I was relieved to read today, in an article following up on the Blackholes and Dragons article I posted about, a while back, that “Fears about the Brookhaven collider first centered on black holes but soon shifted to the danger posed by weird hypothetical particles, strangelets, that critics said could transform the Earth almost instantly into a dead, dense lump.” So, false alarm guys. We were way off. Black holes probably aren’t going to happen. The only thing we need to worry about here, is the off chance the that world will instantly meld into a “dead, dense lump”, which is way better. Unfortunately, the threat of dragons does still exist. Alvaro de Rujula of Cern, who is heavily quoted in the article, said “Besides, the random nature of quantum physics means that there is always a minuscule, but nonzero, chance of anything occurring, including that the new collider could spit out man-eating dragons.” The article does not say exactly what day they fire up the collider, but I’m going to find out and mark it on my calendar.
Which brings me to my second favorite article of the day. With the impending papal visit in NYC, there has been increasing press on the Catholic Church, including the addition of the new sins and the skateboard design contest. Today’s article though, is my favorite. The times headline is Facing Decline, an Effort to Market the Priesthood . Here is my favorite excerpt:
The Rev. Luke Sweeney, director of vocations for the archdiocese — which covers the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and seven counties west and north of the city — says the church must make its case if it hopes to reinvigorate a priesthood that is increasingly elderly. “How do we get the ‘cool’ factor back into the priesthood?” Father Sweeney said. “If we don’t sell the priesthood, we can’t legitimately ask a young man to consider the priesthood as a vocation.”
Cool factor? Sell the priesthood? hmmmm. Because the “cool factor” used to be there. I mean, as recently as 325 AD, if you were a priest, you were pretty much a rockstar. If you don’t agree, look at Constantine as an example. The Nicean counsel was like woodstock of its era. Things started to decline with the rebelious Martin Luther. Then when the alter boys started coming forward, cool has completely gone away.
Comments
6 responses to “Hear me, hear me, I want sugar in my tea”
Jake…I think that it is time that Reagan cuts your hair again…how long ago was this picture?
Amazingly the Skateboard Design Contest was won by a girl right here in Washington Heights! I haven’t seen the design but it does reinforce the notion that Washington Heights rocks. I also think it’s pretty interesting that the Pope is going to get a skateboard. Apparently he also has an iPod! Do you think he’ll come visit the dead body of Mother Teresa in the glass coffin up at the shrine?
I would be lying if I said I didn’t spend a significant amount of my day worrying about man-eating dragons. This does little to relieve my fears.
We must be kind–not all priesthood is to be feared by altar boys. Very awful about them, yes, but there is a much larger majority of men that keep their vows and do good in the world, yes?
Did you read the description of the trucks & wheels? Each deck has been set-up with a pair of wheel axles, also know as “trucks”, which have the shape of a Maltese cross embossed on them from Independent Skateboard Trucks. The bushing of the trucks are colored Papal gold. Each wheel is assembled with high-performance, Bones Super Swiss-6 ball bearings. The wheels are white with a red and white pattern of letters that spell “Supreme”–wheels fitting for the Supreme Pontiff.
Now that’s cool factor at its best.
T- Not to worry, the pic is outdated. Those locks have long since become a part of some landfill in Jersey.
Marci- The Heights definitely do rock. I would be curious to see what the Pope has cued up on his playlist.
Collin- I know what you mean. I keep a couple of extra swords under the bed, just in case.
Ma B.- Apparently my tongue in cheek analysis of the article came off as unkind. That wasn’t my intention. So:
All my Catholic Homies- No offense intended.