Interview~ma for Joe.

Well, that was interesting. I needed to fax a form back to my university in DC so that I'll be able to graduate. I first went to the library, where they told me that they don't have a fax machine, but the drugstore down the street does. So I went to the drugstore, where they tried faxing the forms, but said the pages were too wrinkled (they were maybe slightly wrinkled from where I'd been holding them) and told me to go to the copy shop around the corner. So I went there. While I waited, I read the stuff on their bulletin board. There were a bunch of cheesy religious stories, a few email joke forwards that weren't particularly funny, and a page of quotes from Thomas Jefferson. There was, of course the tree of liberty must be refreshed by the blood of patriots one. Also a few about how a free society will always allow the right bear arms, and how democracy will be over when we take from those who are willing to work and give to those who are not. (Is that one really Jefferson? It doesn't seem right for that time period.) Also one about how our society will become corrupt if we all get concentrated in big cities, which I found a bit ironic next to the "9/11 brought us all together" poem.

Anyway. Fax sent. Finally.

Oh the wacky on that bulletin board, Hil.

Yesterday, my sister posted one of those "funny" quotes as her status on FB, to the effect of "Why can't our children read the Bible in school, but they can in jail?" Several of her friends commented about what a good point that is. So I had to respond that no, it isn't actually a good point because it is not true, including a link to a U.S. Dept. of Education statement that students in public schools must be permitted to read a Bible or whatever scripture they choose, during non-instructional time (study hall, lunch, recess, etc.) to the same extent that they are allowed to read any other book. I pointed out that if they knew of any school district which is not following this policy, formal complaints could be filed. Oddly enough, no one has yet responded "oh wow, that's great, I didn't know that".

I saw someone a few months ago wearing a t-shirt that said on the back something like, "Dear God, Why do you allow all the drugs and violence in our public schools? Love, Student. Dear Student, I'm not allowed in public schools. Love, God." That's not only a bad grasp of government, it also seems to be a pretty bad grasp of theology.

Yeah, that's not how the Divine works. And it isn't how Separation of Church and State works, either.

It is an excellent grasp of soundbite, however, which seems to be rapidly taking over both government and theology.

If I can make a small side track on the religion thing:

I know I've mentioned this before: Tim's dad is super-duper involved in his Catholic parish, and is gung-ho on Catholic doctrine.

After we got back yesterday afternoon from the family trip, Tim asked his dad if, since he couldn't make it to mass Sunday morning because of the trip, would he be going to a Sunday evening mass. Tim's dad said that he had a lot to do that evening, so he probably wouldn't, even though it would be a mortal sin to skip mass.

I went O_o (but internally), and looked it up later. Sure enough, skipping mass is right up there with murder.

I just can't get down with a God who is so petty as to condemn me to the fires of hell for not going to a specific building once a week to recite the same pre-printed prayers with a group of people. And if it turns out that I'm wrong, well, I guess the joke will be on me.

But...seriously?!?

(Also, as we were looking it up, other mortal sins were listed, including extra-marital sex and masturbation [yes, whacking off is equivalent to murder], and it explained how the sinner must make a full confession of such sins to a priest, including FULL DETAILS of EACH INCIDENT. Uh...really? Again I say, that is FUCKED UP.)

t edit But it almost makes me want to go back to the faith just to make my confession. I would totally do that.

Dress!

[link]

I bought this redic creature (at half off of this price) for my upcoming birthday. Just feelin' my 80s I guess.

What do we think of spagetti straps?

If I get them put on, I can wear one of those clear-strap bras and have a much more comfy night (and shoulder the next day). If they would look irredeemabley stoopid, however, I am willing to suffer.

I'll leave details to actual practicing Catholics, but I thought confession was a private thing now that didn't require telling your list of sins to a priest. I was also under the impression that there were exceptions for the mass attendance for sick, elderly, grieving, whatever. But this all could just be my perception. My mother is devout, but I lapsed long ago. And am surely guilty of a number of mortal sins.

Cereal:

I suppose I do have to thank the freak-ass church for at least getting me to read/study the bible. Because, man, all the Catholic stuff that just appalls me? Nowhere in there. Jesus was basically all, "Love your neighbor. Don't fuck shit up. Any questions?"

Not a single thing on going to mass every Sunday, much less on telling detailed accounts of every time you whack off to some celibate dude. (Man, that is unsavory.)

I thought confession was a private thing now that didn't require telling your list of sins to a priest.

From what I read last night, confession is still a tell-all-your-lurid-secrets dealio.

I was also under the impression that there were exceptions for the mass attendance for sick, elderly, grieving, whatever.

Right, and I should have said that. If you're very ill, or the weather would make it dangerous for you to attempt to go, or if you're an hour or more away from a church, or -- my favorite -- if you're a mother who has given birth within the previous 6 weeks, then it is not a sin to skip mass.

(However, if you gave birth 7 weeks ago and don't make it, YOU WILL BURN.)