I thought the initial post of this thread was pretty witty ~ too bad so many found it offensive.

I understand, however; there has been a distasteful glut of anti-religion proselytizing hereabouts of late. Perhaps I've been guilty of a bit of this myself, and if so, I apologize. I'm more of a believer than an agnostic, but I'm quite skeptical in regard to "organized religion" and, indeed, in regard to establishments of every kind.

I think it would be a better world if the pre-Lenten season of Carnival were observed as widely as Lent itself. People need to let go and enjoy themselves just about as much as they need to discipline and deny themselves, and the ancient wisdom was to observe a period of overindulgence immediately prior to the season of penitence. All in moderation, of course ~ ;^)

This year was a bad deal for those of us who observe Carnival. Thanks to the phases of the moon or whatever, Easter (and therefore Lent, and therefore Mardi Gras) fall on much earlier dates than usual, causing Carnival season to last only 38 days ~ shorter than the 40 days of Lent. What a gyp!