There is something unnatural about genetic engineering that alarms most members of the public. Even without a full appreciation of the potential problems that genetic modification could produce, Joe Public doesn’t like the idea of scientist’s playing God. That’s how most people refer to this new field. There seems to be something fundamentally wrong about [...]
Entries from May 2009
May 27, 2009
Radio Ga Ga
This week is all about promoting the book in the UK. When things settle down I will get back to highlighting and discussing the quirks of the human behaviour that go beyond belief. But today is another marathon of self promotion as I am scheduled to give 18 back-to-back BBC regional radio interviews.
Here’s the list [...]
May 23, 2009
Start the Weak: Update
On Monday, May 25th I will be appearing on BBC Radio 4’s “Start the Week: setting the cultural agenda every Monday.” This show was recorded as the relentless Andrew Marr does have to take a holiday sometime. This is not my best performance by a long shot and yes, before you email me, yes I [...]
May 20, 2009
Cheesus, It’s Just a Type 1 Error
Dan and Sara Bell have seen Jesus again. Once more, he has appeared in a convenience snack. In this case, the deity appears in the form of a “Cheeto” – a rather disgusting corn-based munchie from the US that sticks to the roof of your mouth and clogs the gaps in your teeth. We covered [...]
May 18, 2009
Getting Up Ben Goldacre’s Nose
Boy, that was a busy day. I got an early train into London to record “Start the Week” with Andrew Marr (more on that to follow in a later blog). I then headed off to a club in Piccadilly to film an interview with Victoria, a young film school student. She had asked me for [...]
May 15, 2009
SuperSense Goes Camping
Camp Quest is a residential summer camp for the children of those who hold to a naturalistic, not supernatural world view. The camp is offered as a godless alternative to traditional religious summer camps, such as vacation Bible schools. It started in the US but the first ever UK Camp Quest is being held this summer in [...]
May 14, 2009
Voodoo Histories
I turned up last night to the Arnolfini venue in Bristol to host an evening with David Aaronovitch who has just written a great book entitled, “Voodoo Histories: The Role of Conspiracy Theory in Shaping Modern History.”
Imagine my surprise when I encountered a group of 911 conspiracy theorists outside protesting. They represent a hardcore known [...]
May 12, 2009
Sleeping with the Fishes
The BBC correspondent Heather Alexander highlighted a feature this morning on Breakfast Time television about the Eternal Reefs company in the US who, for a fee of up to $6,495 (£4,000), will incorporate the ashes of a loved one into a concrete pod that is designed to encourage marine life and coral once deposited 3 [...]
May 9, 2009
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Today, SuperSense was officially launched in the UK so I went into Waterstones in Bath to see my baby. Imagine my horror when I asked the assistant who told me that yes it was in store upstairs filed under “occult & witchcraft” or as my UK editor calls it, the “woo-woo” section. I hurried upstairs [...]
May 7, 2009
Guardian Angle: – Update
Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” is one of my all time favourite movies. Yes, it’s sentimental but I love it.Wouldn’t it be great to have a guardian angel? Someone like Clarence to watch over you and protect you from harm. Unfortunately I don’t believe I have a Clarence, but I do have a Guardian [...]
