July 27, 2008
Warning Signs of a Potentially Unsafe Group/Leader
Rick Ross gives us the 10 warning signs of a potentially unsafe group/leader.
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Let me add this: Bible cults take this one step further. They maintain that God himself directs their activities, and their activity alone. Whatever directions that the Bible cult leader(s) issue, these are said to come from God. Also, people who are in a cult do not think they are in a cult. As such, Maureen Griffo's words are good to consider:
"People in cults are not stupid. . . Who joins cults? They are anyone you could meet anywhere. . . So, the next time you are approached by someone whom you strongly suspect may be living in a far out commune somewhere, remember you are likely to be dealing with a highly intelligent person who was deceived into joining what may appear to us as a bizarre cult. Instead of looking at such people as freaks or crazies, keep in mind that if they had access to more information and saw that there was a life outside for them, they probably would leave." (emphasis mine)
1. Absolute authoritarianism without meaningful accountability.
2. No tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.
3. No meaningful financial disclosure regarding budget, expenses such as an independently audited financial statement.
4. Unreasonable fear about the outside world, such as impending catastrophe, evil conspiracies and persecutions.
5. There is no legitimate reason to leave, former followers are always wrong in leaving, negative or even evil.
6. Former members often relate the same stories of abuse and reflect a similar pattern of grievances.
7. There are records, books, news articles, or television programs that document the abuses of the group/leader.
8. Followers feel they can never be "good enough".
9. The group/leader is always right.
10. The group/leader is the exclusive means of knowing "truth" or receiving validation, no other process of discovery is really acceptable or credible.
Let me add this: Bible cults take this one step further. They maintain that God himself directs their activities, and their activity alone. Whatever directions that the Bible cult leader(s) issue, these are said to come from God. Also, people who are in a cult do not think they are in a cult. As such, Maureen Griffo's words are good to consider:
"People in cults are not stupid. . . Who joins cults? They are anyone you could meet anywhere. . . So, the next time you are approached by someone whom you strongly suspect may be living in a far out commune somewhere, remember you are likely to be dealing with a highly intelligent person who was deceived into joining what may appear to us as a bizarre cult. Instead of looking at such people as freaks or crazies, keep in mind that if they had access to more information and saw that there was a life outside for them, they probably would leave." (emphasis mine)
July 26, 2008
Steve Hassan Lecture
Steven Hassan: Strategic Interaction Approach (Video, 2003)
"Steven Alan Hassan, cult counselor and mind control expert is a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensed Mental Health Counselor and has developed a breakthrough approach to help loved ones rescue cult mind control victims. He is a former member of the Moon cult. Ex-cult members and others seek him out for specialized counseling to help them recover from symptoms other mental health professionals are not trained to address. Hassan has been at the forefront of cult awareness activism since 1976 and is the author of two critically acclaimed books -- Combatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults (1988) and Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves (2000). Hassan has 30 years of frontline activism exposing destructive cults, providing counseling and training, and appearing in major media including 60 Minutes, Nightline, Dateline, Larry King Live, and The O’Reilly Factor."
"Steven Alan Hassan, cult counselor and mind control expert is a Nationally Certified Counselor and licensed Mental Health Counselor and has developed a breakthrough approach to help loved ones rescue cult mind control victims. He is a former member of the Moon cult. Ex-cult members and others seek him out for specialized counseling to help them recover from symptoms other mental health professionals are not trained to address. Hassan has been at the forefront of cult awareness activism since 1976 and is the author of two critically acclaimed books -- Combatting Cult Mind Control: The #1 Best-selling Guide to Protection, Rescue, and Recovery from Destructive Cults (1988) and Releasing the Bonds: Empowering People to Think for Themselves (2000). Hassan has 30 years of frontline activism exposing destructive cults, providing counseling and training, and appearing in major media including 60 Minutes, Nightline, Dateline, Larry King Live, and The O’Reilly Factor."
July 24, 2008
Senate Republicans Grow a Spine?
From HotAir.com: "Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has laid down the gauntlet to Majority Leader Harry Reid on energy, according to The Hill. Following the efforts of Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint, the Republican caucus has promised to obstruct any bills not pertaining to energy until the Senate votes on removing the remaining restrictions on off-shore drilling. It promises to make the Senate the focus of high-profile political brinksmanship, and puts the Democrats in a tight spot with fuel prices impacting every aspect of the American economy."
July 23, 2008
Natasha Bedingfield
Since we're talking about pop music, here's another sappy pop song that I really like: Natasha Bedingfield - Put Your Arms Around Me
July 22, 2008
July 21, 2008
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Recommended Movie: Who Killed the Electric Car?
It is now available on DVD and I really enjoyed it.
It is now available on DVD and I really enjoyed it.
Jonathan Last Reviews 'The Dark Knight'
I like Jonathan Last's review of The Dark Knight.
He concludes, "...Batman is the only comic-book hero worth taking seriously. The Dark Knight does just that and in the process becomes the first superhero movie worth being considered not as a genre piece, but as a very, very fine film."
He concludes, "...Batman is the only comic-book hero worth taking seriously. The Dark Knight does just that and in the process becomes the first superhero movie worth being considered not as a genre piece, but as a very, very fine film."
July 18, 2008
Dark Knight
Saw 'The Dark Knight' today. It rocks. Heath Ledger will win the Oscar for Best Actor. His performance in this film puts him in a league that most actors only dream of. He steals the show. The film's director and screenwriter, Christopher Nolan, is now placed solidly into the top 10 directors working today.
July 17, 2008
'Dark Knight' Tickets
I purchased my tickets for a Friday showing of 'The Dark Knight' online. They are going fast.
July 14, 2008
9/11 Truth?
What you need to know about the 9/11 Truth Movement: Cynthia McKinney is their candidate for President.
I don't understand why the "Truth" movement is involved in what appears to me to be two distinct issues: (1) Whether or not the government was behind the 9/11 attacks, and (2) proper medical treatment and healthcare for rescue workers affected by the WTC destruction. I'm quite sympathetic to the cause of the many thousands of people who are having health issues as a result of risking their own lives in attempt to save potential survivors. The "Truthers" would certainly attract more converts, were they not also trying to convince people that the U.S. government was behind the 9/11 attacks.
Timothy Giannuzzi puts it like this: "For the American government to have instigated 9/11, it would have had to exhibit a staggering amount of competence, cohesion and co-ordination. Tens of millions of dollars, a great deal of explosives and, at the very least, many dozens of people would have to have been organized, bought off and/or used surreptitiously so as not to attract attention. These assumptions alone invalidate the conspiracy theorists' position. Anyone possessed of an ounce of rationality knows that the U.S. government is not remotely capable of acting like this."
I don't understand why the "Truth" movement is involved in what appears to me to be two distinct issues: (1) Whether or not the government was behind the 9/11 attacks, and (2) proper medical treatment and healthcare for rescue workers affected by the WTC destruction. I'm quite sympathetic to the cause of the many thousands of people who are having health issues as a result of risking their own lives in attempt to save potential survivors. The "Truthers" would certainly attract more converts, were they not also trying to convince people that the U.S. government was behind the 9/11 attacks.
Timothy Giannuzzi puts it like this: "For the American government to have instigated 9/11, it would have had to exhibit a staggering amount of competence, cohesion and co-ordination. Tens of millions of dollars, a great deal of explosives and, at the very least, many dozens of people would have to have been organized, bought off and/or used surreptitiously so as not to attract attention. These assumptions alone invalidate the conspiracy theorists' position. Anyone possessed of an ounce of rationality knows that the U.S. government is not remotely capable of acting like this."
iPod Touch 2.0 Software Upgrade
I successfully upgraded my iPod Touch to the 2.0 software release. I really like the Apps Store.
Glock .45
I had a chance to target practice with a Glock .45 caliber pistol at an outdoor range yesterday. Very nice.
July 11, 2008
BellSouth Kills Usenet
AT&T has successfully killed the one good thing about BellSouth DSL service: Unlimited Usenet access. As of today, BellSouth no longer offers access to any binary newsgroups.
iPocalypse?
ABCNews: iPocalypse - "Long lines of disgruntled customers wrapped around city blocks across the globe today as Apple scrambled to fix a glitch in iTunes that prevented iPhone acolytes from activating the next-generation phones they had waited hours, even days, to buy."
Turn Vista Home Premium into Ultimate
Lifehacker: Use Free Software to Turn Vista Home Premium into Vista Ultimate
How Not to Use the Drive-Thru ATM
Oh, snap! - Remember, boys and girls: safety first!
http://view.break.com/534959 - Watch more free videos
http://view.break.com/534959 - Watch more free videos
July 09, 2008
"Three Matthew McConaugheys and A Baby"
Video: Three Matthew McConaugheys and A Baby (PG-13 Language Warning)
Will Israel Strike Iran?
Human Events: Will Israel Strike Iran?
Personally, I believe they are going to strike Iran. I also believe this will wreak havoc on the oil market, sending gasoline to near ten dollars per gallon, in a matter of days, after the bombing. This will put enough pressure on Congress to open up more drilling in Alaska and offshore.
The big question is how much of a role with the U.S. have in any Israeli-led attack on Iran? I do not see any troops on the ground in Iran, other limited covert ops.
Personally, I believe they are going to strike Iran. I also believe this will wreak havoc on the oil market, sending gasoline to near ten dollars per gallon, in a matter of days, after the bombing. This will put enough pressure on Congress to open up more drilling in Alaska and offshore.
The big question is how much of a role with the U.S. have in any Israeli-led attack on Iran? I do not see any troops on the ground in Iran, other limited covert ops.
July 07, 2008
"Why I Still Use Windows 95"
Andrew Turnbull: Why I Still Use Windows 95 - "First of all, a computer is a tool. It is a principal of mine that if a tool works well and satisfies my wants and needs, there is no reason to replace it; regardless of mere age."
July 06, 2008
July 04, 2008
July 03, 2008
Mississippi: Still the Fattest!
Yes, I still live in the fattest state in the nation -- Mississippi. Come on down and enjoy some BBQ and fried catfish with us! (On a positive note, however, Mississippi is the most generous state in the nation.)
First Five Minutes of New Batman Movie
From Roger Moore's blog: First Five Minutes of 'The Dark Knight'
Independence Day
Thomas Jefferson: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
July 02, 2008
"This OS Generation Has Been So Tough"
Peter Kirn: "But why should you run Vista? Believe it or not, I have a few reasons."