Posts by Thirdson

42

10 years ago today...

by funkyderek in

jw
friends

.

something happened that changed my life.

what was it?

FunkyD, that Watchtower started my exit. I saw the change in the generation teaching and while disappointed I also saw the huge consequences of the change. I also knew, since I'd been associated since a baby that the age of the generation had been modified several times. I seem to remember that the Watchtower also stated that the "separation" was still future and those who had died after hearing the teaching of JWs had still not been judged. A 'sister' (I don't know who I hardly knew anyone in my new congregation) in the congregation made a comment in the study that even Newsweek had written about the change. Whether she meant to or not that had as big an impact on me as the study article. (Thank you whoever you are in Eden Prairie, MN cong)

I never engaged in the FS after that date but it took a year for me to fade completely. I moved to a different cong then moved house. I cited this Watchtower to my parents when I explained the reasons for quitting.

3rd

9

If the Bible best-selling book in history, what is the second best-selling?

by ithinkisee in

.

anyone know?.

-ithinkisee

Thirdson

I'm suprised that "Fly Fishing" by J.R. Hartley didn't make the list.

That's a little joke that the older Brits might understand. Even so, I would bet that more people in Britain will know the fictional Mr. Hartley's fictional book than any of the of the WTS publications.

Of the 100 million "truth" books, my guess is 50 million languished in book bags, turned yellow and were dumped. 45 million were sold and promptly put in the garbage can.

3rd

43

Does Your Family Eat Dinner Together?

by Scully in

interesting article from today's national post:.

we don't eat together, and are paying for itfamilies in crisis: researchers say suppers apart may cause social ills misty harriscanwest news service.

monday, october 17, 2005. .

Thirdson

Yes!

We eat together as a family most nights. There are four of us now including the baby. Both Mrs Thirdson and I come from families that ate together. Only occasionally do we eat elsewhere and that is if I am late home and my son is out visiting. The family dinner together is the time we can share the events of the day or debate some current event. When we invite friends or have family staying, dinner is just an extension of what we do regularly.

Dinner is never at a set time (it depends on my arrrival from work and who is cooking that night) but we most often sit together at the dinner table to eat the evening meal. It's the one time we can all be together and share in conversation around the best meal of the day.

3rd

62

NASA: Humans Back to the Moon

by Gerard in

nasa plans return to moon by 2020

"this vision aims to return humans to the moon, and then to use it as a staging point for a manned mission to mars.

i wonder if jws will be required to canvas those areas too.

Thirdson

I was initially rather disappointed with the approach. It looks like a slightly bigger version of Apollo with an Earth orbit rendezvous for the crew module . (An idea tossed out in the Apollo days.) And whatever happened to the single-stage to orbit vehicles we were once promised.

However, getting 6 astronauts to the ISS doesn't require a heavy-lift vehicle. A heavy-lift vehicle doesn't need a crew either. So getting two vehicles from the same Space Shuttle hardware seems sensible. Plus, the massive lifting capability means a Mars vehicle could be assembled in 4 or 5 launches. Sticking the crew module on top of the stack also alleviates the problem of delicate surfaces being hit by foam and ice. Still we have to wait to 2014 for the first launch and 2018 for a Moon mission. That will be nearly 50 years after Apollo XI. I hope I'm not dead by then.

3rd

27

2006 Special Convention only for a select group to be delegates

by juni in

jw
friends

it was announced that for the 2006 int'l convention overseas, only pioneers for at least 15 years or elders for atleast 15 years are allowed to be delegates.

has there always been restrictions on who can attend?

i can't remember as it's been so long ago.

Thirdson

"Conventions" and "delegates" are words used by the WTS that mean different things at different times and are almost always different to the usage outside of the WTS. Generally, a delegate is one sent as a representative of another one or body often with responsibility or power to act for the ones who sent the delegate. In WTS terms all convention attendees are delegates even though they are not representing anyone else, certainly have no authority and will not engage in discussion with others to set agendas, agree actions, or make decisions.

In the case of special International conventions certain ones can attend and be assisted in travel and with accomodation. They have no special responsibility and hardly represent anyone other than act as "goodwill" ambassadors for their particular region. The WTS can set the requirements for who can be "delegates" to these events and to whom such special arrangements will be granted. However, most conventions are open to the public and any congregation member can attend if they are willing to make their own travel arrangements. They won't be official, Society approved "delegates" they'll just be regular "delegates" like everyone else.

3rd

17

Monty Python and the Holy Grail: Hilarious extras on the DVD!

by gaiagirl in

just watched "monty python and the holy grail" on a two-disc dvd purchased at target.

among the numerous extras are: a very well done animated version of the "we're the knights of the round table....." vaudeville musical number using sets and characters entirely constructed from lego pieces (including the poor fellow in the dungeon, clapping his hands to the music); the scene with the french knights "taunting" the british knights, with japansese dialogue and english subtitles (the translations are hysterical), sing alongs, including the lyrics to the scene with monks chanting and smiting themselves with boards, and too much else to mention.

i haven't laughed so hard since i saw the movie the first time.

Thirdson

I attended a training course last year. At the start, the instructor asked three questions:

What is your name?

What is your quest (reason for being here)?

What is your favorite movie?

Several class members answered incorrectly and were zapped out of existence. The instructor's favorite movie was the "Holy Grail"...big surprise, hey? I brought in my DVD and at lunch during the rest of the week, we watched the movie and the Lego special.

3rd

45

What's your favorite classical music?

by DanTheMan in

of course beethoven's fifth is tops for me, and the ninth close behind.

also sprach zarathustra - strauss.

fanfare for the common man - aaron copeland (what a nice thing that was for him to dedicate such a great piece of music to plebeians like me *sniff*).

Thirdson

Vaughan Williams...makes me feel English. My favorite pieces are "The Lark Ascending" and "Fantasia On a Theme by Thomas Tallis". He wrote some great Hymns too which I always enjoy when they are chosen at the Scandanavian Church we attend.

3rd

50

HOW LONG WILL YOU LIVE?

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

the following link is very interesting.

it is from the web site of northwestern mutual financial.

they are part of northwestern mutual life insurance.

Thirdson

94. I guess I shouldn't plan retiring before 80.

3rd

55

Your job, what is it, what do people think you do?

by wanderlustguy in

jw
friends

i'm a partner in a national communcations company, we install services for time warner and dish network as well as other clients.

my responsibilities include client acquisition and maintinence, as well as developing the strategy we are using to grow our business by taking over markets from our competitiors.

currently we have 3 offices and about 40 employees in la, ny, and nc, with corporate offices in fl.. my family and friends think i work on computers making minimum wage.

Thirdson

I work in IT in the corporate HQ of a high-tech manufacturer. I manage the systems that buy or make product and get it shipped to the customer anywhere in the world. I still write code as I couldn't possibly be a pure manager. I have worked for my current employer for 5 years. Last week my mother asked what I did for a living.

3rd

79

What's the most DANGEROUS thing you ever did?

by JH in

jw
friends

.

anybody ever bungee jump or do anything quite dangerous?.

.

Thirdson

There are things I have done intentionally and things that just went out of control.

Like Elsewhere I have skydived a few times. It caused a special needs item on dangerous sports. I have skiied on some runs that were way beyond my abilities and far more dangerous than jumping out of a plane. I once canoed lakes in Nova Scotia without wearing a life-preserver -- I am not a great swimmer. I once did some electrical work in my home without properly checking that I had isolated the circuit I was working on. I was "shocked" after finishing, when I plugged in and found it was live. I nearly, or pehaps just a little, fell asleep while driving through the night after working all day and then attempting to travel for 16 hours without a break. I was at least sane enough to pull over and sleep in my car for a few hours in the middle of the night.

Unintentionally, at least I should have known better, I was nearly crushed by a machine attempting to maneuver it with an an overhead hoist. I nearly severed a finger working on a pnuematic ram. I jack-knifed a trailer on one of the busiest sections of freeway in Europe and ended up on the hard-shoulder facing the on-coming traffic. (Transporting a machine that was top heavey and of unknown weight, I spun 180 degrees and didn't hit anyone). As a young child I electrocuted myself, 240 volts, that burnt my fingers to the bone. I still have the scars on my fingers and wrist.

I am a lot more cautious nowadays. I wear eye protection when using power tools. I always check that circuits are isolated. I haven't had a car accident in 15 years. I carry a survival kit and first aid kit in my car. Oh, I have a life-preserver in my car too, just in case I get the chance to go canoeing.

3rd