What I did during my week away (complete with linkage and tiny photos):

Watched lots of PBS: Store Wars (about Wal-mart invading Ashland, VA), Frontline’s Blackout episode (about the California power crisis), and some of a five-part documentary on New York in which I learned about the Triangle Factory fire in 1911 which claimed the lives of 146 garment workers, mostly women, some as young as 14.

Saw the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The sphere in a glass box architecture is striking. Here are two closeups (a side and a corner) of the metal doodads holding the glass together.

Visited the “Make Way For Ducklings” sculpture in the Boston Public Garden. My photo.

Found out that some people think Elizabeth Pain was the inspiration for “A Scarlet Letter” (her grave is at King’s Chapel), though it’s more likely that it was a young woman from Salem, MA who was sent her away to live with relatives in Virginia. (my photo of the headstone)

Discovered that they are building an IMAX theatre at the New England Aquarium. I suppose everyone else has one, so they’re keeping up with the Joneses. I took a photo of the construction.

I don’t know if it’s spoiler info or not, so I’m not saying exactly what it is. The name is also in the URL, so don’t look at that either. I am so thrilled that this person is going to be on E.R. next season that I am bursting with anticipation.

Joss Whedon continues to prove he’s the coolest of the cool. First of all, he mentions that he likes Elvis Costello and Aimee Mann (he has plans for a musical episode of Buffy!). And then I find out he was the one under all the makeup as Numfar on Angel. As in: “Numfar! Do the dance of joy!” I didn’t even know it was Joss and it cracked me to pieces. (via TOS and WCH)

Blogger has been very slow and cranky this week so I’m struggling with entries. I’ll be posting sporadically next week since I’ll be on a trip to New England. It’s time already for a 10 year college reunion. And it’s definitely time to make sure my parents meet the fiance before the wedding. During my stay at what is very likely the last house in my hometown that doesn’t have cable TV, Food Network is showing the Iron Chef rematch with Bobby Flay, and A&E; has a special 2 hour Biography on The Impressionists. But the good thing about cable is that they’ll repeat these again. And again. Besides, I can content myself with the Tony Awards on PBS and CBS. Oh, and play with Mom’s fluffy cat. At least they finally got a VCR. And Internet access.

The DJ on the radio kept yapping about “new Peter Gabriel coming up”, which I thought meant maybe he’d finished another album and released a single, but it actually was him singing on a song from Afro Celt Sound System. Peter is working on a new album called “UP”.

Why take a geek cruise or a sports cruise or even a cruise featuring LDS celebrities, when you can go on a Spy Cruise! Counterintelligence, intelligence and security experts (that means retired FBI, CIA, DoD and KGB) from the CI Centre will be on board to teach passengers about the spy trade.

The American Red Cross recently updated their blood donation policy. It further restricts those who have spent time in the U.K. and Europe, tightening up the time parameters. It is hoped this will reduce the possibility of spreading “mad cow” disease through blood transfusions. If you’re capable, consider donating. This restriction shuts out a few people I know who actually do give blood.

My mother always told me that money is really dirty and I should wash my hands after handling it. It was a case of “you don’t know where that’s been”. It turns out, as usual, that she’s right. Really right. Scientists gathered 68 dollar bills and found disease causing bacteria on 94% of them. 93 species were identified. 7% of the bills had really bad stuff like pneumonia. This shouldn’t be cause for alarm, but I do think I’ll wash my hands after counting up the lunch check now.

Video Games for Felines. (I’m not making this up you know!) Cyberpounce has eleven games to keep your kitty amused. (I double-checked the date, it’s not April 1st.) Product development was overseen by a Ph.D. animal behaviorist. (Who probably noticed that cats like chasing mouse pointers around the screen.) Your cat can play solo or you can control the movement of the objects. (Great, now I have to share my entire monitor with the cat, not just the top of it?) The article also mentions BitBoost‘s “cat walking on keyboard” detector, which was nicely nostalgic for me since it was the subject of one of my very first log posts. The Cyberpounce creator is now trying to think up a way to entertain dogs with the computer. (My suggestion, partner up with smell-o-vision company Digiscents and have doggy tracking games.)

Here’s a nifty little interview with Buffy creator Joss Whedon (contains spoilers of course) wherein he reveals that they are working on a BBC spin-off show for Anthony Stewart Head (Giles) since he’s moving back to England. He won’t be full time on Buffy next year, but he’ll still be there.