Twinky

It is rather disturbing that there has been a different version of events each day since the killing. Whatever kudos might (or might not) be attributable to the operation, it's losing "cred" with each version. I can rejoice that he can't scheme and finagle and cause any more harm to people. I can't rejoice that he's dead. Clearly a man of talent, ability and passion. A leader. A strategist. Regrettably all channeled in the wrong direction. It so much easier to fight against something. Imagine how it could have been, if he'd taken that talent, ability and passion and used that to bring advances to his own country. If he'd thrown his money at building better housing, sanitation, job opportunities, etc at the young people of his country - instead of throwing the young people of his country (and other countries) to murder and injure ordinary people going about their business. What a waste. Live by the sword (or bullet, or explosion) - die by the sword, bullet or explosion. He reaped what he had sown.

Of course, having time to actually use a library would be a precursor to having a decent selection of reputable books. Though, in the beginning, wasn't "study hall" held in the library? Dunno, I only got to clean up the library just before Emporia was sold off. Some of the books were actually taken to put in the library (?) at HQ.

Here in the UK there have been all sorts of celebrations. For local celebrations, one church in my city had a read-through which I think took nearly a week, being read aloud 24 hours a day - by people who just went in and volunteered to read a few verses or chapters or for a period of time. Other churches have been handwriting the whole KJV - again, shared between all the congregation and anyone else who cares to come along.

From Samos we island-hopped back to Athens and the airport. Some of the islands nearer in were horrible, touristy, fearfully expensive and just plain unpleasant to be on. It was difficult to find ferry timetables to see where else could be got to, because there are (were) lots of little ferry businesses going all over the place. All the islands have ferry connections, but they may not be daily. One place (Mykonos), we got the first available ferry off the island, but still had to sleep one night on the beach the first night and the second night sleet on some greedy Greek woman's flat roof at more for the night than the week in the nice apartment in Samos cost. Her guest house was stuffed with tourists but she had two couples on the roof as well. Things might have changed a bit, of course.

I stayed on Samos when I went to Greece - oh, 30 years ago. It was really lovely. It's a nice "wet" island (therefore green and not parched). We rented a small apartment for a week - for the same amount it cost us for a night on some of the islands closer in towards Athens. There were day trips to Patmos and to Athens. There's enough to do on Samos. It was relaxed but delightful. One day, we rented small motorcycles and roamed around the island. Can get to all sorts of isolated and even less touristy places that way. I have most excellent memories of that time. Things might have changed in 30 years, but it's still a long way out from Athens and the other really popular big islands.

Maintaining old historic buildings can be very expensive. A "bag with holes," if you like. Don't blame TWI. They, along with all subsequent purchasers, bought the problem...but how much is the repair cost really worth it? Logically a lot of these old building should be demolished and rebuilt...not cost-effectaive to repair...but then lots of history gets lost. The question is: what price history? Maybe it should be sold for $1 on condition that the new purchaser puts it into good repair, and gives a bond to that effect.

Stonehenge: is in a V formed by two main roads. It is impressive, but not as impressive as you'd think, to look at. It's smaller than you'd think. People are no longer allowed to wander around the stones, which are roped off to prevent damage. It's impressive in the workmanship - many of the stones came from very long distances away. They would have been transported by water so far...but then, the location is in the middle of rolling hills. Experts think the huge stones were rolled on logs. Certainly it was "pre-wheel." Other stones came from other far flung locations. If you do get there, be sure to visit Avebury (which I've always considered more impressive); and some of the other henges and barrows in the area (of which there are many). One is a Long Barrow (a very ancient tomb) which can be entered. It's not far from Salisbury, which has an ancient cathedral and the mediaeval woodwork forming is still inside the spire. A roof tour is well worth the small amount to pay. Now back to the regular topic: Patmos is only a small island, not much doing; their thing is their connection with St John. Apart from that, not much else. Friendly locals though. Avoid the tat sold as souvenirs. No beach that I can recall. Ephesus is just a spit away. Have a great trip.

First - congratulations to Johniam in post #30 for trying to bring this back to topic! (After all the slagging off he's received for dragging things off-topic) Cara, the "Common Market" was set up originally as an "anti-war" strategy. If it makes peace, you'd have to say in fact that it is spiritually good. (Not that I'm saying any such thing. It's not "spiritual.") Germany had been the aggressor in two world wars. Europe was devastated and financially was in a mess. The idea historically behind the "Common Market" - what became the EEC - European Economic Community and is now known as the European Union - is that the economies of the participating countries would become so inter-dependent that one country could not wage war on another without seriously damaging its own financial stability. Thus, the potential destabilisation of one's country's economy would deter from attacking another country. We now have a new currency, the "euro" in many EU countries. It's like using the dollar in all States, not a shekel in NY, a barrel in TX or a sea shell in CA and working out currency equivalents. Not all countries have given up their own currency to subscribe to euros. Britain, for instance, still has the pound £ as its currency.

It had its good parts. And it had its bad parts. It was traumatic, disruptive, and damaged me psychologically. I am aware that some of my reactions or responses are not what they would have been otherwise. I also reflect on what I've got from it...depths of understanding and compassion that I would have said were there, but actually weren't. Clients come to see me. They explain their predicaments. I ask a few questions...and then I can say, and it was like this, wasn't it? and like this? and does this happen? And they look at me with tears in their eyes or running down their faces, and they say: "You know. You understand." There's a connection at that "heart" level. Then clients tell me what they've really got problems with. As a pre-Way professional in a similar role...I really didn't understand. Couldn't understand. And too many professionals in the same role...still don't understand. The psychological trauma from domestic abuse, in particular, is far more widespread than you might think. Many (wo)men don't recognise it as such. Emotional abuse. Financial abuse. Sexual abuse. Far more widespread than physical violence. And they have to be able to recognise it before they can even begin to take actions to change something. Walk away. Stand up for themselves. Make the domestic situation different. Wayfers don't have exclusives on that.

Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, in the UK convictions are "spent" after a period of time (around 10 years) and don't need to be disclosed unless specifically required to be disclosed on, for example, job applications. It means people are not punished in perpetuity and there is an incentive to "stay straight" and clear (to some extent) one's name. A reduction in recidivism (repeat offending) has got to be good for society. The conviction is not deleted from one's criminal record - it just doesn't have to be disclosed to all and sundry, and cannot be referred to in most contexts. Got to be good if you were a stupid young man or had a rotten beginning and have cleaned your act up. If someone screws up their late teens or 20s by being a bit of a hell-raiser but by the time they've got to their 30s or 40s and have learned a bit of responsibility, why should they continue to be treated like a 20 year old hell-raiser? Anyway, FYI here's a link to an easy-read website: Rehabilitation of Offenders - spent convictions Other countries also have much more rehabilitative schemes. Restorative justice, restoration of offenders, and all that stuff. This really ought to be a separate topic....oops.

Good gried, OS, that's outrageous. How long do all those penalties lasdt? How long till someone can vote again, receive Federal aid, etc.? Surely these things are time-limited, though the article doesn't say so. The US doesn't seem very good at rehabilitating people back into society, but surely punishment doesn't go on...and on...and on.

Thanks, BA. And yes, Loy used to talk about it as a step to "one world" government and devil-control, or whatever...without (it seemed to me) thinking of all those US states all falling under Federal jurisdiction Holland is The Netherlands (not just "in" The Netherlands). Do you really not think of the US as being one block? Do you-all think of yourselves as being Texan/Californian/Alaskan etc first, and then American second? Or are you American first, then Texan/Californian/Alaskan etc. Maybe you do think of yourselves by State, since each State is so big and the lot of you are so much one continent (excluding Hawai'i). Certainly in the EU people see themselves as Brit, or French, or Spanish...and then European. In Britain we might also think of ourselves as English, Welsh, Scottish or Irish before thinking of ourselves as British. And some Brits are not altogether sure they are or want to be Europeans. Like Europeans are some other species. Maybe French and Germans (the original EU countries, straight after WW2) would think more of themselves as Europeans...but each country is still so different. For anyone that's interested: European Union The European Parliament is now the highest rule-maker for each country...it makes laws and countries have to bring their own legislation into line with it. This is not always a welcome or happy process (says she, in true Brit fashion, understating how things go!). Anyway, sorry, this has gone way .

Went to church this morning. Usual laid back stuff. Lots of jolly songs, some old, some new. People waving hands in the air. Invitations to do this or that - or just sit and enjoy being where you are. Some of the younger church members wrapped in toilet paper to represent grave wrappings - which they then burst out of (sermon was on Lazarus - Jesus offers (1) promise; (2) words of comfort; (3) a new reality). I wept for the freedom of it. To be able to rejoice. To express joy and rejoicing. Free indeed. The Lord is RISEN. REJOICE!!

Spent a lot of time with my great grandfather, who died aged 94. Old and full of days. And later with my grandfather, who died "prematurely" at 84. Legend there is that he befriended a young workman working on the house next door, helped him, fed him... and the young man broke in to steal from my grandfather's hous. The shock depressed him badly and he died a few months later. Nothing proven, of course, but his giving heart...gave up. It's amazing what our old folks have lived through. The changes they have seen. Their oral histories. We need to cherish our old folks. Part of the richness of our culture. My mum always says: "I may be 80 [she's older than that] on the outside, but on the inside I'm still 18." It's the body that gets old. The mind doesn't - it often stays interested and curious. Never too old to learn. Good on all those folks here who are doing degrees and other studies in their 40s, 50s and older. Live long and prosper [thrive].

Lovely! Happy Easter to you all, too. Rejoice!!!

I remember Lovely Loy sounding off one day (well...more than once) about the European Union and all the countries working together for closer economic union. He had lots of scathing things to say. And (as a European) I could only think, "Keep your bloody nose out of it!" Who is he to make a statement about Europe, or my own country? What does he know about their politics, individually or collectively? Does he even know where these countries are? My view is in no small measure based on how little most Americans know about Europe - not knowing the countries, or which major city is in which country, etc, etc. I also thought: that Lovely Loy or his "advisers" perceived the larger economic unit of Europe a threat to US economic interests. With a bigger block and more countries working together, the US economy perhaps couldn't pick off or wedge into smaller countries and use those as a foothold for more economic oppression. And I further thought: yeah, all right for you to say that...now...now that your States are all one block. Do you want to disband the US union because that union is so evil? No, thought not. You just want to stop others achieving the benefits of cross-border business, multi-nationalism, etc. Call me carnal-thinking if you like. His opinion wasn't based on anything other than his "spiritual revelation" and we all know how that ended up. With apologies to those Europhiles among you who do know that Madrid isn't a city in Italy...LOL. And Belgium is not the capital of Holland...ah, where?

Explain class 3 felony please. All I see is he pleaded guilty...to fraud or deceit. Sounds unpleasantly serious. I did find this: "With a felony conviction comes a substantial penalty. Class 3 felonies can be punished by incarceration in state prison for anywhere from 2-10 years. Convicted felons can also face fines of as much as $10,000. A person convicted of a non-violent Class 3 felony may not be sentenced to prison at all. He may get a shorter sentence in a county jail or even a long probation sentence." I had to check out what "class 3 felony" means. How interesting that Wikipedia notes: "The reform of harsh felony laws that had originated in Great Britain was deemed "one of the first fruits of liberty" after the United States became independent." Whereas nowadays the harsh laws of the US are scary and outrageous by Brit standards...but that's another thread. Suffice to say - he knew better...what a conman. Learned well.

I've both hitched and given lifts to hitchers. It could be risky, but neither way have I felt in danger. Poof! as to instructions given on how to stay safe. We were told not to get into open-back vehicles (utes). That's all. The reason for that was more that we might suffer hypothermia and freeze with the windchill. Or maybe it was because we wouldn't have the opportunity to "witness." I think we were supposed to believe God for the right ride to come along...nothing about not getting into cars if we felt uncomfortable (chance would have been a fine thing...my partner and I got seriously stranded, going out Lightbearers). We wre just to "believe God" - presumably ignoring "senses" that said such and such a ride might be a bad thing.

The thing is, Bibliolaters (of which TWI is only one group) idolize the words themselves. But words alone are not enough, not anything at all really. The words encapsulate ideas. Attitudes. Imaginations. Hopes. Despairs. Fears. The "heart" of it all. Those, the ideas, are what we need to get to. If you stop at studying the words, you see only the whited sepulchre. You don't see either the rot behind - or the angel in the tomb.

1. Love God. 2. Love your fellow man. That's about it really. The Bible is a book about what goes on, on the inside, not the external actions. Maybe the Bible should be read once in a while as a book about how people loved their fellow human beings. And how some others didn't love their fellow human beings. Both, in about as many different ways as there are and have been human beings. So of course there will be myriad "contradictions." Welcome to "Life". We mostly have far too small a picture of (mindset about) God.

Really? Wherever did they drag that idea in from? oh never mind... Never heard that before. Can these spirit beings feel pain, then? How can physical pain be caused to something that doesn't have a physical body?

"You can learn as much hitchhiking as you can from studying the book of Genesis" ???? Okay, "teacher" - let's see, when was the time you hitchhiked? (Except on the shoulders of giants when you pinched their work)? One of the best times I had was wandering around in the mountains on my own for three weeks. Completely alone. An overnight layover in a little hamlet to re-stock my food. Everything (tent and all) except water carried on my back. Saw a handful of people the first week; "enjoyed" a minor earthquake; hitched a lift with strangers to the hamlet. Saw only one person on the first day the second couple of weeks or 10 days or whatever it was. Lotsa miles, not sure the mileage; distances are measured in days to take, not miles or km. I enjoyed "just being." How can you replicate that on LEAD?

Too right! I do think there were some that were motivated more by jealousy. "...you have an education, I didn't 'get the opportunity,' I'll bully you for having had the opportunity." Heh heh, perhaps they hadn't the "stayed mind" enough to take the opportunity to get an education when they were offered it. Education was definitely mocked. If one has learned to think and evaluate...what I got, constantly, was: "You are leaning to your own understanding. You are not trusting God. You are too carnally-minded." And then the clincher: "You are not meek to the Word" (because you do not obey me/dare to question me, your leader.) Interesting now that some of those people have to get on in the world (not being with TWI any more) that they have - gone and got an education. Trained for something and got some qualifications. I wonder if, now that they have their secular qualifications, they mock those who do not have any qualifications - the junior staff in whatever organizations they work in, for example.

I think he was angry all right - but at himself, his wife...maybe VPW. Couldn't express it to those people so took it out on the Corps, especially the in-rez Corps. Perhaps LCM was the biggest dupe of all. But he didn't have to be the biggest prat (I'm being nice) of all.

Interesting that this thread, "Confronting LCM" is so named. No-one could really confront the Great Man during his tenure. I honestly don't think he can be unaware of the Cafe and the things that get discussed here. Word gets around! Maybe he lurks...I doubt it though. But he won't come here and be confronted. Much less apologize. Both would require rather too much humility. Or, to use his favorite word, "meekness." No. Not his style at all.