Over the many years I have been visiting Catholic churches I have wondered why anyone would put their hand in the germ basin which is the holly water hole.  So glad to see the Italians are leaping forward into this century with personal holy water dispensers.  See the Swine Flu is good for something.  American Catholic churches  how much longer before you are on board the germ free train?

Holy water dispensers to combat swine flu – Boing Boing.

Its seems some wacky scientist believes he has found the god gene. Yes, he claims that believing in the G OD is genetic. The gene makes people more susceptible to a belief in a higher being.

This is explains so much. I can already tell you what will come of this, if indeed it is true. I think it would go something like this; Hi my name is Jack, can you turn off my god thought, Thanks!

God in your head

Turns out Jesus, my buddy, may have asked Judas to turn him in to the Romans. A new text found in Egypt alludes to this fact. This is nothing new, Mark and John talk about such a case in both gospels. What I always find amusing is most of this stuff was written hundreds of years after Jesus’ death.

Can you imagine what stories, if any, they will be telling about me in 300 years? How factual do you think they will be?

Jim WALKS ON WATER!

Keeping with my original commitment, I am not celebrating Christmas this year. Amazingly enough it is surprisingly refreshing. Not that I was too big on the whole Christ born thing anyhow, more of the commercial Santa side of things. Not having to decorate the house or buy gifts, best of all not put the lights up is a big plus. I defiantly don’t miss that part of the Holiday season.

I will admit, I do like the music, I was thinking in the shower this morning why that is? I decided it has to be because I know all the words? Or maybe it’s because it reminds me of Christmas past and reminds me of when I was a kid. Who doesn’t want to be reminded of that, well I guess there are those of you who were beaten or something worse?

So Happy Hanukkah and what not! Have a great Holiday season! In 2006 maybe we will think about doing X-mas again, but who knows?

Christmas
Hanukkah

Check it, bitches!
Catholic Insider (this is good worth a listen!)

Check out this clip, provided by our overseas correspondent.

CNN Robertson

Wait, he is the Pope, gods man on earth. Why would god let a Nazi be Pope?

Benny in German

PS
Am I the only one who thinks this Pope is a little scary?

Israel will pull out of Gaza starting Monday and out of the West Bank as well by September 4th. The Palestinians celebrate this Israeli pull back and abandonment of settlements claiming victory. All the while both the PLO and Hamas and whoever else can fire a gun or throw a rock, is vying for the power in these areas. It is still unclear to the media what will become of these new Palestinian controlled areas. Thankfully for you I think I might have some insight. Or maybe just some Jim bullshit?

I am going to let you in on a little secret. Come closer to the screen so you can hear me. This pullout is crap and it will not last! If you think Israel is going to let this disorganized bunch of idiots hang around and blow shit up, you are eating retard sandwiches again. I think this is nothing more than Israel showing the world how much they want to have peace, and how the Palestinians just want their country back. It is perfect, yes? Think about it? Hand over part of your country to a bunch of feuding Palestinian factions. Let them rip each other to hell. Then the Israelis can come back in, to “secure their country”, and take more land!

I am optimistic that Hamas will be able to restore peace, or some semblance of peace. Lets face it the PLO can’t tie their own shoes with out paying someone off to help them and then killing three or four of their own kind, after words by accident.

Like everyone else on this planet, except for those brown people, I want peace. I just wish there were an easier way than killing everyone you see and then dividing up the remaining land. How much longer can this whole “Middle East thing” go on you ask? Well it has been going on for about 6000 years so far, I am sure it’s almost over.

The middle East (run we are on fire!)

Well it looks as though I have been passed over again for yet another job. This is one I really wanted. I was so excited at the chance at leading millions of my catholic brethren to a new era. I guess when it comes down to picking a nice Jewish boy like me or a crazy German, well?

Predictions:

No Women
No Abortions
No Condoms
No Fun
No Vatican III (Bring the Pain for Change) that would be my name for it.
No Marriage
More little boys go home crying.

Who knows though maybe this ex-anti aircraft gunner can make the church better and more exciting? Bring the change that no one says he will. Should be an exciting time for you crazy Catholics!

NYTimes
BBCNews

I just wanted to lend my two cents about the passing of the Pope. I was told I need to be reverent if I was even hoping on a shot at getting into heaven.

I saw PJP II in Phoenix, AZ in the late 80’s; this was when I was still participating in religion on a weekly basis. I would like to say, I was wowed by the whole ordeal. To tell you the truth the only thing I remember is being hot and unable to see all but a miniature size Pope from a far. I am not saying it did not have some kind of long lasting effect on me; just maybe I am not aware of it right at this moment. I will tell you; I have said many times to people, “hey, have you seen the Pope?” Their response, “No”. With a big smile and some gravitas “well, I have”.

When a Pope dies the College of Cardinals assemble to elect a new Pope. There is a whole method to their madness. This method has been in place since the start of Christianity and can take quite a bit of time. Mostly just bickering as the Italians let the college know they will not be embarrassed like last time. They will have their way Pope’s should only be Italian!

Now for you other Christians out there, if you can really be called Christians, especially you Evangelicals, the Catholics are Christians. Catholics were the first Christians. I know it hard to believe that Peter, one of Christ’s Apostles, was the first Pope but it’s true. Without the Apostles spreading the word and setting up the Catholic Church we would all be Jews. I guess if you really think about it we might all still be Jews? It might be hard to believe but Catholics = Christians is still a mystery to many people and this is a mystery to me? But then so is a person who can’t get that James and Jim can be the same person. It is sort of holy trinity thing, but I digress.

The Pope that’s what we were talking about. Yes, so the Cardinals sit down and over the course of a couple of weeks these guys, yes no women, try to elect a new Pope. I am not saying there is anything wrong with the way in which this is done. I am all for tradition, I am the king of keeping things the way they are right now. Who better to pick a new Pope than the people that are already working for the church? But I think it might be fun if you open it up a bit. You know maybe have some kind of Catholic world vote. I mean the Catholics are always complaining about not have the numbers like the Mormon’s or Islam. I think this is there chance to show the world how great it is to be Catholic. You get to pick the guy who talks to god.

Think about it, there are roughly one billion Catholics. I know that is a pretty good number for such an old school religion. There is a sucker born every second. Realistically, if the rest of these Christians would wake up they would realize that they are Catholic too. But I think that is another blog for another time?

Just think one billion votes cast and counted. You and I could finally run for Pope. Would it not be fantastic, the whole world, ok just Catholics at first, would come together to cast their vote for their leader. Granted there might be some problems like, voter fraud, how to count that many ballots in a life time and well there would be 999,999,998 candidates. I think there is at least one or maybe two people that would not want to be gods emissary on earth. I am not sure who that would be, wait Chris, I bet he would pass. I mean come on you have seen his… wait. I am going to get in more trouble than I want too?

First there would need to be some ground rules. Like who can run, age, color, gender, catholic that sort of thing. Once that is in place, three thousand years later, all you would have to do is submit your Christian name and your papal name in writing and you would be on your way. My papal name would be Pope Pious Malcolm James I.

Sure at first during the 2 year long primary period it would be kind of crazy trying to find a candidate in such a big field. But at least during that time, I wouldn’t have to hear what little boy Michael Jackson was trying to stick with his little prick?

So, maybe I don’t have all the details worked out yet. Maybe it would not be as much fun as I think it would be? And maybe just maybe, instead of a more moderate or liberal Pope we would end up with someone like Mel Gibson. Ending up with Mel, or some other hardass instead of pressing forward into the 21 century, would deal a sever blow to the Catholic faith. There would be no marriage; no women, no gays, no sex, no Vatic II and everyone would be speaking Latin. That’s not mentioning the mass exodus to the strip mall church for some good old shucking and jiving!

The Pope

Over the last couple of weeks the news has really been inundated with Schiavo’s struggle to die. I have heard both sides from the family and the husband. I have seen the media spin this in so many directions, I think many times last week even they didn’t know what the fuck was going on. I have in my life seen some pretty messed up shit, but what the media and the courts have done to this woman not to mention her family is fucked up.

Let me state right now, if I am a vegetable who can smile and move my eyes, PULL THE PLUG. Game over right, that’s not living. To make it even worse you are going to fight with my no good husband to keep me alive for what I see as selfish reasons. Then put my picture in that state, on national TV. What a nightmare! That poor woman, if there is a heaven she is there, because someone who had to endure such great agony deserves something better.

This is a shinning example of why politics, where it is involved in everything we do, should keep the hell out of this type of situation. White men with power and bad hair should not be allowed to mingle in the affairs of families. When politicians or men with great power see the chance to not only forward there own political future but to elevate other political agendas, evil ensues. They used this woman and her family’s misfortune to build a case for Republican re-election, abortion, the right to die, Jesus and the Presidency of the United States. I am not going to deny the fact the family used the media in the same fashion, to help promote their case. But I would like to think it was out of love and not for power?

Don’t get me wrong, or do see if I give a shit, I feel for the family. I think it would be hard for me to pull the plug on my child. But I would like to think, that I would do the right thing for him/her. To be in that state the whole of your life with no way out. Is that anyway to live?

To my friends the Republicans and the Right to Life crowd, I hope you all end up in some vegetative state trapped in your own minds. Lying there going crazy, blinking your eyes and moving your mouth. As you are trying to tell us to kill you, to end your misery so you don’t have to live like this anymore. I will come and visit you and fight for your right to have the tub removed, because unlike you, I am human and I have respect for all humans not just White Christens.

Schiavo
The Pope

Pope Nytimes

Read this article in the Times and maybe you will see what I think I see. Yes, dead people, a lot of them all over the country. But that’s not it. No, look, I have been saying it since the start of this mess. Iraq is just the stepping stone to total control of the region. We have the troops and the resources in place. All we have to do now is prove to the American people these countries are dangerous. I am not talking about just evil or some kind of terrirost threat. You are going to have convince this post Weapons of Mass destruction America it can’t go on unless it rids the world of these non-Christian heathens. It won’t be as easy as last time; we have become a smarter country?

Wait its going to be really easy. We love killing others in the world and doing it with a clean slate. I love this God fearing nation.

Iran helping insurgents!

I am sure we will get to the bottom of this whole secrets debacle. These kinds of incidents are happening all the time. I am also sure it will cost us an arm and a leg. What I really want to know is what secrets have we not already given them.

Let us look at the short list. We have given them the BOMB and a good portion of our military equipment. We share intelligence with them on a regular basis as they are our stepping stone and foot hold in the Middle East. This along with the billions of dollars we give this country every year in aid. I think this is quite a lot. Do they really need to know more about what we are up to?

Now I know, in this age of information, it is always good to know what everyone is doing. Especially if we suddenly decided to sluff off our closest ally and back, I don’t know, Iran?

I guess the old adage rings true. Keep your enemies close and your friends closer. In the end I guess we spy and steal things from them all the time too. The kicker is, we probably provide the initial training to them way back in the late forties.

Department of here you go Israel

There are two big stories leading the news today, I don’t see the Olympics as one of those stories. I mean, come on is a guy or gal breaks some time record going to change my life? Better yet, will I think of this record breaking moment ever again? No I doubt I will, well at least not until the next Olympics. I am going to hold off on the Olympics bashing for its own blog.

Yes, the first big story is the hand over of some masque in the “holy city” of Najaf in Iraq. Now I know as an American I should give a shit about this particular hand over and the end of violence. I do care about the end of violence in this region but my optimism for the true end is a little waning. I like most Americans are ready to get out and be done with this debacle. I am going to sing a little song about it, here goes.

This land is their land, from the tigress river to the southern oil fields, from ousted dictator, to the puppet government from the hostile factions to the debunked army, to the mass corruption to the poor planning cause this land was made for them not me.

I know we are not leaving and we will have to endure even more causalities as this “transition” to a free Iraq continues. I guess I am just tired of hearing about the mess that is Iraq. Maybe I am just tired of reading about the death and destruction of a whole country. When I read about all the things, billions of dollars gone missing, oil prices on the rise, innocent civilians dying, American military coming home in body bags. This situation ways heavy on my mind as I am sure it does for the rest of the country. It is not just about the people, it is about the state of affairs in the country. I am still hopeful that all will work out in the favor of these proud people. I hope we can make it to the real election and the out come will help bring peace and stability. Come on you can have hope with me.

The other big story, I know there are many, oil prices. Yes as an American who is use to paying 19 cents for gasoline. This jump in crude oil prices has got me itching in my pockets. All I keep think is, wait we have gone to war against another nation for better oil prices. What the hell happened? I know that was not the “real” reason? But a warning I put out months ago to my friends in the white house still stands. If you cannot get this oil thing under control, it will become a campaign issue. I know that none of us want that to happen. Plus I would really like to drive my 34 foot SUV to Mexico this year. I hope they work it out before November.

I know I have said to many a person, can’t we all just take the month of August off from our lives and be happy. I think this month should be designated, you can’t kill anyone or do wrong month. I have other ideas for this month too. No clothes month, pay me not to work month, lie on the beach month. I am sure you all can think of a few.

Today is already the 20th of the month. If you have not got your summer grove on yet, do so now! Stop reading these blog’s for a day, turn off the TV and get your ass outside. There will be plenty of time to worry about Iraq, Nuclear Weapons, mass killings, food shortages and so on, later. For now, be happy; run around in the summer air and think of me on the beach with your girlfriend.

Happy Friday all!!

OIL $650 a barrel
Get Away!

These Unions will not stand!! I heard the god talking to me, or maybe that was nothing more than the wind. Either way I know in my Christian heart these damn gays should not be entering the blessed union of marriage.

As if this were any great surprise, the California Supreme Court made all the gays very unhappy yesterday. It reversed all the legal marriages declaring them void. Well at least until the appeal process. So once again, people are starving and being killed and we are worried about marriage. I think sometimes this country’s head is firmly placed in its own ass.

Gays/Marriage–NO

Neo: New; recent: Neolithic; new and different; new world.
Conservative: One favoring traditional views and values; a supporter of political conservatism.

We have all heard the press go on and on about the neo-conservatives (neocon) in this country. It is one of the buzz words we as Americans love to use when it comes to politics. Matter of fact we just love to label people, makes it easier to put them in a box. You know the labels rich, poor, old, young, punk, liberal, conservative, dickhead, square, motor head, geek, pompous fuck, loser, know it all, miss-speller and so on. Neocon is just a better way of saying war monger. That might be a little over the top for the term. It might be easier to say, the White House, but then again they would probably take it as a compliment.

You are asking yourself right about now, “what the hell is he talking about?” Don’t worry I am going somewhere with this, you have to keep reading.

So all these neocons in top positions of government, some say, are the reason we are all mixed up in Iraq. They wanted a war that would bring more oil and a better footing in the Middle East. Some of the more liberal among us have suggested there might be a money trail. As in the men running the show were going to make a pile of dollars? But that seems on the fringe, I mean come on a war to make money? Oh, almost forgot, “they tried to kill me daddy”, he had a say in this also. So given the team, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfield, Wolfowitz and the bunch, this is what they have given us in the last four years.

This conservative way of thinking has brought this country the biggest debt in history. Deficit spending has made a return. Finally, for the first time in our nation’s history we attacked another country without reason. I know what you are thinking, and there were no WMD. The connection between al Qaida and Iraq was non-existent. This is just the short list. Where does this leave us you ask? Iran, yes I said Iran. If you put your ear to the ground you will hear this sound coming from neocons, (whispering) we must bomb Iran!

My grandmother said it best, if you fail, pickup, try again and this time don’t fuck up. Maybe my grandmother said it without the profanity. I think what she was trying to say was this, if you make a mistake like invading Iraq; don’t try to make it better by invading another country. I am not sure what is traditional, conservative or Christian about bombing and invading another country? I am really not sure how anyone can think by doing this it will help get ride of the demons of the past. But given my most resent read and what has been flowing out of Washington. This seems to be the new thought? I am not sure how it works but the next time I am with some neocons at church or in a bar, I will ask.

This way of thinking has our little country in some hot water. We have done nothing but piss off the rest of the globe. I know the neocons among you would say, who gives a shit, we don’t need the world. I am sure they would end the statement with, I hate the UN! I know the UN is not perfect, but why is it necessary for ever conservative I know to hate the UN? I think I will save that for another blog. The fact of the matter is this; you can hate the UN and tell the world to piss off. But I want you to think about something the next time you are in a Wal-Mart or buying clothes at Nordstrom’s. Our economy is integrated into the world market. Everything you own or are thinking of owning has in someway come from somewhere else on the globe. The notion that we can simply bully the world into our way of life is folly. If this neocon way of foreign relations continues, bombing and invading every country on the planet, we will be all alone. Worse yet these policies are forcing us into a real war with high casualties. Maybe even nuclear?

In the end you have only one choice. If you want to continue fighting wars for, I don’t know WORLD DOMINATION, then stick with Bush and his neocon buddies. I think you can see the writing on the wall and it is written in the blood of American service men and women. I just hope come Election Day we put these boys and girls back in the black box they came in and shot them into the sun.

21 Reasons
Iran Factbook

The piece below is about how Congress is passing a loophole law to help out church’s and their quest to become political movers and shakers. I guess this has always been the case, you cant have one with out the other. I just don’t think we should mix them to the point where they might become to powerful and integrated with the system. I think this is what the founding fathers were up to, but I will have to check on that fact….

Who should I vote for, call the Church

My parents, those kind souls, are still bashing it out in the Catholic realm of boredom. They still go to church each week but I suspect that is the same reason everyone else goes. It’s for the free wine and bread they hand out. No, they go because it is a great social setting where they meet like minded people. Well all accept they are a rare bread of Catholics that somehow forgot they were once Democrats and are now REPUBLICANS!! My mom voted fat Nixon and all three of my family members voted for BUSH in the last election.

Anyway, Sheridan is the Bishops name and making a fool out of himself is his game. The big deal for Catholics is that this Bishop and others throughout the country have said if you don’t follow the Catholic doctrine you can forget the free bread. I am sure most of you have heard of the guy and read or seen it on the old TV. It is all the talk here in the greater COS and I thought I better bring myself up to speed. In doing this I will bring you too speed too. You can thank me later by sending some of that sacramental wine my way.

By the way he has since back peddled a bit with the article he made comment in yesterday. Also he is at the Vatican right this moment talking it up the Pope. So, stay tuned to more fun with Catholicism in the coming weeks!! YEAH

Here is the letter he wrote as well as a couple of news clips.

To My Peps
Post, May 14
Post June 2