Monthly Archives: July 2007

Haunted library books

Posted on July 31, 2007 by cicada

Ok, this is just plain bizarre. It’s a row of faux books that, when activated by a motion sensor, move, mutter unintelligibly, and howl with electronic feedback. I laughed at the video. And I love that the book which jumps … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Frivolity | 1 Comment

Damn you, Tate Gallery!

Posted on July 31, 2007 by cicada

The Lady of Shalott, 1888 John William Waterhouse I arrived at the Tate Britain (better known by its former name, the Tate Gallery) Monday morning, only to discover that their entire inventory of pre-Raphaelites had been removed from display a … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Destinations, Museum Lust | 4 Comments

How large a library can you squeeze in there?

Posted on July 30, 2007 by cicada

one of my favorite xkcds. . .

Posted in Books | Comments Off

Dinner snakes – I mean, dinner plates

Posted on July 29, 2007 by cicada

Lead-glazed polychrome-painted earthenware dish Workshop of Bernard Palissy, Paris, circa 1575-1600 British Museum Just in case you didn’t find Laura Zindel’s creepy-crawly place settings unusual enough, here’s a treasure from the British Museum: an antique dish embellished with sculpted snake, … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Museum Lust | 3 Comments

More Good Company

Posted on July 29, 2007 by cicada

I’m way behind on writing, my laptop power convertor blew, and I now have 3500 (!) unread posts on my feeds. Apologies, everyone! But this weekend I did get a blogger’s treat – a real-world visit with another blogger, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Department of the Drama | 3 Comments

The biology is only as good as the labs

Posted on July 29, 2007 by cicada

I winced in sympathy at this account, “A biologist in Nigeria”, by Dave Ng (The World’s Fair) of his experience teaching a genetics course. The conditions were simply awful. But I’m afraid any non-biologist readers won’t understand how awful – … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Education, Science | Comments Off

Poem of the Week: Sonnet 116

Posted on July 29, 2007 by cicada

Ah, the British Library. In one room: Shakespeare’s First Folio, Thomas More’s last letter to Henry III, Lewis Carroll’s diary, the Gutenberg Bible, a letter from Darwin to Wallace, a letter from Newton to Hooke, Shakespeare’s mortgage, Magna Carta, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Department of the Drama, Littademia, Museum Lust, Poetry | 1 Comment

Good company

Posted on July 27, 2007 by cicada

Today I visited Darwin and Chaucer in Westminster Abbey. Newton was there too, but he was being all standoffish behind an iron railing (possibly to deter enthusiastic fans of The Da Vinci Code, but more likely for some liturgical reason). … Continue reading →

Posted in Department of the Drama, Destinations | 6 Comments

Wander-lust

Posted on July 25, 2007 by cicada

I woke up yesterday in Idaho, today I’m in Seattle, and in a few hours I fly to London. Woohoo. I’m somewhat sleep deprived and I still have to pack my bags, so I’m going to drop this link and … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Department of the Drama, Frivolity | Comments Off

Hoping

Posted on July 20, 2007 by cicada

Written across the rear window of a Seattle minivan: “I trust Snape.” So do I.

Posted in Books, Uncategorized | 3 Comments