Day: September 27, 2008

Categories
The Next Good Idea

Science Lab Rock

Schoolhouse Rock was a flash of brilliance. Kids (and Adults) will always be able to remember songs better than most other rules. Schoolhouse addressed grammar, math, and civics, but science has been left to swim for itself. We just blogged about it for the kids over at Bowl Of Noses, but felt it ranked here too.

Won’t somebody take the challenge laid down by this rap below, and teach us all about how the universe really works?

Unfortunately, the Hadron Collider had to be shut down for two months on 9/21/08.

Categories
These Are Those Things

The Land Of 1000 Cereals (this is that free choice you heard so much about?)

Over at BOWL OF NOSES there is a post of Charlie Chaplin’s Eating Machine from Modern Times.  With it’s robotic Rube Goldbergian complication, it delights me in it’s misguided quest for efficiency.

Ryan Alexiev is an artist with complicated relationship to cold cereal, creating elaborate mosaics and more.  He’s made one of my favorite short films I have seen in a while, THE WIZARD OF O’S, and with it brought a nicely streamlined version of Charlie’s machine: The Golden Spoon.  Check it out.
Categories
Bowl Of Noses

Classic Comedy #2: The Eating Machine

Not eating your vegetables?  Not a member of The Clean Plate Club yet?  Better hope the parents don’t pull a page out of the Modern Times guide.

Charlie Chaplin was the first true king of comedy on film.  Sure his movies are silent, but all you need to do is watch in order to laugh until your sides hurt.
In this clip, The Little Tramp has gotten a job at a new factory, which for then was the height of modernity.  For some reason, those in power always want to find ways to be more efficient, particularly when it comes to others.  They pick Charlie to test out their latest idea…
Unfortunately I couldn’t find a clip that wasn’t messed with, so you must endure the Blue Danube Waltz as the slapped on score here…  To get the true pleasure, go back to the original and watch MODERN TIMES (recommended viewing).