William L. (Bill) Allen is the retired Editor-in-Chief of National Geographic magazine. During his 10-year editorship, the magazine was honored with numerous journalistic awards, including scores of national photographic awards and the distinction of winning the top honor in magazine publishing given by the American Society of Magazine Editors. During his 36-year career that began as a summer intern, he edited, photographed for and wrote for literally hundreds of National Geographic articles, books, children's publications and educational materials. Since his so-called "retirement", the Tyler, Texas, native has photographed one book, is working on others, and teaches at photographic workshops as well as serving on numerous boards of directors. Following graduate work at Georgetown University, where he was the H.B. Earhart Fellow with what is now the Center for Strategic and International Studies, he served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1967-1969 along the Korean DMZ. He then worked as a free-lance photographer before joining the staff of the National Geographic Society.

Blog Entries by Bill Allen

Sarah Palin Is Flat: Change Without Evolution

2 Comments | Posted November 19, 2009 | 02:03 PM (EST)


Although the list is long and getting longer with each day, add one more very significant reason to the catalog documenting that Sarah Palin is not only unqualified to hold any public office, but also through her intellectual bankruptcy shows her as a threat to American leadership in one of...

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Armageddon Friday

Posted March 30, 2009 | 12:04 PM (EST)


As astonishing as it may seem, Texans are on the verge of proving that they are not yet ready to join the 21st Century -- or maybe even the 19th. Politics and religion are about to mix and insure that "laughingstock" becomes an almost required synonym for the word "education"...

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Promoting the Pornography of Creationism

Posted February 5, 2009 | 02:42 PM (EST)


Just when you think that you have been as outlandish as possible by presenting an absurd idea as a joke, someone comes along and proves that stupidity has no limits.

I wrote a huffingtonpost.com blog on creationism entitled "Ending Pornography in Creationism: Part Deux." This proposed in jest...

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Ending the Pornography of Creationism: Part Deux

Posted February 2, 2009 | 01:23 PM (EST)


So here's one more reason I'll never be rich: I can't get started on an obvious chance to make a fortune by creating an on-line "creation science" university.

Just imagine the potential. First, how easy it would be. Since there is no science in "creation science," the lectures would be...

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Ending the Pornography of Creation

Posted January 29, 2009 | 12:24 PM (EST)


President Obama has set a breathtaking pace in overturning the most egregious of the flawed and shortsighted approaches of his predecessor to virtually every aspect of presidential leadership including energy, the environment, foreign affairs, health care, and the economy. We can only hope that this momentum can continue as the...

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Science is Back in the House

Posted January 22, 2009 | 05:25 PM (EST)


We thankfully now have a President who promises in his inaugural address to "restore science to its rightful place," thus adding words to his actions. The address and the selection by Barack Obama of a team of brilliant scientists to advise him has initiated the reversal of eight years of...

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Inauguration Reflection

Posted January 20, 2009 | 04:41 PM (EST)


As Barack Obama took the oath of office before a crowd covering the Mall, we had an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable coincidence. This country was forged through the ultimate sacrifices of as many people as were standing and watching the event in the cold, clear air of Washington...

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Bush's Pure Genius Moves: 9/11, Gunfights, Cheney, the Economy, and More

Posted January 5, 2009 | 11:03 AM (EST)


While it has been a laborious task, we have compiled for your consideration a list of the ten smartest things that George Bush did as President. Please feel free to suggest your own.

10. Appoint Jim Baker to go to Florida during the 2000 election stand-off. A pit bull whips...

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Greenspan Statement Rocks Markets, Undermines Confidence

Posted December 22, 2008 | 06:11 PM (EST)


Former chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan today expressed surprise that Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer actually required batteries for his nose.

Some reporters noted that the language was virtually identical to what Mr. Greenspan had used several times previously, including during the meltdown of the U.S. financial structure this...

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Obama's Biggest Decision

Posted December 15, 2008 | 10:14 PM (EST)


Even before Inauguration Day Barack Obama has made perhaps the most crucial decision of his presidency. This fundamental choice reflects not a position on a single issue but in establishing a process -- that of surrounding himself with some of the best minds in this nation, evaluating their counsel and...

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