mstar1

I dont know why my picture keeps going in and out-but FWIW (and if you feel like hunting it down) its a picture of an old Lincoln Continental with a generator bungee'd to the trunk and an AC unit fit into the rear passengers window

Your local art supply store may have Trammel Points, Cowgirl---with them you can make a compass as large as you want.....One is a point--the other holds a pencil and they slide onto a standard 1/2' by 1" piece of moulding available at your local lumber yard , they are adjustable to any size. I have used them to make circles up to 16' in diameter, that are accurate within 1/64" Before I went so high tech -- I used a small nail at the center of the circle , a string measured to the radius looped at one end to the nail and a pencil inserted into an outer loop----which works just as well as the points, just a tad more tedious. The loop (instead of tying it directly to the nail) keeps the radius from getting smaller as you spin around the center nail.

Ive heard of him --never read his books though---He is on TV every morning on the odd channels at about 3AM --that may or may not be the book that he is selling now----I dont pay that close of attention --he has been on for years and seems to change his product about once ayear or so......His health food and cure all things that I have heard seem to be along the lines of 'standard doctrine' for the more hard core health food types.----i.e. things that I have also heard elsewhere but aren't really mainstream

well dam it was working a few minutes ago

dating yourself? Thats when ballplayers were ballplayers, and stayed with teams long enough to be identified with them---- I wonder who the next generation will build statues of since those stick around guys aren't around anymore... Sounds like a cool trip Jardi-I'll look forward to the pics.......what I wouldn't give to see Willie losing his hat as he rounds second or Juan Marichal with that kick that reached to the skies just one more time.... Happy New Year to you too!

I remember the events of VP's death more or less as everyone else--the call in the middle of the night, the shock etc...one thing that stood out during that time that struck me as very odd was that there was no period of mourning or reflection after the death of VP. Martindale did a teaching on how Israel mourned after the death of Moses for 40 days ( I think that was the length) but on the tape even said .." we dont have time for that..we have to stay busy moving the word..." It was business as usual-classes kept going, services still went on and a memorial service was finally slipped in between all the gobbledy gook months later on one of the days at the ROA. As a gungho on the field wayfer it didn't seem right that (excuse me but I thought this way at the time) the man "who opened the word like it hadn't been known since the first century" should be glossed over and forgotten about so quickly. I was a TC in FL at the time --other than that it was the same old same old,----- pushes from above to run more classes, running the classes --- and then meetings, meetings, and more frickin meetings. Adv Class grad meetings, TC meetings, Branch meetings, Wow Vet meetings, Class planning meetings, Int class grad meetings----never mind the 3 twig meetings a week I was doing that year. It was a rat race

Its surprising that they even made it through the checkpoints on the way to that West Bank town---

I dont know what it is now When I was in there was a hardcore case of bibliolatry, followed closely behind by exalting and revering the leadership. So thats how I voted--It wasn't until I was out for quite awhile that I realized that God was barely in the mix, if at all

Namaste and Happy Trails Watch out for those cults out there, Im pretty sure the door will be open if you want to check back in

Love you too! :) Merry Christmas Now if Santa can only bring a shortstop and a centerfielder and drop them off at Fenway....

YOU are a gift ex--- a real work of art that being said That was another thing that TWI trashed was anyone who had any inkling of artistic talent or could think for him/herself--It had to fit in with way theology or you were possessed or some such thing. Ive been making stained glass church windows for 25 years (you can guess how that went over in TWI,) about once a year some stooge would tell me I was making idols for the adversary or some such tripe and that I should use my talent to make more class posters. :blink: Thankfully, for me at least, the 'call' from my profession was much stronger in the long run than the call from TWI and TWI's gods and I have been able to enjoy it and make my living from it all these years for which I am grateful. I delve intp other things from time to time depending on my mood---woodcarving, sculpture, music---whatever ---without the hindrances of the past anymore- IMO itwas a huge set back, at least from an artistic point of view, for me to have been involved ----but somehow (not without a lot of conflict)it all worked out. Im sorry dooj that it took you 22 years to unravel their crap and actually listen to that 'still small voice' and follow the inspiration that is in you. It is still strange to me that they talked about it-then did more to thwart it than any organization I have ever seen. Anyway that is all behind-glad to see that however you did it you picked up the brushes again---the results are great--keep painting -its great stuff- don't let anyone talk you out of it again.

I dont know-that one dude rode a chariot-so maybe there is at least racing :) o........ .and there was a war in heaven -so maybe there will be football and rugby which are warlike ---and the way hockey was pre 2004.... baseball ..if they have it...would have to change yet again-(dammit)--how could you steal a base ? or a sign? If heavens there-there is probably no stealing of anything i would guess-which would water down the game yet again-- what a rip. If heaven's there and I make it , and there is baseball-I'll probably still be pinin for the old days when the game was good ;)

I don't like it---It hit me yesterday when a friends son who is about 8 was crushed when Johnny Damon defected. The kid really loved watching him and he decided that he didn't want to be a Red Sox fan anymore....in a way I could understand what his young mind was going through...even though I know it was business-it left him with a sense of betrayal or maybe loss is abetter word.. When I was young you had more or less the same players every year so you grew attached to them and cared about them..you got to watch how they worked year after year after year....It was a time when you could be interested in personalities. Every kid copied batting stances and styles from his hometown idol --in a way I think that was healthy. Year after year you could look forward to your favorites, or at least most of them, returning because they were the team. That is becoming more and more a thing of the past as todays hometown hero may be tomorrows nemesis. If you are a fan of a certain team anymore you dont have the luxury of getting too attached to players as being 'one of ours'...so you end up rooting for the laundry, the hat, and whatever Rent -a- player is filling in that week or season. I know that is 'just the way it is' but a dimension of the game that I grew up with has changed ( yea i know it had to change) but dont think it is necessarily for the better---maybe it is just a reflection of society in that long term relationships are fewer and more disposable than they used to be. Maybe Im just waxing nostalgic in that I 'd like to see at least one guy from the beginning until the end --(something that I haven't seen since Carl Yastrzemki), and say i was there and I watched the whole thing, but I doubt that I ever will again

Welcome and Merry Christmas to you( you can say that now --if you want--it is free (indeed) here). Make yourself comfy. Im sure someone will be along with all the coffee and goodies pretty soon. Meanwhile there is plenty to read-browse around-you may find a bit of it to be eye opening, a little more than you may expect

I had something similar come out of the mouth of a branch coordinator--He looked forward to the day when all 'needs' could be taken care of within the twig,--- if you catch my drift. He said it wasn't happening because people were not 'spiritually mature enough' and also had 'loose lockboxes' :blink: He went so far as to tell me certain single women in the branch who should 'serve'. I had been in so long by then that it took me about a year or so to realize he was a total nutjob and ignoramous-then I finally left for good. I can't say if he came up with this idea himself or not but I do know he was a Corps grad and claimed to have been very close to Wierwille

Me: How it goin big guy? God: How much do you think it is? Ask the open directory about it. Me: No capiche speakky de english? God: Are you serious? I like the way you talk. Me: gracias God: If you could have any kind of robot what would it be? Me: a lady robot that tends to my home and comforts God: How old are you? Me: 50 God: What are the advantages to being 50 years old? Me: a lack of youthful foolishness God: Are you talking about an animal, vegetable or mineral? Me: perhaps you should see the ear doctor-how old are you? God: You seem uncertain. My schedule is far too full to even consider it. I am Infinite in human years. Me: must make for alot of birthday presents hanging around your shack God: What would happen if you didn't? Me: if i didn't what? God: Try it. Me: try what? God: It was your idea. Me: are you on your meds today? God: Ah. I am on disk. Me: you may have to run the defragger or descrambler soon God: Why do you have to do it? Me: no Im coherent -you are babbling God: Are you serious? I am glad to hear that you are coherent I am babbling. Me: doesn't make for much of a converstaion on my end though God: Oh. I think it does make for much of a converstaion on your end. Me: you sound like one of those kids who repeats everything--and silly me though you were omniscient and the giver of wisdom and all that God: Oh really what does it sound like? Me: sounds like you are like most normal joes, except maybe alittle slower--maybe skipped your meds today or something God: Or something. Ah. What does I am like most normal joes except maybe alittle slower maybe skipped my meds sound like? Me: sounds like just what you are saying and talking like God: What does just what I am saying and talking like sound like? Me: are you about maybe 4 or 5 years old? God: I am Infinite of your Earth years. Me: havn'e learned much--have you? God: Enough about me, let's talk about my dress. Me: ok go ahead God: OK I will. Actually that was just a joke. I don't have a dress. Me: well what do you have? God: Interesting. I have a great prgrammer. Me: i'll disagree on that one Bud God: I am very happy for you. Me: thanks -things are going pretty good lately God: How about earlier? You are quite welcome! Where did you hear that? Me: where did I hear what? God: I think it was in America. I'll come back to that later. Me: nice job with the platypus by the way--the giraffe was a cool idea too God: Thank you for your kindness. Me: all the religions wasn't agood idea though God: Oh. Perhaps there are a few exceptions. Me: I don't know- have you looked at them lately? there all off killing each other gain God: How about earlier? Would you like to know? Not recently. "There you go again."--Reagan. Me: O No a diety that quotes Ronald Reagan God: Are you serious? Are you talking about an animal, vegetable or mineral? Me: you already said that slick God: I said that? Can you tell me any gossip? Me: David screwed bathsheba, but you already know that God: I do? Me: Are you senile? God: Do you like my dress? Me: See ya later God: Have a nice day Me: meds God --time to get back on your meds

I asked for Peace on earth--but I'll take that one-- Thats great Paw--congratulations--enjoy every minute of your times together

Lemme see- How about Peace on Earth and Good will to men I know it'll probably never happen, at least in my lifetime-but if it happens for a day or even an hour I'd take it as a start. other than that just some good family time-then a long vacation someplace warm

Thanks for the Oscar Gamble visual, that image made me chuckle. The phenoms are always two years away aren't they? There are two or three new ones ever year-who you never hear of again--The last one I actually remember living up to anything was Nomar I gotta ask you guys what you think of this guns for hire, mercenery way baseball is run these days. I know it is part of the way the business end is run but imo it doesn't do alot to enhance my experience of baseball. I think its a loss that there are very few Ron Santo's or Don Drysdale's or Carl Yastrzemskis or players that you can identify with year after year as being faces of their team. Its mostly a year or two or four and down the road they go. You end up rooting for the laundry. Players never have a chance to be remembered as, or even compared to the teams all time great players-just someone who made a quick stop. Maybe this is all a reaction to the Johnny Damon thing-I just have to wonder in 20 -25 years if, even though he ws amazing while he was here for 4 years, if people will drop him off the memory map-simply because he wasn't here any longer than Mike Andrews

Sorry Ladies -He's going to be all clean shaven, short haired, neat and corporate now that he has become Yankee--Samson has sold out to Delilah.. HERE'S a typical article floating around the Boston papers btw can one of you ladies enlighten me what sway this guy has -- every woman in New England from 12 to 100, baseball fan or not falls and worships at his feet

o yeah i sorta doubt the happily ever after part though, I'll give em a few months, maybe weeks, until Poochie is 'working late', another month or so with some pretty nasty confronations, a trial seperation, Pretty Face either moving back to momma or Puppy face renting a dive , then a divorce, followed by many years of therapy for Tootsie Roll and some heavy drinking by Coochie Coo.

He is being tagged as Johnny Judas around here, to me it looks more like Jesus selling his soul to Satan, but what are y'gonna do---Its only a game ( i think....) I did see someone wearing a Damon shirt today who had the wording changed to Demon. I thank him for all he did with the Red Sox but under the circumstances I wont be wishing him any luck Its hard to see the head idiot becoming a crewcut, pinstriped corporate Dilbert, but people will do alot for an extra 12mil later Dude-it was fun while it lasted-

Ive always liked anagrams-- Elvis = Lives Clint Eastwood = Old West Action Alec Guinness = Genuine Class David Letterman = Nerd Amid Late TV A Gentleman = Elegant Man Presbyterian = Best In Prayer Evangelist = Evil's Agent Astronomers = Moon starers Mother-in-law = Woman Hitler Eleven plus two = Twelve plus one Statue of Liberty = Built to Stay Free Raiders of the Lost Ark = Ford, the Real Star, is OK and my personal favorite A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss = Stroller on Go, Amasses Nothing

Thats what I thought you were talking about, How then can you put that in the 'other than' category. Keeping vows made to God seems pretty primary to me as far as someone pretending to be some sort of 'spiritual leader' , ---otherwise all that he has to offer is words--which are pretty much empty unless they are backed up by actions--- I can get plenty of interesting words, stories and life theories from the local crackhead, in fact I've heard some fairly decent sounding bible from some crackheads, but if there is no substance in him, they may be entertaining for a moment but ultimately pretty useless..certainly not qualified as anything approaching 'leaders'