Hello, and welcome to the Retrospective. And the big news?
Steve Jobs, founder of Apple and sometime inventor of the Enterprise has died. While he might resent me saying it, I say it anyway - AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
I'm Catholic. Sue me.
In other news this last fortnight, the economy has been of some concern. China may be teetering on the edge of its own bursting bubble, while at least one commentator believes that Greece and Italy should convert themselves into theme parks for Asian tourists. Perhaps he has yet to travel to Rome.
Moving to news from Europe, Jose Manuel Barrosso declares that national governments cannot be trusted to solve the debt crisis. Alas, he fails to realise that supernational governments are even more inefficient. In France, students riot at a rumour that the President may take away their summer holidays. My question is less that than - "Why are these kids unionised?"
In the continuing "reform" of British passports, "Mother" and "Father" are being replaced by "Parent 1" and "Parent 2" on the passport. One wonders whether the child is now being asked to rank his or her parents. Crossing to Serbia momentarily, the gay pride parade there was called off due to protests, in spite of US pressure for it to go ahead. And people doubt the White House's anti-Christian message.
Crossing to the north in Sweden, a Swedish theologian suggests the demolition of unused Swedish churches. Better to hold them and be prepared, sir - revivals are to be expected in a Church all about resurrection. In Switzerland, a fierce war of words has erupted over immigrant calls to revert from the iconic Swiss Cross to the bland Helvetian tricolor. They say it's a joke, but only after they find out that people actually (what horror!) like the flag.
Staying in areas of race, British education theorists consider white paper to be racist. Unfortunately, black paper is not conducive to drawing, demonstrating that this is more about stupidity than it is about equality. Interestingly, in spite of all the attempts of the media to not make us racist, it seems they do anyway. Perhaps they should not think of an elephant on that one.
Speaking of stupidity and racism, Mahmoud Ahmedinijhad has declared that Muslims should "return" to "Palestine", and the Jews return to their place of origin too. Alas, he does seem a little scratchy on history because that, ladies and gentlemen, is ultimately Israel.
On to more news of Christianity, the United Kingdom continues its war against the Bible. A schoolteacher in Northern California penalises students marks for the common Christian courtesy of saying "Bless you" to someone sneezing. Additionally, the UK has banned prayers in council meetings. I know, I know, separation stuff. But suppression is not separation, much as some might wish it was.
In Egypt, the Coptic Pope has made a fool of himself declaring that the Jews can no longer claim to be God's Chosen People. Doesn't stop Jesus being a Jew, so I'd suggest you stop trying to make Muslims stop hurting you and start to grow a spine and stand up for Christ. In America, a bunch of theological amateurs questions what the existence of aliens will do to Christianity. I can tell you one thing though - it won't kill it. Look at the Magisterium if you want to see the pros have a go at it.
In matters of some historic scope, a 2nd century Gnostic tombstone has been effectively translated and dated. A curious thing indeed, to say the least. Additionally, it has been determined that the Catholic Church is shrinking as the Cafeteria Catholics continue to leave. It is also noteworthy that the sky is blue.
Moving to matters cultural, it is becoming ever more common for Australian girls to request to be placed on airport watch lists to prevent them being taken overseas and married. This seems to only affect Muslims who, it seems, just don't find living in Australia quite as satisfying as they thought. Everyone else seems happy enough to stay.
Of course, the locals may be the problem, considering what Perth schoolgirls think of as a "prank". Humour, this most certainly is not.
Additionally, Andrew Bolt has been convicted under racial vilification laws. While economists suggest letting racists get dealt with in the marketplace, Bolt writes in his own defence, not that any of his critics would possibly consider listening.
This dovetails aptly with commentary on the debate regarding the repeal of the UK Human Rights Act. Theresa May's mistaken example does not invalidate her thesis if other examples can be established as fact, though certainly it is rather silly that politicians, with so many staffers these days, do not even have the ability to ensure a basic fact check. What are they paid to do, I wonder?
Talk of moving beyond the idea of left and right has been ongoing for some time, but perhaps it is pertinent to note that there is still right and wrong. Alas, such a thing cannot ovvur in multicultural relativism, but wishing doesn't make it so.
And perhaps the most curious thing - Muslim superheroes based on the 99 names of Allah. While certainly an interesting innovation, I have one question - would an Arab writer ever create a non-Muslim Arab superhero and market it as a role model to Muslims in the Middle East? Much as I'd love to see one, I shall not be holding my breath.
And now, for science. By 2030, it has been suggested that the trip from London to Sydney could take only 2 hours in a sub-orbital spaceship. Sign me up. For those with safety concerns, scientists have also discovered that the inner solar system is not the shooting gallery we previously thought, and for those wishing to go further, a completely reusable rocket is being developed by SpaceX. I guess rumours of NASA's demise aren't really all that exaggerated.
In other space news, Mercury has been determined to be partially covered in brimstone. Does this mean the gates of Heaven are in Jupiter somewhere? Also, ALMA, a new telescope in Chile, has commenced operations and, when fully operational in 2013, will be able to detect newly-formed stars that have previously been obscured.
And now, for the truly bizarre, Magic Mushrooms plus a "spiritual experience" can induce a lasting personality change in people. Sounds more like Greenskin magic to me, though magic mushrooms means goblin fanatics (stay away from my knights!). And topping that, the Ig Nobel prize has been awarded to the man who researched the reason why the jewel beetle finds a stubby a worthy mate. I am not making this up.
Oh, and it is of some note that Australia has made it into the semi-finals (most probably against New Zealand) by a whisker against South Africa. I have no fingernails left.
And that is the end of the news.
Please note, from this week, Retrospectives will be occuring on Friday.
We now return you to your usual programming.
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