Friday digest

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New today (and yesterday) from the Century:

• Thomas G. Long on the "Like" button: "Everyone wants my opinion these days: airlines, hotels, Amazon. How
  healthy can it be to think of life as a series of episodes to rate up or
  down?" (subscription required)

• Richard A. Kauffman compiles a list of essential books on spiritual direction
• Scott Gunn on photographs, and churches, with the key element missing: "The Lens at the New York Times has a fascinating collection of images entitled 'Iconic Scenes, Revisited and Reimagined.' Here are famous photos, but without the thing that made them famous."

In the news:

• Egyptian Christian leaders consider dialogue with Islamic groups
• Pope Benedict XVI's cardinals: More Roman, less 'catholic'
• Church of Norway to improve inclusion of native Sami people
• It's 2012, which means another doomsday may be upon us
• Pope names 22 new cardinals, including two Americans