Author Archives: cicada

No future without Nature

Posted on June 5, 2007 by cicada

Jean Marie Vives I was browsing a few weeks of back posts on the yummy new blog musecrack, and this piece jumped out at me. The artist’s site is full of outstanding matte paintings and photomontage. The image above is … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Photography | 3 Comments

Tiny, liverwort-loving aliens?

Posted on June 5, 2007 by cicada

The NYT picked up this AP story originally from the Knoxville News Sentinel about bullseye-like “mini crop circles” on tree bark. I admit, I’m puzzled, because – that looks like an ear to me, not a bullseye or a crop … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | Comments Off

In praise of semi-retired entomologists

Posted on June 4, 2007 by cicada

Light brown apple moths Lance Iversen, SF Chronicle Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle has a feature about the Australian light brown apple moth, an agricultural pest that recently appeared in the Bay Area. What makes this article by Matt Stannard (with … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | 3 Comments

Jellyfish room

Posted on June 2, 2007 by cicada

Jellyfish room Porcelain Alissa Coe & Carly Waito, 2007 Via Ullabenulla. (Regarding categories: of course cnidarians aren’t cephalopods, but jellies are part of the deep sea ambiance. . . and just imagine what a school of porcelain squid from this … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Cephalopodmania | 2 Comments

Reclaiming the body in negative space: Troy & Pompeii

Posted on June 1, 2007 by cicada

Iliad Cenotaphs: Echepolus acrylic on wood Jonathan Gabel, 2007 Poring over the hyper-detailed text of the Iliad, Jonathan Gabel has envisioned each soldier’s death-wound, recreating the negative space of the wound as an anatomical model.

Posted in Artists & Art, Littademia, Museum Lust | 1 Comment

!Spamephemera!

Posted on May 31, 2007 by cicada

Nexican Pharmacy Poster (detail) Dan Funderburgh from The Artist’s Guide to Making Money Male enhancement spam, cleverly recast as vintage advertising ephemera: Dan Funderburgh’s contribution to the The Artist’s Guide to Making Money (“Disclaimer: Do not expect any actual advice, … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Books | Comments Off

Recent blog buzz on anatomical models

Posted on May 31, 2007 by cicada

Anatomical Venus Wax Model at the Semmelweiss Medical Museum by Curious Expeditions Some posts on one of my favorite topics: first, Curious Expeditions had a first-hand account of a visit to the Josephinum. Then, Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Destinations, Museum Lust, Science, Wonder Cabinets | 3 Comments

Why doesn’t honey need to be refrigerated?

Posted on May 30, 2007 by cicada

image: honey in an istanbul market, from culiblog Why doesn’t honey need to be refrigerated? My mentor Tom (who taught me most of what I know about teaching) loved to ask this question on biology quizzes. It’s my favorite kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Science | 5 Comments

Brilliant but flawed (and unfortunately fictional)

Posted on May 30, 2007 by cicada

This is so self-indulgent, I have to apologize in advance. But I couldn’t resist posting Lily Burana’s description of the redoubtable, delectable Hugh Laurie in House, M.D.: Constantly described as “brilliant but flawed,” House speaks to the part of us … Continue reading →

Posted in Department of the Drama, Frivolity | Comments Off

Miss Piggy gets medieval on some orcs

Posted on May 30, 2007 by cicada

You go, girlfriend. From a window display in a comic book store in Toronto. Go see the rest of the photos for the Middle-earth doppelgangers of Beaker, Animal, the Chef, etc. (warning: Muppet blood is involved). Via the essential Table … Continue reading →

Posted in Frivolity | 1 Comment