Wouldn’t some variant of this image make for a most excellent tattoo?
(I expect the Trophy Wife will come screeching into the parking lot any minute now, to tell me no, no, no while hitting me with a rolled up newspaper.)
Oh, joy! Carl Zimmer has published a profile of Roger Hanlon, the well-known cephalopod expert, and he is specifically discussing the work on camouflage that I previously summarized. I’ve also cited his work on sexual mimicry and nuptial dances — this is a fellow whose work all true worshipers of the cephalopod should be following.
This is no fair. I left Seattle 30 years ago, and now they’re celebrating Octopus Week? Maybe if they’d thought of it then, I wouldn’t have moved to Oregon, and Utah, And Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
Approximately 1.4 million people have emailed me with a link to this article on body modification (I’m not complaining, do feel free to send me stuff). It includes this picture.
I’m sorry, but no thanks. That’s a wanna-be kluge. It’s pathetic. The guy has just had some kind of silicone rings stuck under his skin, and I am unimpressed.
Give me a call when we’ve got gene modification and some method of reiterating ontogenesis in my arms. I want neural control of a sophisticated muscular structure, not some inert faux lump. Adding sharp-edged teeth to the structure is optional, but highly desirable.
And all those tatoos? Bugger those, too. I want these:
Imagine a whole network of those under your skin, linked by nerves to your brain, with the ability to change color and pattern under conscious control.
I sneer at anything less. The body-modification crowd is hampered by feeble imaginations that think needles and ink and holes and bumps are impressive — I’m holding out for something a little more substantial than cosmetic geegaws.
Doesn’t that put you in a romantic mood?
I’ve got to wash my underwear.
Ken Cope, a regular commenter here (come on, you guys all know him) sent along some cephalopodian artwork a friend of his does. After browsing a bit, it was sinking in: Ken is friends with an animation artist and roller derby star, one who wins awards for most penalties in a season no less, and who paints toilet seats for fun. How cool is that?
And people think I’m strange…
If I’m ever in LA, you’re going to have to introduce me, Ken. I have fond memories of watching roller derby with my great-grandmother.
