I spent most of today trying to yank my brain out of a scary, disorienting, antihistamine-induced fog. Fortunately, I was able to work at home today, since I kept falling asleep every five minutes or so. I couldn't go anywhere, but over a period of hours I did type a short note for Versus/Reversus. I also wrote a lengthy response to my long-lost mentor (discussed here), Jane. I received a letter from her last week, but due to laptop malfunction didn't get access to it till yesterday. That, at least, was satisfying, though I'm afraid to look again to see if it makes sense.
1. DEEP SPACE IMAGES. Beautiful photographs: nebulae, galaxies, and other wonderful sights for your eyes.
2. SEAHORSES. As a child, I had a big book about seahorses. There was one photograph that I used to stare and stare at. Did I like the red one, the yellow one, or the blue one best? I was happy to stumble across this gallery of thumbnail seahorse photographs at SEAHORSE AND SEADRAGON CENTRAL. At the same site, I found this gallery of intriguing creatures called "seadragons."
There are also some magnificent photographs of seahorses from around the world at PROJECT SEAHORSE. The third prize photograph---a multicolored Indonesian beauty called Hippocampus Bargibanti that reminded me of paintings of Oriental dragons---is hands down my favorite, but it was hard to choose between all these adorable creatures. Look, for example, at this yellow one. And finally, the second prize winner, "Pretty in Pink."
3. A CAT PLAYING ONE OF THOSE NEWFANGLED GAME THINGIES. This was posted at Digg. I love cats, and this is one of the most PECULIAR looking cuties I have ever seen.
4. THE GIRL WHOSE TOES MAKE GEMSTONES. I don't know what to make of this little nugget (tee hee) from Malaysia News Online about a girl whose toenails produce tiny crystal stones that look like gems. But whatever, she is an overnight sensation, even though the claims are apparently impossible.
[quote begins from New Straits Times Online, "Stones from Toes Stump Doctors"]
Meanwhile, International Medical University’s head of Human Biology Department, Associate Professor John Paul Judson, said Siti Suhana’s ability was a biological impossibility.
"Bones can develop on toes, but bones won’t pop out like that. The human body is capable of producing stones, such as calcium stones in the kidneys and the gall bladder.
"Sometimes gall-bladder stones can look like diamonds and precious gems because of the absorption of the pigments in the gall bladder....
"But stones coming out of the toes sounds like an urban legend to me," he said.
[quote ends]
You know, that sounds right to me. But then I ask myself: Who on earth would invent a story about stones coming out of her toes?
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