Watching pictures of the Graceland vigil on occasion of the 25th anniversary of Elvis’s death makes it easy to draw parallels between pop icons and deities. The King’s case is particularly open to such theorising, what with reported posthumous sightings and claims of him having descended from the skies. Tears and adoration for the decadent entertainer bring the faithful together in pilgrimage, tribute, and ceremony. Said a British pilgrim: “If you don’t feel it, if you haven’t got Elvis in your life, you haven’t got a life.” Substitute Jesus for Elvis in that quote. I would like to see an unbiased theologian tackle this issue. In mock prophet voice: “And the jesters shall be called Kings, and worshiped like Gods.”

And at this time, a friend shall lose his friend’s hammer and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight o’clock.

So, obviously I’m back from my decadent summer holiday in Mykonos. It gave me a potent dose of good weather, sea, pinhole sky, nudity, great food, and amazing company. We spent our days with Scrabble, Botticelli, Mafia (aka The Night Falls in Palermo), eating, and swimming. I will be posting a photo album of our exploits soon. Now, it’s time to expend my energy towards wrapping up this PhD business. And to this end, I will be constructing a weekly routine to include PhD work, teaching, physical exercise, and perhaps some further Japanese tuition. Or should I start Spanish?