Posts by mustang

5

How I view the Watchtower religion

by ignored_one in

jw
friends

i've just come to realise how much this religion reminds me of those book and music clubs.

you know the ones, buy 1 get 5 free etc.

like the clubs it seems like a good deal to begin with until you read the small print.

mustang

Ignored One,

Excellent thought. I wish it was that easy. Before the Web getting the "fine print" on WTS, so as to read it was impossible.

The best that would happen was that someone had a close relative with the details. Then that relative had to get to them quick enough and persuasively enough to change their minds.

And that was on doctrinal issues or perhaps the Human Rights side of things.

Finding the dirt on the Legal issues ("you signed away your Rights and have no Recourse") was nigh on to impossible. It still is difficult.

I only know of a few out of thousands exposed that were able to back away.

Today, the Web is available, and those with the presence of mind can get to the "fine print". Even so, people still go into the bOrg.

Fortunately, cautious people, with a tendency to check things out, will get the warning quick enough, these days. People who can think for themselves will use the art of "critical thinking" and get the warning.

This is why of "critical thinking" is on the WTS's list on "don'ts"!!!!

Mustang

13

How many of you were whipped by JW parents, relatives,random cong. members?

by avishai in

as you requested, lisa, here is your thread

mustang

I got my share of whippings; but I also BITE. Seriously, I made too much of a scene for them to get bad; so a truce was effected.

Mustang

7

Personal Report From Singapore On SARS

by mustang in

this is an excerpt from my latest emails from dragonlady.

i heard that 1200-1500 had been quarantined.

<singapore quote, 2 apr.>.

mustang

Right on the money, Nathan!!!

That is especially so with your observation of item# C. Most people miss that one

Here are some relevent "stats":

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec97/flu_12-16.html

THE HONG KONG FLU

December 16, 1997

NewsHour Transcript

A new strain of the flu, which experts believe was originally transmitted from chickens to humans, has the medical community concerned about a possible epidemic.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/viruses.htm

During the last 100 years there have been three flu pandemics:

1918-19, "Spanish flu," [influenza A(H1N1)], caused the highest number of known flu deaths: more than 500,000 people died in the United States, and 20-50 million people may have died worldwide. The flu virus that caused it was very deadly. Many died within the first few days after infection and others died of complications soon thereafter. The Spanish flu was unique because almost half of the people who died were young, healthy adults.
1957-58, "Asian flu," [influenza A(H2N2)], caused approximately 70,000 deaths in the United States. The Asian flu was first identified in late February, 1957 in China and spread to the United States by June, 1957.
1968-69, "Hong Kong flu," [influenza A(H3N2)], caused approximately 34,000 deaths in the United States. This pandemic H3N2 virus was first detected in Hong Kong in early 1968 and spread to the United States later that year. A(H3N2) viruses still circulate today.

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/mb302/field/viruses2.htm

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Year Influenza A type Severity

1889-1890 H2N8 very high morbidity, mortality

1918-1919 H1N1 "

1957-1958 H2N2 "

1968-1969 H3N2 moderately severe

1977-1978 H1N1 relatively mild

Of course the recent '97-'98 outbreak was very tough on the birds.

Mustang

7

Personal Report From Singapore On SARS

by mustang in

this is an excerpt from my latest emails from dragonlady.

i heard that 1200-1500 had been quarantined.

<singapore quote, 2 apr.>.

mustang

This is an excerpt from my latest emails from DragonLady. I heard that 1200-1500 had been quarantined.

The latest is 95 cases of SARS, 52 been discharged, 13 serious, the rest not so serious. It sounds about right about the quarantined figure.

The doctor here is using the serum from a healthy recovered patient to treat the serious cases. The latest: one patient was recovering after this treatment. The antibody is working against the virus.

The doctor said the patient is 90% not depending on the respiratory machine now,

after the treatment 24 hours ago. This is the news on T.V last night.

I left this out:

SARS:

4 death in Singapore due to SARS the latest. The last one happened two days ago.

I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SING RIGHT NOW IF I WASN'T RECOVERING FROM A SERIOUS LEG INJURY!!! I was in the process of rescheduling my mid-March trip to April when all this broke out. I am watching the news on this daily, of course.

Personally, I have noted that our treatment seems better than the treatment in China. I have been in Chinese hospitals and feel that there is a diligent effort made at treatment. However, the facilities are older; but to counter this, they bring in specialists and try to "leap-frog the generation gap" that is present in their older infrastructure.

What I think is the problem in China, however, may be sheer numbers. I noted that all wards I went to had more beds than aisle-space. If this disease is that contagious, then I think they are overloading their capacity. Perhaps their efforts at quarantine and isolation are self-defeating.

There is something very curious about flu outbreaks: they frequently start in China. (Remember the old "Hong Kong flu" and "Asian flu" of the 50-60's?) This one is no exception to that "rule-of-thumb". If anyone is thinking "bio-terror", what sense does starting with the Chinese make? Who is after them??

Mustang

3

Restricted access to the Bethel libraries

by Room 215 in

gamaliel,.

in your most interesting post in response to the thread in reference above, you mentioned ``access to the bethel libraries" as one of the prerogatives of your position, you suggest that such access is currently restricted or privileged.

my experience there in the mid-sixties was that the libraries were freely available to all members of the bethel family; indeed, during the six-month period of our new-boy initiation, we were expected/required to spend three hours on non-meeting nights to do our primary school research/homework.

mustang

Gamaliel,

LOL @ Great Apostates. What did they do, build the Great Pyramid single-handedly??? or did they refuse to go along with Russell's Pyramidology?

Recently somebody posted pictures of the Bethel cemetery plots. They mentioned that the place was referred to as "The Launching Pad". Maybe there is some humor in the lower, nether reaches of New York, after all.

Anyway, is this some prophetic reference??? Was the Great Apostate Ray Franz? Was he mentioned in the scriptures???

Mustang

9

Anyone know the laws or someone who is ex-jw friendly lawyer?

by pr_capone in

jw
friends

i have a quick question.

it is my belief that it is illegal to record a conversation without the other party knowing.

is it illegal to have someone else on the line listening without that information being disclosed to you before the conversation takes place?.

mustang

PR:

Double check what she said against the FEDERAL laws. The phones are Federal for several reasons.

The lines may go over state lines. This may even be the case for local calls. If the call hits a microwave or satellite link, it may go out of state no matter where the routing ends. That includes short-haul local calls.

But the phone company is ultimately regulated by the FCC: Federal Communciations Comission. If you violate the Communications Acts ('34 or later), these are NOT MISDEMEANORS!!!

That includes the DISCLOSURE!!! This is a 3rd party consideration, that keeps the privacy of intercepted communications by law.

As was pointed out, some states allow single-party recording, some don't. I've not heard this question asked about the simple expedient of a listener, though. That would seem to go to the "expectation of privacy" sitatuion that she mentioned. Kansas seems to allow, in principle, single party disclosure.

When you mix the Kansas vs. Federal thing, it could swing either way. Kansas allowing single party disclosure DOES look bad for you, but you need to eliminate the oft over-looked Federal possibilities.

This does NOT keep you from bringing action, due to civil wrongs. The efforts could be worthy of note.

In that regard, three things:

Email me.

Join the thread : We Need Your Help... NOW!!! (see U there)

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/9/49371/3.ashx

And the disclaimer:

Nothing that I write or utter is to be considered legal advice. Consult proper counsel for such matters. Further, all that I write or utter, is protected by religious freedom under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as the "free exercise", as well as "freedom of speech" clauses.

Mustang .

17

Australian for beginers. lesson 1

by unclebruce in

jw
friends

.

mustang

Oh, hell, NO

Just checkin' in. Keep up the good work!!!!

Mustang

17

Australian for beginers. lesson 1

by unclebruce in

jw
friends

.

mustang

When's Lesson #2?????

Mustang

51

The US Sedition Act Appropriate Today?

by ThiChi in

is the sedition act appropriate today?

now that we are at war, should this act be used to address some that oppose the war?

this question was put to me, i now ask for your comments.

mustang

Simon,

With all due respect, I submit:

Suppression of dissension (and consequent loss of Freedom of Speech) seems to be implied here. That's not really the issue; lots of this kind of discussion is going on INSIDE THE U.S. @ the moment. There is a tendency, out of courtesy, to delay the bulk of the criticism until AFTER THE WAR, but that isn't universal.

These are the issues:

1) This person is a Journalist, and is supposed to be REPORTING to US sources, not DISSEMINATING to IRAQI sources. There seems to be a conflict of interest with his nominal job description.

2) He has interposed himself into the position of the US Dept. of State or perhaps the USIA (US Information Agency). Freedom of Speech AMONGST OURSELVES is not a problem; such Freedom of Speech with DECLARED OR SWORN ENEMIES is not within the purview of the individual citizen. He now appears to have assumed the position of an Ambassador!!!

3) He also seems to have attempted to INTERPRET American Domestic politics to the Iraqi's. This seems to be the position of a Political Analyst, for a Foreign Power. (To do such, a US Citizen might be required to be registered as an Agent of a Foreign Power.)

4) And he certainly seems to have made it palatable to the Iraqi's, saying what they would like to hear and thus encouraging them.

This is dangerously close to the "aid and comfort to enemy" and "or to promote the success of its enemies, or shall willfully make or convey false reports, or false statements" clauses. He may have actually prolonged the war.

Frankly, as far as Journalists, travelers, and US citizens in a "theater of War" are concerned, this sort of discussion is best left to INTERNAL CONSUMPTION for the time being. It would have been best to let the Iraqi's come to their own conclusions, or they can ask an Ambassador or officer of the State Department.

All in all: this was an inappropriate venue for this manner of discussion.

If he wasn't under duress, it may be that he has grown tired of US citizenship.

Was he now rehired by the Iraqi's??? This and numerous other questions will be asked.

This latest portion of his adventure was foolhardy on his part. This is an unenviable position.

Mustang

Nothing that I write or utter is to be considered legal advice. Consult proper counsel for such matters. Further, all that I write or utter, is protected by religious freedom under the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as the "free exercise", as well as "freedom of speech" clauses.

51

The US Sedition Act Appropriate Today?

by ThiChi in

is the sedition act appropriate today?

now that we are at war, should this act be used to address some that oppose the war?

this question was put to me, i now ask for your comments.

mustang

The Sedition Laws are used when speech is turned into action. I've seen a trainload of derailed tanks done as an act of sabotage IN THE U.S.!!!! This is where the "rubber meets the road" for Sedition Law usage.

There is enough conflict with First Amendment and other Laws that speech is safe. Speak a threat... hmmmm!!!! Not a goood idea, but do-able. Put the violence into action, cross the line and the law can be enforced.

Early on, with violent types, there were excesses. This situation has evolved to a milder form. On a practical basis, this law is difficult to enforce. IT IS NOT LIKELY TO BE USED UNLESS THE MILITARY IS ATTACKED!!!

Mustang