During last week’s World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, the Pope repeatedly slapped down the modern world.

The pontiff, who has repeatedly railed against consumerism and greed through the week, again warned the pilgrims to avoid “the shallowness, apathy and self-absorption which deaden our souls and poison our relationships.”

Here are some images from the official World Youth Day guide for pilgrims.

God’s hamburger of choice (some say He invented the recipe for special sauce)

God is in yer bread and yer water

Coins, medallions, giftware and jewelery: no rampant consumerism here

All the essentials for your modern pilgrim

God flies with Qantas and drives with Avis

Don’t know what these are doing here — they’re both Godless companies

The Editor, John Surname, Jeremy Sear and Craig discuss:

* World Youth Day and World Youth Day in the media
* B. Hussein Obama on the cover of The New Yorker
* John McCain off the intertubes
* Ask A Barman
* Funniest things on the internets

** Because Ant Rogenous is at home desperately downloading the podcast recording he missed, use only the “Play in popup” link or the “Download” link. **

 

 GrodsThink 24 (15 July 08) [33:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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I was listening to ABC Radio National on the wireless last week and some dude from some anti-religious group said “are you seriously trying to tell me that there will be 400,000 young people all in the one place, all having a good time, and none of them will get together?”

I turned to Craig, who was with me at the time, and we said in unison: “World Youth Fuckfest.”

Today Cardinal George Pell took time out from rallying against evil condom usage and evil non-marital sex to implore the “western world” (read: not the muzzies) to have more sex.

One blogger supports “George Peel” (sic) and his call for non-muzzies to start “rootin” (sic), and is now planning his last minute trip to Sydney. No need to pack the “dinger’s” (sic).

The Editor, John Surname, Ant Rogenous, Jeremy Sear and Craig discuss:

* The Garnaut Report
* Art vs. kiddie porn (round two)
* World Youth Day sex propaganda
* Ask A Barman
* Funniest things on the intertubes

** Because Jeremy Sear is flogging Wii Fit to death, use only the “Play in popup” link or the “Download” link. **

 

 GrodsThink 23 (8 July 2008) [31:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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The NSW government, copping a flogging for setting up ‘pope police’, says the World Youth Day organisers wanted anti-annoyance laws; the organisers say they wanted no such thing. Australians are richer than ever - but apparently we’re depressed because of it. The cops are called on Ben Fordham, after he takes a break from schmoozing with underworld thugs to chase down a parliamentary thug. A vigilante newspaper in (you guessed it) Queensland may be charged with stalking because it’s hounding a released pedophile. Starbucks will shed 600 stores and 12,000 jobs, as people finally realise their coffee is shit. And having reached his 90th birthday, Nelson Mandela is finally off the US terrorist watch list (obviously at 89 he was still capable of sabotage, assassination and maelstrom).

What a busy news day. The world seems to be going mad … I blame teachers, global warming nutters and Gough Whitlam.

The Editor, John Surname, Ant Rogenous, Jeremy Sear and J,The discuss:

* Alexander Downer’s retirement
* The new Senate (Greens, Xenophon, Fucking Steve Fucking Fielding)
* World Yoof Day controversy
* Ask A Barman
* Funniest things on the intertubes

** Because The Editor still doesn’t have the internet at home despite living in a first world country, use only the “Play in popup” link or the “Download” link. **

 

 GrodsThink 22 (1 July 2008) [31:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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On the weekend we brought you the story of Piers Frassati, the globe-trotting Shroud-Model of Turin who is paying a visit here for World Youth Day. Only trouble is that he’s not paying for it, according to Mikey in comments … the NSW and Commonwealth governments are senselessly shelling out millions for this cultist cornucopia of Catholic crap. And then there’s this:

Extraordinary new powers will allow police to arrest and fine people for “causing annoyance” to World Youth Day participants and permit partial strip searches at hundreds of Sydney sites, beginning today.

The laws, which operate until the end of July, have the potential to make a crime of wearing a T-shirt with a message on it, undertaking a Chaser-style stunt, handing out condoms at protests, riding a skateboard or even playing music, critics say.

People who fail to comply will be subject to a $5500 fine.

Our recent history has been full of affronts to democracy and blatant attacks on freedom of speech, e.g. Bob Brown being ejected from his own parliament because he dared ask the US president a question, and the ludicrous restrictions foisted on Sydneysiders during APEC. But this nonsense, if as reported here, goes even further still, to the point of cultist neo-fascism. It’s not enough that we are paying for corpse-worshipping religious lunatics to gather, chant and dance around their shaman … we’ll also be heavily fined if we ‘offend’ or ‘annoy’ them.

A shame this palaver isn’t taking place in Melbourne because I’d be there in a heartbeat - wearing an ‘I HATE JESUS’ t-shirt and condoms on my fingers, carrying a decapitated statuette of the Virgin Mary and a Benedict XVI Fleshlight. And would they fine me $5500? Just let them fucking try it.