New game - Nail the Popes time of death to the board

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:06 pm

I'd imagine somewhere in the next 24-36 hours.

Stormwolf · Post by **Stormwolf** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:21 pm

I estimate at: 22:53 tonight.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 4:22 pm

How fitting. He'd die on April Fools Day...

IronHide · Post by **IronHide** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:09 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:How fitting. He'd die on April Fools Day...

Talk about the ultimate prank.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:29 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:How fitting. He'd die on April Fools Day...

haha

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:56 pm

I'll give him three more days... hopefully the price of his autobiography doesn't go through the roof or something, I was planning on picking it up.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 7:06 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:How fitting. He'd die on April Fools Day...

I'll be back with you guys when you are guessing when Fidel Castro will die... But I get the feeling there won't be such a thread here. (Fidel will rule Cuba 50 years from now still, as a brain in a jar...)

god · Post by **god** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 8:55 pm

never, they'll just replace the 2 large duracells on his back and off he goes again!!!

Redstreak · Post by **Redstreak** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 5:35 am

god wrote:never, they'll just replace the 2 large duracells on his back and off he goes again!!!

Well I guess if anyone, you would know, yes?

Nebbie · Post by **Nebbie** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 2:05 pm

Where's the Energizer Bunny when you need him??

Redstreak · Post by **Redstreak** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 8:38 pm

The Pope has passed away, for those trying to nail the time down, the Yahoo article gives this:

A Vatican statement said the Pontiff died at 9.37 p.m (1437 EST) in his private apartment.

IronHide · Post by **IronHide** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 10:01 pm

Wonder who's going to replace him?

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Sat Apr 02, 2005 11:07 pm

There are no favorties so far. I suspose it's a hard act to follow someone considered one of the best Pope's ever. John Paul is the most traveled Pope, opened links with other religions, the only world leader to oppose war constantly and was so highly respected.

Post by **Denyer** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 1:38 am

Jetfire wrote:one of the best Pope's ever

Mmm, and such tough competition. Particularly amongst the first few.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 1:23 pm

I myself am voting for Optimus Prime Rib.

Just make sure, OPR, when you win and walk down the hall to your chair with your big hat, to play, "The Touch" really loud over the speakers.

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 3:47 pm

Nah, Unique Ron's got it in the bag.

Darth Aux · Post by **Darth Aux** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:16 pm

Mr T for Pope

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 5:56 pm

The new pope will have a hard time living in John Paul the II's shadow. He truly was a great man.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:29 pm

Yeah, I can't think of many people who can be so biggotted and blinded imo yet still be hailed as a hero.

The man who wanted to ban condoms in Africa, which is about to collapse under HIV/AIDS- and for anyone who hasn't had the experience, at the rate things are going statistically speaking you'll probably know soon enough what its like to be told a loved one has a terminal illness which is preventable. Real nice to listen to the pontiff rattling on about something he obviously knows SFA about.

Not even getting started on his attitudes towards homosexuals. A racist or a mysogonist would be reviled, but kick the gay guys and you're just said to have 'strong conservative opinions'.

I'm glad he went peacefully and wasn't in pain as I don't wish that on anyone (or try not to...) but that's literally it. He had a damn good innings, had the best medical care money could buy and essentially played the part that any modern world authority figure plays. I see little to get excited over, and I've read the endless reports of all his deeds.

Optimus Prime Rib · Post by **Optimus Prime Rib** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:29 am

Calm down Karly.

And in 20 days then the College of Cardinals declares a certain scary lookin guy to be the next Pope, you can bet the Popemobile will be on "Pimp My Ride"

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 4:04 am

I agree with just about everything you said, Karl.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:59 am

Really?

John Paul was the first pope to travel to so many countries.
He was the first pope to apology for the church's past sins (inquisition and Holocaust included).
He made contact with other religions, again for the first time.
He actively worked for world peace.

Compare him with other popes before him. He made so many changes it's hard to keep track of. Naturally, he couldn't change EVERYTHING.

And for God's sake, enough with the stupid condoms!!!

Wherever I go to talk about the pope, it's the same old retarded argument. It's like the "spanish inquisition" - first thing that people start mentioning when I mention catholicism.

Thing is simple. There are laws that pope can't change. BUT...

DID he say you'll burn in hell for using condoms? NO.

ARE condoms NOT avaliable to the people of the poor african countries because of the pope? NO. It's because people are poor there and the companies think it'd be a waste to sell them there.

If you are so keen on this condom thing, bash these companies who make them , ask them to distribute them freely in Africa.
And besides, people are free to choose - that's one of the cornerstones of christianity. They can use condoms if they want to, it's not like the pope can stop them.

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 8:07 am

I help to combat it as well as I'm able, I give of my time freely to an AIDS/HIV charity working at grass roots in Kenya. I'm heading there this summer for direct volunteer work.

Hows about you try doing some charity work in Africa or find out someone you love has HIV?

Feel that sensation as the bottom falls out of your heart.

Know what its like to be UTTERLY HELPLESS despite every desire to change it.

Suddenly you realise how wicked and selfish you've been all this time... all those people dying in Africa and China- and it all seemed so far away. Happening to people you don't know. Then it's not.

Suddenly its right in front of you, and two realisations dawn on you. You can't stop it, and nobody else will truly understand until it happens to them or someone they care about.

Then listen to the damn Pope trying to help AIDS spread by saying Catholics shouldn't wear condoms- when Africa has a large Catholic and even larger Christian population and condoms are available to large parts of Africa. The killer being lack of knowledge.

Don't talk about things which you patently know absolutely [composite word including 'f*ck'] all about. And maybe next time instead of getting worked up because someone criticised the Pope's policy on condoms, try think about about the poor bastards suffering because of it. That's slightly more worthwhile imo.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 9:42 am

Well said Karl

Jetfire · Post by **Jetfire** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:03 am

Karl Lynch wrote:
I help to combat it as well as I'm able, I give of my time freely to an AIDS/HIV charity working at grass roots in Kenya. I'm heading there this summer for direct volunteer work.

Fantastic. I'm partly in charge of our school scheme for Africa. We have a huge house charity for a village in Zziba. Our main concentration recently has been raising the funds to build a well, after all hunger and lack of clean water are far bigger killers than even Cancer or HIV.

Good luck for the summer.

Then listen to the damn Pope trying to help AIDS spread by saying Catholics shouldn't wear condoms- when Africa has a large Catholic and even larger Christian population and condoms are available to large parts of Africa. The killer being lack of knowledge..

Indeed there are lots of reasons about the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa and you can't make like the Pope is hugely to blame. After all he promotes no sex before marriage when would be the most effective method of HIV prevention.

A huge part of the HIV in Africa problem is the lack of education. African leaders, and many of them are not Christian; prevent any sort of education being passed down to the "common people".

If you stare at the epidemiology of AIDS in Africa it's there are far less cases where Christianity or Islam are present as the dominant religion, partly because those tend to be the best educated and thus education is the defining factor.
The areas that would be viewed as mostly tribal religions and gets the least communication from "the west" are the areas with the worst spread. There is no point on a continent which has over 7000 Christian denominations you blame the leader of 1 which is neither dominate one and not present in areas where their are the worst cases of HIV infection.
The areas that have the predicted will have the highest growth for HIV cases are China, Vietnam and Cambodia. Hardly nations that are responsive to the teachings of the Pope.

Also the sexual habits, e.g. a typical young African man, especially in east and south Africa where AIDS is most rampant, is encouraged to sleep around as much as possible-including prostitutes which caused the spread more than a lack of condoms.

Medical procedures in Africa are the worst in the world. Tragically when an Aids test is done the same syringe is routinely used for 3-5 more people. No coincidence that Africa has the highest rate of intravenous spread of HIV in the world. It can count for 50% of cases in the worst spread areas. The other region of the world that has similar figures would be Eastern Europe, which is due to increase in use of hard drugs since the wall fell.

The best method to prevent AIDS is education, education and education. Blaming the Pope who is responsible for educating those of his denomination and reducing the spread of AIDS, and yes I know the stance on condoms could improve thing greatly.
Africa is hugely Islamic and tribal as well. The worst offenders are the vast majority of tribal, political and national leaders who claim AIDS is false or isn't spread by sexual methods or actively prevent HIV educationalists working in many areas when they damn well know they do help. But much like huger, poverty a lot of Africa's problems are due to the poor or corrupt leadership widespread through the continent.

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 10:48 am

The Pope brought the entire influence of the Catholic church, which is vast throughout the world, down on the wrong side of the argument. Condoms are the only physical way to prevent HIV spreading. Sex before marriage won't help you as it will still spread, just at a slower rate.

Unless of course the plan is to delay sex so much that all the people with it die off so it can't be passed on.

His confusing messages have only added to what is already a baffling issue for most Africans. They understand AIDS/HIV is an awful disease but don't understand what it is to do with intercourse. Giving with one hand in the form of (dubious) education on sexual practice and taking away with the other exonerates him from nothing in my view.

The Pope's advice is also not exclusive to Catholics. The noise of 'don't wear condoms' spreads through word of mouth and rumour and adds to the general chaos going on there as far as sex education is concerned.

The Catholic church itself sits on a vast reservoir of resources that could genuinely do something about these issues, not least of all in paying for more research into better AIDS/HIV drugs and perhaps one day a cure (FFS, someone HAS to find a cure... please)

Just because he isn't the root of all evil doesn't make him a saint in my eyes. Nor do I think it should in anybody's. So we return to Stuart's view- Best Pope ever is hardly up against much competition.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 11:41 am

I liked the bit on Radio 1 about him - saying how he was controversial for disapproving of homosexuality and women clergy, and then playing a soundbyte of him talking about how every life is sacred and has the right to live as they want, or something.

Yep, every life is equally special and full of rights. Though some more equal than others.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 12:17 pm

spiderfrommars wrote:Nah, Unique Ron's got it in the bag.

oh yes...

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 1:15 pm

Karl Lynch wrote:I help to combat it as well as I'm able, I give of my time freely to an AIDS/HIV charity working at grass roots in Kenya. I'm heading there this summer for direct volunteer work.

That's very selfless of you, congrats.

Hows about you try doing some charity work in Africa or find out someone you love has HIV?

Feel that sensation as the bottom falls out of your heart.

Know what its like to be UTTERLY HELPLESS despite every desire to change it.

Suddenly you realise how wicked and selfish you've been all this time... all those people dying in Africa and China- and it all seemed so far away. Happening to people you don't know. Then it's not.

Suddenly its right in front of you, and two realisations dawn on you. You can't stop it, and nobody else will truly understand until it happens to them or someone they care about.

I understand this... what do you think catholicism is all about? Not "be good and you'll be rewarded in heaven" but DO GOOD in our lives. Don'T tell me about it. I donated a large part of my earnings to the Tsunami survivors last time.

Then listen to the damn Pope trying to help AIDS spread by saying Catholics shouldn't wear condoms- when Africa has a large Catholic and even larger Christian population and condoms are available to large parts of Africa. The killer being lack of knowledge.

Jetfire explained most of this, but truly... how many of the people in these countries have TVs? Not even electricity... and I go to church regularry and don'T remember the priest ever reading a letter from the Pope about this particular law.

Don't talk about things which you patently know absolutely **** all about. And maybe next time instead of getting worked up because someone criticised the Pope's policy on condoms, try think about about the poor bastards suffering because of it. That's slightly more worthwhile imo.

The "poor bastards" suffering has nothing to do with the pope. In fact, most of these countries are largely muslims. And don'T say I know **** about things just because you think it's so.

They are suffering because they live in poverty, have ususally a goverment that steals the donations and because they usually don'T know how to prevent the infection. Great work is needed to educate them and at the same time solve the poverty problem.

And why am I upset at what you said about the Pope? Weren't you upset if someone you respected died and I'd say something downright nasty about him? Please try to control your anger.

Post by **Kaylee** » Mon Apr 04, 2005 2:30 pm

Anger? If you honestly don't think this worth getting angry over then you really don't get it. As highlighted by your abstraction on how it is condom manufacturers which are the main cause of condom mis-used in Africa, despite being corrected by two different posters on the issue. As well as the rest of your superficial, issue-dodging response.

All I can say is thank you. What I consider to be your ignorance prompted me to set up regular donations to Amnesty international. Something I should have done before. Maybe they might highlight some of the dreadful misery going on and perhaps it might sink through that the Pontiff did play a role in this, which Jetfire accepts although believes his other deeds outweigh it- which is his perogative.

Hence some good may actually come from this.