lately in the public lens
I’m camera shy, but I’ve been popping up in various media these days, mostly giving laid back, image-rich talks to welcome people into the fungusy world that you and I love. Thought you might be curious.
My popular lecture for Cornell’s Summer Lecture Series is available via a CyberTower webcast (too bad you can’t hear the great audience, who gamely answered my questions and laughed at my jokes).
A fun new radio interview with Jenny Nelson for Science Cabaret on Air. I gave a Sci Cab presentation a few years ago with Kent Loeffler and Tim Merrick. That is not online (you just had to be there, drinking beer):
My friend Dr. Tim Baroni and I recently gave a tag team presentation as a SUNY Cortland Community Roundtable which is now up as a webcast:
I joined a live discussion of fungi (and how horrible and creepy they are!) on Connecticut Public Radio’s Colin McEnroe Show (Jan 11 2010):
And the Fungi of China collection I told you about a while ago has finally gone home, to some fanfare. Here is the final installment:
Prized Mushroom Collection Returns to China (Associated Press)
More details on China chez nous.
happy mushrooming,
Kathie Hodge
p.s. The image shows my two new hand lenses, which I chose for their sharp optics and wide field of view. A good basic (triplet) 10x lens is every naturalist’s friend. A 20x lens is a good addition for folks like me, who crave a closer look. I carry both in the field. Find them at various outfitters of miners and geologists.
My recommendations:
Belomo 10x Triplet (not pictured): cheap, very good, sturdy. This is the one I bought for my son. Not a fan of the stiff and bulky lanyard though.
Meiji Triplet, 10X: Also very good, but not so cheap, and too small a loop for attaching to your lanyard. I bought this for me, but I don’t think it’s significantly better than the Bellomo.
Iwamoto Wide Lens Triplet, 20X: Nice! Big glass for such a high mag lens. Lets in the light so you can use it while crouching by a log in a hemlock grove.
Kathie, you’re too cool. “A Visit to the Mushroom Planet” at CyberTower is a great presentation; informative, funny, and full of surprises (how about that spore-riding lung worm!). Your fungal enthusiasm is infectious. Thanks for sharing.
Great site. I will bookmark for my sons to view as well!!!h
Thanks for your review on the hand lenses! I was browsing my fav. website looking for a good 20x, and saw the Meiji triplet(10x) so was considering purchasing it as well. Glad I did a search of the Iwamoto first and found your site- as I think the lens I currently have will be a keeper. I’ve had it for years (Hastings) but thought the better focal length on the Meiji may make a difference. Hearing that it won’t fit on the loop kills the deal as well- I’d likely lose it otherwise.
Glad to hear the Iwamoto is as nice as it appears to be! Can’t wait to test that one out- as I refrained from purchasing one previously due to the small lens. Thanks!