Happy Darwin Day

Charles Darwin was born 200 years ago today. Great site: www.darwinday.org I think I like Darwin so much because he was so surprized by his own discovery, and in fact was not thrilled by it. He enjoyed his garden and his insect collections, but not elaborating theories into the realm of speculation. It was Herbert […]

2000 year old computer attributed to Archimedes

The Ancient Greeks were even more technologically advanced than previously thought. The Antikythera mechanism, a geared device found in a shipwreck a century ago, has been recreated. Gears turn hands (or pointers) on dials, and the device is driven by a hand knob. The computer predicts the movement of the planets and is now being […]

Happy Birthday, Mickey Mouse

Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie, 18 November 1928: Mike Pilewski’s history of cartoons, including Mickey’s first film, half a year before Steamboat Willie: Plane Crazy.

For the Leos

An amazing number of Leos populate my world. Family and friends, colleagues and students, this one is for you: Meet Lionel, the Lion-Faced Boy, aka Stephan Bribowski from Poland, who graced freakshows at the turn of the century. He was covered in luxurious blond hair, a condition called Hypertrichosis, which according to circus lore was […]