[geeks] Now for something completely geek

[Mike Meredith]

On Thu, 24 Aug 2006 19:19:16 -0400 (EDT), der Mouse wrote:
> > there's one other empire whose influence we should reckon - the
> > catholic empire.  for much of the last two millennia the bishop of
> > rome has been more powerful than kings, even in europe.
> 
> How about the "American" (USA) empire?  I'm tempted to say its
> influence is even more widely spread than the Catholic Church's was in
> the heyday of their power.  It's a bit less blatantly imperial in some
> respects, but arguably the more dangerous for that.

I'm not sure you can say the RCC has faded that much ... the pope
"rules" 1.1 billion people and the number is growing. Admittedly their
hold in the 1st world has faded somewhat, but they still carry a big
stick.