NeuroTypical

My favorite site is beprepared.com. You might want to visit there and comparison shop.

I would urge the last three posters to read through this thread. There's something to impact all of y'all's opinions.

Ahh, the good old days. I did 6 months of unemployment when the telecom bubble burst back in '02. People were estimating that Denver's telecom workforce was 50% unemployed and wandering the streets. What a dark period of my life. Your words about your relationship with your wife particularly resonate. It seemed like half of my daily fight was with her to leave me alone so I could search for a job in peace. She tells me that living with me was no walk in the park either. Being unemployed through Christmas was particularly depressing.Things I did to make it through that time: * Expanded my network by a couple of people per week. * Went to the city workforce center even when I didn't have to, just to stay around sympathetic people trying to help, and to use their internet resources. * Accepted interviews for jobs that did not sound like a good fit. At the least, it was good practice. At the most, it could have resulted in something else showing up. * Paid tithing on the unemployment checks. Eventually, I took a "barely good enough" hourly job. It was almost half the pay I had been making, but it was one and a half times what unemployment was bringing in. It was steady work and a foot in the door of a very good place to work. I remember that Sunday in priesthood, when the guy asked if there were any visitors, I stood up and said "I just moved from the state of unemployment to the state of employment". I heard more than one shout of joy from somewhere behind me - no idea who they were, but apparently they were happy for me. Dang - those were dark times. But they did end. My outlook calendar just had a popup - 7 years ago today I moved from hourly temp to permanent worker. My wife is sleeping in the next room. My kid's alarm just woke them up - time to haul them to summer school. The sun is shining. Don't give up.

I'm not sure why this is a thread about what people critical of the church think. I find it a fascinating article touching on a very interesting subject. It's a pity that we can't run the same tests on female candidates, to see if any daughters showed up from these polygamous unions. It is only of passing historical interest to me, but some of the descendants of those folks are probably incredibly curious. Especially the LDS ones - emphasis on geneology and all. DNA is fascinating. I'm part of a [Loudmouth] DNA project. It's helping us answer the question: Did my [Loudmouth] ancestors leave Scotland and come directly to America, or did they skip to Ireland first to avoid fighting for the English king first? To add excitement and melodrama, since DNA markers are passed only from father to son, and mother to daughter - I am the last remaining [Loudmouth] male on which these tests can be performed in my family group. Grandpa had lots of kids, but I'm the last (or only) grandson.

Think for a minute on what the word "greater" means. What does it mean to be great? It doesn't mean better. It doesn't even mean right or good. Satan is a great deciever. Hitler was one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century. All 'greatness' means, is that whatever you've done, you've done it bigger or to a greater extent than someone who is less-great.So yeah, I guess by that measure, someone who has travelled a long hard road sucesfully has achieved a certain greatness that someone else who hasn't travelled such a road. But that isn't really saying anything about the worth of a person. LM

Meh. I don't think you are deluded. I do think it's possible. Here's hoping you and your family continue to be this close for the rest of this life and into the eternities.But for the record, I'm training my girls in the following scenario: Guy: "We were meant to be together! I had a revalation - the veil was partially lifted - and I saw you promising yourself to me in the preexistance!" My Daughter: "That's fine - but I've changed my mind. Sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to stop calling me now. I'm seeing other people." LM

The purpose of a disciplinary council, is to help a member remove the burden of sin by applying the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The details are different for each individual. Being supportive is a wonderful thing. Let him know you support him and you're glad he's taking care of things so he can stand clean.

Playing guessing games with the 'rules of church discipline' is pointless. Every case is unique. The CHI's directions are clear - and it's hard to find a page of that book where you don't see a direction along the lines of "seek and follow the direction of the spirit."

I love the stories. Every time I hear about fights and tears and people not 'getting their fair share' and anger that someone chose to do something with their stuff that someone else disagreed with, I'm glad I came from a lower-middle-class upbringing. My dad was the last parent to die, and he died with enough in his bank to pay his credit cards and bury him, a small cash gift for each grandkid, and dang little else. He worked very hard to have it that way. He grew up during the depression, and even though he was a staunch democrat and union guy, he absolutely despised the notion of entitlement and receiving stuff you didn't earn. None of us kids felt slighted in the least. Proper expectations were set early on - I guess that's the secret to the whole thing. I hear that Bill Gates is setting the expectations with his kids, that they will NOT be inheriting his billions. Good for him.

Oh, I dunno. Certainly, associating with network news is sort of like selling your soul to the devil - but not exactly like it. Seeking and obtaining a podium from which to help educate others in order to make life easier for folk, might be a very good thing. Heck, if she got a spot on the View, I wouldn't be booing her. Keep in mind that life often doesn't turn out for people like Elizabeth. Our gutters and cemetaries and abused women shelters and rehab clinics and prisons are full of women who went through traumas like she did. Reaching a national audience with grounded perspective and needed information? I call that a win - even if I end up not being a fan of the stuff coming out of her mouth.

Hi Coyote, We're not nearly heavyweight enough on this happy little preparadness board to handle such a weighty discussion. I'd recommend survivalblog, or maybe the Got Lamp Oil forums . That said, I'd guess that if we're talking long-term scenario here, you basically get used to doing without stuff like medication. Herbal remedies and stuff you can make yourself will have to do. I know folks are big on homestyle remedies passed down from great-great-grandma and the depression, but you have to temper that with what we know abut modern medicine. (Mercury poultices and bloodlettings and whatnot will kill you today just like they did back then.) LM Kudos for the quick save on what SHTF means, though. (We also would have accepted when the Stuff Hits The Fan.)

Where's the *GROAN* button when you need it?

I see that rather than back up your "Israel supports terrorism" claim, you've decided to just bounce on to another claim. That's fine. Just understand that most people don't find bad punctuation and zero evidence all that persuasive. As to your specific claim - I'd have to disagree with you. My daughters and I are learning Krav Maga (Israeli martial arts) - and the folks there are very nice and friendly. Capable? Yes. Able to handle violent encounters quickly and effectively? Yes. But you can be nice and friendly and still do all that.

Oh, this one is easy. You simply become an example to show everyone in Gospel Principles class when they do the lesson on gambling/work/recreation I've taught this lesson many times: I went to a gas station that gave me a lottery ticket with my tank of gas - it was a promotion of some kind. I scratched off the thingies, and won $1. The lady immediately asked me if I wanted to get another ticket for my dollar - and I admit being tempted. But instead, I use that dollar as a bookmark in my Gospel Principles book. The lesson talks about 'filthy lucre' and 'ill-gotten gains' - I read that part, then tell my story and pass around the dollar as an example of what 'filthy lucre' looks like. I'm guaranteed to get it back - folks act like it's radioactive or something. Some people don't even want to touch it. That's one perfectly good consequense of sin - you get to be an example for other people to not follow. LM (Of course, you have to actually win something in order to use your gains as an object lesson at church. No, I won't be wishing you good luck. :))

Ok - I think I understand your assertion now. I guess some sort of response would be in order, so I'll give one reflecting the general merits of your statement as I see it. Here goes: no they aint

Human justice often stinks. It's lousy. At it's best, it is unevenly applied and often ineffective. For example, it doesn't matter what we humans do here on earth, that little girl won't magically show back up and everything won't be all better - so from that standpoint, human justice cannot right all wrongs.I'd sure hate to have heaven's mercy held by the throat by an imperfect fallible error-prone unrighteous-agenda-driven system like human justice. Now - all that said, I don't know the answer to your question. I'm guessing the answer is "it depends".

So hang on, I'm confused. You started the thread pointing to an example of dangerous nuttiness coming from some folks in Israel. Now you're moving to calling the Israeli Defense Force 'nationalist and racist'. It would seem like you're taking issue with Israel in general. (Although if this is true, I fail to see how accusing an army of holding strong loyalty for their own government should be seen as a bad thing.) Could I ask for some clarification here? Are you trying to claim that the Israeli government is a sponsor of terrorism? If so, I don't see the link. If not, then what exactly are you saying?

News that there are dangerous nutty Israelis, is not news to your average Israeli. It's only been 16 years since one of them assasinated Ytzhak Rabin.

It's only irony to the extent that he valued his life as much as y'all think he should have valued it. And from hanging out with a motorcycle guy or two, I've learned that's not always the case. Freedom is less important that safety? Take that statement a little ways away from a motorcycle helmet discussion, and all sorts of people will spring up to argue. (Especially since we just celebrated independence day and all.) I'm not equipped with sufficient of judgement tools to agree or disagree that such folks "definitely need to be removed from the gene pool."

It is standard procedure in the LM household, after bathtime, for our kids to wrap their towels over their heads like a hood and run around the house yelling "The spice must flow!"

*shrug*. The guy used his agency to ride at increased risk, and he suffered the consequences. There would be much irony if he was out trying to educate people about how helmets don't make anyone safer - but he wasn't doing that. There is only a little irony here - in that his death was sort of counterproductive to his cause. And it is indeed only 'sort of counterproductive'. Motorcyclists who wear helmets will continue to wear them, those who don't want to will continue to not want to. It might influence legislation a little, but that's it.

I'm still upset that Frank Herbert died, and even more upset that his kid and that guy kept publishing stuff in that universe. But then again, I read some Dune/StarTrek crossover fanfiction back in the mid-'90's that I enjoyed. So nobody should trust anything I have to say about it.

Breaking news from Ha'Aretz: Greece blocks departure of all Gaza-bound ships. Not a bad decision, especially considering the following facts about GB-UK's "foreign aid ships": * The flotilla is being run by Muhammad Sawalha from the Muslim Brotherhood (on the US terrorist organization list since 2008). * Many of the organizations participating in the flotilla have been linked with the Union of Good (UoG), associated with the Muslim Brotherhood. * One of the organizers is the happy International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Google them - I dare ya. Yeah, "foreign aid ships". Same folks as the last flotilla - slightly revised tactics. Let's remember what happened during the first flotilla. Youtube: Check out 2:05 ("shut up, go back to Auschwitz"), and 5:42 ("don't forget 9-11"). You can also google video of IDF boarding parties getting immediately attacked and savagely beaten by the peace-loving members of the first flotilla. "Foreign Aid Ships". Heh. I can't get over it.

Remember that simpson's episode when Homer became the Sanitation Manager? Maybe Springfield's answer would work here. Either that, or we start doing a bunch of "Who is this 'yoonited stadtes' of which you speak? This is the Associated Confederation of Northern Mexico!" LM [sorry, I'm trying to lighten my own mood with these dumb jokes, and it's not working for me either.]

Yeah - "foreign aid". Such a tasty soundbyte. So seductive and easy to believe. Of course, it's not that most of the people initially planning the flotilla have abandoned it after learning of the facts on the ground, and how they can work with Israel to get aid into Gaza. It's not that the remaining boats contain hard-core terror activists. Of course there have been no threats of deadly violence from some of the boats. There couldn't be any information about stockpiles of sulphuric acid to be used on Israeli's boarding the boats. Nah - it's just the evil Israelis picking on peaceful relief workers.Yeah. That's much easier to believe. I'm always amazed at how incredibly far apart educated people can be on this issue.From where I'm standing, Israel would love peace. Surrounded by enemies, several of which have "destruction of the jewish state" written into their founding documents as a top goal, living under the constant threat of terrorist bombing or missile attack, Israel understands a thing or two about peace. They understand one way to have peace with such enemies is to allow themselves to be wiped off the earth, but that option isn't too attractive. They understand that strength against enemies is why they're not all wiped off the earth. A lot of them understand endless patience in the face of unjust violence. They understand their enemies hide among children and noncombatants, launching attacks from their midst. They understand their enemies fight a global PR war as viciously as they fight with missiles and rockets. Yeah, they'd love peace. But they understand how far away it is, given who it is they'd like to have peace with.