ADullAche

Look, I’m the first to admit I tend to over-react now and again, and there have been times when I may have read a bit more into something than was really there and shouted the end of the world was nigh. (I’m not giving up on Bush yet, he still has until Jan 20 to bring about Armageddon, so if you have real estate in Tehran, you might want to think about selling.)

Granted, this entire political season has thrown all of us off our games a bit, and yes, I was pretty sure when the Democratic race came down to a black man and a white woman, things were getting a little weird, and when the rich white woman called the black man an “elitist,” I started looking for those four guys and their specifically colored ponies.

A black man is now the presumptive nominee for the presidency of the United States, yet, somehow, the world has not become one all cleansing conflagration, so I might have overstated things…a bit.

But now I have irrefutable proof that the end of days is right around the corner, so don’t go shopping for bottled water and Spam because I already bought it all. (Although I’m not sure how Spam can save anyone from acts of divine retribution.)

The sign that tells me the sword of Damocles is about to fall is this ad that showed up in my mailbox yesterday: “A symbolic display of devotion…THE MEN’S STERLING SILVER NAIL CROSS. Artisans have taken a symbol of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, the nails of the cross, and fashioned them into a sterling silver cross pendant.”

The ad is on an 8”x11” piece of heavy stock, complete with return, post paid replay card, the rest of the text is a combination of salesmanship and evangelizing (yes, I know they’re the same thing.) On the whole it’s no cheesier than those mailers trying to sell you commemorative plates or NASCAR bobble-heads.

The reason the Sterling Silver Nail Cross flyer is a portent of a bad end for us all, is it came packaged in the wrapping with my monthly copy of PLAYBOY.

Yes, PLAYBOY.

I’ll give you that PLAYBOY is pretty tame, actually lame stuff these day. (I can spend 30 seconds on line and find porn that would make even the most perverted centerfold blush.) So, as the old joke goes, I really do get it for the articles.

But that’s not the point.

The point is, PLAYBOY, icon of the sexual revolution, the magazine that used to sell those dopey ‘man sign’ necklaces, is shilling for a company that wants you to spend $100 bucks on your faith. The ad is placed on top of the magazine, you see the cross before you see the cover.

So you tell me, am I over reacting, or do you want to trade me two cans of peaches for a can of Spam.

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