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David Mitchell

One little reminder to add to my long-winded post above about

"The Sound of Freedom";

Please stay for the interesting message videos after the credits.

And again, three good sources to follow this topic are:

1) Exodus Cry

2) World Without  Exploitation

3) Destiny's Child

Some of the information they uncover will shock you.

David Mitchell

King George III

Was he stupid?

Or poorly advised?

Or insane?

Or just plain evil?

Or was it Porphyria?                                                                                                                 A strange rare hereditary blood disease that can cause mental issues and brain damage.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Dave M.,

Porphyria - rare but possible and it is hereditary. There are many different types. Historians have considered this as a possibility. If he did have it, it was most likely the Acute Intermittent Porphyria variety. 

I wonder if history recorded his urine color during his "attacks" 🤔 🩲😄?! 

(Seriously, that would have probably been state-of-the-art back in his time.)

Jim

David Mitchell

Jim,

Some historians are convinced he had it. No matter what it was, his blundering actions helped propell us toward our independence.

Life is strange.

David Mitchell

Almost forgot.....love this!

"Saturday,,in the Barn,,,,,, I think it was the 4th of July"

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Dave....thank you for sharing with our class the information about the movie "Sound of Freedom". I am planning to see it this weekend with some family members. I am sharing this interview that Jordan Peterson gave to Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard. The movie is based on Ballard's mission to free as many children from their horrible situations and to get convictions for their enslavers.

Caviezel tells Peterson at the end of the interview that it was the most compelling interview he has given so far, as Peterson asked many thought-provoking questions and touched on many of the aspects of Ballard's story not covered in most of the reporting. Even if you don't see the movie, I would urge you to listen to this interview. I know that we all would prefer to just live out the rest of our lives in idyllic peace, unaware of the ugly problems that confront our children and grandchildren's futures, but shouldn't we at the very least know who the real heroes are in the world today (and there are many), and offer our prayers for the work that they are doing to truly bring God's light into the darkness of today's world?  

https://youtu.be/rTBGNEliczc

FYI...this movie took the top spot at the Box Office on July 4th beating out Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny 

David Mitchell

Mary Margaret,

It took me a few days to listen to the entire interview with Dr.Peterson. It is a very interesting interview, and is one of several I have now listened to with either Jim Caviezel, Tim Ballard, director Alejandro Monteverde and others. There seems to be a ton of videos about the film itself or about these men.

Dr. Peterson is himself a somewhat controversial character, but he does a good in-depth interview in this case, showing, of course his conservatve religious point of view.

First of all, I have no reservations about the film itslelf, nor the story and "movement" it represents.

But I do have some cautions to add about Tim Ballard and Jim Caviezel.

* First, actor Jim Caviezel. 

I believe he does great job in the movie roll (I thought the same of his role as Christ in Mel Gibson's film). But I do wish he could stop being so over-the-top political, especially with his "conspiracy theory" stuff. I think this only robs this film of it's overall credibility, especailly with people on the "Left" who might also sympathize with the anti-trafficking cause, but are put off by his political remarks.

Jim, stay on mission and leave the rest of that crap out!

* Second, Tim Ballard (the real life character of the story). 

First of all, when Tim Ballard quotes "scripture", bear in mind he is referring to the "Book of Mormon". He is NOT a Christian as many have assumed. I personally find that disappointing, though it does not detract from his track record of success in finding and saving the children and the capture and conviction of perpetrators.

Also, He makes quite a point about leaving the Feds within months of his pension being vested and the great sacrifice he chose to make. It may have been a brave decision then, but now that his organization is up and running, he is taking an annual salary of somehere over $500,000 a year, and his wife, and a brothrer and sister in-law are also on the payroll. I think i also read where one of his kids is also now on the payroll.

And finally, there are reports that some former employees have had some issues with the organization. I have not dug deep enough to follow up on those issues.

Still, I believe in the cause and wish his efforts much more success.

And I still think the film is terriffic!

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Dave..Jordan Peterson, Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard are among the few who have not played by politically correct rules and lifestyles. They put themselves out there questioning prevailing narratives and putting their careers in jeopdardy (and sometimes as with Ballard...their very lives) for simply finding the courage to act upon their deeply held beiefs and convictions which is exactly what, in this current world, makes them controversial. Would that we had many others like them. 

David Mitchell

Mary Margaret,

I was referring to Jim Caviezel's interviews where he was spouting conspsiracy theories and gets - to my way of thinking - way off topic about this film and the difficulty getting it made. (For example Disney refused to make the film when they owned the rights to it after they bought Fox.

He may well have the right to be angry. I think his criticism of those in hollywood who refused to make this film (Including Disney, Amazon, and Netflix) ) is valid and welcome in this "politically correct" world.

But I was referring to one of the interviews where he goes off about the the "Left" claiming Trump was a Russian agent (multiple times) - an accusation that I NEVER heard anyone make.**

(** even though the recent disclosures from the Durham Report acknowledged that some of Trump's campaign people made many contacts with Russian agents - a fact that was in the Mueller Report but was redacted and hidden by Bill Barr - per John Durhan himself in his recent hearings in front of big mouth Jimmy Jordan's so called "committee to investigate the committee".

BTW - Based on a very recent (last week) Ohio Suprreme court decison about the "Ohio State Wrestling Case", I'm guessing JJ is feeling rather nervous these days.) 

 I will repeat my original message so I leave you without any doubt.

I LOVED the film (and it's purpose) and highly reccomend it to anyone!

And Jim Ceviezel is oustanding in it!

Again, check out these sites (Tim Ballard isn't the only one working on this problem) 

EXODUS CRY  (one of their teams set up a sting operation in Moscow and broke up a big Nigerian Sex Trafficking Ring during the 2018 World Cup Soccor tournament in Moscow. Quite a story!

DESTINY'S CHILD  focused mainly on child trafficking 

WORLD WITHOUT EXPLOITATION. (Mostly focused on Woman trafficking - I think it is a group of female attorneys in New York City.

    (there are others, but any one of them could use our help - - $$$$)

- - - - - And be prepared to be shocked by some of their information! 

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Dave - please see User Forum

David Mitchell

M/M,

I stand corrected. I read parts of several of your list of articles accusing Trump of being either a Russian pawn, or an out right "cultivated" agent (which I personally beleive after watching him stand next to Putin and praise him while calling out our own intelligence community - an act of out right treason in my mind). The articles quoted several interesting sources - including a Russian agent himself.

But I still beleive that Jim Caviezel was wrong to raise that point in one of his "Sound of Freedom" interviews.

Again, I disagree with some of Jim's political comments, but I think he did an outstanding job in this very important film.  

David Mitchell

Do a any of you recall making the trip out to Stelzer Road on the far east side of town?  There is a bubilding out there to which my family made many visits - either to receive guests, or to depart on a journey. I recall many drives out on E. 5th Avenue to pick up my Uncle Herb, arriving from Los Angles. We stood outside, behind a tall cyclone fence at one of the gates - Gate #1, Gate #2, or Gate #3. We waited to see the passengers come down the stair ramp and into the terminal.

During my first visits, the planes were all those DC-3, "taildraggers" with those big red letters TWA printed on the tales - as shown briefly on this video. Later, that sleek new Lockheed "Constellation" would replace the old DC-3s. My family took one long summer trip on those new "Connies" and visited friends and family all over the West and Soutwest. We must have flown into and out of about 6 or 7 different cities. My favorite stop was a "Dude Ranch" outside of Colorado Springs, and then to see Uncle Herb, in Los Angeles, which meant a day at the "Magic Kingdom" - Disneyland in 1957. We were in "Fontier Land" and I had to go to the bathroom. When I came out my family was nervously telling me that I had just missed meeting Walt Disney himself, strolling through the park with a few employees.

 They are restoring the old "Port Columbus" as a museum. 

(Footnote: As I mentioned a couple years ago on this Forum, Beth and I (and Tom Litzinger and Carolyn Winchester) knew a little more about this part of town than most of you.)

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

C'mon man! I have tried my best to keep the political conversation off of the Message Forum and over on the User Forum, but what good does that do when some continue to inject political inuendo in their posts? If some really are interested in poliltical discussion, at least honor the majority's decision to keep political comments off the Message Forum & use another means. Slipping political commentary in a post is a rather sneaky way to have your political opinions heard, as if there is only one opinion that matters.  Further, as mentioned, doing so disrespects the majority's wishes. 

Michael McLeod

sorry mm. it  sounded like an interesting conversation. I'll just take it off and email to dave. which I just did.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Periodic Pictures from Past and Present

MM,

Agree!  Lets calm the storm!

Beginning of Hurricane Lenny November, 1999  St. Thomas, US Vigin Islands

So, let your minds think of gently flowing water and solitude!

Near Ohio Pass September 26, 2008

Off of Cottonwood Pass September 22, 2010

Along Guanella Pass September 22, 2017

Feeling calmer yet? 

Jim

David Mitchell

Sorry Mary Margaret.

I was running out of time and being lazy. I'll do my best to avoid tha again.

Mark Schweickart

Terrific photos Jim! I have a question though. Why did the reflections of the yellowish rock formation in the distance and the bush in the foreground (in th Ohio Pass photo) both turn red? Very striking, but rather puzzling. 

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mark,

Good (photographic) eye, my friend!

I went back through my files and found the original shot of that scene:

Except for reducing the size, this is the unedited file. I think that in post processing I must have added some extra red on a slider to bring out some of the salmon colored aspen clones in the upper left of the photo which were more red to the eye than to the camera's sensor. As you know, and I try to do, the goal of post is to show the viewer what the photographer saw. The human eye is still more sensitive than the camera - but that seems to be changing fast! Also, the streams in that region may have had some iron or other minerals since that is an old mining area.

Jim

Janie Albright (Blank)

Mike B thanks for Jim’s email address!  Invite has been sent. Speaking of which, I have received only a few rsvp’s. I will re-send the invite of course but those of you who received please let us know if you can make it. If you can’t we will need a written excuse from Msgr. 

Janie

Janie Albright (Blank)

Michael Boulware

I keep messing up poor Jim Merckling's email address. JMERCKLING3902@gmail.com. I sent him a copy of the 75th birthday invitation.

John Jackson

In defense of Dave and Mike (although I'm not sure of Mike's offense) I have said before that I think there is a place for political comment on this Forum as long as it does not dominate the conversation.  And in my estimation, political discussions from time to time flare up for a day or two and then they give way to the normal topics.

What's happening in our country and the world is just as important as the personal preoccupations we all (myself included) post about.  And I'm not aware there has ever been any conclusive majority vote saying that politics must be relegated to the User Forum.

At no point in my life have I been more concerned about the future of democracy in our country and the world. Things have been going the wrong way in many more or less democratic countries (examples are India, Turkey, Hungary, and Poland) and even the obvious autocracies like China and Russia have become even more repressive.

Nobody reads the User Forum (I don't and I suspect very few of our classmates will ever bother) and that is its problem - narrow specialized places like the User Forum are usually taken over and dominated by one view or another.  It's better that views be posted in the light of day so all can see and contribute.  And if the political discussion bores or offends you, just skip over it. 

David Mitchell

I sort of agree with what you are saying John, but think I get the point of Janie's request (a few years ago now) to keep the heavy political wrangling on the other channel. I just wasn't being very carefull about placing it on that other site.

However, I do think it is a innapropriate for us to insert copies of long excerpts of someone else's editorials - especially when they go 8, 10, even 15 pages. I welcome all of our various ideas but I think it should be our own statements, instead of copies of  someone else's long-winded disertations.  

Michael McLeod

Hey, nice to see you pop back up, John. 

And I agree with Dave that the other side is unwieldy when it comes to conversing. It's set up that way, I think - it doesn't lend itself to back and forth and apparently hasn't been used as such. But we may be stuck with it unless we come up with a different manner of keeping the peace.

Along those lines:

What I took off the board had to do with something about Trump that appears to me to be objective reality and something Dave had posted -- so it was kind of a cross between a conversation and something I thought was obvious, and on second thought I realized that for some people, Trump is still, like, not as clearly proven to be as fundamentally dangerous and childlike as I see him to be, based on a hell of a lot of objective evidence at this point. But not everybody plays by the same set of rules when it comes to argumentation along those lines.

We could revisit the more or less organic decision a small circle of us made a while back to keep politics penned up "over there"  but we would have to come up with a set of rules and abide by them.

Our little microcosm here reflects the larger world and the times we live in, where objective reality is up for grab and the world around us is exponentially more dangerous and complex than ever.

Even the ground beneath our feet is changing. I saw a story the other day about how the wobble of the earth as it weaves through the void has shifted because of all the subterranean water being pumped out of it for large scale farming. And today I saw a story about how the earth underneath the city of chicago is going through subterranean warming because of all the heating pipes and other citified substructures below and so that city is on shaky ground, long term.

I do wish I could say more on this side of the fence because it's just so clunky and unwieldy on the other side of this site, but I'm not optimistic at the chances that we could do so civilly, more's the pity, because of just how profound the differences between us are. There's some story posted over there that says we shouldn't pay attention to experts. As a journalist, I've been quoting experts for fifty years now, in an effort make logical arguments and find some sort of common ground.

But as with the ground beneath us, that's something that seems to be quite unstable these days.

Don't forget that this is a faith-based website. That is one core thing we have in common. We were all raised as Catholic. I respect the choice some - most, for all I know -  have made to stay that way.  Some of us have not. We coexist.

The Christ story I love the most is when he shrewdly dodged an effort by some who wanted to make him look like a danger to society and he used the two sides of a coin to make his point that he was not - Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars, to God the things that are God.

Easier said than done, even among old school mates on a message board, eh wot?

Harold Clark

i will be at zoombezi bay from 7/21 thru 7/28, christmas in july,  10till 1   come and see me.  identify your self because several of you have gotten old and are harder to id.  bring your phone, pictures.