Daily Breakfast 477 - That’s the Spirit!
An extra long weekend edition of the Daily Breakfast: London and Loch Ness, Pentecost, running and the rosary, Bicycle Bob; the Secrets of Battlestar Galactica; Vatican website goes Latin; genuflecting towards the altar or the tabernacle? Facebook and the amazing Flock.com browser.
Links:
I’m not too sure about Flock, it’s certainly a love it or hate it application for me similar to Opera for me really (love the speed, hate the UI and incompatibilities).
Flock is based upon the Gecko rendering engine as used by Firefox and Camino so it has all of those browsers pros and flaws but added to all that Flock seems (under Windows XP) pretty bogged down, slow and in some respects it’s kinda ugly.
That all said the personal start page Flock provides is fantastic, integration with the established social sites is pretty cool too - I would like to see support for other newer sites such as (media sharing), (video - beats YouTube hands down and supports HD), (micro-blogging) etc in the future.
Keep up the good work Fr, loving the new look website!
P.s. Try for updating your Twitter feed, it’s much easier than using the website. It requires Adobe AIR but the plus side to that is that it will work on Windows, Mac and Linux.
I have a funny feeling I made a mistake entering HTML in that comment!
Speaking of the Latin Vatican site, does anybody know what copy of the Bible is pictured on the ‘Biblia Sacra’ page?
(Here: http://www.vatican.va/latin/latin_bible.html)
I like the new layout.
Hans,
I’m not sure, but it does resemble the “Book of Kells” that is on display in Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
@ Hans
@ Jim
This is the first chapter of Matthew.
I cannot place this specific manuscript, but it was definitely made long after the Book of Kells (800 ad).
My educated guess (based on the illumination detail, and the defined Gothic lettering) would be that it is an early 14th century Gospel, either French or possibly British.
I studied medieval manuscripts for a while, a couple years ago … it is fascinating stuff (but Im a history dork :)).
Just downloaded Flock today after watching today’s podcast on Ustream, and I really like it so far. Haven’t had a chance to explore all the features yet, but I do like how easy it makes social networking, which is what I spend most of my time online doing. Thanks for the recommendation, y’all!
Thanks Zack,
Your the “man” for the “manuscripts”!
Now if only knew how to put a yellow smiley face at the end of this.
Hey Father,
I just wanted to tell you that not only in the Netherlands you have another day of afer pentecost. In Germany we have free until Wednesday. I have no idea why.
By the way great podcast.
God bless
Thanks, Zack. I was leaning English based on the artwork (apart from the text), but there can be some overlap with French in that time period (depending on who was in control of what when). I’m not so good with scripts, however. (Just a hobby, never had such a course.) I would have thought they would have an older copy to use; I wonder why they didn’t.
Still, if someone wants to compare that text with an early-8th century (English) version, they can find it here:
http://www.katapi.org.uk/images/MSS/Amiatinus-640w.gif
It’s the Codex Amiatinus, and was originally intended to be a gift to Pope Gregory II; it now is in the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana in Florence.
(Description text swiped from a different site [at U Chicago] than the image.)
P.S.: As I recall from the description of the image, it is Luke 4:32-5:6.
Here is a really good site that has a lot of manuscript examples, as well as other medieval art.
http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/a/
I love the dove!!
dear father,
I’m Annemarie from the Netherlands.
I just listend to your dealy breakfast and I want to thank you so much because its really a sort of rest momentin my bizzy days.
my days are verry long because in about a week I will have my final examens.
I wanted to ask you if you could spend some time discussing this subject because I think I;m not the only one who is dealing with the problem that examens make you restless..
I’m trying to trust myself but I have to admit its very hard.
GB
and again thank you!
Annemarie
Thanks Hans and Zack! Interesting details that raised my curiosity. Which is why I enjoy visiting SQPN and the diversity of interests in the blog area. Good people coming together to collectively share observations and discoveries on things we would not have thought of on our own.
I googled “illustrated bibles” and noticed entry from Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hiberno-Saxon_illustrated_manuscripts . Wikipedia is getting pretty good.
Check out the Lindis Farne Gospels (wikipedia link). They were produced by a monk and estimated to take four years for one copy. The pages were wrapped in a gold and jeweled cover that was lost in a viking raid. Fortunately, the vikings left the text behind. Which makes me speculate there must have been other illustrated / illuminated bibles that were lost forever during various tribal raids.
I also found the “Winchester Bible” interesting.
Dear Father Roderick,
your statement that “the second day of Pentecost” as a public holiday is unique in the Netherlands is not 100% true.
Also here in Germany it’s an official holiday (like Easter Monday also is).
Here are some more religious holidays that are also public holidays in Germany:
- Corpus Christi Day (only in some states)
- Ascension of Christ (only in some states)
- Christmas and Second Day of Christmas (in all states)
- Assumption of Mary (only in Saarland and parts of Bavaria)
- All Saints Day (only in states where the majority of the population is Catholic)
- Reformation Day (Oct 31st, only in states where the majority of the population is Protestant)
- Day of Prayer and Repentance (only in Saxony)
- Feast of the Epiphany (only in some states)
- Good Friday (in all states)
- Easter Sunday, Pentecost Sunday
German laws concerning these holidays are quite confusing. To give you an example: Back in 2002 when I served in the Airforce I thought since I was in one of the most Catholic states of Germany (Bavaria) I have one day off on Corpus Christi Day. But the town I was stationed (Bayreuth) unfortunately is a Protestant town. Don’t get me wrong - I have nothing against Protestants - as a matter of fact my girlfriend is Protestant but…. apparently the state law is that those towns with a majority of Protestants don’t have a public holiday. However, all the towns around us had a holiday which was quite annoying. That’s how frustrating and confusing it can sometimes get.
Now I am blessed to live in the state of Baden Wuerttemberg near beautiful Lake Constance which has the second most public holidays in Germany (Number 1 is Bavaria). So after church (or in case it’s Corpus Christi Day or Ascension of Christ after church and procession) you can lean back and relax if you like to
Maybe you can mention on the show that you’re not the only country with some unique holidays
Best Regards Matthias
By the way according to the German constitution
we have a separation of State and Church throughout Germany
which might be not very visible when reading my last post.
But for me as a Catholic this is no problem of course
And I guess we’re one of the few countries where you have a Church tax (state law legitimizes this kind of tax).
How much you have to pay depends on whether you are Protestant or Catholic and how much your income is.
When you don’t belong to a Protestant or Catholic Church you don’t have to pay church tax.
So your denomination actually appears on your tax bill which might sound quite weird to lets say US Americans etc.
@ Jim
The Lindisfarne Gospels are my favorite early medieval manuscripts. Their design and craftsmanship are absolutely amazing. They are also testament to the infusion and intermingling of Celtic design (spirals) , and Germanic Anglo-Saxon design (interlacing or weaving patterns). The carpet pages (the ones with just designs and no lettering) also have great examples of eastern crosses.
This intermingling of design is due to the Angles and Saxons invading Celtic Britain in this same general time period. Their pagan designs and heritage mixed with the local Christian Celts, and a new hybrid style evolved.
The Gospels are on display at the British Library in London, and are worth a look if you are in the neighborhood. Unfortunately since they are still bound, only one page is displayed at a time.
I have not heard the podcast yet, but I have to say that for me (and I cannot sepak for anyone else) social networking sites are intrusive and potentially dangerous. Not only that, I don’t want the “world” knowing my business… So many people put up things that will someday come back to haunt them.
Then I read this:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20080511-facebook-ordered-to-out-kids-behind-principals-fake-profile.html
@Michael
sure there’s a downside to even the finest web2.0 sites. That’s why I only post the basic stuff about my person on some sites like my name, maybe a photo and other brief info. I am also concerned about privacy. The basic idea behind social networking however is great and I don’t want to miss it.
On the German equivalent to Facebook (StudiVZ, a “facebook” for college students) I have met old friends and other persons I haven’t seen for ages.
A common mistake many people make is to share too much info - this trend can also be seen on the profiles of StudiVZ. Sometimes you can characterize a person thoroughly by just looking at his StudiVZ / Facebook etc. profile…
And if you post the wrong taste of music / wrong political views etc. that might be the end for your upcoming career if the human resources dept. or your future boss reviews the tons of data you have posted.
But… It’s all a question on how YOU deal with sensitive information. So how much you post is within your own responsibility.
As I said, post the basic stuff only and there shouldn’t be a problem. Just my humble opinion.
Of course if you have kids you have to show them how to use this medium carefully. Grown-ups are “grown-up” enough to see the upsides and downsides.
I’ve used FLock off an on for a few months now and really like it hwoever, I didn’tknowit did half the things you mentioned on your show! It’s even better than I thought!
Following up on 3D & Digital Movies stuff relating to the soon to be released Indiana Jones movie:
*How ‘Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull’ Almost Didn’t Have a Digital Release*
Variety’s Pamela McClintock writes about the continuing arguement over whether the digital 3-D roll-out is proceeding quickly enough. But there’s also an interesting part in it about the plain old 2-D digital release of the new ‘Indiana Jones’ movie.
Pamela McClintock writes:
“There was an outcry among theater owners earlier this year when Par suggested it wouldn’t supply digital prints of Spielberg’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” because Spielberg wanted the movie played only as film on 35mm screens. Filmmakers including Spielberg sometimes balk at having their movies shown in digital when they were shot on film.
Not providing a film like “Crystal Skull” on digital would slight theater owners who have made the conversion, according to exhibs. Theater owners have long argued that there’s no reason to make the transition if the product isn’t there.
Par changed its position and will be releasing digital prints of “Indiana Jones.” Exhibs aren’t entirely mollified, though, since digital prints will go only to those houses where all the screens are digital. If there’s a mix of screens in a theater, that theater will get only a film print.”
Story Here:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117984905.html?categoryId=13&cs=1
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I wonder if your correspondent who visited St Paul’s Cathedral in London realised that it is an Anglican church and accordingly that the Mass she attended was not a Roman Catholic one. The liturgies are virtually the same although the RC and Anglican churches are not officially “in communion”. It may be reassuring to know that many Anglicans believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
A link to a video demonstrating what Twitter is all about was mentioned in the episode. I cannot find it anywhere.
Could anyone point me to the said link?
Twitter in plain English:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o