In time for Easter I took the family to the Vatican Splendors exhibition. While nothing beats going to Rome and seeing the Sistine Chapel, in 2 air-conditioned hours at the museum in St. Petersburg, FL without the crushing crowds at St. Peter's, we got a glimpse of many of Vatican treasures up close.
Three things in the exhibition stood out for me from a technologist's eye:
a) Even as recently as 2005, when the current pope was elected, the balloting process is manual. Bruce Schneier who writes Crypto-gram describes the controls in the process.
The exhibit had a specimen of the paper ballot - embossed with Eligo in Summum Pontificem ("I elect as Supreme Pontiff") - where each cardinal enters name of their nominee.
The ballots are cast in the chalice with the sheep. Each cardinal places his folded ballot on the paten. Then he picks up the paten and slides his ballot into the chalice.It is designed to prevent stuffing of ballots.
When all the ballots are in the chalice, the first Scrutineer shakes it
several times to mix them. Then the third Scrutineer transfers the
ballots, one by one, from one chalice to the other with the shepherd,
counting them in the process. If the total number of ballots is not
correct, the ballots are burned and everyone votes again.
b) It took 900 men and 72 horses 5 months to move the 330 ton Vatican Obelisk to its present location in 1585.
Today we would likely use a vehicle like the Shuttle Crawler. and do it in a day or so.
c) Every visit to the Vatican showcases the bright, Renaissance costumed Swiss Guards, who have guarded the Pope for 500 years.
Known for their halberds - half spear, half axe -I found this site describing how their weapons have evolved "Each member of the Guard has served his time in the regular Swiss Army before being allowed to join on a sponsorship from his local canton. A more sedate field uniform is available as is hard and soft body armor, Heckler and Koch MP5 series sub guns, SiG Sauer 550 assault rifles, and SiG P220 handguns with which they train regularly."
The exhibition moves to Cleveland end of May and next to St. Paul end of September.
Time's 10 ideas that are changing the world
More than money, more than politics, ideas are the secret power that this planet runs on. Here are a few Time magazine thinks you need need to know about
* Common Wealth
* The End of Customer Service
* The Post-Movie-Star Era
* Reverse Radicalism
* Kitchen Chemistry
* Geoengineering
* Synthetic Authenticity
* The New Austerity
* Mandatory Health
* Re-Judaizing Jesus
March 25, 2008 in Industry Commentary | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)