Monthly Archives: March 2007

Love Your Family

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

Louis Theroux ventures where most of us would be afraid to go. Say hello to the Phelps.

Posted in Society | 4 Comments

A Nasty Piece Of Work

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

Yes, I know that I claim that my blog is supposed to be a "religious-free zone". But, you have to admit it is difficult when Ratzinger comes out with stuff like this. I can but echo Ophelia – he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore | Leave a comment

Damning Evidence

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

If this is a data point, I would have to say that Americans have lost their capability to think. Please say it isn’t so.

Posted in Society | 2 Comments

Worthy of Tufte

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

There’s a new version of the mammalian family tree that’s just been published, as a result of taking earlier studies and producing a "supertree" from them. Pharyngula has the details, and there’s a most interesting discussion developing in the comments … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | Leave a comment

A Trifle OTT?

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

A trifle over the top, was my reaction to the news that a Swiss man living in Thailand has been jailed for 10 years for insulting the country’s king. But it could have been worse – the judge wanted to impose … Continue reading →

Posted in News and politics | Leave a comment

Sauce For The Goose…

Posted on March 30, 2007 by

…Is not always sauce for the gander. I think Ronan Bennett makes a very good point in his article in The Guardian today.

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The New Pope – The Starwars Version

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

I’m pretty sure I’ve blogged about this before, but it’s just been referred to over on the New Humanists’ Blog, so I thought that was excuse enough to put it up again.       It’s by Adam Buxton, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour | 2 Comments

Yet Another Debate

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

It’s just like waiting for the proverbial London bus – you stand around for ages and ages, and then three of them come along at once. Here’s another debate about religion… This time between Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and AC Grayling … Continue reading →

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The God of Eth

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

Stephen Law has another excellent post over at his eponymous blog to get you thinking about the nature of god. It’s always seemed "patently obvious" to me that if such a being exists (I’m a six on the Dawkins scale), … Continue reading →

Posted in Folklore | Leave a comment

A Must-See Film?

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

J. Carter Wood, over at Obscene Desserts, draws our attention to the oft-overlooked art of typography. It’s always seemed strange to me that something so ubiquitous can also be something so unnoticed – its effects being wrought often at almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Art | 1 Comment

With Friends Like These…

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

…Who needs enemies? That Mo, eh? What a card he is! Another brilliant episode in the ongoing story of religious folk.

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The Perfect Man For The Job

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

The director of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organization has clearly the perfect name… He must be the right man for the job.

Posted in Health and wellness | Leave a comment

Cheddarvision

Posted on March 29, 2007 by

As a restful alternative to the shenanigans of The Apprentice, you might want to try Cheddarvision…

Posted in Food and drink | Leave a comment

They’re Baaack!

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

Another bunch of 16 people whom I definitely wouldn’t want to bump into at parties has hit the screen tonight. Yes, the third series of The Apprentice has begun in all its tacky, toecurling glory. Apparently, all the candidates have … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment | 5 Comments

Another Debate

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

This time it’s Dawkins and McGrath. I haven’t heard it yet – just downloading it now. I’m curious to hear whether McGrath comes up with anything better than hand-waving this time around.   Update: Nope – he didn’t. He’s a … Continue reading →

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The World’s Biggest Sundial

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

The Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society draws our attention to the world’s biggest sundial – with a gnomon that is 155 metres (510 feet) high. 

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Clippy Reincarnated?

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

Some of you will probably remember Clippy – that obnoxious anthropomorphised cartoon paperclip that came with earlier versions of Microsoft Office. Thankfully, it has now been laid to rest in the latest version of Office. But don’t breathe too easily … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers and Internet | 2 Comments

Life Imitates Art – Part II

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

Sometimes I think my head will explode. It’s likely to be triggered by an overdose of incongruity. Such as this: the video of Nigerian email scammers acting out the Monty Python "Dead Parrot" sketch in the mistaken belief that this will earn … Continue reading →

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Life Imitates Art

Posted on March 28, 2007 by

In a fine piece over at Ballardian, Simon Sellars muses on the parallels between a film made in 1974, modern suburbia in Australia, and the uncanny prescience of J. G. Ballard in describing it all. Worth reading.

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Peanut Butter and Evolution

Posted on March 27, 2007 by

I’m currently under the weather with ‘flu. So I’m not feeling particularly wonderful at the moment. A feeling that was not helped one jot or tittle by this pile of bollocks.       There’s more where that came from … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | 1 Comment