On Saturday the Laboratory held its annual public lecture, titled Gravity For Cats And The People Who Live With Them. Sixty guests attended. One cat left early, which Professor Quill described as a fair review.
The Talk
Professor Quill opened with a short demonstration. She placed a pen on the lectern, looked at the audience, and pushed it off with one paw. A gasp passed through the hall. She then spent twenty minutes explaining what had happened, which was that the pen had fallen.
Audience Questions
A member of the public asked whether gravity applied to cats. The Professor replied that it applied, but that cats had negotiated certain exemptions. Another guest asked whether a cat could fall upwards. She replied, after a long pause, that it had been tried.
The Demonstration Table
After the lecture, guests were invited to try the Drop Table themselves. Several tried and several failed. One child succeeded on the first attempt, and was offered a job.
Merchandise
The Laboratory shop sold out of tote bags printed with a falling teacup, and of mugs printed with a mug about to fall. We are currently restocking, and will ensure that the mugs are not placed near an edge.
Highlights
The highlight of the lecture was the live demonstration of the Quill Effect, in which the Professor stared at a spoon until it left the table. No one saw it move. Everyone heard it land. The Laboratory neither confirms nor denies any involvement of a paw.
Feedback
We received 41 feedback forms. Thirty one praised the lecture. Seven praised the biscuits. Three asked whether the cat in the front row was a speaker. The cat in the front row was a speaker.
Next Year
Next year’s lecture will be titled Falling In Love With Falling, and will include a moving reading by Gravel. Tickets are free. Bring your own mug, and keep it nearby.
We thank everyone for coming. The next lecture, on gravity and naps, will be held when we have woken up.
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