Embarrassment of Riches

Cambridge is just that--an embarrassment of riches. What do we do? We are treated intellectually, emotionally, and deliciously to an embarrassment of riches. Some describe Cambridge as a Disney World for Academics and it certainly is for us.

We go to lectures and music events and fine meals all the time. To give an example of this week.

On Friday night we attended the 3rd of six Darwin Lectures(with the theme being Life). This one was absolutely inspiring by Prof Frances Ashcroft who studies electrical events or ion channels in living creatures. Of course, it was difficult for us to follow; however, she had a terrific power point presentation and she was funny, inspiring, and passionate about her research and so happy that it was indeed helping these babies born with congenital diabetes live better lives by not having to take insulin. She showed portraits of the healthy children who had been helped. She was also very good about giving credit to all the scientists (showing their portraits also) who have helped and collaborated with her in making things happen.

On Friday night after the Darwin lecture we enjoyed formal dinner with this menu.

Afterwards we had coffee and walked over to Lee Hall for Music and Madeira. Shelley Katz, a Canadian pianist played Handel, Mozart, and Beethoven beautifully. We enjoyed his performance immensely. He answered some questions afterwards which gave him a chance to talk about his work as Director of the Symphonova Project which is to design, develop, and implement the world's first high-end digital symphony orchestra.

Unfortunately the snowy weekend cancelled the Sunday tea for internationals which we were looking forward to.

We missed a lunchtime music event at the West Road Concert Hall as we forgot it--it is hard to keep up with everything-- but enjoyed a formal dinner on Tuesday night. We invited our young friend Josie. Kevin attended the service before hand that had good music by the Wolfson choir but I walked to meet Josie coming down Grange Road (dark and icy) from Churchill College where she lives. We had a good dinner.

On Wednesday, we went to Wolfson's weekly lunchtime seminar with a slide show and talk "Close Encounters with Pakistan's Taliban" given by Dr. David Goslin. His talk was based on his experiences as principal of Edwardes College, an English school established by missionaries over 100 years ago in Peshawar, a troubled part of Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan. It was a fascinating talk and we learned much about what is going on over there. Especially disturbing was his take (and slides of newspaper accounts) on how American drones are killing innocent people who live in this border area--more collateral damage than military targets.

That afternoon, we went to the first of 4 Hulsean Lectures "The Cost of the Beauty of Holiness," given by Mr. N. MacGregor, Director of the British Museum and author of A History of the World in 100 Objects. It was an outstanding lecture that covered so much but he essentially showed the difference in the way Christianity and Islam have portrayed their religion through art with the emphasis on Christian art throughout the centuries. It was fascinating and excellently presented with beautiful pictures via a power point presentation. I look forward to the second one in March.

Tonight we are off to another Darwin Lecture about "Life in the Ancient World." Then supper at the Granta, a cheap but tasty neighborhood pub.