flustered as i do. She even once managed to bring Jesus into the performance board.

Thal

[ahinton]

She does not create them, but she is in the habit of taking over unrelated threads.

If she could confine her beliefs to a couple of threads, i would not get as flustered as i do. She even once managed to bring Jesus into the performance board.

Thal

I must have missed that one; did she say what instrument He played? Shame there's no discography but, oddly enough, that's just one of thousands of things that we take for granted but that happened not to have been a part of anyone's life in Biblical times.

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

did she say what instrument He played?

Jews harp i think.

Thal