rhino

good thoughts there dakotawind (and RonG). You gave some great ideas ... inspiring even And with a few chemicals and a knowledgeable neighbor, the job can be simplified to where it doesn't seem overwhelming. Growing some tomatoes and squash, maybe some melons and beans, lettuce and corn ... can be really simple ... And there are probable some folks around that would love to help with advice at least. I shop at Aldi's ... I find their quality better than Sav-A-Lot or other discount groceries.

Well, here is what I didn't quite grasp That last line seemed like a doozy, but your last post makes some sense ... I think :) Maybe Oprah will bring world peace ... but she doesn't seem a passive observer, more like one that makes it happen by her mental powers ...

I checked to see when they started., since they didn't use to play so many games ... it seems they started as the White Stockings and beat the Cardinals (the Browns then) 47-1 in their first game in 1870. They became the Cubs in the early 1900's, winning the world series in 1907 and 1908, the last time they won. So maybe they are due, after 100 years. They started a little slow, but have been gangbusters since ... The print media used the nickname Colts and then the Orphans for brief periods before ultimately being dubbed the Cubs in the early 1900s.[citation needed] The name Chicago White Stockings was adopted in 1900 by another Chicago team, which was to be part of the newly formed American League. GO CUBBIES (except against the Cardinals)

Well I tried that with twi, but someone else got all the money :o I'm lost here really ... I don't know what "new age" is all about ... does it include the power of the mind ... to overcome and be happy ... think positive, don't worry be happy? Well that is interesting ... sort of an evolved philosophy? But from the Fox quote, Tolle arrived at this by being homeless and then moving out west and then it all came to him, like by revelation, the way it was described. It does seem we have almost derided the traditional in favor of some charlatans ..but then maybe there is nothing new under the sun. Actually I'm lost in your terminology, mostly. But it seems with our new age of instant communication with all news and every philosophy ... wikipedia and google will save us all ... or destroy us. I don't know what it means, it just seemed interesting that the Oprah trademark (is Oprah also a person ) has added a "religion" to its brand ... or that is sorta how it struck me. It reminds me of Wal-Mart expanding into the grocery business with its superstores ... and putting local groceries out of business ... Is Oprah (or WalMart) like a black hole? They reach a certain size and just start sucking in everything around them ... Oprah is helping name presidential candidates and adding millions to the Tolle experience ... just because she is Oprah ... but maybe it is a good thing to discuss ... Oprah is probably big enough to be beyond a cult, she may be a religion ... people faithfully listen to her, and she rakes in millions by promoting products ... she makes double what Spielberg makes ... surely that qualifies as major religion level income.

Well, I cut down three trees yesterday ... the earth is used to being icier ... but the heck with that .. I'm trying to warm it up. I do have some ceremonial freon that I will release ... to try to warm things up. The earth is used to ice ... this warm spell we are in is abnormal ... there is a close correlation between variations in the sunspot cycle and Earth's climate. The previous time a cycle was delayed like this was in the Dalton Minimum, an especially cold period that lasted several decades from 1790. Northern winters became ferocious: in particular, the rout of Napoleon's Grand Army during the retreat from Moscow in 1812 was at least partly due to the lack of sunspots. That the rapid temperature decline in 2007 coincided with the failure of cycle No.24 to begin on schedule is not proof of a causal connection but it is cause for concern. It is time to put aside the global warming dogma, at least to begin contingency planning about what to do if we are moving into another little ice age, similar to the one that lasted from 1100 to 1850. Earth day ... does it make you feel dirty?

He didn't say he was the only one ... and he was not the savior ... who was saved? He confronted some people, but TWI was not "saved". They continued with biz as usual. The bad guys kept everything, Ralph went out and started over. He didn't even try to glom on to the many that left .. unless he is starting a new ministry I haven't heard of. What part are you saying was incorrect Hey? Was Ralph not part of the Yak twig? Did he not write those letters? Were people not told to not read the adultery paper? Just try to be a little more specific on what you think Ralph said that was a lie. Or describe a little better these "underhanded machinations" please.

Right ... I gotta respect that Ralph took the adultery paper to Walter and wanted action. When he talked to Geer and wrote the letter, he said... what are you going to do about it? He talked to lcm to the point lcm told him to back off. In my screen version (with some poetic license) when they confine Ralph and family, the angel of the lord appears and smites the oppressors, and Ralph drives home in the motor coach, with that and some of the gold as his severance pay. Then after all the smitten bodies are cleaned up, the whole place is returned to corn fields, and the money given to some real charity, or returned to the ABS'ers. But I'd say Ralph was the only one that seemed to insist on action and the only one willing to confront the problems. Like about adultery ... he said we have to let people know it is wrong and we don't practice it. Other just walked away, which is more what I did. My leaders left already, and I didn't bother trying to convert those that remained. I just told "my people". But no one else seemed to care.

I'm not involved in those discussions, and it would seem odd for outsiders to "invade" to try to save people from Oprah's dangerous philosophy. (I mean the "invaders" must apparently think it is dangerous). I suppose the article I linked was maybe a response to the hubbub that was already going on in Christian fundamentalist world. But I find it interesting that Oprah is not just discussing the book, but saying everyone should live their lives this way. I just wonder whether she says that to ensnare people deeper into her customer base, or whether she really believes it. Her remarks I quoted before seem to indicate she is a true believer in the "snow on the gas pumps" type revelation this guy seems to claim he received. Or at least she wants people to think she truly believes.

You make a lot of sense here Twinky ... And it makes me wonder, can there even be a "literal translation". Translated words are often not quite the same in meaning as the language translated from. And by the time the words get put in a sentence, just the structure of the language can add or subtract nuance. So "literal translation" is not really the "actual", it is changed and interpreted. So you either have the literal (actual) or you have the translation. A normal translation is always according to usage, I would think. At least, isn't that the idea of "translating"? I would suppose the term "literal translation" would indicate that the words were translated more directly, which may not make sense going from Greek to English. And idioms would not be revised to an approximate English version. It seems the idea of the expanded LTATU was to be able to translate more of the Greek or Aramaic emphasis that was otherwise lost due to brevity or differences in language. It was an attempt to correct for the inadequacies of the more direct translation ... as I see it. Whether it was done correctly and really added or subtracted ... I'll leave that answer to the scholars. :) As for WJC, it is a litte disappointing he seemed to go along with the vic or lcm, especially in his apparent willingness to bury the adultery study (did it really need research?). But it seems he put out some book for sale, so I guess he is staying busy. With the apparent psycho turmoil that was swirling around bizarro HQ world then, I suppose most residents were rather out of sorts ... to say the least.

Well no one looks at me funny when i put my finger in my ear in public ... That sounds more like some kind of sixties rap ... but I think even the hippies considered sex more than casual contact. It maybe should be documented just how nuts all that stuff became ... expounding on some of what Ralph discussed. Letting people die in the dorm under the special care of dottie and whoever ... people under extreme duress seem to have gone over the edge. I suppose when you think you are responsible for keeping the US from being overtaken by debil spurts ... it might drive you close to the brink. But some crossed over the brink and lived in some alternate universe, like gear and his two guns, or those holding Ralph "captive" with dobermans and armed "bless patrol". Who were they blessing anyway? It is hard for me to picture comic boy Mark Frontenac being willing to hold people captive, but there must have been some thugs there on security. I suppose this new group will fix all that stuff, but as you noted, starting with some of the same format doesn't seem like much of a new beginning. Will there be guns at the MS camp?

It seems rather obvious, doesn't it. In my day, before '86, I don't think that was outwardly taught, it was more like the secret teaching that gave the OK to those that were in on the sexcapades ... I think. Of course as you point out, it was obviously wrong doctrine, which was the real reason for keeping it hush hush. But I think that "inner sanctum" viewed it as superior knowledge, which no doubt added to problems in uniting the corps body, as those running things had this secret underworld. Of course then Schoenheit gets excommunicated for having the gall to point out the obvious .... and Cummins was apparently willing to overlook the obvious .. I forget exactly what Ralph said Walter's response was, but it seemed along the lines of not wanting to cause division. So much for "it is written" But maybe later it was the accepted policy for some time. When Jalvis came around after he had left twi, he did a little teaching at someone's house and I kinda groaned when he said he didn't know it was wrong ... and he said well, he probably could have, or should have figured it out. Duh ... If a clear headed person was on the scene in the meltdown period, I wonder if there could have been more legal action. Ralph was basically held against his will ....all the sexual abuse could have gone to court ... TWI could have been confiscated and turned over to its real membership ... then everyone could have voted on new leaders. All adulterers could have been sent packing, especially the ones that promoted it as doctrine. Other than lcm, how many really faced any punishment? Those that toed the party line actually got promoted. Apparently there was even a time when all the corps remaining got a paycheck. I think Foster smyth went to sell fish in Indianapolis ... it seems like it was the new window cleaning replacement sort of like "I go a fishing" Ha ...

I briefly tried it and prefer Firefox ... I hear it is faster, not sure if it is safer.

WOW ... several pieces there I hadn't heard, though maybe it is in the archives somewhere. It seems Ralph made the sensible decision about not jumping into a splinter. I hope he is doing well. I was a little surprised he didn't seem to know about how widespread the sex stuff was, considering how prevalent it was among "leadership". Of course I didn't know either, though I had some fairly direct hints from some 9th corps ... along the lines of being able to handle it, or that it was only spiritual adultery that was wrong, (which is pretty absurd). And vp's secretary being very upset, but not quite revealing it either. Everyone was willing to hide the "bare" facts. It seems it took vp dying for the "spell" to be broken. But it was good to hear how direct Ralph was in confronting those that revealed it and those that then wanted to continue it, which is also rather amazing. LCM seemed convinced he was healing people ... I'd have to think vp was aware he was wrong, which was what his secretary hinted to me, as I recall. But he wasn't above covering his arse by making up doctrine and involving others ... but maybe he thought he was just one of those "crookeder than a dog's hind leg' type "prophets". How could vp go to Geer about how messed up leadership was, and not recognize he started it? One of those cognitive dissonance things perhaps. Denial is not a river in Egypt. Good gawd ... Anyway ... hopefully there are some follow ups, though that seemed to be the meat of Ralph's story. It is still a shame we all walked away and the dishonest scammers kept the assets, and are even still tax exempt and functional. Oh, and happy anniversary ... eight .. that is a new beginning ... or in a marriage it is pottery and bronze ...

It seems clear Oprah doesn't need the money ... I'd guess she believes in the thing ... On the other hand, it is pretty clever to keep her followers fully wrapped in her ideology ... the cult of personality ... or whatever. She was pretty influential in moving Obama along early on ... she is in a pretty powerful position, in any case. Whether this more religious thing gets folks addicted is hard to say. Maybe it is a good thing ... but there is a lot of money tied to it, like with other religions I suppose.

Well the aftershock was just kinda neat ... I knew what it was and just watched the mirror shake a little, and there was a just a little rumble. But neither was enough to be scary ... the first was just strange as I figured some big storm had just suddenly blown in ... My house is a little crooked now, but not too bad.

From this map it appears that zone is more south of St. Louis. But this seems to include today's epicenter, and where I live. That page said this ... Earthquakes in the central or eastern United States affect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western United States. For example, the San Francisco, California, earthquake of 1906 (magnitude 7.8) was felt 350 miles away in the middle of Nevada, whereas the New Madrid earthquake of December 1811 (magnitude 8.0) rang church bells in Boston, Massachusetts, 1,000 miles away. Differences in geology east and west of the Rocky Mountains cause this strong contrast.

I just felt an aftershock ... 10:15 AM central ... milder ... (they say 4.5) But I was awake, thought maybe a big wind was blowing through or something, except it seemed the whole house was shuddering ... I never considered an earthquake till I saw it on the news a little later. I'm in west central Illinois. ... my first earthquake experience ... shaken, not stirred :)

I'm not talking about what is in the book, but just the idea that Oprah is promoting this philosophy/religion that she thinks everyone should live by. The history of the author/leader and the big money and corporate involvement makes it more interesting yet.

From the article I linked, it seemed this was a big thing for Oprah, something very important to her and Tollee was like her guru. Oprah extolled the author’s virtues, calling his best-selling "New Earth" book "one of the most important books of our time," the seminars one of "the most exciting things I’ve ever done." for the first time in her much-applauded Book Club’s history, she’s gone into business with the author ... the mysterious creator of a philosophy that Winfrey endorses and suggests her readers live their lives by. Indeed, Winfrey already has flirted with several cult-like New Age deals. She’s enthusiastically embraced the Scientology celebrities like Tom Cruise and John Travolta. What’s interesting is not so much Tolle, with his German accent and blank stare, proselytizing his nonsense. He talks a lot, literally, about looking at flowers and trees in a new way, much like Chauncey Gardner in "Being There." her association with Tolle is way over the top. It involves sponsorships with General Motors (Chevy), 3M Corp. (Post-Its) and Skype Internet phone service. In one broad stroke, she’s managed to accomplish what Scientology never has achieved: bringing corporate America’s implicit approval into religion. It sounded like more than her normal book promotion. Maybe she has learned the value of getting customers hooked on her religion ... of course batcave says Oprah is a cult.

I don't watch Oprah, never have ... but after she campaigned for Obama, I find this story interesting. Oprah Winfrey may have gone too far in exploiting and distributing the teachings of a questionable New Age writer. He says in interviews that he had a personal epiphany in 1977 at age 29 after a life of suffering from suicidal depression. For the next 15 years, no one knows much about what happened to him, and he's not saying. He says he spent time wandering and sitting in London's parks, with "no relationships, no job, no home, no socially defined identity," but a sense of "intense joy." What makes Oprah's seminars even more creepy are the "study groups" she has lined up for Tolle at bookstores and other locations around the world. They're all hooked up to the seminars through Skype, and the members can ask questions. They all have that same glazed-over look as people giving testimonials on late-night infomercials. "I consider this to be a sacred moment when we can all come together … and share in this work," Winfrey says at the start of seminar 6. And why not? You'll notice that she, not Tolle, has the sole copyright on the broadcasts. Ka ching! But don't worry about Eckhart Tolle. His "power of now" is all about his store. All roads lead to his merchandise, which is prominently featured on his Web site and accessed from Oprah's. His is a costly philosophy. Books, tapes, DVDs — all of it becomes quite expensive when added up, making Tolle no different than Scientology, Kabbalah or any other shiny new religion I have a friend into "A Course in Miracles", but I'm not too familiar with it all. It sounds like Oprah may really believe thestuff, or maybe she is just moving into a new market. She may have the next president of the US indebted to her, she makes $260 million/ year ... now she can have her own religion. :o

It seemed like this year, the usual Deluxe that was always about $40, would not handle investment or some business things like before. I'm depreciating a bunch of stuff, and it was always nice that TurboTax just remembered all those details from the previous year. I'll probably upgrade to the Home and Business ... I'd hate to have to re-enter all that stuff manually, though Tax-cut seems good and is much cheaper. Maybe the basic Deluxe would still do it, but it didn't look like it. Maybe it is just a sales tactic, but I'd hate to have to buy them both. Oh well ... Anyway ... thanks for the input ... Hap and Lucy and Shaz ...

I was about to buy my Turbo Tax software as usual, but found this year they have all these different levels ... so if you have a business or investments, it costs like double, and I think state maybe be another $30. It seems TaxCut has gone along with the same scheme. There is TaxACT Online .. which is free, and like $14 for the state. But I'm not sure if they do the interview like TurboTax does. Taxcut seems about the same as TurboTax but a little cheaper. I just need to file the extension for now, but with a couple returns to file, and some business stuff, I'm thinking I might just pay an accountant. Have any of you with your own business (or anyone) bought these? Or do you just hire your taxes done?

WalMart is often cheapest, and the sales tax is offset by the shipping. But there are often better deals on the net ... still, if there is a problem, it is easy to return to WalMart ... I've never bothered with returning something I bought online. Online can be cheap though ... and even shipping is pretty cheap. I have ordered from some odd ball companies ... never had a problem. PayPal can offer another layer of protection.

I missed that ... assignments? So after they graduate, what are they expected to make per year if they graduate in the top ten percent? $40,000/year? After a year of training, surely they will at least expect a pay raise ... Oh, maybe they get paid in infernal eternal rewards ... I'm sure it will be in the brochure ... did you get your brochure yet Ham?

Wow ... cow That must have been a small cow ... the picture showed it all the way in the back seat ... We don't have cows now, but they were always friendly, though I watched the bull a little more closely ... and I don't think you want to mess around them too close when they have their young calves. I'm pretty sure putting them in the back seat is not advised ... What do you get when a cow jumps a barbed wire fence? mooo ... mooooo .... moooooooo ... Udder destruction ....