NeedleinA

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  1. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Anyone planning to see the "October Baby" movie?   
    My wife and I have been looking into adoption as of late. This was a concern of mine. I don't know anyone who is adopted intimately enough to know if they "GOT to find their birth parents", so my unwarranted concern could have only come from TV/Hollywood. I sat next to a young woman (sports therapist) on a plane a couple of months ago. Turns out she is adopted, from Texas and Korean too (no lie). So I explained my concern and she instantly said, "I never have felt that way. My adoptive parents are "my parents" and that is all I need". It was great to have that talk with her. She says that her and her brother go back to Korea occasionally to help others adopt from Korea to the US. 
  2. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Ironhold in Movie Review, "Risen" - any one seen it?   
    This isn't something I normally do, but here's my full-length review as published in the Copperas Cove Leader-Press Newspaper back on the 26th. - http://www.coveleaderpress.com/ ; https://www.facebook.com/coveleaderpress/ . The published version is behind a paywall, but this is the original. 
     
    **
     
    Risen

    Darren Blair

    Standard disclaimer applies. I’m openly religious. This is a religious film. I’m merely focused on the film itself. Et cetra.

    Films about the Holy Bible have been in production for decades now. Everyone from individual religious groups to Hollywood itself has tried their hand to produce material. There have even been attempts to “update” the material or reinterpret it based on someone’s personal whims.

    This film, in contrast, attempts a reasonably novel approach to making a Bible-based film: presenting a specific event through the eyes of people who are *not* already believers.

    Clavius (Joseph Fiennes) is a Tribune, a high-ranking official in the Roman military. Clavius is ambitious, his goal being to get a promotion that takes him to Rome itself. But first, he has to survive his present assignment to Judea. If he’s not dealing with his demanding superior – none other than Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth) himself – then he’s dealing with the local politicians and the local violent uprisings.

    At the start of the film, he is assigned to lead a unit of soldiers against one such uprising; although there are only a dozen or so rebels, they hold a surprisingly well-fortified. Clavius returns to base in the hopes of resting himself and his men, but he is met by a messenger who tells him that Pilate wants him… and it can’t wait. As Pilate explains, he was recently obligated to crucify a would-be Messiah figure named Yeshua (Cliff Curtis). However, the local religious leadership will not be happy until Yeshua is dead, and so are pressuring Pilate to finish the job. Clavius is to personally ensure the deaths of Yeshua and the two others who are being crucified alongside him, and he’s being assigned an aide named Lucius (Tom Felton) to assist him in this and future efforts.

    Clavius personally assures everyone that the trio are dead, but this isn’t enough; Yeshua reportedly prophesied that he would rise from the dead after the third day, and so the politicians demand that the tomb be guarded. Clavius is sent to ensure that Yeshua’s tomb is sealed tight and that a guard is posted, but he’s so exhausted from everything that has happened of late he forgets to send the guards their evening meal. The guards try to silence their empty stomachs with alcohol, and are quickly asleep. As such, when the tomb is discovered open and Yeshua’s body has gone missing, Pilate blames Clavius and orders him to search until he’s discovered where Yeshua and his followers are.

    But Clavius isn’t prepared for what he finally does discover…

    I will give this film credit for one major thing: its depiction of the Romans. Most such works I’ve seen depict the Roman military, barring specific individuals such as the centurion in charge of the crucifixion site, as a faceless horde. In this, Clavius and Lucius are merely military officers trying to grapple with a problem they don’t understand through the few means that they do. In other words, they’re everyday human beings trying to do their job.

    However, the film does have one big weakness: the closer we get to the end, the more the writers insist on directly inserting Clavius into the Biblical account of what took place. Past a certain point, it almost feels like Clavius is an insert character in someone’s fan-fiction. This is a shame, as it detracts from what is otherwise a well-written and well-acted movie. It’s worth seeing all told, but the MPAA isn’t kidding with that “Intense Violence” warning.

    Total: 8 / 10

    Rating: PG-13

    Run Time: 107 minutes.
  3. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Still_Small_Voice in Anyone planning to see the "October Baby" movie?   
    My wife and I have been looking into adoption as of late. This was a concern of mine. I don't know anyone who is adopted intimately enough to know if they "GOT to find their birth parents", so my unwarranted concern could have only come from TV/Hollywood. I sat next to a young woman (sports therapist) on a plane a couple of months ago. Turns out she is adopted, from Texas and Korean too (no lie). So I explained my concern and she instantly said, "I never have felt that way. My adoptive parents are "my parents" and that is all I need". It was great to have that talk with her. She says that her and her brother go back to Korea occasionally to help others adopt from Korea to the US. 
  4. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Backroads in A convincing (though probably unwitting) argument in favor of homeschooling   
    We have done both home school and public schools. We pulled our kids out of public schools for 3 years. My wife did most everything, as I was away at work all day. She was nervous to do it, but with some encouraging words from others we took the leap. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We converted part of our basement into the classroom. Lots of field trips, lots of home school group get togethers, and lots of library time. I think the general philosophy was to teach the kids to teach themselves, and that is what they did. They really did blossom and loved learning. It really was a wonderful time for everyone. 
    Once our oldest hit Junior High we decided that we didn't have enough resources/variety/diversity to continue. School has once again become barely tolerable for them. We have some really great teachers and some that could care less but can't be fired type teachers. Our kids all re-entered public schools at advanced/honors levels, however, over the past 2 years you can see the desire/drive/enthusiasm fading away. Wish we could go back, but not in the cards right now.
    We have a great friend who teaches elementary school and says she loves teaching the kids and hates everything else about it. Hates the bureaucracy, the paper work, the hoops and also all the snot hole parents always complaining.  
  5. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Heather in How to replace caffeine   
    Watched a great little TED talk regarding the power of sleep. Here is my caveman version of it:
    1. Every part of your body produces waste as it works, including your brain.
    2. Every part of your body has a system for flushing/disposing of that waste during the day.
    3. Unlike the rest of your body, your brain does not flush waste during activity (awake).
    4. The build up of this waste in your brain is what slows you down, drains your thoughts, ideas, reflexes, energy, memory, etc.
    5. Only time your brain will allow itself to flush this waste is during your sleep. 
    6. Less sleep, less flushing. Less flushing, less functioning at full capacity. 
    7. Ugh, Ugh... caveman says "get sleep, we all need sleep!"
    Video - if anyone cares
  6. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from theSQUIDSTER in Filthy Lucre   
    All depends on their reading abilities
    Sorry, my dumb comment for the day. (exits stage left)
  7. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
  8. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Filthy Lucre   
    Can you double or triple like a cheesy comment when it makes you actually laugh out loud at work . Oooh the power of a good laugh. 
     
  9. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Filthy Lucre   
    Tunnel driller who work too much get bored to death.
  10. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Filthy Lucre   
    All depends on their reading abilities
    Sorry, my dumb comment for the day. (exits stage left)
  11. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from unixknight in Cremation / Casket Viewings   
    Just spoke to my Mother-in-law tonight about this. She says she was pretty upset at her own mother's funeral here not too long ago. She said, "my mother was a hard working woman. In the trenches with worn hands and worn finger tips. I showed up to see my mother in the casket with fake press-on 2" bright red nails looking like a clown. She never looked like that a day in her life".
    She then followed up with, "I don't want a open casket so they can't turn me into a clown".
  12. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to mrmarklin in No alcohol = no service?   
    I don't experience this at all, and I eat out a lot.  Many people don't drink alcohol at meals for a variety of reasons. 
    Im old enough to remember being at some very hard drinking lunches (not me!) 30 or so years ago, but it's just not that way anymore. People tend to drink a lot less here in the SF Bay Area than was formerly the case.
  13. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to zil in No alcohol = no service?   
    This is the difference between a professional and non-professional.  And in my experience, it's the difference between someone who will excel, be recognized, and succeed, and someone who will spend the rest of their lives hoping for big tips.
  14. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to BeccaKirstyn in No alcohol = no service?   
    I'm a waiter and I understand why they want you to order alcohol (increases your check average, thus increasing your tip amount, and many restaurants keep a ranking system of who gets what section depending upon how much in alcohol sales you had for the week along with other factors). But as an LDS member I hate selling alcohol so I'm a little different. I hate encouraging my guests to drink poison that will inhibit their ability to drive later that night. But even with all the reasons why selling alcohol is beneficial for servers, they still shouldn't treat your dining experience any different. That's just bad service. 
     
  15. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Backroads in That "girl" was a "boy" last year...   
    I teach 2nd grade. I can't imagine the vast majority of 2nd graders needing this type of in-depth discussion. I still have a couple who can't even wander across the hall to the bathroom without getting lost, let alone worry about gender identity. That being said, 2nd graders are smarter than many give them credit for. Should these things be discussed? Sure, but age appropriateness is a thing and a thing that should be considered.
    What bothers me is the notion of going beyond answering a few questions or proactively presenting this information for age-appropriateness. Words are powerful. No, talking to your kid about gender identity probably won't make them change genders willy-nilly, in and of itself. But there is a culture that encourages this acceptance and even champions it far beyond the exceptions in unusual, critical cases.
  16. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to kapikui in No alcohol = no service?   
    http://www.chowhound.com/food-news/106088/no-drinks-bad-service/
  17. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to zil in No alcohol = no service?   
    Am in Utah, but would be curious to know the answer.  I think I'd have some fun:
    "Just water thanks, makes it easier to calculate the tip."
    "Is the food that bad?"
    "Ecto cooler?"  (I would kill for Hi-C to bring back Ecto Cooler. )
    etc.
  18. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    So I've been thinking about one of the answers that is commonly given for "Why are we here (on earth)? What is the purpose?". One of the common answers that comes to mind..."So we can be tried & tested to see if we will do the things that HF asks us to do".  Kind of like, prove ourselves to him. Hum... double hum... why not a triple hum. 
    Does HF know us, really truly know us individually? In addition does HF know everything? If he knows everything and knows us, does that mean he already knows which kingdom we will inherit? If he already knows which kingdom we will inherit and it is no surprise to him, then... wouldn't it seem logical that we are not here to prove anything to HF, but rather... we are here to prove to "ourselves" what we are made of. Earth life feels more like a place where we come to work things out with ourselves, so that once we do receive a kingdom, we will know in our heart of hearts that we received the correct kingdom. 
    I know a little wish washy in my explaining, but how about the core idea?
     
  19. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    This really is the gist of where I was trying to go previously. We will have learned for ourselves that once we inherit a kingdom, that it is fair. Not simply because HF says it is fair, but we will know it ourselves in our heart that it was fair. 
  20. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    At some point, the "life as a test" model fails. In our common speech, a "test" is a highly artificial demonstration of our knowledge. The best tests try to be practical, but in most academic settings a test is little more than a chance to explain, or regurgitate, classroom knowledge. The test itself is not designed to teach us anything; it is designed solely to determine whether we can recall what we are supposed to recall.
    Life is not like that. Life is a part of our eternal existence. It is a "test" in the sense that we are tried, but our growth actually lies in those trials. The "tests" are the purifying furnace, the molding force that shapes us. We aren't trying to "show God" something he doesn't already know, or even something he does already know. We are learning, or else failing to learn, to be obedient to the Father and do all things whatsoever we are commanded.
  21. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to zil in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    @NeedleinA I believe Abraham 3:25
    "Prove" likely means "try" or "test" (as indicated in footnotes of various other verses), but "prove" in the modern meaning works just as well here.  The verse doesn't say to whom.  There's also the verse about "working out our own salvation" - I also believe we are here to learn for ourselves, not only who we really want to be (already are), but also how to be that person* (mortality being necessary for both); and perhaps also so we can't argue we were never given a fair shake - this is the fairest of shakes.
    I also wonder, as I've mentioned elsewhere, if the glory of God's presence (however we experienced that as spirits) wasn't nearly overwhelming (clearly not entirely or Satan wouldn't have had such success), and that's why mortality is necessary - some wouldn't believe it if told who they really were, all need mortality to gain mastery of who they really are.
    Personal opinions / thoughts, subject to change upon receipt of further light and knowledge.
    *Later Edit: "how to continue to improve ourselves and be the best us we can be" (or, I suppose, in some cases, how to continue to not improve, or how to continue our descent).
  22. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Jojo Bags in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    I've said this same thing to other people and have discussed it with my wife.  God is God because he has all knowledge.  He knows what we will do, but as you've pointed out, we have things to prove to ourselves. 
  23. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Jojo Bags in Earth Life, a proving ground for who?   
    So I've been thinking about one of the answers that is commonly given for "Why are we here (on earth)? What is the purpose?". One of the common answers that comes to mind..."So we can be tried & tested to see if we will do the things that HF asks us to do".  Kind of like, prove ourselves to him. Hum... double hum... why not a triple hum. 
    Does HF know us, really truly know us individually? In addition does HF know everything? If he knows everything and knows us, does that mean he already knows which kingdom we will inherit? If he already knows which kingdom we will inherit and it is no surprise to him, then... wouldn't it seem logical that we are not here to prove anything to HF, but rather... we are here to prove to "ourselves" what we are made of. Earth life feels more like a place where we come to work things out with ourselves, so that once we do receive a kingdom, we will know in our heart of hearts that we received the correct kingdom. 
    I know a little wish washy in my explaining, but how about the core idea?
     
  24. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Jojo Bags in "Christians" obtaining the Celestial Kingdom   
    Turning to the scriptures is the best way to answer this.
    It all depends on the person's mindset as to whether or not they would have accepted the Gospel with all their heart. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of people are deceived by the craftiness of men, both in and out of the Church. In the end, only our Heavenly Father will know who would have accepted the Gospel with all his heart.
  25. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Cremation / Casket Viewings   
    I have always found it curious that you can use old temple garments for rags once you have destroyed the symbolic marks. Why would anyone do that? And why would the temple guides make a special point of telling us so?
    Then it occurred to me that up until maybe two generations ago, there were people called "ragpickers" who made their living collecting scrap rags for recycling. Who knows, maybe ragpicking still exists as an occupation in some places. The point is, I suspect that rags actually used to be more valuable than they are now. As a child, I remember learning at several different times about the dangers of oily rags spontaneously combusting. Today I think, "Who in their right mind would keep a pile of oily rags lying around?" But if the rags were worth, say, $5 or $10 apiece in 2016 prices, that would make a lot more sense to keep them around to reuse them, if possible, or perhaps even try soaking them in gasoline or detergent and seeing if you could reuse them.