"Alan Turing," Zouichi says, scratching the parrot's head affectionately. "'Better'? Oh, you mean his adult feathers? Well, I suppose they have a certain charm, too..."

But he's biased. He is quite fond even of ugly baby Alan (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn9NtlHaMmc&feature=related).

"I didn't know you hated children." After all, Howard is still a minor himself.