JakeM2012

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Posts by JakeM2012

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  60

  Is The WTS Building Beth Sarim 2 ?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i continue to puzzle over the future direction the watchtower is taking.

  it seems very strange.. let's review: they are selling everything off in brooklyn, raking in huge sums from that real estate and building heavily in a fairly isolated part of upstate ny.. why?.

  it may be classified as a country club (legally).

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  JakeM2012

  The following examples shown give us an idea of how much $800,000,000 (what WTBTS recently sold in Brooklyn) looks like in true construction cost. True construction cost meaning all labor trades are paid for (many buildings with union contractors), engineering, architects, etc paid to companies that some supply health insurance, retirement, etc for their employees. No unpaid "volunteers" worked on the following projects.

  OK so WTBTS couldn't buy the World Trade Center for $3.8 billion. Granted.

  Completing the One World Trade Center will cost $3.8 billion, The Wall Street Journal reports , making it "by far" the most expensive building in the world. ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/31/one-world-trade-center-will-cost-38-billion-dollars-expensive-building-in-the-world_n_1243917.html)

  

  Cowboys Stadium Irving Texas $1.3 Billion

  

  WTBTS could buy a football Stadium

  The three newest pro football stadiums have cost $720 million (Lucas Oil Stadium, 2008), $1.15 billion(Cowboys Stadium, 2009) and $1.6 billion ( MetLife Stadium , 2010). Major League Baseball hasn't seen quite that level of inflation, but it has produced the three most expensive ballparks in history in 2008 (Nationals Park, $611 million) and 2009 (Citi Field, $900 million; Yankee Stadium, $1.5 billion). Perhaps it's worth noting that MLB's newest venue, four-month-old Marlins Park — the league's sixth to feature a retractable roof, and its smallest in total seating capacity — cost a mere $515 million.

  Cruise Ships

  This is the brochure for the Royal Princess Cruise Ship cost $735,000,000 (http://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships/royal_princess.pdf)

  

  PRINCESS cruise ships
  	Year Built	Tonnage	Capacity Persons	Cost in Millions	Cost Per Berth
  Caribbean Princess	2004	113,000	3,096	$500	$129,000
  Coral Princess	2003	91,600	1,974	$360	$141,000
  Crown Princess	2006	113,000	3,070	$500	$130,000
  Dawn Princess	1997	77,500	2,016	$300	$126,000
  Diamond Princess	2004	115,900	2,674	$400	$121,000
  Emerald Princess	2007	113,000	3,066	$500	$130,000
  Golden Princess	2001	109,600	2,592	$450	$141,000
  Grand Princess	1998	109,000	2,588	$450	$141,000
  Island Princess	2003	91,600	1,974	$360	$141,000
  Ocean Princess	2009	30,300	678	$150	$192,000
  Pacific Princess	2002	30,300	678	$150	$192,000
  Regal Princess	2014	141,000	3,600	$735	$175,000
  Royal Princess	2013	139,000	3,600	$735	$175,000
  Ruby Princess	2008	116,000	3,068	$500	$130,000
  Sapphire Princess	2004	116,00	2,674	$400	$121,000
  Sea Princess	1998	77,500	2,016	$300	$126,000
  Star Princess	2001	109,000	2,592	$450	$141,000
  Sun Princess	1998	77,700	2,016	$300	$127,000.00

  In August 2003 cost of the building Frost Tower in Austin Texas was estimated at $137 million. [3]

  
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  24

  New Light related to Watchtower Society Isolation closing the shop? A scenario

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i was thinking about the next scenario:.

  the united states (and western world) are losing influence compared to china, india and other new economy's.. with this decline of influence, the watchtower society, a true american religion and it's subsidiary's corporations are losing profits and losing it's base in much country's under china / india / indonesia / brazil influence.

  what i see is that the watchtower society is selling it's main assets: landmark buildings in optimal condition.

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  JakeM2012

  http://www.damninteresting.com/retired/can-we-trust-the-red-cross/

  "Despite landing in trouble for soliciting more donations than they need and squirreling the rest away, the Red Cross continues to operate this way. The organization makes a total of about $3 billion annually, about half of which is from selling donated blood. Some of this surplus money ends up in disaster relief, but it seems that much does not. Last year alone, the Red Cross spent $111 million in fund raising, and their CEO Marsha Evans made just under $652,000 . It seems the the main value they offer is the free help of their volunteer force."

  Now the GB could say that they want to be paid, like other CEO's of non-profits. I don't see why they would unless they are getting out themselves, they live a cushy life without financial worries in the status quo and don't pay taxes.
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  16

  Are Elders given back ground checks before appointment?

  by JWOP in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm researching a few things, and i'm wondering: are elders ever put through a back ground check either before or after their appointment as an elder?.

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  JakeM2012

  Data Dog, said, "Brother Sherlock McSnoopsalot"
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  24

  New Light related to Watchtower Society Isolation closing the shop? A scenario

  by Gorbatchov in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i was thinking about the next scenario:.

  the united states (and western world) are losing influence compared to china, india and other new economy's.. with this decline of influence, the watchtower society, a true american religion and it's subsidiary's corporations are losing profits and losing it's base in much country's under china / india / indonesia / brazil influence.

  what i see is that the watchtower society is selling it's main assets: landmark buildings in optimal condition.

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  JakeM2012

  Gorby, interesting theory.

  I have wondered about them intentionally trying to downsize the flock even closing up shop. Perhaps they recognize their gig is up and the internet is a game changer.

  As far as splitting up the money between the 8 GB members, I would think that the lawyers and bankers they have either in house or secularly smell the money and would know what to do with it and how to extract it. Further, the GB has been isolated into a position where they don't have control over the financial aspects of things at least not the way pre 1990 WTBTS presidents did. With the money that WT has it will always attract swindlers.

  I believe there are financially smarter people than the self appointed GB and they will end up with the spoils. They have already had issues with brothers who were "price gouging" on printing paper and other products, later to be found out.
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  16

  Are Elders given back ground checks before appointment?

  by JWOP in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm researching a few things, and i'm wondering: are elders ever put through a back ground check either before or after their appointment as an elder?.

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  JakeM2012

  I know of one PO that would cherry pick intended recommendations and personally pay for a background check. On one background check fishing trip, he found a brother had a DUI a few years back.
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  3

  The State of India

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  indian families struggle:.

  i think the report below is referring to middle-class families.

  the enormous number of indian people living in extreme poverty, just worry about getting something to eat.. .

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  JakeM2012

  I'm sorry to hear of the Indians' families stuggle, the worlds economy are in poor shape and there are many suffering worldwide. Thank you for the update, you will not see this on most news channels. Everyone is claiming inflation, but I don't see a stable monetary supply.
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  64

  What was YOUR wake-up call before you left the JW´s organization?

  by Mr Fool in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what was your wake-up call(s) before you left the jw s organization?

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  JakeM2012

  My wake up call for Zomies, was researching older publications including C.T.Russels writings in which 1799 was the beginning of the time of the end, and stretching over other predicted dates that nothing happended, then J.F. Rutherford's prediction that 1925 was the beginning of Armageddon. I found out that my great grand parents had left their lives and went on the road for 5 years to "sell" as pioneers the book, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die". Beth Serim and the V-12 Cadillac's helped me appreciate the "presidents" stake in the matter, and I was disgusted.

  When Pandora's box about Jehovah's Witnesses was opened it was impossible to close. Basically, once the mind is expanded it is impossible to return it to a previously thought process.
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  4

  What would it take?

  by Kool Jo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:relyonvml /> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><![endif].

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  JakeM2012

  Kool Jo, as far as your op question, I am not sure what it would take besides having an annual meeting that is hooked up to the congregations and the GB saying that the whole thing is a fraud. However we must approach reality.

  In the 1960's my dad was a 1975'er, up until about 1973 and then he didn't see things happening like he thought in accordance with the Watchtower Bible and Tract Societies teachings and thought it would take a WEEEEE bit longer maybe 7-8 years.

  The late seventies were somewhat difficult, there were still new ones coming in, which made all the old timers "behave", but people like my father were pretty sore with WTBTS and had written letters that were answered with "get your butt in line and tow the rope" verbage. I wish now they would have disfellowshipped him for his letters, but nothing was said by the congregation.

  Through the 1980's and 1990's we were all expecting something within the 70-80 mark of the "generation" of 1914. But it never came.

  Mom is still alive and is absolute that she will not give up her faith. However, she is not a humble women who would admit a mistake anyway.

  I believe it takes a mature person who has humility to accept they have been fooled, "hoodwinked", taken, conned, etc. With many witnesses it crosses the social, religious, family lines and people will stay with their religious beliefs because of a perceived loss of family or social ties.
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  85

  The final chapter in the confusedandalone story...

  by confusedandalone in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this morning i get a frantic call from my sister (who has been baptized 1 year and one month and never attends meetings anymore).

  in tears she tells me that this morning my father picked her up in the car and told her that i was am apostate.

  that i no longer loved jehovah and that i was going to be disfellowshipped.

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  JakeM2012

  Congratulations Confusedandalone, and best wishes with family life, your marriage, and your business. I don't think you'll have much problem anymore.

  I have seen elders after a DA or disfellowshipping turn up the rhetoric on those that are either working for a disfellowshipped or disassociated person or employing disfellowshipped, disassociated persons. The elders start harassment of brother who is either employer or employee.

  They threaten the usual things, from taking away privileges to even disfellowshipping. From what I have seen when previously an elder, the elders get the attitude of "rule or ruin", and they can get very vindictive and try to ruin someone financially, character assasination, etc. I even had an elder make a pass on my wife using the "he's a useless apostate" argument.

  I'm curious what the elders wanted to talk about, whether it was a case of "things have got blown out of proportion and we are here to settle things down" or other chit chat.
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  22

  Encounter at McDonalds

  by jws in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i was helping some friends move and it came time for a break, i took my kids to mcdonalds.

  we're sitting there and there's a family across from us, man, wife, 2 kids under 4. in the next booth is this older guy, maybe late 60's.. i'm not really paying attention, but then this older guy says something to the family about everybody being "me-first" these days.

  so that caught my ear.

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  JakeM2012

  It does sound like the elderly man in McDonald's has diminished from what was previously a sure thing, strong faith, imminent reality to now just a comfort.