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Vatican Fights the 'Sin' of Pollution with $US1.5 Million Solar Panel Roof
Posted by Jack Loftus at 5:30 AM on October 6, 2008
As part of its continuing effort to fight the "sin" of pollution, the Vatican has revealed that the first few panels of its 2,400-strong solar panel roof project were installed this week. The $US1.5 million project will require minimal maintenance over the next 25 years, and is part of an ambitious environmental project that could see the tiny European state become the first carbon-neutral body in the world. "Those who destroy the environment are also big sinners", said Italian Cardinal Deacon Renato Raffaele Martino earlier this year. "It's a big insult to God." I see it as more of an insult to my lungs, Martino, but I hear you barking on that one anyway. Good form. [Treehugger]
ROME (Agencies) - The Vatican has bought Palm Inc. in a US$800-million cash, stock, and souls deal, a move that analysts are calling a bold bid to reconvert the Catholic Church into the number one mobile operator for communication with God. The purchase is the culmination of Pope Benedict XVI's 
Apparently, Catholicism is full of old people. While that's all well and good, the Pope wants to take his message to the streets, where the young people hang out. He saw on the local news that people use "mobile phones" to send "text messages," so he decided to get on board with this hip and confusing new fad. Now young people can expect to receive texts such as "hey how r u its d pope believe in jesus plz." It's the future of religion!
Sprint is providing 600 phones to the Archdiocese of New York for the Pope's visit. In addition, "the Pope's caravan will be tracked through Actsoft's Comet Tracker GPS solution loaded on Sprint phones, transmitting data over a secured network in near real-time for optimum security and accuracy." That's right: the Pope uses Sprint. I don't think there's a more badass celebrity endorsement than that, do you? I can't wait for the ad campaign.
Screw the popemobile; that was for sissyboy John Paul II. Welcome to the reign of badass Benedict XVI, who will be touring Austria this month in a custom poped-out Blackhawk helicopter (pictured), complete with custom seats emblazoned with the papal insignia. While flying around in his heli/hoopty, he'll be accompanied by some Northrop Grumman F-5E fighter jets supplied by the Austrian air force. Apparently, people really have it out for the pope in Austria. Check pics of the custom seats after the jump.
