Index by Ariana Page Russell c. 2005

I came across this article about an artist who triggers an allergic reaction on her skin in different patterns, then photographs the resulting rash. Ariana Page Russell has dermatographia, which means her skin is highly sensitive to minor scratches. It doesn’t hurt, and the rash goes away within about 30 minutes for most people. Russell has extended the artwork to creating stencils, stickers, and repeat patterns for wallpaper by photocopying the rash on her skin. Very interesting stuff.

A quick search on Flickr turned up other people with dermatographia who use their skin to create ad hoc art.

[via The Telegraph]

• Andrea Dezso embroiders images of parts of the human body like the heart shown here.
• Almost two years ago Carl Zimmer wrote one innocuous blog post wondering if scientists get tattooed with their science. There was such a huge response that he now collects science-themed tattoos and created the Science Tattoo Emporium.
• Lee Tracy took brain scans and created a multi-media installation.
• DNA11 is just one of the companies that now makes artwork from DNA.
• Lynn Fellman makes artwork related to your DNA as well, but adds a more representational narrative about your genetic origins.
• Electroplankton is a Nintendo DS game that lets you manipulate marine plankton icons designed by artist Toshio Iwai to create ambient music.
• Jewelry designed to look like the periodic table of elements is for sale at It’s No Name.
• Toybreaker makes ties with images drawn from scientific diagrams and technology.

Heart © Andrea Deszo “Heart Embroidery”
Ties © Toybreaker

Three months ago I was also 40 weeks pregnant, so the idea of eating anything in excess wasn’t strange, but why licorice? Four days and two boxes later,
I had my answer: licorice is associated with preterm birth, perhaps because it stimulates production of the hormone prostaglandin, which prepares the cervix for labor. For people who are full-term with their pregnancies, licorice may simply kick start what nature is about to do in the next few days. Somehow my body was smart enough to sniff out a natural and tasty labor stimulant.

After giving birth my craving subsided. Since then I learned that licorice has a dark side. Even a little bit eaten regularly—about the equivalent of one of my boxes each day for a week or two–can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, even liver toxicity. It’s also recently been shown to block the efficacy of a drug used by organ transplant patients so that their bodies don’t reject the organ.

Last week I remembered that I still have an unopened box in the glove compartment. Since I’m also an organ donor, maybe I should lay off…

People Magazine is my seriously guilty online pleasure and Ed Westwick is a curious creature–I can’t tell if he’s handsome or cruel or creepy. Anyway, the caption for this photo of him on the catwalk describes him wearing “a traditional Scottish kilt.” Are those snaps I see? The telltale exposed seams of an inside-out garment? Not one but four patterns of plaid? And, ahem, where’s his pouch? No, that’s not a traditional Scottish kilt. If anything it’s a post-modern American MUG.
Photo credit: Sara Jaye Weiss/Startraks

If you’re a railroading buff or a fan of The Office, you’ve heard of Scranton. But this mild-mannered university town—and new home to the Yankees’ minor league affiliate—offers more than television trivia and trains. Here’s an itinerary for the first-time visitor. Two stops on the tour are best reached by car, but the rest are easy walks from the suggested hotel.

9:00 a.m.
Sixty years old and actually created from parts of a glider, the Glider Diner serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the clock. A pile of French toast, juice, and a bottomless cup of coffee come in under $6.00. For some classic North East PA comfort food, order the French fries and gravy.

10:00 a.m.
Stand next to one of the last remaining Big Boy steam locomotives, weighing more than a million pounds, and you begin to understand the impact of steam and rail power on the country. With more than 70 locomotives, passenger and freight cars, and a 90-foot turntable, Steamtown National Historic Site makes steam power real, if only for a few hours. From April to October there’s also a trolley excursion daily.

1:00 p.m.
Scranton has a large Irish population (it hosts the fourth largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the U.S.) and The Banshee is where area residents get their Guinness. In addition to the usual favorites on draught, there are a number of lesser known stouts and ales on the menu. Settle into one of the nooks and order up a burger.

2:00 p.m.
Time to walk off the burger and beer. A leisurely two-mile walk will take you back in time past Scranton’s restored 19th and 20th century architecture, as well as old-time storefronts that never recovered from the collapse of the anthracite economy. Stick to Penn, Adams, Lackawanna, and North Washington Avenues for historically significant buildings. For modern-day diversions, check out the regional art scene at AFA Gallery; browse new and used literary fiction at Anthology Books; grab a latte and wifi at Northern Light Espresso Bar; and indulge in skin care and home accessories at Lavish.

3:00 p.m.
Though not far—only about a mile—walking to the Everhart Museum means climbing Scranton’s hilly terrain. By driving you can spend your time instead in the galleries and natural history exhibits. Afterwards hike the more dramatic surrounding park, Nay Aug, which has recently constructed a 150-foot high treehouse and pedestrian walkways through the gorges and waterfalls.

6:30 p.m.
For dinner, head back downtown for classic Italian at Sambuca Grille, a small gem with twenty tables.

8:30 p.m.
After dinner, pretend you’re back in the Jazz Age and order drinks at the bar at The Radisson at Lackawanna Station, Scranton’s Beaux-Arts landmark. Built in 1908 as the passenger station and headquarters of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, it was restored 25 years ago and continues to impress.

‘Til Late
Walk a few blocks over to The Bog to sample the music scene. Local favorites like The Sw!ms, And the Moneynotes, The Minor White, and The Menzingers play regularly.

Sleeping In
Scranton’s first boutique hotel will open later this year. Dubbed The Colonnade after its main architectural elements, it’s a restored 1910 mansion with eight large suites plus event- and meeting-space. Until it opens, however, you’re limited to national chains. You’ll be tempted to stay at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station, but service at this Radisson has declined. Instead, spend the night at the Hilton Scranton, which is right around the corner. For brunch tomorrow morning head back to Lackawanna Station’s former concourse-turned restaurant, Carmen’s.

Details
Glider Diner – 890 Providence Rd., 570-343-8036
Steamtown National Historic Site & Trolley Museum – Park entrance at intersection of Lackawanna Ave. and Cliff St., daily 10am-4pm through March, 9am-5pm April-December. Admission $6 with discounts for children and seniors; rail excursions separate.
The Banshee – 320 Penn Ave., 570-969-4248
AFA Gallery – 514 Lackawanna Ave., 570-969-1040
Anthology Books – 515 Center St, 570-941-9630
Northern Light Espresso Bar – 536 Spruce St., 570-342-3200
Lavish – 600 Linden St., 570-558-2273
Everhart Museum – 1901 Mulberry St., 570-346-7186
Sambuca Grille – 234 Penn Ave., 570-961-5205, entrees $14.00 – $23.00
Radisson Lackawanna Station – 700 Lackawanna Ave., Reservations: (888) 201-1718 US
The Bog – 341 Adams Ave., 570-341-6716
The Colonnade – 401 Jefferson Ave., 570-342-6114
Hilton Scranton – 100 Adams Ave., 570-343-3000, rooms from $99.00
Carmen’s – 700 Lackawanna Ave., 570-342-8300, Sunday brunch from 10am-2pm

© Serious Curious, 2009

Climate change deniers and proponents argue about who’s right, cite studies, parade evidence, and call each other names. Evidence on either side might be compelling and the arguments can be persuasive (or can at raise doubt). Unless you’re a scientist actually involved in a study, you’re left shrugging your shoulders, thinking “Well, I guess that could be right. I don’t know first hand what’s actually true and what’s not.”

Enter Pascal. Pascal proposed that we gamble. He was talking about the existence of God, but we can use the same idea for climate change. Instead of trying to prove it, gamble.

“…Anyone who is incapable of trusting any evidence either for or against God’s existence, must at least face the prospect that infinite happiness is at risk.” [wikipedia] Basically his wager is that acting as if there is a God, with a reward or punishment after death, pays off more than acting as if there isn’t a God. Why? If we live a kind and benevolent life and there isn’t a God, then we haven’t lost anything–we’ve simply been sincere, generous, humble, honest, loyal. If, however, we live a bad life–greedy, mean, stingy, dishonest–and there is a God, then we’re in for a just punishment. In Pascal’s eyes there’s more to win if we act as if there is a God, and a lot to lose if we act as if there isn’t a God.

Now make the same bet with climate change. “Anyone who is incapable of trusting any evidence either for or against God’s existence climate change, must at least face the prospect that infinite happiness the health of the planet and its inhabitants is at risk.” If you follow the same logic, we can act as if climate change isn’t real, and if it isn’t, then fine, no harm done. But if it is real, what we’ve anted up is enormous. If we act as if climate change is real, and it isn’t, we haven’t lost anything and we’ve gained better water and air quality, more flexible sources of energy, more resources for future generations and other species (as well as our for our current generation), and maybe even better weather.

Everything’s here, from foot cream to shampoo, acne cures to teething pills.

© Serious Curious, 2008