Ham

before I comment.. It's another cliche.. but what in the hell does "going to hell in a handbasket" mean? :)

Interesting.. what's missing from that list is "physical" "emotional" or "monetary". just the omission is rather striking..

I didn't think it was exactly legal for them to summarily close someone's account either..

Happy Birthday!

isn't it interesting that we likely know far more about twi's financial comings and goings than any regular "follower".. it's far more than I EVER saw You'd think they'd play nice and just hand out a financial statement.. but no. you have to get "possessed" on the "evil internet" to get the information..

besides.. who needs a whole loaf, when a few crumbs are more than enough.. sounds kinda "needs and wants not parallel" to me.. isn't the loaf concept "greedy"?

I was in school.. first grade. I didn't entirely understood the ramifications of that happened..

BF Skinner proposed something rather radical in the sixties.. that man essentially doesn't have freedom of will.. just conditioned and wired in response.. or something like that. having "needs" such as wanting love, belonging.. it has been shown that it is mostly learned behavior formed early in childhood. some people who lost the stability offered by belonging to a functional family like myself, both parents dead by the time I was in high school, were an easy target.

I think mark and avoid has always been a tool in their crib, despite uncle howie's mouthing about how "yall's welcome at da way.." and for a long time that was the system.. til the loyster passed out that little paper with "scriptures to adhere to".. then it was "official". I understand they now claim it never happened.. all I can say is, try a little stroll on way property as a "former follower" who just wants to see what they've done with the dump.. and see how non-mark and avoid they are.. or just "show up" to a sns.. If one could get in, that would suggest at least a drastic change in unwritten policy..

I currently drive a used Kia Sephia. Four cylinder.. fairly decent on the gas.. I trolled the lots for something used, good, small, and American first.. but all there were were rather large SUV's and Vans.. whole lots full of them.. and that was five years ago. I would own a modern, energy efficient american auto if I could..

have you considered.. just put a kittie box (at least temporarily) at this secret spot? just a thought.. I just wonder what would come of it.. like slowly "migrate" the secret spot to where it really belongs.. well.. just another nutsy idea.. I'm sure you've tried almost everything.. your kitties doppelgangers have taken a "liking" to a small christmas tree in the house.. it is about a meter or so tall.. sometimes when we are not looking.. it ends up on it's side, and the little ornaments are scattered all over the house. The solid black female will play with the ornaments for hours on end.. so I've designated the small tree the cat's tree.

I think that can be helpful.. and at the same time, perhaps it helps to actually know what one is forgiving FOR. I've been given a blanket "love ya brother, I forgive you.." and next week, I'm the devil again.. some rather TRIVIAL statement I made fifteen years ago.. who knows, maybe it really DID hurt someone. But if we are going to forgive, let's at least be specific about what we're forgiving for.. something like.. "I forgive you for being a cowardly, blood sucking, defaming, abusive, womanizing scoundrel of a son of a leach.." then we're getting somewhere at least.. that might be the LAST thing the perpetrator wants to hear.. a pretty honest description of his or her character.. but I think it does a little more.. I don't think people can really let go without counting the cost.. "I forgive you for offering me a short cut to success that turned out to be yet another spiritual, mental and physical dead end in life.." then I went back to school..

even if they are *less* confrontational.. and what does that mean anyway? We'll just beat you with a bare fist instead of using brass knuckles? How does that "entitle" them to love, respect, and financial support? the real "kicker" is the kind of hoops one has to jump through before they would even take one's money.. maybe they just know it.. if one won't jump, one won't "abundantly" give.. no money? well.. youre a pimple on the debil's rear or something.. don't want to "waste" their time..

what with the very *public* talk by Ralphie and public challenge by John Juedes.. he runs to the safety of whatever nest it is they've got to offer over there.. it's really pathetic.. if all else fails, go where you aren't challenged. forget the "real world".. I dunno.. a lot of those guys were in his days of corps training, were they not? Perhaps he got them "conditioned" like circus animals to the point he just has to say the right kind of keywords and display certain mannerisms, and they automatically slobber all over him with praise and throw him money..

some of them probably exclaim with tears in their eyes.. *Garsh.. a cewebwity, fwom the good old days..*.. well.. he seems to fit in SOMEWHERE.. just "somewhere" appears to be an awkward hybrid between a country club and a "retirement" home..

Is this the same gal in a graduate program, or am I mistaking her for someone else?

developing enough solar and wind and bio plants might be part of the answer.. of course that would almost require an effort not too much less than entirely replacing infrastructure to begin with.. the wind farms do appear to be popping up, but not so much around here. I don't think people have a clue at times, how much WORK use of cheap foreign oil circumvents. We are like junkies, addicted to cheap energy.. then there's the "mental" aspect of it too.. cheap, foreign oil.. it turns off the imagination.. the exercise of intellect to come up a rationalization to live with a more expensive option.. and as long as there's the "good life".. there's no reason to even think about it.. or research real alternatives, for a lot of people anyway.. steel industry would have to retool.. to more effecient methods. We have for the most part, seventy year old formerly energy sucking foundries lieing waste.. government itself seems to be addicted to cheap oil.. and do what is necessary in the world to procure it.. a threat to oil is a threat to national security.. and some little regime somewhere better not get in way of the bully's next "fix".. I think the people want change.. it's easier to change one step at a time.. rather than face extreme circumstances one is not prepared for. Although that might be what's in store. So you go to the store.. and there's a choice.. a cheap, chinese 100 watt tungsten light bulb for fifty eight cents.. it is more useful as a heater, than producing visible light. Then there's a cheap, fancy chinese florescent equivalent, that uses one third the energy, and produces practically no waste in terms of heat.. and it will last longer than it's energy hoggish neighbor.. but it costs $2.99, and will last five times longer or more.. of course we'll have to figure a way to recover the mercury out of it.. just not dump it in the landfill or something.. "mister, mister.. give me the CHEAP one.. come on.. gimme the cheap...." The new little white LED's are pretty nifty though. They are even more expensive.. but they produce NO heat. Just light.. enough of them ganged together and one can have the equivalent of a 100 watt light bulb, operating costs roughly one tenth or better, and.. with normal use, they will probably last fifty years.. I look at it more like an investment. Twenty to fifty bucks, depending on the size.. for the last light bulb you will ever buy.. if they are poor, the grandkids will be fighting over who gets it in the will..

anybody who hasn't had their world turned upside down.. haven't lived yet.. :) I've had something like that happen.. God bless you friend..

It's Clapton, unplugged.. I used to think Clapton was "dirty".. then my world view changed.. :) What'll you do when you get lonely And nobody's waiting by your side? You've been running and hiding much too long. You know it's just your foolish pride. Layla, you've got me on my knees. Layla, I'm begging, darling please. Layla, darling won't you ease my worried mind. I tried to give you consolation When your old man had let you down. Like a fool, I fell in love with you, Turned my whole world upside down. Let's make the best of the situation Before I finally go insane. Please don't say we'll never find a way And tell me all my love's in vain. :) and.. nobody loves you.. when youre down and out.. Patty could have told him to go screw himself.. well.. it's a chance we take..

"don't trust anyone over thirty.." I hope I get an exemption..

sorry. the board must be schizophrenic tonight.. honestly, I hit the post button once..

now if there are better options, now is the time to hear them..

I hear they start shifts by group chants.."the customer is ALWAYS right.. the customer is ALWAYS right.." this "customer" says.. "you are working for a company that is run by a**holes".. "the customer is ALWAYS right.. the customer is ALWAYS right.." I feel like we're living in times more significant than the sixties..

The way I look at it.. government isn't going to enact any kind of tarriff.. on petroleum, durable products.. basically nothing.. the chinese government isn't going to significantly change anything, other than (literally) axe a few scapegoat "officials".. the ONLY GUY IN THIS SITUATION.. who has ANY kind of power- is the poor palooka who struts into walley world.. it's really pathetic.. but I think that's the way it is.. I fight the bastards fifty eight cents at a time..

and industrialists goods are stained with blood. At least one chinese government official took the blame for an environmental release of tons of benzene and equally nasty stuff in the Songhua river.. basically because the China power company was operating on a shoestring.. didn't have enough infrastructure built to circumvent it.. cheap power. that's what fuels a lot of this insanity.. and one official paid for it with his life.. that's what an "official" is there for.. when something goes wrong..