waysider

My understanding of the issue is that domestic partners already qualify for benefits that are regulated by The State of California but not for those that are regulated by the federal government, such as spousal related social security, veteran survivor benefits, etc. What effects will the recent developments impart to this area of concern? I'm just asking.

WWZD (What Would Zappa have Done?)

A lot of people are not aware that high power lines can act as a magnet of sorts. There is a mathematic formula that dictates how far you need to be from a power line based on the ratio of distance to voltage. I was on a job site a number of years ago when 6 men hanging metal sheet siding rolled their metal scaffold beyond the safety zone. They were probably 5 or 6 feet away from the actual line but it sucked them right in. It took about 20 minutes to shut down the line itself. That's one memory I would just as well not have.

Quite frankly, in the late '60s and early '70s, "bucking the system" WAS the most popular theology.

Such as?

What it all boils down to is that Wierwille claimed you could change things in the physical world, good and bad, by what you were thinking.(Or, as he called it, "believing".) According to VPW, it was a "law" that worked for "saint and sinner alike". Just tell God those drapes have to be red and let your believing do the rest. I'm pretty sure most people here are familiar with the made up example of the little boy who was "killed by the fear in his mother's heart". What a cruel charge that would be to lay at the feet of a grieving mother. Wierwille got this stuff from his contemporaries. It was quite popular "back in the day". Here's a Wiki link to Norman Vincent Peale, who authored The Power Of Positive Thinking. Peale, incidentally, was from a small town about an hour's drive from New Knoxville. Do a comparison to what was taught in The Way. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Vincent_Peale It's an incredibly dangerous doctrine to rely on. People have died trying to "believe" for safety. (I heartily recommend reading the *LEAD Accident* thread for further insight on this matter.) People have died trying to "believe" their way to health when, in fact, they might well have been served best by medical practitioners. People have needlessly condemned themselves and each other because they failed to "believe" for positive results or because their negative thoughts caused negative results in the physical world. If TWI still holds this as one of their core tenets, I would advise people to avoid them like the plague.

Works for saints and sinners you like-----errrr, I mean sinners alike.

So then, in essence, Hap, you paid THEM (TWI) to come and promote a "product" that would generate more revenue for THEIR coffers. Isn't that part of what ABS was supposedly intended for? That's like paying for the privilege of being allowed to buy the product. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure a lot of people had a great time as a result of your hard work and sincere intentions.It just seems rather twisted to me. I,too, was entrusted with setting up a similar meeting at about the same period of time (mid 1970's) and they backed out leaving me holding the bag. There was no offer to help me cover my losses. It seems like the money traveled on a one way street. But, I have digressed. My real question was : Why didn't they express more genuine interest in these programs, such as FLO, that were supposedly vital to the growth of "the ministry"? If I am wrong about this, I would welcome examples to the contrary.

Thanks, guys Yeah, maybe he he was more inta chillin' wid his own posse. Know what ahm sayin'?

Anyone know where they are?

I was in Fellow Laborers of Ohio, a 2 year, in residence program based out of the Limb HQ. (Sometimes you will hear us referred to as FLO.) We were located about an hour and a half away from New Knoxville. (by car) There was an airport for small aircraft, such as Ambassador One, nearby. In all the time I was there, I can't recall even one visit by VPW or any of the BOT or BOD (or whatever they were called at the time.) Of course, that was a long time ago but it still seems like I would remember. After all, if we had a limb leader or someone of note passing through the area it was our job to see that they got proper accommodations. As I understand, there were other such programs scattered about the country as well. Now, I know that, statistically speaking, there just weren't all that many of us to begin with. But what I'm wondering is if anyone who was involved with one of these programs can recall a visit of this nature. We could probably toss Way Homes into the mix to expand the possibilities, too. VPW had a motor coach, a private jet, a valet to attend to him on trips, etc. and yet he never bothered to investigate the workings of our program. Any thoughts?

There were a whole lot of genuinely sincere, dedicated people working at the grass roots level. Perhaps you were one of them, Caveman. But, at the highest level(VPW) it appears that it was all about selling classes, generating sponsorship, and creating a solid base of faithful ABS'ers to fund his lavish lifestyle.(And a very lavish lifestyle it was, indeed.) Yes, we got some "return" for our investments but, for the most part, we were hoodwinked by a common flimflam man. IMO(Yours, of course, may possibly differ. I'm Okay with that.)

Any distraction from WOW would have been like killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

Hmmmmm? Now who do I know that lives in San Diego?

Here are some good places to start examining the "law" of believing. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/gsradio/audi...09-28-91942.mp3 http://www.greasespotcafe.com/main2/editor...god-needed.html http://www.greasespotcafe.com/ipb/index.php?showtopic=13052

I haven't the faintest idea. {:-{

VP was a conman, not a king. The Way was a cult, not a kingdom

Every now and then, I just need to hear Paul Butterfield remind me that Everything's Gonna Be Alright. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjLj04YPxek...feature=related

Son Of A Preacher Man

I was thinking something more like this: Carny — Someone who works in a carnival. The term is also applied to the carnival itself. This by way of Todd Robbins: "As Chris Christ put it, 'Ward [Hall] and I are showmen. Don't call us carnies. Carnies are junky ride jockeys that are here today and gone tomorrow. The difference between a carny and a showman is the difference between chicken dang and chicken salad!' And as someone who has tried at times to emulate them, I [ed.] can tell you that there is a vast difference between framing an attraction and being showman enough to present it effectively to the public.

CHOMP!! You got it. Even though the correct title is, indeed, Polk Salad Annie, it should really be Poke Sallet Annie. Poke is a type of wild greens. When you cook greens they are no longer called salad, they are called sallet. YER NEXT!!!

Her Daddy was lazy and no count Claimed he had a bad back All her brothers were fit for Was stealin' watermelons out of my truck patch.

YUP!!

Sorry! Here's an easy one to make up for it. When the truth is found to be lies and all the joy within you dies