Stardust and Shalimar

[butterflydreaming]

llynecat smartly suggested Shalimar for a quick dinner before the "Stardust and Rare Earth" lecture last night. The butter chicken, chicken tika, and the spiced potato appetizer that we had were all tasty. I also ordered a spiced Darjeeling tea; it had the same failing that I have found in all the chai and chai-like drinks that I have had in restaurants. I am fairly certain that more coffee drinkers would be tea drinkers as well if the tea wasn't so often weakly brewed. I recommend Shalimar if you are in the U District (and if you have this year's Entertainment Book you can get 2-for-1 on dinner entrees) though I prefer the biryani at India Bistro, and Flavor of India overall -- particularly for prices & portions.

The lecture was an overview, not very technical and also not too in-depth. The speaker was lively and enthusiastic. His love of his field was obvious, and you know I love to see that. He has a pocket sized rant about how everyone should know what an isotope is. I agree that it's not a difficult concept. I think the problem with science's reputation is that that science, like Shakespeare, is thought by the general populace to be the purview of smart people.

We arrived only a few minutes late due to finding our way. L won a free book of award winning science articles. (And now she is mildly anxious about gravity leakage.) Introductions were made between bdkellmer (don't forget about that shrimp recipe!) and llynecat & samildanach, so once again, the world grows smaller through LJ. If thewronghands or spider88 were in attendance, we didn't know who they were, though I was looking for clues.

As cool as comets are (and they are), I am now facinated by aerogel. Dude. It has the same density of air but is essentially glass. This was the medium used to capture the comets and transport them to Earth. I wish the speaker had brought some actual aerogel with him. Like a little kid, I'm more interested in the bubble wrap than the Ming vase. (Metaphorically speaking. In actuality, I am equally interested in both Ming vases and bubble wrap.)

Comments

[varina8.livejournal.com]

Aerogel kind of looks like clear Jello cubes, or at least the piece I saw did.

[butterflydrming.livejournal.com]

When did you get to see it? {is envious}

[buhrger]

Shalimar for a quick dinner
another name to make note of for april...

I think the problem with science's reputation is that that science, like Shakespeare, is thought by the general populace to be the purview of smart people.
heck, part of the probpelm is that the general populace don't think of themselves as smart people...

I am now facinated by aerogel. Dude. It has the same density of air but is essentially glass.
i'm with you on that one, dude. ærogel is way cool.

[butterflydrming.livejournal.com]

another name to make note of for april...
You said that ironymaiden & I had to do research. I'm doing what I can.

[buhrger]

good. ta :-)