Everyone on earth should be made to watch these videos. What an amazing, smooth voice of reason.
You have to wonder, after hearing Sagan’s arguments here, what kind of person would be un-phased and remain utterly convinced by the importance of Humanity in the universe.
Hello! I am currently banished to the ‘Computer Room’ as Mrs Mario.Blog has the girls round and they are talking shop. I thought it an ideal opportunity to catch up.
So, er, yeah. I got married. It was really amazing. I had been stressed out my box for months and now, looking back, I donno what the hell I was worrying about. I had a great time and loved every minute of it (well, apart from the five minutes before my speech). It was so great to have all my friends and family under one roof. A few noticeable absences due to various circumstances, but I still had a blast!
I’ve added some pics below to give you a wee feel for the event.
It’s been so bizarre. We also moved house a week before the wedding and, now that we are back from the honeymoon, we are trying to get used to our new life. Shuffling for our own ground. I like things tidy, Gemma likes things clean. I like to watch movies late, Gemma wont buy earplugs. I like books on display, Gemma wants them in a drawer. We’ll work out things as we go.
Speaking of books. I’ve not forgot about my book project. I read a couple of ‘non project’ books on my honeymoon, but I’ll be back onto it shortly.
Holy Smokes its been a tough couple of weeks! I got the keys to my house last week and have started the mammoth task of getting everything ready for when we move. This last week we have had a painter in who practically painted the whole house. Had the Sky man in today fitting the tv, phone and broadband and tomorrow and Wednesday got a guy coming to fit the laminate flooring and vinyl for the kitchen.
We’ll hopefully be set to start moving all our stuff in over the weekend as one of my buddies has sorted me out with a van! Can’t wait for it. We will probably be living out of boxes for the first month as we’ve just got so much on financially with our approaching wedding/honeymoon.
Because of all this madness going on I’ve not had a chance to read as much. Been reading on the train mostly, to and from work.
The Average Scottish Male
This book is the first on the list that was suggested to me in the comments on my first post about this project. It was Jen who recommended it. I have to say right now: Thank you Jen. I’ve not laughed so much in a long time. This book was hilarious.
To give you an idea of the book; it follows the thoughts of an unnamed twenty-something male from LA who has a high sex drive. The content of the book is absolutely absurd. When I first started reading it I was finding it really shocking. To the point where I was unsure if it was entertaining or not, but the more I turned the pages the more I wanted to laugh at the outrageousness.
The title ‘The Average American Male’ gives you the idea that this is an attempt to document just how we blokes think. In a way it does, but exaggerated times a hundred. That’s why its so funny.
Here is a video of Tom Green reading the first paragraph of the book:
Not much really happens in the book. It’s a basic little story about a guy dealing with the ladies, but I really enjoyed it.
I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone due to the explicit content, but if you think you can deal with it and are up for a laugh, read it now!
Rating: 
Here is my Readmore stats:
5.3 hours of reading over 13 days.
Started on June 1
Finished on June 13
19 reading sessions (17 min per session)
How can you not like this guy? I don’t understand half the things he talks about with regards to philosophy and musical history, but he is so damn engaging.
So, I’m on to book three! Since staring this book it has been all hands on deck for me. I get the keys to my new house on Wednesday so we’ve been up to our eyeballs in paperwork. Can’t wait to get the keys, but it’s still going to be a few weeks before we move in. We have plans to paint walls, get new flooring in and generally get the place looking spick-and-span before we start to move in.
Our wedding invites also went out while reading this book. It’s been fun. I have been excited about everyone getting them and seeing what the response would be to my design. We’ve had loads of RSVP’s already and it’s shaping up to be an amazing day! Me and Gemma have also been secretly working on other surprise wedding day stuff that I am super excited about! The lip has to be bitten.
Bad Science by Ben Goldacre
Anyway, onto the book.
About two and a bit years ago I bought myself an iPhone. I was trying to explore all the different ways I could take advantage of media available through it and I came across a podcast called ‘The Skeptics Guide To The Universe‘. I think I have always been a critical thinker but I’ve been very nonchalant in my attitude to it. After getting into this podcast I became very passionate about the importance of rational thinking, science based medicine and critical assessment of all things ‘supernatural’.
Being interested in this I had naturally heard of Ben Goldacre, and had been interested in his blog and guardian articles. I was happy to see that this book was in the top 20 of my little project. This is the first book on the list that I would have picked up from a book store at my own accord.
The book took a different approach than I thought it would. I was expecting a book just dismissing many aspects of alternative medicine but, in many ways, this book is a guide to spotting the ‘Quacks’ and making an informed decision yourself.
It goes into how the media skew and dismiss statistics for the ‘big headline’, talks about the process of testing medicine to prove it’s efficacy and how many people just ignore the facts in the hope of miracle cures.
I’ve heard of most of the concepts in the book, but it was great to hear lots of first hand stories from Goldacre, to hear specifics that will make you laugh but enrage you all at he same time.
Overall this was an easy read for me from start to finish. Loved it. This book should be on the curriculum in schools.
Rating:
Here is my ReadMore stats after completing the book:
10.4 hours of reading over 16 days
Started on May 16
Finished on May 31
36 reading sessions (18 min per session)
Here is nice video featuring Ben Goldacre that sums up the general content of the book:
I thought I would also share some of my favourite videos on the same subject of dispelling the quacks and down-right bullshitters out there.
Next up it’s The Average American Male by Chad Kultgen as Suggested to me by Jen in the comments here. Looking forward to this one.
