all that stuff you're not supposed to talk about on dates

[jlh]

I hate to see that "teh" is the new plebe sarcasm, since it's a big typo of mine and now I'm all freaked out in chat that everyone is going to make fun.

Every year on Ash Wednesday, I think about returning to the church, because it was the faith I was raised in and really the one with the most resonance for me. On the other hand, the actual structure of the church is so removed from the faith that I never do. Yeah, I know, that was Martin Luther's whole point, but those tenets led to church services that to this Catholic feel more like town council meetings than celebrations of the Lord. I mean, there's a reason that Madonna is a Kabbalist now—once a mystic, always a mystic.

Never mind the positions on women, abortion, and homosexuality, or the anti-Semitism during WWII. And don't even talk to me about the stand against Communism, because that was more self-interest than anything else. (The worst mistake Lenin ever made, and that China is making now, is telling people to drop the religion, because that's the kind of thing that pisses people off.) But the history of irresponsibility in developing countries, especially South America, completely turns my stomach. Telling people in countries with entrenched poverty and sky rocketing birth rates not to use contraception—because at the end of the day, that's what this ridiculous story is really about, about not using contraception—is just wrong in my book.

Also, I think the clock is ticking on the American church breaking off entirely. We'll see what the new Pope brings, but with the Cardinals that were just named, I'm thinking they'll continue to protect their own—and alienate thinking Catholics like me. So, for another year, I'll be saying "no thanks" on Ash Wednesday.

Okay, people, enough with the sarcasm. Anyone who pays any attention to CA politics knows a few things: (1) The proposition process has made the state into an experiment in direct democracy. We'll see if it works. (2) This has also resulted in a fairly weak-governor, like in TX. (3) Arnold as governor of CA was a foregone conclusion. He has actually been politically active for quite some time. His name has been bandied about for a good ten years, and the only real reason he didn't run in the last election was film commitments. Can he actually get California out of the mess that the weak legislature, the power disaster, and propositions that all but tie his hands on budgeting have put the state into? I'm not sure, but hey, at least he won't be invading Utah or declaring a Defense of Pumping Up Week.

Back to Fenway. Off to Florida. Keep hope alive, kids.

I saw School of Rock and have an unholy crush on the drummer. I'm now off to see Kill Bill. I hope to see Intolerable Cruelty before the weekend is over. And there is my fascinating life for you.

Comments

[ex-mahoney365.livejournal.com]

Also, I think the clock is ticking on the American church breaking off entirely. We'll see what the new Pope brings, but with the Cardinals that were just named, I'm thinking they'll continue to protect their own—and alienate thinking Catholics like me.

I wonder how the naming of Archbishop Justin Rigali (American) as a cardinal-designate fits in. Wonder if it's an attempt to keep a bit of a hold on the American church. I also wonder what kind of affect Rigali might have as a Cardinal -- if any.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

It is absolutely an attempt to keep the US church in line. He names Cardinals, typically, that are fairly hard line. How is Rigali? I haven't heard much about him.

Of course, the US church is in a great deal of trouble, especially money trouble, which is the one thing that always perks up the ears in Rome.

Cynical, me? Never!

[praetorianguard.livejournal.com]

Ignoring all the important stuff, as my mind is mush...

I, too, saw School of Rock, and I, too, have an unholy crush on the drummer.

I choose to believe this is but a continuation of my drummer fetish, rather than the appalling option of having a crush on a ten-year-old.

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Apparently the actor is 14.

You have a drummer fetish too? I totally do! It's become a long-standing joke among my friends! I think it all started with Roger Taylor of Duran Duran, but just steamrolled from there to include Jon Ferris from INXS, Dave Grohl, and Butch Vig who is a GOD. Plus the guy from The Strokes and that chick who plays in Lenny Kravitz's band.

[praetorianguard.livejournal.com]

*grin* Much more palatable, though still somewhat appalling. *cringes anyway*

Yeah, there's just something about drummers. Soooo much cooler than everyone else in the band, sheerly from their removed location. It's easier to be a demi-god from a dais.

Mine started with half the drummers in my college marching band (we'd played rock charts, rather than Copeland, or I wouldn't have, I swear), then Danny Carey of Tool, the guy from Dial 7, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins and pretty much anyone else. Except Brad Wilk. Ugh.

And apparently a 14-year-old blond kid. *sigh*

Made all the worse by the fact that I've never had a crush on a rock band member who wasn't a drummer.

[sloanesomething.livejournal.com]

That little kid was something else.

Thank God he's 14, which means I'm only sort-of going to hell. ;)

[jlh.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent piece of information. Thank you very much.

[weatherby.livejournal.com]

Dude. I hate 'teh.' I was just talking about it before you posted this.

[loonyemi.livejournal.com]

I also have a crush on the drummer.

And I am 17 for a good 'nother two months, so nyah! ^_^

[folk.livejournal.com]

Actually, China has a clause in its constitution which defends freedom of religion for the individual. What there are laws about is the extent to which religious groups can get involved in the political process. The Chinese Catholic Church, for example, is independent of the Vatican because the government was worried about political influence.

Of course, everything was different in Mao's day...

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Good to know. Thanks. Oh, and that top secret new Cardinal is likely someone in China, btw. The church names Cardinals in secret when they are in locations where the church is in peril or whatever. I think it's the bishop of Hong Kong.

And you know, the US government was also worried about political influence--JFK got tons of questions when he was running for pres about whether he'd just follow the Vatican on everything.

Everything WAS different in Mao's day. Do people still wear those hats?

[folk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't think of anywhere else it'd be except for China. My guess is that it's Mainland rather than one of the SARs though, mainly because the SARs are a lot more autonomous, particularly in social issues -- but it could be Macao, with Macao's link to Portugal and hence Catholicism.

Yeah, I remember that from A-level govt and pol. :D

Nope. Not unless they're trying to make themselves look like Maoists. There's an official ratio of what Mao got right -- 70% right, 30% wrong. The 30% includes the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, for example. I actually think that he did get quite a bit right, but I'd need to study China and Chinese history more to comment on whether I think the 70% figure is high or low.

Older folks do, however, wear Mao jackets, mainly because they're sensible and warm. It feels like a November evening tonight...can't wait for the -10 degrees in Jan-Feb!

[jlh.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was Shanghai? That is the other city that is randomly coming to mind so perhaps that is what they said, on the radio some days ago.

Sensible and warm is a good thing. -10ºF or -10ºC?

[folk.livejournal.com]

Could be. Shanghai is the biggest city in China (don't know whether that just counts mainland or the SARs too), after all.

-10C. -.- I keep repeating that "New York Gets This Cold Too. Sometimes."