Two Italians on a bike

Upside down Alan

2008-04-06T04:30:00.001-04:00

Upside down Alan, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Alan a testa in giu'.

Blog Advert

2008-02-09T03:19:00.000-05:00

Ciao!
Da un paio di mesi ho aperto un nuovo Blog sulla Scienza in Italia. Si chiama Science in the Belpaese e sto scrivendo piu' li' che qui. Sul blog si parla di opportunita' di finanziamenti in Italia sia per i nostri connazionali sia per gli stranieri. C'e' una discreta partecipazione e si e' gia' parlato del blog sia alla Radio sia sulla rivista Nature. See you there!

Voglia di cambiare

2007-09-08T16:08:00.001-04:00

Voglia di cambiare, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Uno scorcio sui banchetti allestiti per la raccolta firme del Vaffanculo-day, oggi pomeriggio a Roma al parco Shuster, a cura del Beppe Grillo meetup group #2.
C'era una bellissima atmosfera di cooperazione. La gente si faceva delle file veramente notevoli, per poi venire a firmare, sorriderti, e ringraziarti pure! Servono 50,000 firme. Io ne ho registrate 140, una piccola goccia in un bicchiere, ma meglio che nulla! Mi sono divertito e mi sento di aver fatto una bella cosa. Mi fa un poco male il braccio pero'...a scrivere i nomi e gli indirizzi delle gente...certo che quando ti vedi arrivare una che si chiama (piu' o meno) Santini Maria Grazia Addolorata Concetta...ti viene voglia veramente di mandarla affan....

Lucida - for Guess Where in Naples?

2007-05-06T18:20:00.001-04:00

Lucida - for Guess Where in Naples?, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Rossa rossissima! Vista vicino casa di Federicchia...poco prima di portarle un mazzolino di fresie

Scienziato non e' colui...

2007-04-24T07:25:00.001-04:00

Scienziato non e' colui..., originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Ottimomassimo

2007-04-10T16:54:00.001-04:00

Ottimomassimo, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

This is to celebrate my ninth scientific publication, on its way on the journal "Biotechniques".

waves leave sand patterns behind

2007-03-15T04:49:00.001-04:00

waves leave sand patterns behind, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Lorenzo and I worked on this little science project, just by accident (inspired by the Kitchen Science Series from the Naked Scientists' podcast: www.thenakedscientists.com/). I was spackling/decorating the walls of my bedroom and left this bucket full of water and some "insoluble" grains of "sand" (wood/wall filler, as a powder).
By shaking the bucket, we created waves and watched the patters of the "sand" as it set, a few minutes later. This one shown in the photo was perhaps the nicest pattern, showing a beautiful simmetry. We obtained it when the waves were created by shaking the basin back and forth along just one direction. You don't get it as shown if you turn the waves around.

Do not climb on this truck!

2007-02-20T08:45:00.001-05:00

Do not climb on this truck!, originally uploaded by niceblackdog.

Questa foto fu scattata nello UTAH, in un paese di nome Saint George dove ci fermammo per trascorre il capodanno 2004.

2006-07-20T18:13:00.000-04:00

Materazzi and Zidane fighting on Mulberry St

Our very first and greatest production as yet.

What colour is the Empire State Eiffel tower tonight?

2006-06-13T22:35:00.000-04:00

That's too clever. I can't add much. After all, the French donated the Statue of Liberty to the Americans, so I guess I am allowed to build this cross-cultural skyscraper hybrid.

A day at the playground

2006-06-13T22:20:00.000-04:00

On Saturday we went to a few playgrounds and tested them all. Daddy would not stop chasing me with his camera at hand, shooting pictures as I was running away from him. It was actually rather funny. This one down here was taken while I was backing up on a slide.
I have also been to the movies and watched Cars, which I liked but I did not think was superb. They have to do something with these humanized characters, we are starting to get sick of it and we clearly need a breakthrough in animation movies. Stop motion animation is clearly a winner. Think of A Nightmare Before Christmas or the classics by Nick Park. Anyway, regardless of all this sophisticated talking, I have got a new toy car now. It's Sheriff, one of the characters from Cars. Daddy bought it for me. Manuela got me Lightning McQueen.
Now on a totally separate note, you may be happy to learn that our sunflowers are growing quite well in our rear garden. We transplanted them a couple of weeks ago, and after some very heavy rain we feared for the worse. They are in a good shape!
Sorry I have got to run now. See you soon!

Got my hands dirty today

2006-06-04T06:46:00.000-04:00

Bahhh, the preparation of these chicken fingers proved to be a much worse job than I thought...sticking my hands in the beaten eggs....puah! At least they will taste good, I hope.
I have not given up any of my Lego activities, just in case you were asking. I am more actively working on esential designs. Check this out
I am out to run de Tour de Brooklyn bike ride with daddy and other friends. We'll post pictures later.

New designs

2006-05-14T10:24:00.000-04:00

Hello,
we have been away for some time, that is true. But, we have been busily working on our new vehicle designs, and we have got something exciting for you. Check this Venice Ambulance out. this rear view shows the propellers of the Venice Ambulance. Got to take your dog for a long walk? He could rest while you pull the trolley, which is nicely equipped with desert-proof wheels. Just in case.
This roofed vehicle can fly or drive, whicever you may find more suitable.
Check what is inside!
We also thought of a farm truck that can bring you positive up-ward views, for those gloomy days. The rear white wheel got a little bit chewed off by Stellino, a dog who lives in Sicily.

Hello, I am the master

2006-04-09T10:31:00.000-04:00

Hi, I am the mind behing these Lego creations. I am going to hire a scientific assistant soon, so stay tuned and wait for the official call for applications.

I am very proud of my cyber giraffe

2006-04-09T10:27:00.000-04:00

Hi, let me introuduce you to my lates creation: a cyber-giraffe, carrying the two boys, two-face, his assistant, and Batman. Right next to Batman is the hook for the 8-wheeled trolley which carries 'o baffone

The lizard man comes back

2006-04-09T10:20:00.000-04:00

Watch out, the lizard man has invaded our neighbourhood. This rare close-up was shot in the darkness, with an infra-red sensitive camera. Yes, it's only moisturizing thick cream, of course!

Unanswered questions of the month

2006-03-26T09:18:00.000-05:00

Why are the (human) cells so small?

I really entered a crisis here. I tried to improvise an evolution-based explanation, involving the transition from procaryotes to eucaryotes (which does not quite answer why the procaryotes are small, anyway), but it did not sound convincing. Then I lamely tried to answer back with another question, asking why are humans the size they are, hinting a shy parallel. I was not any convincing. Another attempt was to suggest Lorenzo that if things have worked out well this way, mother nature has thought of not trying to change it, otherwise it may have risked to change for the worse. That our single cells are small enough not to be seen by our eyes, nor perceived in any way at the single cell level (otherwise we'd have an headache if only one cell were undergoing apoptosis?) has always fascinated me. But that Lorenzo, approaching 5 y.o., would ask such a question, was flattering. If you have the answer, please come forward!

The rising stars of New York City

2006-03-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

Lorenzo and Ben merrily embracing each other at the Wollman ice rink.

Aliens have landed on the East Coast

2006-03-04T11:13:00.000-05:00

Beware!

Syringe

2006-03-04T11:10:00.000-05:00

Off to see the Darwin Exhibit at the AMNH

2006-03-04T11:07:00.000-05:00

Hi, we are off to see the Darwin exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History!

Good morning!

2006-02-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

Good morning! We had good 10 inches of snow last night and we are waching from the window the snow still falling. As soon as the snow fall ends, we are off sledging! Stay tuned. M&L

Unanswered questions of the month

2006-02-05T11:37:00.000-05:00

Why water turns off fire?
Why the fishmonger leaves the eye on the fish while he cleans it?

Hand!

2006-01-29T19:24:00.000-05:00

Square Helicopter

2006-01-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

It's a square helicopter....because it's an helicopter...and it's a square. Got it?

Roof Terrace

2006-01-24T20:08:00.000-05:00

Prive'.

The terrible duo

2006-01-15T20:08:00.000-05:00

Here are the chief designer (right) and his assitant

Giugiaro's envy

2006-01-15T17:01:00.000-05:00

This creation has an incredible Cx. So incredible that we prefer not to publish it, for you'd be shocked.

Ferry

2006-01-13T12:07:00.000-05:00

Our proud builder of a new vehicle for Santa to deliver presents

2006-01-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

An hybrid what?

2006-01-08T10:48:00.000-05:00

Formula 1 Racer

2006-01-04T12:43:00.000-05:00

Battery-Free Mobile Phone

2006-01-04T12:39:00.000-05:00

This cell phone works without batteries. All you have to do is turn the handle and you're done. Available in custom colours.

A very long truck

2005-11-01T14:25:00.000-05:00

A Lego hybrid creation

2005-10-31T23:41:00.000-05:00

Power Nap off Sandy Hook, NJ

2005-09-08T23:49:00.000-04:00

Summer 2004, on the way back from a long day at the Beach in Sandy Hook. Deserved rest for my co-pilot.

Power Nap

2005-09-08T23:47:00.000-04:00

Here are Lorenzo and Massimo after a ride together.