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I was shopping at a large mall in Dearborn Michigan when the WTC attack occurred. Store employees were updating customers on events as they were happening. We were told to evacuate the building, go straight home and shelter in place. Dearborn is home to the largest Arabic community not only in the US but in North America. Some people had the mistaken idea that copycat attacks would occur in the area but those rumors were false. Tensions and fear were running high. It is interesting that we had an Awake magazine, May 22, 2001 issue "The New Look of Terrorism". We also received a special Awake dated Jan 8, 2002 about the 9/11 attack. Jehovah always provides comfort in times of distress and prepares us through direction ftom the FS.Those 2 Awake magazines can be found on our website. I highly recommend looking at them. It's still timely even after 25 years have passed.

My philosophical thought of the day: Any tool can be used for a bad purpose. A hammer can be used to build a house, or to bludgeon a skull. In addition to the warnings mentioned, the news reports that the Houthi terrorist group in Yemen tried using Anthropic to help them build a missile. We are back to the Tower of Babel scenario - more bad will come from technological advancement than good.

Yes, we may be entering a world of increased surveillance. The new Apple Watch has an audio intelligence that can pick and record surrounding conversations for 15 seconds, I believe. I expect the conditions of the world to worsen as we enter the deepest end of the current system. But Jehovah has everything in control. That is why Jesus is the first rider of Revelation 6. The messianic king is well prepared for it.

This is becoming a problem in Jehovah's organization. The younger generation is using it for all sorts of things, posting on-line private organization matters. One of our brothers that trains brother's for safety at work (he's an Osha brother) has seen certain documents posted on line. The young brothers come with hoodies over their heads and don't want to turn on their cameras. He teaches them through zoom. He says he's never seen the like of this. I find this very scary and think this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Fyi - 3 couples tested positive for Covid recently, within days of each other. One ended up overnight in the hospital but is home now and much better. They range in age from 40's-60's. One couple opted for Paxlovid, one decided to wait it out. Choices. All 6 took the tests to confirm Covid. I heard others in nearby cong's also came down with Covid. It's been awhile that I've heard anyone having Covid around here.

Oh yes, these have been around for some time. It’s currently a cause of debate in Europe, with lawmakers facing pressure to restrict or ban the devices. Besides these glasses, Chinese manufacturers have also begun producing and selling them on a large scale. The glasses themselves are the hardware, while the software installed on them enables many of the cool things they can do. This is similar to how smartwatches work: the hardware provides the physical capabilities, while the software determines much of their functionality.

Definitely do the test for covid just in case. That being said, a cough that won't go away and feels like fire/knives reminds me of whooping cough. It doesn't present as a whoop in adults, but the cough is so nasty you cough until your face turns red and you gasp for air. The front of your chest has a shooting, fiery pain, like every nerve ending is lighting up. I learned that many of us get the whooping cough vaccine as children, but it can 'wear off' after 30 years.

It's about USD 2000.

Maybe we know that moment: Someone asks us: “How are you?” And even though things actually feel completely different inside, we automatically say: “I’m good, thanks.” A quick smile. A little nod. And we carry on. But sometimes, we simply don’t feel like smiling. Sometimes we’re just tired. Sometimes disappointed. Sometimes sad. Sometimes everything feels like too much — and we don’t even really know why. And that’s exactly when it’s important to remember one simple thought: You don’t always have to be okay. We’re not machines. We have feelings. And feelings change. There are days when we feel full of strength. And there are days when we just want to withdraw somewhere and be alone. That doesn’t make us weak. Quite the opposite. It makes us human. Maybe sometimes we think: “I’m not allowed to be sad right now. Other people have it much worse.” Or: “I have to be strong for everyone else.” Of course, we don’t want to burden others with our problems. But we don’t have to wear a mask either. Because Jehovah doesn’t expect us to wear a mask. We see that beautifully in Psalm 34:18. It says that Jehovah is close to those who have a broken heart. What a comforting thought! Jehovah isn’t only with us when we’re happy. Not only when we have everything under control. Not only when we appear strong. He is especially close when our heart is heavy. Imagine a little boy coming home after a long day. He doesn’t say anything. He takes off his shoes, sits down, and simply stares into space. His father immediately notices: Something isn’t right. Maybe he doesn’t even ask many questions. He simply sits down beside him. And after a while, the boy moves just a little closer. No big conversation. No clever advice. Just being there. And perhaps that is sometimes the most beautiful thing we can give another person: “You don’t have to explain anything right now. I’m simply here with you.” Isn’t it comforting to know that Jehovah knows us that way too? He doesn’t just see our smile. He sees the tear that nobody else notices. He knows when we’re tired. He knows when something has hurt us. He knows when we’re struggling inside, even though everything looks completely normal on the outside. That’s why we never have to pretend in front of Jehovah. We can even tell him in prayer: “Jehovah, I’m not doing well today.” And maybe the situation doesn’t change immediately. But something else does: We no longer have to carry it alone. And there’s something else that’s important: When we’re not feeling okay, it doesn’t mean that we are worth any less. Our worth doesn’t depend on how productive we were today. It doesn’t depend on how warmly we were able to smile today. And it certainly doesn’t depend on whether we always appear strong. Jehovah doesn’t love us only on our good days. He loves us even on the days when we may barely understand ourselves. So we can give ourselves permission to simply be human sometimes. To be sad. To be exhausted. To be quiet. And perhaps today, we need these words ourselves: “I don’t have to be okay all the time.” Because if Jehovah won’t let go of me even when I can barely hold on to myself, then I have a reason to hope again. And this is the thought I would love for us to carry with us, long after this is over: You don’t have to be strong every day. You don’t have to smile every day. You don’t always have to be okay. But never forget this: Even on your hardest day, you are never too much for Jehovah.

Just discovered these are Meta Glasses!

My husband and I were out doing carts this past week and a belligerent woman walk up to us and started a conversation. We spoke on many topics but, one that struck me and my husband was that she told me she had AI glasses. She said she went into this Korean restaurant and one of the korean waiters said to his co-worker "she always is a pest" her glasses interpreted the conversation and she immediately rapped back to the waiter "no I'm not". Also, these glasses take photos and records conversations. She was showing me the glasses and how she can hit a tiny instrument on her glasses and take photos. She was real proud of her glasses. I kept the conversation rolling so my husband could take notes. I was taken back by all this information. So, in retrospect how many of our young brothers have these? Sisters? One elder in our congregation told us that they found the "Elders book" online. Brothers, beware! This is not something I heard but, saw with my own eyes and so did my husband. You can get this online or according to her, your eye doctor. You still need a prescription though. When there are elders meetings, are there young brothers that wear glasses? Should they be inspected? I don't know but, these glasses are an invasion of privacy.

As in the film 'I Robot' they are simply wAIting for the right time.

I feel so it is the loop with the android now. 😌

I read somewhere that a bad strain of COVID is going around right now. Sounds like they have it... We had a bunch get *something* around here too...but I don't know enough detail to say what. All I know is I've been taking 1000mg Vitamin C for the past month and amazingly I haven't caught it. My body likes to try every flavor of COVID & other sinus infections. And my wife uses Profi to block all sinus infections. Both our strategies seem to have spared us whatever is going around.

Good suggestion, thanks Richard!

Yes he was. He was prescribed Paxlovid and when he felt better, he used the second test to confirm that he wasn't still positive for Covid. My point is, buy a two test 3 in 1 Covid/Flu kit. They are easily available.

No, the brother I know was too busy holding his wife so she couldn't see what was happening because she couldn't bear to see the second one hit

I want to try it at the Apple Store and see how JW Library works.

So he wasn't positive for Covid after all?

Uh.... That's not a helpful comparison for some of us....

I don't think many friends will own an iphone duo... this is more expensive than a gaming computer

I was working till late on the 10th, tried to sleep in but got a call at 7am about it. Tuned in to see the 2nd plane fly in

I recently purchased a two test kit from Walmart for an older brother that was sick. He found out he had Covid and had his doctor send him Paxlovid. He used the second test to confirm he wasn't positive.

There are 3 in 1 Covid/Flu tests available that will help identify what they have.

Hi Everyone, Could use your help. Apparently many brothers/sisters got sick after a recent International Convention here in the U.S. I have a friend who is now very sick also. He said he has been sick the past few days and he has a terrible cough that won't go away. And that his lungs feel like they are on fire or at other times it feels like knives are in his chest! Could this be more than just a cold or flu? Could this be a strain of Covid? Has anyone heard about similar symptoms? Any advice, suggestions, to help this brother? Any advice/help is appreciated Thanks