The Week in Review

So the Emperor Palpatine apparently hates blacks...who knew? I'm referring to Pope Benedict's recent comments on condom use, given at the beginning of his current visit to Africa.  In brief, the Pope stated that condom use will not stem the spread of AIDS/HIV, and that only abstinence can be used to stop the disease, in keeping with the Catholic Church's hardline view of birth control.  So, given the superstitious nature of people, especially the impovershed and uneducated, and given that abstinence is basically as fictitious as God, the Pope just got a bunch of Africans killed.  Listen to the Pope, catch AIDS and die: A equals B.  Now, I've always suspected that the new Pope was evil, I mean, just look at him.  And not the passive evil that has always been the trademark of the Catholic Church, but serious, Illuminati, Da Vinci Code style evil.  The guy was a Hitler Youth, after all; that sort of thing doesn't wash off easily.  And now, in keeping the Church's strangle hold on doctrine complete, the Pope is dooming people to slow and agonizing death.  Is it intentional?  Well, do you trust this guy?  Now, personally, I have differing views on the necessity of disease and its affect on human populations, but I don't wish a long suffering death on anybody (unlike Benedict).  But now more than ever, Africa, and the rest of the world, for that matter, needs to embrace birth control.  Populations are unsustainable, and in Africa, children are being born already infected with the virus, cursed with an early death from the get go.  Can we not say 'enough already'?  Can we not all admit that the Catholic Church is a particularly harmful form of nonsense?  Can we not all acknowledge the fact that the Pope is a sinister, wrong-headed motherfucker, and move on?  Please?

In other, happier news, the Obamas broke ground this week on an organic kitchen garden, to supply the White House Chefs with local, seasonal produce.  The garden had long been lobbied for by local food advocates, and the swiftness with which the President designated the garden after taking office is a sure sign that he's on our side in the fight for a healthier, more sustainable future.  The use of the garden to supplement the Obamas' diets is intended to show the nation an alternative to the fast-food lifestyle so many of us lead.  It's a clear case of leading by example: you there, you in the slums of east Baltimore, you too can grow your own organic arugula in your spacious backyard garden...wait a minute...  Let's face it, this garden is for show, mostly to make those of us who already embrace local, organic food feel better about ourselves.  Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased that the Obamas took this step, I think it's great, and with anyone else, attempting to lead by example like this would be enough.  But he's the President.  If you're concerned about the health of the people, sign a goddamn bill!  Outlaw McDonalds, close feedlots, change our national school lunch program to include a real vegetable here and there!  You can do that, you're the president, after all.  But don't just give us this little song and dance, as nice as it is, and call it enough.  Cause that doesn't taste like fresh, organic summer squash, that tastes a little bit like bullshit, and we've been eating that dish for the past eight years.

Also this week, Secretary Salazar announced that North American birds are in bad shape, with a third of all species being classified as endangered.  Sigh... Most people don't really care about birds, or at east don't think about them, small and flighty as they are.  Even a great many conservation minded people concern themselves primarily with the plight of the charismatic megafauna, the bears and bison and the like who are so exciting to watch.  But birds are an even more important indicator of ecosystem health, and people really need to pay more attention to them.  They are, pun intended, the canaries in the coal mine: if a habitat is in danger, they will be some of the first species to show signs of disruption, the first species to go.  Everything else follows.  Then, what we're left with is something that looks a lot like Cleveland, or northern Jersey, places devoid of any worthwhile life.  And no one wants that... 

To end on a happy note, I subbed in a vocational agriculture class this past thursday, and it was awesome.  I got to pet sheep, get my jacket chewed by a goat, get bitten by a rabbit, and watch a recently castrated horse get his temperature taken, the hard way.  I learned quite a bit from my students, like how to card wool, and that you should tie a string to the thermometer, in case it...you know...gets lost inside.  Ahem.  I highly recommend a little time with farm animals, before they reach your plate.  Because sheep are just plain cute.