TheESP – Ep. #358 – Vlad the Impaler

– also be prepared for next year’s Christmas!
We start by reflecting on Putin’s “war” against Ukraine now that he (by accident?) admitted that that is what it is. In TWISH we hear about Vlad the Impaler (aka Vlad III or Dracula) and to what extent Bram Stoker used him as inspiration for his famous book. Also, some recent pseudohistory is making the rounds about Vlad III “Dragulya”. Pope Frankie has a new legal issue now that the Italian Senate has grown tired of his lack of action in the Orlandi case. Then we take a look at the news:

• NETHERLANDS: No ritual satanic abuse in NL
• SWEDEN: Svante Pääbo gets strange criticism
• INTERNATIONAL: After Christmas is before Christmas: tips for recycling
• SWEDEN: The King to inaugurate Europe’s first launchpad for satellites

We end the year by issuing a big Really Right and our deep thanks to all our listeners, patrons and supporters on Paypal.
A very happy new year to you all!

Enjoy!

Segments: Intro; Greetings; TWISH; Pontus Pokes The Pope; News; Really Right; Quote And Farewell; Outro; Out-Takes;
 
0:00:27 INTRO

0:00:51 GREETINGS

• Russia’s war on Ukraine – Dmitry Rogozin injured and Putin finally calls it what it is (i.e. ‘war’)
  • Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-shelling-attack-injures-two-top-pro-russia-officials-donetsk-agencies-2022-12-22/
  • Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/22/putin-war-ukraine-special-operation/

0:05:36 TWISH – THIS WEEK IN SKEPTICAL HISTORY

• End of Dec 1476 (or early Jan 1477): The Death of Vlad the Impaler (aka Dracula)
  • Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uri_Geller

0:15:25 PONTUS POKES THE POPE

• Italian senator calls for an inquiry of the Vatican re three missing young women
  • Euro News: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/12/23/emanuela-orlandi-italian-senator-asks-for-inquiry-into-1983-disappearance-of-vatican-girl

0:19:54 NEWS

• NETHERLANDS: No ritual satanic abuse in NL
  • GWUP: https://blog.gwup.net/2022/12/25/untersuchungsbericht-keine-hinweise-auf-organisierten-satanistisch-rituellen-missbrauch-in-den-niederladen/
• SWEDEN: Svante Pääbo gets strange criticism
  • Svd: https://www.svd.se/a/kEMp5B/kritiken-mot-svante-paabo-ar-bisarr
• INTERNATIONAL: After Christmas is before Christmas: tips for recycling
  • BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63862344
• SWEDEN: The King to inaugurate Europe’s first launchpad for satellites
  • Sydsvenskan: https://www.sydsvenskan.se/2022-12-23/esranges-nya-ramp-redo-for-satellituppskjutning

0:40:40 REALLY RIGHT

• Really Right: For supporting us, listening to us, sending us Christmas money and monthly payments, for enabling us to travel to three destinations this year and for keeping us going, our listeners and especially our Patreons are receiving this week’s prize for being Really Right. We couldn’t do what we’re doing without you.

0:42:57 QUOTE AND FAREWELL

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
/ Søren Kierkegaard, (5 May 1813 – 11 November 1855), Danish theologian, philosopher, poet, social critic, and religious author who is widely considered to be the first existentialist philosopher. /

0:43:41 OUTRO

0:44:56 OUT-TAKES