"If only we had their numbers..."

Just in case you were worried about Religion being trivialized in our secular modern 21st century, those crazy Christians have done more damage on their own. No I'm not talking about the hypocrisy of the Christian Right in the Schiavo case. Nor am I talking about the fact that the church celebrates Easter on a different day each year, since the day is based off of the Lunar calendar which determined the pagan Spring festival. I am talking about the brand new amusement park...wait for it...Holyland. This only furthers my argument that I had over the weekend that Religion is really just a way of taking advantage of people in order to sell a product.

(Bonus points for the one who gets the reference in the title, I'll post a hint if people have trouble.)

Bart's Blackboard

Found a fantasic list of everything Bart has every written on the blackboard on the Simpsons, Ever. Some highlights, one from each season.

1. "I will not yell "Fire" in a crowded classroom"
2. "I will not cut corners" (Repeated for 3 episodes in a row).
3. "Funny noises are not funny"
4. "This punishment is not boring and pointless"
5. "All work and no play makes Bart a dull boy" (points to those who know the reference).
6. (tie) "I will not mock Mrs. Dumbface" and "Cursive writing does not mean what I think it does"
7. "I will stop talking about the twelve inch pianist"
8. "I did not learn everything I need to know in kindergarten"
9. "I no longer want my MTV"
10. "It does not suck to be you"
11. "I won't not use no double negatives"

For the complete list

Glorifying shit jobs

Something I've been thinking about, do we Glorify some shit jobs? Firefighters, cops, teachers can all be considered Heroes. But the cynic in me wonders whether we just say that to "dupe" people into doing those jobs that no one else wants to do. Even my own job can be considered noble, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I don't get paid anything, I deal with horrible people that are living in a terrible situation, and I have to listen to all their stories. I have to deal with the emotional baggage of my job on a daily basis, but everyone says, "wow that's a really great cause!" Sure...I guess, but are they really saying "That's a good cause that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole, I'm glad you're doing it so I don't have to."

This can apply to the previously mentioned professions as well. I would never want to be a cop or fireman and I'm guessing most of us wouldn't either. The people who do might think that they want to make a different and "be a hero". And that is fine, good for them. I'm not saying that's a bad thing but my question is how much of this attitude is constructed by our society? Do we as a society need to say that they are heros just so that we can have a constant supply of people doing those types of jobs?