The Pope cancelled his newspaper, but this story is not about the newspaper industry and its struggles.

It's noteworthy because Pope Francis made the call himself, phoning the owner of a kiosk that had delivered him his paper daily, according to a report in by the Catholic News Agency.


On Monday afternoon, Pope Francis called the kiosk to say he wouldn't need his paper delivered any more, as he has recently moved from Buenos Aires in Argentina to the Vatican City.

They thought it was a prank at first, the Argentinean reported, but the pope responded, "Seriously, it's jorge Bergoglio; I'm calling you from Rome."
The father and son who own and work at the kiosk shared some stories about the new Pope, including that he returned the newspaper's rubber bands every month.

Before leaving for the conclave to vote for a new pope, Bergoglio was asked if he could be voted pope, but he said that was "too hot" a question to answer and told the father he would see them in 20 days and to keep delivering the paper.
Turns out he won't be needing that paper delivered after all. The pope asked for prayers and said it would be too difficult for a visit home any time soon but he would always be with be there with them.

The comments on the story reveal how many adore the new pope for his humility and simplicity as well as the personal touches he offers. CBS News also has a good story showing the adoration his fellow countrymen have for Pope Francis, highlighting his humility, but also pointing out that he is a football, or rather soccer fan, though wasn't a very good player.

In today's world of marketing and branding and image being all, it is relevant that Peter Murphy, the godfather of Goth music, was arrested in a Subaru. We've all heard of the impaired driving, the fleeing from an accident and the possession of a narcotic. But here is what's different, the car he was driving.

Here's the story:

A California paper is reporting that Peter Murphy, lead singer of Bauhaus and solo artist, was jailed Saturday on a $500,000 bond following a traffic accident.
According to the www.glendalenewspress.com, Murphy, 55, was driving a Subaru Forester that struck a Mercedes at 11:48 a.m. Saturday and then fled the area. The injured victim got his license plate, someone else took a photo and another motorist followed his car and later blockied his path until police arrived. Officers later found a baggie containing suspected methamphetamine, leading to a felony charge.
Murphy, who led the English Goth band Bauhaus, famous for the song "Bela Lagosi's Dead" before forming another another band, Dalis Car, and then going solo, is due to play at Detroit's Magic Stick on May 13.
Murphy, who lives in Turkey, told police that he had been jetlagged when the crash occurred and denied drinking, noting he had taken his anti-depression medication. He also denied the baggie was his. He remained jailed as of Monday, the high bond due to his being a flight risk.
On social media, some fans have mocked the "Godfather of Goth" for driving a Subaru.
Here is what has been tweeted:
Jesse LeDoux ‏@ledouxville: My takeaway from this: Peter Murphy drives a Subaru Forester?
Call The Office ‏@Call_The_Office: Real mixed bag for goths today. On upside: new Depeche Mode. Downside: their king, Peter Murphy, arrested. And in daylight!
Brandon Stosuy ‏@brandonstosuy: Peter Murphy arrested for DUI. Depeche Mode release Delta Machine. All we need now is for Robert Smith to tell us he's "going ska." ‪#sadgoth‬
IMPOSE ‏@IMPOSE: ‪#Bauhaus‬ frontman Peter Murphy arrested for DUI.... while driving a ‪#Subaru‬. ‪http://bit.ly/149zmbK‬
Kat Kinsman ‏@kittenwithawhip: Peter Murphy arrested in DUI. In a Subaru. ‪http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/03/bauhaus-singerdui-arrest.html …‬
maggie serota ‏@maggieserota: I will say this about Peter Murphy, the man takes a dignified mugshot.
Rob Tannenbaum ‏@tannenbaumr: Last time Peter Murphy was trending on twitter, Bauhaus broke up.
Natasha VC ‏@natashavc: Peter Murphy in Glendale. Driving a Subaru Forrester. With a pocket full of speed.
Brandon Stosuy ‏@brandonstosuy: Citing Robert Smith's Spot on "Not In Love", Peter Murphy Claims He Was Just "Collaborating" with the Crystal Meth.
Jake Fogelnest ‏@jakefogelnest: Peter Murphy from Bauhaus drives a Subaru.
Joe Garden ‏@joegarden: Michelle Shcoked homophobic rant. Peter Murphy DUI. It's a hard time for 1988 college radio DJs
Keith Phipps ‏@kphipps3000: First Michelle Shocked, now Peter Murphy. Who will be the next to turn up in the news after making terrible choices? Hoodoo Gurus?
antonnewcombe ‏@antonnewcombe: Peter Murphy king of the goths,is on anti-depression medication. ‪#Fail‬
Laura Lloyd ‏@lauralloyd: I have to assume Peter Murphy started falling off the deep end as soon as he was cast in "Twilight" - fame, don't let it get to your head.

Finally, some smart advice about children and the online world: Don't fight it, teach them good values.

An Associated Press story, noting how 2009 it is to try to monitor your children's Facebook account, is out today. And it carries this advice:

"Parents who want to keep up with the curve should stop thinking in terms of imposing time limits or banning social media services, which are stopgap measures. Experts say it’s time to talk frankly to kids about privacy controls and remind them — again — how nothing in cyberspace every really goes away, even when software companies promise it does."

I believe it is best to let children start early on computers, both the mechanism and the online tools, so it is natural to them. And part of it being natural to them, of course, is the idea of what to trust, or really, what to distrust, namely everything.

Just as everything must be sourced or at least spread with the idea that 'it may not be true, but here is what one person says,' so too must children learn that they must not hold everything they see as truth, especially when it is what someone says about them. Online 'bullying' or picking on, naming, making fun of, call it what you will, is the same as when it happens in person or in the hallway. It is less harmful if it is given its proper place.

Approaching the web as a valuable tool that allows for easy communication but with a skepticism one should carry throughout their lives prevents many of the problems we see involving teenagers and social media. Just as children learn restraint in what they say to friends, in class or out in public, they also must learn to use the same restraint online.

Just today, two girls are charged with menacing for tweeting or saying something on Facebook about the victim, not as the AP calls her, the 'accuser,' in the Ohio rape case. Dumb stuff, I hope, but it could be more sinister, considering how many conspired to hide this crime, but if they had it in them to have a bit of restraint, now they would not be in court, facing criminal charges and forced to pay for a defense and risking a criminal record.

Of course, for kids, today's final shows of the Disney on Ice would make for a perfect Dream Come True on St. Patty's Day, little kids that is. It's one of the better ones, less special effects but more acrobatic.

And there's this for local scholarly excitement:




Last year’s champion, Kuvam Shahane, 13, will be returning to the 18th Annual Oakland Press Regional Spelling Bee today to compete with 94 other spellers from Oakland County’s public, private and parochial schools.

The regional bee begins at 1 p.m. today at Oakland Schools intermediate district building on Pontiac Lake Road, west off Telegraph northbound.

Kuvam, now an eighth-grader at Rochester’s Van Hoosen Middle School, won an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., last year after outspelling 86 other county students. He was accompanied on the trip by his parents Nitan and Nikita Shahane Kuvam of Rochester Hills.

Whatever you do, have fun and watch out for the motorists.

I've already seen some talk in comments and in social media about the inherent racism in the State of Michigan taking over the City of Detroit.

Well, let's personalize it; it's One Tough Nerd stepping in to overtake the city council. The state's top elected leader is stepping and taking over for the city's elected leadership, including Mayor Dave Bing.

But I can't help thinking now is not the time to look into history as to how these problems developed and grew so out of control. The color of issue here is green, one born of money and how to pay for services with a shrunken tax base as home values plummeted and people fled (2 million down to 700,000).

When I moved to this area, the 2000 census was just showing the population had dipped to under a million. It's still falling fast.

Something needs to be done and the answer is not in wild accusations but working towards solutions to repair the budget and pay the bills and provide some services.

Actually, the report of Fox2's Charlie LeDuff getting into a bit of trouble may give some ammunition to people who don't like him, but I see it as small potatoes.

He still does good work and his reports have highlighted real problems. And I don't think he's been shy about his own or his family's situation. But when in the public eye, you do become a target.

"Are you sorry?"

That sums up the case against Kwame Kilpatrick and his administration's running of Detroit. Reporter Charlie LeDuff asked the right question when the disgraced former mayor stepped out of the US District courthouse.

Convicted of numerous racketeering and corruption charges today, along with friend and partner Bobby Ferguson, Kilpatrick is looking at a significant prison term for his role in plundering Detroit.

And as the man always decries how his family feels and feigned a love of the people of Detroit, he should have answered the question. Of course, he didn't.

He may yet, though, if he is convinced of that apology helping him get out of prison any earlier.  But for a man who has stuck to his story for years, he may be unable to admit guilt and apologize.

It'll be interesting, does he admit it and apologize in order to get to that family sooner or does he keep the lie going and miss more of their upbringing?

He was just 58 and he was beloved by many in his country.

Venezuela's oil makes the passing of Hugo Chavez an international story. It's a huge story because he was one of the handful of significant world leaders to challenge the U.S., putting him on the side of Cuba and Iran, traditional enemies to many traditionalists.

Of course, many of the people in those countries would love most things American, I suspect, but their leaderships like the animosity between us. Iran and their leaders hatred of all things Israel are the truly scary parts of the equation.

Most news outlets, it seemed, handled the Chavez story with regular respect, noting the illness, the treatments, the trade between us and them, and the speculation of what the death will mean first to relations and also to their internal stability.

The DrudgeReport's headline, "Hell's A-Burning," went a bit far even for them. Such glee in their snark. It matches the NY Post's headlines, Hugo to Hell Now.

Such snark minimizes his impact, yes, but ignore is to ignore key changes in the world, as the leader had a significant impact not just in his country, but in that region.

Now, a little smart humor works best, always, such as this:

George Takei

Well, no one lives forever. When Hugo, Hugo.