Posts by Pete Zahut

25

A baffling physics question

by FatFreek 2005 in

for several weeks i've been treating myself to a hot chocolate milk (well, soymilk) before bedtime.

some 16 oz soymilk which i heat on high in our microwave oven.

this is just enough time where the liquid begins to bubble along the top edge.. i then take it out of the microwave and place it on my kitchen gram scale, stir it good enough to redistribute the heat, then reset the scale to zero grams.. next, i squeeze in the hershey's sytup, "special dark mildly sweet chocolate" (fat free) into the warmed soymilk till the scale reads some 30 grams.

Pete Zahut

I'm guessing evaporation is the issue you asked about originally but more importantly, have you read the ingredients in Hershey's Syrup?

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. made from corn syrup by converting the dextrose (another sugar) into fructose, which is sweeter..
WATER.
COCOA* Also known as cocoa powder. ...
CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF: POTASSIUM SORBATE, PRESERVATIVE. also know as sorbic acid potassium salt.
MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES vegetable, synthetic, or animal (cow- or hog-derived). Used to blend ingredients such as oil and water.
XANTHAN GUM. ...also known as corn sugar gum.
POLYSORBATE 60. ...Typically a composite of animal, vegetable, and synthetic substances that allows oil and water to stay mixed together.
VANILLIN, ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR * made from potash and dimethyl sulfate:

At the risk of raining on your parade, it's loaded with high fructose corn syrup....terrible for inflaming and roughening the interior of your arteries and causing them to collect the cholesterol in your blood, rather than letting it pass by and be filtered out. Between the lactose in the milk, and the high fructose corn syrup, not to mention, the caffeine in the chocolate, I don't know how you can possibly sleep.

If you're hell bent on drinking this stuff, there is a new version that uses pure cane sugar rather instead of the High Fructose Corn Syrup. - Pete Zahut

9

Between two worlds

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

after knowing the ttatt i felt anger of all the lies i was told for years.

then, i did some changes in my life to the better.

i was doubting but felt relieved.

Pete Zahut

Yes, I can relate to all of the things you mentioned.

I must say that from reading other people's post about this topic and looking back on my own experience, I'm of the opinion that there is more drama and fear on the part of the "fading" JW than is often necessary.

For me, there was a huge sense of relief that occurred once I made up my mind to leave once and for all. I discovered that so long as I skirted my way around the initial questions and reactions from JW friends and family,most of them couldn't care less so long as you didn't make them personally face anything or feel uncomfortable. I found that most JW's don't really care about proof or facts or whether or what they believe is actually true so long as they get to anesthetize themselves from facing reality.

The bigger deal you make of it, the more they will feel required to play the part of the loyal JW. If you seem nonplussed when they show concern about you gradually turning down meeting assignments or slowing down in attendance, they'll eventually get used to the idea.

The more excuses, apologies and explanations you offer, the more they'll push.

(After a period of time where you've been canceling out on assignments)

You: Brother Elder, in terms of parts on the meeting, you'll need to do without me for a while.

Elder: What's going on ....is there something wrong.

You: No, not at all...this is voluntary work and I'm taking a break from it for now.

Elder: Well we need you to help out, I've already got you down for several assignments.

You: Well It's never going to be convenient is it? But as I said, I'm a volunteer and I'm discontinuing my duties in that capacity for now.

Elder: There must be a reason for all of this.

You: Once again, I'm fine...I'm simply discontinuing my volunteer duties for a time.

Elder: I'm Going to have to talk to the other Elders and we may have to make some kind of announcement.

You: If you want to be that formal about it, that's entirely up to you, anyway, I just wanted to let you know so you can go about finding a replacement.

No excuses, no apologies, or explanations just a clear and direct message made with full eye contact, that you will not be doing parts in the meeting. You'll have to get used to not jumping in with an excuse or explanation during the awkward silences between questions. No looking down at the floor or body language the gives them the signal to treat you as if you're doing something wrong.

Make it clear to them that this is how it is, no if's and's or buts....they'll have to get used to it. They may be a little concerned about you but mostly they're concerned about how this impacts them and about how to get you to go back to doing what they want you to do.

25

Would you give up one year at the end of your life if you could relive any one day in the past?

by Esse quam videri in

like the question asks: if you could relive any one day of your life, any age, any place and remember everything about it afterwards, would you be willing to live one year shorter at the end of your life?

one day for one year?.

i realize that someone well on in years would think twice about it, but, what about you younger ones?

Pete Zahut

I could imagine how somebody who had a huge negative life altering experience or physical injury, would want a do-over, but right now, as many nice times as I've had over the years, I can't think of anything I'd like to live over again at the expense of losing a year of life.

13

Automatic Love

by TheFadingAlbatros in

jehovah's witnesses have a kind of automatic love for all their other co-religionists all around the world.. this kind of attachment can only be the result of a cult machinations.. real love needs real freedom, a strong personal motivation and enough time to be fully developed.. .

Pete Zahut

Claude,

As a father of 2 grown sons I can well imagine the kind of grief you must be feeling over the loss of your son. They are out there living their adult lives but somehow, you still worry about them, just as you did when they were small boys. It must bring you a measure of comfort to hear the genuine expressions of grief and love from his friends and to know that he had others who cared about him and to know this great loss matters deeply, to so many people.

The kind of love that JW's show can be genuine but it can also be cut off as quickly as it was earned. It's often a very shallow and conditional kind of love and unfortunately we only find this out just when we need it the most. I'm sorry that you too have been disappointed by those who should be there for you during this difficult experience.

Time will be a friend to you as you come to terms with your great loss and the grief will become more bearable with each passing day. Until then I wish you strength and courage.

-Pete

21

It's about progress, not perfection...

by scratchme1010 in

i guess at this point in time and space i'm ok if there's an indication of things going in the right direction.. my jw father, who joined the jws in 1973 when i was 8, has always had all the characteristics of the stereotypical brainwashed born again weirdo.

as a jw he always felt the need to show that he was more devoted than the rest of the crop.

to him, life became very easy from that point on: "the bible", interpreted by the millions of wt publications, along with the information in the meetings and getting involved in all jw activities, were the answer to everything and anything in his life".

Pete Zahut

Thanks for sharing this portion of your life's story. It sounds like you've accepted your fathers limitations as a person and there's a certain amount of peace to be had, in doing so.

30

I'm 90% PIMO but events in Russia made me stop and think maybe Jehovah is real and helping

by Isambard Crater in

jw
friends

i'm at the stage where i'd love a big scandal to come along showing clearly that the j.w's are not the true religion, but sometimes i get touched inside by various thoughts or events, the russian court trial being one of them.. i mean, j.w's are understandably fixated with attending the memorial, so why didn't the court say it will resume on monday or tuesday, instead setting wednesday 12 april as the date?

part of me believes the comments from pro-j.w's that jehovah moved events so they could attend the memorial.. it seems the j.w's will not be banned, which makes my mind and heart wrestle between thinking jah's behind it, or maybe the ministry of justice is just woefully prepared compared to the superb australian royal commission team who did their homework.

it surprises me the russians seemingly haven't done any homework..

Pete Zahut

Part of me believes the comments from pro-J.W's that Jehovah moved events so they could attend the Memorial.

It's amazing how superstitious otherwise rationally thinking people can be. The memorial is held after sundown so I doubt any of the court proceedings would be still in session at that time of night anyway. If Jehovah had his hand in any of this, why would it even be happening in the first place?

6

Florida's Key West settles JW's religious discrimination case

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

florida keys news, saturday 8 april 2017. key west to settle religious discrimination suit by former bus driver.

the city of key west has reached an agreement to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a former city bus driver who claimed religious discrimination fueled his firing after he refused to work during the nudity-filled fantasy fest.. bobby walker jr. sued the city march 3, 2016, nearly three months after the equal employment opportunity commission dismissed his claim over his firing.

he accused his bosses of mocking his religious beliefs and making derogatory comments about his race before firing him from the $13-an-hour job in retaliation when he complained.

Pete Zahut

He cried religious discrimination before with another bus company..
His lawyer didn't want that mentioned. (I guess not!)

Probably got fired for not working on Halloween night because of all the demonic costumes some of his passengers would be wearing.

8

Jehovah's Witnesses Knocking at my Front Door

by Richlist in

jw
friends

i have jw's knocking on my door about 4 times a year.

they walk along the whole street knocking on all the properties trying to hand out leaflets about god.. i always engage them in conversation.

my street has a very large number of oap's who could really do with some extra help.....grass cutting, shopping, cleaning, help around the house, gardening, diy etc.. never once have i been able to persuade any jw's to do something worthwhile for these residents.. i'm left with the thought that jw's don't want to do anything really worthwhile for these people.......why ?.

Pete Zahut

At lunch one day I had just come out of a deli with bag of food to eat in the park and spotted some JW's at a literature cart. I began speaking to them and told them my JW story and why I didn't believe anymore. Their smiles were suddenly replaced with disdainful looks and pursed lips.

As the elder type brother was speaking, a young pathetic homeless guy came up and asked us if we had any money we could spare him. The well dressed JW's looked at him as if he was garbage. They said No and visibly shuddered to themselves.

I said "Well I won't give you any money but are you hungry?" He replied yes so I gave him my bag of food. He tore into the bag and began stuffing his face right there next to us as if he was starving. The JW's looked ashamed and it was as if "fiery coals" of shame were heaped upon their heads. It occurred to me (and hopefully to them) that I had used my "service" as a JW, as a "Cop-out" a poor excuse for not having to actually do anything real for anybody.

That is one thing that has changed since I left the JW's. I got rid of the "superior attitude" in this regard and realized how many wonderful people there are out there who are making a real and tangible difference to those they may encounter who are in need of help.

34

Proof they are not a cult??

by lriddle80 in

jw
friends

the following is from a facebook post and..maybe i am missing something, but none of these items disprove them being in a cult.

jehovah's witnesses are often mistaken to be something else.

some say it a secret cult while others believe something else.......i'm very proud to tell you my readers that i'm one of jehovah's witnesses.. below are 17 facts that shows jehovah's witness is not a cult..... 1. there are currently about 8 million jehovah's witnesses around the world.. 2. an average of over 800 people become jehovah's witnesses daily.. 3. we keep coming to your doors even though we have regular jobs and family like you because we are admonished to do so by jesus christ.. 4. we do not participate in wars and for this reason more than 1600 jehovah's witnesses were killed by hitler.. 5. there are currently over 300 jehovah's witnesses in prison in south korea and egypt because they refused to stop preaching or enlist in the military.. 6. we don't salute the flag or say national anthems because we pledge our allegiance only to god.. 7. yes we have fun and party too so don't get that twisted.. 8. not many of us know the name of the president of our headquarters because we do not pay any reference to him he is a fellow servant of god just like the rest of us are.. 9. you earn the privilege of becoming a jehovah's witness.

Pete Zahut

Ok....so they think this list of unverifiable data somehow proves they are not a cult.

Any group can provide statistics like that and usually their numbers are more impressive. (Mormons, Scientologists etc) The issue I have with JW's is they think they are the only true religion and everyone else is going to be killed by God. What provable evidence can they provide that this is so?

4

We hid from JW's !!

by Phizzy in

jw
friends

well, not exactly hid, but we did what homeowners used to do to us when we were door knocking as jw's.. they trundled in to my street about half past four this afternoon, delivering memorial invitations, one jw lady who i have known since she was born, looked right at me through my street facing window, it was then i realised who they were.. i was semi-naked having just come in from sunbathing, and mrs phizzy said " i am not going to the door if they ring".

i said "well, i can't be arsed to get dressed so they can just ring !"..

eventually they sent a youngish lady who i did not recognise, she rang the bell, we did not answer, so she shoved the invite through the door.. i kind of feel strange about this, if they come to my door i usually chew the fat with them, but it also felt kind of liberating to just ignore them.. i do feel that they will think i was too cowardly to answer the door, which i know is not so, i simply could not be arsed, but then, who cares what they think ?

Pete Zahut

A couple of years ago I was doing some survey work on a public street. I was dressed in nice office clothes and was just verifying some boundary markers for a City Project and my company vehicle was parked next to me.

I saw a carload of JW's working their way down the street. Finally two nicely dressed middle aged women walked right past me and I could see the memorial invitations in their hands.The ladies had sort of reddish tinted hair and were wearing the obligatory loose colorful scarves draped around their neck like you see in all the JW videos.

I smiled and said Hi to them and looked closely at what they had in their hands. They smiled and said hello back.

After they passed, I said with a smile "So...don't I get an invitation??"

They turned around and were all smiles and started walking back toward me.

I said, "You're Jehovah's Witnesses right??

They both said in unison "Yes we are" and they seemed pleased that I'd have recognized who they were.

I said, "I used to be a Jehovah's Witness and when I was out handing out memorial invites, I used to think it was really important to give them to everyone I saw especially if they said hello. I was surprised you passed right by me."

They looked down at their shoes and as usual I felt bad for them and sort of annoyed at myself for being kind of mean, so I just made some feeble joke that let them off the hook and soon everything was right again.

Long story short, they wanted to know why I wasn't a JW anymore. I told them how I was a former Bethelite and of the circumstances (family death over the blood issue etc) that led to our entire family leaving the JW's.

They seemed genuinely troubled by what they heard but as usual, they suddenly had to go.

I've had several encounters like this with JW's , in public and at my own door but I've found that they are so blown away by my situation, that either they simply can't deal with the thought that anything like that could happen in their perfect organization or they know of similar things happening but must force themselves not to think about it too much.

Lately on the rare occasion that they've come to my door, I've done the H.B.H. (home, but hiding) routine like you did because it's too sad and frustrating to see them trying to reconcile their fantasy with the real world when they are confronted with it. But you're right, I does make you feel a bit odd for some reason.