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Disciples of Ston
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Edaine Numenor
Numenor Benevolent Holdings
#121 - 2011-11-04 13:33:02 UTC
Corporate News:

Manwe Todako is the new CEO of The Disciples of Ston.

I have resigned from this position effective today and have appointed Manwe as my replacement. This has been in discussion for some time. When the corporation began, I did it as a favor to my friend Ston Momaki. The name of the Corp, Disciples of Ston, was chosen by me as a sort of jest, a poke in the ribs of Ston. I told him that it would provoke the kind of thing he wanted to study. I started the corp for Ston because he wasn't trained in Corp management and he didn't want to train. Times have changed for the Disciples and they now espouse the value of peacefully oriented training.

Ston fervently refuses to be the CEO and insists that Manwe is a better manager, administrator and a more level headed thinker. I will continue in my role as benefactor for the Corp and will also help with rescue ops whenever I can.

We trust that Manwe will take the reigns of CEO effectively and with integrity. Very little of the actual operations will change. I have always thought that the position of CEO should be occupied by an actual Disciple who functions in strict compliance to the organization's pacifism. Now that is in place and appropriately so.

Liberating slaves wherever, whenever, and however I can.
Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#122 - 2011-11-04 19:20:53 UTC
Can you smell the CPU's?

OK, this is not a typical post for a DSTON, but, this is supposed to be where we log our thoughts, musings and reflections. Not all of them are deep and profound. Some are just very ordinary. Some are reminders of our humanity. When we exit the pod and are able to reconnect with our human senses, one outstanding thing that I experience is the smell of the CPU's aboard the Elutheria. She is a Minmatar Cheetah and her computers burn fast and hard to keep her cloaked on covert transports. When the trip is done, those CPU's have a distinct smell. It isn't a bad smell at all. It is...it is...hmmm...the smell of technology.

For the Disciples, it is the smell of technology in service to others.

What's in a name? that which we call a CPU
By any other name would smell as sweet

SANKOFA
Edaine Numenor
Numenor Benevolent Holdings
#123 - 2011-11-05 15:33:03 UTC
Though no longer CEO, as benefactor, I will still give periodic financial news for the Corp. Every 24 Mil of earnings, I will donate 2.4 Mil to the corporation. Hopefully this will time well with training and equipment acquisition needs. Eventually, I hope to augment this income with planetary production in the system where our centers are located. This will take time. We would like to find a way to offer a temperate base for our Matriculants. There are difficult logistics to this because of customs regulations and monitoring.

Liberating slaves wherever, whenever, and however I can.
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#124 - 2011-11-06 01:11:51 UTC
A DIFFICULT RESPONSE

Edaine Numenor and Manwe Todako have requested that I respond to the news that a man we felt deep respect and admiration for has allied himself with Sansha Nation. I wish that I had not been asked to respond. We are shocked and confused by this development. Mr. Thessalonia is someone we have appreciated very much in the past weeks. We have also seen his struggle for spiritual direction and the difficulties of that journey.

The Disciples of Ston are all spiritual people, though different sorts no doubt. We all agree that we will exercise our own form of "prayer" for Mr. Thessalonia in the days ahead. He is our human brother and we have shared many common values in the past. This turn of events has caught us off guard and it is difficult for us to respond. We know that we oppose Sansha K. He is no messiah as far as we are concerned. However, Mr. Thessalonia is an individual we have come to know a little. Maybe too little.

We have often been asked by pilots with experience and sage the following question, "Are you sure you know what you are doing?" This question has never offended us, because we realize that we are fallible like all humans, capsuleer or not. We need to be asked that from time to time. So, please do not be offended, Mr. Thessalonia if we also ask you this same question, "Are you sure you know what you are doing?" We ask not out of judgment, but out of respect and concern.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#125 - 2011-11-06 14:23:10 UTC
I have been monitoring The Summit and the discussions regarding the conversion of one Mr. Thessalonia to the Sansha Cult.

From these observations, I believe it is time for a short lesson in verb parsing.

Mr. Thessalonia was heard to remark, "Humanity can be improved." This may be an unremarkable statement on the surface, but wait...

Part of verb parsing divides verbs into "voices"
Active voice
Passive voice
Middle voice

Let us apply:
Improve it,him,her (active) "I have improved you"
be improved (passive) "I have been improved by you"
improve myself (middle) "I improved myself"

Sansha and Mr. Thessalonia in this case use the passive. Here improvement is something that happens to you. The Sansha improve (active) you and you are improved (passive). This is not liberty. This is not self-determination.

The Disciples of Ston have set up programs to give people tools so that they can practice "self improvement" (middle voice). They do the improving and they experience the improvement. We exist to serve those who desire to improve themselves.

Should we be surprised that the Sansha cult exists? It is a personality cult based on the arrogance of superiority. It seeks to "serve" humanity from a position of pride rather than from a position of humility. It assumes that to "improve" humanity ought to be the goal rather than to enable self improvement. These distinctions are vital.

Majestic was the right course, Mr. Thessalonia, but you gave up too soon. It takes extraordinary patience to help others improve themselves and not to rush in to "improve" them by force. Please, the Disciples of Ston beg you to re-initiate Majestic. Re-envision it and then stick with it. Sansha is not the answer.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#126 - 2011-11-08 01:57:04 UTC
The Disciples of Ston Welcome pilot Ta Pang
May this new Initiate Disciple be an instrument of peace and freedom in our cluster.

SANKOFA
Istvaan Shogaatsu
Guiding Hand Social Club
#127 - 2011-11-08 03:09:40 UTC
Manwe Todako wrote:
The Disciples of Ston Welcome pilot Ta Pang
May this new Initiate Disciple be an instrument of peace and freedom in our cluster.


From his bio:

Quote:
I only have 1 rule.

Everyone fights, nobody quits. If you don't do your job, I'll kill you myself.


Sounds like you need to inspect your instruments of peace a little closer.
Ta Pang
Character Warehouse
#128 - 2011-11-08 13:46:09 UTC
Istvaan Shogaatsu wrote:

From his bio:

Quote:
I only have 1 rule.

Everyone fights, nobody quits. If you don't do your job, I'll kill you myself.


Sounds like you need to inspect your instruments of peace a little closer.



Unfortunately that is a remnant of my former life. I am not proud of what I have done in the past, but I can assure you that that particular aspect of my life is gone. After several years of soul searching I have returned to my pod and embraced the concept of peace, honour and love.

Peace be with you.
Ran'shad
Ministry of War
Amarr Empire
#129 - 2011-11-08 14:01:40 UTC
Istvaan Shogaatsu wrote:
Manwe Todako wrote:
The Disciples of Ston Welcome pilot Ta Pang
May this new Initiate Disciple be an instrument of peace and freedom in our cluster.


From his bio:

Quote:
I only have 1 rule.

Everyone fights, nobody quits. If you don't do your job, I'll kill you myself.


Sounds like you need to inspect your instruments of peace a little closer.


So the supposedly peacefull disciples hire someone who clearly has no quams over killing his allies...I beleive that speaks for itself. Does this indicate that this group is planing on taking a more 'active' role in disrupting the peacefull lives of many Holders? Will we soon see violent, first strike raids on slave barracks and other facilities?

Time to add yourselves to your wall of shame.

High Lord Ran'Shad CEO Imperial Manufacturing and Engineering Regiment Elemental Tide Alliance
Tiberious Thessalonia
True Slave Foundations
#130 - 2011-11-08 14:30:59 UTC
Thank you for your concern, Disciples.

Were there more lights like you, I would not have felt this step to be necessary, however I have come to believe that drastic action is necessary to save humanity before it destroys itself.

I am not some Kuvakei fanboy, however, he is the man with the right tools for the job.

I urge you to continue your work rescuing those who have been cast away. They are human, and as capable of creation and joy as any other. You do good work!

As for your determination that I speak in the active tense in terms of improvement, and speak in the passive for those who are to be improved, you would be essentially correct. My time in the cluster, and my work with Majesty in particular, has shown me that with few notable exceptions, people will not take responsibility for switching their passiveness to activeness.

In the end this would have destroyed them. I want to make sure that doesn't happen.
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#131 - 2011-11-08 14:39:30 UTC
Manwe requested that respond to criticisms after we accepted Ta Pang as an initiate Disciple. Did we know what was in his bio? Yes. Did we ask him to change it before accepting his application? No! Was that intentional? Yes. We have learned that when a man or woman initiates change in his or her life, the trust or others can be instrumental in fostering the future of that change. We believe Ta Pang is sincere, so lets give him a chance to show that sincerity.

Manwe himself was a violent man before he joined the Disciples. We risked trust and He is now our CEO. As to "Holders" trembling in their boots out of fear of the Disciples of Ston attacking them. Come now.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#132 - 2011-11-10 17:26:04 UTC
SADISM AND THE CAPSULEER

I many saying that peace is not a possibility and that violence is an inevitability. Often, pilots justify this claim not because it is true, but because they love violence. It is entertaining to them. They enjoy it. When an individual is told, as are all capsuleers in pilot indoctrination, that they exist to wield their power over whomever they can, a culture of sport violence is born.

This culture cloaks itself in the guise of causes and values, but underneath is a simple love of destruction and killing. Pilots take pride in their killboards and in besting one another in violence. Some admit it. At least they are honest. Others cannot or will not face that part of their being.

If we are to live in peace than we must perform and "inward act of violence." We must "kill" our violent nature so that is can be buried for good. Feed peace, starve violence until it dies.

The Disciples of Son bid you peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Edaine Numenor
Numenor Benevolent Holdings
#133 - 2011-11-11 18:47:17 UTC
If we are to be ready for the future and not always in the "adjust quickly" mode, then certain preparations need to be made. The workforce that I maintained on planetary operations in Piekura has been relocated to a Temperate planet near our Matriculation Centers. While at the present time, stringent customs laws and monitoring, prevents us from transporting former slaves to the planet surface, we anticipate perhaps that it may not always be the case.

I would like us to be prepared. My crew is retooling to set up agricultural operations on the planet. If Matriculated former slaves one day so wish to establish and independent colony, the infrastructure will be well under way. This is much different than what I have done before and the focus is not on profit, but on sustainability. We have found a very beautiful and reasonably bountiful place.

Liberating slaves wherever, whenever, and however I can.
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#134 - 2011-11-12 03:50:07 UTC
Nine hundred new residents would have been a great surprise and delight for our Matriculation program, but over 9000! This was beyond our imagination.

We had been in communication with Gaufres for some time regarding a transfer of rescued former slaves that he had been caring for. He let the group decide. We just had no idea it was such a big group.

We hope that the example of pilots like Gaufres and the brave pilot who helped us start this program and others along the way who have rescued and helped those left in space to die, will serve to set the pace for a movement of capsuleers doing likewise.

We will have to have wisdom to administrate this task well.

Thanks Gaufres. We appeal to the Gallente Government to expunge your record and restore your status within the Federation.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#135 - 2011-11-12 13:53:00 UTC
MINIMIZING THE WINDOW

As of late I have found more and more reasons to "minimize the com window" while aboard ship and in station. Capsuleers in their overweening sense of superiority seem ever more willing to cast off any sense of decorum and appropriateness in speech and subject matter.

Have you no dignity, pilot?

Some things truly are best left unsaid.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#136 - 2011-11-12 16:52:50 UTC
I had a most pleasant discussion a few days ago with Ms. Jenneth onthe New Eden Assembly regarding the challenge of maintaining organizational values while expanding the mission. This challenge has just notched up a bit for us at DSTON.
The reception of 9000+ additional Matriculants in one day has pushed the transportation logistics issue to a new level. While we have always wanted to avoid the ISK trap, the acquisition trap, the ever greater technology trap, we are now looking at the possibility of "acquiring" blockade runners to transport larger numbers of passengers. Along with this is expensive training and equipping. We could easily eclipse our values if we do not stay alert. I found myself asking today, "Is there an end to defining all the things we "want" as the things we "need" just to make ourselves feel OK in the pursuit of them.

We don't "need" blockade runners. It would be nice to have them; nice for us and nice for the Matriculants who want to get on with life. We can get by with what we have. Not having to fight wars is to our advantage. We can stop and say, "I do not need that." If we think it would help the work, fine, we can take our time getting there and not make compromising mistakes while we do.

I'll probably kick myself for saying this, but it is good to have the occasional critic. Even those who are harsh and dishonest can be helpful. Helpful in leading us to ask, "Is anything they are saying true? or Am I ever tempted to be like that?" The work is worth the risk in the end though. So...we'll keep doing it the best we can.

Manwe

P.S. A personal thank you to Pilot Gaufres. I hope all of you realize how many lives this pilot has saved over his career.

SANKOFA
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#137 - 2011-11-14 19:45:43 UTC
IN DEFENSE OF NAIVETE'

No, not really, but let's examine the idea to make a point. Sometimes capsuleers are so eager to make themselves look like "men or women of the world," that all optimism and all hope is called Naivete. It is true that some are so calloused that they truly believe this, but others are just afraid of what their friends may think if the express a little idealism or hope or, heaven forbid!!!! humanism.

So if naivete is going to be so broadly defined, then I am willing to defend its existence in the hearts and actions of those who are not afraid to occasionally be branded a sissy or a bleeding heart by their tougher friends. I think we know who is really tougher.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace
Edaine Numenor
Numenor Benevolent Holdings
#138 - 2011-11-15 16:01:21 UTC
Corporate economic and infrastructure report:

My mining and refining operation recently directed a sum of ISK to help the Disciples establish a water generating station on a planet near our Matriculation Centers. With the growth of our resident populations, we sensed a need for a dependable water supply. We are going ahead with two facilities on the planet, both directed toward a sustainable agricultural community. I have established one and Manwe the other. Manwe will focus exclusively on water production. This should occupy very little time and not detract from his other duties. The other colony we will call "the ranch" and will focus on livestock production. We dream of one day providing these colonies as a new start for those we rescue is they wish for that kind of life. The planet is truly a beautiful place.

Eventually, we will need to address the issue of corporate income and reserves that are needed for the increased expenses of training and equipping the Disciples to expand their work. I have told Manwe to stop worrying about the expense of training for and beginning to use Blockade running ships. I will see to the finances of that project. What is important is being ready to help increasing numbers of rescued people get on with the lives they dream of living. We are here to serve.

Liberating slaves wherever, whenever, and however I can.
Manwe Todako
Disciples of Ston
#139 - 2011-11-16 18:46:53 UTC
While taking a trip to pick up some training materials, I decided to detour in to 0.0 space for some exploration time. I was flying the Kruptos so I was relatively safe. On the way there, I encountered few pilots and was not able to engage any pilots in conversation while in the 0.0 space. It reminded me of the early days of DSTON when we used "provocation" as a method. We have departed from that as a primary method mostly because of our distaste for violence, even against ourselves. However, I am led to believe that we may have to exercise care and caution but yet be willing to use verbal "provocation" if we are to engae the kind of pilot that lives and works in 0.0 space. When we have time, we will look into this more.

SANKOFA
Ston Momaki
Disciples of Ston
#140 - 2011-11-18 17:18:10 UTC
UNEXPECTED BECOMING

When we first began the Disciples, we expected to be a sort of "free-roaming philosophical bandits" getting under the skin of fellow capsuleers. We still hope that we can do that now and then. However, over the course of time, the cause of abolition and, in particular, the needs of those we rescue, have changed the course of who we are and are becoming.

We are farmers. We are becoming more skillful pilots. We produce water. I anticipate that we will continue to find ways to make self-sufficient communities. This will make us many things. However, as disciples what we will never become is violent. We may become very skilled in some areas, but forbid the thought that we should ever become skilled in the use of weapons.

As I picked up a shipment of water from our new depot, I thought about these changes. I am the man I was when the Disciples came into being, but I am also different. Changes must always be monitored so as not to violate values. Values trump change not the other way around.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace