Category Archives: Frivolity

Procrastination is important to a well-balanced mind.

Paper wings

Posted on September 9, 2007 by cicada

The cephalofabulous Pink Tentacle Blog uncovers paper artist Taketori’s origami creations: Kiri-origami artist Taketori cuts and folds paper to make realistic-looking insects. Each critter is crafted from a single sheet, without glue, and paint is often used to add to … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Frivolity | Comments Off

Party in your tummy?

Posted on September 4, 2007 by cicada

The most anatomically inaccurate depiction of digestion, EVER. At least it promotes eating your veggies. But if I ever experience that going on in my tummy, I’m taking calcium carbonate.

Posted in Biology, Film, Video & Music, Frivolity | 5 Comments

IRFD report

Posted on September 3, 2007 by cicada

My excursion in honor of the first ever International Rock-Flipping Day (IRFD), September 2, was disappointing. I was full of hope, given the cicada-filled trees outside my apartment and the bizarre insectoid life I’ve already encountered in the few weeks … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Blogs and Blogging, Frivolity, Science | 4 Comments

Juxtaposition: Icy chiasma

Posted on August 31, 2007 by cicada

Y and X cubosomes? Last night while drinking some water, I noticed that two ice cubes had fused, forming a complex that resembled an X chromosome in metaphase: two chromatids joined by a wee little centromere! I realized at that … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Frivolity | 3 Comments

There might be some internal conflict here

Posted on August 29, 2007 by cicada

Apparently Karl Rove considers himself both Beowulf and Grendel. How strange. And to think I always thought he was the smartest of the bunch. . . Via In the Middle

Posted in Frivolity, Littademia | 2 Comments

Comparative shmoonatomy

Posted on August 28, 2007 by cicada

Shmoo Michael Paulus Wait – I don’t believe that a Shmoo even HAS a skeleton. Isn’t it entirely cytoplasmic? Or am I thinking of yeast? I do like the little vestigial arms – kind of like the rudimentary, internal “hindlimbs” … Continue reading →

Posted in Artists & Art, Biology, Frivolity | 1 Comment

But my neighbor is an anteater

Posted on August 21, 2007 by cicada

This is a good idea, but in practice it isn’t terribly accurate. The idea is to tell you whether the area in which you live is walker-friendly – how many stores, restaurants, bars, etc. are close to you? Unfortunately, Google’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Department of the Drama, Destinations, Frivolity | 5 Comments

Adelson’s checkerboard illusion

Posted on August 17, 2007 by cicada

Square A is exactly the same color as square B. No kidding. Our visual systems are old pros at tricking our consciousness. What’s going on here is a simple case of lightness constancy: our visual system is designed to feed … Continue reading →

Posted in Biology, Frivolity | 3 Comments

But where’s the Cephalopod counter?

Posted on August 7, 2007 by cicada

Every biologist secretly craves seafood counters labeled “Crustacea” in beautiful art deco lettering. Thank you, Harrods.

Posted in Biology, Destinations, Frivolity | 4 Comments

Haunted library books

Posted on July 31, 2007 by cicada

Ok, this is just plain bizarre. It’s a row of faux books that, when activated by a motion sensor, move, mutter unintelligibly, and howl with electronic feedback. I laughed at the video. And I love that the book which jumps … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Frivolity | 1 Comment