Posted on 02/10/2024 6:33:53 PM PST by nickcarraway
Italy does a number of things really well... food being one, with the whole field of archaeological preservation/restoration/reproduction being a close second.
After living there for three months in 2022, I can see why, with masterpieces in parish churches on every corner.
if there’s one thing this world needs, it is a reconstructed pagan idol. I’ve always said that.
Italy better hang on to that software because the troglodytes in Iraq will probably destroy the copy too.
I always tell peop;e that if you’re a tourist interested in art and history (and food), Italy blows away every other European country. England, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Low Countries... they all their charms... but in terms of bang-for-the-buck experiences for the visitor, Italy beats them all... hands down.
**if there’s one thing this world needs, it is a reconstructed pagan idol. I’ve always said that.**
The latest pagan idol will be on display tomorrow, before, in between plays, and immediately after the Stupid Bowl.
(I feel rather certain, even though I won’t be watching it)
The Whore of Babylon, indeed.
Ah, I see that you too object to the worship of Baal and his demigods footbaal, basebaal, basketbaal, and soccer baal.
Occasionally you can hear cheerleaders shouting “Ra, Ra, Ra”. They will be imploring the Sun god to shine on them in a fortuitous way.
“The sun god! The one god! Ra! Ra! Ra!”
My two sons were starters on a combined 3 IL state high school championships. While it was quite entertaining, the emphasis was over the top. And the 5 game post-season process is far from perfect. It’s not uncommon for the two best teams in a class to meet in the second or third round.
I listened to a former HS football coach give his view of the whole thing, when asked by a local radio sportscaster, about his memories from winning a title 40 years previous.
I was surprised they aired it (pre-recorded; WRMJ fm, Aledo, IL), because that guy really nailing the fact that too much emphasis is put on getting that title. He mentioned former players of his, lamenting years later, wishing they could get that same ‘high’ they had at the end of that game. A game was their high point in life; not getting married, not becoming a father, NOT finding Jesus Christ. (I added that last one)
Around 20 years ago, one of the winningest IL high school basketball coaches suddenly retired. His reason: kids were going to tournaments on weekends and in the summer, which put strains on families being families going to church, or other family functions. He said the emphasis on the sport shouldn’t be year round.
Funny, I’ve always felt bad for the kids who were the superstars in high school because they always spend the rest of their lives looking back at their glory days.
It must be awful for these kids to hit college or a career where no one gives a damn that they made a touchdown in some forgotten and obscure game. Or that they dated the captain of the basketball team.
I should feel fortunate that I was never any good at anything. But I was a good kid. Unlike my brother who was a holy terror. My parents tried everything to rein him in. Even money. They bribed him to be good but I was good for nothing.
The former hs football coach, that won a title 40 years ago last fall, did so at a neighboring school district. IL schools had joined the national trend of post-season play 9 years before (1974).
That simply ramped up the emphasis to win, with every school wanting a state trophy. Unfortunately, a KID can end up lamenting all his life a missed tackle, block, a fumble, etc, because he ‘cost’ his school a state title. Pretty sad.
But we make ‘gods’ out of athletes. Or we say, “but this or that athlete glorifies Jesus with his testimony”. I guess that’s better than not doing so.
I would agree: we spent three months in Rome but still missed so many things we’ll be going back for another stay. We rented an apartment and shopped at the local grocery stores: it was like food and wine from the best gourmet delis at Walmart prices.
At least give attribution to R.A. Wilson if you’re going to borrow his lines...
Oy’m stealing that, Oy am!
RA RA RA Wilson?
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