Jeeves

Jonathan's dad was for several years an executive with the company that produces the ACE (I think it stands for Accelerated Christian Education) school and homeschool curriculum and materials. His bio is online here: https://www.faithbaptistms.com/pastor.asp His degree is from a private Christian college. I've read some pretty scathing criticisms of the ACE curriculum - as in certainly not teaching critical thinking skills. But I think that it can probably teach basic grammar and language skills better than whatever haphazard methods and materials the poor Rod kids got from their mother. Sigh.

I wondered why she was kissing a bunch of tampons until I read the caption.

The first two episodes of the series ran on NatGeoWild on Saturday evening immediately after the new episode (Season 24, Episode 1) of the "real" show. I gave it a hard pass because I have a low tolerance for Charles' on-camera goofball act - which at least doesn't dominate the real show. Looks like the new "farm" show is all about Charles, all the time. I have Xfinity, and it looks like all the episodes of Season 1 of "The Incredible Pol Farm" are available on demand. It's also streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. Screenshot of what Google sez as to streaming availability:

I've looked at her public social media. She hasn't posted anything that suggests she's changed jobs. She's still actively licensed as a veterinarian in the state of Michigan, according to the state's public licensee online information. I agree; I've enjoyed watching her on the show. She appears to enjoy, and also take seriously, her veterinary practice. And also has a pleasant and open on-camera presence.

Season 24, Episode 1, "A DOCumentary," premiered last Saturday night. Meh. Minimal background music. No narration. No Dr. Nicole. No explanation - is she off the show? Gone from the clinic? A new vet, Dr. Olivia something-something (hyphenated name). Not introduced; we don't know if she's fresh out of vet school, or has some experience in practice already. We see her kids and her dad. She said she's known Dr. Pol since she was a kid so I assume she grew up as a local. Except for learning that Dr. Brenda sings in an a capella group and Dr. Lisa likes to go paddelboarding, this was a real yawner. There was a memorial slide at the end; I can't remember his name. I assume he was a member of the production team. He was fairly young. May he RIP. If this is the new format for the show I don't think I'll make much effort to watch future episodes. The scenes with Lisa and Brenda were the best part of this one.

Good morning friends! I've come here to the Prayer Closet with a confession. The last day or so I've watched episodes of a few trashy old British TV docu-series on YouTube. One was about "spendaholics." Another series is called "Benefits Britain" and I think aired in 2014. It was derided as "poverty p*rn" by some people at the time. Obviously, the choice of subjects and editing in any documentary is up to the producers and reflects whatever slant they want to use on the subject. The episodes I watched followed three or four people drawing benefits (welfare) in different places within the UK. Some of the subjects were shown as doing their best to cope in hard times, others were crass lazy entitled jerks, and almost every one of them smoked cigarettes like it was 1955. Ugh. A few episodes were enough, but I did learn of an episode with a title that cracked me up: "Benefits Special: 18 Kids and Claiming." ("Claiming" seems to be used in the UK as shorthand for "collecting benefits," i.e., government assistance of various kinds.) I couldn't find a link to it online but I also heard a promo in one of the videos for a show called "26 kids and claiming." Yikes. I've now watched more footage of free-spenders, hoarders, and people floundering around in the UK benefits system, than I ever should have. I'm stepping away from the computer.

I agree about Kaylee's Plexus posts. I recently dived into some anti-MLM material online, on YT and Reddit. One takeaway is that in this era of social media, MLM huns who want to succeed and make $$, are under big pressure to work the absolute sh*t out of social media. Nonstop posting, direct messaging, mining every acquaintance and friend for all their contacts for incessant "outreach." I think the company provides the text and probably images for many of those posts. Jill's thirst to advance in the Plexus biz is obvious. I don't know if Kaylee is anywhere near that ambitious, or if she is just following Mahmo's orders.

The site kinda stuttered for me once this morning, but when I reloaded the page, it went back to work.

Last night I watched (streamed it on Max) a three-part documentary that I think aired on ID: Lost Women of Highway 20. IMO it was def above average for an ID show. I'm old enough to remember the utter misogyny of law enforcement in the 1970's, 1980's, and beyond. Rape victims brushed off. Missing teens assumed to be "runaways" with no investigation. Adolescent girls confiding to school teachers that they're being molested at home, but not believed. This show did a good job of presenting those things, along with the saga of a predator who def got away for years with murders, and probably committed more than the two he was imprisoned for. Also got away with other crimes against girls and women. And yet for quite awhile, he was roaming free when LOTS of people thought he was a dangerous creep. For example, this was back in the days of CB radios; he gave himself the CB handle of "The Pervert." Aargh. Add me to the "can't stand Kelly" crowd. Also I can't stand Nancy Grace. I tuned into a new ID show but clicked right off when I saw her face and heard her screeching voice. Absolute hard pass. In other news, here's a case that I'm sure will turn up on some true crime documentary in the future: Story here: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/12/30/broomfield-murder-charges-man-stalking-wife-impersonating/. So the doofus husband waged a campaign of stalking and harassment of his wife - impersonating her ex - from his own workplace internet connection. Thank goodness for criminals who aren't as smart as they think they are. And finally - I've been away and am catching up here - I had to wait to watch Let Us Prey until I was in the right headspace for it. I already knew more than I probably ever need to, about the Independent Fundamental Baptist churches, and this documentary delves right into the IFB world. I'm glad I did watch the show, and was so pleased that the survivors of IFB abuse were front and center and kinda loud and proud.

@BetyBee, I understand about the physical punch of grief. I’m sorry for your loss.

Oh well. She could have laid him in an old Amazon cardboard box. So there’s that.

Initials: GAS

Oh gosh. I never suggested that JB did anything heroic. Just noted that when it comes to putting out the effort to work and hustle to earn money, IMO he’s definitely ahead of David R. I know, low bar. IMO David’s lazy and JB isn’t.

Bringing this over from the Dillards topic. I actually hate to write this. I know, the Duggars were living in a hellhole little house, with the bigger house far from finished, and eating cheap food, before TLC came along. But. As odious as he is, JB has really worked to support his family. In SHP, Jill talked about how he had a tow truck business when she was a little kid, and he would be called out at all hours. Sometimes she would ride along with him, and she enjoyed that. She said the smell of diesel fuel brings back those memories to her. I wouldn't be surprised if JB gets busted some day for sketchy biz dealings or tax dodges. If it's true that he drained $200K of his own capital on his idiotic race to unseat his party's serving US Senator, while his family was squashed into that little house and living on cheap food - he's a schmuck. But AFAIK he did real work, including the tow truck and stocking shelves in a supermarket, as well as the used car biz and real estate. JB has a level of hustle and willingness to actually do some WORK to get ahead, that appears significantly absent in the makeup of David Rodrigues. David quit his real job to be a traveling preacher, a "missionary." But he's a low energy, low effort version of that. He's admitted he has just a few sermons that he uses and re-uses. IIRC his "printing ministry" offers just a few publications to its clients. I mean, the man can't be bothered to write a new sermon, or create a new flyer to offer his brothers and sisters in Christ? Now that I've pointed out their differences? I don't know what's worse. JB, the nasty hustler. Or David the lazy drifter and grifter.

Taking my response to the JB/Meech topic.

Oh gosh, the "fairy ride." I'm kind of relieved to know I'm not the only one who remembered that. Explanation: when the family left for that big vacay trip to Texas, Timbits wasn't with them. I don't remember where he was - probably living at the Barndo or in the camper in the driveway. But for some reason (work?) he left later than the rest of the family, and drove down to Texas alone. He posted on SM about how he got in his car all tired, and then did the long drive, and barely made it on to the "fairy" [boat] to get across some body of water on the way. I wonder if Mahmo had supplied him with some kind of Plexus energy drinks to keep him fueled for that sleep-deprived long long road trip. IIRC he was praising Jesus for getting him onto the fairy in time.

Not surprising. I think that's what MLMs expect their huns to do. I recently found a YT channel of Hannah Alonzo, who posts anti-MLM content, including MLM horror stories that people send into her. I've listened to a few of her videos while doing other things, and it reminded me how relentlessly the MLM reps are pushed to sign up downlines and send in orders, via incessant promoting and outreach including SM posts.

@BetyBee - I agree with you 100%. That's a terrible situation for everyone who is walking down the street when the dogs are loose. And for the dogs. Urgh. I hope that if it happens again you can get video with your phone (without provoking the *-hole owners into being nasty to you) and report them.

Wishing you a successful surgery and recovery, @Notabug!!!

I'm sure she drives. However, she may not be used to driving something as big as their RV. Without getting deep into the weeds on the subject, some of those big RVs (known as "Class A" to designate their size), depending on their size, may trigger special drivers license requirements in some states. I don't think an actual CDL is likely to be required to drive their old broke-*ss RV, but as a matter of common sense a person would need some instruction and practice to handle it. If David isn't handing the wheel to Jill, I'm good with that. AFAIK he does manage to drive it safely (so far). I think the insurance to cover any of his teenaged kids to drive the RV, would be expen$ive. Just saying. I wonder why Jill hasn't started a GFM for a new RV. Maybe because pleading poverty would run counter to her "join up with me to sell Plexus and make money!!" story line on social media?

Generally it is strange. But Cabela's is a big sporting goods chain, and its larger stores are set up so that visiting is more of an "experience" than just a shopping stop. The one in our area has, IIRC, a "natural outdoor habitat" area indoors. It's been a few years since I visited when out of town cousins wanted to see it, but I remember there was a small food court as well as displays, etc. I think Cabela's has slimmed down some of that for newer stores but TBH the store I visited would be fun for kids, or people interested in outdoor activities. If you search for images of the interiors of Cabela's stores you may get a flavor of it. Jill hauling the kids to Cabela's is def much better than sending them floating down filthy drainage ditches. I'm glad there's a thousand or more miles between me and the Rods' home stomping grounds. I wouldn't want to be in the store when that crew rolls in.

Same here. I've recorded the episodes, but just couldn't watch much of the first one. As you said, I just didn't have the bandwidth for it at the time. I have HBO/Max and may someday watch it there.

I think they are Jill's parents, her sister Amy, and Amy's husband and kids. I'm happy to be corrected if I'm mistaken. I believe that we see Amy in the photo posted by @ginger90; Amy's at the end of the table closest to the camera, leaning back to be in the shot, because her chair is not facing the camera.

Thank you for this. IMO in the fundie world (whether or not involved in IBLP), the "respect" runs only from the lesser beings (children and women) to their headships (fathers and husbands). And that concept of "respect" = unquestioning obedience and agreement with whatever the headship decrees. No matter how big or small the matter is. It's nothing like the "family respect" in healthy families. In the Shiny Happy People documentary, Jill [Dillard] and Derick discussed that. They discovered that there was no room in JB's world for them to have any disagreement with him on any subject, or even to dare to ask questions he didn't want to answer about how he was handling things. Lack of agreement, or even just questioning something, was absolutely considered disrespect, disobedience, and actual rebellion against authority.* That authoritarian parental attitude is all over JillR's social media content. Sure, she usually gushes about her wonderful kids, but the concept of "allowing" their adult kids to do things, is where the mask slips. And anyway she's only gushing about the kids because they effing BELONG to Jill and David, and have bent themselves to do their parents' will. It's sick stuff, even when it's gussied up with lipstick and mascara and posted on social media as praise for the wonderful obedient robots kids. *In her book, Jill D described a conversation that showed the gulf between healthy human respectful relationships and the high control fundie life. She was basically agonizing because she wanted to wear pants in public; she described all the lifelong programming she'd had from her parents about the sinfulness of all that. She and Derick were at home; he was watching a football game on TV. She very earnestly asked him about what if she started wearing pants, and he said, well, that's fine if you want to, go ahead. But she was all bothered and went into the "but isn't it a sin" and all that. He said, look, I think some people have twisted interpretations of some of that scripture. But despite her continuing to kind of bug him about it, he made clear that he didn't think it was a theological issue, and it was her decision. He wasn't going to get all up in that business. IMO a fundie headship guy would not hesitate to lay down the law, whether it was "no don't wear pants," or "yes, I will ALLOW you to wear pants." It was clear that Jill had kind of expected Derick to resolve the question - but he left the matter in her control. HUGE difference from the fundie way of life! David Rodrigues IMO would have issued a dogly directive if his wife or a daughter asked him such a question.

Besides JillR's personality (IMO she's a raging narcissist), that "allowing the grown children" rings true for the authoritarian fundie mindset. Remember JimBob Duggar's famous performance on the witness stand in effing Federal Court: “I'm not going to allow that. Are you allowing that?” The delulu dude's head is so far up his fundie tinpot patriarch arse that he thinks he can run a federal courtroom. IMO, expecting to control their adult kids is just another day of the week for those fundies.