Today my poem-a-day poem was Robert Frost’s “Build Soil”, first published in 1939. It features this line: “Bounds should be set To ingenuity for being so cruel In bringing change unheralded on the unready.” Whoo boy, if you only knew, Robert.

Whoa…you can get a yellow card for flopping now? Or sorry, “simulating”?

I asked a ~12yo kid in my parkour class how doing parkour in Crocs was working out for him. He answered “Crocs are life, and life is parkour.” I…didn’t know what to do with that.

Who can guess what science concept I was trying to convey to my daughter with this hastily drawn sketch?

Trying to make plans with a friend for a weekend fishing trip when I realized my weekends were booked from now (early May) until late July. What am I doing to myself...

All of my work notebooks for the last several years have been science-themed (from Cognitive Surplus), but only this one has caused a kerfuffle with a few arachnophobic colleagues 😬.

Read the intro to @chanda.blacksky.app’s new book while waiting for her to speak at Harvard last night, and these two paragraphs alone should convince you that this is a book you need to read.

In my most recent Belmont Voice column, I write about the importance of keeping some blank squares on your calendar. Though I will confess, I've completely failed to do that this week 😬. belmontvoice.org/generations-...

Addgene is a nonprofit plasmid repository. Plus so much more. We’re thrilled to debut a refreshed brand that reflects the expanded tools in our library, and our unchanged mission to empower scientists. Check out the new https://twp.ai/9OUZXL! Read our press release: https://twp.ai/4hpKLH

My 13yo is currently at a Model UN summit at the actual UN in NYC with other 6th-8th graders and these are the subtopics for discussion in one session 😲. If she understands what all (or any?) of these things mean, she is way more politically savvy than I am.

This week, I celebrate 18 years at @addgene.bsky.social. My tenure is an adult! It's rare for someone in biotech to stay at the same place for so long, but my role at Addgene has changed many times over the years and Addgene itself continues to grow and evolve. Grateful for this org and its mission!

Dogma Schmogma! My son is a Physics major because they say that Biology is too messy and doesn't follow rules. And my response to that is "Yes, exactly! That's why Biology is amaaaaaazing!"

I’m sure I’m not the first to say something about this here, but did anyone else on science Bluesky snort laugh at the egregiously unbalanced centrifuge in Project Hail Mary?

Clearly they're not driving in Boston.

My 13yo's April Fool's joke this morning was surprising us by getting up when she was actually supposed to without us harassing her every 5 minutes for 45 minutes, as we usually do. Hilarious! Please play this joke on us EVERY DAY. Now we just need the 16yo to prank us by doing her homework.

Hot tip on Trans Day of Visibility: trans people make some of the best music! Check out, in no particular order of awesomeness: Laura Jane Grace Anjimale jasmine.4.t Grumpster Ezra Furman Noahfinnce Rainbow Kitten Surprise …and many more, but these are some of my favorites!

At no point in my texting history have I typed something that should train my predictive text to replace the word “Yup” with “Tupac” 🤔

This piece by David William Silva sums up a lot of my thoughts about AI much better than I ever could have. substack.com/home/post/p-... This section in particular articulates my biggest fear when people tell me they used AI for "creative thinking". It's not brainstorming. It's pattern recognition.

I think I *might* have a few science communication followers on here, so you should know that Addgene is hiring for an experienced Senior Science Communications Manager. Spread the word! addgene.applytojob.com/apply/6q7Pr6...

I think about think about Wonko the Sane a lot... “It seemed to me,” said Wonko the Sane, “that any civilization that had so far lost its head as to need to include a set of detailed instructions for use in a package of toothpicks, was no longer a civilization in which I could live and stay sane.”

My fresh new IT hell... Me: This app on my computer says it needs to be updated, but I need an admin to do it. IT: Okay, I've given you admin privileges to update, but first you have to uninstall the app and reinstall. Me: Now it's telling me I need admin privileges to uninstall the app. 😒

I left my lunch bag in the lunch room and a co-worker brought it to me, saying “I figured you were the only person here who wouldn’t be too embarrassed to bring this to work.” Hell yeah—I’m hungry like the wolf.

Dear Boston suburbanites: It’s a “Stop” sign, not a “Lightly tap your brakes for a fraction of a second just for show” sign.

It might be my imagination, but I feel like my phone's predictive text has gotten way, WAY worse since the last iOS update. It is taking me substantially longer to text because the suggestions are so wacky.

My 16yo and I went on tours of two New England public universities over the past two days. One school mentioned all the support systems for neurodiversity, students of color, and queer students. The other school mentioned NONE of these things. Guess which one my daughter is still considering?

My sister dropped a bunch of stickers in my Xmas stocking and I confess I had not looked at all of them very closely until now. Anyway, my sister is the best😂

I can’t stop thinking about this paragraph from Kaveh Akbar’s “Martyr!”, and saddened by the fact that the government can’t even get the “don’t be shitty” part right.

My latest GenX column in the local paper (I provided multiple titles for this column--this was not one of them😅). Who else will confess to a love-hate relationship with their wearable tech? belmontvoice.org/generations-...

My sister works in HVAC and just sent me this text. I’d be a big proponent of any and all public buildings having a Wiggle Room. Or, for the oldsters like me, a Nap Room.

AAV9 is coming to @addgene.bsky.social

R4E is hosting a webinar for all, no cost. Learn how to design an effective poster webinar www.repro4everyone.org/blog/r4e-web... Thank-you to @addgene.bsky.social for sponsorship! #AcademicSky #EduSky #neuroskyence

How I know I’m getting older, Olympic edition… 8 years ago: Did you see the air that freestyle skier got? Also, curling is boring. Today: Freestyle skiing is dangerous! Someone’s going to get hurt. But this curling game—the US has the hammer and they’ve got a nice pocket on the button!

Hey scientists! Starting to collect interesting new #CRISPR applications/ethical quandaries for my annual presentation to 8th graders. What's a cool new CRISPR application that you think will blow a 14yo's mind? Blowing a 14yo's mind is no easy task, I assure you.✂️🧬🤯 Links much appreciated!

Apparently my 16yo went and talked to multiple science teachers at her school offering my services as a guest speaker. She did not confer with me before doing this 😅

Behold the half ass sidewalk clearing I experienced today in Watertown, MA. It was a very tight squeeze, and I’m not a big dude. Do better New Englanders.

My 13yo just got back from her Model UN conference, where she had to represent the US (not her choice). Her take: “Never again! NOBODY wants to represent the US when it come to current events.” They’ve got to find someone who relishes playing the villain, I guess😒

As the spouse in my marriage who does nearly all the grocery shopping, I want hazard pay for today😩

My daughter is only 16, but she already possesses a lifetime supply of lip balm (this pic just shows the top of layer of three).

I've been using @bandcamp.com for 80% of my music listening and buying for years because it gets more $$ into artists' hands, but with this announcement I'm moving towards using them exclusively. pitchfork.com/news/bandcam...

I did not have to get many pages into Kaveh Akbar’s “Martyr!” before it got an entry into my Journal of Good Writing: “The only people who speak in certainties are zealots and tyrants.”

Could I give a talk about CRISPR benefits and risks? Sure. Could I give such a talk in *German* like my 16yo tomorrow? Absolutely not.

Though I have very mixed feelings about AI images, my co-worker's very rapid rendering of my Slack rant this morning is frighteningly accurate.

Reducing vaccination requirements AND raising health insurance costs is a bold move. One would think killing and/or bankrupting citizens would not be a good idea, yet here we are.

I wrote about my catch-all New Year's resolution to just say "yes" to things in my local paper, The Belmont Voice. belmontvoice.org/generations-... (And yes, this column is already starting to bite me in the ass, but I asked for it...)

Me, heating up some leftover Chinese for Sunday lunch. My brain: “I absolutely HAVE to know what the cast of ‘Mr. Belvedere’ is up to these days.” Reason #89 I may not be entirely neurotypical.

Listening to holiday music in the car with my 16yo and "Baby It's Cold Outside" comes on. Me: This might be my least favorite holiday song. Daughter: We listened to this song in my Health class as a cautionary tale about consent. Maybe the next generation will finally retire it?

Well at least I’ve got this going for me.

My wife is picking my son up from his first semester of college today. He told us that he’s going to do a load of laundry at school *before* she picks him up. What kind of freak did we raise?

First thing I did with my new Garmin fitness tracker is deactivate the "body battery". I do not need my watch telling me I slept like $hit and my I'm starting my day with a 23% battery. Next to go is the stress tracker. Yes, I know I was stressed for 100% of the day. Have you seen this president?