Today, as I left work at the stroke of 5 p.m., I finally got my act together enough to walk directly across the street into the Ontario Science Center and see Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2*. For anyone who hasn't heard of this thing, it's the exhibit of literal dead bodies and body parts that have been plasticized, preserved indefinitely** and artfully arranged. Half of the people there murmured the most fascinating things. There was so much to listen to because the other half of the crowd was silent. I fell into the latter category, but I'm glad I went alone because it was easier to hear all the others.

There was an interesting array of body types: mostly people at the peak of their physical fitness, with cancerous versions of their organs nearby to remind us all that smoking is bad, and the obese person which is so now--the exhibit cards said so. I was hoping to find someone who had the goddamn thing I've got, maybe get a flash of insight or a metaphorical hamster-running-on-wheel. No dice. But they did have a camel.

Okay, I did sort of tear up when it came time to see the fetuses. On the plus side, I know exactly what my neice or nephew looks like right now. And as soon as I got home I let my sister know.

I don't want to gush about it too much. If you live in Toronto, though, I really reccommend that you see it within three weeks' time***, when it closes. Or wherever it goes next; I dunno, Google it. But do see it.

The italian phrase for the day is curiosità innovativa. It means eclectic curiosity****.




Notes:
*Gunther von Hagens' Body Worlds 2: I didn't link to it because the hype surrounding this thing made it pretty redundant, as actions in blogging go.

**preserved indefinitely: I made this up. I have no idea if these things will last forever or for five years at most. They are organic, but have been steeped in chemicals and plastic. This was the end of the exhibit's run, and as I was able to blow on this person's artfully-arranged tendons and see them fray.

***three weeks' time: Say that with an accent--any accent you like. Funny eh? Why the hell did we stop talking like that?

****eclectic curiosity: I wonder if Maisonneuve--a.k.a. eclectic curiosity: the product--will innovate itself a new slogan now that it's a blasted Montreal city life magazine. You've got to hand it to Maisonneuve, though; they sure do love their Montreal.