Posts by LDH

14

Why I joined this forum...

by UpAndAtom in

<div>my very first visit to this website several years ago, was because i wanted to find out what the few surprises were going to be at the sydney 2003 convention.

(i have family that are jehovahs witnesses but i am not) .

it took a few months to sink in, but i gradually came to accept the real truth that these surprises are nothing of the sort.

LDH

They are a publishing company.

Their members are called publishers.

Non-publishers aspire to become publishers.

They have territories and quotas.

Out of the mouth of (forum) babes!

Love it!!!!

28

Dis-association letter

by Suzie in

jw
friends

ok, i have thought about it too long and hard and came to the conclusion that this really is something that i want to do!

i don't know exactly how to write my letter to dis-associate myself and exactly who i should send it too.

i was readding somethings before that had talked about people sending a copy to there old friends to let them know as well.

LDH

In my opinion, the elders don't deserve to know your reasons

For real!

You could get a fancy invitation, and write on it with calligraphy ink,

As of <today's date> you are cordially invited to kiss my @$$. Do not call my home, do not stop by my house, and do not attempt to contact me. Do not attempt to darken my character by making any announcement such as "so and so is no longer a JW" or I will SUE YOU PERSONALLY and the WT organization.

signed,

167

District Overseer put out to pasture with no $$$ - sad

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

anyone know this poor soul?

randy

a brother who served as a curcuit and district.

LDH

That's because the dickheads aren't on this forum, they'e still in. Comng over to the light washes you clean of dickheaddom. At least that's my religious belief.

While it may wash you clean of PRESENT dickheaddom, it doesn't negate all of your PDA's--Previous Dickhead Actions.

Toth,

I have also seen that geographic location had influence over this as well. Out here in California, where the congregations are physically separated from Bethel by 3,000 things are different than for those of us who were within hours of The Big House.

92

What is your town or area's claim to fame?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

every where you live, the local area has something about it that is either famous for something good or something bad.

as an example, you go to one town and it may have the historial site of a famous war battle.

you go to another an it might be the place something was invented, or the birthplace of someone famous.

LDH

If you like to eat, you know us.

Fresno County, the number 1 ag producing county in the NATION. Between Fresno County, Tulare county, and the Salinas, CA area we produce more food than any other area in the world....read below to see what we export and to whom!

Fresno County still No. 1
Grape rebound helps fuel rise to lead nation with $4.7 billion in agricultural production.
By Dennis Pollock / The Fresno Bee
(Updated Wednesday, April 27, 2005, 6:34 AM)
Cutherto Garcia Arreola mows Tuesday in an almond orchard along Barstow Avenue near De Wolf Avenue, east of Clovis. Fruit and nut crops increased in value to $1.8 billion in 2004. Almonds ranked No. 4 in Fresno County. The commodity increased in value because of more acreage and a nearly 60% price increase. Richard Darby / The Fresno Bee

Fresno County retained its spot as the nation's No. 1 agricultural producer in 2004, thanks partly to rallying prices for grapes, its top commodity.
Agriculture Commissioner Jerry Prieto Jr. triggered laughter and applause from county supervisors when he said in his annual report that the gross value of farm and ranch products was $4.7billion, "completely burying Tulare County."
Tulare County had $4.04billion in production.
The grape industry, whose financial woes in 2001 helped drop Fresno County to No. 2 behind Tulare County for one year, saw significant recovery in 2004 with a total value of $592million compared with $401million the year before.
"It's really great news to know we're still No. 1 and we're going to stay there," said Fresno County Farm Bureau President Pat Ricchiuti.
Not everything was rosy across all sectors of farming, Ricchiuti and Prieto said, pointing out poor sizing for some stone fruit, including plums.
"Growers continue to see increased commodity prices offset by the increased costs for labor, water, fuel, energy and regulatory mandates," Prieto said.
The annual crop report included some bright spots. Among them was a $100million increase in the value of the raisin crop from 2003 to a total of $252million. Pistachios recovered from a disastrous 2003 crop, jumping to a $63million value from $14million.
Diversity has been a key to the county's success, Prieto said.
Fresno, Kings and Merced counties are leading the state in construction of new dairies, he said. As in Tulare County, the costs for hay and other cattle feed crops rose in Fresno County during 2004.
The 2004 total for all crops was up 15% from 2003.
Total gross returns for field crops increased by 19%, to $594.7million. Acreage for fresh and processed garlic dropped by more than a fourth.
Fruit and nut crops increased in value by 21%, to $1.8billion. Almonds increased in value by more than $140million because of increased acreage along with a nearly 60% price increase.
The value of livestock and poultry products rose by nearly 40% to a total of $338million.
Oranges fell in value from $215million to $192million, partly because of a decline by nearly 2,000 acres of navel oranges. Bob Blakely, director of grower services for California Citrus Mutual in Exeter, said some orange trees were pulled out for a transition to other varieties.
"There is also a lot of development going on around Fresno," said Blakely, who was returning from a conference in San Bernardino on the state citrus industry.
Some orange groves around San Bernardino are being preserved as public parkland, he said.
"It's hard to believe, but they've become a novelty," Blakely said.
Development also was a factor in a local almond grower's plans. James McFarlane of Clovis said he has not replanted some older orchards because they stand in the path of city growth.
This year's crop has been challenged by rain and wind that toppled nearly 300 trees in his orchard and hampered bee pollination, he said.
"I suspect this year's crop will be a good 25% to 30% off from last year," McFarlane said.
Article published Apr 27, 2005 County ag brings in $4b Tulare County is No. 2 agriculture producer in nation By Shannon Darling
Staff writer
Good weather, good prices and good crops pushed Tulare County's agriculture to a historic level last year, according to the 2004 Tulare County Crop and Livestock Report released today.
Crops and livestock brought in a record $4.04 billion, up from 2003's $3.3 billion, a 23 percent increase.
"I would call this past year a pretty good year for agriculture," said Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Gary Kunkel.
Kunkel presented the report to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors this morning.
"It was the first time we have ever crossed the $4 billion mark," Kunkel told the board.
But the record mark was not enough to make the county the No. 1 agricultural county in the nation. Tulare County is ranked No. 2 behind Fresno County, Kunkel said. Fresno County crops grossed $4.69 billion, according to the county's crop report, also released Tuesday.
Fresno County Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Dennis Plann said it was a record year for Fresno County, too, but was quick to point out that crop reports only show gross earnings and don't account for higher labor wages or increases in cost.
The 17-page report details Tulare County agriculture crops, their acreage, yield and price per unit.
The record-breaking year
is credited, in large part, to the price of milk and oranges, the county's No. 1 and No. 2 ranked crops.
Milk, orange prices
Milk continued to be the county's top-producing agriculture commodity, grossing $1.3 billion, up from $1.06 billion in 2003.
"Dairies were struggling for about five years," Kunkel said. "But this year the price was good and volume was good."
In 2004, the price of milk paid to farmers rose to $14.58 per hundredweight, up $3 from the year before. A hundredweight is 100 pounds.
Oranges also had a very good year in 2004, bringing in $545 million, up $103 million over 2003.
"Tulare County produces more fresh oranges than any one in the nation," Kunkel said.
Other top crops
Rounding out Tulare County's top 10 crops in 2004 were: cattle, grapes, alfalfa, cotton, plums, corn, almonds and nectarines.
Kunkel attributed the No. 3 ranking of cattle to the "popularity of the low-carb diet."
Two new crops made it to the top 10 in 2004 — almonds and cotton. Those crops bumped peaches and walnuts off the top 10 list.
Almond growers saw a huge increase in gross value, with the crop bringing in $90.7 million in 2004 compared to $47.5 million in 2003. That brought the crop to the No. 9 spot in 2004 from the No. 12 spot the year before.
"Almonds were the real surprise this year," Kunkel said.
Cotton also did well in 2004, according to the report, edging its way back into the top 10 crop list after a few disappointing years. Cotton was ranked the No. 6 crop earning $100 million, up from the No. 11 rank in 2003 when the crop earned $61 million.
"I heard cotton growers — who had been around long before I was born — say it was the best cotton year they had ever seen," Kunkel said.
Another big winner in 2004 was the tomato crop, which brought in $5.6 million, up from $1 million in 2003.
A few losers
The big losers this year included cherries, grapefruit and persimmons.
Cherries were down $7.7 million from the previous year. Grapefruit and persimmons each brought in $5 million less.
With fewer acres harvested, tangerines went down $18.8 million in 2004.
Honey and other bee products decreased 19 percent, as beekeepers struggled with lower prices, according to the report.
Supervisor Steve Worthley said he was pleased to see in the report that overall harvested acreage in the county increased by 30,000 acres.
"We hear so much about urban encroachment ... it's impressive to see those numbers," he said.
· The reporter can be reached at [email protected].

So the next time you eat, think of us!

Lisa

20

B-12 shot for the WT -"Deliverance" DC & Mideast flare up timing

by Gregor in

jw
friends

once again, world events come along and give the wt a free booster shot.

nothing better than coming home from the dc, opening the paper and seeing headlines like "mideast in flames" "is nuclear confrontation far off?

" "north korea tests nuke capable missiles" etc etc.

LDH

Gregor your remarks make me remember the 80's when I was growing up JW. During that time we had MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), the height of the cold war, nuclear proliferation, and the movie "The day after tomorrow" on TV.

In our JW-mind, these things were CLEARLY an indication of the end of times. As an adult I can now see that the rest of the world did not have the same impression of the 'times,' but just continued living to the best of their ability.

I believe this is the same situation. Only doomsday prophets rejoice in the deliverance of bad news, instead calling it "Good News."

20

LONG TIME - NO SEE

by Kent in

jw
friends

hi folks!

it's a long time since i've been visiting any boards, and maybe it's upon time.

anyway, i'm still allive and well, and i'm thinking of making a bbq in norway next summer.

LDH

Wow, hi Kent. Hope you're doing well.

Lisa

167

District Overseer put out to pasture with no $$$ - sad

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

anyone know this poor soul?

randy

a brother who served as a curcuit and district.

LDH

I was an elder for most of my 40 years in "full-time service." As an elder I fully supported the organization's teachings and policies. But I know that deep down in my heart I always tried to do the right thing by everyone. I wasn't a harsh elder, and many times I went to the defense of persons who were treated harshly by other elders. That sometimes got me in hot water with a circuit or district overseer and/or with overseers at Bethel. But that didn't matter to me. I felt it my obligation to do the Christian thing, no matter what.

Toth I have always loved your posts and considered you one of the more interesting contributors on this forum.

With that said......DEEP BREATH.......to my knowledge no former elder, CO, DO has ever come on one of these boards and said, "You know what? I was a dickhead for 40 years." EVERYONE always says they weren't harsh, but supported the organizations teachings and policies, and tried to be kind, etc.

Well, newsflash, but the organization's teachings and policies are nothing short of HARSH. The Elders are a group of Overlords who love the feeling of power that this pretend 'position' gives them. This isn't to say that nice people can't get caught up in the game, because they can and do.

However, it is to say an adult has the responsiblity to be aware of his and her actions and their result. None of us as children have that burden, but as adults, yer damn skippy we do.

I hope his life serves as a lesson to every JW who knows him, but you know what? They'll find a reason to rationalize what happened to him, too, and that'll be that.

Lisa

29

Couple of JW Sisters came to my door - mini rumble

by Qcmbr in

first of all want to thank you all for informing me of the good the bad and smurfly about jws - i was so stoked when these two sister's knocked on my door.

i apologise now - i was a smug git - in fairness they conducted themselves impeccably in the face of me.

this is how it went (paraphrased to highlight 'clever' bits i said and downplay swathes of conversation when i said silly things.

LDH

I'm just trying to let you know how difficult it is for me to agree that the LDS faith is actually nutty and laughable,

Having grown up in Upstate NY, near Palmyra and the Hill Cumorah pageant, well never mind, I won't be rude and say it...but you know what I'm thinking!

22