AN IGNATIAN PAPACY
John Thavis on the pope’s ‘reform’ project
Pope Francis came into the Vatican with a mandate to change the way its bureaucracy functions (or disfunctions), in the wake of scandals, leaks and power struggles that have embarrassed the church. It seems to me that he’s taking that task seriously, by laying the spiritual groundwork for change.He’s approaching the various Vatican environments not so much as the new boss, but as the new pastor.
I think that’s one big reason why he’s decided to continue to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guest house, instead of moving into the formal papal apartment. In the Domus, he’s a few steps away from St. Peter’s, as well as the Vatican City governor’s office, and his morning liturgies are accessible to Vatican employees.
In the Apostolic Palace, the pope would have been surrounded by Secretariat of State offices and the usual filters. In effect, the Domus provides a much better pastoral base for evangelizing the Vatican.
RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING
Blogging is light, now that we're rehearsing for As You Like It. On top of that, @viola_illyria had her computer blow up on her so there's serious geekery afoot redoing the household infrastructure. Hoping to get a few things lined up, though, and there's a serious academic workflow post hovering in the ether.
GOOGLE LOSES, SAMSUNG WINS
Tightwind.net has it right:
Google makes relatively little from Android while one company—Samsung—makes more operating income from Android than Google as a whole. Think about that! Google is doing the hard work of developing the operating system and applications, but Samsung is capturing all of the revenue and income. Google’s Android strategy failed.The only problem with the notion that Google's exit from the trap is selling devices (Glass, Chromebooks, Motorola-made Google-branded phones) is that we have very little evidence that Google will be any good at it. Google TV, anyone?
This strategy requires Google to attack directly into the arena dominated by Samsung and Apple. I think I’ve seen that before.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj5bilCQEDU&w=420&h=315]
EVANGELICALS AND CATHOLICS TOGETHER, POPE FRANCIS-STYLE
Luis Palau: Why It Matters that Pope Francis Drinks Maté with Evangelicals: "One day I said to him, 'You seem to love the Bible a lot,' and he said, 'You know, my financial manager [for the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires] … is an evangelical Christian.' I said, 'Why would that be?' And he said, 'Well, I can trust him, and we spend hours reading the Bible and praying and drinking maté [an Argentine green tea].'"
As husband to a tea-drinking Evangelical, I can relate! (But not to the maté, I’ll take other kinds of tea.)
POPE FRANCIS - ROSS DOUTHAT
A hopeful observation; may it be so! And a style note: until/unless some future Pope takes the name, it's not Francis I, it's simply Francis.Pope Francis I - Ross Douthat: "First, whatever correlations of factions and forces within the conclave produced this result, Bergoglio won relatively swiftly, which — joined to his runner-up status last time, in a conclave that had a very different slate of cardinal electors — suggests a man with deep reservoirs of support and goodwill among his fellow prelates. Even if he was a compromise choice of some sort, his fellow electors were clearly quite happy to make it."
PROFILE OF POPE FRANCIS
Undoubtedly the beginning of a mighty flood, here’s John Allen from last week with a pre-election profile of the man would be Francis. It’s a good take from one of the premier US reporters on things Vatican.
PENN JILLETTE (PENN & TELLER) WINS THEOLOGY DISCUSSION WITH PIERS MORGAN
Something more rare than rubies... Penn Jillette provides a sterling example of intellectual integrity. He's an atheist, but he's more capable of taking people at their word and respecting the content of beliefs he does not share than Piers Morgan could ever be.
There's a few theological bobbles here and there, but that would be nitpicking. Well worth three minutes of life to watch it.
http://www.cato.org/longtail-iframe/node/45125/field_longtail_player/0
HELPING US ‘TURN AROUND’ - FR. SCHALL
One for the Georgetown people in particular, but good for anyone. Insight from one of the teachers who contributed most to where & what I am today.
ROSTER OF CARDINAL ELECTORS
The one-stop shopping place for information on the cardinal-electors. Great resource!
POWERPOINT IN THE CLASSROOM — KEVIN TAYLOR
We have picked up a teaching habit that is more presumed than prescribed, and we can’t seem to stop.PowerPoint in the Classroom — Kevin Taylor
DEBUNKING 'CONVENTIONAL' CONCLAVE WISDOM
John Allen, excellent as always.
Debunking 'conventional' conclave wisdom
STUDENTS TO E-TEXTBOOKS: NO THANKS
What’s most revealing about this study is that, like earlier research, it suggests that students’ preference for printed textbooks is reflects the real pedagogical advantages they experience in using the format: fewer distractions, deeper engagement, better comprehension and retention, and greater flexibility to accommodating idiosyncratic study habits.Students to e-textbooks: no thanks
HOW TO ELECT A POPE: A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
Every time a mainstream reporter or pundit opens his or her yap about the church, the pope, conclave, the next pope, or pretty much anything having to do with religion, brain cells die.Save the brain cells and turn to ElectingthePope.net, thoughtfully compiled for your convenience by Catholic netizens.
How to Elect a Pope: A Guide for the Perplexed
WHAT POPES ARE FOR
The end of this pontificate, like the beginning, is a sign of contradiction to those who see every human action in the cynical categories of power and willfulness.(h/t Cardinal Dolan)
What Popes Are For
A QUICK COURSE IN CONCLAVE 101 - JOHN ALLEN
Ideally, this exercise in “Conclave 101”will help make sense of what we’ll be seeing and hearing between now and that magic moment when white smoke rises from a small chimney above the Sistine Chapel, proclaiming to the world that a new pope has been elected.The man to follow, until the smoke is rising.
A quick course in 'Conclave 101' - John Allen
LAW SCHOOLS’ APPLICATIONS FALL AS COSTS RISE AND JOBS ARE CUT - NYT
Law school applications are headed for a 30-year low, reflecting increased concern over soaring tuition, crushing student debt and diminishing prospects of lucrative employment upon graduation.One for my students as they contemplate the future.
Law Schools’ Applications Fall as Costs Rise and Jobs Are Cut - NYT
Big Ben’s Pub = happy Emily
TWO SPACES AFTER A PERIOD: WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER, EVER DO IT. - SLATEMAGAZINE
Can I let you in on a secret? Typing two spaces after a period is totally, completely, utterly, and inarguably wrong.Truth from Sinai.
Two spaces after a period: Why you should never, ever do it. - Slate Magazine
TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM AND THE TEXTBOOK
Cautionary note from Nicholas Carr.
Everybody seems to be in love with digital textbooks. Except students.
Technological determinism and the textbook
PASSIVE VOICE, USED WELL
The passive voice is like any tool. You can use it well, you can use it badly, and you can abuse it right out.One for my students.
Passive Voice, Used Well
What is this Christmas of which you speak?
UNCLEAR ON THE CONCEPT
Me: Who’s stupid enough to try stealing a police cruiser?
Emily: When you need a ride, man, you need a ride.
THE GREAT EXPERIMENT - NY TIMES
Anybody can form a perfect Norway, a nation of five million people. But there is no country on earth with our size, our racial diversity, our mix of religions that is close to bringing most of its citizens the rights and comforts of the modern age.The overall view of the column is more positive than I tend to be, but this is a wonderful line and quite true.
The Great Experiment - NY Times
Emily’s birthday flowers
