Neatorama

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• Neatolicious Fun Facts: Marbles
• Neato-Puzzle #5
• Gummi Bear Candelabra
• Chilean Miner to Compete in Marathon
• Cthulhu Plush
• Think Texting While Driving is Bad? Meet the Multi-Tasking Driver
• Dolphins Teaching Each Other How to Walk on Water
• Election Night Bingo
• Meet Sid AKA Cookie Monster
• Mandrill Gives Zoo Visitors The Finger
• The Sexual Harassment Dice
• With Help from Strong Winds, Punter Sends Football 86 Yards
• Reflector Tie
• The Great Wall of Croatia
• A Charming Song About Quarks
• Listening to the Music of Ancient Sumer
• Genie on a Flying Carpet Costume
• Prank Packs
• LEGO Frog Dissection
• Igloo Made of Refrigerators
• Is a Cure for the Common Cold in the Future?
• Cha Cha vs. Kavacha for King of the Jungle
• What’s Cooking at the Museum of Burnt Food
• Geek Optimism

Neatolicious Fun Facts: Marbles Posted: 03 Nov 2010 05:01 AM PDT The game of marbles is estimated to go back 5,000 years. Through most of their history, marbles were made of stone, bone, clay, or whatever material was available. Truly round marbles were a rare and expensive toy, but we eventually found ways to make enough of them for everyone. 1. The glass maker Elias Greiner Vetters Sohn worked for Farbglashuette Lauscha, a German glass company founded in the 1500s. In 1846 he invented the marbelschere, or marble scissors, with which a glassmaker could cut a rope of glass and forms balls with the soft pieces. Greiner received a patent in 1849 for the invention of “artificial semi-precious and precious stone balls”, or as we call them, glass marbles. To produce enough of these hand-made marbles, the company gave Greiner his own factory. 2. Marbles were first mass-produced in Akron, Ohio in 1884 when the Akron Toy Company began producing clay marbles. The man behind the marbles, Samuel C. Dyke, founded The American Marble & Toy Manufacturing Company in 1891, which became the biggest American toy company of the 19th century. For the first time, marbles became cheap enough for children to buy them with their own money. 3. Samuel Dyke also produced handmade glass marbles in Akron. In 1890, he hired master glass maker James Harvey Leighton to train workers in making glass marbles. Eventually, Dyke’s factory was turning out a million marbles a day. When it burned in 1904, so many children rummaged through the ruins for marbles that, for safety’s sake, the remains of the building were buried. But there was no shortage of marbles for sale, as dozens of companies in the Akron area were making marbles and other toys at the time. 4. Danish immigrant Martin F. Christensen invented a machine to mass-produce glass marbles in 1902, but didn’t receive a patent on his creation until 1905. However, by then he had already opened a marble factory in, yes, Akron, Ohio which cranked out 12 million glass marbles every year. 5. In the mid-1990s, the site of the burned American Marble factory was a parking lot. The city decided to replace it with a park, and as the ground was dug up, thousands of very old marbles were uncovered. So a portion of the park became home to the American Toy Marble Museum, which opened to the public in 2002. Many of the unearthed marbles are on display at the museum in Akron.

Neato-Puzzle #5 Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:11 PM PDT It’s Tuesday and you know what that means! Another puzzle from our pals at Conceptis Puzzles! Yes, every Tuesday, we’ll be offering a different logic puzzle, today featuring a 9×9 sudoku puzzle. Please give us some feedback on the new feature—we’d love to hear if you found it too easy, too hard, or what you think about Neato-Puzzles. Ready? Click here to play!

Gummi Bear Candelabra Posted: 02 Nov 2010 04:52 PM PDT Three years ago, we featured a chandelier that designer YaYa Chou made out of gummi bears. She’s also made a candelabra from the same delicious substance. Link via Geektoplasm | Photo: Kevin Janow

Chilean Miner to Compete in Marathon Posted: 02 Nov 2010 03:29 PM PDT Edison Pena, one of the Chilean miners who was trapped underground for 69 days, was known to the media as “the runner” because he ran long distances underground to keep physically fit. On Sunday, he’s going to compete in the New York City Marathon, according to Mary Wittenberg, the President of the New York City Road Runners Club: Edison Pena, 34, was originally invited by the club, which organizes the annual marathon, to attend the event as a spectator. But Pena insisted on running in the 26.2-mile marathon, Wittenberg said.[...] “To be out there whether running or walking is such an affirmation of the human spirit,” she said of the marathon. Wittenberg said Pena will be traveling to New York with his wife. The 12th miner to be rescued, Pena is a diehard Elvis Presley fan who, despite speaking little English, knows most of the words to Elvis classics and led the trapped miners in sing-alongs during their 69-day ordeal underground. Link via MArooned | Image: iClipart

Cthulhu Plush Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:49 PM PDT Mini Cthulhu Plush – $9.95 On the shelf of the NeatoShop, cute plushy Cthulhu waits dreaming. Here’s the perfect gift for your fellow H.P. Lovecraft lovers: Link | Cthulhu stuff | More Plush Toys

Think Texting While Driving is Bad? Meet the Multi-Tasking Driver Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:48 PM PDT When you thought texting while driving is bad, someone out there took it up a notch. Here’s the multitasking driver, who’s reading a book, using a Kindle AND talking on the phone at the same time while driving on the freeway. BuzzFeed has more: Link [embedded YouTube clip] Many years ago, while riding on the school bus, I saw my own version of the multi-tasking driver: he was shaving (yes, with shaving cream and razors) while driving.

Dolphins Teaching Each Other How to Walk on Water Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:47 PM PDT Here’s the danger of releasing captive dolphins in the wild: they’re now teaching wild dolphins how to "walk" with their tails along the surface of water! WDCS researcher Dr Mike Bossley, who has observed Adelaide’s Port River dolphins for the past 24 years, said he had documented spectacular tail walking in two adult female dolphins, known as Billie and Wave. Now four other individuals have been recorded perfecting their walking techniques – Wave’s calf Tallula, Bianca and her calf Hope, and calf Bubbles. Tail walking is very rare in the wild and in thousands of hours of observation only one other dolphin has ever been observed tail walking in the Port River, and then only once. The Port Adelaide dolphins are now said to be tail walking many times each day. It is thought the mammals may have learned the remarkable skill from Billie – who spent a short period at a visitor attraction 22 years ago. Dr Bossley said that the spread of tail walking appeared to be motivated by "fun", but it was also linked to a serious and fascinating cultural aspect previously unseen in the species. Link

Election Night Bingo Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:46 PM PDT Today’s election day, so you know what’s coming soon: election night, where pundits mix fantastical nonsense with Captain Obvious-worthy facts. Whether you’re a political junkie or an apathetic citizen, here’s something to do while watching election night coverage on TV: the Election Night Bingo made by Brendan Nyhan – via The Daily Dish

Meet Sid AKA Cookie Monster Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:46 PM PDT Holy Kaw has a quickie 5 fun facts about the Cookie Monster. I won’t reveal the entire fun list, but I did learn one fun thing about the lovable blue-haired, googlie-eyed Muppet: Cookie’s real name is Sid. Link | More than you’d ever want to know about the Cookie Monster at the Muppet Wiki

Mandrill Gives Zoo Visitors The Finger Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:45 PM PDT No, he’s not rude. Jackson the Mandrill has arthritic finger that causes him to salute his viewers at the zoo. Mark Rogers, who took the photo of Jackson’s "we’re number one salute" said: ‘I was there photographing him, and a father and sons were watching him,’ said Mark Rogers, who captured the finger in full flight. ‘Jackson’s a bit grumpy and really doesn’t like being photographed, but what he likes even less is people shouting at him. ‘The father tried to make fake ape sounds and Jackson raised his hand with the finger extended. The entire crowd watching him then laughed out loud and the father quickly stopped making the noise.’ Mr Rogers added: ‘I did find out later that the mandrill had arthritis in that finger. I can’t help but wonder if he used that to his advantage.’ More at Metro: Link (Photo: Caters)

The Sexual Harassment Dice Posted: 02 Nov 2010 02:44 PM PDT What did your elementary school teacher do as punishments when you did something bad? Did she make you sit in a corner? Rap your knuckles? Well, whatever it was, it’s probably not the Sexual Harassment Dice. The 59-year-old teacher at Ogi Elementary School in Iruma, Saitama Prefecture, apparently had three dice, one with sides marked with the words “hug” and ” forgiven,” another marked with “kiss,” “snot” and “forgiven” among others, and the third marked with “snot” and “forgiven.” Students who forgot to bring something to class were forced to roll one of the dice. The teacher has apparently admitted to kissing one boy and acting as if he would put snot on one girl. He nicknamed the dice the “sexual harassment dice.” (source) Link – via Fark

With Help from Strong Winds, Punter Sends Football 86 Yards Posted: 02 Nov 2010 12:48 PM PDT At a high school football game in South Dakota, one player punted the ball 40 yards. The ball hit the ground, and thanks to strong winds, started rolling on the ground. And rolling. And rolling. Right up to the 3-yard line. At the link, you can watch an embedded video of the play. Link via Deadspin

Reflector Tie Posted: 02 Nov 2010 12:35 PM PDT Designers Jasna Sokolovic and Noel O'Connell invented the Retroreflector Tie. It’s a tie with built-in reflective stripes to make bicyclists more noticeable to automobile drivers. Link via OhGizmo! | Jasna Sokolovic | Noel O’Connell | Photo by the designers

The Great Wall of Croatia Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:23 AM PDT The town of Ston, Croatia, is protected by a wall three and a half miles long. This archaeological gem was built during the fifteen century while the region struggled for some margin of independence from the Ottoman Empire. It gradually decayed over time and was devastated by an earthquake in 1996, but restoration is presently underway. Link via The Presurfer | Photo by Flickr user Dan.. used under Creative Commons license

A Charming Song About Quarks Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:20 AM PDT (YouTube Link) Strange Charm will tell you everything you need to know about all six flavors of the elementary particles that the world is made of. Link

Listening to the Music of Ancient Sumer Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:09 AM PDT (Video Link) Philip Neuman, Gayle Stuwe Neuman, and William Gavin are three musicologists who have reconstructed music from ancient societies and performed them in front of living audiences. Their Ensemble De Organographia, as the group calls itself, used remnants of Sumerian musical notations to make the above recording. Link via Geek Dad

Genie on a Flying Carpet Costume Posted: 02 Nov 2010 11:01 AM PDT Instructables user ModMischief created a costume that makes her look like a genie on a flying carpet. Her legs are hidden beneath the carpet by a black curtain. The entire project took her just four hours to complete. Link via Super Punch | Maker’s Blog

Prank Packs Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:55 AM PDT Prank Packs are gift boxes with ridiculously fake products printed on the outside. Give a gift in one of these and be ready for an uncomfortably awkward expression of gratitude: “Uh, thanks, I always wanted a motorized rolling pin (or a talking coffee cup, or a hat that doubles as a fish net).” That’s when you show them the nice personal gift that you put inside! This year’s new designs include the pictured iArm, the Pet Petter, and the Family Blankeez. Link

LEGO Frog Dissection Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:55 AM PDT LEGO artist Dave Kaleta made this model of a frog dissection for MOCpages, an online community of LEGO builders. You can view seven more pictures at the link. Link via Geekologie | MOCpages

Igloo Made of Refrigerators Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:50 AM PDT In Hamburg, Germany, artist Ralf Schmerberg made an igloo out of refrigerators. There’s an electric meter outside that displays how much electricity it consumes. Schmerberg intends for the exhibit to serve as commentary on consumption and waste. Link via DudeCraft | Artist’s Website | Photo: Inhabitat

Is a Cure for the Common Cold in the Future? Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:42 AM PDT Until very recently, biologists believed that once a virus enters a cell, a person’s immune system cannot combat that virus because antibodies cannot enter cells. But researchers at the Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, UK, have uncovered evidence that antibodies can, in fact, enter cells. This opens up the possibility of attaching antiviral components to antibodies that can kill viruses inside cells: Once inside the cell, the presence of the antibody is recognised by a naturally occurring protein in the cell called TRIM21 which in turn activates a powerful virus-crushing machinery that can eliminate the virus within two hours – long before it has the chance to hijack the cell to start making its own viral proteins. “This is the last opportunity a cell gets because after that it gets infected and there is nothing else the body can do but kill the cell,” Dr James said. “The antibody is attached to the virus and when the virus gets sucked inside the cell, the antibody stays attached, there is nothing in that process to make the antibody to fall off. “The great thing about it is that there shouldn’t be anything attached to antibodies in the cell, so that anything that is attached to the antibody is recognised as foreign and destroyed.” Leo James, the lead researcher, speculated that this discovery could lead to effective treatments for cold viruses, among others. Link via DVICE | Image: Clipart.com

Cha Cha vs. Kavacha for King of the Jungle Posted: 02 Nov 2010 10:12 AM PDT (YouTube link) Even the race for King of the Jungle is getting nasty this year. Watch as Blank Park Zoo’s Kavacha the tiger slings some mud at Cha Cha the lion and his frivolous dance lessons. Cast your vote at the Iowa’s zoo’s website -but vote on the issues, and don’t be swayed by negative advertising! Link

What’s Cooking at the Museum of Burnt Food Posted: 02 Nov 2010 08:06 AM PDT A return visit to a carbon sink facility by Nan Swift, Improbable Research staff The Museum of Burnt Food continues to grow and prosper. Since our last visit to the museum, the collection has moved to a new facility in Arlington, Massachusetts. A small lake next to the building serves as a scenic, yet high-capacity emergency reaction vessel. Curator and founder Deborah Henson-Conant has nearly doubled the museum's holdings. The photos here represent a small but diverse sampling. Always a leader in the campaign against global warming—and in particular, the struggle to reduce the amount of carbon accumulating in the atmosphere—the Museum of Burnt Food is the first major museum to develop an in-house carbon sink policy. Every year, every item in the collection is washed in a carbon sink. After washing and drying an item, the museum staff evaluates its condition; in selected cases the item is reburnt. Cider in Situ #2 Apple cider warmed on a stove ad infinitum. This specimen of Cider-in-Situ is a companion piece to the famous "Free-Standing Hot Apple Cider"—the original seed which grew to become the Museum of Burnt Food. Donated by Gary Dryfoos, circa 2000. Burnt Whole Wheat Tortilla What was intended as a "quick snack on a whole wheat tortilla" became this item in the Museum of Burnt Food. Topping unknown. Donated by L. Von Hopper. Acquired in 2003. Whole Wheat Toast under Glass Whole wheat toast, burnt. Acquired circa 1995. "Kruncheroni 'n Cheese" Remains of attempt by a 14-year-old boy to make dinner from a package of Kraft Macaroni-and-Cheese. On loan from private collection of David and Susan Beno. Thrice-Baked Potato Thrice-baked potato (Solanum tuberosum extermino). Acquired pre-1989. Burnt Lemon Etiology unknown. Acquired circa 1996. _____________________ This article is republished with permission from the July-August 2008 issue of the Annals of Improbable Research. You can download or purchase back issues of the magazine, or subscribe to receive future issues. Or get a subscription for someone as a gift! Visit their website for more research that makes people LAUGH and then THINK.

Geek Optimism Posted: 02 Nov 2010 07:28 AM PDT This is a wonderful way to look at the world. I just wish I knew who the original artist is. -via The Daily What Update: The artist is Selin Jessa. Link -Thanks, Andy!

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