shadow

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  51

  BOE - PDF - CONFIDENTIAL 2014-04-22 Adjustment in process for appointing elders and ministerial servants

  by WatchTower87 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  boe - confidential.

  instruction: press the 'skip ad' button top right, you should then see the download screen more easily.

  no virus ;-).

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  shadow

  I got it, no problem. Just skip the ad and download from sendspace.

  thanks,
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  52

  How evil are lawyers?

  by LogCon in

  1. social
  2. humour

  give me some examples of just how evil attorneys are.. please..

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  shadow

  Interesting split of victorious lawsuit:

  Buffalo Bills Will Pay Up to $3M to Settle Text-Messaging Lawsuit

  By Tyler Conway, Featured Columnist

  Apr 22, 2014

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  Next ARTICLE » Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Getty Images 499.7K Reads 309 Comments

  In 2014, Buffalo Bills starting quarterback EJ Manuel will cost the team $2.02 million against their cap. Thanks to a lawsuit from a disgruntled fan, the Bills will pay roughly $1 million more than that just for their phone bill.

  A U.S. District judge has issued a preliminary approval to a $3 million settlement in a 2012 class-action lawsuit filed against the team by Jerry Wojcik, a Bills fan who claimed the franchise violated the agreement of its opt-in texting service.

  According to Stephen T. Watson of The Buffalo News, the suit claims the Bills promised no more than five text messages would be disseminated to fans each week. When Wojcik received 13 texts over a two-week span, he filed suit on behalf of the nearly 40,000 fans who subscribed to the service.

  The settlement, which will be paid out in gift cards to the team store or the team's website, was approved in a Tampa Bay, Fla., court last week. Up to $2.5 million in vouchers will go to the estimated 39,750 fans who signed up for the service. Theremaining funds will be distributed to Wojcik's attorneys ($562,500) and the plaintiff himself ($5,000).

  Bills spokesman Scott Berchtold issued a statement on behalf of the team Tuesday, indicating it still felt it was within the spirit of the program:

  The Buffalo Bills have reached a settlement in this matter which we believe is in the best interest of our organization and our fans. The purpose of the Bills’ voluntary, opt-in text messaging program was to provide our fans with information they requested about the team. The organization maintains that our text messaging program was in compliance with the law.

  The Bills have since eliminated the text service, which was designed to provide breaking news and other stories to fans. Wojcik's suit claims he received six text messages the first week with the service and seven the second—three more than the allotted agreement states over a two-week span—and says the Bills violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

  As per the settlement agreement, fans will receive debit-card vouchers for $57.50, $65 or $75, which can be redeemed at the team store or online at the team's website. A hearing has been set up for Aug. 20 for the settlement to reach final approval. Those who signed up for the service will then be contacted by mail and via phone to claim their prize.

  Phelan M. Ebenhack

  While many have deplored Wojcik for the frivolousness of the suit, criticized his finicky, letter-of-the-law interpretation and hounded him about wasting taxpayer money, others may feel the opposite.

  In the same way that Stella Liebeck once crusaded against McDonald's for those who did not know hot coffee was, indeed, hot, Mr. Wojcik is a pioneer against professional sports organizations who do not realize three-to-five is not, indeed, five-to-seven.

  Anyway, considering how Bills fans have faithfully supported the franchise across 14 straight seasons of missing the playoffs, maybe they deserve a win for once. At the very least we should see plenty more EJ Manuel jerseys in Ralph Wilson Stadium next season.
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  36

  Where were you? / How old were you?... during the Ray Franz witch trial?

  by Zoos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was 13yo and largely clueless to what was going on.

  i think i remember hearing something about an apostate being weeded out of bethel but really couldn't have cared less.

  i didn't start getting zealous until a couple of years later.. .

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  shadow

  I was in Bethel. Had zero effect on me. Not discussed or even noticed where I worked that I can remember. Sort of like when someone leaves a board of directors, doesn't make much difference to the grunts.

  Ray wrote a letter when leaving that was read to family at breakfast. Implied that everyone was still on good terms.
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  18

  FYI, links to photos of jw.org signs on top of WT buildings

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yesterday, on the thread i started on 4/15/14, http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/279088/1/essay-by-barbara-anderson-whats-in-a-name#.u1e98jao7l9 that introduces a recent article i wrote which is posted on www.watchtowerdocuments.org , i thought i made an inaccurate statement in one of my posts about wt having a sign, jw.org, on the top of one of their buildings.

  i was sure i had seen a photo of such a sign but couldn't prove it until last night when proof was sent to me in an email and the proof is to be found in the form of links to photos of the sign.

  i was wrong in thinking the sign was on a wt factory building.

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  shadow

  She said, "Last Friday, we attended a 45 minute welcoming talk. Bethel has arranged periodically to have these talks for all new comers who are working on the Tuxedo/Warwick project for 3 months or longer. A member of the Branch Committee came out and had many words of commendation, and gratitude for all those who are expending themselves on the project. One thing he told us all to think about, especially on days we may be tired, or not in the mood to get up early and work, was this…….. Remember that its not the Governing Body that wants the World Headquarters out of New York, but it is Jehovah who does. The Governing Body is only carrying out Jehovah’s Will. So our working on this project is, in effect, assisting the annointed in carrying out Jehovah’s will. That is a great privilege to be directly involved in. So keeping that in mind, it will help us push through those days."
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  69

  Your Experience with Resigning as an Elder

  by committeechairman in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm considering resigning as an elder.

  i'm not planning to fade or stop as one of jehovah's witnesses, just stop serving as an elder.. i have responsibility in the congregation and in circuit, district, rbc, etc.

  and i'm completely exhausted.

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  shadow

  Are you having problems with doctrines and/or policies?

  Your family is more important. Is it your hope that you and family remain JWs? Are they supportive of your plans?
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  75

  HOME SCHOOL and the upcoming generation of scientifically illiterate kids

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i worked for a book store i became familiar with beka text books for home school.. i spoke with the mothers who came looking for them.

  i realized something didn't smell right.. then, i realized there are a couple of generations of fundamentalist kids who have had no exposure.

  to the scientific method, science facts or any conversancy with physics or biology or history as a result of beka textbooks.. in a nutshell here is the situation:.

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  shadow

  Band: Try to remain calm. Have a nice day.
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  75

  HOME SCHOOL and the upcoming generation of scientifically illiterate kids

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i worked for a book store i became familiar with beka text books for home school.. i spoke with the mothers who came looking for them.

  i realized something didn't smell right.. then, i realized there are a couple of generations of fundamentalist kids who have had no exposure.

  to the scientific method, science facts or any conversancy with physics or biology or history as a result of beka textbooks.. in a nutshell here is the situation:.

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  shadow

  Band: If there are thousands, then it should not be too hard to find one to post, but so far this thread is at zero.
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  75

  HOME SCHOOL and the upcoming generation of scientifically illiterate kids

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i worked for a book store i became familiar with beka text books for home school.. i spoke with the mothers who came looking for them.

  i realized something didn't smell right.. then, i realized there are a couple of generations of fundamentalist kids who have had no exposure.

  to the scientific method, science facts or any conversancy with physics or biology or history as a result of beka textbooks.. in a nutshell here is the situation:.

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  shadow

  GrreatTeacher: It seemed to me that this thread turned into a home-school bashing party, without any research to support the bashing. I'm well aware that either method can produce an uneducated product. I bring up the stats and research that I could find which provided a different picture of home-school. Obviously it doesn't cover the whole picture but there does seem to be some prejudice here against home-school that I don't believe is justified. I personally found public schools to be less than challenging but your mileage may vary.

  Terry: Yes to both.
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  75

  HOME SCHOOL and the upcoming generation of scientifically illiterate kids

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i worked for a book store i became familiar with beka text books for home school.. i spoke with the mothers who came looking for them.

  i realized something didn't smell right.. then, i realized there are a couple of generations of fundamentalist kids who have had no exposure.

  to the scientific method, science facts or any conversancy with physics or biology or history as a result of beka textbooks.. in a nutshell here is the situation:.

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  shadow

  I'm a product of public schools. Obviously not all who went to school learned what does and does not constitute evidence to support their claims. Some resort to blathering platitudes over and over believing that somehow validates their opinion. I have not done any exhaustive checking of the studies used in graphics that I posted, however a better refutation of them would be to cite studies with different results rather than scoffing at them without doing any checking yourself.

  Personally, I neither advocate nor condemn one over the other since each one can lead to failure or success.

  http://www.brighthubeducation.com/homeschool-methodologies/126403-why-homeschooled-kids-are-smarter/

  Why Homeschool Kids Are Smarter Than Kids Who go to Public School

  written by: Ronda Bowen • edited by: Donna Cosmato • updated: 7/12/2012

  A Canadian study has shown that kids who are homeschooled are, on the whole, smarter than kids who attend public school. These findings are not surprising, but they do support the decision one will make to homeschool their kids. Learn why you should make the jump to teaching your kids at home.

  • Why My Kid is Smarter

    I don't mean to brag, but I receive compliments on my kid all the time for two things: his intelligence and his good character. Many parents around the time their kids turn into teenagers are biting their nails hoping for the best. I don't worry. I know my kid is comfortable enough in his own skin to hold his own out in the world. I attribute both of these compliments to a simple fact: I have chosen to homeschool him.

    Before getting into a discussion of the Canadian study that supports what homeschool parents already know, I'd like to offer a few reasons why that I believe that homeschooled kids perform better on tests and why they tend to be more intellectually inclined.

    First, homeschooled kids don't learn to hate learning. In the public school environment, with the system of punishments and rewards, the fun intrinsic to learning new things about the world around us is diminished. Instead, public school needs to demonstrate an adherence to a certain body of knowledge. If your kid finds that he or she is excited by the study of the solar system, there's no room for that in the classroom once the class has moved on. Sure, the student can pursue the study in his or her *free time,* but when the student is homeschooled, the student could get as in-depth about this study as he or she likes.

    With one-on-one instruction, students excel. There's a reason parents hire tutors for struggling students - the one-to-one ration works when it comes to learning. When there is only one (or a handful) of students, there is more attention focused on knowing whether a student understands material or not. If the student doesn't understand something, the parent-teacher can then stick on that topic until mastery is obtained. In the classroom, this is not possible. Teachers need to cover a set curriculum over the course of the year. The converse is true as well, if a student demonstrates mastery quickly, there is no need to have him or her study that topic longer.

    I'm an eclectic style homeschooler. I combine the best of both worlds from classical and unschooling philosophies. This may seem like an oxymoron, but I think history is best learned chronologically. My son loves the classics of literature (and no, Shakespeare does not scare him in the least). At the same time, by putting the responsibility for learning in his hands, he has learned to set his own goals (including learning Chinese) and to manage his time. These are key skills homeschoolers are likely to have.

    Homeschoolers don't learn to fear tests. They learn how to learn about anything. Even if my son doesn't know what something is, he knows how to find references that will support his learning about that subject. These are key skills for lifelong learning.

  • The Canadian Study

    The Canadian Study, originally reported in The Canadian Journal of Behavioral Health, followed 74 students - 37 were homeschooled and 37 attended public school. The findings showed that while public school kids would test at grade levels, homeschooled children far above grade level. Generally, the homeschooled children would perform at least half a grade ahead when it came to math and two grades ahead when it came to reading. This may sound great - why wouldn't it - but there are some things to keep in mind.

  • Homeschooling is Not about Competition

    When you're homeschooling your child, please try to avoid comparing him or her to other kids! Even if you're teaching a fourth grader reading at a 10th grade level, but his or her friend is reading on an 11th grade level, do not look at homeschooling as a competition. If you start treating learning like a game to be won, for most children, this will take the love of learning out of the activity. When it becomes about besting the members of your homeschooling group, you're losing focus on the real goal: Making sure that the student has the tools he or she needs to be a successful adult.

    Really, that's what all schooling is about - it's not about who crosses the finish line first. It's not about who is smarter - your kid or the kid living down the street going to public school each morning. It's about making sure that our children have the tools they need in order to get along in the world. It's good to set goals. It's unhealthy to use your child as a pawn to boost your self-esteem.

  • Not All Kids Progress at the Same Rate

    Don't freak out if your child is "behind" where you think he or she should be. One of the reasons that you're choosing this method of education is that it allows for greater flexibility. This means that you can cater studies to your child. If he or she struggles in spelling, but excels in math, then you can adapt to that! That's the beauty of it. You also have a better understanding of his or her strengths and weaknesses (everyone has them). Don't push your kid just because you want to be ahead. Make sure that at every step of the way, you're focused upon helping your child receive the education he or she needs.

  • What do you think? Are homeschooled kids smarter? The Canadian study suggested that this was true only in structured homeschools, but do you think unschooled students can also perform well if given a chance?

  References

  • Image courtesy of http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1336260
  • Krasny, Jill. (Sept. 15, 2011) "Canadian Study Finds That Homeschooled Kids Are Smarter Than Public School Students." Business Insider. http://www.businessinsider.com/structured-homeschool-canada-2011-9
  • Villarica, Hans (September 14, 2011) "Study of the Day: Home-Schooled Students Score Higher on Tests." The Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/09/study-of-the-day-home-schooled-children-score-higher-on-tests/245036/
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  75

  HOME SCHOOL and the upcoming generation of scientifically illiterate kids

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when i worked for a book store i became familiar with beka text books for home school.. i spoke with the mothers who came looking for them.

  i realized something didn't smell right.. then, i realized there are a couple of generations of fundamentalist kids who have had no exposure.

  to the scientific method, science facts or any conversancy with physics or biology or history as a result of beka textbooks.. in a nutshell here is the situation:.

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  shadow

  http://blog.writeathome.com/index.php/2012/03/homeschool-vs-public-school-statistics-infographic/

  Home / Blog / Homeschool vs Public School Statistics Infographic

  Homeschool vs Public School Statistics Infographic

  26

  Posted on: 03-21-2012 by: Brian Wasko

  133

  I realize that not all WriteAtHome students, and certainly not all of our regular blog visitors, are homeschoolers, but the great majority of WriteAtHome families choose to educate at home. I thought, therefore, that you would appreciate this new infographic from the folks at College@Home.

  The two parts I found most interesting are–

  1. the statistics that show neither household income nor the amount spent on homeschooling has any significant effect on student success, and
  2. the “socialization” score that places homeschoolers much higher than public schoolers. I’m curious about how they measure that, by the way.

  It’s not that I’m surprised that homeschoolers are better “socialized,” since I can’t think of an institution that, generally speaking, does a poorer job of socializing than public high schools (at least from my experience).

  I’d love to hear what you think about this!

  Help Students Write Better with WriteAtHome!