Posts by Winston Smith :>D

30

First ever posting

by ddean3673 in

jw
friends

ok, i've been staring at post after post for hours, done weeks of digging on the web, without speaking to a soul.

i figure everyone had to start somewhere, so i just decided to throw it out.. i only recently came out of my "lockdown" phase (where you don't even speak about your feelings about "the truth") and have just started looking around.

i know you guys can see my profile, etc, but i had to post this and just ask for some direction.

Winston Smith :>D

Welcome dean!

You have one hell of a road ahead of you, but you're in good company here.

For me to heal and find myself, I found the following things helpful:

1. Post here whenever you need to get tihngs off of your chest

2. Call and talk to members here.

3. Read CoC by Ray Franz. You should do this to rid yourself of the WTS phobias

4. Read a "Self discovery" information.

For me, the following book was infinitely helpful, plus it saved me from becoming wrapped up in other groups that would havebeen destructive to my "True Authentic Self"

http://www.goldhammer.com/publications.htm

UNDER THE INFLUENCE:
The Destructive Effects
of Group Dynamics
by:
John D. Goldhammer

Good luck!

25

silly half-awake experiences

by missy04 in

jw
friends

lol i don't know about you guys but i do silly stuff while i am half awake and in my sleep.. this morning i woke up at about 4-5am and heard "ding-dong!

" i thought 'omg!

it's like 4am somebody must be screwing with our heads!

Winston Smith :>D

That half awake/half asleep stage is the best time to access your sub-conscious mind
Tex

Yep Missy, I have some of my most profound, creative ideas at these moments.

I used to write immediately write them down, but have gotten out of that habit.

I should start up again...

35

Welcome Newbies!!!!!

by kls in

jw
friends

we seem to be having on run on new members,,,,,,,yippie .

.

welcome to all you newbies glad you decided to join us.

Winston Smith :>D

Man, oh, man is jehover ever blessing our X-JW community!

Glad to see all you n00bs here, there are so many every week!

It's really nice to see

17

Child abuse cases allege Jehovah's Witness cover-up

by Bryan in

child abuse cases allege jehovah's witness cover-up friday, january 7, 2005. .

by david ryan.

register staff writer.

Winston Smith :>D

...

30

No more meetings for me!

by cyberguy in

well, after being out-of-town for nearly 2 months, i?ve decided i can no longer go to any meetings after returning home (not that i was going to that many beforehand).

i?m not sure what is happening to me, but i?ve actually developed an aversion to anything "watchtower!

" i cannot even read the literature, including current awake and watchtower magazines, without getting extremely nauseous!

Winston Smith :>D

Good for you!

Sick feeling? You bet. I'm surprised you made it this long on the board and still went to meetings here and there!

Best wishes to ya bud

Paul

17

The Tsunami: A Time For New Architechture?

by Valis in

you know after the tsunami, i started thinking about discussions and ideas our good friend jim_tx talks about sometimes.

maybe some of the architechtural damage could have been avoided by stuff that "went w/the flow" as it were.

i was imagining islands covered w/domes instead of hut like or even regular style asian buildings.

Winston Smith :>D

you cannot build a house anywhere ( under this new international code) within 100 feet of a water line.
franklin

Hi Franklin,

Is this for a residential home, or is this a commercial multi-family structure?

WI has adopted portions of the IBC and relevant mechanical international codes [plumbing, etc..] for the commercial WI building code, but has not adopted the IBC in it's entirety.

For the residential building code in WI [UDC, Uniform Dwelling Code], there are minor influences of the International Code [I think pertaining to firewalls, etc..], but the majority of the UDC in WI is not pertinent to the International Code. There was a recent revision in November '04, but still no IBC AFAIK. [just checked site]. We were under BOCA either.

I ask about the 100' because a 100' rule to any water line, I would imagine, is causing a stir for clients who own property on small water frontage lots. Many of the existing homes must be closer than 100'? What happens when they want to remodel? When the lot is substandard or is irregular in shape?

In WI we have a statewide 75'-0" minimum for residential construction. That is being dropped to 35'-0" in the future for some areas because of the remodeling being done on lakes. Rich clientele [typically out of town or state] make up a big tax base in these smaller communities and have a large voice.

The concern I have with building too close on the ocean [or other bodies of water] is relevant to erosion, flooding and who will insure and then pay for a structure after it is overtaken by the ocean or from erosion? Is it a taxpayer's responsibility? Insurance companies? Is "the more responsible thing" to build farther off of bodies of water to avoid flooding and erosion problems? People buy property in these areas to be "on the ocean" and have a view. Should we no longer allow for the remodeling of existing structures that are substandard in construction and setbacks and force these structures to meet the new construction guidelines?

You're such a sqaure!
Bethany

That's cute.

I guess I am an architecture nerd. Nothing can be as exciting, other than fast, well-built cars.
I agree with Franklin that structure can be exciting [typically engineering is looked on as boring compared to the flashy aspects of architecture].
Good architecture affects everyone's lives far more than they realize. Whether it's a poorly planned subdivision, a well lit school or office, or even furniture.
Sit all day in a $50 Office Depot chair and then sit in a Aeron Chair from Herman Miller. Your ass will thank you, and you will be more productive in an Aeron chair.

Hi 72580,
I'll keep my eyes on blockbuster for it. If it doesn't come out there, I'll check out Amazon.

17

The Tsunami: A Time For New Architechture?

by Valis in

you know after the tsunami, i started thinking about discussions and ideas our good friend jim_tx talks about sometimes.

maybe some of the architechtural damage could have been avoided by stuff that "went w/the flow" as it were.

i was imagining islands covered w/domes instead of hut like or even regular style asian buildings.

Winston Smith :>D

Concrete never looked so good. I like the work of Louis Khan and Richard Meier as well.

I think concrete is an underutilized material in residential construction. There are new products on the residential market that take advantage of the array of benefits using concrete for floors and walls. Benefits like thermal massing, cantilevering floors with foam forms, in-floor and wall heat, acid staining floors, foam wall forms, the options are endless. Le Corbusier was well ahead of his time with this plastic building material.

I am a fan of Khan and Meier as well.

You didn't by chance see Khan's son's movie, "My Architect", have you? I would like to see that when it's on DVD.

17

The Tsunami: A Time For New Architechture?

by Valis in

you know after the tsunami, i started thinking about discussions and ideas our good friend jim_tx talks about sometimes.

maybe some of the architechtural damage could have been avoided by stuff that "went w/the flow" as it were.

i was imagining islands covered w/domes instead of hut like or even regular style asian buildings.

Winston Smith :>D

The much revered, but also maligned, architect Le Corbusier is known for his Machine Art/International Style of architecture.
He was forward thinking and typically ahead of his time. He did some residential work that is noteworthy today, but some consider him to be revolutionary in the area of Urban Planning.

His proposals were founded on the idea that greenspace should be preserved as much as possible.
To do this, he would work with a minimal footprint and go vertical, making a neighborhood run straight up rather than stretch it horizontally, using up valuable greenspace.
Buildings would be spaced out to allow for parks in between all buildings. The buildings themselves were forward thinking for a few reasons.

One, he would incorporate greenspace in top of all buildings to make up for the lost footprint of the building.

But the second point is that this greenspace wasn?t even lost, because he proposed to build the structures on piers.

His idea was that the piers would preserve the greenspace as much as possible.
The additional benefit addresses what is discussed here, minimizing flooding damage. I do not think that this was necessary his intent, but it would be the end result.

By maximizing greenspace, another benefit in relation to flooding would be that the waters would be absorbed by the greenspace faster than if it the waters were overcoming a full, concrete jungle.

I have never been a fan of geodesic domes. I find them an eyesore, would imagine a pain to construct, and a pain to keep air/water tight.
Tight in the scope of energy efficiency and rain tight. This doesn?t even begin to address stopping the flood waters from breaking the integrity of the structure.

Water exerts tremendous amounts of pressure and I would find it easier to design a structure that allowed water to pass through rather than to try and stop it.

I can?t find too much on the web RE: this idea, but here is one link on this regards:

http://tesugen.com/archives/04/06/corbus-city-of-tomorrow

This is a review of a apartment/hotel that is still in use:

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/0-9/4travel/places-to-stay/france/le-corbusier/review.html

13

www.jwgift.org

by Ozner2 in

friends, whats your opinion about www.jwgift.org ?

first creditcard acceptpoints in congreshalls in the netherlands, now an internet creditcard donationsite, official of wts brittain.

just see this as using only new technics for getting donations or is it big business now?

Winston Smith :>D

Again, "beg" is the wrong word. Perhaps we'll just have to agree to disagree on that.

I can concede on that word. Maybe 'beg' is too desperate.

Can we instead use the word "Godly Reminder ?"

Alex, I'll take Loaded Language for $1,000

Nor do the JWs bring up money that often.

That's debatable. Define "often". And in what context?

At Public Talks and in the WatchTower I would say that "Godly Reminders ?" happen less often than could be found in the OKM or assemblies/conventions. By way of comparison I'd say that dragging out the cardboard collection plate for every break at a convention is a "Godly Reminders ?". Granted, it is a subdued reminder, but let's not dismiss the loaded language and implied judgments of the WTS on those that do not "Honor God with their Earthly Treasures ©"

Other religions -- who do believe in the "Lord of the mountains of god" mind you -- talk about money and ask for it much, much more than the JWs do. ... Comparing religion for religion the JWs fare far better than any major sect I've seen.

I didn't realize that we were debating the net worth of religious groups. And if we are, I agree with you here.

The point of this discussion was the level of pride that the WTS has in reminding followers and potential converts how god is blessing their efforts and therefore there is no need for them to pass the collection plate around or make straight out requests for money.

You Regular Pioneered, right Bradley? I know when I was Pioneering there were more than a few occasions where I said with pride to a householder how the JW's DO NOT pass a collection plate around. It is a point pride that other religions do not make to the same level that the WTS does.

As for your "Shouldn't Jah just provide" argument -- this would be explained that Jah does provide, but his servants go about doing "His work." It's actually a common theological way of explaining things. Whether this involves a tasteful -- yes, tasteful -- recommendation for contributions doesn't seem very relevant. God "speaks" through his channel, it would be said.

Well, rationalization is the second strongest human emotion. A R&F JW can rationalize other things well beyond money that are far less rational.

But in regards to money, I can think of examples that were given from the platform that noted how a pioneering couple had rent due but no money and the day before rent was due a check for the exact amount magically appeared in the mail for this God Fearing couple. Praise Jah!

I think I'm going to go balance my checkbook.

Hope your in the black

Best,

Paul

17

1/04/05: JW Ignore Tsunami And Praise Themselves for US Hurrican Cleanup

by GermanXJW in

jw
friends

i am really grasping for words.. .

you may remember the thread about the watchtower sites ignoring the south asian disaster:http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/82640/1.ashx.

yesterday, they updated their website http://www.jw-media.org/.. .

Winston Smith :>D

Bradley,

LOL, looks like we are addressing the same topic on two threads. I replied on the other one. No need to do it again here.

Sorry if it's coming across as mad, just posting when I should be working Guess I'm leaving some proper manners behind when replying in my rushed style this morning, my apologies for that.

Yes, I'm looking FWD to seeing you in Chicago as well. Can't wait!

Best,

Paul