Twinky

Are there really 320 people on staff at HQ? How do you know that? Whatever do they all do?

Thought I'd have a dive into Chat tonight but when I tried to get in, my computer complained about Fatal errors. SO I clicked on the links that are set up on the Cafe page which take you into the Sun Microsystems pages. I've done this before and think I just deleted Java recently on tidying up my computer, or maybe CCleaner tidied it up for me. Anyway, what do I need to download now? This computer uses Win 2000 and IE. Have Firefox too but don't really use it.

Good post, Jeff.

Read your blogs and the comments afterwards. Some neat comments. You have a lot to give, John. Whatever made you effective in TM will make you effective now. Only much more so. (I echo my post 76.)

Well. This is my thousandth post. What a lot has happened since post no.1. And the time before that when I was just lurking, and reading and reading and reading... Farewell, Waybrain. Hello, peace of mind. Hello, tenderness of heart, compassion, kindness. Hello, enjoyment of life. Hello, humility and patience. Hello, thinking ability, questioning ability, pondering and exploring the depth of love shown to me. Most of all: Hello, Dad. Sorry I got sidetracked there. You never stopped looking out for me, though Hello, Big Brother. Sorry I lost sight of you, too. You never stopped looking out for me, either. Thanks to all the Cafe denizens who have shared their stories, shared advice, shared kindnesses, helped sweep out the refuse, clear out the cobwebs, and hang new pictures on the wall.

They changed their minds about sex outside marriage being okay? It's not okay now? What chapter and verse are they using for that? How do they square that with the previous teachings that it IS okay? Have they said what is allowed - a hug, a kiss (gulp, what sort?), no touching, no touching below the waist? I guess they can't actually come out and say, "WE WERE WRONG" because officially the "sleep with whoever you like" doctrine was never official policy even though widely practiced among the "spiritually mature." What, are they going mainstream about something :blink: ? Dorian: It's almost surprising that the Way haven't tried ousting you anyway, putting pressure on her to get a new room mate. They really don't like their people living with "unbelievers" which includes Christians that go to mainstream churches. They may take the view that it makes your roomie weak.

Gosh, I hope nobody took this seriously, that TWI was teaching diplomats :blink: Hope the link that I included made it clear it was not TWI the cult. Though both are good at forms of doublespeak. Good point, Potato. How scary! ********* Anyway, now: back to our regularly scheduled topic. Redundancies in: bus driving dept; snow crew clearing round bus. Since they no longer hold RoA, do you suppose they still have all that stuff in the warehouse, the chicken frying machine and all the other RoA stuff? That could be a new job/reassignment. Selling all that off. Anyone know if The Way Woods were grown as a forestry venture? Or are they just nice trees?

Well done! Pleased for you. Go Hammy!!!!

Dammit, they're everywhere. At the bottom of the page was a random advert - "Download The Twi Course Used to Teach Diplomats - $39.95". The class is pretty cheap these days, then. For diplomats. From an organization with the diplomatic skills of ... a sledgehammer. http://www.langocity.com/courses/twi_cours...CFUoa3godnFw5iQ

John: that's a pretty intense posting. Thank you for sharing. There are unfortunately so many of us here who can relate to it at similar levels. Had you posted that about your time in TWI you would have immediately got much sympathy. You are right that cult survivors have more in common than not. You have also put a lot of stuff on your website that is self-disclosing and helpful to others. Sometimes I look at your web pages and think, "Oh, yeah, I know that one!" - something that's not quite been covered at the Cafe, or something that wouldn't quite fit into words. John, you said cman was cryptic in his postings. He always has been and simply alludes to his difficult story. His posts have ever been such. There must be issues there that he is struggling with. We all have the same story and yet it is so intensely personal that it can be very difficult to talk about. Perhaps your lengthy post will encourage him to open up a little more, at least to himself. Anyone who has not looked at John's website will find helpful material. Free. John offers a service to those who might be in need. If any of the people John has helped still visit at the Cfe, perhaps they might care to post and let us know if he's genuine. Other posters here make - products - or write books - and offer them (selling them, sometimes) to others at the Cafe. Wow, are they advertising, then? Kahler, Skedgell, others with their "cult experience" books? What about other books mentioned in the Reading Room ("Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse"? "Toxic Faith"?) Have others found their books helpful? I only know John through his posts at GSC but I have PMd him occasionally (as I might with any poster here) and my PMs have been responded to promptly and politely and not pushing anything. He's not a "drive by" like JAL. Other non-TWI people like Brushstroke are welcome and have a perspective to offer, too. So pack up the food fight and play nicely with the froth on the cappuccino.

Most people who understand English would have a difficulty with that. I myself said, what if I choose not to "donate" anything? - You can't take the class. - It's a fee, then; a charge. Why not call it so? - It's a donation. - No, it's not. And so began everyone's entry into the world of TWI double-speak. Now I ask: why did they call it a "donation"? Was it because if it were a charge or fee, an element would be liable to tax, on the "profit" from the sale of the class? Tax on the difference between the cost of the materials, and the cost of the class? But if a donation, could someone claim tax back on the donation that had been paid by the taxpayer? At one time, taxpayers could claim back the tax on charitable donations they had made. Receipts may be required. I think that led to abuse and is not now available; but the charities have been empowered to claim the tax back. Nowadays, charitable organisations in the UK can claim tax back on donations by taxpayers. Many places, like museums, the National Trust, schools, youth groups, tell taxpayers about this and offer a form that the taxpayer can complete and which allows the organisation to claim money back. It can boost their funds by about 17%. If TWI could not claim back the tax, then the payer (=class taker) as taxpayer should have been able to reclaim tax on the charitable donation. But I never heard of any forms being given out with the charity number on so that the "donation" could be offset. Hah! I bet that's it. Not just double-speak but some other kind of scam to minimise the tax TWI might have to pay.

Many thanks for the replies on this. Seems pretty clear it was around from the beginning, from when the WC was first established anyway. Pretty much everyone has heard about the Zero Corps, of which nothing since has ever been heard. But someone has said or at least hinted that it might be a direct result of VPW himself having been chucked out of his original church (ie, marked and avoided himself). Looks like he spent the rest of his "ministry" enjoying getting even (trying to think like a psychopath here). Another foundational nugget that he "stole" from some other church, along with PFAL and RHST!

This is a recipe from Psalmie on the Candy, Chocolate Truffles thread. Thought it bore repetition: I made these for gifts and they were well received. Make SMALL balls, as they are very rich. I put some with a little liqueur and some with coffee essence. If you don't want to drizzle white choc, finish by rolling in cocoa or choc sprinkles or icing sugar. Or anything else that looks good. Collected 12-egg cardboard egg boxes and spray painted them gold outside. Nice gift.

Interview went okay, very professional interviewers, different style from any other interview I have had. Said they would let me know by end of last week but so far nothing. But then it took them 2 months to invite me to interview. They don't move fast - well, I think the department does, but the organisation as a whole (and perhaps, therefore, Personnel) doesn't. The risk of barbecued fieldmice is still there, but I will be sure and find some tasty recipes. I understand one can also eat hedgehogs (roll in clay, roast in the embers), and also squirrels (Ham, better take care if you come!). Sausages are popular in Europe and take many fillings. Bratwurst is only one type. UK sausages (sausage links) are different again and are not like the "dog roll" type of sausage meat found in the US.

Ex10 my beautiful sister, sorry I missed posting birthday wishes and sorry also I forgot to wish you a happy birthday when we spoke on the phone! I knew it, but I blew it! You know what? You are so special that a birthday doesn't make the day any special-er. But glad you had a good quiet day. It was good to speak with you. All the best for a wonderful year ahead.

Gophers! Wow! And I thought slugs were a problem. I have some garden reorganisation to do before Spring. My back (only) garden comprises a long thin strip of land, concrete path on the right edge, lawn, then a narrow border on the left. I love cut flowers and want to widen the border, perhaps make it curvy, and put some nicer bushes and flowering plants in there. This part of the garden slopes up and away from the rear of the house and the expanse of lawn, being sloping, appears bigger than it is. Behind that is a little row of rocks and the garden levels off and there is the "shrubbery" (currently being reduced in content) with the vege garden behind. Some screens or eye-distraction devices half way up (where the garden levels off) could look nice but whatever is put there doesn't need to limit but to enhance the garden layout. The upper part of the path needs re-laying (paving slabs uneven) which is my Autumn project but so far hasn't happened yet. GC, I need your eyes on this!!

Lots here to enjoy. Stuff about TWI, discussion of doctrines (not necessarily just of TWI), politics, and some complete nonsense (LOL). Have fun and make new friends. You are only censored here if you behave abusively towards other posters; not if you just disagree. Disagreement is highly welcome. :)

In-rez WC gifts at this time of year might include a voucher book (or "vouchers") entitling the recipient to something nice that they couldn't easily get, or might enjoy. For instance: married couples had a bathroom (with bath) but single Corps just had showers. So a gift might be a candle-lit bath - simple, but some people enjoyed baths above showers. Others might give a voucher for a massage. Or a "get out of jail free" substitute thing - to take their place on some kind of work crew. Not having spare cash this year, I decided to give vouchers (eg): - For a back massage - For a week's worth of ironing of shirts - For a roast dinner complete with dessert of apple crumble You might consider vouchers for: washing someone's car, walking the dog, babysitting, window washing, digging the garden, mowing the lawn, trip to the beach/lake/forest/anywhere within xx miles. You choose what you feel able to give. Also, don't overlook Freecycle. I posted elsewhere about that. Amazing, some of the things you can get there. I got a "Survival" book (humorous) for a friend who is imagining disasters and loves wargames.

We have imperfect bodies. We inherit a range of genes and some are "better" than others. It's not a sin to catch a cold, or to fall over and break a bone. Not a sin to be born with parts of the body missing or defective. God looks on the (spiritual) heart, not the physical body. Because of time spent in TWI, some have (spiritual) hearts that have become damaged, or maybe were damaged to start with. even that's fixable. But TWI promotes spiritual "hardening of the arteries." That's a very serious disease.

I recall this saying as "doctrinal error leads to practical error." Let's face it, before we became Christians, all we had was practical error. We needed doctrine to set us right. Tzaia - I echo your post. So much of what was taught was an intellectual satisfaction or curiosity, or something to set us apart. Details. Irrelevancy. (Well, God is in the details, doncha know?) The details of being loving, kind, merciful, tender-hearted, forgiving... now those became submerged in the need to confront wrong thinking. Pah! Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up. The biggest doctrinal (and practical) error was the concentration on the knowledge - that puffs up the person holding the knowledge. The concentration on that - not on the loving building up of the other person.

Hey, I could sell my copy?? Get money back for it?? I could do with some of that money that I invested in TWI books and materials. If they're still selling it in the bookstore, that's another dose of Way hypocrisy. We all know that as soon as anyone left - writer, musician, whoever - any of that person's works were immediately withdrawn because the person was obviously possessed and all their works must have been subtly influenced by DS and therefore should not be listened to or read. This even extended to requiring followers on the field, just ordinary twig members, to discard their copies of music tapes and books. So obviously, that's what would happen to all materials authored by or involving LCM, right? Tell you what - AoS went up well, in the woodburner...! But I still have R&E someplace. Offers, wnyone? Who'd like to buy it from me? (Form an orderly line, please, this isn't Wal-Mart).

Seen those bumper stickers that say, "Speed kills"? This is, "Greed kills." Wild animals. Shame on anyone participating in the mad rush - there or elsewhere.

I just irony-ed my blouse in readiness for my interview tomorrow. Hope that magnetic personality attracts them to me. All their defences better be down (it's with the Ministry of Defence).

Don't know about your peas. Think you will have to treat them very tenderly and protect from frost. As to beans, these are very frost susceptible and usually aren't planted out until about May. They may be started indoors a little earlier than that but really, even if you plant later straight outdoors, they catch up. Spinach is good - a fresh green vege at this time of year. I have LOTS of chard ("perpetual spinach") which is growing faster than I eat it. I found a recipe for spinach soup the other day. Sounds weird but hey, why not try it at least once? But somehow it doesn't seem as appetising as pumpkin soup. I have lots of tiny seedlings where the leylandii were removed. They would only be "weeds" so they can sprout all they like and I will just keep knocking them back (or the frost will). Get 'em before they constrict my desirables next year.

Well, this could be fun. :) Very good fun. But we're thinking about next summer some time, and a lot of things could happen between now and then. If I don't get a job of some sort, any sort, pretty soon, I will be living in a tent in a field somewhere. :( With Tuxedo and Crypto to catch prey to feed us all, perhaps. Maybe the whole world will be living in tents. Barbecued mouse anyone?