Posts by TMS

Normal functions of life are made less convenient by living as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Schooling, employment, family life, relationships are saddled with the additional burden of conforming to an ever-increasing set of Talmudlike rules.

The thermal pools of Yellowstone National Park appear placid and inviting from the tourist walkway.

TMS

6

I finally committed!!!!

by VioletAnai in

jw
friends

ok, to you guys it's no big deal...but to someone who is still studying with the witnesses, it's a big step.. you're officially one of my favourites!!!

now that's committment!!

and i'm so good at it .

TMS

She selected this website as one of her "favorites" to reach with a single click.

TMS

18

Gilead Instructors

by YoYoMama in

jw
friends

is anyone familiar with the gilead instructors:.

liverance, bowen, noumair, and karl adams.

TMS

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of the finest individuals I have ever met was Ulysses Glass who was one of the most prominent Gilead instructors. He displayed genuine humility and love of God and His Word. A TRUE christian.

Mr. Glass was outstanding in a TV interview or roundtable format. I recall his participation in a discussion panel which included a Jewish Rabbi, a Catholic priest, a representative of Baha'i and a couple protestant denominations. His gracious, respectful demeanor made me proud to be a JW. He was in no way argumentative and seemed genuinely forthright in presenting the Witness view of matters.

TMS

7

Nothing Worth Reforming

by metatron in

jw
friends

if you're struggling with becoming an ex-jw, stick with web.

sites like this one, as part of the healing process.. being here - and getting a better education - has helped me.

realize that the watchtower has little or nothing worth preserving,.

TMS

SixofNine:

Judging from the above, I'm going to guess that history will not give credit to the JW religion for the advancement of architecture or photography. History is snobbish that way.

Actually, Six, I loved those old crackerbox Kingdom Halls, all of them unique in their own quaint way. That COULD have been the JW legacy. Why would a place of worship need to be anything but four walls, a commode and a dimly lit theocratic library closet?

But no! We needed assembly line cookie cutter quick builds, with the seldom used circuit overseer apartment, the mahogany elder table and the large indebtedness.

TMS

137

What Is Your Favorite Overlooked Movie?

by gilwarrior in

what i am talking about a movie that you thought was great, but is mostly forgotten by most people today.. well, my favorite overlooked movie is "a perfect world.

" in it kevin costner is an escaped felon who escapes from prison with another felon.

they then break into a house and kidnap a boy who is a (gasp!

TMS

"Ordinary People"

TMS

10

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

by TMS in

jw
friends

tom lee park is an open field area on the banks of the mississippi just a hundred yards or so off beale street in memphis.

during "memphis in may" three stages are used, the first being the delta blues stage.

while the younger generation mainly gravitates to the main stage to hear the black crows or whatevers current, my wife and i always stayed at delta blues.

TMS

Thanks all,

The blues became a wonderful escape for my wife and I in the 80’s. Hillary, you mentioned Buddy Guy. Our first blues concert, sponsored by the Arkansas Blues Society, featured Bobbie “Blue” Bland, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and Buddy Guy. Riverfront Park, on the banks of the Arkansas River, has a nice amphitheatre, informal grass seating. We always stood next to the stage because we wanted to SEE everything. John Mayall was the only name I recognized and my image was that of a young man with long, blonde hair like on the album cover from years ago.

A man with a ‘Security” t-shirt came down from the stage and told me that he didn’t want to be a horse’s butt, but my wife and I needed to move over a couple feet because Buddy always likes to come out into the audience. Anyway, Buddy blew us away that night. The raw energy! Those gleaming white teeth. Subsequent B.G. performances have not been that powerful, featuring ballads and samples of other guitar styles. Buddy is better just being Buddy.

“Memphis in May” introduced us to dozens of blues artists we would never have seen otherwise. Many of those same artists used to play at Juanita’s Mexican Restaurant in Little Rock. That seems like a strange venue, but attracts many legendary performers including Johnny Winter, Joan Baez, Richie Havens, The Thunderbirds, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown Buckwheat Zydeco and many others.

BTW, several John Lee Hooker lines became sort of inside jokes in our family, useful in numerous situations. Few understand what we’re getting at, but we use them anyway:

We all a little funny

Back rent? She ain’t gettin’ no front rent!

Been standin’ on the corner all damn day. Can’t get no job!

TMS

10

Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

by TMS in

jw
friends

tom lee park is an open field area on the banks of the mississippi just a hundred yards or so off beale street in memphis.

during "memphis in may" three stages are used, the first being the delta blues stage.

while the younger generation mainly gravitates to the main stage to hear the black crows or whatevers current, my wife and i always stayed at delta blues.

TMS

Tom Lee Park is an open field area on the banks of the Mississippi just a hundred yards or so off Beale Street in Memphis. During "Memphis in May" three stages are used, the first being the “Delta Blues” stage. While the younger generation mainly gravitates to the Main Stage to hear the Black Crows or whatever’s current, my wife and I always stayed at “Delta Blues”. Old black men and women who laid the foundation of rock and roll, rhythm and blues still performed there.

Rufus Thomas always made an appearance in his green-sequined hot pants, doing the “Funky Chicken”, Junior Wells in a three piece red suit, playing that harmonica and Koko Taylor singing “Damn Those Eyes” straight at me and laughing when I stepped back a foot or two. Even Robert “Junior” Lockwood, the so-called son of Robert Johnson, made a reluctant appearance. “Hell of a way to make a living!” was caught by the live mike as Lockwood set up his chair at a forty-five degree angle to the audience. His frail, proud wife sat next to him as he ran several blues licks up and down his twelve string.

I was unfamiliar with the next act. Someone called Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. What looked like a group of aging bikers were checking the controls and plugging in, muscular white men with tatoos, graying at the temples. But soon they were kicking into several strong blues numbers. I recall trying to figure out which one was “Brown”. Ten minutes into the set, they began laying down a steady back beat, loud and strong. One of the muscle men grabbed a microphone and shouted: “C L A R E N C E “G A T E M O U T H” B R O W NNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” A spotlight highlighted the back of the stage, where a frail black man appeared disoriented. He looked panic-stricken to the left and to the right. Two of the back-ups went back to him, each taking an arm and guiding him to the microphone. They had to actually point him toward the audience and place a guitar in his hands, gently lifting the strap over his head.

Gate mumbled into the mike: “Don’t try this at home.” Then he tore into his guitar in a blues crescendo that went into outer space. He came back initially as Jimi Hendrix, then ventured into space again, returning as Stevey Ray Vaughn. His final foray brought him back as Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown. I stood in awe, wondering where an aged 140 lb. man found such power.

Gate’s set was fast and furious. He made the fiddle talk. He was all over several harmonicas and a mandolin. The audience was more aware than me and knew just when to shout “alligator-eatin’ dog!” I soon learned.

His albums don’t do him justice. See him live if you can.

TMS

11

PART ONETHE STORY OF ZEV***

by zev in

with all the stories coming out on the board, which i know gwen and i greatly enjoyed reading them, prompted me a few weeks ago to start my own.

this is part one, and thanks to amazing, duncan and hillary for their inspirations and getting me motivated.. cheers!.

part one...the early years.. this will be a work in progress folks.. as i write ill post the parts.

TMS

Zev,

I will eagerly "stay tuned".

TMS