When I first arrived at FR nearly 5 years ago, I discovered the Religion Forum. Like you, it proved to be such an education. Over the years I had absorbed many misperceptions and misunderstangings about the catholic faith.
One of the first posts I read commented on meatless Fridays. It stated that Canon law had not changed. That was not my understanding so I looked it up. The poster was correct!
This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:
Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!
Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.
That was incentive to start the ping list. There are many lapsed and misinformed catholics right here at FR. At work ... well, they probably consider me a 'religious fanatic' ;-D.