mjmooney

My brain hurts.

Marine starfish have no brains and no blood. Their nervous system is spread through their arms and their “blood” is actually filtered sea water.

I was on the Holte that day, it was a cracker. Andy Gray put West Ham to the sword in no uncertain fashion. I look forward to more days like it.

Driving South - Stone Roses.

Good article John. Worthy of John Lerwill, that!

Don't think so - why don't you start one?

You mean THIS? Christianity: A belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie, who was his own father, and will let you live forever, if you pretend to eat his flesh, drink his blood and telepathically tell him that you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that he put there a long time ago, as punishment for all humanity because a rib-woman made from a dust-man was convinced by a talking snake, to eat fruit from a magical tree. (It's not original BTW, I found it somewhere on the web).

Still 0% Jewish. Come on, there must be some out there.

Can you explain that? I know loads of people who identify "culturally" with the religion they were brought up in but don't necessarily "believe" in the myths, or practice the rituals. This includes Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians. Sorry Jas, I just re-read your post and I can see you were saying the same thing as me and questioning the wording of the poll. You're right, the poll should really restrict itself to "practicing" religions, otherwise it's just asking: "what is your cultural background?" - interesting in itself but not, I suspect, what the original pollster wanted to know.

I've just finished reading a really excellent book called "The Happiness Hypothesis". Towards the end, the author quotes a fellow academic who explains beautifully why this whole "peace-and-love-religions-practicing-mass-violence" phenomenon makes perfect evolutionary sense. I'll try and sum it up: We have evolved to be competitive to ensure the survival of our genes. This obviously works for individuals, and also for extended families/tribes. However, we have also evolved a predeliction for "ultrasociality" - effectively forming larger communities like cities and nation, giving us advantages in defence, commerce, etc. Within these large conglomerations, "selfish" genetic competition can be counter-productive. But.... those of you who have read their Dawkins will know about "memes" - cultural traits which are not in any way "genetic", but are subject to natural selection just as if they were. This includes fashions, ideas, etc. - and religions. The theory is that religions have "evolved" in order to bind larger communities together, based upon shared myths, practices, etc. These "religion memes" are in effect in competition with each other. So from an evolutionary viewpoint, it actually makes perfect sense for them to violently oppose each other. Interestingly, part of this process usually involves a taboo on "marrying out" of one's religion or caste, so that any minor genetic mutations will stay within the group, and cultures may over a long period actually become more physically/racially/genetically diverse. Which in turn is used to instensify the "they are not like us" attitudes. That's massively oversimplified the idea, but it makes a lot of sense to me, and I intend to read further.

Can you explain that? I know loads of people who identify "culturally" with the religion they were brought up in but don't necessarily "believe" in the myths, or practice the rituals. This includes Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews and Christians.

Never watched it, apart from the odd few seconds while channel surfing, or that "falling through the bar" clip a million times on compilations. The best thing David Jason ever did was the voice of Toad in the animated "Wind In The Willows" (I'm dead serious).

Simpsons Futurama Family Guy South Park is simply off the radar, it's so shite. Cannot see the appeal at all. An obscure British one that was underrated, IMO: Stressed Eric. My missus rates Rocko's Modern Life and CatDog.

Who's on third base?

"Christianity: A belief in a cosmic Jewish zombie, who was his own father will let you live forever, if you pretend to eat his flesh, drink his blood and telepathically tell him that you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that he put there a long time ago, as punishment for all humanity because a rib-woman made from a dust-man was convinced by a talking snake, to eat fruit from a magical tree" How can you possibly have a problem with THAT?

It's probably an urban myth, but there is a famous tale about a supposed radio phone-in where the DJ asked listeners "Where is the most unusual place you've ever had sex?" and the first woman to call in said: "Up the arse". Like I say, probably apocryphal. But anyway Sandy, you started this - do tell!

I think you'll find we aren't "designed" at all. We have evolved to be exactly what we are. Which is a population in which a certain proportion (you can argue over the ratio, but let's say 10%) will ALWAYS be homosexual. Get over it. Surely there are more important things to worry about? People are starving to death, countries are fighting insane wars, the climate is going haywire, and still some people seem to think that it matters who kisses whom. Sheesh.

I went for =<8 (although that OUGHT to read equal to or greater than eight), just because nobody had voted for it. Democracy will never work....

Is that Villandry in the Loire Valley? Been there.

Stuying?

Just tried it and the link to the register isn't working.

At the moment, yes. But that's what they are talking about changing.

If it's the song I'm thinking of ("Can you see the real me? Can ya? Can ya?"), it was The Who, from Quadrophenia. Great track. I dread to think what WASP might have done to it. :?

General, Wise words about the current transfer controversy. One question, related only indirectly: Does this sort of thing happen with the Browns, or other NFL/AFL teams? Are US sports fans equally vociferous in such a negative way when they question the wisdom of a signing? (I know the draft system works somewhat differently, but there must still be an element of judgement by coaches). Mike

Got a VHS + DVD combo machine. Hardly ever record anything. I watch the odd rented DVD and some BBC4 on Freeview, but otherwise I'd be happy to ditch the TV altogether, and just go to the pub for football on Sky. The missus wouldn't like it though.