The virulent disputes in the Holy Lands between the factions are famous. But before you assume “Moslems, Jews, & Christians” hold your horses. I’m speaking of Christians, Christians, & Christians. Everyone’s heard of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, but few have heard of the constant infighting regarding its maintenance and use. The denominations, consisting of Greek Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Ethiopian Orthodox, the Copts, and the Syriac Orthodox, seek to exert control, and in-fight to limit the others. They each hate to see any of the others get a leg up, and will quibble over everything. Here’s a shining examples of silly disputes between these communities; “The Ladder on the Sepulchre”. Oh, this weighty argument addresses the question of which denomination “has the right to remove the ladder”. You think I jest? This ladder in question was placed on a ledge outside an upper floor window in the 19th century! Because no one remembers who, what, or why, no agreement has been forthcoming… in over 150 years, allowing anyone to take it down! The net result is the ladder still stands there to this day. It’s easily visible above the main entrance to the church. Check it out. Another example is the current fight over who can approve the repair of the “monastery cells”. The latest engineering survey reports there is imminent danger of a catastrophic, and deadly, roof collapse. But no repairs are scheduled, while the folks that live below the darn roof quarrel over who can authorize its repair! And this eternal quarrel plays out with all these factions on the same “side”! Find all this hard to believe? Scope it out at Wikipedia; Church of the Holy Sepulchre When it comes to the Middle East, there must be something in the water. Nothing else explains the lunacy over there. Even full moons can only affect one week a month! I will wager any mom reading this would allow her kids a week to clean up their room, tops! Anything slower than that and I’ll bet there’s an “I’ll give you something to smirk about!” involved. 150 years indeed!

Starting in October the Chatterbox will be printed on recycled “Forest Stewardship” paper. This paper used 200,000 BTU less energy, 144 less gallons of water, eliminates 44 pounds of CO2, and saves 24 pounds of solid waste in a landfill. The total extra cost is 2 cents a copy. Lets us feel better printing and our readers better reading (those that aren’t already using this as a cure for insomnia). While we’re not running around looking for a tree to hug, it did surprise us how cheap “Earth Friendly” can be!

An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him “Dylan, how do you expect to get into Heaven?” The boy thought it over and said, “Well, I’ll run in and out, and in and out, and in and out, until Saint Peter says, “For Heaven’s sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!”

Did you like that one? Here’s a “two-for”; One late fall evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, “Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?” The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. “I can’t dear,” she said. “I have to sleep in Daddy’s room.” A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice; “The big sissy.”

Human vanity as old as humans I think. Archaeologists have found evidence of wigs dating back to 250bce in China. This pales to “new fangled” when you consider the Ancient Egyptians had wigs back at 1,500bce. I suppose the early hair clients were happy there weren’t hair implants yet. They probably would have been installed with a mallet!

So how about that financial panic? Washington doesn’t seem to realize the cure isn’t in throwing good money after bad in the greatest spending spree in recorded history! The economy will recover when, and only when, the average Joe and Jane have confidence again. Most have seen 33% of their retirement plans *poof*. And the bail out money being used to fund ½ million dollar parties for AIG and bonus money for Wall Street isn’t helping. Most of us get a bonus only when we do an exceptional job. Not an exceptionally horrible one! The same way few of us feel any safer because Washington has mastered the art of confiscating toe nail clippers from Aunt Gladys, few of us feel safer because they are throwing our grandkid’s money away. The economy is a mess because we’ve all spent too much on too much, the last 10 years have been a party. The economy will improve if they give the average Joes and Janes time to do what they’ve always done best; work the countries way out of the mess. And the single most helpful thing Washington can do to help is go, sit in a closet, and get out of our way.

The monthly chatter box is written by Donald Conyngham

To view previous month chatterbox click below
May 2009 Chatterbox
April 2009 Chatterbox
March 2009 Chatterbox
February 2009 Chatterbox
January 2009 Chatterbox
December 2008 Chatterbox
November 2008 Chatterbox
October 2008 Chatterbox
September 2008 Chatterbox