But He WILL Bless Your Evian...

During these troubled times air travel has become a little more restrictive.  We have become so successful with instilling fear about terrorism that airline security has spawned a ever growing list of items that are "verboten" in one's luggage.  Items as innocuous as nail clippers and shampoo bottles have be scrutinized and confiscated all in the name of safety and piece of mind. However, a new item has been added to the list which will cause many a commuting nosferatu to rest in their cargo holds more securely.  The pope has requested that on an upcoming trip to Lourdes, the journalists that will accompany him are not to bring any of the shrine's holy water home with them (story here).

Now this hydrophobia is not sponsored so much in the name of safety, but of convenience. Passengers found with "liquid Lourdes" will be subject to more lengthy delays at the airport's security check points.  The pope apparently is not a patient pontiff.

We for many years have been pondering the question of "holy water", especially since the One Who Sits on the Right seems to prefer wine.  There are many instances of water being used for ceremonial purposes such as in Old Testament washing rituals that priests conducted while in the temple, and then of course baptism.  However in every case it doesn't seem that the water itself has any powers, but that the power rested in the actions performed with the water and in the Enemy Himself.  Even with the miracles involving food the food stuffs themselves weren't imbued with power.  The water changed to wine was just good wine and the bread and fishes, while more plentiful than before, didn't heal the sick or make blind men see.  Only the Enemy has such power.  And He is unfortunately far too eager to share it with those who come to Him, with humility and a repentant heart.

No matter.  For our R and D department has attacked this problem from the opposite end.  If it is possible to make "holy" water, therefore it must be possible to create "cursed" water.  Our research efforts have thus produced "Love Canal" and the Schuyllkill River in Philadelphia. Personally, I prefer to make one's subject forget water all together in favor of the "fire water" men produce.  

Bottom's Up,

Brackish

Saved My Soul with Rock N' Roll

We down here have had a long history with Rock and including Roll.  Rebellion with a healthy dose of hedonism are the rip currents that have swept many a soul through our gates, and many before their times.  As a mode of self expression, it isn't much use to us.  When the music is used as a tool by introspective people, the result can actually unite and comfort suffering souls by sharing common experiences.  Bleh!

It's the selfish, narcissistic,  hate filled, intemperate, lotus-eaters that bring in the business for us. They are the ones that tap into the youth's frustration of being under their parents and influence listeners to challenge the values handed down to them.  Either way, Rock is supposed to have an edge to it.  The music deals with raw emotions that can arise from unsatisfactory government policies (e.g. Vietnam) to basic out and out randiness (e.g. anything by Prince).

The inability to distinguish between the two is undoubtedly which gave rise to the angst-lite version the favorite video game Guitar Hero.  Now you too can rock "not too very hard" to  the music of Petra and the Newsboys (story here).  What no Carmen? We're still chuckling over "Devil, Bite the Dust."  Well, not when actually in the presence of Our Father Below.  Not that he could actually hear us with how he constantly blasts his Celene Dion records at all hours.

This IS Hell, after all.

Brackish