Visiopoetics

Researchers at the University of Barcelona recently published findings which suggest that regular cocoa consumption decreases inflammatory markers in individuals at high risk for atherosclerosis.  In their study, participants who drank chocolate milk for four weeks had lab values that might translate in the long term into heart health benefits.

Responded fast food industry spokesman Keebler Elfin:  “Yaaaaaaay!”

This research was not funded by the Hershey Corporation, although maybe now they’ll fund my science project where I eat a Hershey bar a day and then pose for Vogue.

LITTLE

+ PUST

———

DRUZEI

Let me introduce you to my friends Cheburashka and Gena.  Much like you and me, Gena works by day as a friendly garmon-playing crocodile in the zoo.  On his birthday (a rainy day), he sings “Пусть бегут неуклюже пешеходы по лужам” (”Pust begut nyeuklyujye pyeshyekhodoi po lujam,” “Let the passersby run clumsily over puddles”). And so they do.

Watch out for that killer turkey.

Academic rappers:   It’s ya birthday.  It’s not statistically anomalous that it’s (about) ma birthday as well.

A voice that sounds suspiciously like mine comes out of what is obviously the coolest talking radio in a very non-gimmicky commercial for my favorite local radio station.  In related news, I am now the official spokesmodel for the powerful paint-covered barefoot demographic.

Before “publish or perish,” there are apparently several layers of perish and statistics delicately encased in the geode of academic life.  (Picture a flaky pastry quiche with various layers of quiche-goodies, some of which occasionally explode.  Or a lasagna the approximate height of the nearest bank.)

At least the language of statistics actually refers to the feeling of progress quantitative methods yields in the middle of a research project…

PUZZLE

+ PERISH

————–

REGRESS

As I report for Demockeracy this week, the Communist Party has a statement to make about healthcare reform, Obama, and its winning strategy for the future.

                                                 
The New Thornton Art Gallery at UVA, hosted by the Department of Science, Technology and Society and SEAS, is officially decked out and open for moseying.

                                                       
Illustrious UVA STS Professor, Science Blogger, and McSweeneyist B.R. Cohen notes:

The gallery is located in the foyer of the 2nd floor of Thornton Hall (A-wing, West side). The first installation in the gallery is currently on display.  It consists of four paintings by local artist and UVA graduate student Katelyn Sack.  If you have not yet had the chance to see the display, please feel free to saunter by and linger.

The Gallery seeks first to exhibit work by students, but will also grow to present work by faculty and local residents.  This first installment will run through mid-Spring, at which time a new installment will follow.  The gallery is co-curated by Benjamin Cohen (faculty, STS) and George Cahen (faculty, Department of Materials Science and Engineering), with a curatorial committee that includes Kent Wayland (post-doc, STS) and Doug Jerolimov (faculty, STS).  The committee welcomes and actively seeks inquiries from other SEAS faculty who wish to join and contribute to decisions about future installments in the Gallery.

Most importantly, the committee seeks inquiries from student-artists who would like to display their work.  Please note that although the first installment presents paintings, the Gallery will also display photographs in the future.  The selection process for the second installment will start at the beginning of the Spring semester. For those interested in displaying work, please contact Benjamin Cohen at: brc8x@virginia.edu.  Include “Thornton Art Gallery” in the subject header.  For those faculty members interested in joining the curatorial committee and contributing to decisions about future installments in the Gallery, please use the same contact address.

Firstly, this illustration goes with local writer Ariel Gomez’s fantastic short story, “El Monstruo del Rey y su Astuto Escriba.”

Secondly (speaking of the spiral DNA staircase down the middle), there is finally a genetic upside to being all or part Ashkenazi Jew!  Time for a genetic horoscopes update, Madame Jeremijenko?

(Artwork is oils on 30″ x 40″ stretched canvas.)

Small claims court is so much fun, I’m going back a fourth time for the same case!  Oh, latent conflict between capitalism and private property in the form of systematic theft from small businesses and artists.  You’re funny.

JUST

+ JUST

+ JUST

+ FUDGE

+ FUDGE

+ FUDGE

————

JUDGE