Somehow the Comics Curmudgeon (http://joshreads.com/) is able to post cartoons and mock them mercilessly without offending the copyright police. Perhaps he could explain the cartoon?

There were a number of good books about a decade ago or so that dealt with male secret societies, much of which was intertwined with the emerging literature on masculinity in the mid- to late-nineties. It was kind of a hot topic. The Shriners are 33rd (or whatever it is) order Masons, like super-elite Masons. And, yes, they’re pretty much like an Elks or Eagles club, just with more Orientalist mysticism and pseudo-occult rituals.

All kidding aside, I think it’s pretty much a harmless diversion for senior citizens. I think most Shriners are 70+, if they’re a day. And they do run a mean burn hospital.

And the mercury-disposal argument against compact fluorescents is just silly, especially if your city gives you a couple nickels to recycle ‘em, like mine does. Does the Duck of Conservatism compare the CFPs to the environmental cost of incandescent bulbs or just to sitting in the dark?