Monthly Archives: October 2009
The forgotten Holocaust
This is a disturbing essay by Timothy Snyder in the New York Review of Books, republished in Eurozine. It suggests that we do not remember the entirety of the Holocaust in German and Soviet hands. [H/T 3 Quarks Daily]
Filed under History, Politics, Race and politics
For the past week, I’ve actually been in Germany
You know those stories about absent minded professors? I just showed that you don’t actually need a professorial appointment. I was meeting Steve Clarke, a leading philosopher who is at Oxford, at 12.45. I turned up on the dot at … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative, Humor
Is evangelicalism the walking dead?
An essay in Christian Science Monitor today suggests that within 20 years, the evangelical movement will be dead. I think it is wrong for several reason, but first, what it is right about: It is true that by tying their … Continue reading
Filed under Politics, Pop culture, Religion
On gods and religion
I have just had a very pleasant meeting of the minds with Justin Barrett here in Oxford, who gave me some of his time. We agreed on a lot, and this has set me thinking that I should document some … Continue reading
Filed under Biology, Evolution, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Social evolution, trashcan categorial
A god is born
In 1502, an indigenous princess was born named in Spanish María de la Onza, or “Mary of the Jaguar”. She has become a mythological figure, and her name contracted to María Lionza, and she is the senior deity of a … Continue reading
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Filed under Religion
Come to Australia and learn to handle venomous snakes
We like to joke with visitors about the venomous wildlife in Australia. I mean we even have a venomous mammal (well, sort of mammal). But as we have 20 of the world’s top 25 venomous snakes, we sometimes need to … Continue reading
Filed under Australian stuff, Humor
Travel Diary 6
Today I had a lovely time visiting Oxford University Press in the company of net-friend Mike Lyle and several of his philology friends. I checked that the OED has the right definitions of species (it’s not bad; I’ll send them … Continue reading
Filed under Administrative
Well deserved honor to Genie Scott by California Academy of Sciences
NCSE’s executive director Eugenie C. Scott will receive the Fellows’ Medal, the highest honor of the California Academy of Sciences, in a ceremony in San Francisco on October 13, 2009. read more [From Eugenie C. Scott honored by California Academy … Continue reading
PZ is a God Botherer
Now I just knew PZ Myers was an accommodationist. But I didn’t know he went this far… [From Taking bad acting to new troughs [Pharyngula]]
Why the west invaded Iraq
It’s awkward to say openly, but now-departed President Bush is a religious crackpot, an ex-drunk of small intellect who “got saved.” He never should have been entrusted with the power to start wars. From here.
