The Whitney Biennial

Today we realized that only one week remains before the Whitney Biennial closes so we hustled over to the East side on this gorgeous Sunday afternoon. But after touring the galleries, we were left feeling a little "blah" about what we saw. We had hoped to see something really pioneering but nothing really grabbed our attention. Nevertheless, the walk along Central Park in such beautiful weather meant that the day hadn't been a total write-off.

Not part of the Biennial, but one of Pierce's favorite pieces when we visit the Whitney.

Pierce Preparing a Pipette

Today Pierce and I started working on his science fair project. The goal is ambitious: to replicate a recent experiment that uses natural selection to realize multi-celluarity in yeast. We'll see how far we get. Although the original experiment was relatively simple, the kitchen lab is a far cry from a university lab. Even if we don't succeed, Pierce is enjoying himself. As he worked with the pipette he remarked how scientists get to work with such cool equipment.

Pierce pipetting YPD broth for growing the yeast.

Dry brewer's yeast.

Yeast ready for growing in the culture tubes.

The yeast growing environment is a cardboard box lined with black foam-core and warmed by a light bulb. Our LEGO rocker gently agitates the culture tubes

The box containing the culture tubes. The LEGO Mindstorms controller for the rocker inside and an indoor/outdoor thermometer to monitor the temperature in the box.

LEGO Mindstorms Test Tube Rocker

Pierce and I built this contraption for periodically agitating test tubes using LEGO Mindstorms NXT. The video shows the two test tubes being rocked every 2 seconds but, for our yeast growing experiment, we're going to use an interval of 30 seconds. According to Pierce, the guy on top thinks he's using a see-saw of doom.

Dunkleosteus

Pierce's latest pastel from his art class: a giant Devonian period armored fish called Dunkleosteus. A nice complement to his earlier alien creation. He's now started work on something decidedly fluffier and cuter. Click to enlarge (if you dare!).

Space Shuttle Enterprise Hoboken Fly Over

I joined an excited crowd on Hoboken's Pier A for the flyover of the Space Shuttle Enterprise and was not disappointed. The Enterprise, a prototype, had been on display at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.. Following the end of the shuttle program (boo hoo) the Enterprise's new home will be on the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in NYC.

Mama-razzi strikes again!

As Pierce will tell you the only thing more annoying than the paparazzi is the mama-razzi a.k.a his mother (me) with a camera ;-)

Ghosts in Hoboken

Pierce was happy to discover the PAC-MAN ghost characters Inky and Pinky in Hoboken.  Eric Klein, a local tape artist, created them on the walls of an active warehouse (the former Wonder Bread factory) that we pass everyday on the way to and from school. Klein's online gallery of his wide ranging work as a tape artist is worth a look.

Escape From Alcatraz!

Highlights of our visit to Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay and its old prison

Easter Haul

Pierce's Easter haul including Killer Bunny and chocolate Zombie Bunny. From the chocolate zombie bunny description: Chocolate Zombie Bunny will destroy you all. The virus has turned his flesh to delicious white chocolate. Save the world; bite his head off!

Spring Break in Monterey and San Francisco

Our family Spring Break vacation to Monterey and San Francisco. In Monterey we visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Then we drove the beautiful coast highway to San Francisco. In San Francisco we visited the old prison on Alcatraz Island and the SF Exploratorium. Click on the picture for a slide show of trip highlights.

From Monterey and San Francisco 2012