Alchemy, relocated

This morning, on Marketplace, there was a report on, of all things, an alchemy conference. The attendees seemed to all be historians and chemicals industry people, and the coverage was brief and vague enough that I couldn't get a clear picture of whether these people were studying the history of alchemy, or studying/practicing alchemy itself. The reporter did her best to make everyone sound like drunks and lunatics, but the sound bites from attendees sounded as if the people involved were scholarly and respectable, which was an interesting contrast. The report ended with something about how, like alchemists struggling to turn lead into gold, these folks were struggling to turn alchemy (which she called something like 'an ugly duckling' or 'an ugly embarrassment' or something) into a fruitful field of study. Which I thought had already come to pass, to a certain extent, in the field of psychology, but maybe psychology is an ugly embarrassment to scientists, too. It's hard to say.

Alchemy, relocated

This morning, on Marketplace, there was a report on, of all things, an alchemy conference. The attendees seemed to all be historians and chemicals industry people, and the coverage was brief and vague enough that I couldn't get a clear picture of whether these people were studying the history of alchemy, or studying/practicing alchemy itself. The reporter did her best to make everyone sound like drunks and lunatics, but the sound bites from attendees sounded as if the people involved were scholarly and respectable, which was an interesting contrast. The report ended with something about how, like alchemists struggling to turn lead into gold, these folks were struggling to turn alchemy (which she called something like 'an ugly duckling' or 'an ugly embarrassment' or something) into a fruitful field of study. Which I thought had already come to pass, to a certain extent, in the field of psychology, but maybe psychology is an ugly embarrassment to scientists, too. It's hard to say.

Boobies!

Bracelets for boobies! I'm selling shiny beaded bracelets to help support saffronhare's efforts in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. I'm not gonna be able to walk the thing, but I'm willing to do what I can. So here's the deal: Shiny bracelet (some appropriately pink, some not pink, but tagged with a little pink ribbon, so as you know what you bought it for), $20 (plus shipping if I'm not going to see you to give it to you) donation. If you're going to be where I am any time in the next few weeks, ask to see my shinies - I imagine I'll be carrying them around.

If you would like to support the cause, and want a bracelet made in a specific color/combination, comment here, and I will make one to suit you for a donation of $30.

The money goes to fund breast cancer research and support.

Or, if you don't want a damned bracelet, but you want to support saffronhare and All Breasts Everywhere, you can donate directly here. Any questions?

The alchemy portion of this entry, not nearly as important as the fundraising portion, has been relocated. If you're wondering why people are talking about alchemy under my boobies post, they are actually responding to this paragraph about alchemy on Marketplace.

Boobies!

Bracelets for boobies! I'm selling shiny beaded bracelets to help support saffronhare's efforts in the Breast Cancer 3-Day. I'm not gonna be able to walk the thing, but I'm willing to do what I can. So here's the deal: Shiny bracelet (some appropriately pink, some not pink, but tagged with a little pink ribbon, so as you know what you bought it for), $20 (plus shipping if I'm not going to see you to give it to you) donation. If you're going to be where I am any time in the next few weeks, ask to see my shinies - I imagine I'll be carrying them around.

If you would like to support the cause, and want a bracelet made in a specific color/combination, comment here, and I will make one to suit you for a donation of $30.

The money goes to fund breast cancer research and support.

Or, if you don't want a damned bracelet, but you want to support saffronhare and All Breasts Everywhere, you can donate directly here. Any questions?

The alchemy portion of this entry, not nearly as important as the fundraising portion, has been relocated. If you're wondering why people are talking about alchemy under my boobies post, they are actually responding to this paragraph about alchemy on Marketplace.