As IF Times

Source: Apple suffers embarrassing demo Face ID fail at iPhone X launch 

Without question, over the past decade, the smart phone has been the most influential product in the world eclipsing the personal computer, disposable diapers and likely the wheel for the number one spot.  An article was written years ago making light of the influence of phones, but in modern communities everywhere, smart phones and Iphones in particular, have achieved a must have status in society on the plane of Starbucks and bottled water.  Phones have attained the status of social jewelry.  Girls don’t compare rings, they compare phone versions.

From starting off as a mere convenience, smart phones have become an absolute necessity for most people.  We’ve all heard anecdotal stories of people suffering genuine panic at the thought of losing their phones and not only because they’re worth the cost of a few car payments.  These days, who doesn’t have their entire life story embedded in their phones, from pictures and videos to chat sites links, contact lists and passwords to various consumer sites?

People have undeniably become addicted to phone usage and this addiction has given rise to the popularity of social media companies that otherwise have no value.  Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram etc etc, all social equivalents of crack cocaine for the insatiable appetites of the Look At Me crowd.  You would think that having access to what everyone else is doing or thinking would be a boon to society.  I can argue that it is not.  Rather than expanding thought and knowledge, instead people have become more tribal as they divide themselves into camps of thought that align with their particular worldview and this is reinforced by others similarly opined, resulting in an echo chamber vortex.

As we’ve touched on before, anyone can create a sympathetic following for an issue, no matter how inane, just by virtue of being fleetingly famous.  Regardless of how inarticulate or erroneous a position may be, it can still draw in like-minded supporters as if they were Charles Manson devotees.  For a more comprehensive view of this phenomenon, read the classic work by Charles Mackay, “Extraordinary Popular Delusions and The Madness Of Crowds.  Make no mistake, this is all crowd behavior.

Apple Phones have been the conduit of choice (mostly) for this tribal narcissism and on almost a yearly basis, the faithful line up for hours in fervid anticipation of the release of the newest iteration of the holy tool.  Recently, for the first time ever, the newest release, labeled X, has failed to generate the must have hysteria that accompanied every other iteration.

Maybe the product fails to offer new gee whiz features.  Maybe people don’t need to have a new device with only marginally newer features.  Maybe people don’t feel the need to spend four digits on an appliance.  Or maybe people have just decided…it’s only a phone.

Source: News from The Associated Press

In the matter of what is proper Catholic doctrine and what isn’t, there is probably no higher authority than the Pope.  Whomever occupies that role has spent their entire life at being a scholar of the history of the teachings of the Church.  If you were on a TV show and a god question was posed of you, it’s likely that the Pope would be one of your lifeline calls.

I cast serious doubts as to whether the topic of global warming ever came up in the scholarly studies that all Catholic priests are required to master.  If it has, then all Popes before this one have been negligent by never having discussed it during their reigns.  While Pope Francis tries to link global warming to the suffering of people in poorer countries, I can think of at least one other cause of mass suffering that he can address; that of the stupidity of the products that come out of the entertainment business.

There’s plenty to address in the matter of human frailties in the world including the classic ones of greed, corruption and general evilness.  Whatever happened to the classic pleas on behalf of global poverty, starving kids and world peace? There’s no shortage of affronts to humanity that he can target with his critical words. The nebulous claims of the global warming crowd should be well down the list of issues facing mankind.  In a quote from his interview, he says,

“Those who deny this must go to the scientists and ask them. They speak very clearly,” he said, referring to experts who blame global warming on man-made activities…”

Which scientists?  When you read that “scientists have all agreed on the science”, it should give pause to anyone, since unlike the god business, science is not about agreement, it’s about empirical evidence that can be measured. In fact, there are plenty of dissenting scientific views on global warming, but somehow, the ‘consensus’ is already in.  Well, I think many will want a recount on that consensus.  As far as speaking clearly, the only common solution that ever arises from the sage scientists are more taxes on western economies.

Imagine if football broadcasters Al Michaels and Chris Collinsworth were to comment on the policies of the Catholic Church.  Interesting perhaps, but they don’t have any more credibility than the next guy.  We look to them for football opinions, not for topics clearly out of their lane.

When a figure with the gravitas of The Pope makes a pronouncement on a topic, people pay attention.  It’s not like Jennifer Lawrence or Bill Maher making inane and obtuse comments.  The Pope should be speaking from a position of knowledge and perspective.  Clearly, his expertise is in the saving of souls business, not in the saving the planet racket.  That’s for non god fearing lawyers and politicians.