Category Archives: Ephemera

“Jesus is God’s Atomic Bomb,” and other lyrical classics

Posted on February 3, 2012 by cicada

Conelrad’s fascinating cold war culture jukebox, Atomic Platters, offers lyrics and historical context spanning several decades of popular atomic-themed music. Many of the songs unsurprisingly convey a sense of unprecedented, un-romanticized astonishment and awe. Consider the following gem: Jesus is … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Ephemera, Film, Video & Music, History of Science, Science in culture & policy, Yikes! | Comments Off

Russian water computers + garden design = underused steampunk plot

Posted on January 27, 2012 by cicada

If you’ve been secretly hankering to read an Umberto Eco novel about the Illuminati building a giant proto-computer underneath Versailles, do I have the blog post for you!

Posted in Blogs and Blogging, Ephemera, Frivolity, Retrotechnology | Comments Off

Sciart Links

Posted on January 17, 2012 by cicada

I’ve been too busy to write a real post lately, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some amazing sciart/ephemera-art links going around. Here are some: Origami human torso with organs (via David Ng) In situ pencil lead carvings – the … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Blogs and Blogging, Ephemera, History of Science, Medical Illustration and History | Comments Off

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

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