Breaking news: I took a picture with my iPhone. I’ve brought it to class today in hopes of making you like me more. I loved show and tell as a kid. I once heard Kristen Lamb say blogs are “show and tell for adults,” and I definitely took it to heart (possibly a little too much). Last Sunday, I went on a solo hike in North Georgia on the Pine Log Creek Trail, a 4.5 mile loop hike that features a small abandoned quarry reclaimed by nature in a particularly lovely way. Here’s my orientation-flipped pic of the reflective water effect at the quarry: I’m always hoping for a glimpse of … [Read more...]
Anthropomorphizing the Unanthropomorphizable, or: Why Is the Jumping Spider Cute?
Last week I posted a picture of a wind scorpion (camel spider) on Facebook to “celebrate” the first sighting of one in Georgia. Responses were quick and visceral. Most took the form of “NOPE” or “Kill it with fire!” I didn’t have this reaction to the picture. Didn’t creep me out. Don’t get me wrong—if I saw one racing toward me, I’d definitely grab a bystander and throw them on top of it. But just the idea and image of one was more fun than freaky. I chalk it up to personal experience and preference (and being a kid who played with bugs), but it got me thinking about what humans … [Read more...]