http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/05/19/fashion/19Yarnbomb_ss.html

Neuroscience Cartoons

I drew neuroscience-themed cartoons based on this question:

If neuroscientists used their methodologies and applied them to the dating scene, i.e., figuring out what hairdo the ladies prefer, what might that look like?

This is what I imagine it to look like:

~ Cellular neuroscientist ~

~ Neurophysiologist ~

~ Neuroimager ~

~ Theoretical neuroscientist* ~

* May also apply to modellers

And now back to real neuroscience!

~~~~~

Explanation for the non-neuroscientists:

• Pretend ladies/girls are neurons
• The cellular neuroscientist studies girls' hair preferences based on direct manipulation of one girl
• The neurophysiologist studies girls' hair preferences based on a collective rating from many girls (and neighboring noise, like boys who happen to rate the pictures too)
• The neuroimager studies girls' hair preferences indirectly by seeing how frequently girls are friends with guys of certain hairdos
• Lastly, the theoretical neuroscientist approximates girls' behavior from a model system which may or may not care for hairdos like girls

Marshmallow Winslow art

I just gave a talk today and am now unwinding with some art, while listening to TED talks.

Although I don't follow Questionable Content, my first look at the iPod character Winslow was that "He's a cute marshmallow!"

Oh, come on. Don't you see the resemblance?

Anyhow, I have literally made a marshmallow Winslow. See below for production photos. Marshmallow Winslow is 100% edible and (sadly) 0% electronic.

Setting up camp

Squishy pieces constructed

Time for painting!

Aww, he's so anime-like and kawaii

He smiles at you. ;)

Chilling cuz life as a marshmallow's awesome

My kind of Valentines Day card: http://grathio.com/2011/01/valentines-day-cards-for-the-maker-in-your-life.html

Heart beat scarf

In the spirit of not working over Thanksgiving break, I made a scarf using Eric's heart beat circuit. And documented the whole process! The trade-off is that I owe many email/text replies to friends.


The scarf's for my wearable electronics collaborator Eric, so the monogram has his initials behind the typical electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform:



Video form:

Silhouette Machine Giveaway

Silhouette Machine Giveaway

Ugh. I want. Not quite as cool as a laser cutter but not bad, right dB?

Sound-responsive dress

My newest creation is a dress that lights up in response to sound intensity.

My awesome housemate helped take photos and video. We did some shots at the park on a Friday night edging on midnight - glad there weren't cops enforcing park curfew or weird bums.

I need a real model...

Sniff-controlled wheelchair

My former advisor has created a human-machine interface, where a patient's sniffing is translated into a code for controlling a wheelchair:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10819014

Ingenious!

Moving back to the Bay Area

Only the bay will seperate us now in all our cuteness. To celebrate the momentous event, the New York Times' fashion spread is about us dB: proudly small breasted and San Francisco "style" such as it is.

Despite such a homecoming, i've certainly had my resevations about his move. Nonetheless, here's to a gloriously unknown future.

Worst Recall Ever?

Hip implants.

Sleepy

Can't wait to not feel so unsettled. Also vaccines suck.

Cal panties

I got my first commissioned light-up order this past week for a pair of panties. It was an engagement present of a Cal alumna, so what better way to show her blue and gold than to make UC Berkeley's motto (Let there be light) literally happen...on her panties.

Back of the panty

Close up

Power up!

Push to glow!

Go Bears!

Dairy Queen

My friend, E, who i'm staying with in Portland is known for her milky complexion. But also for the vast amounts of dairy she (and therefore we) consume.

I already started with a new love in the first part of my trip: yogurt based popsicles (a three layer berry/apricot/berry from Zuni when I was in the city.) Delightfully tart and zesty.

Last night was a pretty awesome buttermilk ice cream--a must try to make in the home ice cream maker!

Today we hit the road to the Tillmook cheese factory where we had samples, bought squeeky curds and an ungodly amount of cheese, had a wonderfully milky smooth (not grossly clot-y) clam chowder, and for our hearts sake, some roadside berries.

-------

Also there were all these signs around Tillmook for "Pig N Ford". Well, we didn't know what that was. But there did seem to be a lot of fancy old roadsters around the area visiting the cheese factories. Once we got home to look it up:


Think we just missed something great.

*UPDATE-mac'n'cheese made with smoked pepper cheddar and dark IPA-yum

Portland

Bracingly cold, freshly green, beer, yarn, books, food.

Private to the boy: wish you were here.

World Cup Part lB

Yes you look quite fetching as a Spanish flag, dB. (And the tapas at the bar afterward were delicious and spiced nicely with crazy, enthusiastic Spanish chanting/dancing/kissing). But I watched the game at a very different venue than you: my big gay Mexican friend had a delightful beer-brunch in the Castro to celebrate.

And the important things I learned about football:

1. No matter how close to the screen you get, you cannot makeout with the hot Spanish team members.

2. There was a lot of overdramatic injury antics--and the finely flambouyant men I was with had suprisingly little patience for it.

3. On the field, a football player's "sex face" is most likely to be seen during the close-up head bunt shots.

Needless to say, my company knew as little about football as I did ("Go Orange!" "What's happening?" "Is this suppose to take so long?" "This is kinda like softcore porn--no penis!") but were enthusiastic nonetheless.

Good times.

I'm a Spanish flag!

I watched the World Cup final match in San Francisco, dressed as a Spanish flag.

Here's a better comparison of me and a real Spanish flag:

Food P*rn

I won free tickets to see I Am Love on Monday. As much as I adore Italian melodramas (and this one has the benefit of Tilda Swinton), I wasn't excited to see it until this.

RIP Jose Saramago

I'm almost always inthe middle of reading one of his books. Sigh.

Shabby Apple Queensland Swimsuit Giveaway

Need a new swim suit since I joined the Y.

Though I don't think these will work, they're pretty lovely.

Shabby Apple Queensland Swimsuit Giveaway

Bean for lB

We spotted a little bean-shaped apricot last weekend post-dim sum:

It's almost as cute as lB! ^_^