DoubleD @[email protected]

I continued to listen to the Wednesday show after making this comment, and TFM bought up this point, which is good.

I do not like it when people are disingenuous, and in my opinion, Halsey is too well-read to be ignorant of many of these details surrounding Syria and Iran.

Evidence for his arguments, like the BBC article about the UN inspector saying it was "worrying" about Iran developing nuclear weapons, is tenuous at best, and points such as the aforementioned surrender are ignored.

Something that Halsey continues to say on the Wednesday show which irritates me is that Assad was defeated and Russia didn't do anything even though they were allies. If he has not directly stated it, he has implied it, and he uses this as justification for his thought that Russia doesn't care about Iran.

Assad stepped down and the Syrian military did the same because his generals were for all intents and purposes bought off. Russia can't defend someone who surrenders of their own accord.

I hope that everyone doesn't take the Trump-Putin call as Russia cucking because from the summary I read, it sounds like they are merely opening the door to talks. No formal agreements have been made yet. Russia will stilll attack Ukranians, but they have agreed to pause strikes on energy infrastructure.

Nothing is confirmed yet; so, I don't want to hear any crowing about how Russia is champing at the bit to rejoin the West.

@Tfmonkey I hope you will cover this on the Wednesday show.
Halsey may have to admit that Houthi weapons work, but he will likely say it was shot down like the jpost asserts.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/houthis-ballistic-attack-on-israels-nevatim-air-base-after-us-strikes-on-yemen/videoshow/119177846.cms

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-846599

I was considering the Orthodox Christian fathers today while doing some research into mystical practice. When reading about them and looking at icons of them, all of them have beards, young and old. Stylistic restrictions on iconography considered, recognize the type of the theologian and the mystic: a male who is undoubtedly male who writes about his experience with the Divine. There are under 100 female saints, but they are not the drivers of spiritual standards in Orthodoxy...

Here is a new word for your enjoyment: thotistic - adj. - having the qualities or proclivities of a thot; the condition of being a thot. "Please excuse my sister, she's thotistic, which is why she's wearing a niqab.

Addendum: Consider using burkas and niqabs as a punishment or shaming tool for females. I think it is much better than as a blanket (pun intended) condition for females in public.

Personally, I think the niqab is too much covering as a garment in many cases. A shayla is much more flattering and still maintains a degree of modesty.

Recently, I have taken to wearing nicer clothing because I like the way they look on me. It feels good to be able to dress the way you like.

I recently encountered a nonfiction audio book being read by a female, and I disliked listening to her read it.
This spurred my thinking to delve farther until I realized I prefer the male voice both for song and nonfiction works. If a female is playing a part in fiction, that is acceptable and often desirable, though not always.
I can guess as to the cause of this preference just as I can guess at my preferences in foods; however, males often have better diction, which is important to me.

@magicalthinking @SamHarris @Mike_Microwave
@Justicar @Stahesh @Zeb Thanks for your input everyone.

So far in my considerations, there is no tangible benefit to marrying a widow with a child over a single mother with a child since her female nature will treat both situations the same: a new provider with different genes than her offspring.

The society's strictures on property rights in the family would largely dictate how much control you'd have to raise the step child as well.

A question: Assuming the situation once again becomes favorable to males for marriage, would you ever consider marrying a widow who already had a child for the purpose of having additional children and raising the child, or if you can't have children for the purpose of raising her son as your own?
I have no interest in single mothers, but widows and their children are a case worth considering, even if to reject; so, I pose this question to you as well.

@Tfmonkey @VooDooMedic I know that "the known world" is a common expression referring to the West, but Chinese culture has had numerous empires that spanned thousands of years.

We need to settle on one definition of "known world" that doesn't keep changing. I am aware this sounds pedantic; just think about China's history.

I had a wonderful evening recently with people from the Orthodox Christian community in my area. All under 40 and all couples except for those who are still un-integrated like myself. Not many kids yet though a few are on the way, and they are all for building a community.

Obviously, this was an inconsequential conversation, but I mention it here as the point is not lost on people entirely. The cause is plain to see. The solution is what is really uncomfortable.

I had an interesting conversation with someone I know who works at a doctor's office. She is an older lady and conservative in the 1960's way. We were speaking about having a family, and I lamented that so few young males are. She said she saw it too and asked what could be done.
I said plainly, "It's the laws." She looked at me confused. I proceeded with the business partner analogy, and I could see that she comprehended my point. She even said that made sense why men wouldn't take that deal.

On days like this between making my life better today than it was yesterday, I stand at the window, sip a beverage, and look out on the mountains.

"All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well..."