DevonMcBride

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Posts by DevonMcBride

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  24

  Do any white people live in New Orleans?

  by sonnyboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've never been there myself, but every single person being shown on the news is black.

  wading through the streets, stranded on rooftops, etc.

  i'm not sure if the media is just focusing on certain areas of new orleans or if it's a predominantly african american city.. the only footage i've seen other than this has been mardi gras and that consists mostly of tourists.

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  DevonMcBride

  Three famous White People from New Orleans.

  Ellen DeGeneres
  Richard Simmons
  Harry Connick JR.
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  9

  what will they do about school for the hurricane kids?

  by Mulan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone heard?

  the schools are probably destroyed, and the ones that are being bused to houston surely can't go into the texas school system.

  too many of them.. it just occurred to me that this is one more problem for the survivors.. i wonder if there will be the outpouring from the world, like there was for the tsunami.

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  DevonMcBride

  My guess would be that they will set up temporary schools after they stabilize and dry out the area.
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  10

  Philadelphia Museum has body parts, specimens, and bacteria on display

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://roadsideamerica.com/attract/paphimut.html

  mutter museum: siamese twins, secret tumors, and the soap lady .

  philadelphia, pennsylvania .

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  DevonMcBride

  From the Mutter Museum's own web site http://www.collphyphil.org/database_app/index.asp you can browse through the OB-GYN instrument database.
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  10

  Philadelphia Museum has body parts, specimens, and bacteria on display

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://roadsideamerica.com/attract/paphimut.html

  mutter museum: siamese twins, secret tumors, and the soap lady .

  philadelphia, pennsylvania .

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  DevonMcBride

  http://roadsideamerica.com/attract/PAPHImut.html

  Mütter Museum: Siamese Twins, Secret Tumors, and the Soap Lady

  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  The Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia promises -- and delivers -- an afternoon of esoteric and incredible sights. The sophisticated, high-ceilinged gallery that houses this collection of medical monstrosities helps us rationalize our interest in it. Designed for perusal by present and future members of a dignified overpaid profession, the museum is two floors of dark wood-trimmed display cases with a library-like stateliness. Shouts of "Will ya look at this MONSTER BABY?" are entirely inappropriate.

  The Mütter Museum collection of pathological specimens is well-known in medical circles, long ignored by the general public (though we may have contributed a bit to raising current awareness). Where else can you see a plaster cast of Chang and Eng -- AND their actual attached livers? Or the Chevalier Jackson Collection of objects swallowed and removed -- you don't say! Brains of murderers and epileptics -- I guess we could take a peek . . .

  President's Tumor and Assassin's Thorax

  Two celebrity body parts are must sees: the "Secret Tumor of Grover Cleveland," and the "Thorax of John Wilkes Booth." Grover's growth floats in a small jar, surreptitiously removed from his jaw while he was in office. Lincoln's Assassin's thorax was procured during the post mortem aboard a ship at the Washington Navy Yard. It ended up here.

  

  The Big Colon

  One highlight is a giant colon that looks like a sand worm from Frank Herbert's Dune -- arranged with one end rearing up from the tastefully underlit display. Doctors were applauded for being able to correctly diagnose this whopper a gross enlargement of the colon and not as a tumor -- without using X-rays. This digestive distention serves as an inspiration to new generations of doctors, and a warning to those of us who sometimes feel a little backed up.

  Objects Swallowed and Removed

  The Chevalier Jackson Collection of over 2,000 items is neatly organized in narrow lie-flat drawers. Dr. Jackson was an expert in this subspecialty, and many of the instruments he designed and used to extract foreign objects WITHOUT SURGERY are on display here. Some drawers are marked "bones"or "coins", others offer "Nuts, Seeds, Shells or Other Vegetal Substances." "Dental Material" is proof that sometimes people do swallow their dentures.

  The Soap Woman

  Perhaps the oddest attraction is the body of the "Soap Woman." This is the body of a woman who died of Yellow Fever sometime in the 19th century and was buried in soil with certain chemical properties . . . that turned her into soap! An accompanying display shows an x-ray cross-section and tells her story. A "Soap Man," buried alongside the Soap Woman, is occasionally displayed at the Smithsonian Institute.
  After every visit, our notebooks are brimming over. Here are some of the exhibits:

  • Skeletons of a giant and a midget
  • Broken bones
  • Pott's Disease Skeletons
  • Skull Collections, including the Muniz collection of trephinated (holes cut in them) Peruvian skulls
  • "Brain Of A Murderer" - John Wilson hanged in Norristown, PA
  • "Brains of epileptics"
  • Longitudinal slices of the head, showing brain
  • Brain of animals arranged from tiny frog to man, often with eyes attached
  • Large collection of baby deformities.
  • Hearing apparatti of mammals in butterfly collection-like cases.
  • Photo of Lyndon Johnson lifting his shirt to show off his gall bladder operation scar
  • Wax Renderings of Eye Disease Problems
  • Iron Lung in the polio exhibit

  (Mütter Museum: Philadelphia College of Physicians, 19 South 22nd Street, between Chestnut and Market Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm, Sun 12-4pm. $10 regular, student discounted rates available.)

  April 2005: The museum is adding a gallery by converting a storage room. The new gallery will be dedicated to Gretchen Worden, and will include her portrait, along with an assemblage of medical oddities drawn from the museum's collection of 20,000 items. The new gallery should be ready for public scrutiny in July.

  August 2004: Sad news -- Mütter Museum director Gretchen Worden, 56, passed away August 2 after a short illness. We fondly remember Gretchen as our expert medical oddity buddy on visits to the museum, a fan of our books (and we were a fan of hers!), and a great booster of unusual museum exhibits. During her 15+ year watch on the museum, attendance increased from several hundred to over 60,000 a year.

  November 2002: Mütter Museum book published. Gretchen Worden, museum director since 1988, has written and assembled a book of the best (and strangest) images culled from the museum's beloved annual calendars. Conjoined Twins, the Gangrene Hand, the Sliced Face -- lovingly captured by photographers and beautifully presented in hard cover. Buy the book through our Amazon Link! (it's ~$35.)

  March 1999: The classic displays are always up, and ancillary exhibits such as "lobotomy" and "conjoined twins" have proven so popular that they're semi-permanent. An elaborate infectious diseases display has been added -- featuring Philly's own Legionnaire's Disease-- that boasts a kitchen exhibit (infection central) with a freeze-dried cat. "Little disease vectors," comments curator Gretchen Worden of the feline. "Don't ever let one up on the counter."
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  6

  Are oil prices hurting the Watchtower?

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with all the talk about the society now printing paperback bibles, cutting the awake!

  issue from 2 to 1 per month, it raises the question:.

  are high oil prices affecting the watchtower?

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  DevonMcBride

  It certainly will. Consider the fact that shipping supplies to Bethel and Kingdom Halls such as paper, ink, food, office equipment, etc will increase due to the rise in oil prices. Another thing, non-JW's who donate money during field service will most likely cut back so they can use the money to fill their cars.
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  15

  Mobile Phones a threat to the Watchtower?

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2002/10/22/article_01.htm

  young people ask .

  .do i need a mobile phone?related topics:what's so wrong with telephone sex?you are connectedhow?

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  DevonMcBride

  http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/2002/10/22/article_01.htm

  Young People Ask . . .

  			Do I Need a Mobile Phone?
  	Related topics: What's So Wrong With Telephone Sex? You Are Connected — How?		"I feel very insecure and irritated if I don't have a mobile phone with me."—Akiko.* MOBILE phones are becoming ever more popular in many lands. They are convenient. Your friends and parents can contact you anytime, anywhere—and you them. Some models allow you to exchange short text messages, which "is the latest way for young people to feed their urge to communicate," says The Times of London. There are even mobile phones that can connect you to cyberspace, providing access to Web sites and E-mail. You may already have one, or you may be planning to get one. In either case, you might consider the saying: "There are two sides to every coin." A mobile phone may well have some benefits. However, you may want to think about the other side of the coin, for even if you choose to buy one, being fully aware of its potential drawbacks will help you use it wisely. "Calculate the Expense" Jesus stated the wise principle that one should "calculate the expense" before undertaking an important project. (Luke 14:28) Can that principle be applied to mobile phones? Certainly. Now you may be able to get the phone itself at very little cost, or it may even be free. However, as 17-year-old Henna discovered, "the bill can suddenly get very high." There can also be constant pressure to keep up with additional services and to buy more-expensive models. Thus, Hiroshi says: "I have a part-time job and save money to get a newer model every year." Many youths do the same.# Even if your parents agree to pay the bill for you, it is still important to understand the costs. A traveling Christian minister in Japan notes: "Some mothers are taking on extra part-time work just to pay for their children's mobile phone, which may not be necessary in the first place." You surely would not want to put such a burden on your parents! "A Time Killer" Many who start out using the phone moderately may find it taking up more of their time than they expected—and crowding out more important things. Mika used to spend a lot of time with her family around the dinner table. "Now," she says, "after we have our meal we go back to our rooms with our own [mobile phones]." "A third of young adults aged between 16 and 20 prefer text messaging over all other means of written communication," says The Guardian of London. Text messaging may cost you less money than voice conversation, but it costs you more time to key in text messages. Mieko admits: "If someone sends 'good night,' I answer 'good night.' Then, messages start flying back and forth for an hour. It is just silly talk." Many mobile-phone users might be quite surprised if they were to stop and add up all the time they spend using their phone in one month. A 19-year-old girl, Teija, admits: "For many people, a mobile phone is a time killer rather than a time saver." Even if your circumstances justify owning one, it is important to be time conscious while using it. A young Christian girl named Marja observes: "At Christian assemblies many young people keep sending trivial messages to others. It's very common!" Similar behavior has been observed among youths engaging in the Christian ministry. The Bible advises Christians to buy out time for spiritual activities. (Ephesians 5:16) How sad when such precious time is taken up by telephone conversation! Secret Communication Marie comments on another pitfall: "Since the calls come directly to the individual, not to the home, there is a danger of parents not being aware of whom their kids are talking to or even whether they are on the phone or not." Some youths thus use mobile phones to establish secret contact with those of the opposite sex. Some have dropped their guard, bypassing standards they would normally observe when communicating with others. How so? "Text messaging means that no one can monitor what [young people] are doing," says The Daily Telegraph of London. Not seeing or hearing the other party can affect you. "Some feel that a text message is a more neutral way to communicate," observes Timo. "In a message some may write things that they would consider too bold to say face-to-face." When Keiko, a 17-year-old Christian girl, started using a mobile phone, she let many of her friends know her number. Soon she started exchanging messages every day with a boy in her congregation. Keiko says: "At first we just talked about everyday things, but then we started sharing our troubles. We created our own little world by means of our mobile phones." Happily, she received help from her parents and the Christian elders before things got too serious. She now admits: "Even though before giving me a mobile phone, my parents had warned me so much about exchanging mail with the opposite sex, I mailed him every day. It wasn't the best way to use the phone."% The Bible admonishes us to "hold a good conscience." (1 Peter 3:16) Doing so means that when you use a mobile phone, you must make sure that, as Koichi says, "you have nothing to be ashamed of," even if someone else should see your messages or overhear you. Always remember that there are no secrets when it comes to our heavenly Father. The Bible explains: "There is not a creation that is not manifest to [God's] sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting." (Hebrews 4:13) Why, then, try to maintain a secret relationship? Some youths carry on secret relationships via the mobile phone Set Limits If you are considering getting a mobile phone, why not first evaluate your situation carefully to see if you really need one? Discuss the matter with your parents. Some feel as did young Jenna, who says: "A mobile phone is too big a responsibility for many young people." Even if you decide to own such a phone, it is important to keep it under control. How? Set reasonable limits. For example, limit the number of features you use or the amount of time and money you spend on the phone. Since most phone companies provide a detailed report of your usage, you might want to analyze the bill with your parents from time to time. Some find it convenient to use a prepaid type of mobile phone to limit usage. Also, give careful thought to when and how you respond to calls and messages. Make your own reasonable guidelines. Shinji explains: "I open my mailbox only once a day, and I usually reply to messages only when they are important. As a result, friends have stopped sending junk messages. If there is a really urgent problem, they will call me anyway." More important, be selective as to the people with whom you communicate. Be careful about giving out your phone number. Apply the same standards you always use regarding good association.—1 Corinthians 15:33. The Bible says: "For everything there is an appointed time, . . . a time to keep quiet and a time to speak." (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7) Clearly, there are times for mobile phones "to keep quiet" too. Our Christian meetings and ministry are the "appointed time" for worshiping God, not for using the phone. Restaurant and theater managers often request that their clients refrain from using mobile phones. We respectfully comply with such requests. Surely the Sovereign of the universe deserves no less respect! If they are not expecting a crucial call, many choose to turn off their phone, or they switch to a silent mode when engaging in essential activities. Some put their mobile phone out of reach. After all, cannot most messages be attended to later? If you decide to own a mobile phone, be determined to control it and not let it control you. Clearly, you need to stay alert and keep your priorities in order. The Bible encourages us: "Let your reasonableness become known to all men." (Philippians 4:5) If you decide to have a mobile phone, by all means resolve to show your reasonableness in the way you use it. * Some names have been changed. # For a discussion of after-school jobs, please see the article "Young People Ask—What Is Wrong With Making Money?" in the September 22, 1997, issue of Awake! % Regularly talking to or exchanging messages with a member of the opposite sex over the phone could be a form of dating. Please see the article "Young People Ask—What's Wrong With Talking to Each Other?" in the August 22, 1992, issue of Awake!
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  21

  ANOTHER MURDERED PREGNANT WOMAN......

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there's been yet another arrest of a man who's being charged with murdering his pregnant girlfriend in pennsylvania.........is it just me, or does there seem to be a sharp increase in the number of guys who are murdering their pregnant wives/girlfriends these days?

  i often think of scott peterson.....if the idiot didn't want kids that badly, why didn't he get a vesectomy?

  your thoughts?

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  DevonMcBride

  This was her second child and by a different man.

  And this man who murdered her was her EX-boyfriend. They weren't even a couple anymore.
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  21

  ANOTHER MURDERED PREGNANT WOMAN......

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there's been yet another arrest of a man who's being charged with murdering his pregnant girlfriend in pennsylvania.........is it just me, or does there seem to be a sharp increase in the number of guys who are murdering their pregnant wives/girlfriends these days?

  i often think of scott peterson.....if the idiot didn't want kids that badly, why didn't he get a vesectomy?

  your thoughts?

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  DevonMcBride

  I think it would be a good idea for scientists to come up with a kind of birth control for men in pill or injection form. That way, if they don't want to father unwanted children, they'll have alot more control over it and maybe it'd reduce the number of pregnant women getting knocked off.

  If the women aren't taking measures to prevent pregnancy, I doubt the men will.
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  21

  ANOTHER MURDERED PREGNANT WOMAN......

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there's been yet another arrest of a man who's being charged with murdering his pregnant girlfriend in pennsylvania.........is it just me, or does there seem to be a sharp increase in the number of guys who are murdering their pregnant wives/girlfriends these days?

  i often think of scott peterson.....if the idiot didn't want kids that badly, why didn't he get a vesectomy?

  your thoughts?

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  DevonMcBride

  I live in the Philadelphia area, where this murder took place, and sadly this is NOT uncommon around here. In this particularly case, the national media got hold of this story and publicized it. Most of theses cases rarely make it past the local news. Some of the most gruesome murders in Philly came out of spousal abuse.
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  33

  Serena returns money won in gambling

  by DevonMcBride in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does the watchtower allow gambling if the winnings are returned?

  http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=15686serena returns money won in gambling .

  new york: tennis star and tv actress serena williams returned her winnings in gambling recently as she is a jehovah's witness and it is against her faith to gamble.. .

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  DevonMcBride

  Does the Watchtower allow gambling if the winnings are returned?

  http://www.newkerala.com/news.php?action=fullnews&id=15686

  Serena returns money won in gambling

  New York: Tennis star and TV actress Serena Williams returned her winnings in gambling recently as she is a Jehovah's Witness and it is against her faith to gamble.
  
  According to the New York Post, Williams was gambling at the casino-themed Rogers Cup gala at the Toronto Hilton.
  
  Williams stayed true to her faith. As she was leaving she gave back all the chips she had won worth around $400 to a stranger at a table.