Monthly Archives: April 2007

Half a million buys a lot of bones

Posted on April 17, 2007 by cicada

Mammoth skeleton sets auction record – Boston.com On Monday, a rare Siberian mammoth skeleton sold for nearly half a million dollars at auction. The skeleton was inexplicably named “The President.” A number of other curiosity-cabinet staples, like a bezoar, also … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Museum Lust, Science, Wonder Cabinets | 2 Comments

Medical school unloads more art

Posted on April 14, 2007 by cicada

Portrait of Benjamin H. Rand Thomas Eakins, 1874 This time around, there wasn’t much controversy. The Philadelphia medical school that sold Thomas Eakins’ The Gross Clinic has now sold a second Eakins from its collection, Portrait of Benjamin H. Rand. … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Museum Lust | Comments Off

How NOT to write a science book

Posted on April 14, 2007 by cicada

Cognitive Daily has a funny post on “how NOT to write a science book.” Incidentally, for those of you who avoid science books precisely because of the problems Dave bemoans, consider trying the Best Science Writing and Best Science and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Science | Comments Off

Ouch, ouch, ouch

Posted on April 13, 2007 by cicada

A very nice video of childbirth by the animators at Nucleus Medical Art. It shows the way the baby turns as it exits the mother’s pelvis. I would, however, watch it with the sound off, since – at least for … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Film, Video & Music, Science | Comments Off

I hear such different accounts of you as puzzle me exceedingly

Posted on April 9, 2007 by cicada

So Odd a Mixture: Along the Autistic Spectrum in ‘Pride and Prejudice': Perhaps it is high-functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome that provides an explanation for some characters’ awkward behaviour at crowded balls, their frequent silences or their tendency to lapse … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 2 Comments

Physicians are not biologists (especially in church)

Posted on April 8, 2007 by cicada

Alba, The GFP Bunny (www.ekac.org) Photo: Chrystelle Fontaine Happy Easter. I’m flying coast-to-coast all day today. When I finally decided to book my tickets a few days ago, I was astonished at the availability of last-minute flights. It took me … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Education, Science | 17 Comments

Poem of the Week: After rain

Posted on April 7, 2007 by cicada

Bearded Iris After Rain, 2006 In the garden at my old house, these iris are just waking up; I won’t see them in bloom this year, but it’s enough to know they’re there. I feel that way about nature in … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | 2 Comments

A drug patent standoff in Thailand

Posted on April 6, 2007 by cicada

Image source: UNESCO (visit site for higher-res image) This week, Patent Baristas have an excellent (as usual) post on Abbott Labs’ ongoing conflict with the government of Thailand. This unfortunate situation illustrates some key difficulties in getting expensive pharmaceuticals to … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | 7 Comments

Can the Darwin fish be improved upon?

Posted on April 6, 2007 by cicada

Darwin fish cladogram by Anne Casselman, Inkling Magazine Matthew Bettelheim at Inkling Magazine has written a brief history of the Darwin fish and its various spin-offs. I had no idea there were so many. Update: they’ve just announced a contest … Continue reading →

Posted in Frivolity | 1 Comment

More British book cover madness

Posted on April 5, 2007 by cicada

What is going on across the Atlantic? Thanks to Zen of Writing, I find that Jane Austen is ‘too ugly’ for book covers (BBC News). Basically, they took the only authenticated Jane portrait, by her sister Cassandra, and ran it … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | 2 Comments