Chugging Along

I'm just sitting here, watching the pre-Oscar festivities. Den is flipping between Catwoman and the pre-Oscars.

I actually enjoyed Catwoman. Few people who aren't classic comics geeks know that there were actually 2 Catwomen - one in the Batman series, and one (like the Halle Berry character) who was a thief and general semi-bad girl. The movie gets the conflict right.

I'm watching the promos for Immortalized - the Taxidermy Competition. I truly can't believe that these freak shows get the audience they do.

I should get busy grading - I have a lot of stuff to catch up on.

I've worked hard today, even without getting to the schoolwork. I finished the coursework for the Oceanography class this week (couldn't have done it without my husband), worked in the yard, helped prepare dinner, and caught up on preparation for my next week's lessons.

The Pope Resigns!

This was a shocker!

At first, when another teacher said that Pope Benedict would resign at the end of the month, I thought it was an Onion spoof.

But, I checked - it's really happening. Go to the Vatican site , and see for yourself.

I'm flabbergasted. I never expected this.

But, I'm going to think of it as an opportunity. It's a chance for a new breeze to blow through the Church walls.

Several things occurred to me:

1. Compared to the Cardinals from the JPII era, the Cardinals have been through intensive scrutiny re: the Child Abuse Scandals. Those that stayed, have been vetted.


2. The Church has retired many of the most egregious "Vatican-Lite" personnel. Those that remain are, generally, committed to upholding Church teachings, even against opposition.


3. The retirement will bring in new blood at a time when the Church needs to stand firm, opposing the US Government's intrusion into the policies of its hospitals and other charitable organizations. It's going to be a battle, I suspect straight to the US Supreme Court. (After that, if the answer is not favorable, it may have to go to the Ultimate Supreme Court of God). Both Clergy and Laymen will be tested, and will have to show their backbone.


4. This may set a GOOD precedent. In a time when the clergy of a parish have to retire at a certain age. it's probably a good idea to have SOME sense that the head of the Church might want to pack it in at some time. It's a good argument for basing PART of the vote on the candidate's age. That being said, I'd rather have SOME older people than younger - it truly depends on the individual.


5. Perhaps some orders of priests and nuns might want to consider this precedent, as well. Leadership in the modern age demands a lot of the leaders - both physically and mentally. There are a few of them that might want to re-think their roles in light of this announcement.

I'm choosing to look at this as a GOOD thing.

Life After the Election

It's over 1 week into the last term of Obama (if you don't believe that it's possible that he may try a power grab near the end of his term). Many people looked at their paychecks, and said "What!" It's difficult to believe that they, somehow, thought that the tax increases would just pass them by. I have to bite my tongue to keep from saying "I TOLD you so" in a smarmy voice.

It's just the beginning - we'll be facing WAY more in Ooops, Surprise! from the administration. To give the public everything they asked for without raising taxes is simply not possible.

The part of this all that I am beginning to truly fear is this summer. I live in a city, as does most of my family. If sequestration does take effect, expect the "poor" (I put it in quotes to distinguish them from the truly impoverished - most of the former are making more, if you count their access to EBT, heat subsidies, rent subsidies, and all the rest, than the people to work to provide them with the benefits) to express their displeasure in LOUD, DESTRUCTIVE, and FRIGHTENING WAYS.