Ballycumber (ba-li-KUM-ber) n. One of the six half-read books lying somewhere in your bed.

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.

You can't possibly be a scientist if you mind people thinking that you're a fool.

You know," said Arthur, "it's at times like this, when I'm trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother told me when I was young." "Why, what did she tell you?" "I don't know, I didn't listen.

Marvin trudged on down the corridor, still moaning. "...and then of course I've got this terrible pain in all the diodes down my left hand side..." "No?" said Arthur grimly as he walked along beside him. "Really?" "Oh yes," said Marvin, "I mean I've asked for them to be replaced but no one ever listens." "I can imagine.

I love to keep poking and prodding at it. I’ve thought about it so much over the years that that fascination is bound to spill over into my writing.

Being offended by things is the world's big hobby at the moment. It's almost taken over from wearing goatee beards.