DesertRat

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Posts by DesertRat

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  105

  What do you fancy right now?

  by KW13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  i really fancy a cup of tea and a cake, maybe cos i am british?

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  DesertRat

  Right about now I wouldn't mind a nice walk outside on this beautiful day (not even 90 degrees ), or sitting outside the nearby Starbuck's with an espresso , a scone, & those awesome mountain views

  DR
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  64

  THE BIG A: RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

  by Mary in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  where did all the witnesses over the decades get the idea that armageddon was right around the corner?

  the society certainly never put anything like that down in print:

  *** w56 10/15 p. 614 when will gods kingdom come?

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  DesertRat

  "Just around the corner." That phrase echoes in my mind like no other part of my sad JW legacy.

  One of my earliest memories is of overhearing my parents talk with other JW parents about how wonderful it was that we wouldn't have to attend junior high or high school in this system..

  HA!!!
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  52

  Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin - DEAD!!!

  by misspeaches in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html.

  crocodile hunter steve irwin dead.

  september 04, 2006 02:14pm.

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  DesertRat

  I think that I am still in shock. Especially after hearing that it was only the second or third time in the last hundred years that anyone in Oz has died as a result of a stingray encounter..

  The kid in me loved waking up to his show on Saturday mornings, & will miss watching him face those nasty critters with such skill & confidence.

  Peace, Croc Man

  DR
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  56

  Things peculiar to your country!

  by lowden in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, if i came to your country (usa, canada, france, holland, oz....wherever) what should someone experience or sample before they leave....to give them a true taste of your homeland.

  limit it to 5 per post....if you can.. i'll start with england/britain.. english ale, the lake district (england), to get a true taste of england visit the city of bath (or maybe stratford, though a bit too touristy), sample some black pudding (blood sausage .

  c'mon you patriots!!!!.

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  DesertRat

  Here in Arizona?

  Arthur was right about the Grand Canyon. I have been going there almost every year since I was six & it never gets old..

  Locally (Tucson) we have some of the oldest history on the North American continent. If you like history drawn from many different cultures--Anglo, Hispanic, & Native American--this is the place to come. The world-famous Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (of which I have been a member since 2000) is a must-see..

  And of course, all of the sunshine you could possibly ask for

  DR
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  JW dramas on tape

  by DesertRat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just curious as to how many others besides me might recall some of the old bible dramas released on cassette tape (longtime jwd posters would undoubtedly know).

  the earliest one i remember was 'jehovah's name declared in all the earth' (convention of 1981, i think), which dealt with the israelites' exodus from egypt and the beginning of their long sojourn in the wilderness.

  but it was the sequel 'beware of losing faith by drawing away from jehovah' that unfortunately really stands out in my memory (perhaps because of the nightmares it gave me..).

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  DesertRat

  Just curious as to how many others besides me might recall some of the old Bible dramas released on cassette tape (longtime JWD posters would undoubtedly know). The earliest one I remember was 'Jehovah's Name Declared In All The Earth' (convention of 1981, I think), which dealt with the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and the beginning of their long sojourn in the wilderness. But it was the sequel 'Beware Of Losing Faith By Drawing Away From Jehovah' that unfortunately really stands out in my memory (perhaps because of the nightmares it gave me..). The sound effects of those who sided with Korah in rebellion against Moses being swallowed to their deaths, or the 'scourge' which Jehovah sent afterwards to clean up any leftover 'murmurers,' made my hair stand up (especially at night ) more than any 'demonized' movie ever could..

  Clearly the intent was not to inspire feelings of warmth or closeness with a God of love, but rather the morbid fear of a malevolent and vindictive Father (a la WTS) who delights in pulverizing His children when they have been naughty..

  DR
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  68

  Do you rather an automatic or manual transmission?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  my first cars were all "manual" and they were small cars, cheap on gas.. then later on in life, i spoiled myself and bought automatic cars.. last week, i tried a manual yaris, and wasn't that comfortable with the manual transmission.

  maybe it's the fact that i didn't drive a manual car in 6 years.. just wondering if anyone here after driving automatic transmission cars since many years, if you would come back to manual..

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  DesertRat

  My first three cars (two VW's followed by a Honda Prelude) were all stick-shift. This 2-door Honda Accord V6 is the first automatic I have ever owned.

  I have learned that automatics might be more conducive to stop-and-go city driving, but sometimes I still miss fully being a part of the driving experience. As the surviving son of a hopeless car fiend, I was taught from an early age that some cars (especially the sportier ones) are simply MEANT to be shifted. I must have been around eight or nine years old when my father first taught me to drive stick-shift (in a Fiat Spider we were test-driving).

  I will probably keep my present car because I like it so much, but the next one (hopefully one of the classics I dream of) will have to be a manual. An automatic Porsche or Alfa-Romeo would almost be a sacrilege..

  DR
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  12

  Unitarian church

  by Ade in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi everyone, .

  we have a unitarian church nearby and i'm interested in maybe visiting, anyone got any firsthand experience of this particular group, their beliefs, understandings etc.

  ade

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  DesertRat

  There is a UU (Unitarian Universalist) church in my neighborhood that I have visited five or six times. Though I still have no desire to identify myself completely with any particular religion or belief system (I wonder why..), I have enjoyed those visits & meeting some of the people there.

  If you are looking for an eclectic approach to spirituality (i.e., a Sunday service consisting of anything from a Bible topic to readings from the Buddhist sutras to the visit of a Native American speaker, etc.), I would definitely check it out. You might also want to visit the Belief.net site & try out their 20-question survey (very interesting & informative). The UU church consistently comes out in my own 'Top Ten.'

  My very best wishes for your own spiritual search..

  DR
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  56

  What reaction would the JW's have if you walked into the Kingdom Hall?

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  for those who didn't attend meetings for a while, imagine that you just walk into your kingdom hall 10 minutes before a meeting.

  what would be their reaction?

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  DesertRat

  Some would avoid me like the plague, most would undoubtedly inundate me with that nauseating 'love-bombing' & pretenses of concern ('So nice to see you!...We've been thinking about you!'...blablabla).

  Once I started telling people off, they would probably ask me to leave!!!

  DR
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  Vacation time is here..

  by DesertRat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  next week brings a long-awaited (& long-overdue!!!

  ) vacation from work.

  which of course means no computer or jwd access for a short time, but i will be here in spirit... looking forward to some of the other things i enjoy most--sleeping late (!!!

• 

  DesertRat

  Next week brings a long-awaited (& long-overdue!!!) vacation from work. Which of course means no computer or JWD access for a short time, but I will be here in spirit..

  Looking forward to some of the other things I enjoy most--sleeping late (!!!), reading, drinking, meditating, perhaps taking a drive down to Mexico (tequila is cheaper there), visiting a new church, & definitely conquering another day hike to Juniper Basin & back (fifteen miles round trip). I will be thinking happy thoughts of JWD, & life in general, up in my special mountain hideaway..

  I would like to thank everybody again for continuing to help & guide me along on this difficult but rewarding journey..

  Peace & Love,

  DesertRat
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  65

  Your Drink (in pub, bar or club/restaurant/home)

  by KW13 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  i love carling 'extra cold' lager.. .

  i am going to the pub tonight - whoo!

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  DesertRat

  There was a great beer thread here not long ago. I prefer stouts & other dark varieties--Guinness, Murphy's Irish Stout, Beck's Dark, etc.

  Red wine is second choice--Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon. Really starting to like Chilean & Aussie offerings..

  Tequila (of course!!!). Good sipping varieties such as Cuervo Tradicional or Herradura (when I can afford it..)

  Mixed drinks??? Bloody Mary, with lots of Tabasco added. The spicier the better

  Cheers!!!

  DR