waysider

Do you remember where you were when you heard the news of JFK's death 45 years ago? http://www.fiftiesweb.com/kennedy/kennedy-...ination.htm#top

Well she strolled on up to me and said---- "Hey, big boy, what's your name?"

The Texas Tornados

Just for fun!!

Twinky Yes, they were in our area. We had an open branch meeting every Sunday evening. Attendance was open to anyone.Usually, about 50 to 75 people would show up. A lot of people knew each other from pre-Way days. (high school chums and such) So, sometimes "trip-outs" would come to meetings to reconnect with old friends rather than to "hear The Word". We made a very deliberate effort to protect our newbies from them as they were prone to take the post teaching fellowship conversations into subjects we deemed inappropriate. We told our newbies it was o.k. to associate with them if, and only "if", in doing so, they were actively focusing on bringing them back into the fold. Otherwise, it was not cool to simply "hang out" with them because they would drag you down instead of you pulling them up. I also remember a time (1973 or 1974) when there was a huge push to contact any and all grads who had tripped out and recruit them back into the fold. The goal was to show their names on class attendance sheets.. (I think this may have been some kind of qualifying test for branch leaders who were WC candidates.) In this instance, the branch leaders met with their twig leaders at the weekly twig leader meeting and handed out printed lists of all the people in the area who were PLAF grads but tripped out. This list apparently came from International HQ or, at the very least, Limb HQ. Then, at the monthly branch leaders meeting, the branch leaders were called upon to show how they had increased their active numbers. In reality, it was a convoluted form of artificially inflating sales numbers. It was nowhere near as vicious as M&A. It does illustrate, however, that the organization (at its core level) was driven by sales goals, not a genuine desire to help people, even back in "the good old days".

:) :) :) Very, very cool stuff!!!

Magic Carpet Ride---Steppenwolf"Let the sound take you away."

Chance to own an SRV replica "Lenny" http://www.sirius.com/guitarcenter

A very nearly exact scenario was played out one morning at 2 or 3am in Fellow Laborers of Ohio (FLO). That would have been in about 1976 or 1977. This stuff was all choreographed and staged. They played it out like it was based on some Earth shaking revelation when in reality it was a totally contrived sham designed to force us into submission.

What criteria should we use to define an "American Made" car? Honda, and its peripheral suppliers, for example, is one of the largest employers in the State of Ohio. Thousands upon thousands of Ohio jobs depend on the success of Honda. (Work conditions, however, have been the source of many horror stories I have heard people relate, especially at the peripheral suppliers.) Toyota is also a major employer in various U.S. cities. Then there is the other side of the coin. Cars that we might define as "American Made", such as "The Big Three", may, in reality, be merely assembled in the U.S.A. from parts imported from Canada or Mexico. And, American made parts might also be shipped to both of these countries for final assembly of what many consider an "American Made" car. It's really not a new phenomena. I worked for a Chrysler dealership doing new car prep in the mid 1980's. One of the first things we did was remove all the stickers that said "made/assembled" in anywhere other than the U.S.A. ------And there was a lot of sticker removal going on, believe you me.

I can't tell you when it started but the practice was already in evidence in 1972 when I first took PLAF (The Wonder Class). Granted, though, it was not called "Mark and Avoid" and it was much more subtle. The buzz-word of the day was "tripped out". At classes and branch meetings we were supposed to keep our "babes" away from the "trip-outs". If they started to develop a friendship with a "trip-out", we were supposed to jump in and keep them preoccupied with helping string chairs, etc. so they wouldn't have time for the other person. And, we poured on the "unequaled yoke" stuff pretty heavy so it would make them feel guilty about enjoying the company of unbelievers. Speaking on a personal level, there was a huge wedge that was deliberately driven between me and my "old-man" friends and family. Unfortunately, rather than desert my family, I opted to drag them into TWI. I have since apologized. In addition, at the direction of my local leaders and undershepherders, I deliberately distanced myself from a long time friend who had serious mental health problems and always looked to me for support. He took his own life soon after. This kind of action was not just "verbal tradition" or a local practice. It was spelled out rather clearly in a communique that originated in New Knothead, Ohio. It was taught, in turn, at twig leader meetings. Those meetings were where official information and proclamations were supposed to be disseminated. In addition, it was very clearly and vehemently promoted in "Dealing With The Adversary", though the exact terminology was not yet in use as far as I recall.

Portuguese Love Theme----Christelle Berthon

Isn't this a bit like suddenly deciding, at 50 or 60 years old, that there really IS a Tooth Fairy?

"The Hiding Place"

Completely stumped.

About 25 years ago, I worked on a maintenance/construction crew for a super-sized logistics operation. Our particular location specialized in clothing.(hanging) We did a lot of welding and cutting. We had one very old welding blanket that was falling apart. Every time we moved it, which was several times a day, clouds of asbestos filled the immediate vicinity. I complained to management. Next thing i know, it's been replaced with a newer, safer model. But, no one seemed to know what happened to the old one or if it had been properly disposed of. Next, we had a massive flooring project. Management was reluctant to buy new materials because they had boxes and boxes of asbestos laden tiles left over from the original construction of the building, as well as used tiles being stored from previous revamping.. They had us grind and cut those used tiles to fit the areas. Saved a few dollars, I suppose. "Someone" placed an anonymous call to OSHA. When they arrived, all the boxes of tainted tile had mysteriously vanished. Three guesses who found himself looking for a new employer over that one. (Doing the "right thing" isn't nearly all it's cracked up to be.)

Hey! Let's buy a run down old property in the middle of Podunk, U.S.A. Then we'll get 50 or so "volunteers" to dedicate their every waking moment to fixing up the place. We'll promise them lessons in life they can't get anywhere else. If they start to see through our plan, we'll tell them the boogie-man will get them if they dare to leave. Yeah, that's it. We'll have them grow their own veggies and build a root cellar. (Just in case.) Maybe even convince them it's all part of a bigger cause. OOPS!-----I guess that one's been done before.

Pat Ramsey-------R.I.P.

Yep!!

You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain.

Wipeout!

WARNING! This is off-track from the thread topic but in response to your question. I know of one woman who was experiencing difficulties with a pregnancy and given doctor's orders to limit physical activity. She was required by leadership mandate, however, to continue to do the morning run like everyone else and "believe" for a positive outcome. She lost the child. In addition, it was my understanding that she had incurred permanent damage, making it impossible to conceive again. There was no valid reason she should have been required to act in opposition to medical advise. It's yet another example of how the "law of believing" had destructive effects on those who tried to prove it.

When I was in high school, all the Catholic kids went to early mass at St. Dunkin's. https://www.dunkindonuts.com/