Category Archives: Conspicuous consumption

Buying things is fun. And supports the economy.

Chipotle saves spherical pigs from Science

Posted on January 1, 2012 by cicada

If one of your New Years’ resolutions is to eat healthier, more sustainable food, contemplating the evils of industrial food production and re-reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma might help you reach that goal — and you might want to post this … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Conspicuous consumption, Ephemera, Film, Video & Music, Science in culture & policy | Comments Off

Carnival of the Animals: holiday window wonder cabinets

Posted on December 27, 2011 by cicada

Bergdorf Goodman’s elaborate animal-themed holiday window displays rock my world: See more windows (huge images) at their blog. The last window in particular is Snow Queen-esque (think Narnia); the metal bird themed window seems very Yeatsian. Truly, upscale holiday window … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Conspicuous consumption, Design, Ephemera, Frivolity, Wonder Cabinets | 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

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

This tea robot is too cute to exist

Posted on December 1, 2011 by cicada

OMG, sTEAmpunk! I don’t even know what to say about this tea infusing robot other than IT IS SO ADORABLE. I want to buy them for everyone, regardless of whether they like robots or drink tea. (If you get one … Continue reading →

Posted in Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity, Retrotechnology | Comments Off

Holiday gift ideas for the BioE reader

Posted on November 26, 2011 by cicada

It’s almost Cyber Monday! In our household, we do our shopping online, mainly because when we go to the trouble of renting a car, we have experiences like we did yesterday, when we were ticketed for lingering a full 32 … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Book reviews, Books, Conspicuous consumption, Design, Education, Ephemera, Frivolity | Comments Off

Tentacle Arm

Posted on January 19, 2008 by cicada

  What more is there to say, really? It’s a tentacle arm. A friend of mine told me I need “at least two” of these. . . . . . at LEAST two???? What?? And once the first one’s on, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cephalopodmania, Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity | 1 Comment

Last Call: Christmas Gifts for Mad Scientists

Posted on December 11, 2007 by cicada

Still frantically shopping? How about this anatomically accurate tee, from the musically named autumnomatopoeia (“legos, livers, and more. Oh my!”)? Here’s an excellent gift idea list from Heather at Cabinet of Wonders. See also my gift idea list. And Vanessa’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity | 2 Comments

the silver life

Posted on December 8, 2007 by cicada

This stunning silver urchin ring and squid tentacle earrings are from emily amey. The paperweights below, including “an exact replica of a mammalian heart,” are by Walteria living.

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Cephalopodmania, Conspicuous consumption | 2 Comments

Christmas gifts! for the creative, picky, or perverse

Posted on November 10, 2007 by cicada

I’ve been running across an unusually large number of things I covet lately, and it occurred to me that if you are reading my blog, you (or your friends/family) might have similar tastes. So I thought I’d post a list … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Books, Conspicuous consumption, Frivolity | 2 Comments