Category: Random

Mythbusters Challenge

I was watching myth busters last night, and they are working on a series of episodes designed entirely by the viewers and they set forth a challenge…  here it is… 

Do you have what it takes to bust a myth? We’re looking for viewers to participate in an upcoming special episode of Myth Busters. All you need to do is construct and test an experiment you’ve designed and send it to us on videotape. 

We will judge the top entries in the two categories listed below.  If selected to participate, you’ll be off to the Myth Busters’ headquarters in San Francisco to meet Adam, Jamie and the team and show us in person — and on camera — how your experiment works.  Think you can handle it?

So… CAN YOU HANDLE IT???   Sounds simple enough right?  Just ‘design an experiment’ and the best part? You could be on the show!!!  This challenge should not go unheeded!!!   So I hereby open this up to all our valued readers to contribute… The first challenge they are working on to start the ‘viewer series’ is to: 

…build your own solar death ray capable of setting the timbers of a replica Roman trireme (an ancient ship or section of ship) alight and to film all steps.

The target trireme, which will be used to test the successful challenger’s experiments, will be constructed by the Myth Builders from authentic materials including fir timber, wax, oakum and pine pitch, and iron nails.

You are invited to participate in the challenge in either of the following two categories:

Category 1: To build any device capable of igniting the target at a distance of 5 feet.

Category 2: To build a full-scale replica of Archimedes’ mirror capable of igniting the target at a minimum distance of 100 feet 

If this sounds like fun click (here) to access the application form.  (note: you must meet certain eligibility requirements) 

Maybe we should also challenge our R&D department as well?   

What are some inventions/experiments YOU would like to see developed or attempted by our infamous R&D department?

Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker – top boffins

Bunsen and Beaker

In a UK poll of favorite cult TV boffins (nerdy scientists), Dr. Bunsen Honeydew & Beaker won, beating out some rather impressive competition :

1. Honeydew and Beaker (The Muppets) – 33%
2. Mr Spock (Star Trek) – 15%
3. The Doctor (Dr Who) – 13%
4. Q (James Bond) – 9%
5. Dr Emmett Brown (Back To The Future) – 8%
6. Dana Scully (The X Files) – 8%
7. Dr Strangelove – 5%
8. Frank ‘N’ Furter (Rocky Horror Picture Show) – 4%
9. Dr Evil (Austin Powers) -4%
10. Dr Frankenstein – 1%

If you aren’t familiar with them, they attempt crazy experiments which usually end up destroying their Muppet Labs facility.  Dr. Honeydew’s motto is, “Where the future is being made today.”  But what usually happens is his assistant Beaker being blown to bits or electrocuted.

In the poll, there were more than 40,000 votes cast, so this is not a small thing.  The survey was done to mark the British Association’s Festival of Science in Exeter.  The president of the BA at that time, Dame Julia Higgins, said, “I’m not sure that Dr. Honeydew is quite the role model we would be looking at for a responsible scientist.”  Yeah, probably not.  But he’s funny!  A professor taking part in the festival said, “I think the fact that they are acceptable, humorous — although they blow each other up a bit — but they are fundamentally human, I think says something about science.”  Uhh… WHAT?!?  I think his statement says something about his lack of knowledge about muppets, humans, and science.  He might want to rethink his position on that.

BeakerHere’s some of the things Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker invented and tested (links are to video clips) : edible paper clips, a gorilla detector, hair-growing tonic, a banana sharpener, a robot politician, a germ enlarger, a super-strength copy machine, and an electric nose warmer.  Also, in response to the ancient quest of alchemy to turn lead into gold, he created a device that turned gold into cottage cheese.  Definitely some random stuff!

“Dreaming as a Goal.”

check out this short article (attached in full below, but it is found here)

“Every Monday this month we focus on some fun and healthy goals to consider in this New Year!A healthy (and inspiring) goal for 2007: Embrace daydreaming. Harnessing the power of visual imagination is an efficient and enjoyable way to activate the relaxation response. Try picturing a place from your past, where you felt happy, secure, and peaceful. Then imagine yourself there, making all the sensory impressions – smells, sounds, sights – as sharp as possible. Daydreaming is a simple, cost-effective way to feel happier and calmer in no time” 

Well… there we have it folks…  It’s official…  I have just set my new-years resolution…

“Dreaming as a Goal.” This year I hereby pledge to daydream more! being it is a “simple, cost-effective way to feel happier and calmer”.   In order to obtain and maintain Maximum relaxation… I feel i’ll need to do this at the top of every hour… for at least 30 minutes or so.  If my boss happens to catch me I just tell them that i’m following the lastest cutting-edge health advice!  since it IS a goal i wonder If I should add this to my list of objectives and accomplishments?  I think I’ll put it just after “take more naps during the day” and before “take plenty of breaks”.  What do you think?  what are some other ‘goals’ you’ve set for yourself this year? you can either post here or at the ‘new years resolution 2007’ post. found (here)