Saturday reflections

The Corpus Clock in Cambridge.

It's situated outside the Taylor library at Corpus Christi college, and you can see a little of the towers of King's College across the street in the reflections.

It was conceived and funded by John Taylor, an alumnus of Corpus Christi, and is as much an art installation as it is a clock. It does have the basic machinery of a clock, but turned inside out. There are no numbers or hands, and the time is indicated by slits emitting blue LED light. But it's only accurate once in every five minutes, symbolizing the irregularity of life.

The clock was first displayed to the public in 2008, unveiled by Stephen Hawking.

Astronomy Tuesday

Well, it's astronomy-related, anyway.

This astronomical clock in the main quad at All Souls College was designed by Christopher Wren and dates from 1658.

I've peeked into many of the other Oxford colleges as I've walked around the city, and have taken a few pictures through the gates or from the streets, but All Souls is the only other college I've actually visited. It was founded by Henry VI in 1438, and is really more of a research institution than a college as it doesn't have any students. Those who already have a degree can apply to be a Fellow at All Souls and take what is usually described as the most difficult exam in the world. There are usually two new fellows chosen each year, and they are then paid a stipend for doing research and writing in their fields.

It's such an odd institution that I have to admit some of my time in the Radcliffe Camera was spent peering over the walls into the All Souls Quad, and when I found out that it is actually open to the public for two hours a day, I had to go.

More Kirkland vignettes

That giant blue disk in the photo on the bottom right is a radio from the 1930's. I remember when audiophiles were competitive over who had the biggest stereo speakers -- now it's probably whose system is the tiniest -- but whoever owned that radio would win any competition.