This according to Conor Friedersdorf (https://www.theatlantic.com/author/conor-friedersdorf/) at 'Atlantic Magazine '


Intrastate travel within Australia is also severely restricted . And the government of South Australia, one of the country’s six states, developed and is now testing an app as Orwellian as any in the free world to enforce its quarantine rules. Returning travelers quarantining at home will be forced to download an app that combines facial recognition and geolocation. The state will text them at random times, and thereafter they will have 15 minutes to take a picture of their face in the location where they are supposed to be. Should they fail, the local police department will be sent to follow up in person. “We don’t tell them how often or when, on a random basis they have to reply within 15 minutes,”Premier Steven Marshall explained “I think every South Australian should feel pretty proud that we are the national pilot for the home-based quarantine app.”


Is Pandemic Australia Still a Liberal Democracy? - The Atlantic (https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/09/pandemic-australia-still-liberal-democracy/619940/)

Good grief. That is just beyond imagining. I wonder why the Aussies put up with that?

I hope Clete responds to this. Kind of concerned about his sudden disappearance.

I sent him a message . No response

I have been in contact with Tal .He whips my butt in fantasy baseball and football. Not sure if he will be back.

I have also had contact with Excon. He is now a beach comber in Mexico and enjoying life .

Never knew Excon. I know that Clete had, as I recall, some sort of heart surgery several months back, so that concerns me. Hope he's OK.

Excon was one of the toughest debaters on this board . Libertarian through and through but on the progressive side of the libertarian's argument . He is a worthy opponent in a civil debate .

WG and I had the privilege of his association since the inception of this latest version of Askme .

His life experience is one a book should be written about . The name came from the fact that he spent time in lock up in both US and Mexican jails . He is also a Vietnam vet . He lived in Seattle when he was a contributor running a business . I wish him all the happiness in the world . He has been a long time virtual friend,

Tal may have just moved on from this forum

It's a shame about Tal. I always enjoyed our discussions until he, for whatever reason, became so vulgar that I just blocked him. Rather strangely, I always felt I had more in common with him than anyone else here.

It's a strange thing with liberal dems. They don't seem to like having their beliefs questioned. When you get into specifics, it seems to irritate them. If, for instance, they insist that the rich need to "pay their fair share" on income taxes, and it is pointed out that they already pay nearly all of income taxes, then you get accused of just "throwing around statistics". It's akin to saying, "Don't confuse me with the truth."

Excon was one of the toughest debaters on this board . Libertarian through and through but on the progressive side of the libertarian's argument . He is a worthy opponent in a civil debate .

WG and I had the privilege of his association since the inception of this latest version of Askme .

His life experience is one a book should be written about .
And I have in a Word file a brief biography of excon as an adult. Plus a copy of his short story, The Carcel. He's quite a writer! Hope he's still writing.

Oh, and don't forget IQGuru! And Chou.

yes and NeedKarma and J 9 and speechlesstx

So what happened to all of those people?

I first joined this site for the plumbing and water well section. Back then, there would be several new questions every week. Now, there have been two questions TOTAL for the whole year. Weird.

The only other one I know is speechlesstx . He passed away . You would've liked him .

So what happened to all of those people?
IQGuru and Chou are now posting on the Paradise version of AMHD.

Sometimes I feel like we're the last survivors living in a ghost town remnant of a once prosperous city. Not many left, but we doggedly hold on!


Paradise version of AMHDNever heard of it.

Paradise version of AMHD

Never heard of it.
Read Christina Rasmussen's book, Where Did You Go: A Life-Changing Journey to Connect with Those We've Lost.

Read Christina Rasmussen's book, Where Did You Go: A Life-Changing Journey to Connect with Those We've Lost.Sounds a little too weird for my tastes. Sorry.

I'm now assuming the two you mentioned earlier are deceased?

Sounds a little too weird for my tastes. Sorry.
Weird? It's amazing! I got to chapter 3 and was inspired! Now Jeremy and I connect frequently, even this morning. Maybe I'll start a new thread.

I'm now assuming the two you mentioned earlier are deceased?
You didn't understand the Paradise reference? This site might be more your speed:
https://www.1517.org/articles/i-cant-wait-to-get-out-of-heaven

What happens when believers in Christ die? They go to a place called Paradise (Luke 23:43 (https://www.esv.org/Luke%2023%3A43/)). They are with Christ (Phil. 1:23 (https://www.esv.org/Phil.%201%3A23/)). Or, if you prefer, they go to heaven.Can I assume, based on his reference to the Luke 23 passage, that he also believes that unbelievers go to hell?

Believe it or not, I actually agree with this quote below, though the only real Biblical evidence for it rests in the book of Revelation which also, again, has frequent mentions of hell. Still, the point is not where we'll be, or what people will be there, but rather that we will be in the presence of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and that will be the most amazing of all experiences.


"Where does our Father want us to be? He wants us on earth, specifically, the renewed earth (Isaiah 65:17 (https://www.esv.org/Isaiah%2065%3A17/); Rev. 21:1 (https://www.esv.org/Rev.%2021%3A1/)), which is also called “the holy city, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God” (21:2). The Creator did not make earth as our terrestrial hotel room, where we stay until we go live in a palace in the clouds. The exact opposite!"


You didn't understand the Paradise reference? This site might be more your speed:And all this time I thought you opposed the use of mean, condescending statements. Oh well. Go figure!

Revelation should never have made the cut into the canon. It was written at a specific time and to a specific audience who lived during Nero's reign. OR, maybe the anti-vaxxers are right in their belief that a covid vaccination will inject tiny microchips into a person's body and oh my!

Can I assume, based on his reference to the Luke 23 passage, that he also believes that unbelievers go to hell?
https://www.1517.org/articles/the-suffering-away-of-hell

And all this time I thought you opposed the use of mean, condescending statements. Oh well. Go figure!
I wasn't mean or condescending. I was desperately trying to find a way to encourage you to read and even accept.

Revelation should never have made the cut into the canon. It was written at a specific time and to a specific audience who lived during Nero's reign. OR, maybe the anti-vaxxers are right in their belief that a covid vaccination will inject tiny microchips into a person's body and oh my!Nothing more than a personal opinion. Still, if you really believe that's true, then why did you point me to an article which was dependent on a passage from a book which you claim should not be in the Bible? Did you even read the article???


Can I assume, based on his reference to the Luke 23 passage, that he also believes that unbelievers go to hell?No, I will not go to another pointless article. If you have a point to make, then make it yourself.


I was desperately trying to find a way to encourage you to read and even accept.
So after denying you were being condescending, you become condescending yet again.

Your comment about Revelation being written during the reign of Nero is simply not true. Nero died in 68 A.D. Revelation was written towards the end of the first century.

Nothing more than a personal opinion. Still, if you really believe that's true, then why did you point me to an article which was dependent on a passage from a book which you claim should not be in the Bible? Did you even read the article???
I've read it very carefully at least three times. Why are you being condescending?

No, I will not go to another pointless article. If you have a point to make, then make it yourself.
Heaven is only a stop on the way to Paradise, or, as Chad wrote, "Heaven is a very nice spot to 'spend the night,' but it’s anything but our new home."

So after denying you were being condescending, you become condescending yet again.
What's your definition of condescending?

Fair enough, but then why did you direct me to an article based upon a passage in Revelation when you don't even think Revelation should be in the NT? Your own theory just completely blows up the article.

Definition of condescending? This is a good one. "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority."

Your comment about Revelation being written during the reign of Nero is simply not true. Nero died in 68 A.D. Revelation was written towards the end of the first century, nearly thirty years later.

Fair enough, but then why did you direct me to an article based upon a passage in Revelation when you don't even think Revelation should be in the NT? Your own theory just completely blows up the article.
You believe in a physical, fiery hell. The article explains exactly what hell is.

Definition of condescending? This is a good one. "having or showing a feeling of patronizing superiority."
If you stop, I'll stop.

Your comment about Revelation being written during the reign of Nero is simply not true. Nero died in 68 A.D. Revelation was written towards the end of the first century, nearly thirty years later.
Please research this.

You believe in a physical, fiery hell. The article explains exactly what hell is.It's not what I believe. It's what Jesus declared.


Please research this.Too late. I already have. Your statement is just flat wrong. It is widely believed that Revelation was the last of the NT books written and was produced in the final decade of the first century.


If you stop, I'll stop.Deal. At least you are now admitting that you were, indeed, condescending.

It's not what I believe. It's what Jesus declared.
Please read that blog post for a better understanding of what hell is.

Too late. I already have. Your statement is just flat wrong. It is widely believed that Revelation was the last of the NT books written and was produced in the final decade of the first century.
Please research this.

Deal. At least you are now admitting that you were, indeed, condescending.
Nope, am just trying to placate you. :-)

Nope, am just trying to placate you. :-)So you are going to stop that which you were not doing? Sorry, but as we say down here, "That dog just won't hunt."


Please research this.Take your own advice. I've been doing that for the past twenty years. You're just wrong and you don't want to admit it.


Please read that blog post for a better understanding of what hell is.
Pretty sure they don't have a better explanation than Jesus did. I read one article. If that one's a loser like your first one was since, according to you, it was based on a book that's not supposed to be in the Bible, then I'm done.

In John 3:16 it says that whoever believes in Jesus, "would not perish". What do you think "perish" means in that passage? Honest question.

What do you say we move this discussion over to the "God of Love" thread and let Tom have his topic back. Deal?

What do you say we move this discussion over to the "God of Love" thread and let Tom have his topic back. Deal?
Tom and you both started the break, so sure. But isn't that the wonder and beauty and excitement of this site? -- seeing what detours a thread takes???

whatever . Australia is doing Orwellian responses to "crisis" . We did the same thing 20 years ago . We now have a surveillance deep state that has the capacity of taking down a President they don't like and monitors us extensively also . Iphones already have facial recognition technology they use for ID "protection" to unlock the phone . The government can already tap into your iPhone camera and microphone at will, with software that makes doing so as easy as a Google search. They allegedly need a court order to do so, Well the Russia hoax demonstrated how easy that is to obtain. All it takes is the weakest pretext of probable cause .

As for the difference between paradise and heaven ? I don't dwell on it . My works is my passport . After that God's will be done .

Big government is still a huge problem. Your post illustrates why. Many people have a desire to impose their will on others, and using the power of government to do so just comes naturally to them. Freedom is never the natural outworking of man. It is unnatural and so must be treasured and defended, much like a garden.



My works is my passport . After that God's will be done .Might want to read Romans on that one.

yeah ,yeah I simplified it . I don't do complex religion . Faith is a key part .A scumbag was forgiven by Jesus on the cross .

We are all scumbags relative to God.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says when the state opens up, only the vaccinated will be allowed to interact with each other.
WATCH LIVE: Gladys Berejiklian announces latest COVID-19 cases in New South Wales | Sky News Australia (https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/coronavirus/watch-live-gladys-berejiklian-announces-latest-covid19-cases-in-new-south-wales/news-story/13a77d5077ba9d04fa0e545affbb92ce)

It's really sad to see what is happening to Australia. When the state becomes king, then freedoms are casually cast aside.

There are anti-lockdown riots all over Europe . The Dutch Police fired on rioters in Rotterdam .There were also violent protests in Brussels . In Austria they are locking down anyone who is not vaxed .

meanwhile in Australia ;The army is now transferring positive Covid cases and contacts in the Northern Territories to ‘Quarantine Camps’ by army truck.

The whole deal in Aussie land is somewhat shocking to me. I thought they had a higher regard for liberty.