@Subject6051

My family put us to the church as kids as little as needed to prove that they exposed us to it. I thank them for that minimal exposure because I’ve always felt agnostic (of course, that was verbalized as atheism as a kid). My mom was raised German christian, my dad was raised Quaker.

I think that the most meaningful lessons I learned about religion were from my father (who never once mentioned god, Jesus or the church).

My father’s religion was one of acceptance of all others, refusal of indoctrination to any structured religion and an absolute knowledge that men (and women) make their faith and their covenant to each other, not to a church. Thanks, dad!

@parrot@kbin.social

@SirNuke

My actual job is to inspect homes. It is an industry joke that Joe-diy-guy grabs a can of great-stuff expando foam and “fixes” it…leaving a jacked up mess that rats just chew through to get in again. There are better ways of securing entry points.

@SirNuke Another option if you don’t want to source excluder mesh is to get some “backer rod” - a painter’s product sold as “caulk saver” at the home improvement palace. You use it to fill large gaps which you then seal over with caulk or silicone.

@SirNuke The other reason to not use steel wool is that it can be a fire hazard. A low voltage shorted across steel wool will result in fire (I carry a 9-volt and steel wool in my camping kit as emergency fire-starter).

@SirNuke All of the comments saying spray foam are technically correct - that is the easiest way but it will look like orange crap. Some people mentioned steel wool - avoid that because it rusts and will end up looking like orange crap. Find some “excluder mesh”, which an inexpensive product sold to the pest control industry - it is a nylon mesh with reinforcing fibers…think Brillo pad stiffness. Stuff the gap to fill it then use silicone sealant to finish it off.

@zinklog

Listen

There is only one way to make people talk more than they care to. Listen. Listen with hungry earnest attention to every word. In the intensity of your attention, make little nods of agreement, little sounds of approval. You can’t fake it. You have to really listen. In a posture of gratitude. And it is such a rare and startling experience for them, such a boon to ego, such a gratification of self, to find a genuine listener, that they want to prolong the experience. And the only way to do that is to keep talking. A good listener is far more rare than an adequate lover.

-Travis McGee
from Nightmare in Pink
by John D. McDonald

How can I follow Christian on this kbin platform? I’ve only just joined and don’t know my way around but I feel confident that if he lands on a platform he likes I will like it too so I want to follow after tomorrow.