This week we declare that we’re fans of Brian Cox and we deliberate some more on the book ‘Shoot for the Moon’ by Richard Wiseman (see ep. 190) and how we can apply the lessons learned from Apollo in our skeptical endeavors.
We then look into the soap opera that is the currently ongoing Synod in Rome that has created a big controversy for Francis, even before it has begun (and in addition he insists you need a dick to vote on the outcome). That is a developing story that we absolutely will come back to in the upcoming weeks.
Massimo Polidoro (see ep. 189) has yet another new book out AND has launched a new YouTube channel. Does the man never sleep? We take a look at why Greta Thunberg is constantly attacked, and our message is that if she gets on your nerves you should listen to what she says, not how she may make you feel.
The Swedish liberal Centre Party takes a very controversial stand against male circumcision and the World Health Organization has issued new recommendations regarding flu vaccinations.
We end the show with a deep dive into the climate change debate, handing out both a Really Wrong Award to the Climate Intelligence Foundation and a Really Right to the site Climatefeedback.org.
Enjoy!
Segments:
Intro; Greetings; Pontus Pokes the Pope; News; Really Wrong and Really Right; Quote and Farewell; Outro; Out-takes
Events Calendar: https://theesp.eu/events_in_europe
0:00:27 Intro
0:00:49 Greetings
We talk about Brian Cox on tour and some more about Richard Wiseman’s book Shoot for the Moon)
- Brian Cox’ Tour ‘Adventures in Space and Time’: https://briancoxlive.co.uk/
- Shoot for the Moon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Shoot-Moon-Richard-Wiseman/dp/1787474437/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=richard+wiseman&qid=1570084108&sr=8-1
0:08:14 Pontus Pokes the Pope – Synod for the Amazon
Married Priests? Only in the Jungle…
- Crux: https://cruxnow.com/amazon-synod/2019/10/04/amazon-synod-organizers-voice-of-local-church-led-to-married-priest-debate/
- Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/vatican-gathering-on-the-amazon-stirs-backlash-over-debate-on-allowing-married-priests/2019/10/05/b196a554-e457-11e9-b0a6-3d03721b85ef_story.html
0:15:17 News
ITALY: Massimo Polidoro has a new book out, plus a new YouTube channel!
- New book: ‘Il Mondo Sottosopra’: https://www.massimopolidoro.com/libri/il-mondo-sottosopra-ecco-il-titolo-del-mio-nuovo-libro-edito-da-piemme-in-uscita-il-29-ottobre.html
- New YouTube channel: https://www.massimopolidoro.com/complotti-e-cospirazioni/sono-tornato-su-youtube-con-una-nuova-serie-il-complotto-quotidiano.html
INTERNATIONAL: Attacks on Greta Thunberg
- Poynter: https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2019/hoaxes-about-greta-thunberg-go-after-her-family-image-and-activism-but-why/
- Snopes: https://www.snopes.com/ap/2019/09/27/greta-grown-ups-mock-children-because-world-view-threatened/
SWEDEN: Political party votes for ban of circumcision – but leader asks everyone to ignore it
- Dagens Nyheter (1): https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/centern-vill-forbjuda-religios-omskarelse/
- Dagens Nyheter (2): https://www.dn.se/nyheter/politik/loof-beklagar-beslutet-om-forbud-mot-omskarelse/
INTERNATIONAL: WHO recommendations regarding flu vaccine
- https://www.snopes.com/news/2019/09/27/why-the-flu-shot-cannot-give-you-the-flu/
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/ten-threats-to-global-health-in-2019
00:36:48 Really Wrong and Really Right: To Climate Intelligence Foundation for the letter signed by “500 scientists” and to Climatefeedback.org for setting things straight
- Climatefeedback.org: https://climatefeedback.org/evaluation/letter-signed-by-500-scientists-relies-on-inaccurate-claims-about-climate-science/
00:46:53 Quote and Goodbye
“If we [humans] disappeared overnight, the world would probably be better off […] It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
/ Sir David Attenborough, born 8 May 1926, English broadcaster and natural historian /
00:52:25 Outro
00:53:40 Out-takes