Posts by GrreatTeacher

6

Any cyclist participate in critical mass?

by Protarded in

for those unfamiliar with critical mass, it's a mass bike ride through many major cities on the last friday of each month.

i was not very familiar with the ride until my hethen, worldly, unjudgemental, friend invited me last night.

after googling it, i found that it's pretty controversial.

GrreatTeacher

Sorry so late. I haven't checked in in a few days.

He has the right away when turning left just like any other driver. It could be state differences in bicycle rules, very possibly.

In Maryland, bikes follow driving laws and are treated like any other vehicle. You can actually get pulled over for a DUI when biking.

My point was that traffic following the bike while making a left turn is often very impatient because they have to follow a slower vehicle. They will sometimes try to drive around the bike which is dangerous and sometimes get angry and throw things at the biker.

This is assuming the biker legitimately has the right of way and are turning on green or an arrow and are in front of the following vehicle. In this case the biker would have the right of way.

Right turns are not nearly as problematic because the bike can hug the shoulder. Crossing intersections seems to really raise the ire of other drivers.

Again, state laws vary and maybe I wasn't so clear in my original comment.

6

Any cyclist participate in critical mass?

by Protarded in

for those unfamiliar with critical mass, it's a mass bike ride through many major cities on the last friday of each month.

i was not very familiar with the ride until my hethen, worldly, unjudgemental, friend invited me last night.

after googling it, i found that it's pretty controversial.

GrreatTeacher

My husband cycles and is nearly hit often. Sometimes because drivers are just not looking out for cyclists, but other drivers are more cynical. He's had things thrown at him. This even happens when he has the right of way, say turning left at a red light. Drivers just don't want to slow down.

I like the critical mass ride because it lets drivers know that cyclists are out there and they have the same rights as other drivers. It also brings visibility to the need for bike lanes and other cyclist and pedestrian friendly access on public roadways.

Enjoy your new hobby! You get exercise, fresh air and a different perspective on the area. A better choice than sitting in a windowless box for 2 hours on a Sunday morning.

13

Yahweh and Jesus Lose the Quickbuild Crown

by fulltimestudent in

quickbuild's are something the jws crow about a lot as evidence of yahweh's "spirit" working on them, but amongst the puffery' there was a solid fact that the buildings were often the result of good planning rather than divine assistance.. and, in most cases the buildings were seldom built in a weekend.

a concrete slab foundation needed time to dry out before walls could be built.

and before the slab could be poured, the ground had to be levelled and services like plumbing and drainage roughed in.

GrreatTeacher

They like to brag that it's like an Amish barnraising. Except it's not.

43

Jesus Saves From What? March 2015 Watchtower Article

by Perry in

i just skimmed the titled article on jw.org and once again the watchtower is misdirecting:.

http://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/wp20150301/jesus-death-and-resurrection/ .

they try and make the old case that jesus saves us from being destroyed at armageddon.

GrreatTeacher

I think Perry actually just admitted a very important thing: that he couldn't manage to live a successful life on his own.

Doesn't this sound like AA when alcoholics admit that their lives have become unmanageable? Then AA provides the structure to get their lives back on track? Fundamentalist Christianity serves the same role as AA. It provides structure for people who are having life difficulties.

And when they preach, it's like they assume that everyone else is having difficulties, too. It's like it is relieving to believe and tell others that everyone is a sinner. I think that's ultimately what is so offensive to others. It sounds like an assumption that everyone's life is as messed up as yours.

Many of us have happy marriages, children and careers. We haven't ever needed the structure of religion to keep us on the straight and narrow, in fact that life sounds suffocating and detrimental to healthy living and happiness. We neither want nor need to blame the bad things in our life on Satan and we don't need a god to help us to handle life.

I can't imagine anything more miserable than being involved in the strictures of religion again. Why can't fundamentalists realize that their heaven feels like hell to us?

9

My grandson

by James Mixon in

us berkeley news center, "young bug enthusiast meets .

his hero, e. wilson.

maybe someone can post it.. i sent this to my other grandkids that are jw.. my grandson is nuts about bugs, lol..

GrreatTeacher

What a cute little guy! You know, sometimes meeting someone like this that you look up to really cements in your mind your value as a scholar.

I hope he holds this meeting in his heart and mind and uses it to provide inspiration for his academic career.

You must be so proud!

102

A couple questions for atheists on Suffering

by little_Socrates in

who told you that the world should be free from suffering?.

do you find any value in suffering?.

do you think it is possible to experience all the beauty and goodness and pleasure the world offers without also experiencing the bad?

GrreatTeacher

LisaRose, you hit the nail on the head. Just because a person may have survived suffering and then have gained some strength from the situation doesn't then make that suffering good or desireable or even purposeful.

I think some here are arguing that a silver lining in a cloud is a good thing while I think the existence of the cloud in the first place is the problem if you believe in a benevolent, omnicient god.

25

Rainham residents upset about plans for Jah Jireh care home for Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Simon in

(posted for andersonsinfo).

people are protesting against plans to build a large care home for jehovahs witnesses behind their houses.. homeowners living in the bloors lane area of rainham have lodged objections to proposals by the jah jireh charity, which specialises in spiritual and physical care for followers of the religion.. people living in neighbouring homes say it is too big and its three storeys will dwarf their properties.. .

what the care home will look like.

GrreatTeacher

Nimbyism - Not In My Back Yard

I feel for the homeowners. I wouldn't want a 3 story commercial building in my residential neighborhood, either.

I wonder if it is considered residential or commercial, though? As far as zoning is concerned.

11

Dating After Leaving?

by Garrett in

hey guys,.

this is going to be a topic of a different nature.

so, while i am not looking to date at the current moment since i'm still trying to figure out who i am and what i want life, i do want to start dating in the near future.. my issue is that i've been in for almost all my life and it's left a big hole when it comes to my romantic life.. i was wondering, after leaving, did any of you date?

GrreatTeacher

I met my husband at work. I was the only girl on a huge construction site, so I had my pick. My now husband was a little too goofy and crazy and I resisted his DAILY question, "When are you going to go out with me?" for 6 months. I finally went out with him to shut him up and I found that he was a little different away from the bravado of the construction site. He was really a nice guy!

I didn't really bring up the JW stuff til later down the line. I probably mentioned it before meeting my family for the first time. He actually stopped by my family house to visit and my mother was cutting something in the kitchen and shook a knife at him saying "Why is he here?" I can't believe he stuck around after that!

We dated and were married within 2 years. It was family pressure on both sides to hurry up and get married. JW parents and Catholic parents in 1992 thought we should be married before we lived together. If I had to do it over again, probably would've waited a little longer to get married. We were both very young.

But, Thursday we'll have been married for 22 years! And still in love. I get excited when he comes in the door at the end of the workday. We're very happy and I definitely feel like I made a great decision.

Trust your gut feelings about people. And give shy people a chance. Be patient and wait for the one who feels right. With time, you'll find the right person for you.

22

Utah to bring back firing squads

by cofty in

are parts of the usa in a different century from europe?.

why don't they just stone them to death?.

GrreatTeacher

Yes, Utah is a nearly entirely Mormon state. And blood atonement is the doctrine that requires blood to be shed to atone for sins. That's why they want firing squads brought back.

Utah would be #50 on my list of states that I would like to live in.

15

"Millions Will Attend -Will You?" Mea Culpa!

by Joe Grundy in

dubs are working the housing estate where i live.

i was outside my house, applying some tlc to my old jag (worshiping worldly things?)..

one old guy, half a dozen middle-aged and upwards ladies.

GrreatTeacher

Heaven, I've been stressing over that exact thing. Should the argyle socks and the athletic socks be separated? I just can't decide. Maybe a little wine and some crackers will make my head a little clearer on this subject...