Belle

And not just for speaking out about scriptural matters.

Great idea, ex! I imagine a round table with Nate, Nandon, P-Mosh and Lindy would be a hoot! Love those guys with their wit and humor! Any of those who've posted stories in the My Story section under the mini-corpse way baby thread would also be fun to hear.

HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS, LORI!!! Sorry I'm a day late and a dollar short! Glad it was a good day for you!

Bad guys have no rules and law enforcement continually has more and more rules added to the way they operate. I was married to a police officer for almost eight years and seeing the things they have to deal with, I tend to give the officer the benefit of the doubt. That being said, I asked a police officer who's got quite a few credentials under his belt about this situation and here's what he had to say: Ok, here's my opinion, which is not endorsed by my agency and is provided outside my scope of professional office. Now, with my disclaimer out of the way, I'll share this: There is absolutely nothing written in any law that says police cannot question minors outside the presence of their parents/guardians. While the cases that arise out of juvenile crimes are sometimes precedents for the future protocols of the way police function, what is most important is to use common sense when dealing with kids. Sadly, there are some times where overzealous police do things which call their judgment into question and while they make some people say, "Huh?" it does not mean there was malice or ill-will involved. Truthfully, I would like a kid's parents to be present an interview but it is not always practical. These kids being 13 and 15 certainly fit into a category different from an 8 year old, all things being equal, of course. The appellate courts have ruled time and time again that as long as a juvenile can completely understand their rights according to Miranda they can actually make a competent waiver of those rights and be subject to questioning by police, or invoke them and consult counsel. Most of the time, police encounter issues when they just do things they really don't need to do to help figure out a case. Many times, this involves making threats of jail or trouble to entice someone to talk. I would only advise doing this when you can back up your "threats" with some factual basis. Telling someone you're going to throw them in jail if they don't tell you who did it, etc. should be backed up with a factual basis for the statement (i.e. Do you have probable cause to their involvement? Were they an accessory or principle to the crime? Are they aiding a felon and are not permitted protection under the law as a spouse, etc?). The bottom line is don't run your mouth without cause. This is unfortunately a trait of many young officers who just want to go out and try to do something good but they haven't had the "polish" many years on the job will get you. Also, more basic case law for you: It's illegal to fabricate evidence but not to lie to someone about having it. In other words, I can tell you I found your fingerprint on a window to see if I can get you to bite the hook but I cannot throw down a nondescript fingerprint card on the table and tell you it's your print if it isn't.

OMG! Why wasn't learning this much fun when I was a kid and grades were important?!? I googled around a bit and here's what I found: http://www.apbw.mistral.co.uk/english4.htmBut here's a really interesting discussion about pudding cloth with pictures and everything: excerpts

This is Shifra's beautiful painting, "White Woman's Medicine Wheel"

Rascal has TONS of stories. All of them will leave you gasping for air from laughing so hard. She's an excellent story teller and her posse of kiddos give her plenty of subjects to choose from. Some of us are trying to convince her to publish a book of her stories. :wub: She's one special lady and an awesome mama. If you haven't listened to her on GSpot Radio, you owe it to yourself to visit that booth in the cafe and sit a spell for some good, hearty belly laughs.

Now, don't you go telling all my secrets, George. I only used my first name, so that could have something to do with it. If I use my first and last name - my married name only comes up with the results of dog shows I've entered with Vixen. Using my maiden name: I'm a lawyer with the Pacific Legal Foundation A doctor and medical director of the Center of Excellence for Children in State Custody and for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic Chef/owner, Sweet Auburn Bread Co. and I've been featured on the Food Network. Bill Clinton has raved about my sweet potato cheesecake And, I'm a Scientologist with my own website promoting Scientology..... :huh:

Despite our faults, I still think America is the best place in the world to live. I wouldn't trade our problems with any other country. This thread reminds me of a story an acquaintance once told me. I can't remember exactly how it goes, so I hope I don't butcher it too badly. A man who was traveling on business met a woman who, when discovering where he was from said that she was looking to move away from the problems in her town and asked him, "what are the people who live there like?" He asked her, "What are the people like where you're from?" "They're cold, rude, distant and annoying," she said. "They're pretty much like that where I live," he said. Later, the man met another person who was looking to move to his town, this person asked the man, "what are the people like where you live?" He asked the person, "what are the people like where you're from?" "They're friendly, gregarious and always nice." "They're pretty much like that where I live," he said. Where we live, in large part, is what we make it. Granted, we can only do so much about gang infiltration and crime, but a big part of our immediate community is in our own hands and depends on our own attitude.

Shifra, I'd love to see it! At the bottom of the "reply" window on the right hand side of the screen is a green button that says UPLOAD. If you click on the "browse" button to the left of that green button, you can, as cman said, find the picture on your computer and upload it. It does have to be from the "reply" option that isn't "quick reply".

Tell us how you really feel, Notta. Are you sure those weren't B*tch Flakes? Someone raided mine here at home and I haven't found the culprit yet.... <_< I hear ya, though. I was soooooo excited to get to meet the Singing Ladies at the AC in 1996. Claudette, I knew was friends with my ex who was my fiance' at the time. I had looked forward to meeting her because of how highly he spoke of her. They were all cold, distant and rather annoyed with all the attention. It was such a letdown and so disappointing to meet people you had really looked up to and looked forward to meeting. I never looked at them the same way after that. So fake ...... come to think of it, maybe THEY stole my B*tch Flakes! Maybe they're the ones who came up with the recipe!! :o

Kewl, Chas. That's a mother's delight, isn't it? Seeing the kids recognize something neat like that. It was a beautiful moon last night, even way down here in O-Town. Thanks, Kit, now I've got "Blue Moon" playing in my brain. ^_^

I'm a belly dancer, a porn star and a video game character..... When I googlism I get pretty much the same thing. I can't even post quotes from there or I'd be banned from GSpot or severely edited.

That does sound good, Groucho! Waysider, good question! I think it's probably some combination of citrus peel but I'll ask.

76% which is what I would have made on the same test when I actually was in 8th grade.

TWI was already become extremely legalistic when I got involved so I missed the "freedom" that most folks experienced at the lower levels. In fact, I had been going to a fellowship about 30 minutes from my house when I learned that there were several that were closer. The girl who I had been going with agreed to go with me to a few of the closer fellowships. We were trying to find out when they met and were promptly told that we could go to each of them once, but that I needed to find a fellowship and stick with that one. Fellowship hopping was not permitted. The only "real" "freedom" I was exposed to was when I started dating the guy I married. We were told by not a few folks that we needed to "test drive the car" before committing our lives to each other. It was even one of the questions Moneyhands asked us when we started marriage counseling with him. I feel terrible about the hypocrisy of my actions now because my room mate was getting all hot and bothered one night with a non-TWIt who was in town to visit her. It was outrageous in our eyes and my ex and I broke the whole thing up and the poor guy ended up leaving right away - embarrassed and probably pretty peeved. I'm sure he wondered what the heck happened to the fun loving girl he had known and why the heck she was letting a couple of goons dictate what she did in her personal life.

Ya know, I "had the thought" that I should explain myself when I posted that, but was too darn lazy to do it. It's a semi-long story, as are all my stories , so I'll try to give the Reader's Digest Version: The year before things really started going downhill between me and TWI, then my husband, we had gone to see my family in Madison, Mississippi and, being the good little TWIts that we were, we looked up the TWI fellowship that was nearby. The WC alum running the area was Jamaican. They offered us coffee and these really small (to me) slices of what they called "Jamaican Wedding Cake". She hands me the saucer as I'm thinking, "It's either really bad so she only wants to subject us to having to suffer through a small amount or they are extremely stingy people." She explained that the cake is only made for the most special of occasions, hence the name - not something that's even traditionally served at an annual holiday dinner for the average family. The rich may make it to have at Christmas every year, but that's not the norm. It takes about six months to make because you wrap it up good and keep it in a cool, dark place where every few weeks you pour more rum over the cake and by the time it's ready you have a really good, really potent cake. The time, the special-ness of the occasion and the cake is why it is only ever served as really small slices like that. The recipe was a heavily guarded secret for eons and, she said she doubted that any non-Jamaicans had the recipe, especially not some white-bread, American born girl like me. Indeed, it was the most heavenly thing I've ever tasted!! And, the small slice was really all I needed to thoroughly enjoy this delicacy and appreciate all that goes into it. It's not so secret anymore, but I wonder if the "published" recipes are missing some special ingredients or instructions..... So, that's the story of the Jamaican Wedding Cake and this is the recipe that I have but have yet to try: Jamaican Wedding Cake The elements of this fruit cake are prepared on separate days. It is divided it into three sections - the early preparation, caramelizing sugar, which can be done the day before, and the day of cooking. This is euphoria. * 1 pound currants * 1 pound raisins * 1 pound prunes * 1 pound dried figs * 1 (16 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained * 1/2 pound mixed peel * 1/4 pound almonds, chopped * 1 tablespoon angostura bitters * 2 1/2 cups dark Jamaica rum Caramelizing Sugar * 3/4 pound brown sugar * 1/2 cup boiling water Final Cooking * 2 teaspoons grated lime peel * 2 teaspoons vanilla * 4 cups flour * 4 teaspoons baking powder * 1 teaspoon ground cloves * 1 pound butter (4 sticks) softened * 2 1/4 cups sugar * 9 large eggs METHOD Equipment: Two 9x5x3 inch loaf pans or 1 10 inch tube pan. Prep Day Chop currants, raisins, prunes, figs and cherries. Put in large bowl with mixed peel and almonds. Stir to combine. Sprinkle on bitters and pour rum over mixture. Soak for a minimum of 24 hours, extending to one month. Dream about this cake for whatever period of time you have chosen. Caramelizing Sugar Put brown sugar in heavy pot. Stir, letting sugar liquefy. Cook over low heat until dark, stirring constantly, so sugar does not burn. When almost burnt, remove from heat and stir in hot water gradually. Mix well, let cool, and pour into container for use in final cooking. Final Cooking Preheat oven to 250°F. Bring fruit from its resting place. Stir lime peel, vanilla and caramelized sugar into fruit. Mix well. Set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder and cloves. Set aside. Cream together butter and sugar until mixture is light. Add the eggs, one at a time until blended. Stir in dry ingredients gradually. When mixed, stir in fruit mixture. Pour into tins lined with buttered parchment paper or waxed paper. Place pan (or pans) in large shallow pan of hot water. Cook in preheated 250°F oven for 2 1/2 - 3 hours or until a tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cake should have shrunk from sides of pan. Cool for 24 hours in tins. When cool, moisten with rum, remove from tins, and wrap in aluminum foil or a rum drenched cloth. Cakes may be stored to ripen. If keeping for any length of time, check occasionally to add more rum.

Thank goodness my speakers aren't working this morning, but I did watch the dancing. All I thought was, "those poor kids" and how peeved is Trudy going to be to see that she wasn't included in half the clip. Did they do that on purpose? Kinda strange just seeing her hand or leg waving around sometimes. That was probably the whole talk of TWI after it debuted. They most likely played that clip at every fellowship meeting saying, "See, we're 'hip'; we're 'with it'; we've got it going on". "Oh, yeah, that was just wonderful!" "I just love Way Productions!" Remember when that cute curly red headed girl did some "real" dancing on stage years ago? We loved it! And, so, consequently, we never saw it again.

WHAT?!?! Sleep over Sweets??? :o Perhaps I'll get off my high horse and do something productive, including this recipe this week-end. In fact, I was just thinking on the drive home today that this is about the time I should be getting started on the Jamaican Wedding Cake recipe I want to try - based on the instructions, if I start this week-end, it should be ready by Christmas.

Awesome, Raf. You're making memories, my friend. Enjoy each and every moment - even the frantic ones. She's one lucky gal, if you ask me. ^_^

Well, dadgummit, my speakers aren't working for some reason. I'd really love to hear what you just posted MStar. Chas, KEWL BEANS!!! I'm sooooo jealous! That's just downright awesome!! I'd love to see any one of them in concert, much less a cacophany of 'em.... very, very cool! One of the local radio stations down here has free concerts in downtown Orlando during the summer and it's always good "old" bands you haven't heard for a while. One of the best concerts, no lie, was Flock of Seagulls. It was really great when Fat Tuesday's was in business. You could get a huge plate of crawfish, potatoes and corn cooked RIGHT and enjoy the concert with the crawfish and a few cold brewskis. Today I indulged in a little Sugar Cubes, Linkin Park and Greenday.

That sounds DEE-LISH!! I'll use the Bourbon instead of milk, of course. Please do let me know how it turns out. Maybe I'll make that for the family reunion next week-end. It'll totally fit with the theme we're using this year.

Now y'all are talking! YES on all of those! I listened to some songs from Lost Highway today since I'd never heard of it. Good stuff! Then... got sidetracked on the Goo Goo Dolls. If you're Chas' age, JJ, then we're about the same age, too. Kewl! I hope work is getting better! I'd love to hear more of the classical music stuff that Sting is doing now.

Man o man!! Those would be FUN to make!! Rhino might have some wine recipes he'd share with us. I know Little Hawk does - he makes some great par juice!

Actually, I cited two passages, there's a third in the verses prior to this snippet you posted and there is more than just those three - like I said - you're a big boy, you can look the rest up yourself. So, yah, his opinion IS reflected in scriptures. Just because it doesn't support your argument of ignoring and glossing over the atrocities of geer doesn't mean you're correct. As to the rest of your argument.... it's just private interpretation and reading into the motives of why Paul wrote what he did - ignoring free will and all the other "rules" you've learned. You've taken that one verse totally out of context to support a man guilty of some horrific atrocities.