Many Catholics are familiar with an anecdote about Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595). A woman confessed the sin of gossip. Saint Philip gave her an unusual penance. She was to take a feather pillow up into the tower of the Church. Then she was to open the pillow and let the wind blow the feathers away. … Read more
Many Catholics are familiar with an anecdote about Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595). A woman confessed the sin of gossip. Saint Philip gave her an unusual penance. She was to take a feather pillow up into the tower of the Church. Then she was to open the pillow and let the wind blow the feathers away. … Read more
Perhaps the truest thing ever said about the Internet is the axiom, “If you aren’t paying for the product, you are the product.” Never has so broad a set of service and entertainment options been laid before humanity at little or no charge. However, “no charge” does not mean at “no cost.” So many options … Read more
Technology’s invasion into our daily lives has unleashed a vast array of books and literature that tell us how to keep our gadgets from dominating us. Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal is one such book. It explores the psychological foundations for distractions and suggests techniques that help … Read more
New Year’s resolution time is here, and I am going to play it safe and resolve to do something that I know can be done. I am going to make all my Sundays in 2019 Internet-free. I know it can be done because I did it and survived. This was my resolution in 2017 and … Read more
You are waiting for your food at a restaurant. Near you, four diners sit in silence at a table. Each diner is operating a cellular telephone. If you have seen this picture, you already know that digital media have replaced conversation for many. Typically, they are young, but not always. Children, fathers, mothers, and even … Read more
Wherever you go, people are on their “smartphones.” In airports, restaurants or on the street, people are almost permanently glued to their devices, obsessed with the idea that they cannot exist without being connected to the cyber world. Thus, they text and tweet, email and Google, follow and like in an effort to be constantly … Read more
Everyone has seen it happen. Suddenly, in the middle of a conversation at an event, a person feels compelled to answer an “urgent” message, frequently without bothering to offer any explanation. This compulsive behavior is triggered by the fear of missing out on some social interaction which the person judges critical. Courtesy and good manners … Read more
On January 1, 2017, I made a New Year’s resolution to make my Sundays Internet free. This involved not going online Sundays for any reason, whether it be for email, updates or inquiries. I did this because I realized just how much leisure time I was wasting on the Internet. I wanted to devote Sunday … Read more
New Year’s resolution time is here, and I am again tempted to be overly ambitious. In moments of passion, I find myself wanting to make extreme changes to my habits that I know will not survive the first week of the New Year. Upon reflection, I have resolved to do something that is both possible … Read more
