* * * * *
                                        
 Bookless libraries, a Latinless Catholic Church and other unbelievable things
                                        
Bunny and I were at a restaurant, playing this on-line trivia game [1] when
we got the question:

> In Texas, there exists a public library that has no books.
> 
> * True
> * False
> 

Now, I realize this is Texas they're talking about, but really? Surely Texas
can't be that backwards, can it?

> SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Texas has seen the future of the public library, and it
> looks a lot like an Apple Store: Rows of glossy iMacs beckon. iPads mounted
> on a tangerine-colored bar invite readers. And hundreds of other tablets
> stand ready for checkout to anyone with a borrowing card.
> 
> Even the librarians imitate Apple's dress code, wearing matching shirts and
> that standard-bearer of geek-chic, the hoodie. But this $2.3 million
> library might be most notable for what it does not have — any actual books.
> 
> That makes Bexar County's BiblioTech the nation's only bookless public
> library, a distinction that has attracted scores of digital bookworms, plus
> emissaries from as far away as Hong Kong who want to learn about the idea
> and possibly take it home.
> 

“Texas library offers glimpse of bookless future [2]”

Oh … well. Um. Okay.

And then the next question came up:

> The official language of the Vatican is Latin.
> 
> * True
> * False
> 

This is a trick question, right? I mean … the Vatican [3]! They invented
Latin! This is true, right?

> **Q:** What is the official language of Vatical City?
> 
> **A: The official language of the Vatican City state is Italian, with Latin
> and French as secondary languages.** Vatican City is a walled enclave
> within the city of Rome. Its area of 110 acres makes it the smallest
> independent state in the world.
> 

“What is the official language of Vatican City? [4]”

What the … ?

Okay, fine! I need to learn a bit more about the Vatican [5]. Next thing
you'll tell me, Microsoft is going open source [6] or something silly like
that …

[1] http://www.heinztablegames.com/
[2] http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/04/san-antonio-
[3] http://www.vaticanstate.va/
[4] http://www.ask.com/geography/official-language-vatican-city-
[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHRIjI3hXs
[6] http://www.microsoft.com/en-

Email Sean Conner at sean@conman.org

.