Posts by Juan Viejo2

In the USA each major city or counties have their own building codes. Each set of building codes may change over time as the City Manager or Mayor changes. So in the same city you may see older (pre-2000) KHs without windows and newer ones with windows.

Many years ago there most building codes required a fairly large numbers of windows to allow air (before adequate cooling and heating systems became affordable). Many of these windows were not large enough to allow anyone to climb in or out, but had some movable sections to allow fresh air in and odors out during cleaning.

The main reasons the Watchtower discourages windows is (1) extra cost, (2) cleaning requirements, (3) security, and (4) to reduce distractions for those trapped inside during meetings. It also improves sound distribution inside and reduces distracting sounds from outside the buildings.

I grew up in a Kingdom Hall that had large paned windows all the way down on one side and small (bathroom type) windows on the opposite side. I notice that a recent church that had bought the old building removed or plastered over the windows except for two small vertical panes on each side of the entry doors.

Realize that most "Christian" churches, both classic and more modern, use glass windows as decorative displays that only let a small amount of sunlight in at certain times of the day. But in some USA communities, local building codes require a certain number of windows that will allow for entry and egress for fire and police and other emergency personnel. But if they don't have windows then the doors must be made of wood or other material that will allow fire department drills or axes to easily cut through in case someone is trapped inside or emergency personnel must enter for other reasons.

The bottom line is local building codes prevail, but the Watchtower would have no windows except in their highrise office buildings (view!) if they could.

JV

68

If Your JW Parent Died Would YOU Go To The Kingdom Hall For The Talk?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i would like your thoughts, please..

Juan Viejo2

I went to the funerals of both of my parents and my father's second wife - all JWs till death. Two of the funerals were held in a mortuary chapel, and the last one (my father's) in the local Kingdom Hall. I was beyond pissed at every one of them. I travel 1800 miles for each one and my father and mother got about 45 seconds of recognition. It was nice to know that they had three children and were faithful JWs for over 40 years. I won't bore you with the details because I've described the events and my reactions before on this forum. When I tell others about those events I have to wash my mouth out with soap afterwards.

I've decided that if, and when, my sister, her husband, or my niece or her husband pass away (should they precede me) I simply will not go. I will not submit to that kind of torture and another wasted trip ever again. For what? To hear the same freakin' funeral talk that is nothing more than what you would say to a stranger while going door to door.

I think of all the wonderful JWs who lived good lives, provided for their families, never committed a crime, always paid their taxes, and did their best to serve God - and they get a funeral talk that you could read on the back of a WT handbill? Some of them served most of their lives and were faithful to the end (or else they wouldn't get a KH funeral).

Paul Grundy wrote an article several years ago for one of my websites, InsidetheWatchtower.com. His experience was very similar to mine. Paul allowed me to attach the outline of the JW funeral talk that was being used at the time. Now that the WT scripts nearly every word for every talk, this may have changed in recent years, but you will be able to see exactly what I describe. I suggest that you might want to make a copy and take it along to the next JW funeral you attend and see just how close the speaker sticks to the outline.

Link to article: http://insidethewatchtower.com/doctrine/attending-my-father%E2%80%99s-funeral/

Link to funeral talk outline: http://jehovah.net.au/books/Watchtower-Funeral-Discourse.pdf (be sure to read the very last paragraph on this outline!)

JV

18

where was this quote made?

by Truth and Justice in

jw
friends

my parents and i are discussing a quote that was made many years ago.

we know for a fact that it was made.

i have exhausted all of my resources to find it, and so i come here to this fine group to ask you about this quote.. the subject is about money.

Juan Viejo2

BBonds - December 5, 2014 BOE

"...ample evidence that Jehovah is speeding up the work...the recent adjustments to Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction and financing..."

"As loyal Kingdom subjects, we continue to show our support [giving donations] for Kingdom activities with all our heart..."

"...each Israelite man gave a gift 'in proportion to the blessing that Jehovah' had given him..."

"...Jehovah treasures such a giving spirit!"

Mo money! Mo money! Mo money!

JV

18

where was this quote made?

by Truth and Justice in

jw
friends

my parents and i are discussing a quote that was made many years ago.

we know for a fact that it was made.

i have exhausted all of my resources to find it, and so i come here to this fine group to ask you about this quote.. the subject is about money.

Juan Viejo2

Truth and Justice -

I am looking for that very quote myself for an article I am writing. I'm sure someone will find it for you very soon. In the meantime, here is an excellent article that covers the subject extensively and well..

http://www.jwfiles.com/wt_honesty/donations.htm

JV

8

Anybody near Los Angeles California?

by hardtobeme in

is there anyone here currently living near la?

if so, can you send me a message?.

i wish i can meet others like me, that have woken up.. thanks!.

Juan Viejo2

There is a meetup group in south Los Angeles (Downey).

http://exjwslosangeles.org

Good folks and still relatively active. Well worth investigating.

JV

10

JW.org Kiosks whats up with these? Where did this idea come?

by Crazyguy in

has anyone seen these in their area.

they are kiosks, small buildings either inside an area of a larger building like a mall or outside by themselves maybe on a major street.

not sure whats all in them but from what i can gather there a bigger fancier version of the book shelf on wheels that is so popular now.

Juan Viejo2

Does anyone know where one or more of these can be found in the USA? Knowing the price of land and clear space in downtown areas in most cities, these places must have to pay horrific rental fees. It's one thing to roll in a temporary stand and set up a card table in a public square, but to put up a semi-permanent kiosk in any major downtown area in a city must be prohibitively expensive.

JV

28

Brother Knorr's Cadillac and other secret perks

by tim hooper in

back when i was a wee lad, my dad told me that the brothers in brooklyn had voted to purchase a cadillac motor car for the sole use of the then president, nathan h knorr.

he'd got this information from the london bethel, him being a chum of the then branch overseer, pryce hughes and his pal ron drage.

religious leaders of non-profit sects are supposed to take a vow of poverty!.

Juan Viejo2

I owned several Cadillacs in my working years. Why? Because I needed the room inside and in the trunk they provided. i had three daughters and a step-daughter and we all traveled together on vacations and other trips. I also had a middle management job with a public utility and was expected to have a car that I could use to take high management people to lunch and to meetings. I usually owned one that was 2 to 4 years old because I could not afford a new one.

But the cars I loved to drive were my 1974 Datsun 260z and my 1981 Toyota Corolla. Those were good cars and fun to drive. The Caddies were crap with leather seats.

In recent years, even though I am older and can afford a Cadillac or Lincoln or even a Lexus, I've found that my favorite car is still my 1995 Toyota Camry. It has 210K + miles on the odometer, but it starts every time, has a nice ride, and everything works. I drive it several times a week and the damn thing won't die and it's now 20 years old. I also own a recent model of Hyundai Sonata - a very good and reliable car. But when my wife and I bought it a couple years ago we drove everything out there - including some high-end models. The difference between the Sonata we bought and most of the other cars we drove that cost tens of thousands more were insignificant. For my wife, most of the others were far too technical and we realized that she would never master the use of the more complex radio and navigation systems.

Looking back, other than the big trunk and extra seating space (in those days all cars had bench seats in front and back), the big Caddies, Buicks, Lincolns and Chryslers offered no advantages at all. In fact, they were harder to park, more expensive to insure, used more gas, were far more expensive to maintain and for the most part were ugly. I remember my subordinates at the public utility I worked at laughing at me when I pulled into the company parking lot in my 1974 Cadillac Fleetwood. "Here comes Mr. JV in his 'Jew canoe'!" So for me, other than space for my family, having a big car was not much of an advantage, but more of an embarrassment. My then wife loved riding in the car but preferred to drive her VW bug to work. A small woman, she really hated driving that beast, because it made her look like a 12-year old driving a truck.

Cadillacs, Chryslers and Lincolns, big Mercedes and BMWs were not very good cars - and were not that much fun to drive.

Some of you might think that for the WT leaders being chauffeured around in a big Caddy or Lincoln would be a big deal. My guess is that except for Rutherford who proudly showed off his Cadillacs, for the others it might have been more embarrassing. I think that is why most of the cars leased by the Watchtower's own auto rental companies are most Buicks (and equivalents). Big, comfortable, etc. - but not too flashy - especially for COs, DOs and Branch Overseers. Not sure what they drive and ride in in Europe. Does anyone here know?

JV

15

Any Veggie Juicers Here?

by SnarlingRaven in

i have been juicing off and on for a couple of years ever since i saw a the documentary, sick, fat, and nearly dead, and my health has taken a remarkable upswing.

no doubt in my mind that drinking live celled water rich green veggie juice is one of the best things you can do for your health and longevity.

time is sometimes a thing, and don't always have the time and patience to juice the veggies and clean up the juicer parts.

Juan Viejo2

BTW - one more thing...

I have a friend that you all know and love - someone who contributes here very regularly. She sends me emails with health information and articles about food and medical treatments almost every week.

While my wife has little or no (let's just say "no") interest in my ex-JW activism, she loves what this famed lady sends us nearly every week and keeps everything in a special folder for future reference.

Just goes to show you that even ex-JWs can have other interests besides undoing the damage caused by our cultish friends at the Watchtower. JWN is proof of that...

JV