Yesterday I went to the American Museum of Natural History here in New York and checked out the Exhibit called Race to the End of the Earth. It is about how Roald Amundsen of Norway and Robert Falcon Scott of England were both trying to reach the South Pole at the same time in 1911. It was an epic race (although it didnt start out as a race). Quite a story, and rather than trying to retell it myself you should visit the American Museum of Natural History’s Race to the End of the Earth Site. Or listen to NPR’s story about the exhibit on Science Friday. I’ll just say, one team had an easier time than the other.

Scott saw the trip as a scientific expedition. So he took along about 60 men, many of them scientists, and planed to collect specimens and document what he saw.  Here’s a camera Scott took along.

And a movie camera:

He brought materials to build cabins. The museum had a replica of part of Scott’s office/bedoom.

Amundsen had different ideas about how to explore the arctic. As a Norwegian, he had confidence in his men’s skiing abilities for one thing. But he also decided to use techniques of inuit peoples he had previously encountered to his advantage. instead of cabins his living spaces and basecamp looked more like Echo Base on Hoth.

Scott thought he had technology on his side. He brought along several motorized sledges.  This diorama depicts a sledge breaking down and the men realizing they’d have to haul this stuff with man-power.

Scott also had the great idea of using the noble pony as the pack animal of choice. Ernest Shackelton had used ponies, and what was good enough for Shackelton was good enough for Scott. This miniature depicts the little coats the had to give the ponies and the snow wall they had to build to block the wind to protect the ponies from the extreme cold.

I won’t tell you what happened to the Ponies.

Amundsen, of course had learned that the real pack animal you have to have in this climate is the rough and tumble sled dog.

This little scene gives you an idea of how miserably cold it was. These men are storing supplies along the route to use on the trip back.

I won’t tell you how it turned out. I will tell you not all of those return supplies were utilized. Go visit the museum if you can or check out these links:

American Museum of Natural History’s Race to the End of the Earth Site

NPR’s story about the exhibit on Science Friday

West Trip Part 2. After South Dakota, we moved on to Yellowstone. Checked out some boiling water pits and Old Faithful.

Here are some photos I took using the View-Master Personal camera. I took these on a road trip across the western half of the U.S. that I went on in the summer of 2008. I managed to convert the images to digital format by photographing them through a loupe with a digital camera, then manipulating them in photoshop. I tell ya. The fuji digital camera is a lot easier. I spent way too much time doing that.

These dinosaurs are in Rapid City South Dakota, on the peak of a big hill in the middle of town, aptly named Dinosaur Park. I remember stopping here when I was a kid in the early 80’s and had to go back. They aren’t scientifically accurate, but that’s sorta besides the point.

My band Paper Fleet played a show last saturday and Bruar Falls in Brooklyn, and I took some pictures of the bands we played with. I didn’t take any pictures of myself while I was playing.

First up was Jenny and the Holzers, singing songs that compel you to google their titles.

Then we played. Like I said. I didn’t take pictures of us.

Then Hollows played. They’re from Chicago. They were rad. Go listen to them on myspace, check them out live if you can and buy their record. I did. It rocks.

Lastly was Loneliest Monk. I will be honest. When I heard they were a duo featuring cello, I wasn’t expecting to stay awake for long, but they really won everyone over with their uptempo dynamic sound. Some said they were great except the drummer’s mask. Some said the mask was the best part. I will stay neutral on the subject of the mask and let you decide for yourself.