These bishops apparently issued a blanket suggestion against all technology, including iPods, Facebook, television, text messaging, and Twitter. While I understand the impulse to ban the latter, the bishops stated that they hoped a ban on text messaging would "draw attention to the conflict in Congo, which it says is fueled by a struggle over mines that supply minerals used to make cellphones." That's sort of reasonable and at the same time also totally unreasonable, in that nobody is going to make that connection unless their phones are inscribed with "MADE WITH THE BLOOD OF CONGOLESE MINERS" on the front.

The Pope, apparently, is still out there YouTubing, which kind of takes the sting out of the bishops' words. Is anybody out there giving up any sort of technology for lent? And if not, may I suggest Twitter? [LA Times]

We are not going to parade nuns in bathing suits. But being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it.

While most of us are having a good-hearted chuckle, beware. There are a handful of people—some of whom you may actually know—who are taking the news with great, sweaty anticipation. [CNN]