Yearly Archives: 2013

Statement from Pope Benedict:

Dear Brothers,


I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.

I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.


For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects.

And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff.


With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.

Benedictus PP XVI
Vatican, February 10, 2013

Any excuse to play this:

Thanks Ross O’Mullane

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qoamSYn5jE

What you may or may not need to know.

1. A trailer so awesome it could only be premiered on ITV’s Daybreak.

2. The first three dimensional film about a one dimensional band.

3. It’s directed by the guy who did Supersize Me (2004). Seriously.

4. Best YouTube comment: ‘Is it weird that i cried while watching this?‘

5. OMG Niall etc. Fair ball. Hopefully he’s not putting his money in property.

Release Date: August (counting the days)

Not to mention the antique fruit basket.

Expenses incurred by Mr Fingleton included the Dorchester Hotel bill; €14,700 on two dozen bottles of wine; €6,000 for an antique fruit basket as a wedding gift for a developer’s daughter; €25,000 for 72 bottles of Cristal champagne; and six rugby season tickets at a cost of €6,600, which he asked the IRFU to send to his home address just prior to his resignation. But in a February 2011 letter to management, he admitted no wrongdoing and refused to repay any money.

 

Liquidators To Pursue Fingleton For €1m bonus And €70,000 Perks (Tom Lyons, Sunday Independent)

Previously: Fingers And The Journos

(Gareth Chaney/Photocall Ireland)

 

Ireland’s women beat England’s women for the first time yesterday.

Rugby blog Scrumqueens reports:

“The result means Ireland are now favourites for this year’s 6 Nations title, with France to come at home later in the competition. It’s the first time since 2004 that England have failed to score a point in an international game and Ireland will be thrilled to have finally put one over on a side who have been too strong every time the two have met.”

Read more here.

Previously: You Say Potato

Via David Duff Photography


And a bit of Córas Iompair shunting action while you’re at it.

(heavy bass).

Oh, yesss.

Pant.

Etc.

Dublin in the 1970s in color.

From top: Main Street, Ranelagh; Stephen’s Green; Sherrif Street; Wellington Quay; Fleet Street; Connolly Station; Dolier Street and the River Liffey.

Pics via South County Dublin Library archiive and Geograph.

Thanks Sibling of Daedalus

Hacker Guccifer has apparently hacked into six email accounts operated by the family of George W. Bush, publishing many of his finds online including the former president’s attempts at painting, pictures of which he emailed to his sister two months ago.

The undoubted highlight (above) is Dubya’s study of himself taking a bath.

Hacker Exposes Bush Family Emails, Photos, and George W. Bush’s Amazing Self-Portraits (Gawker)

The AutoMee, a tiny robot cleaner for smartphones and tablets, takes about four minutes to clean the face of an average sized touchscreen phone and twice as long for a tablet. The single AA battery is good for three hours of cleaning and it’s programmed to move in random patterns, using an edge sensor to ensure full coverage.

Available from the end of March for ¥1575 (€12.70).

ohgizmo