Author Archives: cicada

Gilding the bathroom

Posted on July 1, 2007 by cicada

This gorgeous glowing artifact is, believe it or not, the basin of the sink in the guest bath at Lakewold Gardens. It was also the closest thing to the sun that I saw all day. Love ya, Seattle!

Posted in Frivolity, Museum Lust | Comments Off

Is biology hard?

Posted on July 1, 2007 by cicada

PZ Myers at Pharyngula just generated an interesting thread, “we don’t have physics envy, but we still have to deal with physics snobbery,” about whether biology is regarded as a lesser discipline, compared with “harder” sciences like physics. PZ references … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Department of the Drama, Education | 11 Comments

Real or not?

Posted on June 29, 2007 by cicada

This quiz asks you to differentiate between real photographs and computer-generated images. Regrettably, I only got 7 of 10 right – CGI is beginning to scare me! Via

Posted in Frivolity, Photography | 3 Comments

Transformations

Posted on June 29, 2007 by cicada

Angel, 2005 paper and glue in artist made frame Peter Callesen This beautifully written essay at Cabinet of Wonders, Mechanical Thinking and the Human Soul, includes some amazing sculptures by paper artist Peter Callesen. Callesen’s A4 papercut series are razored … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art | 3 Comments

Eight random facts about moi

Posted on June 28, 2007 by cicada

Oh no, I’ve been tagged with a blog meme! I generally tiptoe past memes when I encounter them; as they drowse in the hot summer sun, they are unlikely to retaliate – unless prodded with vintage medical paraphernalia, of course. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Department of the Drama | 10 Comments

Poem of the Week: Pray that the road is long

Posted on June 28, 2007 by cicada

Sunrise at Scala, Kefalonia Bombdog ‘s flickr stream “but low-lying Ithaca is farthest out to sea, towards the sunset, and the others are apart, towards the dawn and sun.” -Homer, Odyssey “Ithaca” Constantine Cavafy When you set out on your … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Poetry | 3 Comments

A is for Ape

Posted on June 26, 2007 by cicada

“Alphabet Animals” series #38 Copyright A.S. Meeker, 1910 A fabulous find out of a drawer of old postcards in an antique shop in a very small town. The original recipient (in February of 1912) was Miss Katie Hedler of Idaho. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Ephemera, Frivolity | Comments Off

Rethinking fat

Posted on June 25, 2007 by cicada

Normalcy One Size Does Not Fit All, 2002 Beverly Naidus A while ago, I promised to share my impressions of Gina Kolata’s Rethinking Thin. I finished the book last month, but I wanted to let my response percolate before posting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Books, Department of the Drama, Science | 3 Comments

A Warning

Posted on June 23, 2007 by cicada

Despair Inc.’s custom Parody Motivator Generator is too much fun.

Posted in Frivolity | 2 Comments

And who exactly would Mother Goose’s “peers” be? Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin?

Posted on June 23, 2007 by cicada

My PhD is four years old, and has long lost what transient lustre it held for me. Yet I’m somehow still involved in never-ending rounds of revision on a paper based on graduate work to which I will never return. … Continue reading →

Posted in Frivolity, Science | Comments Off