Probably my favorite science blogger, well my favorite whom I do not know personally, is Pharyngula. Recently, he posted a challenge from another science blogger, David Ng, to reveal and comment upon our coffee mugs. And in a desperate attempt to make these science dudes think I am cool, I am stepping up to the challenge.
So here 'tis...
1. Can you show us your coffee mug?
Yup. This is the one. I have lots of others, but this is my favorite.
2. Can you comment on it? Do you think it reflects your personality?
Let's see, it a 16 oz (very big, for you non-science folks) mug depicting stargazers sitting around a fire and tracing the constellations with their hands. It was gift from my own stargazer. He picked it up in Calgary when he was at the American Astronomical Society meeting last June. When I requested his help in describing the mug, I specifically asked if he could tell me if it was the summer sky or the winter sky depicted, and if it was the northern hemisphere or the southern. His reply was, "Well, it's no sky I have ever seen." When I asked why he, the astronomer, would purchase a mug that was not scientifically accurate, he replied (somewhat annoyed, I think), "It's poetic." I guess I should have figured out that one...
Does it reflect my personality? Well, it does tell you that I need a major caffeine fix every morning. And it does remind me of my stargazer. :)
Oh, normally it has a piece of masking tape across it that says, "REV'S STARGAZER MUG" because if you don't label your personal items in a co-op, it becomes community property. However, I have been away from my beloved Bowers House for a few months now and the tape has peeled away. I imagine the label will go back on when I return home next week.
3. Do you have any interesting anecdotes resulting from coffee cup commentary?
Most of the stories about others commenting on the mug refer to the sheer size of the mug. Housemates like to point out that I can take the whole pot of coffee to fill my mug (not a very cooperative thing to do) or on my caffeine addiction. Some people like the label. One housemate, Irv, once made a mushy sentimental comment about the mug, it's accompanying label, and my obvious affection for the astronomer who gifted it, indicating that he had picked up on the poetry in the mug, even if I hadn't (though in my defense, I think the label itself reveals that I do appreciate the poetic sentiment of the gift. yes?).
4. Can you try to get others to comment on it?
Oh, I hope so. Please comment on it. Show them that I have friends. Make these science blog guys think that I am cool. Yes, one can be a minister and be cool, too.
***
P.S. PZ, I will be responding to your latest challenge before your deadline. I figure a reverend's perspective might be an interesting addition to the digest.
8 comments:
in my opinion, rachel's undeniable coolness has little to do with the mug. and i'm not going to talk about the mug giver or his relationship with rachel. stripped of all sentimentality this mug still matters.
it's imposing without taking itself too seriously. it knows it gets more attention than the other mugs but it tries not to make the others jealous. this mug would also have value in other contexts. for example, i think it could be used very effectively for self-defense.
nice coffee mug :) a
lot of my teachers used to compete for who had the wierdest coffee cup. I say the one that got a little kids sippie cup with two rings for hadles won that one :)
your sooo cool! ;)
I think your cool...however I am not understanding the poetry in the mug's scene? I love that it used to be labeled and now has rejected the label~ i think that is very cool for a caffine consumption object!! If your sweet muggiver could elaborate to the non-astronomically inclined as to the potetic nature that would be great!!
and i have only plain coffee mugs the kind that match my plates~ lol what ever does that say about me!!
I think it's rather clever that a scientist gave a reverend a mug that shows the people on the earth commenting on the wonders of the heavens, trying to analyze and explain the stars.
Your mug reminds me of slaves escaping on the underground railroad, relying on nothing but blind faith and the stars to navigate their way to freedom. I don't know if I would have been that courageous.
You need to tell us science folks how big 16 oz. is, also. For us science geeks, it's about 0.5 liters, I think. :-)
-Craig
Your mug is lovely. I think it is poetic because if its beauty and the way that that gazers point up into the sky. you rock and your stargazer sweetie is quite the nice and supportive guy. Amen for supportive guys. I hope the scientist realize that you are cool but if they don't then they are not as scientific as they think. Your coolness would totally stand up against the scientific method!!
loveyou
deiejones
The reason you can't identify the constellations is because the campers are on a distant planet half way across the galaxy. When they looked up at the sky they realized that all the stars were in different positions so they had to make up new constellations. I think they might be a little homesick because they seem to be finding a lot of earth animals in the sky. ( Ha ha! now it's scientifically accurate! Tell Craigipoo!)
Alex
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