Author Archives: cicada

Dr. House vs. Car Talk: Diagnostic Showdown

Posted on December 27, 2011 by cicada

A clever little article in JAMA, written by Gurpreet Dhaliwal, suggests that diagnosticians should admire not House, MD, but rather NPR’s Car Talk mechanics, Click and Clack: Car Talk, like most forms of technology and media, offers advantages and conveniences … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Film, Video & Music, Science in culture & policy, Science Journalism | Comments Off

Typnostalgia

Posted on December 24, 2011 by cicada

“People are practically printing books with their smartphones,” Mr. Fletcher said, in a tone suggesting that he did not think this was such a good idea. Delightful. From the New York Times review of the Grolier Club exhibition “Printing for … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Ephemera, Littademia, Museum Lust, Retrotechnology | Comments Off

The “collapse of science fiction”?

Posted on December 21, 2011 by cicada

“One way you can describe the collapse of the idea of the future is the collapse of science fiction. Now it’s either about technology that doesn’t work or about technology that’s used in bad ways. The anthology of the top … Continue reading →

Posted in Ephemera, Retrotechnology | Comments Off

Winter Wonderland in the District

Posted on December 18, 2011 by cicada

Lampposts along the Taft Bridge Colin Winterbottom DC is unseasonably snow-free this year, but Colin Winterbottom (perfect name!) has some lovely back-and-white, ageless photos of a white capital at his website. The uplit snowfall outside the Supreme Court is especially … Continue reading →

Posted in DC Area Events, Destinations, Ephemera, Photography | Comments Off

Victorian worm syrup!

Posted on December 17, 2011 by cicada

“Celebrated?” You don’t say. . . at Daily Memorandum’s etsy shop

Posted in Conspicuous consumption, Ephemera, Frivolity, Medical Illustration and History, Museum Lust | Comments Off

Myopia

Posted on December 17, 2011 by cicada

“I fear that the character of my knowledge is from year to year becoming more distinct and scientific; that, in exchange for vistas wide as heaven’s scope, I am being narrowed down to the field of the microscope. I see … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Department of the Drama, Ephemera, History of Science, Littademia | Comments Off

Helping a young postdoc help elephants

Posted on December 13, 2011 by cicada

Shermin de Silva just finished her PhD. Now she wants to continue her research on Asian elephants, the lesser-studied cousins of African elephants. Her goal? To understand how local farmers and elephants live together. Shermin has raised half of her … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Destinations, Random Acts of Altruism, Science | Comments Off

Dresses patterned like wings

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cicada

From the archives at Trend De La Creme: pieces from Alexander McQueen’s Spring 2010 collection, “Plato’s Atlantis,” juxtaposed with moths. Critics described McQueen’s collection as reptilian: “short, reptile-patterned, digitally printed dresses, their gangly legs sunk in grotesque shoes that looked … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Design, Ephemera, Wearables, Wonder Cabinets | Comments Off

A story of art, generosity and books

Posted on December 8, 2011 by cicada

My friend Libby sent me this inspiring story from one of my favorite cities, Edinburgh, where an anonymous artist has been leaving intricate book sculptures in local libraries. First, in March, the Scottish Poetry Library (which uses the wonderful institutional … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Books, Littademia, Poetry, Random Acts of Altruism | Comments Off

one-of-a-kind skeleton ring set

Posted on December 6, 2011 by cicada

This unique sterling silver skeleton ring set by Shannon Conrad consists of two rings – one a skeletal hand, the other a radius/ulna pair. Together they form a skeletal arm reaching across your hand! One of a kind ring, available … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Conspicuous consumption, Design, Medical Illustration and History, Wearables, Wonder Cabinets | Comments Off