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Why I Spent Time Surfing the Internet and Checking Facebook Instead of Writing This…

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I’ve been thinking about writing about Nicholas Carr’s intriguing new book, The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains for some time, especially after reading David Brooks’ excellent column referencing the book, which nicely summed up my opinion, too, of the book and what it says about the future of human intelligence.  But, as described in the book about virtually every other connected citizen of the universe, I’ve been too easily distracted in recent days from the usual Internet distractions–e-mail, blogs, Facebook.


In defense of myself, I will say that I’ve had very few largish chunks of time recently for sustained writing or doing things that might take more of my intellectual energy.  And I will say even when I have had a little time, it’s far easier to check in quickly with friends or plan ahead on my calendar.  But I will say that I have made time for plenty of offline reading, as I infinitely prefer real physical books to anything online.


As I mentioned when  I interviewed author Mary Eberstadt, I first read some of The Loser Letters at National Review online, where some were first published, but I found it much more satisfying to read as the physical book, both because of the story line, but also because I wouldn’t be distracted as I am when online to click around.


I personally have resisted getting an e-reader like a Kindle or Nook, and after reading The Shallows, I think I will stick with my resolution for now.   I do have the free Kindle App on my iPhone, but I find it only useful for reading aloud (either to someone else or for someone, usually one of my children, to read to the rest of the family).

In The Shallows,  Carr argues persuasively that, “with the exception of alphabets and number systems, the Net may well be the single most powerful mind-alterning technology that has ever come into to general use.  At the very least, it’s the most powerful that has come along since the book.”

Carr writes, “In the choices we have made, consciously or not, about how we use our computers, we have rejected the intellectual tradition of solitary, single-minded concentration, the ethic that the book bestowed on us.”

I somewhat disagree with the notion of books being “solitary” because usually the first thing I do when I am in the midst of, or recently finished a great book, whether fiction or non-fiction, is tell someone about it.  I’ll strike up a conversation with an acquaintance at church or in the grocery store, I’ll bring it to book groups (and even start book groups specifically to talk about a book).  I consider my role here at the Catholic Post Book Group an incredibly fortunate way for me to combine my love of reading (real, print books) and my love of technology and connecting with friends and others via the Internet.   But I was very troubled by the science Carr cites to show that the Internet is making our brains more distractable, and not in a good way.


In May, blogger Melissa Wiley started an interesting discussion about Carr’s book (which prompted me to become the first at our library to reserve the book!), and asked the question, “Have you noticed a difference in your powers of concentration or memory?”


David Brooks’ column, though, hits another important point, which is how the Internet’s vast information does not help one have literacy about judging the worth of the information: 

“The Internet-versus-books debate is conducted on the supposition that the medium is the message,” writes Brooks.  “But sometimes the medium is just the medium. What matters is the way people think about themselves while engaged in the two activities. A person who becomes a citizen of the literary world enters a hierarchical universe. There are classic works of literature at the top and beach reading at the bottom.”

Brooks concludes,  “It could be that the real debate will not be books versus the Internet but how to build an Internet counterculture that will better attract people to serious learning.”



Thoughts?  Do you prefer a real book or reading online?  I wonder if there is a generational difference here?   Share your thoughts (and your approximate generation, if you like!

Great Catholic Humor Blog: Interview with "The Ironic Catholic"

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One of my favorite go-to sites for laugh-out-loud humor, is The Ironic Catholic.  I had the opportunity to e-interview Susan, aka “The Ironic Catholic,” and I’m happy to share it and her great Catholic humor blog with everyone at the Catholic Post Book Group.

I hope you’ll get a chance to check out http://www.ironiccatholic.com/. Yesterday’s post sounds like something I have considered on numerous occasions.


Here are some of my favorites, but there is a link on the sidebar of some of her best pieces:




Her occasional series, “Signs You’ve Studied Theology Too Long,” pairing food dishes with saints and theologians. 

Her quotes of the day, about once a week, are great.  Here’s one that makes you think, “Did he really say that?” (he did).

The Ironic Catholic also links to some hilarious other blogs and sites for Christian humor. Our family couldn’t stop laughing at this caption contest and this great Ash Wednesday video.


Here’s my interview with The Ironic Catholic. Enjoy!


Why did you start the blog?

It really was a whim.  I was poking around a now defunct Catholic humor blog called Catholicnews.org and thought “I could do this.”  We don’t watch TV and my husband works evenings, so it seemed like a good way to relieve stress and have fun after my kids went to sleep.  What can I say–some people scrapbook, I do an Onion-style humor blog.


Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I like to be a woman of mystery on the blog and go by the “pen name”–The Ironic Catholic–but honestly, the mystery may be more fascinating than the reality.  I teach systematic theology at a small Catholic university in the upper midwest, and I am married to a great man, a stay at home dad and free lance writer, with whom I parent four kids 10 and under.  I’m involved in our local parish and the Catholic Worker community in our town, and training to be a spiritual director.  The other day I thought “I’m an academic theological wife and mother who moonlights as a humorist.  It sounds like the beginning of a really bad joke…A academic theological wife, mother and humorist walked into a bar….”


It’s obvious you consider humor important in the life of Catholics.  Can you explain that a little bit?

Right, the motto of the blog for a while was “humor is our second greatest strength.”  I think the ability to laugh at ourselves is huge in the Christian life.  There’s a kind of laughter that is mean-spirited, taking others down, and I don’t endorse that–but the ability to laugh at ourselves keeps us humble better than anything else.  I suppose that’s the deep reason behind the humor blogging.
In my case, I’m trying to do a bit of cultural critique with some of the humor pieces as well, and as much as Catholics can do that well, I think it has the potential to open eyes and convert hearts  more than “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth”–people warm up to ideas presented in good cheer and humor; it’s a powerful tool.  But frankly, a lot of the humor really is just for fun.  A humorist trying to educate and criticize all the time is like your Great uncle Louie buying the kids brussel sprouts instead of candy for Christmas.  It’s OK to laugh.  I’m pretty sure Jesus must have.


Where do you get your material?  In particular, the quotes from saints and others are really fascinating.


I have no idea where the written satire pieces come from, besides the odd neighborhood of my head.  My friends in grad school used to say I had a sense of humor that was understood by about 25 people (usually after I made some subtle joke about Karl Rahner or some such).  With the wide reach of the internet, I now have an audience of 30.  (See, that was that self-deprecating humor there?)

The quotes from the saints and such–I love the saints and read them a lot, but google search has admittedly come in play!


You’ve got a new book out: Dear Communion of Saints (Readers can find out about getting the book here.  Tell us a little bit about it, and why you decided to write it.


Dear Communion of Saints is a small book, a compilation of pieces I wrote for the blog a while back with new material.  The idea is to take newspaper advice columns and turn them on their head–instead of Dear Abby, ask the saints instead.  And they respond to our foolish questions, with tough love, insight and humor.  And the advice questions are indeed foolish, but honestly, aren’t we all foolish sometimes? Half the spiritual battle may be recognizing our own foolishness, and the saints can do that with clarity and love, because they are so much more our friends than Dear Abby is.  I love the saints, I love the faith, I love teaching, and I love good humor–and I got to address all those things with this book.

Sandals

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(We’ll return to book discussion tomorrow.  Please excuse this digression, but I hope you’ll agree it was for a good reason)
Who knew sandals could have such an effect on people?

Today in Peoria, Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s relics were part of a beautiful Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.  You can read about the Mass and veneration here.  The relics are traveling the country as part of the centennial celebration of the birth of Blessed Teresa.
After the Mass, there was the opportunity for veneration of the relics.  There were two small reliquaries with first-class relics (meaning a part of her body).  There were also several second-class relics (meaning something that belonged to the Blessed).  It was remarkable to see the crucifix and rosary that Mother Teresa wore.  Most of the people took the opportunity to kiss or touch the relics.
What seemed to capture the imagination of most, however, were Mother’s well-worn sandals.   The sandals were patched and had clearly seen a lot of miles, yet sturdy.  It was just amazing to see something Mother Teresa had worn throughout the world spreading the Gospel of Love.
Nearby the relics was a montage of photos of Mother at different times in her life.  My oldest daughter pointed out one of the photos showed Mother wearing the sandals.  Remarkable!
Relics can be a daunting prospect for some Catholics—a piece of the saint’s bones? Her blood?   For some reason, the sandals seemed very approachable, very Mother Teresa-like.   It seemed appropriate.

“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.”– Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. 


I actually didn’t know Mother had said that quote, but while searching around for one of her more “famous” quotes, I found this and I immediately thought of the song by Popple, “Pencil in the Hand,“ that must have been taken from her writings.

Great Catholic Humor Blogs: Ask Sister Mary Martha

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I had intended to publish an interview with a great Catholic humor blogger, but I notice her blog is “on vacation” for a few more days (how ironic! as you shall see next week), so today I’m going to highlight a different one.

I suspect, but I have no way of knowing, if it is a nun or not who writes Ask Sister Mary Martha, but it apparently is someone with a fairly deep knowledge of Catholic doctrine and a great sense of humor.  The blog’s tagline: “Life is tough. Nuns are tougher” says it all, as this “tough nun” serves up information and advice about all manner of problems, saints and questions about Catholic doctrine. 

Some of my favorite posts are about how she recommends different patron saints for different needs, from Blessed Andre of Montreal for protection of property, to the patron saints of twins.
She answers a funny but not unusual question about going to confession here.
Along with the humor, there’s lots of good information on this site about saints, Catholic history and Catholic doctrine.
I’ve just spent way too much time searching around (and chuckling) for good posts to share with you, but really, they are all good.  So just go there and enjoy!

A Book of Plane Prayers

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I noticed in this week’s print edition that someone in our diocesan family has a new book out.  It’s called “A Book of Plane Prayers” by Sister Agnes Cunningham, SSCM, of Champaign.

Jennifer Willems writes about the book here.

I had the chance to pick up this slim volume when I was at Lagron-Miller the other day picking up a Catechism of the Catholic Church for a book group (surprise! another book group for me).

It’s a really nice book of prayers, and since we like traveling in our family, some more than others, I’m sure we’ll be getting some use out of it.

Check it out!

"Hell Burns" on Humor

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On Tuesdays this month, I want to share blogs that are either Catholic humor blogs, or reflect on the nature of humor to help us live out our faith.


Today, I want to feature Sister Helena Burns, a Daughter of St. Paul nun who writes the blog “Hell Burns” (get it?).  Her blog is more about one of my big passions–media literacy–than humor per se.  Still, if you’ve ever had the good fortune to meet her in person, you’ll know immediately how funny she is and how she radiates joy.  And how could a person who named her blog “Hell Burns” not be funny?


Recently, she wrote a commentary on the television show “The Family Guy” that really became an essay on the value and importance of humor in the world.  In fact, I borrowed concepts from her conclusion to really focus on humor this month:  


“Never underestimate the bewitching potential and power of humor. He/she who gets you to laugh last, laughs best. All the way to the zeitgeist bank. And what do you and your children get?”


Please consider reading Sister Helena Burns’ essay here. 


 And do visit her blog–Sister Helena does write the occasional laugh-out-loud post, like this account of her first and last ski trip.


Also, Sister Helena is a great source of detailed and skilled movie reviews in the context of our Catholic faith.  Her review of Toy Story 3 shows, for example, touches on both John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and Lotso’s nihilism.  You must read her reviews to fully experience these kind of great connections.