Windy Sydney

You guys are going to think I am morbid. I'm not. Really. Well, maybe just a little.

I have been going to the forums of mydeathspace.com for about a week now. Oh, I know some of you are thinking, "My Death Space? Is Andee turning into one of those emo goth types that talks about death all the time? Is Andee cutting herself? Has she officially turned to the dark side??"

Nope. :)

When I first came across MyDeathSpace.com it was when I was looking for information about someone I knew that passed away. A simple google search prompted me to click the link of an article that included a link to my friends' myspace account. The people discussing the death of this friend were not disrespectful in any way, quite the opposite. They were commenting about the life he lived and hoping he rested in peace.

It prompted me to look at more articles. There are thousands of names, some you will recognize from television court shows (like the recent case of Brittanee Drexel missing from Myrtle Beach on spring break) to regular Joe's like you and me. A link to the deceased person's myspace page is usually included and that gives a huge glimpse into the life they led. Looking at their pictures, the pictures of their pets, their family, their friends... they become real and not just names you see in the obituaries.

The people in the forums discuss everything from missing persons cases to strange myspace profiles to fraud. Take this case for instance:

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Steph just left me this message on my baptism for the dead rant...

Hi.

Uhm I don't know if you guys know this.. but baptisms for the dead is in the bible. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:29.

In the afterlife I'm pretty sure it's not a whole bunch of religions. There aren't the Catholics over here and the Mormons over there. You must be watching too much of South Park.

Hi.

Uhm I don't know if you know this, but there are many things in the bible that you probably choose not to do? Are you okay with taking the Bible, something that has been translated more times than anyone could possibly count literally??

You claim that you are "pretty sure" heaven is a certain way, but I thought all Mormons "KNEW!" Lard knows I did! How is it that you are convinced heaven is a certain way? Where is your proof? Oh, and if you are going to list bible versus to back you up, I need to show you why they don't prove squat.

For example, did you know:

• God punishes Eve, and all women after her, with the pains of childbirth and subjection to men. 3:16

• An uncircumcised boy is to be abandoned by his parents and community. 17:14

• God blessed Abraham by giving him lots of slaves. 24:35

• A child who hits or curses his parents must be executed. 21:15, 17

• Slavery is approved by God, and those who steal slaves must be killed. 21:16

• Those who break the Sabbath are to be executed. 31:14

• God wasn't satisfied with the slaughter of the 3000, so he killed some more people with a plague. 32:35

• If a man has sex with an engaged slave woman, scourge the woman, but don't punish the man. (Even if he raped her?) 19:20-22

• "For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death." Couldn't we try spanking first? 20:9

• If a man has sex with his father's wife, kill them both. 20:11

• If your brother, son, daughter, wife, or friend tries to get you to worship another god, "thou shalt surely kill him, thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death." 13:6-10

• Kill everyone who has religious beliefs that are different from your own. 17:2-7

• Those who capture slaves and sell them must be executed. 24:7

• Women cannot wear men's clothing and vice versa -- it's an "abomination unto the Lord." 22:5

• God lays down the law on menstruating women. Such women are to God both filthy and sinful, and anyone who comes near them is contaminated by them. 15:19-30, 33

• If a man rapes an unbetrothed virgin, he must pay her father 50 shekels of silver and then marry her. 22:28-29

• A good man never gets near a menstruating woman. 18:5-6

• If a woman refuses to cover her head in church, then her her head must be shaved. 11:5-6

• Wives, according to Paul, must submit themselves to their husbands. 3:18

There are THOUSANDS of other examples listed here from topics from injustice, to intolerance, to downright absurdity. There is also a section for the Book of Mormon. Take a look, I dare you. You will see just how ridiculous this "scripture" is. It's not only scientifically impossible, it's stupid.

So, since baptism for the dead is in the bible, I take it that you follow these other things that are in the bible. You can't have it both ways.

You can't.

Do you kill people because they have different beliefs than you?

Do you tell people with rebelling children that their children should be killed?

Um Steph, do you wear pants? Because if you do it's an abomination to the Lord!

Do you hide away when Auntie Flow visits every month??

I also have to tell you that you are a complete ass by making the statement that we have been watching too much South Park. What the Hell?? That is the stupidest comment you could possibly make and it makes you look like a moron. Frankly, it says more about you than it does about us. We don't agree with you so you have to throw in childish insults? Is that something Jesus would do? Hmmmmmm????

Those who leave the Mormon Church and those against baptism for the dead have honest problems with the practice. Our points are valid, and it's clear that you are beyond looking at things objectively.

If you are going to leave comments on WindySydney please try to have a solid argument instead of throwing around insults. I have studied and I know what I am talking about. Have you???

You must be watching too much BYU television...

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I just met a new neighbor.

Know what pisses me off?

When some old geezer rants and raves about how wonderful the United States of America is, and how we have the best country in the world and then in his next breath talks trash about immigrants from other countries.

Excuse me?

Wait a minute...

Aren't all Americans examples of people who came from immigrants? I mean, except for the Native American's who lost their beautiful land when we came over and forced them to live how we wanted them to live...

I was under the impression that America was known as the melting pot. A place for all cultures to come together and live how they see fit... you know... freedom? Freedom to live a good life? Make your own decisions? That kind of thing?

I have had it with "Patriotic Bigots" who immediately hate people with accents and assume they are on welfare, or here illegally. I don't want to hear some old white fart bitch and moan about how the "Mexicans" are taking all of our jobs... or how all drunk drivers are here illegally. I don't want to hear judgmental assholes complain that migrants don't want to learn English because they are lazy. I have had it.

What the Hell is wrong with some of the citizens of this country? They think their families had the right to come to America in search of a better life, but not anyone else? They think they have the right to pick and choose which people should be able to legally become citizens of this country based on their ethnicity?

It's almost as if some people think they have the right to stand up tall and say, "Mine! Not yours! Mine! My USA!"

It's so effing stupid... and you know what? It's unAmerican. Yep. I said it.

Sorry, the guy just REALLY angered me. I wanted to punch him, but I just gave him a piece of my mind instead. Now I think he's afraid of me. Thats good, cause I don't wanna talk to him again. Ugh.

Andee

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I want to be a photographer when I grow up, so when I come across photos that make me laugh or interest me in any way, I have to share them.

Here are some scary senior portraits courtesy of Manofest.

What the hell kind of pose is this? Um... was he in the puppet club?


This kid scares the hell out of me...

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I just updated my comments on WindySydney and I found this comment from Seth R:

It's really none of your business if your great grandma wants to join up with the Mormons in the afterlife.

Sorry.

Seth,

It's none of your business to MAKE my great grandmother a Mormon on earth, either. Funny how it goes both ways like that, isn't it?

Andee

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Wow, I think I have found my calling. I want to go explore some abandoned place and take TONS of photos!!!

I came across these photos taken by Kendall Anderson (an amazing photographer). I hope Kendall doesn't mind me sharing some of my favorite shots. If you want to buy the prints or see more of Kendall's work, click here or any of the photos. You won't be disappointed.

These photos are from Anderson's trip to the abandoned Whitby Psychiatric Facility...

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I found an interesting website called Abandoned But Not Forgotten.

People from all over the place take their cameras and investigate abandoned properties, sometimes breaking the law while doing it. Some of these places are really cool, like abandoned toy factories, jails, even mental hospitals. The photos are spooky. Here are a few of my favorites. Don't forget to check out the website. You will be surprised at what you find!!

UPDATE: I was contacted by the photographer of the first two photos in this series.

His name is Michael Brown and you should check out his other work!

www.flickr.com/mikebrown3506

Dixie Square Mall in Illinois


The Elysium Assisted Living Center in Florida (one of my personal favorites)


The best group of photos I have seen thus far is definitely Norwich State Hospital in Connecticut... This is an old abandoned asylum and the photos are well done. They give me the creeps.


Finally, here are some shots of the abandoned Baker Hotel in Texas:


Edited To Add The Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Kentucky!

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I love photography. Can I just say that? I love it. Love, love, love, love it.

I was browsing the net for inspiration and I came across these photos of a girl named Alison Harvard. She is an artist who claims to have a slight obsession with blood, and she is also currently in the final three of America's Next Top Model. She's my favorite. All of these photos were taken long before she auditioned for the show... they are very dark. They tell a story. I like 'em.

Anyway, I thought I would share these because I like 'em. Yeah... I'm weird like that.

Andee

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