About

Are you atheists?

We think that’s an obvious statement. Politically one is a secularist. We don’t mind if you have faith, just as long as you realise your mythology doesn’t change reality. We have friends with faith, they just have their faith as a bolt-on to the real world rather than instead of it.

Why do you hate religious people?

We don’t. We hate organised religion. Yes, We hate it, loathe it, despise it. We think it’s humanity’s worst brainchild. We don’t hate religious people. In fact,we have met several fine religious people, including a devout muslim woman who is an outstanding role model.

Why ichthyes?

The title of the blog is ‘ichthyes’ for fish, as in Darwin fish, those little metal guys you stick on the back end of your car. There’s a string of other puns behind the name, but they’re personal, long-winded and not funny when you have to explain the background.

Why do you do this?

Because the internet allows everyone to have a voice, and the thought of leaving behind an electronic ghost appeals. Because everyone should know some kitchen and backyard science (we’ll get to that, honest). Because the very thing you rely on is what you know least about. Because so many other people out there are liars…

Shall we go on?

Who are you?

We’re people, we work in education, one of us has kids and does grown up stuff sometimes, the other likes things that go bang with sparks. We’re decent upstanding members of the community, though we don’t expect you to believe that part.

How about morality?

Well, if we were gay we wouldn’t like to have our life choices dictated by a bunch of self-righteous sexually uptight repressed morons. So we support same-sex marriage, equal rights, the right to abortion, voluntary euthanasia, medical research and other such nasty things that have given us a society with a high survival rate, clean water, medicine and laws that protect the innocent. Not saying it’s perfect, but it’s still a damn fine start.

So you think you’re big damn heroes?

No, we think Mal, Zoe and the crew of Serenity are Big Damn Heroes.

Why is everything is better with monkeys?

Because it is.

If you want to contact us without leaving a comment, send an email to lab . ratty @ live . co . uk (without the spaces, it’s to avoid the webspiders, they’re everywhere, even in your keyboard, spinning webs to trap your words and email, plotting their spam-plan to take over the world…)