respectful_observer

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Posts by respectful_observer

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  49

  Elders in Spain Steal Millions from Congregation

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  these men are appointed by holy spirit,.

  here is the source: http://www.economiadigital.es/es/notices/2015/01/la-fiscalia-imputa-una-estafa-de-mas-de-170-millones-de-euros-a-una-congregacion-de-testigos-de-jeho-65161.php.

  basically, if you don't know spanish, it boils down to this: (my personal editorial of what i've read).

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  respectful_observer

  Maybe they didn't steal it, maybe they sent it to the WTS last year with all the other congregations.  
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  49

  Elders in Spain Steal Millions from Congregation

  by cappytan in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  these men are appointed by holy spirit,.

  here is the source: http://www.economiadigital.es/es/notices/2015/01/la-fiscalia-imputa-una-estafa-de-mas-de-170-millones-de-euros-a-una-congregacion-de-testigos-de-jeho-65161.php.

  basically, if you don't know spanish, it boils down to this: (my personal editorial of what i've read).

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  respectful_observer

  If my math is right, that would mean the 1,300 members donated an average of 131,000 euros each.

  I'm sure there are some JWs in that area that might be able to contribute that much, but I'm slightly skeptical it's that many.  Although doing the math....there are just over 100,000 JWs in Spain (based on a quick Google search...not invested enough to dig up the yearbook figure), so if this story is true, it looks like the "one per centers" of Spain's JWs got taken.
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  20

  Experienced Attorney's and Paralegals Needed at Bethel!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from (the source) 2015, january 13, boe.. .. .

  .. .. atlantis!.

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  respectful_observer

  No wonder they're needing to consolidate all the cash from the congregations at HQ.  A Bethel lawyer probably gets paid less than $200/month these days, whereas a corporate-level Outside Counsel will easily charge 2-3X that amount AN HOUR.  
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  20

  Experienced Attorney's and Paralegals Needed at Bethel!

  by Atlantis in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  from (the source) 2015, january 13, boe.. .. .

  .. .. atlantis!.

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  respectful_observer

  Hahaha!!  They waited, what, two whole weeks after their college bashing session on JW.org TV where they specifically said they would no longer subject any brother or sister to the dangers of the law school environment?  Too funny!

  "Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to legal matters."

  Will this be the standard boilerplate language on every letter requested educated skilled brothers or sisters to donate their time and energy for free to Bethel?

  The standard MS Word template they use probably looks like this:

  "Please note that we are not encouraging individuals to pursue higher education or university degrees to obtain skills related to <insert name of skill where education is required here>."

  
  
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  68

  What I Saw & Heard in the Oral Argument Hearing on January 14, 2015

  by ABibleStudent in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  im not an attorney and i could not record the hearing, so please forgive me if i make mistakes in relating what i remember of the oral argument hearing for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society on january 14, 2015 and the length of this post.. i arrived at the civic center/union plaza in san francisco, ca about 7:30. the area is very nice with a few homeless people sleeping in the park across from the courthouse.

  it took me about 10 minutes to find the clerks office for the court on the first floor, which opened at 8:00.. once the clerks office opened, the two clerks who i talked with were very polite and helpful.

  the arguments for jane doe (i.e., candace conti) versus the watchtower bible & tract society were scheduled 5th out of (i think) 8. while i was in the office a cameraman and another person for nbc arrived asking about the hearing for candace contis case.. the courtroom for the 1st appellate court is on the 4th floor and takes up most of that floor.

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  respectful_observer

  Thanks for the first-hand report.

  The good thing about appellate judges is that they typically are very good about educating themselves on the facts of the case.  The short oral arguments are often just the "icing on the cake", so if a particular attorney isn't that strong, hopefully it doesn't affect the judges' final decision too much.

  From my surface-level understanding of the Conti case and its record-setting judgement, it appears to break new ground.  By that simple fact, the chances of it being overturned are that much higher.  Setting legal precedent is always an uphill battle.

  Whether the original judgement is upheld or overturned, this seems to be the highest profile case against the WTS to date.  Because Conti wasn't willing to settle out of court, all the nitty gritty of the Organization's judicial process is out in the open and on the record...with NBC cameras rolling no less.
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  26

  Brooklyn Update – January 10, 2015

  by Sour Grapes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  email sent to me from a friend in new york city..

  brooklyn update january 10, 2015.

  we have spent the last few weeks in training at the montgomery facility (near walkill) there are 6 couples that were trained to go on the road as ldc field representatives of the branch.

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  respectful_observer

  We visited a Hall yesterday – that truly looked like a 1970’s funeral home! 

  Let me guess...floral pattern on the curtains, and mauve and/or teal color scheme?  Oh, and cheap fake flowers on the stage.  Sounds like 90% of KHs I've been in.  I'd love to know who in the RBC/LDC is infatuated with the palette of 1987!!!
  

  On a side note, I've always found Dave Palen (Palin?) to be a pretty nice guy.  I'd heard he was now based in NYC area, but didn't realize he was doing anything outside of the normal CO role.  
  

  In this time of the end Jehovah’s people will be the largest property owners in the world

  Hmmm....Well the Catholic Church is currently only the #2 property owner in the world, after all.  

  http://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-biggest-landowners-2011-3#3-pope-benedict-13
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  90

  Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

  currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

  any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

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  respectful_observer

   Yea, maybe in a couple of metro areas in foreign language congregations may be growth, but I wasn't seeing it in English speaking congs.

  
  

  Same here. At the last Circuit Assembly, and the last SAD before that, a grand total of 1 person got baptized at each.  Out of 1,200 in attendance, it doesn't indicate a whole lot of actual growth.  Of course most JWs will interpret building a new KH as a sign of "growth".  Heck, even if they consolidated congregations, to cram as many people as possible into one auditorium, most JWs would somehow interpret that as "growth" and get all excited about it.  
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  90

  Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

  by thedepressedsoul in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

  currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

  any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

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  respectful_observer

  Just to recap, they are currently looking at every Kingdom Hall and if it’s is outdated, not visible and in a bad location expect to see it for sale in the next year or two. 

  I'm going to speculate and say that added to this group will be any older hall that sits on land that is now very desirable and valuable.  Those kinds of properties are cash cows and will likely net the WTS $1,000,000+ each.  
  
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  18

  2015 Convention locations - US & CA

  by wifibandit in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  full set: http://imgur.com/a/czt56.

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  respectful_observer

  Is it possible to post the "L-Z" cities?  The city I've historically been assigned to only has 2 English scheduled, where I think it has typically been more like 4 English.

  ..............

  EDIT:  Never mind...just followed the link.  Duh.
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  11

  Will the GB use the on going conflict with Muslim extremists as a sign of the end being near?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't read over much of the recent articles in the last decade from the wt.

  i wonder if they will mention muslim extremists and use that fear as a control mechanism on their members.

  i have a feeling they will resist mentioning islam specifically.

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  respectful_observer

  I wouldn't be surprised to see them declare the countries that generally align with Islam as the collective "King of the North" and those that generally align with Christendom as the collective "King of the South".

  As a side point, ISIS may not give two hoots about JWs, but I suspect the WTS is acutely aware of how violent Muslim extremists can be.  In this past week's WT Study article, there was a photo of a JW preaching in what appears to be an Istanbul-like city.  The woman in the background was wearing a hijab, but her face was completely out of focus.  The man in the background was wearing blue keffiyeh, but his back was completely to the camera, so he too was completely unrecognizable.  The WTS has no problem posing a JW model in a Roman collar for a photo, but seem a little less bold posing a JW as a Muslim.