A Conference of Curiosity!

The College of Curiosity hosts a conference each year, and for 2013 the historic Glessner House Museum in Chicago’s Prairie District is our home. We’ll experience the following:

• A tour of the 18,000′ mansion
• Presentations by some very curious people
• A Curiosity Kit, featuring objects to delight and amaze
• Lessons on how to eat fire, make impossible objects, and solve crime
• Demonstration tables of unknown objects and amazing phenomena
• A chance to participate in our Oddments audio program
• Lunch is included!
• And much more…

Optional events!

• Friday night: The Magic Parlour at the historic Palmer House
• Sunday: Bus Tour of Curious Chicago

Why?

Why do good things go away? This is perhaps a question for others to answer, but I do know that they do. And perhaps this is what makes them good. While it was actively published, Omni magazine was a slick and provocative magazine that blended science fiction and science fact as it boldly tried to answer the question “What if?”

Featuring original work by such authors as William S. Burroughs, George R. R. Martin, William Gibson, Stephen King, Orson Scott Card and Joyce Carol Oates, the magazine was also stunningly visually with pages by H. R. Giger, De Es Schwertberger and Robert McCall.

Now you can read them all, for free.

How?

Out kitchens have an incredible assortment of cooking devices these days. From the centuries old oven to the more recent electric cooktops and griddles, slow cookers and the nearly ubiquitous microwave – it seems like we’d have no need for just one more way to cook things.

And yet, it seems that most of us have already installed that, perhaps unwittilingly.

Behold! It’s the undercounter hyrdro-steam cookery! Also known as the automatic dishwasher.

When?

It was 1849, near Charlotte some ten miles south of the state’s largest city, Burlington. Vermont was slowly industrializing, and the railroad was coming with the promise of connecting this perpetually rural region with the rest of the nation. To keep the railroad level enough for the primitive engines of the time, rail beds were hand-dug by large labor crews. The rocky soil and hilly terrain made work difficult.

The workmen were accustomed to finding unusual things as they made their slow progress towards Burlington. Arrowheads and pottery shards were common; bones—less so. And bones like those found one particular day had never been seen before.

Where?

In a nondescript rock next to the hottest place on Earth, an opening has attracted bathers, divers, scientists… and at least one actual devil. It’s home to the rarest of creatures, and tells tales of catastrophic events in far off lands.

Devil’s Hole is waiting for you.

What?

Falling jellies have been reported since ancient times, but they’re not so easily dismissed as they’re still found today.

Who?

The man had himself pierced with swords while people watched. There was no blood, and X-rays revealed that the blade did indeed go completely through him.

How did he survive? To be honest, he didn’t, but he had a wild ride.

Mysteries

Home of the January “Mystery a Day” challenge. How many can you figure out?

This category consists of mysteries. Some, we know the answers to, so they’re presented in the form of a puzzle. Others are truly mysteries, and we ask for your help in solving them.

Galapagos

Starting at $2000 per person, including airfare from Quito to the Islands.

When Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos in 1831, he had no idea that what he saw there would cause him to change the world. When we travel to the Galapagos in March 2013, we’ll be able to appreciate them in ways Darwin never could.

Our home for this incredible voyage will be the Motor Yacht Coral 1, which we will have all to ourselves. Our guides are Galapagos natives, who will lead us daily on wet and dry tours of these amazing islands.

Our adventures will not be limited to the islands themselves, as we’ll be swimming and snorkeling with the curious wildlife that abounds. You will dive with sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, and other creatures, and they’ll be as curious about you as you are about them.

After the day’s adventure, we’ll return to the Coral 1 for cocktails and gourmet meals made with native meats and produce. Evenings are spent gazing at strange constellations, watching lava gulls fish for squid, and socializing in the lounge on board. Group activities will be scheduled as interests and energy levels dictate.