Origami Tree at the Natural History Museum

Everyone knows about the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, but you can escape the crowds and see a much more unconventional tree by visiting the American Museum of Natural History's origami tree.

About 500 origami objects decorate the tree. Look closely and you'll find insects and dinosaurs, as well as animals from the zoo and under the sea. Personally, I like the sparkly silver stars that seem to float around the branches.

The tree is on display this season through Jan. 2, 2012 in the museum's Grand Gallery.

Paul Goes to Space and Back, Kind Of

I have no doubt that my husband thinks that every week is "The Week of Paul," but this one actually is. This week we learn what he's been up to. Today we visit space, Wednesday we drink beer and Friday it's off to a Turkish bath.

Enjoy, and then don't forget to visit his blog, Presidents by the Book!

I had the opportunity to take advantage of living in New York a few weeks ago and attended the annual Isaac Asimov memorial debate at the Hayden Planetarium.

This is an annual debate put on by the American Museum of Natural History's space department and covers themes on space that change from year to year.

This year the theme was "Moon, Mars and Beyond: Where next for the manned space program?" The panelists had varied backgrounds and included the retired head of the U.S. Air Force Space division, writers from academia and the head of the Mars Society, Robert Zubrin.

It was moderated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, the well known astrophysicist that comes on the Colbert Report to promote the study of space and is a common speaker on the History Channel's "The Universe."

Neil deGrasse Tyson

The major points of debate that Tyson put forth were:

1) Should humans attempt to colonize Mars?
2) If we colonize Mars, should we first attempt to do the same on the moon?
3) What forms of technology should we use to to both travel to and colonize Mars?
4) Who should lead the way in space exploration? NASA, private corporations or a more international coalition?
5) What is the best way to structure the funding and leadership of NASA to meet the goals of space exploration?

The debate veered in several interesting directions, such as the difference in the way NASA is run between now and the 1960's when we made it to the moon in a few short years through the Cold War-era Apollo project.

It also included a celebrity appearance by phone of Buzz Aldrin who it seems has become sort of senile since his retirement. Neil deGrasse Tyson told the national hero five times that they were running out of time and he just kept talking about his theories on the best ways to go to Mars like he didn't even hear him. I guess I can forgive that though- he'll be remembered like Magellan or Marco Polo hundreds of years from now.

Some of the most entertaining moments came at the very end at the question and answer session with some people who were clearly disturbed taking the microphone. Their questions ranged from accusations of complicity by the NASA members in government conspiracies to not so much questions, but statements on 'cover ups' that the U.S. government has perpetuated against its people.

One interesting fact I learned there- the United States will retire its shuttle program this year and will outsource getting American astronauts into space to Russia. Not sure how I feel about that- the Cold War may be over, but I think that we should still control our own destiny on when, where and how we get people into space.

Overall, it was three hours well spent. (I can feel Diane's eyes rolling as I'm writing this.)

A Night (Err ... Afternoon) at the Museum

It's taken me three trips, but I finally feel like I'm starting to know my way around the American Museum of Natural History.

Mom and Dad suggested a visit last weekend, and Paul and I were more than happy to oblige. We saw all of the museum's main attractions -- the animal panoramas, the dinosaurs, the astronomy displays -- and even managed to find one exhibit that Paul and I had always inadvertently skipped before. Please don't ask me how we were never able to find the giant blue whale hanging from the ceiling during our previous visits.

And yet I still haven't explored the entire museum. I think that'll take another three visits, at least.

Yet Another Reason to Pay Us a Visit

See Paul in the upper right corner? At the American Museum of Natural History.

We haven't had overnight visitors since last June or July. Are Paul and I that forgettable? I hope not.

In any case, we need some visitors! And if the pleasure of our company just isn't enough, here's yet another reason: free admission to the American Museum of Natural History.

After the Met, it's probably the most famous museum in town. It's got a bit of everything: dinosaurs, gigantic taxidermy displays, exhibits on space and Earth (take a look at the photos from our first visit last year). Besides being featured in the Ben Stiller flick "Night at the Museum," it also played a part in one of my favorite Baby-Sitters Club books way back when.

To make a short story long, Paul gets in free to several museums in the city through his workplace's corporate sponsorships. Usually he can take a guest for free, which works out well for me.

That's why we used to go to the Guggenheim every couple of months, whenever the exhibits changed. But when we tried to visit a couple of weekends ago, we were told that the sponsorship had dissolved. Disappointed, we went to the Met instead (not such a bad replacement, I know).

So Paul got an updated list of museums where we could get in free, and lo and behold the American Museum of Natural History had been added to the list. Since tickets are normally $15 per person and I'm a cheapskate, this makes me very happy. Even better: He can bring 5 guests free, too.

We have an empty spare room in addition to a comfortable couch. Who's first?

Photos from the Museum of Natural History

(If you watch the Colbert Report, you'll get the last photo. Although I'm not sure what type of "friend" I am to Paul!)

Museum of Natural History

Ever licked a meteorite?

OK, me neither. But I got my picture taken next to the one that Steven Colbert licked.

Paul's friend Bill and his wife Leslie were our guests this past weekend. Leslie gets free tickets to many museums in New York through her work, so we all went to the Museum of Natural History. I'd been wanted to visit for awhile, so I was pretty excited.

The visit was even better because The Colbert Report featured his visit to the museum last week, so a several of the exhibits (such as the meteroite) were familiar.

Surprisingly, I really liked the many halls of stuffed mammals placed in dioramas. It really doesn't seem like my thing-- especially since I don't really care for the outdoors. But as I told Paul, I don't mind nature when it's indoors.

Leslie took pictures, which she'll be emailing me. I'll post some when I get them.