This might be a little unusual for me, being an American of my age and all, but over the course of my life I’ve had a small number of close friends who were Hitler Youth in Germany during World War II. I don’t hold that specific fact against anyone. But, just in case you wanted to see it, I thought I’d post this photograph of The Pope giving the Nazi Salute something that looks exactly like the Nazi salute but is actually a Christian blessing thingie (which does not obviate the fact that he was a Nazi along with most of his Christian-German compatriots of the time):

But then, it turns out that he WAS giving a real lie Nazi salute in a different picture. Here.

source

Bottom line: The Christians (including their leaders) of Germany at the time included a lot of people who were perfectly OK with remaining silent or worse. How much harder must I make to make this case clear to the Nazi Symps and Holocaust denialists?

Hitler wth Archbishop Cesare Orsenigo, the papal nuncio in Berlin, 1935

On April 20, 1939, Archbishop Orsenigo celebrated Hitler’s birthday. The celebrations, initiated by Pacelli (Pope Pius XII) became a tradition. Each April 20, Cardinal Bertram of Berlin was to send “warmest congratulations to the Fuhrer in the name of the bishops and the dioceses in Germany” and added with “fervent prayers which the Catholics of Germany are sending to heaven on their altars.”

Photo and text from here.

Rember this Hall and Oats video from Shorewood High School? If you liked that, you might like this:

First, we have SeekFind, the “Christian Search Engine” where you will not find anything that conflicts with the bible. Click here. I entered “Australopithecus” and got 163 results almost all from the Institute for Creation Research.

Second, we have the skeptical search engine, click here, which provides results from science oriented and skeptical sites. The search engine needs updating to include some of the new science blogging networks, but it still works pretty well the way it is. I entered “Bible” and got this:

Continue reading Two search engines with somewhat different foci →

I just got the following email from Al Franken:

Dear Greg,

Believe me, the last thing a Vikings fan like me would ever think to support is something called a “Cheddarbomb.”

But while the Packers may be our rival, I’d do just about anything to help out my friend Russ Feingold.

His football allegiances aside, Russ is one of the most courageous and dynamic progressives in the Senate — and he’s facing a tough fight this November. Russ’s opponent is spending millions of his own dollars attacking him.

Click here to join Russ Feingold’s oddly named but absolutely critical “Cheddarbomb” today!

If you care about civil liberties, you want Russ Feingold in the Senate. If you care about fair elections, you want Russ Feingold in the Senate. If you care about keeping political courage as part of the Democratic Party platform, you need Russ Feingold in the Senate.

That’s why I hope you’ll take a look at the email below and join me in supporting Russ’s “Cheddarbomb.” And, if you’re a Vikings fan, just think of it as compensation for stealing Brett Favre.

Thanks,

Al

I had no idea Russ Feingold was in trouble. That’s very bad news. Here’s the link Al sent me.

It is a plot, as I always suspected.

Seth Godin at Gel 2006 from Gel Conference on Vimeo.

Here’s his web site.

After 15 years in the British diplomatic corps, Carne Ross became a “freelance diplomat,” running a bold nonprofit that gives small, developing and yet-unrecognized nations a voice in international relations. At the BIF-5 conference, he calls for a new kind of diplomacy that gives voice to small countries, that works with changing boundaries and that welcomes innovation.

Continue reading Carne Ross: An independent diplomat →

Arts administrator and live-theater fan Ben Cameron looks at the state of the live arts — asking: How can the magic of live theater, live music, live dance compete with the always-on Internet? At TEDxYYC, he offers a bold look forward.

Continue reading Ben Cameron: The true power of the performing arts →

NOT!!!!!!

Actually, I think we can make even better arguments about Luskin’s points than this fun video gives. Put them in the comment section please:

…. the podcast of the recent Skeptically Speaking, is here. It’s a recorded live show!

This is not about women in skepticism. It is about skepticism, by women. Sort of. Anyway this episode includes:

Panelists: Kylie Sturgess of The Token Skeptic, Robynn “Swoopy” McCarthy of Skepticality, and Heidi Anderson and Jenna Marie Griffith of SheThought.

Field recordings: Donna Mugavero, Laurie Tarr, Dr. Pamela Gay, Dr. Rachie Dunlop, Jennifer Ouellette, Maria Walters, A Kovacs, Barbara Drescher

Cognitive psychologist Barbara Drescher joins us to discuss the common mistakes scientists make, and what happens to the science when their research goes wrong.

… and ….

Journalist David Dobbs explains the case against Marc Hauser, a prominent Harvard evolutionary biologist who was recently found guilty of scientific misconduct.

This Friday on Skeptically Speaking.

I dunno…. let’s ask a expert!
Continue reading How do we judge those who act in an immoral or unethical manner? →