Posts by Jesus Christ

18

Story: Sound Dept. (at Assembly)

by Jim_TX in

when i was a jw - many moons ago, i hung around the 'sound department' at assemblies.. they finally put me to work - and let me do things like string wire for speakers, install speakers, etc.. i eventually learned how to adjust the amplifiers for proper volume, too.. good experience and training, that i don't use to this day.. anyway - i also was allowed to adjust the microphones for the 'speaker' who would be giving the next talk.. this usually involved following the feller out to the podium, and raising, or lowering the microphone to the proper height fer picking up the words from the fellers' mouth.. some required very little adjustment, whilst others required major raising - or lowering.. this one time, i recall going out there, and they had used a new microphone stand - one that had a ring, or collar arrangement that you just squeezed, or rotated and lifted, to move the microphone up or down, as opposed to the older type that required one to unscrew a locking collar, and then raise or lower the microphone.. i had not tested this previously - and only seen others work it, but it looked easy enough.. so, i follow this 'big-wig' out there, stand there, grab the upper section of the microphone stand with one hand, and then with the other i am attempting to <grunt> <grunt> get it... to ... release.. it wouldn't budge!!!

i was there, for what seemed like an eternity, trying to work this thing, then finally reached up and adjusted the horizontal arm - in a vain attempt to adjust the mic (it also refused to cooperate, and i think i only adjusted the microphone a total of 1/8").. the 'big-wig' speaker musta noticed my total and complete embarrassment (i usually turned beet-red in the face), and nodded that it was adjusted properly - so he could git on with his part.. i skeedadled off that stage - and made a mental note to figure out how to adjust that new type of microphone stand - later..

sheesh!!!

Jesus Christ

My biggest memory of working the sound system was when I wasn't baptized and in high school. I've always been into that kind of stuff and have actually worked sound for various concerts since then so I actually did enjoy doing the work and was happy to do whatever I could.

I wasn't baptized which was apparently a requirement to work sound at the two day assemblies but they still had me running wire and setting up remote speakers for the first time. For some reason they didn't set up the night before and they guy who stored the system didn't get to the auditorium until an hour or two before it was supposed to start. Once he got there and unloaded he realize that he left the diagram to set it all up at home. The program was supposed to start in about 45 minutes and he lived over an hour away. Anyone see a problem? All the brother that were working on the sound department were called together to see if anyone knew how it worked. Nobody did so they just started asking for suggestions. Long story short, a 15 year old kid (me) ended up going from just running speaker wire to setting up all the controls and power amps in about 20 minutes because nobody else could figure out how to do it. I still wonder what would have happened had I not been there that day.

A couple years later when I started getting into trouble for having girlfriends they told me I couldn't work the sound system at my congregation anymore. That went on for about a week or two when middle school kids tried to do it because the normal brothers were busy doing other stuff. After getting complaints about how horrible things were going I was told that I would be allowed to start doing the work again since I had been repentant. I just told them that I didn't really want to do it anymore. Hey, if they're going to punish me for being a normal kid and take away the one thing I enjoyed doing then they can stick with the crappy work that comes when you let other people do it.

16

"ER" said it all!

by metatron in

jw
friends

last night, on "er", an intern has a dispute with a doctor about a patient's chances.

for survival.

the doctor asserts that a cure might be 50 years away.. the intern says no, maybe 5!

Jesus Christ

Diabetics already have it so much better now than a few years back.

That's not really true. Some research towards islet cell transplasnts is going well but that's all the progress that's been made. Even if you do get a transplant you still have to take anti-rejection drugs for the rest of your life and must live within a certain, relatively small, radius of the treatment center. Trust me, I've been diabetic for 20 years this month. In that time I've gone from checking to see how much sugar was in my blood a couple hours ago by peeing on a stick and then taking insulin that was pulled out of dead cows' pancreases to needing a very small droplet of blood to see exactly how much sugar is in my blood at that exact moment and then taking at least three shots a day of insulin artificially made that's based on human DNA and can be much quicker acting. I've also heard of a new watch that can determine how much sugar is in your blood without actually needing any but its large, bulky, ugly, can cause blistering, and only works in about half of the people who try it. They're nice improvements and have certainly made my life better (especially the more accurate testing and improved insuling response time) they're just rehashing the same technique. For true improvements in diabetes care you need a whole new approach.

There are one of two ways that can actually be a dramatic shift in treatment that shifts from just treating the symptoms to actually treating the disease. One is an artificial pancreas. The pancreas automaticaly detects how much sugar is in someone's blood and immediately releases fast acting insulin to reduce the blood sugar level. The downside to this is that its a more invassive procedure that requires much more major surgery and after its in you still have to have more insulin occasionaly inserted into it.

The truly promising treatment is based on human cloning. A doctor takes some of your DNA, inserts it into an egg and fertilzes it. Then once it gets to the stage where stem cells are available they are nutured into islet cells (the cells that produce insulin) and are treated in some way so that they won't immediately be destroyed by the immune system which is what causes juvenile diabetes. After that a local anethetic is administered and a large needle is inserted into the pancreas and the islet cells are inserted into the body. No anti-rejection drugs because the body won't attempt to reject itself. True, the cells are treated so that they won't be killed but that's it. One time, one procedure, 90% success rate in clinical trials. When we have this treatment widely available diabetes as we know it will not be nearly the widespread epidemic that it is today.

You want to have moral objections to cloning or stem cell research? Fine. Just don't expect me to sit back, bleed myself and inject myself at least three times a day, have muscle, eye, heart, and kidney diseases as well as die at an earlier age so that you can have a clean conscience about something that can be created in a lab so I won't have those same problems. Yes, treatment of diabetes is improving and is much better than it was 20 years ago but instead of just treating the symtoms I'd much rather have a cure of the cause.

Edited by - Jesus Christ on 9 November 2002 2:37:16

29

Rapist Dies the Hard Way!!!!

by hawkaw in

jw
friends

what can i say ...... except i felt a little "strained" after reading it.. hawk.

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?id=15884&pubdate=2002-11-07.

woman (50) kills would-be rapist .

Jesus Christ

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Nice to see that a rapist finally got what he deserved. I just hope that woman doesn't get into any trouble for doing it.

4

Quickest witness ever

by Jesus Christ in

jw
friends

i was eating breakfast this morning when i heard a knock on the door.

i went to answer it and it was an old guy that i used to know.

he didn't recognize me (i have a goatee now) and he handed me the "do you want to know more about the bible?

Jesus Christ

1. called at breakfast time (assuming it was 7-9am)

Actually, it was around 11 or so. I slept late and then just didn't feel like getting out of bed for a little bit.

2. was alone

Yeah, I thought that was a little odd too. Then again, this guy always did kind of do his own thing and most people didn't really try to argue with him too much because they knew he'd go off on one of his weird tangents.

3. was very to the point with his presentation, instead of "good morning, I am calling on some people in your neighbourhood..." sort of intro.

I think that more than anything he was just trying to get a tract in my hands before I had the chance to tell him to bug off. I actually remember him doing stuff like that a long time ago so I know its not a new thing for him.

You don't think (as he knew/knows you) that he wanted a one-to-one with you? To talk about things "unofficially?

If I remember correctly, unless things have changed in the past few years this guy wasn't anybody important (i.e. MS or elder). In all honesty I think he probably would have actually started talking instead of trying to place one of his tracts with me. Not only that but had he realized who lived here he would have moved on like some of the other times I've seen JW's in the neighborhood do. Last time somebody actually tried to witness or anything at all to me it didn't exactly end up very well so I imagine I'm on their "only go to this house if you don't like life very much" list.

16

"ER" said it all!

by metatron in

jw
friends

last night, on "er", an intern has a dispute with a doctor about a patient's chances.

for survival.

the doctor asserts that a cure might be 50 years away.. the intern says no, maybe 5!

Jesus Christ

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against abortion but working in the lab is just fine to me. I once heard someone say that the lives of productive people that are very well loved that could be saved are worth more than something a scientist creates in the lab to save that person. I just hope the idiots who go on about how stem cell research is evil never have someone close to them die from something that could have been easily prevented with stem cell research.

4

Quickest witness ever

by Jesus Christ in

jw
friends

i was eating breakfast this morning when i heard a knock on the door.

i went to answer it and it was an old guy that i used to know.

he didn't recognize me (i have a goatee now) and he handed me the "do you want to know more about the bible?

Jesus Christ

I was eating breakfast this morning when I heard a knock on the door. I went to answer it and it was an old guy that I used to know. He didn't recognize me (I have a goatee now) and he handed me the "Do you want to know more about the bible?" tract and asked me if I would like to know more about the bible? I handed it back to him and said "No, I already know enough not to believe in it." and walked back inside. I did think it unusual that he was by himself and wasn't working with anybody else this morning. I saw where he was parked and there was no one else riding with him either.

I would have argued with him more or had some fun this guy was always fairly nice and VERY long winded. What would be a normal 2 sentance answer at the WT study would turn into something 5 minutes long. I still remember one time he said the prayer at a Sunday meeting and he went off some tangent thanking dad for grass and how wonderful chlorophyl (I think that's how you spell it) is and how lucky we were that dad made it. Having to listen to this old man go on and on about anything again is something I gave up on when I stopped going to meetings and wasn't about to have to endure it again.

25

sacred origins of profound things (Genius only)

by kelsey007 in

jw
friends

(sorry minimus) what is the meaning of life?.

define time?.

define space?.

Jesus Christ

Seriously though, who said life came with some big predefined meaning? Who said it had to? To me, such a notion is just a way religions try to hook people into believing their dogma. Its like asking someone what TV has a certain feature just so you can sell them one of those TV that they don't need. Life's meaning is whatever you want it to be. If you live life so you can play Nintendo that's just as valuable as living life to praise dad and I. In fact, Nintendo is more rewarding than a life of holiness because at least you get to see something for your work.

25

sacred origins of profound things (Genius only)

by kelsey007 in

jw
friends

(sorry minimus) what is the meaning of life?.

define time?.

define space?.

Jesus Christ

42

We'll know the question as soon as this stupid computer starts working right again. All this highway construction doesn't help anything though. Its just too bad we didn't get around to checking the notice saying it was going to be done.

83

For mensa members only

by kelsey007 in

jw
friends

what is your iq?

?

Jesus Christ

The only person I've ever known who even tried to get into Mensa (I think he may have but can't remember) had a really high IQ but at 30 years old he and his wife live in her parents basement. I don't know who said it but I've always loved the saying "Its not what you've got, its how you use it." You can have the highest IQ in the world and still be a complete failure and the person who is borderline on mental retardation can be totally succesful. I remember some of the smartest people I've known don't have real high IQ's but still know more and figure out more stuff than Mensa members just for the simple fact they know how to work hard and get whatever they need done. I've always just refferred to Mensa as mental masturbation and still think of it that way.

As for the most important thing you could have, its not dad and I. Its love. We're not going to do anything to make your world better. If everyone would realize that and do their part to work together and make the world a better place words can't describe how much better your lives would be.

16

"ER" said it all!

by metatron in

jw
friends

last night, on "er", an intern has a dispute with a doctor about a patient's chances.

for survival.

the doctor asserts that a cure might be 50 years away.. the intern says no, maybe 5!

Jesus Christ

What I've heard about that I'm following most closely is diabetes research. From what I understand, they take stem cells with your DNA, grow islet cells (the cells that produce insulin, if yours get destroyed then that's how you become diabetic), and then implant them. If they can get that done maybe I can stop taking at least three shots a day. I've been taking shots for twenty years and am tired of it.