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The Pope desires a solar-powered Popemobile, might just get one
Remember how W said Americans were addicted to fossil fuels? Well, Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger (better known by his crew as '265-Cal') is addicted to renewable energy. First he had photovoltaic arrays installed on the roof of an auditorium in the Vatican. Then he had a solar cooling system built into the Vatican cafeteria. Now, the Pope wants his mobile bulletproof shell to be solar-powered. While we'd love to see some PV cells rocking out on the roof of the custom Benz, they probably wouldn't power a whole lot more than his DC Papal reading lights -- to that end, we're hoping he goes the practical route and installs a PV array on top of the Popegarage and simply juices the batteries between sessions of humbly waving to the teeming masses. Whatever he and his crack team of energy specialists figure out, we're sure you'll be able to read all about it in the next volume of The Energy of the Sun in the Vatican, a book that actually exists. [Photo remixed from Catholic Westminster's flickr]
Papal productions going HD for better views of the Holy See
The Vatican has recently unveiled a new six million dollar HD mobile unit, hinting that if seeing is believing, they'd prefer representation in 1080p. To help blunt the cost on the nation's coffers, the Knights of Columbus pledged one million Euros to the initiative ($1.36 million dollars) while Sony also cut the walled-enclave a matching discount -- possibly as a further mea culpa for the Manchester gunfight scene. The new equipment is slated to be fully operational just in time for Pope's Christmas broadcasts and from then on would be rolled out during special Vatican events. Thinking ahead to the future, the system is also designed to be easily 3D upgradable, which head of Sony Italia Gildas Pelliet was sure to mention "can be done in a very discreet, subtle way" while still engaging future audiences with the Pope's message. Combined with his texting habits, a recent YouTube channel, and the Pope2You online portal, Pope Benedict XIV has done quite a lot in his five-year tenure to help one of the oldest institutions get up to speed with today's technology -- let alone for an 83-year-old man.
Pope Benedict XVI texting out messages of encouragement
Don't act like you didn't know that Pope Benedict XVI was down with modern technology. As part of World Youth Day, the man himself will begin sending out texts of encouragement to pilgrims who have signed up through Telstra to receive them. A total of four gigantic "prayer walls" have been erected at the Sydney Opera House, the Domain, Darling Harbour and Randwick Racecourse in Australia, where folks will actually be able to send their own messages for all to presumably see. The first message sent out? "Young friend, God and his people expect much from u because u have within you the Fathers supreme gift: the Spirit of Jesus - BXVI." Hllujh, amn brtha.[Thanks, zedster]
Pope condemns violence and sex in games, worries kids too exposed
In a message to mark the Roman Catholic Church's World Communications Day, Pope Benedict XVI focused on "Children and the Media," criticizing, among other things, certain forms of exploitative video games. Pope Benedict XVI called violent and sexually explicit games a "perversion," adding that they were "all the more repulsive when ... directed at children and adolescents." The Pope called upon entertainment industry leaders to rethink strategies and products that could be endangering wholesome family life, and encouraged parents to turn their kids onto "children's classics in literature."Pope Benedict XVI did not specify which literary works had been Church-approved, but surely the collection of fairly tales published by the Brothers Grimm (who hailed from Benedict's homeland of Germany) ought to be considered "children's classics." Even in their edited forms, many of these tales retain some horrific themes; like Hansel and Gretel, where a witch attempts to bake two children alive, but is instead cooked herself.Children's stories and adolescent novels seem to be less scrutinized than games (at least, in contemporary times), but no one's been able to prove which, if either, has a greater affect on the human condition. While we agree that children should be protected from adult-themed games (enforcement of the ratings system and active parenting does a good job of this), we would have liked to have heard His Holiness add that there are many industry efforts to produce games that are suitable and stimulating for children and young people.[Thanks, Andrew]
