Traveler

Members
  • Posts

    15706
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    45

Reputation Activity

  1. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to Grunt in Reverence Children in Sacrament Meeting   
    I can't speak to that ward, nor am I casting judgement.  I will, however, share my experience as a member of the bishopric and the struggles we have with serving the one vs the many.  
    I'm in a small ward, so it may be different here.  We have several children that require special attention.  They are often loud and boisterous.  Some families have several of these children in the same family.  The parents walk in and you can see the weariness in their face.  They've probably spent the entire morning trying to get those children dressed, fed, and to church.  They do this faithfully every week.  Then they spend the entire Sacrament meeting trying to keep those children quiet and in their seats.   They know other people are looking at them disapprovingly.  They get up and walk the halls with their children, hovering at the door during moments their children are quiet, trying to get some of the message they need but they miss most of it.  We try so hard to get them help, but it rarely works out.  
    My heart breaks for those parents and I've spent many hours on my knees asking for ways to serve them and the ward.   
  2. Haha
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Reverence Children in Sacrament Meeting   
    Do you plan to ski this winter without gloves?
     
    The Traveler
  3. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to mikbone in Did Lucifer have a mentor?   
    Moses 5: 23-24 implies that Cain will rule over Satan.
    I don’t tend to do much speculation about Lucifer.
    He only has as much power as we are willing to give him.
    Isaiah 14: 15-16 to me reads that once we see Lucifer bound and imprisoned.  We will see him for his real self and will not be terribly impressed.
  4. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from JohnsonJones in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    Season’s Greetings Johnson Jones:
    I appreciate your input and I read it with interest.  I wish I knew for sure if I agree or disagree with your post.  I have had long discussions with my doctor – we are on very good terms.  I had COVID during the first year and long before the vaccine.  Though he initially recommended that I get the vaccine, he admits now that it probably did not improve my chances (immune system that produced antibodies so that I never spread the virus or had any symptoms) as originally advertised – just that it was the best information that we had at the time.  I wonder.
    The problem I have is that the pharmaceuticals made billions.  This is billions above all their costs.  Many think that the vaccines were free – not true, the pharmaceuticals charged extra for their expedited effort, and it was paid for from taxpayers’ funds.  This was too much incentive, both within the medical community and the government to take advantage of the profits and run (this includes the CDC and anyone else exposed to their lobbyist).  Realize that these are the lobbyists that have convinced the US government to allow the advertising of prescriptions drugs to the general public – why would our government allow this.  With incentives of billions – I do not trust anyone in the medical profession or government that can profit.  I believe that the institutions of the world during the latter-days are not to be trusted.  But I also want to get along with responsible people. 
    As a side note I was traveling for work in Asia during SARS and I never got that either, even though I was an American that did not know to wear a mask.
    I hope that the lawsuit forces the pharmaceuticals to make public all their development, testing and profits (economics) of their involvement in COVID.  If nothing else it should allow us to know what happened behind the scenes.
     
    The Traveler 
  5. Surprised
    Traveler reacted to LDSGator in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    This is the best thread we’ve had in months.  Awesome!!! 
  6. Haha
    Traveler got a reaction from askandanswer in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    Hummmmmm -- maybe I whould have better luck training your cat.
     
    The Traveler
  7. Haha
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    Hummmmmm -- maybe I whould have better luck training your cat.
     
    The Traveler
  8. Haha
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    You greatly underestimate my ability to feign stupidity while letting you vacuum my carpet.   And I only have one cat, with short hair.   But I do have 6 vacuum cleaners, so it may take you several visits to demonstrate their various technical advantages.
  9. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from mirkwood in Equalizer   
    I know there is a new movie out in the Equalizer series.  They have been quite popular – I just think they are a little unrealistic.  At least these kind of heroes.  Having been in the military, assigned to work with military intelligence and having in the Defense Department for a number of years – anyone expert in their craft are seldom retired while at the pinnacle of their expertise. 
    There is something else – often in the entertainment world the hero takes on many and dispenses of them with little effort.  There can be 50 expert bad guys firing on the good guy and missing while the good guy takes out a bad guy with every shot.  In reality world none of the elite special teams attack as a single individual with a hand gun. 
    One thing I learned during my military experience – if I am ever in a life-threatening combat situation, I will avoid going it alone – especially with inferior weapons (handgun or anything inferior to my opponent’s weapons).  A single individual is no match for a team working together – ever.  Even the classic story of David facing Goliath often misses the most important notion that David had divine assistance and that it was that assistance and not David’s exceptional abilities that was the difference.
    My whole point is that we should never attempt to tackle anything of importance on our own.  As much as we think we ought to be up to outstanding tasks – if something is important we should always think in terms of seeking and accepting help.  All too often we think to do too many things by ourselves – even when we are giving a calling – it is seldom a good idea to much of anything all on our own.
     
    The Traveler
  10. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from JohnsonJones in Identity...   
    I think it is sad (especially among LDS) to define success in terms of worldly achievements – especially money.  The second problem is in defining success in terms of others (our children, family or friends).  Perhaps the strangest is defining one’s success in terms of heroes – like your favorite sports team, celebrity or following the initial op – tribe association.   The flipside of this is the inability to realize the shortcomings of ourselves or those in our tribe – or until your enemy does it.
    I have often thought about determining my personal successes.  I hold two patents from work, but the reality is that the patents were not really my ideas but came as inspiration from a source outside of myself.  I cannot take credit for something that is not mine.
    I mentioned what I am thinking about success to my wife, and she said that I am an amazing husband – but the truth is that she is an amazing wife that makes me a better husband.
    I am thinking that determining personal success is a trap similar to humility.  The more you think you are a master of it the more you are failing at it.  And if you think you have failed – it is likely that you have.  The one thing I believe; is that if you love someone unselfishly – that truly is one thing in which you have indeed succeeded.
     
    The Traveler
  11. Haha
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    You greatly underestimate either my teaching abilities or your learning abilities. -- but then you have cats -- it may take more than once or twice.  😉
     
    The Traveler
  12. Okay
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    I'd be perfectly happy if @Traveler wanted to drop by once a week and demonstrate the finer techniques of carpet and hard floor cleaning.  I think after a hundred or so lessons I might be ready to try it myself.
  13. Haha
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in Henry Vacuum Cleaner   
    Meanwhile, here's the page showing Henry and all his friends: Hetty, James, George, Charles, (and various other forms of Henry).  Given the names, one might think this company is trying to suggest that kings suck...
  14. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from askandanswer in Equalizer   
    I know there is a new movie out in the Equalizer series.  They have been quite popular – I just think they are a little unrealistic.  At least these kind of heroes.  Having been in the military, assigned to work with military intelligence and having in the Defense Department for a number of years – anyone expert in their craft are seldom retired while at the pinnacle of their expertise. 
    There is something else – often in the entertainment world the hero takes on many and dispenses of them with little effort.  There can be 50 expert bad guys firing on the good guy and missing while the good guy takes out a bad guy with every shot.  In reality world none of the elite special teams attack as a single individual with a hand gun. 
    One thing I learned during my military experience – if I am ever in a life-threatening combat situation, I will avoid going it alone – especially with inferior weapons (handgun or anything inferior to my opponent’s weapons).  A single individual is no match for a team working together – ever.  Even the classic story of David facing Goliath often misses the most important notion that David had divine assistance and that it was that assistance and not David’s exceptional abilities that was the difference.
    My whole point is that we should never attempt to tackle anything of importance on our own.  As much as we think we ought to be up to outstanding tasks – if something is important we should always think in terms of seeking and accepting help.  All too often we think to do too many things by ourselves – even when we are giving a calling – it is seldom a good idea to much of anything all on our own.
     
    The Traveler
  15. Okay
    Traveler reacted to NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    Exactly what I was thinking of.  I suppose I was born after it happened, but when I learned this tidbit, that's when I began chuckling about such things.
  16. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    Just a little note - it is my understanding that after WWII the Department of War became known as the Department of Defense.
     
    The Traveler
  17. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    I can go with that - lets call it our feeble attempt at justice.  😁
     
    The Traveler
  18. Like
    Traveler reacted to Carborendum in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    What is the law (legal system) other than man's feeble attempt at justice?
  19. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    It is impossible to achieve much in the resemblance of justice in this life – but I do agree most heartly that such is not any reason not to attempt to bring about what bits and pieces of justice that we can.  With all that said – I have lost confidence in our current justice system concerning the matters being talked about.  I think we should call our system the legal system instead of our justice system.
    PS thanks for your imput and enjoy this season.
      
    The Traveler
  20. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to Vort in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    I am reminded of a quote from the end of the movie The Razor's Edge, which at one point in my life I found very insightful and even profound: "There is no payoff. Not now." We need not worry that the wicked will somehow dodge retribution or avoid "getting what's coming to them". They will not. Similarly, we need not worry that those who, like ourselves, are duped by ignorance and foolishness will be forever condemned for that; they will not.
  21. Okay
    Traveler reacted to NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    I'm mostly in agreement with @Traveler's post.  I'd rewrite the last sentence to say: "sometime in the future; this era and time of COVID will be understood as a time when
    1- Nations used a deadly pandemic as an excuse to engage in excessive overreach, and
    2- Various cultural forces took advantage of the situation to push for radical and usually harmful change.
    I don't know what the picture will look like for #1, but for #2, it'll be something like this:

  22. Okay
    Traveler got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Texas sues Pfizer over Covid vaccine   
    I will make a few predictions.  No one (person) will be convicted of any wrongdoing.  No one (person) that is employed at any pharmacy will lose their position, pension or anything at all.  No one (person) that is in any government position (like Fauci) will ever suffer any legal consequences for their actions.  Finely, sometime in the future; this era and time of COVID will be called one of the greatest hoaxes and scams of history.
     
    The Traveler
  23. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from SilentOne in Identity...   
    I think it is sad (especially among LDS) to define success in terms of worldly achievements – especially money.  The second problem is in defining success in terms of others (our children, family or friends).  Perhaps the strangest is defining one’s success in terms of heroes – like your favorite sports team, celebrity or following the initial op – tribe association.   The flipside of this is the inability to realize the shortcomings of ourselves or those in our tribe – or until your enemy does it.
    I have often thought about determining my personal successes.  I hold two patents from work, but the reality is that the patents were not really my ideas but came as inspiration from a source outside of myself.  I cannot take credit for something that is not mine.
    I mentioned what I am thinking about success to my wife, and she said that I am an amazing husband – but the truth is that she is an amazing wife that makes me a better husband.
    I am thinking that determining personal success is a trap similar to humility.  The more you think you are a master of it the more you are failing at it.  And if you think you have failed – it is likely that you have.  The one thing I believe; is that if you love someone unselfishly – that truly is one thing in which you have indeed succeeded.
     
    The Traveler
  24. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Identity...   
    I think it is sad (especially among LDS) to define success in terms of worldly achievements – especially money.  The second problem is in defining success in terms of others (our children, family or friends).  Perhaps the strangest is defining one’s success in terms of heroes – like your favorite sports team, celebrity or following the initial op – tribe association.   The flipside of this is the inability to realize the shortcomings of ourselves or those in our tribe – or until your enemy does it.
    I have often thought about determining my personal successes.  I hold two patents from work, but the reality is that the patents were not really my ideas but came as inspiration from a source outside of myself.  I cannot take credit for something that is not mine.
    I mentioned what I am thinking about success to my wife, and she said that I am an amazing husband – but the truth is that she is an amazing wife that makes me a better husband.
    I am thinking that determining personal success is a trap similar to humility.  The more you think you are a master of it the more you are failing at it.  And if you think you have failed – it is likely that you have.  The one thing I believe; is that if you love someone unselfishly – that truly is one thing in which you have indeed succeeded.
     
    The Traveler
  25. Love
    Traveler reacted to laronius in Identity...   
    Joseph Smith: "If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves..."
    I think the problem started with the Nicene Creed which attempted to make God incomprehensible. It has only gotten worse over time.