Oakvillian

And now Jim Bowen, host of Bullseye.

"Let's have a look at what you could've won:" 20 points going begging, he was 80.

withabix

It is fitting that on the day when we lost both Stephen Hawking and Jim Bowen, it was the non dart thrower that went first.

Shard

Anyone actually read "A Brief History of Time"? I haven't. Heard it was abstruse, which after reading an obituary by Roger Penrose, seems to be the case.

I always thought Hawking should have updated his voice synthesiser to something more natural, certainly possible over the last 20 years. But apparently he liked the robotic sound.

Almost Canadian

I started it once and got to about the second chapter. I can't recall why I didn't continue but I recall that it was because I couldn't understand it, so I am somewhat surprised that it is described as being written in a way that non physicists could understand.

I have it at home so maybe I should see if I am still as stupid as I was then.

Shard

I think it's actually famous for being a book that very few people managed to read.

Almost Canadian

Excellent, now I don't feel as stupid as I did 5 minutes ago.

My daughter loves physics, so I will give it to her and see if she can make sense of it.

Partially discharged

Sort of like people who claim to own the Velvet Undergrounds 1st album (guilty as charged) or Astral Weeks (also guilty as charged) or those who watched The Wire when it originally came out.

plasticcanuck

Well I would never categorize him as a Genius, but he’s certainly a legend in his own mind.

caretaker

True, but he did win an award on BE for Smartest Poster or some such nonsense.

Almost Canadian

I started it again today and have reached chapter 4. It hasn't been as difficult as I remembered so I hope to finish it this time.

Piff Poff

Thought I'd share this photo. When my Mum died, part of my sisters grieving process was to complete some of my Mum's bucket list with a mini urn, with googly eyes, she carried my Mum around with her for almost two years and took every photo opportunity possible - Stephen Hawking, played his part and posed for a photo when asked. Cool guy.

BristolUK

That's a nice one. At first I thought you meant your sister had googly eyes while carrying it around rather than the urn had the eyes.

Were the eyes added or included? I may have to investigate, although I do favour becoming an ornament at the moment.

Piff Poff

My Sister just got the stick on eyes, she went through a few sets lol

BristolUK

Okay thanks. I did some checking and found some different but dull things like a fish.

I found one like a beer can but it seemed a joke rather than something practical.

So, plain and cheap to be decorated later is the way to go then. Or be a paper weight.

Piff Poff

I quite like the fun or paperweight option but I intend to become a tree.