mstar1

Well Ron, not exactly that but pretty close--- thanks for the memories, I now remember clearly why I dont do my own u joints anymore, Whenever I had to deal with those little stupid pin bearings I came closer and closer to believing that there was a personal devil who had designed them---I think I would rather wrestle with a rabid animal than wrestle with those again. I don't think I ever got one quite right after a bunch of attempts...and then that unmistakable grinding sound would eventually return--I have since passed this joy onto others to do. Lets us know how the sand experiment turns out --maybe we should start a "How long will Rons ujoints last"pool.. 10 bucks gets you in -closest guess gets the pot

Good Luck Cowgirl! btw a fiddler/banjo playin friend recently showed me this website: THE HONKING DUCK where you can listen to hundreds of old 78 records...Its a real treasure trove for fans and students of Old Time music. It stays on a lot around my house lately-There are alot of great songs there---A lot are fairly simple and not too difficult to learn and jam with if you're in the mood Heres a little sample i'm listening to just now: Jordan Is A Hard Road toTravel Uncle Dave Macon -1927

No, just long ago memories that I had forgotten---It was 1982, Tampa-St Pete was an outreach city, there were a hundred and some that were sent there, I was sent to Largo and lived off of Belcher somewhere. The "Seminole and Ulmerton" line tripped a memory--we ran a class on tape right near that intersection that kept getting interrupted by the radio station right across the street (somehow their signal overpowered our system). Just as VP was doing the tongues thing in session 12, Van Halen came blasting through the speakers singing "Running with the devil....". The timing was perfect!

Gees y'all are giving me flashbacks I was a WOW in Largo

Damn I killed her on the first shot Do I get extra points for that?

I was never in all that close to be 'in the know', being a non corps twig coordinator in Florida at the time. I dont recall VPW ever saying specifically he got revelation although I could be wrong. I do recall a bunch of the lower management (Region, Limb and Area Coordinators)claiming that he did though--- especially after the loyalty letter came out

What difference would that make? The unborn child is either legally a person or legally not a person. It can't be both ways--- or sometimes one way, sometimes the other--- I was interested in a similar case about 10 years ago when a murderer was charged with two counts of murder when he killed a pregnant woman, but in the days before I had internet accesibility the local paper never followed the story beyond the initial charges--I would be interested in hearing how that or any similar cases played out.

Friend is certainly a word that has been bastardized by TWI. If these 'friends' were to practice what they preach, love and friendship wouldnt be predicated on circumstances (whether or not you come to my fellowship/restaurant or not) but be unconditional. Many of us saw just how 'unconditional" it was when we left -being ostracized by some people we thought to be friends. Most were no more than acquaintances that we loitered around with, had experiences with and due to lack of real world contact somehow equated that into "friends' Leaving imo would actually be a good way to sort out the real friends from the phonies and control freaks ....a friend loveth at ALL times

Others have said it better Mex, but I wouldnt look too close for any one who is 'right' . Take a step back and look again, they were so caught up in a false and extreme worldview that they were all certifiably insane

You just never know what will get pulled out of the hat-- Welcome back Rock and Happy Birthday

Wow thats all incredibly sad rascal---It is sort of interesting to me that we spent hundreds (thousands ??) of dollars and sacrificed huge chunks of our youth so that they could tell us to listen to that "still small voice" While all the while they were stifling and controlling any chance it had of appearring in our lives. The low level leaders in my opinion were for the most part just as duped as any of us were and generally stupid as a bag of rocks especially when dispensing advise. It was ultimately our error to listen to them but it was part of the whole sick system that we learned. Home and family bad for you spiritually? Whoever TF came up with that gem of biblicalresearch? ( I heard it to)...geesh..looking at it in hindsight it is hard for me to believe how far these morons were off base in almost everything that they did. As far as them being 'well meaning', I dont doubt that they thought that they were right but if they actually meant well they would have looked alittle deeper into things in the first place. As far as it being sinister--I have gone back and forth over the years and lately have relegated it to the far far back burner. because for me it is so long ago--but I personally think Wierwille was a very very insecure and dishonest man who consciously or otherwise built controls and unending hoops into the system so that he would be revered, in control and have his ego unendingly stroked. Im pretty sure he knew what he was doing but was somehow able to justify it within himself because his conscience was so seared by his doctrinal atrocities

I live in New England, not all that close to any specific cemetary, but close enough--- I have learned to greatly appreciate them. Here there are some that go back to the 1630's. The poetry, artwork and stories on the stones tell not only individual stories but stories of entire parts of our history. They are enough to make anybody sit up and think about more than just what is going on in our little moment. I have always found them wonderful places for thought , reflection and meditation. Now what was Wierwilles superstition about these? Personally I think he went ballistically out of his way just to keep anybody away from any place where they may have a genuine spiritual thought.

Well seems like the hot stove is starting to warm up--throw another log on the fire--I am almost hesitant to speak before it all officially irons out, But Josh Beckett to the Red Sox sure looks good right about now, although I would have loved to see the incredibly highly touted Hanley Ramirez alittle closer I heard that the stRangers were in the lead to get him but they hesitated a bit too long, --sorry there Tom

Good question...is celibacy still a prerequisite for the catholic priesthood? if so aren't they already disqualified if they are active in any sexuality?They could always convert to episcopalianism--although the way that group is fracturing over the issue there may not be many episcopalians left soon

i went to a Katrina benefit last night and saw The Dirty Dozen Brass Band --one of those genuine, only from New Orleans, brass bands that was well worth the effort to see...I felt like I was walking the streets of New Orleans again and enjoying every minute of it... If this works--HERE is a song of theirs you may remember

Well? How was it? has your hearing returned yet? I haven't seen them in years , how were they? Being a Bostonian I was a huge fan when they were a local band during my HS years before they cracked open nationally. They'd play anywhere in those days and had that amazing energy that I guess they still have--- I saw 'em play at a zoo, a tennis court and about 15 other places in and around Boston from 72-74, last time was in the old Garden around '78. They always had spectacular energy

And it would be a treat to be there!! There is no finer feeling anywhere, than there is walking into a jam session instrument in hand and seeing others already swatting out tunes, and seeing them move around so you can join in. Live music is the best, and (these days) I go to performances that I can sit in on, and they are never the big name folks. I like local. I like regional. I like simple. It's great if I can sit in on the fiddle, and pick along. Mstar -- what a great photo! Backroom of a barbershop --- man -- does that bring back memories Well Dave, Jardi --anyone --you are always welcome if you are in this neck of the woods Its agood way to end the work day --afew beers --maybe someone is cooking something on the grill, some folks playing darts and people plucking away on all sorts of instruments and trading songs. I find it amazing the great and obscure songs that everyday people carry around inside them, its a heckuva a lot of fun to listen, join in, or just make things up as you go.. Nobody is 'great' but there is nothing better, to me at least, than live music thats springs authentically from the moment

At this point I am not quite sure if I heard it or imagined it but my general belief was that " each and every person would have an opportunity to say yes or no" to the word of wierwille. I even sat down and did the math one time and figured that if i won a person or two a year and they in turn did the same that the multiplication would work out to cover the earth in way less than a lifetime. It was a long shot but at the time seemed doable. Anything less than each and every person hearing seemed cheap to me at the time---- Glad Ive changed my views on a lot of things since then---but the way they think now with about 3or 4,000 people out of 6 Billion is ludicrous

ah yes--the fruitful joys of wingnut christianity.... Her beliefs remind me of a small offshoot Im aware of that grossly feared nearly everything...It was really more like a group mental illness ... Do you think those children may have a few adjustment issues down the road? I'd bet at least one of them will spend at least 100K on therapists, psychiatrists and counsellors over their life to sort through growing up with that

Apparently more than a few go back- - If it works for you-then have at it. Kit and Mark ( and maybe some others) have found a home there that suits them very well, perhaps you will too

Mstar???? Hi jardi.. Ive actually been playing with a few friends for my own entertainment lately--after work most days with a few other folks who meander into my shop after work with banjos, mandolins, and fiddles and things. It usually tends toward oldtime or bluegrass type stuff, but anything can happen and sometimes does depending on peoples moods. There is one great fiddler , who is classically trained , a couple good mandolinists and a bunch of good guitar players. We all hack away at the banjo, or whatever else is around. It sort of reminds me of this scene from Rockwell which was actually painted just a few blocks away.. except we are little younger I did see my favorite folkies Harvey Reid and Joyce Anderson twice this summer, Harvey is the consummate acoustic guitarist ( well he is amazing on banjo, mandolin, autoharp and just about anything else with strings too) and his wife Joyce is one incredible fiddler, Both are also good songwriters and they combine a respect for oldtime type stuff with tasteful new things I saw a band called Ollabelle that plays rootsy bluesy gospel type tunes. I recommend them to anyone I worked a Doc Watson show ---he is still absolutely amazing although he must be in his 80's as far as what Im listening to Im on an old country kick right now for some reason listening to things from the 30's 40's and 50's that I never really listened to before ---Hank Williams, Jimmy Rogers, Carter family --there really is some amazing stuff in there that i never had afull appreciation of before.. I am also listening to any mountain music I can get my hands on, as well as devouring the early Bob Dylan stuff.(who I also saw this summer with Willie Nelson) I dunno a strange, or at least different period for me musically--but its still fun

or until people cease to profit from it...

I know that i would have been the smartass to tell my mother that it meant 'Excellent'

I'd be interested, not so much as a place to sell my wares ( although if someone wants something I wouldn't turn them away) but as a forum to exchange practical ideas on running small businesses

If Wile E. Coyote could afford all that stuff from Acme, why didn't he just go out to eat?