NeuroTypical

Gaaah! The river dream! Jerome is the chosen one! He is predestined to usher in the end of all things! Woe to us all! (or something)

I don't know what lesson you can to take, but the lesson for the rest of us is "Annewandering is sensitive to hypocracy".But then again, I think most of us knew that already, so we didn't need the dream. Dreams rock. Last night, I dreamt that the violent protestors had come to my work, to smash stuff and fight da man. They had about 20 people. I knew if we could get 10 men to just stand there and look unafraid, they wouldn't try anything. So I was running around trying to convince 10 men to show up and just look strong, even if they didn't feel strong. Everything had changed. Many coworkers who I look up to as honorable, smart, talented, good at their jobs, shrank back at the mere idea of opposing bad guys. Some coworkers who were unassuming, humble, minor figures in my daily work experience, immediately stood up and walked boldly with me. Some of the protestors were ticked off employees.

One thing to keep in mind: There can be a big difference between God-breathed truth given by revelation, and a policy enacted after careful and prayerful consideration. God-breathed truth never changes, and has always been. Policies are created, and often change. None of this means the church isn't true.

It's good to apply such tests to ourselves, to make sure we're not being hypocritical in our demands of adherents to the Islamic faith.I think Mormons pass this test. Two examples of many: Polygamist Sects Are Not “Mormons,” Church Says A Conversation on Spouse Abuse I don't believe that disavowing evil is an impossible choice. I am starting to hear in my conservative circles, a growing appreciation for the Islamic groups that swiftly do so. I do not hear calls to apologize or control, but calls for more groups to publicly disavow evil acts, and stop justifying them and teaching them in your mosques.When I'm arguing with Athiests and agnostics who bring up the crusades, and so-called christian white power people, and hate crimes against homosexuals in the name of God, I have absolutely no problem distancing myself. Heck, when someone brings up the Mountain Meadows Massacre, I have no problem admitting those people did evil things. When critics tell me mormons are just prone to such atrocities, I ask them to name one that has happened in the last 150 years. I see that scenario as valid, only when there are no mainstream groups actively justifying and defending the terrorists. I guess it's important to define what percentage of a population needs to be extremist, before it can be considered a mainstream problem. Ten percent? Five? Two? If someone took a poll in London of people professing to be Muslim, and for every 100 responses you found half a dozen people willing to justify the terror acts and blame the British government, do Muslims not have a mainstream problem? Me too and me too. And the numbers seem to be growing, and that's good too. When every outspoken moderate represents tens of thousands, I will be much more happy.

Well what we learned today, is that London has unarmed police maybe 9 minutes away, and armed police maybe 14 minutes away. I'm guessing the unarmed police showed up, saw the two armed men not actively involved in killing anyone, and waited for their armed counterparts.

A few thoughts: First, just to make clear, I'm not condemning any faith. Like PC said, we need the adjectives. These people are Islamic, but that's about as useful as saying they are male, and then drawing conclusions about males. These guys are militant Islamic terrorists. And you can draw conclusions about militant Islamic terrorists. Second, the 'standing around doing nothing' reaction, is more common than we might want to think. It's not a US vs. UK thing - it is a inexperienced/unprepared human vs experienced/prepared human thing. The Stratfor organization talks about 'states of readiness': A spectrum with 'Ready to flee or fight and expecting to decide in the next 2 seconds' on one end, the 'cautious driver looking for hazzards' somewhere in the middle, and 'tuned out watching tv' on the other end. Past that other end, is 'comatose' - where someone (either asleep or awake) simply cannot respond in any meaningful way to what is happening around them. Here's what Col. Jeff Cooper had to say about it: "Many men who are not cowards are simply unprepared for the fact of human savagery. They have not thought about it (incredible as this may appear to anyone who reads the paper or listens to the news) and they just don't know what to do. When they look right into the face of depravity or violence, they are astonished and confounded." It happens. You may be one of these people. I may be one too - the only real way to know, is to find yourself in that situation, and see what you're capable of. I hope that doesn't happen. Keep safe everyone.

Yeah, there are many different ways this news is disturbing. * For many, their only response to violent evil, is to stand there and record it with their iPhone. The willingness of regular passerby to take pictures and even grant interviews. * The quote: "By Allah, we swear by the Almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone... ayah in Sura at-Tauba [Chapter 9 of the Koran], many, many ayah [verses] throughout the Koran that [say] we must fight them as they fight us, a eye for a eye and a tooth for a tooth. I apologise that women had to witness this today, but in our land our women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your governments. They don’t care about you. Do you think David Cameron is gonna get caught in the street when we start busting our guns? Do you think the politicians are going to die? No it's going to be average guy, like you." * A news media that refuses to say 'militant Islamic terrorism' despite quotes like that. * The immediate politicization of the issue. * The fact that such an event can occur in one of the major cities of the free world, and go unresponded to by authorities for 15-20 minutes. * Disturbing but not surprising: The number of Islamic organizations not just failing to condemn the attacks, but actually defending and justifying them. Like the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK ("until our government doesn't stop its violence in the Muslim world, their murders will create more murderers"). Anjem Choudary, founder of al-Muhajiroun (“I think if anyone needs to be condemned it is the British government and their foreign policy. It’s so clear that that is the cause.”). So many others, both UK based elsewhere. There is some positive news: The number of Islamic organizations and mosques who immediately condemned the attacks. ISB ("Justifying this killing in the name of faith or religion is false and rejected."). Muslim Council of Britain ("No cause justifies this murder. A barbaric act that has no basis in Islam and we condemn this unreservedly.") This is an encouraging trend, one which needs to continue and expand.

Keep in mind Hihohiho, when you count the 'thanks' people are leaving on these posts, it's like six people all saying the same thing. I've sat in the bishop's 'hot seat' before. Go and do it with full intent of becoming clean before the Lord. You'll be very blessed.

Sounds like something you should have settled before agreeing to marry him. But since here you are, the message is clear. You know who and what you are marrying. He has told you his plans. You already know how the money will work. It's not a 'change if you love me' thing. It's a 'take him and stop having a problem with it, or leave him and find someone else' thing. Choose carefully - your children and his are relying on you making it work this time. Marriage is hard enough with a 50% divorce rate. 2nd marriages are much worse, with something like a 75-80% divorce rate. Drag kids through another divorce, and you're setting them up to have problems connecting with their own future spouses, placing them at higher risk of living in poverty, and going to prison.

My opinion still stands - The Adventures of Baron Munchausen stands as one of the great underappreciated works of cinematic excellence.

Just a word of caution - we don't want a 'board war' to break out here. Neither this thread nor this site, should be used to play the "my board rocks and your board stinks" game.

Hi DeusCaritasEst,Are you talking about the Non Catholic Religions forum on that site? If you are, then by all means ask your questions there. The LDS there will do their best, although some of the more contentious posters make it a little difficult. You can also ask your questions at Mormondialogue.org. LDS.net is a site to ask questions, not to argue. This is not a debate forum. If you want answers, ask away. If, on the other hand, you are interested in showing us why our answers are insufficient, because catholicism is right and we're wrong - this is not the right board for you.

There are things you can do about cutting and self-harm. I don't know what they are, but its causes and treatment are much better understood these days than even just 5 years ago. From what I do know, it involves figuring out what issue you're trying to treat, and then finding more appropriate ways to deal with it. Good luck and God bless.

Well, it depends on the type of lottery. The ones with low payouts (like "get your dollar back" low) can pay off almost 50% of the time.But the big multimillion dollar ones? Well, something like 4-500 Americans get hit by lightning every year. How many stories like that get people so excited we make a thread about it here?

I often dream about how cool it would be to get hit by lightning and survive. I would have a cool scar to show people. I've got a far, far, far better chance of realizing my dream, than you people do. Like 5000% better chances, or something like that.

Required reading: Alexander B. Morrison, “Myths about Mental Illness,” Ensign, Oct 2005

Whoa - you either got zero trekkie cred, or you tossed that out there to see if any would jump! Roddenberry died in 1991. His involvement in things StarTrek went away after the first season of ST:TNG. Deep Space 9 started in 1993, and made the Ferengi what they became under his 'successors'.

I'd second that suggestion. It's a show for lost souls. The uber-capitalist Ferrengi Quark's unfolding moral nature, the story of the fallen Cardassian assassin/spy Garek, the struggles of the changeling yearning for home only to find home is peopled with evil jerks, and poor Bajor inches away from getting the short end of the stick again, but for the efforts of Sisko. But on the other hand, Vort said the new StarTrek had nude aliens...

Sounds like it's time to stop supporting and enabling his lifestyle. Kick him out of the house, change the locks, sieze his cell phone and computer and turn him over to the cops. If grandpa wants to protect him from life's consequenses, grandpa can take the responsibility.

Big changes, parting of ways, staying despite critical differences, all can bring heavy burdens to bear. Swiper, I'm glad your marriage is stronger. Got my fingers crossed for y'all. PB: Quite a mouthful. I'm glad you come here, and hope this forum helps you as you walk these paths.

Domestic terrorists can come from a survivalist background, sure. McVeigh came from their ranks if I remember correctly - he decided to take action after Waco and Ruby Ridge.The militant islamists are getting all the press these days, because they're at the top of all the lists. The Uzbekistan national from your link, the Chechens behind the Boston Marathon bombing, Nidal Hasan the Ft. Hood shooter, all the foiled airline plots since 9/11, etc. But yeah, the white power guys, the black power guys, the militant survivalists, the Aztlan! movement, the militant anarchists, folks interested in moving the drug war from Mexico into the US, any of those groups could attract or produce someone interested in building a bomb and using it.

Hi MTE, Some of the best role models in my life, have had alcohol as part of their life stories. My Nam vet buddy, who taught me to hunt, used to self-medicate with alcohol until he found a better treatment for his PTSD. My father socially partook of one of life's easier pleasures until his gallbladder exploded and doctors told him he'd be dead within a year unless he gave up alcohol. He did, and made it another decade and a half, finishing raising me with that time. Sounds like you're on a journey that may lead to some crossroads. I wish you well!

I'd add one very possible QA: Q: Is he doing this to tick mom off as he does the usual 'teenager creating space to find out who he is' thing? A: Quite possibly

When I was growing up, I only knew of two types of people interested: * Teenagers interested in be cool by learning forbidden stuff. * Teenagers who thought a good fight against the man may be needed sometime. (I fell into the first camp, which is why they caught me with a copy of the Anarchist Cookbook when I was 16. It worried the heck out of people until they got distracted by my next cornball antic. My buddy, who fell in the 2nd group and got me the book, is now a software designer in Oregon with 2 kids and a mortgage.) But now, a few more types of people can be added to the list: * Homegrown self-radicalized would-be terrorists * Homegrown would-be terrorists who are radicalized by some other group * Copycat killers * Members of terrorist cells who have entered the country to fight for their cause I guess the real question, now that we don't have to wonder any more, is what do we do about it?

Maybe I'm oversimplifying this, but could everything just be all better, if you stopped caring what people think of you and just go to chuch because you're Mormon? I know my life got so much easier back when I made that decision...