lectures/duty

we went to seattle again yesterday, this time to see this chap, david quammen, chat. he seems a very sweet-spirited man. rather low-key, a bit touchy-feely, but still good. he talked about charles darwin and the 2 years between his return from the beagle voyage and stumbling upon the main principles of his theory of natural selection. it was a tumultuous, shattering conclusion for the young chuck d, and he was understandably reluctant to publish. science and religion were interwoven back then.

some of the same people were at this lecture who were at the shermer talk 2 weeks ago. soon we'll be regulars at these things too.

senator barack obama is coming to benaroya hall on 10/26/2006.

bill bryson will be at the elliott bay book company (where i was privileged enough to be employed as a bookseller for a few months in the summer and fall of 1999) the very next day, on 10/27/2006.

it would be swell to attend these events but tickets for each will be sold in advance only at the ebbc, not online and not by phone, and perhaps a special trip just to acquire tickets would have to be made. i'm not saying it couldn't happen; i'm just saying it would require a special trip.

... in other news, i have been summoned to jury duty. yesterday i got the notice in the mail. i am awash with emotions and thoughts about this. mostly i'm excited. it could be interesting. knowing me, i'll also be terribly nervous close to the date. i'm scheduled to appear on 10/30/2006, a monday.