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The concept behind this thread was inspired by this piece I recently heard on National Public Radio. (Writer's Almanac) *********************************************************** The Effort by Billy Collins From Writer’s Almanac June 29, 2009. The Effort by Billy Collins Would anyone care to join me in flicking a few pebbles in the direction of teachers who are fond of asking the question: “What is the poet trying to say?” as if Thomas Hardy and Emily Dickinson had struggled but ultimately failed in their efforts— inarticulate wretches that they were, biting their pens and staring out the window for a clue. Yes, it seems that Whitman, Amy Lowell and the rest could only try and fail but we in Mrs. Parker’s third-period English class here at Springfield High will succeed with the help of these study questions in saying what the poor poet could not, and we will get all this done before that orgy of egg salad and tuna fish known as lunch. Tonight, however, I am the one trying to say what it is this absence means, the two of us sleeping and waking under different roofs. The image of this vase of cut flowers, not from our garden, is no help. And the same goes for the single plate, the solitary lamp, and the weather that presses its face against these new windows–the drizzle and the morning frost. So I will leave it up to Mrs. Parker, who is tapping a piece of chalk against the blackboard, and her students—a few with their hands up, others slouching with their caps on backwards— to figure out what it is I am trying to say about this place where I find myself and to do it before the noon bell rings and that whirlwind of meatloaf is unleashed. “The Effort” by Billy Collins, from Ballistics. © Random House, 2008. Taken from Writer’s Almanac June 29, 2009.

I wonder how useful the "Reputation" button will be. Excathedra seems to have "damaged" her reputation quite a lot, which another poster has decided to put right for her. Ultimately, posters will get a feel for how worthwhile/helpful/destructive/distracting other posters are, independent of any "marks" given. Could it be that this Reputation button might be used to abuse? By marking a poster down if you don't like their PoV or what they are saying, and thus damaging their reputation? Might be more subtle way than badmouthing them in their posts. Untraceable, too.

Excie - you will never see an Edit button under someone else's post. That would mean that you could edit what someone else says. Why not look at the bottom of your screen and see if there is a horizontal scroll bar (you know - to go side to side) - maybe it's there but off your screen way way way way off to your right.

Indeed! And oh, by the way, no need to apologize.

Yes, you are correct. That is what he said. Maybe I watered down my explanation a bit too much to convey the point. I apologize. What a dilemma it presented. If he was right, we'd been following the ramblings of a possessed man. If he was wrong, his credibility was in the toilet. He could, therefore, have been wrong about virtually any and every thing he ever taught us. Based on his own teaching in the AC and his personal lifestyle, stop and consider how many of these puppies he would have kenneled.

Lets hope so.as far as the way they are running the thing - --Isnt one definitions of insanity doing the same thing and expecting different results? Good idea :wacko: do the exact same thing again I wonder if V2P2 will write "The Old Stagnant Church" "Live and Learn" apparently isnt one of his "great abilities". Its barely off the ground and in the distance I can almost hear that plane in a nosedive to crash and burn. I hope not too many get hurt--and are smart enough to stay off in the first place...

Waysider, I remember it differently, see what you think. I remember him saying that cancer itself was a devil spirit. So, if you had cancer, you were possessed. I actually contracted cancer (fully recovered) and it really caused a lot of shame in my life because, I, a Corps Grad (gasp!) allowed myself to be possessed by cancer. I would say that the cancer had progressed to stage II because I denied certain symptoms. I didn't want to face the fact that I had allowed myself to be "possessed". Years later I found out VPW had died of cancer. When he died, the cause was definitely "hush, hush". He taught that people died, "when they stopped believing". So when he died prematurely, there was some "explaining to do". More like a cover-up actually. Anyway, if you and I died, it would be our lack of believing. For VPW, he was "tired of the fight". His death was blamed on the lack of believing of those around him. We, the "Household" were to blame because we didn't listen to him. What a bunch of bull. Of course, his cause of death was never mentioned.

Here you go Sowers Web Site Victor Paul Weirwille, the grandson of VP has started his own program. Built on his Grandfathers teachings and his grandfathers design. One can only hope that VP2 is not a rerun of VP1 but it seems to be shaping up to be just that.

I think the canary had a few gender identification issues..

thank you all so much for your help. there's still nothing under my post or anyone else's. I think it might be a matter of how my view is. any suggestions? brainfixed, you're such a sweetheart. you made my day. i'm not sure how many reputations i've ruined besides my own!!!! -- no chat ? can some computer savvy person like myself snort start a chat room we could join ?

I think that it depends on the size of the branch. Several years ago "branch" was redefined as two or more fellowships so that all Way Corps could be classified as "branch coordinators". I believe that these days anyone drawing a salry is state or region coordinator.

Is that story about Wierwille claiming cancer was a sign on the devil true? And that he died of cancer? Yes. In my 1971 syllabus, it is hand notated. In other words, it was not on the printed pages (pg. 20 & 21) but was introduced verbally during the live teaching of those pages in 1973. Not only did Wierwille say cancer is caused by a devil spirit,(ie: possession) he also said that such things as phobias, jealousy, alcoholism, homosexuality, murder, suicide, etc., etc. are caused by devil spirits. Wierwille, himself, was a hardcore alcoholic, documented sexual predator and ultimate victim of terminal cancer. Wierwille's official death certificate is here on GSC and clearly displays the cause of death as cancer. http://www.greasespotcafe.com/main2/waydale/waydale-editorials/v.p.-wierwilles-cancer-and-the-doctrinal-dilemma-that-his-illness-presented.....html http://www.empirenet.com/~messiah7/vp_DEATH.htm

excathedra, find the + and - buttons, they're red and green on bottom, all a part of this box you type in Just below those there's a 'multi quote' to the left of multi quote is 'reply' to the left of reply is 'edit' and it's got a yellow pencil next to it

erkjohn, your post touched me -- i wasn't a big leader or anything like that, dear brainfixed. i was a corps grad. i know it has taken me years. when i first left, i felt like a deaf and dumb mute around mostly everyone. then after that i started sharing way too much. i don't know how to explain it, but i was always mouthing off with my bad taste for religion, etc., and telling too much personal crap. lately (after how many years since poo poo), i find that i'm a much more balanced sociable person and people really like me (not talking about greasespot lol)

thats was my main consideration , although I didnt voice it very well, immediately when I saw the Sowers sight, It seems like a fools errand to attempt again something that has shown by its history to be headed directly to nowhere