Comments by stephend

Comment #231594 by stephend on August 16, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Mine sits prodly on my desk at work, and even now still provokes questions from curious passers-by. Some have since bought their own copy!

2. U.S. circumcision rate drops

Comment #50716 by stephend on June 19, 2007 at 3:21 pm

Stephend, dare one ask how...

Without going into too many details (this is a family show), let's say a young lady friend of his was like a clumsy oaf with filo pastry. Riiiiiip!

(that's why the 50p joke prompted my memory).

He didn't get to keep it, but knowing British hospitals, they probably did and are using it on some unwitting skin-graft recipient as we speak.

3. U.S. circumcision rate drops

Comment #50613 by stephend on June 19, 2007 at 4:59 am

>>A rip off

Ouch. Speaking of which, a friend of mine was circumcised at 32 (after an unfortunate accident), and he's loving his newly released member.

I advised him he wouldn't be so pleased once it had keratinised, and ended up about as sensitive as the heel of his foot...

4. Observer Diary 27th May 2007

Comment #45745 by stephend on May 29, 2007 at 5:34 am

Mortally threatened by commerce and cheap aviation fuel, how long will it last in its pristine fragility, this Eden of the scientific real world?

May I be cheeky and add Cruise Ship visits to the potential threats to these islands - even if they are full of atheists.

I would love to visit these islands, but have made a commitment never to do so. I just feel I would be more part of the problem than part of the solution (as the Prof implies).

5. Thanks for the Facts. Now Sell Them.

Comment #31948 by stephend on April 15, 2007 at 3:18 am

Seems that this guy wants fast food science. I wonder if he gives his kids McDonalds every night because that is what they like and ask for.

Perhaps science could be delivered as a reality TV show, with the audience voting off the theory they like the least.

What a patronising article. I think if people are treated as having some intellect, and the bar is set high, then in general people will rise to that.

6. The God Delusion is one of the Ten Best Audiobooks

Comment #31362 by stephend on April 12, 2007 at 6:38 am

If you are new to audible.co.uk I am sure they give you your first book for about £8.00 (they did with me anyway). It's a pleasure to listen to.

7. Dawkins vs Haggard: the Python Edition

Comment #29947 by stephend on April 5, 2007 at 4:20 pm

Barnacle - I abhor your tacit approval of physical violence. It's anti-intellectual, and a sure sign you are losing an argument. Shame on you.

Actually....

Come to think of it...

... he really does have a face you wouldn't get tired of slapping.

8. Richard Dawkins: Author of the Year!

Comment #28701 by stephend on March 30, 2007 at 12:31 pm

Hearty congratulations, Richard. Especially if you had to sit through that awful ceremony!

After 30mins I am losing the will to live...

(This message NOT sponsored by Waterstones, Sainsbury's, play.com, amazon.co.uk, W.H.Smith blah blah blah....)

9. Richard Dawkins interview with Paula Zahn

Comment #22152 by stephend on February 13, 2007 at 4:23 am

Very composed presentation from Richard. Well done. I fear I would have wanted to give those two "They need to shut-up" women from the panel a verbal bitch-slap if I had been invited on.....

10. Interview with Alister McGrath, author of 'The Dawkins Delusion?'

Comment #20891 by stephend on February 7, 2007 at 12:15 am

"I stopped believing in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy when I was six, and after being an atheist for some years discovered God when I was 18."

How very progressive of him. Not difficult though, is it? Just stay awake for a couple of hours and you get to the bottom of the santa and tooth-fairy myths. Not believing in god takes a little more effort - clearly beyond this man.

11. [Warning: Graphic] Children's foreheads slashed in Muslim saint's name

Comment #20157 by stephend on January 31, 2007 at 4:16 pm

Intelligentperson, I see you just registered today. I wonder who you can be.

As suggested, you have been so flagged.

How absurd.

12. [Warning: Graphic] Children's foreheads slashed in Muslim saint's name

Comment #20022 by stephend on January 31, 2007 at 5:09 am

Squiddity, I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't think my response was particularly emotional (though as Heatnzl says, what's wrong with it if it is?).

What you are basically saying is that you would have liked this article to be censored. I disagree.

13. [Warning: Graphic] Children's foreheads slashed in Muslim saint's name

Comment #20006 by stephend on January 31, 2007 at 3:50 am

Squiddity - I didn't understand your post at all. The article, as posted here, was simply reporting events. It did not provide an editorial opinion on the events at hand using "flowerly(sic) and dramatic language". As such, it was in no way prejudicial. Indeed you could hardly get less prejudicial.

Finally, if you think describing your post as nonsense is using impolite language, you are clearly far too delicate a flower for an internet forum. I think you'll find nonsense is a very polite word.

14. [Warning: Graphic] Children's foreheads slashed in Muslim saint's name

Comment #19986 by stephend on January 31, 2007 at 2:02 am

Squiddity - what a load of nonsence. You can try to dress this child abuse up any way you like, but at the end of the day, it is still physical child abuse, and should be treated with the contempt t deserves.

15. How Old is the Grand Canyon? Park Service Won't Say

Comment #15355 by stephend on December 30, 2006 at 4:48 pm

All is not lost. A quick surf of their website led me to the following page which DOES give a proper account of the age of the Canyon:

http://www.nps.gov/archive/grca/pphtml/subnaturalfeatures14.html

I guess with all those dubbyas removed from the keyboards in the White House, they haven't been able to surf to www.nps.gov to check.