Today is the day that 133 Cardinals gather in the Vatican to enter the autoclave (is this right? Ed) in which they will elect the next Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. Good luck to them, as it seems like they will be under a lot of pressure for the next few days.
For some reason this news reminded me of the late great Irish comedian Dave Allen. He was hugely popular on British TV in the 70s and 80s. He had his own show in a prime-time slot on Saturday evenings on BBC1 for many years, which was mandatory family viewing in our house. The show included some pre-recorded sketches but I think the best bits involved him just sitting, talking and telling stories. He wasn’t a stand-up comedian. He didn’t often tell jokes either, his humour was mainly observational and satirical, especially about politics and religion. Although an atheist he never really mocked religious belief, but he did make fun of the pomposity and hypocrisy that often goes with it.
I found this quote in which he expresses thoughts about hierarchies very close to mine:
The hierarchy of everything in my life has always bothered me. I’m bothered by power. People, whoever they might be, whether it’s the government, or the policeman in the uniform, or the man on the door—they still irk me a bit.
Anyway, here he is telling a joke that seems relevant.
P.S. He always made out that the glass on the table beside him contained whisky, but it was always just a dash of ginger ale with an ice cube in it.
In the Dark 