www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall I don't know whether to laugh or cry

Catholics have had their share of problems as well over this issue. The big difference is that Protestants lack the anchor that we take for granted and sometimes even complain about. We understand that we are part of the Bride of Christ who has a book. Protestant groups do not see themselves as the Church, at least not in the sense that we do. Rather they are groups gathered to argue over the meaning of Scripture. Hence they have no real defense against take over by this or that political action group.

I think you would be surprised how differently Catholics and Orthodox on one side and Protestants on the other treat politics. We understand that we are the Church with a given body of work to which all decisions relate. Protestants have no real authoritative work to refer to. Every group no matter how foolish has an equal standing in the Church. Life and death struggles are occuring all the time eventually resolved only when a strong leader arises to form a new denomination.

Sometimes I will admit some of the struggles can be healthy. In general I'm not big on sweeping things under the rug. Perhaps you've noticed that about me. But if there is never an end to it; if no one can say with authority "an active homosexual cannot be ordained let alone consecrated a bishop" then chaos becomes a way of life.

That's an initial observation. I have more but don't want to overstay my welcome when we have suddenly found something over which we agree.

Dan L

No, Dan, this was a COOL thread. You shouldn't apologize at all!

There was an ad in several running magazines under the theme "Why do I run?" and the answer to one of them depicting a male runner was "My girlfriend got a girlfriend." Ha, ha. And what does THAT have to do with sport? Guess I'm not buying that brand, since they cannot tell me anything virtuous about the doggoned shoes and how much they'll improve my running performance.

I'm pretty thick-skinned, really. But I admit, I am annoyed by some advertising. Like I hate the new Dove ads with the women of various shapes and sizes in their undies. They are large as life on every doggone bus shelter I pass and in the subway. Entertainingly, I've never seen a Victoria's Secret type ad on a bus shelter or in the subway - too racy, I suppose, they'd get complaints - but if they are larger women selling some sort of wonder cream, I guess you can show that.

But I'd like to walk down the street without seeing anyone in their undies. In the city, that is sometimes hard to do though - and be careful what you wish for. I was once standing in front of my office building with a couple co-workers and a man wearing nothing but running shoes walked by. He was walking along like a man with a purpose - like a racewalker - swinging his arms. A couple cops came out of the coffee shop, saw him, did a double-take, and a rather hilarious Wile-E-Coyote type chase ensued.


With regard to ads, several of my friends have toddlers and little pre-school kids. They TiVO shows to remove the ads, so the kids don't get weird or age inappropriate ideas from them. Have you seen the ads they show during kids' shows? Aargh! Even my most liberal friend shields her son from ads - his television time is very restricted and he's only allowed to watch DVDs that she buys and pre-views.

I admit it - I still do old-fashioned weird stuff when ads come on - like when they have ads that seem to depict married couples, I look to see if they bothered to put wedding rings on them. (Most ads do attend to that detail... interesting.)

Annie,

One of the sadnesses of modern life is that we wind up seeing more profanity than we had ever hoped. From Jerry Springer to gay pride marches we are inundated with the trivial and even moronic. I know we can't hide from it and pray that we are actually making a difference.

"I'm homesick for heaven".

Dan L

Dear Dan,
Please don't leave us for heaven just yet. Annie has just supported a point of mine: the guy attired in running shoes and nothing else was chased (and, I presume, taken away) by the police. That's what the police are for (among other things, of course).
On the other hand, maybe I'm behind the times. Some big art museum in Vienna is having an exhibition of nude paintings over the centuries. Fine in itself, I suppose - especially since I'm not in Vienna and am not required to go to the exhibition (hmm: a well chosen word, even though it wasn't intentional!). However, in view of a heat wave which I'm told is hitting that part of Austria at the moment, the museum has announced that today, at least, anyone who cares to attend the exhibition without bothering to wear clothes will be rewarded with free admission!
I've gone to many art museums for quite a variety of exhibitions in my time, but never one quite like that - and I would not appreciate it in the least if I turned up in the Prado, or the Louvre, or the Hermitage, or the Vatican Museum, or the Benaki, or the Metropolitan, and so on, to discover the place full of streakers.

O tempora, O mores!

Incognitus

The whole thought of what is happening there is disgusting to me. However your expression is hillarious.... and I would not appreciate it in the least if I turned up in the Prado, or the Louvre, or the Hermitage, or the Vatican Museum, or the Benaki, or the Metropolitan, and so on, to discover the place full of streakers .


And Europeans think we are stange :p

Pani Rose

Dear Pyrohy:

Just a differentiation: there is no such thing as a "generic tylenol!"

"Tylenol" is a name brand protected by trademark laws and its composition is protected by laws on patents.

A "generic" drug is an unbranded drug deemed or proven to be equivalent to or approximates the "curing" ability of "Tylenol." These are manufactured by OTHER companies, usually in competition with "Tylenol" or aimed at reducing its market share.

It is incorrect to combine the two!

Amado

If you google around you will find, for better or worse, that the usage "generic tylenol" is well establish to refer the a formulation that is essentially identical to tylenol but sold without tradmark, i.e., a generic version of Tylenol.

Dear djs:

The use of "generic tylenol" is just for marketing purposes utilized by other manufacturers in order to get a ride on the popularity of Tylenol.

The gereric drug, as you know, is properly called "acetaminophen" which any pharmaceutical company can manufacture and market it as
"equivalent" to Tylenol or close to it. The generic drug is, by law, different from "Tylenol" as a branded product.

Unless such drug is now also being manufatured by the same owner of "Tylenol" and markets it as "generic Tylenol?"

Otherwise, it is oxymoronic to combine the 2 descriptive terms, as understood in the industry and by any patent or trademark lawyer worth his salt.

Amado

Pani Rose - thanks; it's nice to be appreciated!

Incognitus

Amadeus, I agree that the usage is oxymoronic; it's just shorthand for "generic equivalent of Tylenol". No doubt it drives trademark lawyers nuts.