Blowup

I watched Blowup last night, the 1966 film directed by Michelangelo Antonioni. I had not watched it since college, when I thought I was going to be a photographer, and watching this movie was a rite of passage for that profession.

It's a fabulous movie. The camera movements are wonderful. The setings, particularly those with grass, are so lush and well lit. It was like seeing the film again, because I had completely forgotten it.

But what I want to write about is only a small scene in the film. The photographer is in his studio, sitting at his desk, looking at two girls who want him to photograph them. He has a coin in his hand, and he is flipping it among his fingers, trying to impress the girls.

The same flipping of the coin among fingers also occurs in Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. It happens late in the film, in the grotto, and it's Captain Jack who does the deed with the gold coin.

Coincidence? Something that happens a lot? Or a salute from Gore Verbinski to Antonioni? I think the latter, but see for yourself.

Raining buckets

It's been raining buckets here, in the northeast, since some time last Saturday night. It only just stopped this afternoon. Everyone is talking about their wet basements.

It reminds me of the time, maybe 11 years ago, when it was also raining buckets, and our window wells began to fill with water. The raindrops were huge. We got two buckets (the real kind) and started bailing out the wells. Furiously, in the dark, the rain knocking us very wet. Our one year old son watched from the glassed front door for a few minutes. Then he went back into the house and got one of his plastic Halloween containers, and came to the door, and held it out. As if to say, 'here's another one'.

I'll never forget it - it was maybe the first time I realized he had some consciousness, that he could observe and think and reason. It made me happy to think he could do that. It was also very, very funny.

Junipero Gin

A few months ago, I read in Esquire magazine that gin is the new hot drink. As you might know, vodka has been hot for a number of years, with many new varieties spawned. Gin has always been a sleeper, perhaps because it's a bit different, as it is brewed with added botanicals according to the maker.

One of the gins recommended by Esquire is Junipero. They said it might be America's best gin. It wasn't easy to find but finally a few weeks ago I bought a bottle. It's very different from most other gins - not at all sweet and the botanicals are unusual. But I like it very much - I drank it on ice, with just a drop of vermouth. The latter isn't really necessary - you should leave the flavor alone. But it's not cheap - about $35 for the bottle. You won't want to make gin and tonics with it either; savor the taste on its own.

Junipero is made by the same company that makes Anchor Steam beer - which in itself is outstanding. You can find out more here.

Black Squirrel

I went to Princeton this past Saturday to work on the third edition of our textbook, 'Principles of Virology'. It's always nice to go there early on Saturdays; it's very calm (bucolic, as my colleague there would say) and nearly deserted.

This past Saturday, while walking to Thomas Lab, I saw a black squirrel on the grass. I thought it was some sort of mutant, but apparently black squirrels are quite common in the northeastern US. There is even a photo of one at Wikipedia, taken on the Princeton University campus! Here is the link.

Apparently black squirrels are nothing more than dark versions of the common Eastern Grey Squirrel. So they are not so special after all.

Miyazaki

Lately we have been enjoying the films of Hayao Miyazaki, the Japanese animator. We had already seen Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Howl's Moving Castle a while ago. A few months ago, I decided to try Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and everyone loved it. We then watched Princess Mononoke, and just last night, My Neighbor Tortoro.

These are wonderful films. The animation is drawn by hand, the characters are memorable and often highly imaginative, the music is excellent, and the plots are very good. Unfortunately, we are nearing the end of his oevre (remaining are Porco Rosso and The Cat Returns).

I highly recommed these films to anyone with children, or anyone with a vivid imagination.

cellphones and interruptions

A huge problem with cell phones is that they make you interruptible nearly all the time. So many times I'm sitting in the cell culture hood pipetting, or injecting a mouse, and the phone rings. It's a major problem just to see who it is because I usually have both hands occupied. I know, you can turn off the phone, but who wants to bother with that? Only when I go into meetings do I silence it completely. Not even vibrate; how many buzzing cell phones I've heard at meetings...

But one place I will absolutely not answer the phone is in the bathroom. That is supposed to be a sanctuary, a place where no one can reach you. And it's just plain weird to talk with someone with your pants around your ankles.

Man and Woman

Viruses are female

This morning, my son Devin and I were talking about viruses. He told me that viruses are female.

Why, I asked.

Because, he said, viruses go into cells, and make more viruses. Females are the only ones who can make things. That's why viruses are female.

I never thought of it that way. Brilliant.