Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

At a back-yard fireside picnic last week, Ev’s oldest daughter, Jennifer Kornelsen, Ph.D.*, a neurophysiologist and cutting-edge brain researcher, surprised us with a copy of the latest issue of the Journal of Pain that had just arrived by mail, featuring her study entitled ‘Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity Altered in Failed Back Surgery Syndrome’ based on research conducted between 2009 – 2011. Lo and behold, on the journal cover are images of Evelin’s brain (captured by Jen via MRI) representing “a normal, healthy person” in comparison with images of the brain of an individual suffering from chronic pain.

Of course we were pretty chuffed for Jen… (and also doubled over with laughter at the very idea that Ev’s brain could be considered “normal” in any sense of the word). (-:

*Jen worked at Canada’s National Research Council until last month, when the entire research department associated with Magnetic Resonance Technology at the Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg was shut down by Stephen Harper, Canada’s anti-science prime minister. Thankfully Jen and her considerable scientific contributions are appreciated by others — she has just chosen one of the four(!) positions that were offered her from institutions across the country.

—Jack Kerouac (1922-1969)

—Edgar Allan Poe, Eleonora

Pyongyang, North Korea

“North Korean women are encouraged by the state to choose from one of the 18 officially sanctioned hairstyles, as shown in this display on the wall of a salon in the capital…”

(source, via Marian Bantjes)

—Rumi

(expect the unexpected)

French photographer Charles Fréger traveled to eighteen countries, investigating ancient tribal customs, and shooting portraits of ‘Europe’s Wild Men.’ See many more images (with explanatory captions) here.

“It all started by drinking too much “Primitivo” wine during the opening of one of my exhibitions,” says Fréger, “I decided to work on something primitive… seems that wine made the right effect to me.”