Gotta make it quick, but this afternoon Danette was telling me, unprovoked as usual, that her "lover" as she called Donard bought three iguanas last week and they keep escaping their cage. Well the big one, whom he named "Big Moe" got loose and their dog scared it underneath the oven. Donard figured it would just come out from under there eventually. But on Sunday morning -- and this is the real reason I'm repeating this story -- when they went downstairs to do their "Sunday thing" which is what she calls her making coffee, him getting a beer and them reading the paper and watching the news, the iguana was found hanging on a wall inside the cupboard.
Ok there are two things that concern me here. One is that there was a lizard near their dishes. The other is that Donard begins his Sundays with a cold one. She mentioned it like its the most natural thing in the world. Very strange people.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Behind the Fake Wood Paneling
Woah! The comments section over at Mary's blog (www.maryboyd.blogspot.com) has been converted into a sumo wrestling mat. In response to Mary's post about leaving Catholicism over the choice of the new pope, anyone and everyone has been chiming in. It's amazing who was stuck there in behind the woodwork -- Chris Potts?!? Jeff (Mr. Chips) Philips seems to agree with Mary and is joining her in leaving the faith.
However, I choose not to participate. You know the old saying: Too many cooks.... I've already chimed in here on my own internet home and those that care for my two cents can come find them. Easier than getting lost in the mix and/or getting metaphorical black eyes from some of the posters.
I will say this though: I'm somewhere conveniently in the middle of The Spectrum of Mary's Blog. I agree with Stroka that we should give Benedict a chance before we consign him to being ineffectual, but I agree with Mary (and Jeff) that Catholicism is not purely a dictatorial relationship we must adhere to. The church IS fallible despite what it wrote about itself thousands of years ago. Further, it is the teaching of Jesus Christ that we are also fallible and we can be forgiven for our sins. The Church has made mistakes in the past, and paid for some and apologized for others. Priests were once allowed to marry, so why not again?
It seems to me that there are many problems in the Church and our goal should be fixing them and working toward a better faith continuously. I believe what I believe and I'm not going to leave, but do I wish the Church would evolve? Yes I do. As I like to yell in spurts of energy, "Evolve!!"
However, I choose not to participate. You know the old saying: Too many cooks.... I've already chimed in here on my own internet home and those that care for my two cents can come find them. Easier than getting lost in the mix and/or getting metaphorical black eyes from some of the posters.
I will say this though: I'm somewhere conveniently in the middle of The Spectrum of Mary's Blog. I agree with Stroka that we should give Benedict a chance before we consign him to being ineffectual, but I agree with Mary (and Jeff) that Catholicism is not purely a dictatorial relationship we must adhere to. The church IS fallible despite what it wrote about itself thousands of years ago. Further, it is the teaching of Jesus Christ that we are also fallible and we can be forgiven for our sins. The Church has made mistakes in the past, and paid for some and apologized for others. Priests were once allowed to marry, so why not again?
It seems to me that there are many problems in the Church and our goal should be fixing them and working toward a better faith continuously. I believe what I believe and I'm not going to leave, but do I wish the Church would evolve? Yes I do. As I like to yell in spurts of energy, "Evolve!!"
Political Roundup
Things are getting really sticky lately in Washington D.C. Tensions are running sky high and every day seems to bring a new character under the spotlight. But today, well, today is a doozy!
Let me enumerate the developments:
1. The "confidential informant" in the Hillary Clinton 2000 campaign financial scandal that goes to trial in early May in LA appears to be Teddy Kennedy's wife's brother, Ray Reggie. This case, while not naming Hill as a defendent, stems from an event in LA thrown by some shady people all with criminal pasts that drew the requisite Democrat celebrities. Allegedly, the Clinton campaign financial advisor underreported donations to the FEC so that the campaign could have more hard-money on hand. Which is highly illegal. And it appears that the daggers are pointed at Hill next because the conventional wisdom supports the idea that she would have known about this. So Kennedy's brother-in-law, a backer of both Clintons, who stayed in the Lincoln bedroom (who didn't?) and raised money for them, and lunched with them whenever they were in N'Orlins, went to the FBI three years ago with some "evidence" against the parties involved. The FBI asked him to tape record phone conversations that are said to be with very high-level and very famous politicians. I wonder what's on those tapes.
2. I assume you've all heard, at least read the headline, that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been embroiled in some ethics trouble lately. Well the charges, while not nothing, are hardly as sensational as the media is portraying them. The lobbyist ties that DeLay is accused of having and using are had by every single politician in Congress. And so now after weeks of the Democratic leadership railing against him and hurling nasty epithets his way, the Republicans are finally fighting back, demanding records for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's trips of the same sort. It was a very stupid thing for the Dems to play this as a Republican wrong in the first place, because they all know they're all guilty of the exact same "transgressions." It is the CURRENCY of Congress, like it or not, and until the culture of the legislative branch is changed, they will all continue to deal this way. I can't stand Pelosi anyway; she's a shrill woman whose frequent Botox injections have left her with a perpetual freakish face that only resembles fear, she is a weak leader and the Dems deserve someone who can at least know what s/he is talking about. What a mistake she was. Message to Pelosi: People in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones.
3. The Trial of Henry Cisneros. Here's an especially egregious abuse of power: Sens. Dorgan, Durbin and your friend and mine, Kerry, snuck an amendment onto the war supplemental that was passed yesterday 99-0. This amendment, predictably, had nothing to do with Iraq, Afghanistan, the military or anything war related. I understand this is policits and that you should use an opportunity when you can, but what the amendment did was cut off funding for the special prosecutor investigating former Clinton HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros' crime of providing false statements to the FBI during his background check during the nomination process for the Cabinet. The investigation has been going on for 10 years and has cost $21 million. And if that's all the information one had, the only logical explanation is to cut funding immediately, that that is the egregious thing in this scenario. It is important to note that A) the investigator's report is finished and only awaiting review, mandated by law, by those named in it and printing and all that stuff, which does cost money; B) the amendment, which was passed, cuts funding June 1 of this year and mandates a full and detailed accounting of the investigation and C) does not allow for the report to be made public. Still, this wouldn't necessarily be called egregious, I suppose. Here's the kicker: while it began as an investigation of Cisneros, it quickly became an investigation into vast corruption of the Clinton IRS. Leaks that have emanated from the investigation have hinted that this mega report is very damning to A) Bill Clinton and his legacy; B) Hillary Clinton and her political future -- she's supposedly named often and her ties to the IRS Commissioners, who happen to be her friends, appear to be a major cause for the corruption that incidentally helped the Clintons and their supporters; and C) Democrats in general. So what these three senators have done is to effectively castrate the final workings of a very important investigation that all signs point to widespread corruption by the IRS. We will never see the report, we will never see what really happened and we will never see what the end results were. Unless the Senate reverses course. Although there are two questions I have. 1) Why would John Kerry be a main player on this when one end result would be very damaging to his 2008 rival, Hillary Clinton? 2) Is this the final outcome? I assume that the Senate and House have to still reconcile all the amendments and reach a supplemental bill that both houses agree on and then both have to pass it again. Am I wrong? So is there still hope here?
Let me enumerate the developments:
1. The "confidential informant" in the Hillary Clinton 2000 campaign financial scandal that goes to trial in early May in LA appears to be Teddy Kennedy's wife's brother, Ray Reggie. This case, while not naming Hill as a defendent, stems from an event in LA thrown by some shady people all with criminal pasts that drew the requisite Democrat celebrities. Allegedly, the Clinton campaign financial advisor underreported donations to the FEC so that the campaign could have more hard-money on hand. Which is highly illegal. And it appears that the daggers are pointed at Hill next because the conventional wisdom supports the idea that she would have known about this. So Kennedy's brother-in-law, a backer of both Clintons, who stayed in the Lincoln bedroom (who didn't?) and raised money for them, and lunched with them whenever they were in N'Orlins, went to the FBI three years ago with some "evidence" against the parties involved. The FBI asked him to tape record phone conversations that are said to be with very high-level and very famous politicians. I wonder what's on those tapes.
2. I assume you've all heard, at least read the headline, that House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has been embroiled in some ethics trouble lately. Well the charges, while not nothing, are hardly as sensational as the media is portraying them. The lobbyist ties that DeLay is accused of having and using are had by every single politician in Congress. And so now after weeks of the Democratic leadership railing against him and hurling nasty epithets his way, the Republicans are finally fighting back, demanding records for Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's trips of the same sort. It was a very stupid thing for the Dems to play this as a Republican wrong in the first place, because they all know they're all guilty of the exact same "transgressions." It is the CURRENCY of Congress, like it or not, and until the culture of the legislative branch is changed, they will all continue to deal this way. I can't stand Pelosi anyway; she's a shrill woman whose frequent Botox injections have left her with a perpetual freakish face that only resembles fear, she is a weak leader and the Dems deserve someone who can at least know what s/he is talking about. What a mistake she was. Message to Pelosi: People in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones.
3. The Trial of Henry Cisneros. Here's an especially egregious abuse of power: Sens. Dorgan, Durbin and your friend and mine, Kerry, snuck an amendment onto the war supplemental that was passed yesterday 99-0. This amendment, predictably, had nothing to do with Iraq, Afghanistan, the military or anything war related. I understand this is policits and that you should use an opportunity when you can, but what the amendment did was cut off funding for the special prosecutor investigating former Clinton HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros' crime of providing false statements to the FBI during his background check during the nomination process for the Cabinet. The investigation has been going on for 10 years and has cost $21 million. And if that's all the information one had, the only logical explanation is to cut funding immediately, that that is the egregious thing in this scenario. It is important to note that A) the investigator's report is finished and only awaiting review, mandated by law, by those named in it and printing and all that stuff, which does cost money; B) the amendment, which was passed, cuts funding June 1 of this year and mandates a full and detailed accounting of the investigation and C) does not allow for the report to be made public. Still, this wouldn't necessarily be called egregious, I suppose. Here's the kicker: while it began as an investigation of Cisneros, it quickly became an investigation into vast corruption of the Clinton IRS. Leaks that have emanated from the investigation have hinted that this mega report is very damning to A) Bill Clinton and his legacy; B) Hillary Clinton and her political future -- she's supposedly named often and her ties to the IRS Commissioners, who happen to be her friends, appear to be a major cause for the corruption that incidentally helped the Clintons and their supporters; and C) Democrats in general. So what these three senators have done is to effectively castrate the final workings of a very important investigation that all signs point to widespread corruption by the IRS. We will never see the report, we will never see what really happened and we will never see what the end results were. Unless the Senate reverses course. Although there are two questions I have. 1) Why would John Kerry be a main player on this when one end result would be very damaging to his 2008 rival, Hillary Clinton? 2) Is this the final outcome? I assume that the Senate and House have to still reconcile all the amendments and reach a supplemental bill that both houses agree on and then both have to pass it again. Am I wrong? So is there still hope here?
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Enough Already!
Got to work this morning, sat down at my desk, went to go change my voicemail and Danette pops her head up, surprising me because I didn't expect her to be back so soon from her tubal ligation surgery. I said hello and how are you feeling and then she launched into a very detailed one-sided conversation about her procedure. The most memorable part was when she told me that for the procedure, they pumped her full of gas and she was miserable all weekend with cramps and gas and constipation. I really don't know about this gas pump procedure, and can't understand why it's necessary. But do I dare ask her? Nope.
I'll spare my readers (ha!) the slimy details of her surgery and post-op period. Period as in period of time, not a period period, you sickos. But far be it from me to assume she wouldn't tell me about that too. Although do you cease having periods when you're tubes are tied? Do you jumpstart the Pause? I'd actually rather not have those questions answered.
I'll spare my readers (ha!) the slimy details of her surgery and post-op period. Period as in period of time, not a period period, you sickos. But far be it from me to assume she wouldn't tell me about that too. Although do you cease having periods when you're tubes are tied? Do you jumpstart the Pause? I'd actually rather not have those questions answered.
Oh Good, Someone Brought the "Funny Guy"
The concert last night was excellent. Got there a little early, but it was good because we staked out a great spot. Matt had never been to the HOB before, so we walked around for a few minutes. Quickly very obnoxious people began filing in around us; these people were so ignorant of space and totally inconsiderate of other people. I've never seen anything like it, even at a concert. Just pushing people aside, not asking to get by, but pushing them aside. Kinda shocking. A girl that looked underage (it was an 18+ show) started smoking pot with a couple of her friends and five minutes later fainted. She dropped like a ton of bricks and one of the girls with her said, not loudly or softly, "go get help" to no one in particular. The girl came to after about 30 seconds and the girls left the floor.
Band of Horses was one of the best opening bands I've seen. The lead singer's voice was a little jarring at first but once you got used to it by the second song, it was all really great. And he kept talking about baseball in between every song. It was strange.
Eric Johnson of Fruitbats was good also, but he was without his band because he was on the tour to test the waters for their upcoming album. I guess he's from the area because he referenced "home" and said his mom was there.
Then, 45 minutes after Johnson left the stage, Sam Beam and the band finally began. They started at 10:45, which was more than three hours after we arrived. They put on a great set but listening to Beam's hypnotic lullabyes during the witching hour after a long day makes it very difficult to stay awake. The last song of the night, one Matt and I both swear we've heard before but don't know where, was downright brilliant. Best song he has, and one of my favorite songs ever played at a concert. It was incredible; I didn't want the song to end. Wish I knew the name of it or possessed it. I have to hear it rightnow.
There was some jackass a few rows behind us that kept yelling out stupid shit during the lulls. Things like "POOPY PANTS!" and "Don't you hate wearing pants?" He seemed to have a pants fixation.
Go see him if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed.
Band of Horses was one of the best opening bands I've seen. The lead singer's voice was a little jarring at first but once you got used to it by the second song, it was all really great. And he kept talking about baseball in between every song. It was strange.
Eric Johnson of Fruitbats was good also, but he was without his band because he was on the tour to test the waters for their upcoming album. I guess he's from the area because he referenced "home" and said his mom was there.
Then, 45 minutes after Johnson left the stage, Sam Beam and the band finally began. They started at 10:45, which was more than three hours after we arrived. They put on a great set but listening to Beam's hypnotic lullabyes during the witching hour after a long day makes it very difficult to stay awake. The last song of the night, one Matt and I both swear we've heard before but don't know where, was downright brilliant. Best song he has, and one of my favorite songs ever played at a concert. It was incredible; I didn't want the song to end. Wish I knew the name of it or possessed it. I have to hear it rightnow.
There was some jackass a few rows behind us that kept yelling out stupid shit during the lulls. Things like "POOPY PANTS!" and "Don't you hate wearing pants?" He seemed to have a pants fixation.
Go see him if you get the chance. You won't be disappointed.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Pathetic
Man alive, there is so much to catch up on, and so much I meant to blog about but have forgotten. Damnit.
Monday was Michelle's 17th birthday -- she's getting old -- and we went to Redstone for dinner. It was really good, though it couldn't possibly live up to its smell. Like eating inside a bonfire. Quite possibly, heaven on earth. Not my favorite restaurant, but I would definitely go back. I got her "Amelie" on DVD, though all she really wanted was a left-handed guitar. She'll just have to settle for French comedy.
Opened the season with two 8-mile rollerblade trail "runs." Felt great, and the weather is perfect. I forgot just how much I love Spring. Forget Summer Jeff, Spring Jeff is the best of us all. I just am in a better mood all the time when the weather is warmer. Maybe I'll have to start heading south after Christmas. If only I could be retired in my twenties!
I'm all turned around in space and time (still) and so I don't know if I'm repeating myself, but I finalized my Sydney trip. I could not be more excited about getting there. I would rather not be on a plane for 20 hours, but you do what you have to. I am normally ok during the flight -- except for turbulance -- its just I hate taking off and landing. Ok taking off is really all I hate. Landing at least I know that we touched ground and all is well. I just hate the angled ascent. I feel like its one mph away from peeling my face off. Since I don't understand how planes fly and we don't just fall from the sky, I wonder sometimes if we board this big bird and they simulate taking off and landing and there are union workers outside on a tarmac or in a hangar holding up well-made posters that look like clouds while their co-workers work feverishly to erect elaborate set pieces resembling what the passenger will intake as a different place. I wonder if it's all some big joke on me, like I'm in my own Truman Show. Either way, fake or not, I am really ready for a vacation, so much that I can taste it. Though I burned my tongue the other night on some hot and cold cookie ice cream sundae, and all I can taste right now is Souix Falls. I'm hoping that with each passing day I will taste further and further West. Like maybe tomorrow, Reno.
I've been reading Sydney street guides on the way to and from work for a couple weeks, slowly reading about what there is and listing what I want to see. Since I'll be on my own for most of each day, I have the benefit of not waiting for anyone and can come and go as I please. But I also have the detriment of being alone. Oh well, it'll still be exactly what I need and have been falling asleep to.
So I was really sick last week, last Sunday to Monday. Sunday night I panicked and realized I hadn't done my taxes. I stupidly thought they were due by Wednesday (see, no sense of space or time... what's wrong with me lately?!?) and forced myself to get them done. Started feeling REALLY shitty about halfway through (insert tax = sickness joke here) and reached the point where I was just clicking things to get them over with. I had inexplicable problems with the printer and didn't want to spend the time fixing them, so I elected to e-file. I didn't know you had to pay to do that. I also didn't know that it cost $15.95 to e-file your federal and state returns, each. That's bullshit. I think the cost is relative to the program you use and let the word go out from this time and place... do NOT use TurboTax. $32 to file your taxes!!!!??? Que horible! I could have just gone to the post office when I felt better and paid 74 cents to mail them. What a jackass am I! My state refund was $20 minus the $16 to file, and I'm left with $4! Got a slightly better federal refund, only because I have the benefit of my job for only five months in 2004 when it looks like I had it for the whole year. But 2005 is not going to be as kind to me come next April! God I hate taxes. Juneokmike.
I read about the new Pope this morning on the train ride in. I want to feel comfortable that the cardinals made a wise decision, but there are so many elements against that. Pope Benedict XVI was a part of the Hitler Youth. He worked on an anti-aircraft post for the Germans, too. I want to be ok with the idea that everyone can change, and his "official" biography states that he was "forced" into those things. But forced or not, he was a part of it. During very informative years. That could be a bad thing as much as it could be a good thing. Now, I don't think he's going to usher in Nazism or anything, but it is unclear what he will bring to the future of the Church and all we have are indicators from his past. He seems like a nice and warm man (for an old German!) and the people that know him keep telling news organizations how shy but approachable he is. His public statements are a mixed bag on the issue that I think is the most important currently, which is the sexual abuse epidemic among priests. He acknowledges it, which frankly is more than what Pope John Paul II did, and his position as a hard-liner of tradition might be an asset dealing with this issue. It seems like the Vatican has taken the position that this is a uniquely American problem, but such a narrow scope on the issue is damning. Of course it is not simply defined by arbitrary geographical borders. So I am optimistic that under Benedict a different and better course will be taken. That being said, it is my position that it is shortsighted to simply invoke stricter punishments or more stringent rules, or a three-strikes policy or whatever they might impose to curb the sexual abuse. That is welcome and necessary. But the other shoe to drop should be allowing priests to marry and ordaining women priests. This seems to me the best way to get at the root of the problem and to best protect parishoners and alter boys and every child in the Church. I am optimistic that something will be done more than it already has, but pessimistic that they won't go far enough. I was hoping for a progressive pope, and even though we didn't get one, still expect some changes.
They say that popes have a way of surprising everyone. The last "place-holder" pope, elected in the late '50's, who was roughly as old as Benedict and seen as a short-termer, shocked everyone by imposing Vatican II. So it is entirely possible that big things could come from this new pope. After all, serving after John Paul II, a flawed man but nonetheless a giant during what some call The American Century, is a fool's errand and a quiet doormouse can only be consigned to a forgetful history. Big actions are the only things that might secure this pope a spot in people's memories and a page in the history books. Not that that is why he should do anything he does, but if you want to be effective, you must be an individual. You lose credibility when you parrot someone else, even someone whose actions are worthy of being parrotted.
I read Mary's blog about leaving the Catholic Church over the election of Benedict to the papacy. I'm not surprised, because she's been talking for years about trying out different churches and finding what to her fits the best. I'm just surprised it was this event that broke the camel's back and not, say, certain positions the Church has or the sex abuse scandal. Either way, I am glad that her goal is to find what is best for her because it is such an individual choice and am certain that wherever she lands and whatever dwelling she attends on Sundays, she will feel welcomed and content. That is my wish for her. I'm not of the orthodoxy that non-Catholics are excluded from Heaven and I know that no matter what any of us do in this world, there is a next world where we all can congregate again no matter which Church we subscribed to. Even the Jews.
I'm going to see Iron & Wine tonight at the House of Blues. I'm really excited for it; should be a great show. I expect him to be like on the CD but better acoustically. I don't have his new album, "Woman King," but heard it when I was in Iowa City. I think its six songs and is similar to his other work. Solid. I think the new Rob Thomas CD came out yesterday, but I haven't seen too much on it. The few respectable reviews I've seen were very positive, so I'll have to go check it out tomorrow. Maybe I'll burn a copy for Mr. Chips (he talks about Matchbox 20 like they are evil incarnate and I constantly laugh him off, that fool). I'm glad that "Lost" is a rerun tonight, because I wouldn't be able to see it until tomorrow and I struggle with being on such a delay of "live" events, but I wish there was a new one soon, since its been getting really fucking great lately. It'll be great to come home from Sydney and after I sleep for three days, have two DVRs filled with all the season finales that aired in my absence. Especially the three-part "Lost" and the end of "24." Damn I love TV.
Time to pretend to work.
Monday was Michelle's 17th birthday -- she's getting old -- and we went to Redstone for dinner. It was really good, though it couldn't possibly live up to its smell. Like eating inside a bonfire. Quite possibly, heaven on earth. Not my favorite restaurant, but I would definitely go back. I got her "Amelie" on DVD, though all she really wanted was a left-handed guitar. She'll just have to settle for French comedy.
Opened the season with two 8-mile rollerblade trail "runs." Felt great, and the weather is perfect. I forgot just how much I love Spring. Forget Summer Jeff, Spring Jeff is the best of us all. I just am in a better mood all the time when the weather is warmer. Maybe I'll have to start heading south after Christmas. If only I could be retired in my twenties!
I'm all turned around in space and time (still) and so I don't know if I'm repeating myself, but I finalized my Sydney trip. I could not be more excited about getting there. I would rather not be on a plane for 20 hours, but you do what you have to. I am normally ok during the flight -- except for turbulance -- its just I hate taking off and landing. Ok taking off is really all I hate. Landing at least I know that we touched ground and all is well. I just hate the angled ascent. I feel like its one mph away from peeling my face off. Since I don't understand how planes fly and we don't just fall from the sky, I wonder sometimes if we board this big bird and they simulate taking off and landing and there are union workers outside on a tarmac or in a hangar holding up well-made posters that look like clouds while their co-workers work feverishly to erect elaborate set pieces resembling what the passenger will intake as a different place. I wonder if it's all some big joke on me, like I'm in my own Truman Show. Either way, fake or not, I am really ready for a vacation, so much that I can taste it. Though I burned my tongue the other night on some hot and cold cookie ice cream sundae, and all I can taste right now is Souix Falls. I'm hoping that with each passing day I will taste further and further West. Like maybe tomorrow, Reno.
I've been reading Sydney street guides on the way to and from work for a couple weeks, slowly reading about what there is and listing what I want to see. Since I'll be on my own for most of each day, I have the benefit of not waiting for anyone and can come and go as I please. But I also have the detriment of being alone. Oh well, it'll still be exactly what I need and have been falling asleep to.
So I was really sick last week, last Sunday to Monday. Sunday night I panicked and realized I hadn't done my taxes. I stupidly thought they were due by Wednesday (see, no sense of space or time... what's wrong with me lately?!?) and forced myself to get them done. Started feeling REALLY shitty about halfway through (insert tax = sickness joke here) and reached the point where I was just clicking things to get them over with. I had inexplicable problems with the printer and didn't want to spend the time fixing them, so I elected to e-file. I didn't know you had to pay to do that. I also didn't know that it cost $15.95 to e-file your federal and state returns, each. That's bullshit. I think the cost is relative to the program you use and let the word go out from this time and place... do NOT use TurboTax. $32 to file your taxes!!!!??? Que horible! I could have just gone to the post office when I felt better and paid 74 cents to mail them. What a jackass am I! My state refund was $20 minus the $16 to file, and I'm left with $4! Got a slightly better federal refund, only because I have the benefit of my job for only five months in 2004 when it looks like I had it for the whole year. But 2005 is not going to be as kind to me come next April! God I hate taxes. Juneokmike.
I read about the new Pope this morning on the train ride in. I want to feel comfortable that the cardinals made a wise decision, but there are so many elements against that. Pope Benedict XVI was a part of the Hitler Youth. He worked on an anti-aircraft post for the Germans, too. I want to be ok with the idea that everyone can change, and his "official" biography states that he was "forced" into those things. But forced or not, he was a part of it. During very informative years. That could be a bad thing as much as it could be a good thing. Now, I don't think he's going to usher in Nazism or anything, but it is unclear what he will bring to the future of the Church and all we have are indicators from his past. He seems like a nice and warm man (for an old German!) and the people that know him keep telling news organizations how shy but approachable he is. His public statements are a mixed bag on the issue that I think is the most important currently, which is the sexual abuse epidemic among priests. He acknowledges it, which frankly is more than what Pope John Paul II did, and his position as a hard-liner of tradition might be an asset dealing with this issue. It seems like the Vatican has taken the position that this is a uniquely American problem, but such a narrow scope on the issue is damning. Of course it is not simply defined by arbitrary geographical borders. So I am optimistic that under Benedict a different and better course will be taken. That being said, it is my position that it is shortsighted to simply invoke stricter punishments or more stringent rules, or a three-strikes policy or whatever they might impose to curb the sexual abuse. That is welcome and necessary. But the other shoe to drop should be allowing priests to marry and ordaining women priests. This seems to me the best way to get at the root of the problem and to best protect parishoners and alter boys and every child in the Church. I am optimistic that something will be done more than it already has, but pessimistic that they won't go far enough. I was hoping for a progressive pope, and even though we didn't get one, still expect some changes.
They say that popes have a way of surprising everyone. The last "place-holder" pope, elected in the late '50's, who was roughly as old as Benedict and seen as a short-termer, shocked everyone by imposing Vatican II. So it is entirely possible that big things could come from this new pope. After all, serving after John Paul II, a flawed man but nonetheless a giant during what some call The American Century, is a fool's errand and a quiet doormouse can only be consigned to a forgetful history. Big actions are the only things that might secure this pope a spot in people's memories and a page in the history books. Not that that is why he should do anything he does, but if you want to be effective, you must be an individual. You lose credibility when you parrot someone else, even someone whose actions are worthy of being parrotted.
I read Mary's blog about leaving the Catholic Church over the election of Benedict to the papacy. I'm not surprised, because she's been talking for years about trying out different churches and finding what to her fits the best. I'm just surprised it was this event that broke the camel's back and not, say, certain positions the Church has or the sex abuse scandal. Either way, I am glad that her goal is to find what is best for her because it is such an individual choice and am certain that wherever she lands and whatever dwelling she attends on Sundays, she will feel welcomed and content. That is my wish for her. I'm not of the orthodoxy that non-Catholics are excluded from Heaven and I know that no matter what any of us do in this world, there is a next world where we all can congregate again no matter which Church we subscribed to. Even the Jews.
I'm going to see Iron & Wine tonight at the House of Blues. I'm really excited for it; should be a great show. I expect him to be like on the CD but better acoustically. I don't have his new album, "Woman King," but heard it when I was in Iowa City. I think its six songs and is similar to his other work. Solid. I think the new Rob Thomas CD came out yesterday, but I haven't seen too much on it. The few respectable reviews I've seen were very positive, so I'll have to go check it out tomorrow. Maybe I'll burn a copy for Mr. Chips (he talks about Matchbox 20 like they are evil incarnate and I constantly laugh him off, that fool). I'm glad that "Lost" is a rerun tonight, because I wouldn't be able to see it until tomorrow and I struggle with being on such a delay of "live" events, but I wish there was a new one soon, since its been getting really fucking great lately. It'll be great to come home from Sydney and after I sleep for three days, have two DVRs filled with all the season finales that aired in my absence. Especially the three-part "Lost" and the end of "24." Damn I love TV.
Time to pretend to work.
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