Obama or the Pope?

I'm in Italy on a fellowship this month.  Writing about new media, digital youth.  Meanwhile, back home, my county of Durham, NC, went 75% for Obama. My pals at home stayed up late to watch election results.  I went to bed on time but woke up early--to find election results on the internet.   Both Hillary and Obama were emailing me daily, several times a day, and so were their fans and friends, before the election.  The Net brings news of victories, the Net brings tragedies:  Tens of thousands of people are dead in Burma, from a horrific cyclone that may or may not be part of the extreme weather cycle we may be entering and that may be caused by global warning (my Google reader is full of articles on all sides of this debate this morning).  Right now, in my studio, I can look out my window at the gorgeous rocks poking up out of limpid lapis and turquoise water, the Italian Riviera, but I can't escape the news.  The World Wide Web winds tightly.

The other day, walking along the Passagietta to Nervi, an Italian gentleman lay below me on the rocks, in suitpants and leather business shoes, his shirt off, catching the spring's first real summery rays, cell phone to his ear.  Hey!  We learned this morning that even the Pope has taken up texting to court today's youth.  New media, anyone?