Welcome to My Freezer!

I think you’re gonna like it! I think you’re gonna feel… like you belong!

(here, not in the freezer)

This blog evolved out of some Twitter chats after Ed Yong (of Not Exactly Rocket Science fame) visited our lab and, like many visitors before him, got a kick out of the freezers full of outrageously awesome animals that are my pride and joy. Subsequent tweets on and after 29 Feb, 2012 got me joking (well, 75% joking) that “I suppose it would be timely if I launched the “What’s In Your Freezers, John?” blog..” Those jokes quickly matured into more serious thoughts (prodded on primarily by Mike Taylor, and later Dave Hone) about how fun it would be to do a very niche-y science blog about the cool things that are in my, and others’, freezers. And so here we are.

I intend for this to be a heavily image-based, text-lite blog, showing off some of the zany critters that we keep in cold storage and a little bit of what we do with them. If it catches on and people send me their fun pics of their research freezer specimens to showcase too, well, great!

In coming posts you’ll see some giraffe bits, rhino feet, and more. Stay tuned! But first, some admin…

WIJF Blog Disclaimers and FAQs:

OK let’s get this out of the way so we can have some fun. Some basic rules and statements:

1. This is site is about the underappreciated role of The Freezer in science. It also is often about celebrating the joy and wonder of organismal morphology, which researchers’ freezers help preserve. It is also about what it’s like being a scientist that gets to investigate that joy and wonder in a daily basis.

2. The above item means that sometimes the blog will (1) get gory, so kids and those with a weak stomach may not find it to be the best blog for them; and (2) get silly, so those who can’t stand stupid puns and geeky antics may need to find more boring places to go.

3. Although I may discuss the wondrous contents of our lab group’s research freezers, the site is not officially affiliated with the Royal Veterinary College, my funding agencies, etc. My views expressed here are my own. This is an independent, personal blog done for fun on my free time; fueled by enthusiasm and whimsy. (But if the RVC/funding agencies want to take credit for things they like, I cannot stop them!)

4. The sources of specimens shown here are not normally disclosed. They come from various places; zoos, parks, private collections, museums, etc. All sources of course are legal, following DEFRA, CITES and other regulations. Some of those sources don’t like people discussing the sad reality that animals die in captivity, as they do anywhere. Some animals might have been put down for ethical reasons. It’s a PR issue, among other things, and we respect our donors’ privacy. I don’t get into all that rigamarole here. See item #1. Stay on target. Requests for more information about specimen sources will generally be referred back to this item.

5. The site is not really about my broader research or promoting my worldview. It’s not about discussing the latest research by my colleagues or buddies, either, unless it relates to item #1. It’s not a palaeontology blog, by any means (but neat fossils may be included with a “Stone Cold” or “fossilicious” tag). It’s about item #1. I’ll try to be assiduous about staying focused on freezer-based science.

6. I heartily welcome submissions of images, with brief blurbs, from other research labs, showing off their cool freezer-based research. C’mon molecular biologists, I bet you have some cool freezers and stories to tell! You are welcome here, too. It’s a big tent! First one to send me a picture of a deadly virus stored in their research freezer wins a chocolate dinosaur or something.

7. This may never come up, but I don’t display images here of human cadavers, or other images that I deem potentially offensive or inappropriate. That is always a judgement call. See item #2. I aim not to exploit the awesome nature of anatomy in any nefarious way, but rather to share how impressive it is– something the public doesn’t get to see often, because the media can be very squeamish.

8. I may sometimes accidentally switch between first and third person when talking about myself. I do odd stuff like that because it amuses me or because I don’t care. 🙂 My quirks are my quirks, and this blog is a chance for me to cut loose and not bother with some conventions, pedants be damned. As the blog has John’s name in it and I am John, there is an inherent tension of identity. Similarly, John has not one but multiple freezers, but will often speak of The Freezer, perhaps as an almost Platonic ideal– although I have one giant walk-in freezer that could be called The Freezer.

9. I don’t market freezer brands here. Marketing spammers begone! But I do joke about making offerings to hoary gods such as Maytag, Whirlpool and Frigidaire.

27 Comments »

27 Responses

on March 5, 2012 at 3:42 pm | Reply Mike Taylor

“I intend for this to be a heavily image-based, text-lite blog.”

Yeah, that’s what we said, too! Bet you can’t stick to it!
- on March 5, 2012 at 6:40 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Yeah, the road to hell is paved with good ice cream.
  
  If in the future my original intentions prove to be ill-preserved, well, I’ll eat some of that ice cream.
on March 5, 2012 at 5:09 pm | Reply Hell Freezes Over « What's In John's Freezer?

[…] Welcome to My Freezer! […]
on March 6, 2012 at 8:51 pm | Reply hypnotosov

“But I do joke about making offerings to hoary gods such as Maytag, Whirlpool and Frigidaire.”

In case you ever wondered what fridge-music would sound like: there is actually a band named \\\Maytag which uses refrigerator sounds as the basis for ambient black metal in the vein of Sunn O)))
Their work can be sampled in this promo video for “The Saga of the Frostbitten Lands of Frigidaire” http://youtu.be/SMcvuQwXAE8

[Due notice: it’s ambient black metal made with refrigerators, and that’s what it sounds like]
- on March 6, 2012 at 9:06 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  OK that is too awesome not to do a full post on it in the future, thanks! I shall do further research on these superheroes of fridge-metal!
on March 7, 2012 at 3:57 pm | Reply David Marjanović

C’mon molecular biologists, I bet you have some cool freezers and stories to tell!

Don’t know about stories, but they have very cool freezers indeed: ultrafreezers that are just cold enough for dry ice.
on March 13, 2012 at 11:46 am | Reply A WIJF Musical Anthem? And Other Frosty WTF Fun « What's In John's Freezer?

[…] hypnotosov comments that “a band named \Maytag uses refrigerator sounds as the basis for ambient black metal” and I could not resist delving deeper into this revelation; nor could many others, it seems. […]
on April 30, 2012 at 3:07 pm | Reply Janet Krueger

Totally wonderful blog! As one who is a part-time, amateur naturalist living on the northeastern edge of the great Chihuahuan desert in the brushland plains of South Texas, I’ve done my share of dissecting local fauna: wild hogs, deer, turkeys and chickens – in the interests of my own carnivorous habits anyway. AND I’ve also been known to keep weird things in my freezer – a year long resident bobcat, for example. So, naturally, I find the photos and descriptions incredibly interesting and revealing. Came to your blog via Andrew Sullivan’s Dish at the Daily Beast. Charmed and edified. Perfect! (You might also be interested in one of my paintings here http://www.janetkrueger.com/paintings/pan. No one else was, much. But there is a long standing art historical record of paintings of butchers and their work.)
- on April 30, 2012 at 3:31 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Thanks Janet, that’s super kind of you! And thanks for sharing the painting. At first glance I thought it might be an image of people butchering a satyr, which would be disturbing to say the least!
on April 30, 2012 at 5:08 pm | Reply PruitIgoe

I am using your blog to show why science is so much more fun than accounting to my kids… : D
- on April 30, 2012 at 5:39 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Science is fun, although the making-a-living-of-it can be tough especially during these times of economic woes! (I’m lucky to have job security; my students are in a panic)
on May 24, 2012 at 6:08 pm | Reply An Anatomist’s View Inside “Animal Inside Out” « What's In John's Freezer?

[…] Welcome to My Freezer! […]
on June 8, 2012 at 11:42 am | Reply 123 – An icon for the “Occupy Wall Street” Movement « Reflections on Diplomacy

[…] [1] https://whatsinjohnsfreezer.com/about/ […]
on January 15, 2013 at 8:12 am | Reply Ruben V

Hey, I really like some of the studies of animal movement you “like” on your youtube channel, and decided to try and contribute:
- on January 15, 2013 at 8:20 am | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Thanks Ruben! I’ll add those to my channel’s likes, too; except the bull one which is a bit unsettling for many people. I’m familiar with a few of those videos; good choices.
on December 6, 2014 at 3:28 am | Reply How has Science Blogging Changed Over the Years? › From The Lab Bench

[…] as a hobby, writing about what they do on a daily basis. Jonathan Eisen's blog Tree of Life and What's In John's Freezer being great examples (although these scientists blog about many different things, not just research […]
on April 26, 2015 at 5:29 pm | Reply juan

Hi,
I´m interested in show one of your pictures (e.g camel anatomy ) in a presentation for training purposes. Could you be so king to indicate me how to proceed?
Many thanks in advance
Regards,
- on April 26, 2015 at 6:01 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Thanks for asking. Please go ahead and use it. I am glad if it comes in handy.
on April 26, 2015 at 10:12 pm | Reply juan

Many thanks!!
on April 28, 2015 at 6:47 pm | Reply juan

Hi again,
I wonder if the bull picture was made also by you. Just to be sure I have permission to use it. Could you be so kind to confirm?
All the best!
Juan
- on April 28, 2015 at 6:54 pm | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Yes that’s right; go ahead and use it.
on April 28, 2015 at 7:58 pm | Reply juan

Many thanks again!
on September 19, 2015 at 8:48 am | Reply thepighasacurlytail

Just the TITLE of your blogpage was funny enough to draw me in. I didn’t think I WANTED to know what you kept in your freezer as much as I would fear, say, Jeffrey Dahmer’s freezer.

My freezer has two TV dinners, a half gallon of ice cream, a bag of veggies and two ice cube trays.
- on September 19, 2015 at 9:54 am | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Haha, thanks for the freezer inventory and the visit!
on August 18, 2021 at 10:18 am | Reply Lisa Jacobs

Hi John, I’m writing from a children’s science magazine based in the UK, am after some high resolution images of a croc in a CT scanner to accompany a really exciting Dinosaur article in our next issue. Trying to find an email address for you but can’t see anything. Could you email me on twj.freelancer@gmail.com and I can explain more!
Thanks!
Lisa
on September 15, 2022 at 6:13 pm | Reply Judith Richardson

Dear John
Saw reference to your blog in Steve Brusstte’s book The Rise and Fall of Dinosaurs . He was relating the speed of the T-Rex. I am a retired teacher learning more about paleontology and the way new technology is opening up the deep time facts is fascinating. I plan to check in on your blog.
- on September 16, 2022 at 5:44 am | Reply John of the Freezers
  
  Thank you Judith, and welcome to the blog! If you have any questions sometime, fire away. I am still here. These posts are good examples of my palaeo posts: https://whatsinjohnsfreezer.com/tag/fossilicious/