As teen we were helping excavating local monastery in our HS. What was the most interesting to me back then, that bodies decomposed and there was only belt buckles and other metal artifacts. Outside of my hometown there was a hill where legend had it that monks from near-by Cistercian monastery hid their treasury during Reformation. While all monks were tortured and executed, they never revealed where they buried the treasure. So over the centuries, bunch of people dig through the hill and find nothing. We as HS kids, we camped one weekend on that hill to be a part of tradition to look for the treasure, but we find nothing valuable. Only broken pottery, arrows, glass beads.
Posts by kaik
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23Has anyone tried using gold and metal detectors?
by EdenOne ini'm thinking about trying out a new hobby.
in my country there are plenty of places that are geologically suitable for the presence of gold nuggets.
in fact, several gold mines have been historically explored from the days of the romans until present day.. at the same time, i love archaeology and history and there are many possible unexplored archaeological sites near me that might merit a superficial survey.
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23
Has anyone tried using gold and metal detectors?
by EdenOne ini'm thinking about trying out a new hobby.
in my country there are plenty of places that are geologically suitable for the presence of gold nuggets.
in fact, several gold mines have been historically explored from the days of the romans until present day.. at the same time, i love archaeology and history and there are many possible unexplored archaeological sites near me that might merit a superficial survey.
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kaik
Medieval coinage went through development as medieval economy changed between 1000 and 1500. Bohemia and Saxony had one of the largest silver deposits in medieval Europe; so, silver coins were rather abundant. Silver coins are often found in medieval peasant cottages. From 1200 onward it was much easier to collect taxes through silver content over other goods. Medieval cities and markets were established in Holy Roman Empire such way, that no peasant needed to walk more than one hour to nearest market place. Bohemia had 1 million people in 1200 and there was 2 to 3 millions of silver denari in circulation. Prior Black Death the population increased to 3 millions, while coinage barely doubled, which was reason, why so many people in the feudal era had hard time to own coin if ever.
Wealthy landlords did not care much for silver coins and sought out gold coins (ducats or florints). Kingdom of Hungary was the biggest medieval supplier of golden coins in Central Europe from wealthy ore mines in current Central Slovakia (there is a 150km long range called Slovakian Ore Mountains). As population boomed in golden age of feudalism- which in Central Europe coincided around 1350- the circulation of small silver coins plummeted due hoarding. The banking crisis of 1390-1396 in Bohemia was tied to disappearing small coins where poor masses lacked a means to pay taxes, while silver mines produced tons of it. The monarchy wanted to prevent hoarding silver by decreasing silver content, which had exactly opposite effect. Older coins were even sought, prices went up due inflation, and bankrupted merchant homes in Germany demanded silver coins. The creditors even collected army and sieged Prague in 1396 to demand payment in good silver coins. In the 15th century due plagues and constant warfare, population shrunk by 40%, prices decreased, and silver coin circulation returned back to balance.
Coins are excellent source of economic conditions in country and trades routes. If country was under economic stress, the coinage suffered. This evident in the Roman Empire where silver content decreased in the 3rd century. Scandinavians coinage is often excavated in Central Europe due Hansa trade system. 30Years War was so devastating in Holy Roman Empire that coinage in Hapsburg realm was devaluated by almost 90%.
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155
Headline: "Islamic Invasion: Europe now scrambles for guns." How true is this?
by cappytan ina year to a year and a half ago, i would have taken this article at face value and believed it.. now, i realize this article comes from a dubious source.
world news daily has a die-hard right-wing bias.
so, in an effort to get real information, i'm asking my european exjw's, is this article all true?
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kaik
I usually use Eurostats for European statistics which has reference to each country statistical office.
Home ownership in USA is higher than in Europe because it is a way for Americans to build equity and wealth over time. While the rate matched prior the real estate boom last decade (69.1% in 2005 homeownership), it is still higher than in Europe. Since its peak, the rate decreased not even by 7% in 2015 and is on level of Clinton era.
Unemployment rate for youth in EU is catastrophic. If you consider the case of Spain and Greece with 50%, Italy 42%, Portugal 33%, Sweden, Ireland and Finland have about 1/4 of youth unemployed, it is horrible number.
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74
A call from family - Armageddon this month!
by kaik ini very seldom receive a call from my jw siblings, i mean seldom.
i can count them on my hand in past 10 years.
while we talk about mom a lot and i am in touch with her, i was very surprised when i received this call.
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kaik
My sister is diametrically opposite of me. She will jumped into field service, will not skip any meeting and book study and became almost new born christian, extremely pious and strict to kids. She will throw away anything that she considers demonic. The expectation are high, but once the disappointment settle in because she wants "A" to arrive right now, apathy will settle in. Her visits to KH will be irregular and she will stop doing field service. This will last for year or so until next personal crisis (marriage, job, money, kids), and instead solving them, she flocks back to KH where she see explanation for her problem. She thinks that her problems were cause not being regular JW. And cycles repeats.
I think she went to mountains because she was in field service through October and I bet kids were getting agitated. I called her twice and she did not want to talk because she was preaching with elderette. Since it was October 31, and Armageddon nowhere on sight; kids restless and angry that they did not had any fun, she went out with them for the weekend. Her in-laws have cottage in Carpathian Mountains, so she could crash with kids there.
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48
Where has all the money gone?
by gingerbread ina number of years ago when i was still active, our service group was having a coffee break with the visiting circuit overseer.
during the conversation he mentioned that the "society" was now being run like a business.
being raised in the "truth" i thought that rather odd (and my eyes began to be opened!
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kaik
Problem with WT that it run business model established by Knorr fit for 1950's style corporation instead a modern IT driven world. Printing and publishing is obsolete way to distribute information in the 2015. Brochures and books are no more the primary mean of communication even in 3rd world countries where everyone has access to Facebook. WT will need to come with different model, and they will. They are around for 140 years spreading nonsense. -
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A call from family - Armageddon this month!
by kaik ini very seldom receive a call from my jw siblings, i mean seldom.
i can count them on my hand in past 10 years.
while we talk about mom a lot and i am in touch with her, i was very surprised when i received this call.
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kaik
I talked to my sister over the weekend, and very gently reminded her the concern she had over my well being during the October in the case of Armageddon. Since my sister used to shun me for years and it was not until recently that she is opened to me; I did not want to attack her beliefs. It would shut the door and I can lose the contact with her forever. But as I had expected, she went with kids to mountains to take an advantage of the beautiful weekend and see the changes of leaves. She skipped her KH meeting as well. No word on Armageddon, but she tried to explain to me that Jehovah tests his servants to be ready for Jesus arrival. She said that JW are getting passive with spreading the good news because we do not known when the Armageddon will arrive. And JWs need to save more people, etc. Pretty much she talk to me like nothing happened, no sense of urgency. I feel the disappointment will settle in. But the denial and brainwashing from the cult is unbelievable. I wish she could see the BS in that organization and leave. -
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Has anyone tried using gold and metal detectors?
by EdenOne ini'm thinking about trying out a new hobby.
in my country there are plenty of places that are geologically suitable for the presence of gold nuggets.
in fact, several gold mines have been historically explored from the days of the romans until present day.. at the same time, i love archaeology and history and there are many possible unexplored archaeological sites near me that might merit a superficial survey.
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kaik
Depending on the country, it can be illegal. It is in the Czech Republic. There are laws which states that all archaeological artifacts older than 50 years belongs to state. I would assume most of EU will have the same laws and regulation. It will also extremely irresponsible devastating archaeological sites just for fun and dig out any buried treasure. Even pottery can valuable. In the Czech Republic this is a huge problem by amateur diggers devastating sites. The main targets are Celtics fortifications as the artifacts are in demand on the black market. In Croatia amateur diggers devastate shipwrecks and in Ukraine Scythians burial mounds. -
155
Headline: "Islamic Invasion: Europe now scrambles for guns." How true is this?
by cappytan ina year to a year and a half ago, i would have taken this article at face value and believed it.. now, i realize this article comes from a dubious source.
world news daily has a die-hard right-wing bias.
so, in an effort to get real information, i'm asking my european exjw's, is this article all true?
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kaik
There are food surpluses.
You have to consider that most of the European countries are small and can generate very small surpluses. Time when countries had significant reserves of grain, beef, and other food product is gone. It is not economical to store so much food. It is much cheaper to bring needed food from across the globe, but someone has to pay for it. The other issue will be housing. Europeans are renters (like in Germany where 2/3 people rent) unlike USA where majority people pay mortgage or own homes. This housing model will require significant public resources that I do not see it happening without widespread wealth transfers, deficits, and taxation.
Once refugees will leave migrant centers, they will end up in ghettos without any job prospect as is the case across most of Europe. Unemployment rate for young Europeans is already between 25%-40%, and Europe is losing entire generation to people who will never have stable job developing working ethics due persistent unemployment. While current welfare model eliminates extremism, it will not last forever. 83 millions of Europeans are poor. Another 48 millions are socially deprived (EU poverty). This is a huge number of 120-135 million people.
The fate for majority of the refugees will be no good job prospect, poor quality of housing, and social exclusion. Europeans will instead multicultural society promised by their ultra-liberal media and politicians are finding themselves in economic conditions known by 3rd world. Sweden, Belgium will most likely turn into 3rd world country by 2030 (Sweden will be 3rd world country in 2030.). I would say it is too optimistic. Europe is already 3rd world by visiting every capital from Paris to Helsinki or between Dublin and Athens.
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40
Heroes
by done4good inin jw land having such was verboten.
who are some of yours and why?.
1. nikola tesla - greatest inventor ever, and the only one i know of who was a true scientist as well.. 2. elon musk - there is a reason he chose the great inventor's name for his masterpiece work...also has a serious pair.... 3. jim morrison - brilliant and mad poet.. 4. mike krzyzewski - the epitome of success.. 5. maya angelou - brilliant humanistic poet and writer.. 6. albert einstein - do i actually have to qualify this?.
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kaik
Thanks truthseeker. -
40
Heroes
by done4good inin jw land having such was verboten.
who are some of yours and why?.
1. nikola tesla - greatest inventor ever, and the only one i know of who was a true scientist as well.. 2. elon musk - there is a reason he chose the great inventor's name for his masterpiece work...also has a serious pair.... 3. jim morrison - brilliant and mad poet.. 4. mike krzyzewski - the epitome of success.. 5. maya angelou - brilliant humanistic poet and writer.. 6. albert einstein - do i actually have to qualify this?.
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kaik
My list would be
- Jan Huss, reformer who defied Pope and Emperor and died on stake in 1415 as he spoke against abuses of the medieval society.
- Maria Antoinette. Yes, it will be strange for many of you, but I admire her. She was unfortunate victim of the French politics. She could leave France to save her neck, but she stood by her husband until his death. She lost everything and everyone who she cared about, but unbroken and defiant dies under the blade without compromising her position. She was extremely dedicated mother and loved her children dearly.
- Woodrow Wilson, he was idealist, but he put foundation toward international cooperation and understanding. Much of his visions were not fulfilled.
- Emperor Diocletian who wanted to preserve Roman Empire and was the only emperor who resigned and lived in retirement. He choose life of solitude in Salone over greed, power, and wealth of Rome and with it entire Roman Empire. Very a few in the position knows when to step down unlike him.
- Emperor Julian Apostate. Last non-Christian emperor, great supporter of Jews and propagator of religious tolerance of the Antiquity. Within twenty years after his death, Roman empire suffered large defeat in 378, pagans were purged from army, and pagan educations was outlawed.
- Jan Kubiš and Jozef Gabčík, assassin of Reinhard Heydrich in 1942, the mastermind of Holocaust. In the peak of the German war machine, deep within occupied territory, they carried one of the boldest resistance attack of WWII.
- Gorbachev. It was extremely brave to disintegrate extremely brutal communist system and lets millions of people to be free.