Monthly Archives: June 2009
Would You? Could You?
The Japanese robotics industry continues to make startling advances in creating life-like robots and here is just one recent example. Is it a coincidence that much of this effort appears directed to creating young female humanoids? I was once … Continue reading
Filed under Essentialism, In the News
Diana’s Big Mistake
Some may regard her biggest mistake was her marriage to Prince Charles. Others think it was failing to wear a seat belt. But for one happy memorabilia collector, it is a big rubber (that’s eraser to you sniggering US … Continue reading
Filed under Essentialism, In the News
Skeptics in the Pub-Not What You Might First Think
As I began telling the crowd last night, “Skeptics in the Pub” does not immediately sound like an enticing group of people. I immediately thought of drunken cantankerous middle-aged men arguing about religion over a warm pint of bitter. Why … Continue reading
Filed under book publicity
Another Year Over
Today marks the end of the academic year in Bristol, UK and so I thought I would take stock. This has been an auspicious week. SuperSense got an amazing review in Science, which called it “marvelous” and ” … an … Continue reading
Filed under General Thoughts
Chinese Ghost Brides
A couple of weeks ago I was in London to film a brief interview with a production company making a documentary for Channel Four about a man who exhumes bodies for a living. It was a really awkward interview … Continue reading
Filed under In the News, supernatural, Weird Story of the Week
Catalan Charm
Things are crazy at the moment with public lectures, examination marking (Bristol & Oxford), book promotion and all the other s**t that I have managed to clog my life up with but I received an invitation last week to fly … Continue reading
Filed under book publicity
It’s Raining Tadpoles!
Maybe God does have a sense of humor. How else can you explain the recent downpour of tadpoles reported in Japan in two separate incidents? Is this the work of hoaxers? I really don’t have an answer. Explanations range … Continue reading
Filed under In the News, Weird Story of the Week
Would You Accept the Heart of Killer?
Would you willing accept an organ transplant from a murderer? This goes a bit further than wearing the clothing of a killer that I discuss in SuperSense. For many there is a fear of taking on the psychological states and … Continue reading
Filed under Essentialism, Research
Bruce Grasps the Big Idea
So I gave a talk at the Cheltenham Science Festival last night and the Times recorded the event for posterity. After the talk I was approached by a persistent young lady who was incredibly persuasive in getting me … Continue reading
Filed under book publicity, In the News
Susan Boyle Cracks
The modern talent show format is the crack cocaine of instant celebrity status catapulting completely unknown individuals into the full glare of public scrutiny and criticism without the time and experience to deal with rejection that is inevitable in any … Continue reading
Filed under General Thoughts, In the News
