Bravest Thing (He Ever Did)

So, you've failed your childhood dream of making the National Hockey League? Now what?  There is only one thing to do: Live out your dream through your child! WARNING: Living out your dream through your child can be expensive. Here is the cost of one year of hockey for a 10-year-old so that you he can, some day in the future, have a miniscule "shot" at the NHL... * * * To begin, your child will need to play on the AA travelling team. Local hockey teams are for bums. Got that? Bums. Scouts don't have time for bum players from inferior bum leagues. So sign up your child at the higher price. Well, first pay $60 to try out for the team, and then sign up. Actual registration, insurance, and jersey rentals will take an extra $800-1000 - if you're lucky and have a good fundraiser system (be prepared to work a few bingos). No big deal. Now you're ready to go! Have a fun year! But wait, there's more. The AA team, for some unknown reason, requires green equipment ...

One question: Who is paying for this Youth Synod in Rome? Presumably this event is not cheap. Surveys. Endless committee work. Flying people in from all over the world. Housing and feeding them. Booking giant conference spaces. More committee work. P.R. costs and considerations. Large scale concerts. Still more committee work. There are millions of dollars at play here. All for a pre-set outcome I believe. And who is paying for this? The Vatican? I thought they were running deficits. Bishop conferences? I sure hope not. Private donors? Hmmm, sounds like this would lead to certain billionaires paying for set agenda items to pass. One can only wonder. Alas, I am sure I sound like Judas now. "Why spend all this money on a Synod when the money could be given to the poor?" To which some enlightened cardinal at the Vatican will respond: "The poor will always be with us. It is necessary that this money be used to tell the youth what they are supposed to want..." Phot...