Peregrine Falcon

Here is a picture of a Peregrine Falcon eating a gull on the frozen Lake Michigan shoreline taken by Chicagoan Mike Green. Check out some more of his photos.

Meme

What was your favorite toy growing up?
I guess when I think of toys I see GI Joes and Tranformers. My favorite was the Transformer who turned into a microscope. But the only toy that I still have is a Teddy Bear. I remember thinking if I had him with me I couldn't be hurt.

What was the first curse-word you remember learning?
I first learned curse words at school. I never repeated them. I remember getting in trouble for saying "butthead" so I guess that was my first curse word.

When did you learn there wasn't a Santa Claus?
I remember my Aunts telling me and how I said I didn't believe them, but I did.

Did you have any pets when you were a kid?
Many. I had a baby raccoon named Lulu. She got big and mean. I always caught lizards and snakes and turtles and kept them in aquariums during the summer and then let them go in the fall. I had birds and hamsters. My parents raised coonhounds, show fox terriers and miniature schnauzers and greyhounds so we had more dogs than I could count, but the inside dogs (or pets) were usually fox terriers and schnauzers. Schotzey and Billy were our longest lived and most loved pets.

Where did the monster in your bedroom live?
I remember being scared at night, but usually of nothing in particular.

American Gothic

Took my students to to the Art Institute to practice their fieldsite visits on Wednesday. I was disappointed that Picasso's Old Guitarist was in the special collection. Of course it was because it was free to get in all month. Anyway, here's a blurry, crappy phone pick of Wood's famous painting. I am not particularly attached to this painting, but it is a treat to see it close up.

Michelangelo's Moses

"Michelangelo felt that this was his most life-like creation. Legend has it that upon its completion he struck the right knee commanding, "now speak!" as he felt that life was the only thing left inside the marble. There is a scar on the knee thought to be the mark of Michelangelo's hammer."

This sculpture is right up there with the Pieta and David for me. I have to get to Italy before I die!

Amorphophallus rivieri

The Lincoln Park Conservatory has a rank flower blooming. Check out the Devil's Tongue.

Weather Blog

Check out Tom Skilling's Weather Blog. He's the meterologist at WGN. Huge nerd, but he loves the weather and you can tell.

An odd Skilling fact is that he is Jeffrey Skilling's older brother.

This American Life

This American Life on Showtime looks like it's going to be good!

The Big Book of Irony

Goldbarth's Toys

Take a look at the article about Albert Goldbarth's collection over at the Poetry Foundation's site.

Thanksgiving

Mom and Dad and Maggie

Me and Dad

Maggie and Mom

Dad

Chickens

I was going to post these pics from last Thanksgiving, but I forgot. So here they are!

Helix Nebula

Wow

Brain Exercise

Brain Exercise

Soon there will be brain gyms. They might call them libraries.

Dot

You bet Jurassic it did!

Henry Wu: You're implying that a group composed entirely of female animals will... breed?

Dr. Ian Malcolm: No, I'm simply saying that life, uh... finds a way.

ugh

I can't believe we have to pass legislation to outlaw this.

Stadium Pal

Suburbanites

We are almost done unpacking. Soon normalization will reign!! Evanston is yuppiville, but with yuppiville come things like curbside recycling!!!, a yard, a basement with a work bench, community gardens, and a coffeeshop, thai place, grocery stores, homemade pizza, blind faith cafe, and more all within walking distance (well, if it wasn't below zero all of the time!) Our landlord is very hands off. Our upstairs neighbors used the term "slum lords." Whatever. It is snowing right now and I can't wait to get out there and shovel the sidewalk! I actually bought some de-icer! I like having some stake in how the place looks and runs. I guess I want to be a homeowner. Next purchase, composter. If only we could have a chicken coop!

If anyone is looking for any gift ideas!

Quote of the day

Thank God men cannot as yet fly and lay waste the sky as well as the earth!
- Henry David Thoreau