[geeks] Now for something completely geek

[der Mouse]

>> 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.

Yes...but the days when the Church could say "frog" and watch kings all
over Europe jump are pretty much over, at least for now.

> Admittedly their hold in the 1st world has faded somewhat, but they
> still carry a big stick.

Certainly.  It's just not nearly as big as it once was - and it feels a
lot less imperialistic, at least to me.

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