How to open a curtain.

[Eracer]

http://www.chilloutzone.de/files/pla...CeeWCejXnHAS/c

[warbirdlover]

Wile E. Coyote would be so proud! (and these guys have too much time on their hands)....

[eclark53520]

...yeah....that guy needs a NEW hobby...

[Harry Longshanks]

There is an annual competition every year for that kind of thing. I can't remember the name of it (it's named after a person), but the competitors are given a task, and the objective is to see who create a "machine" that automatically performs the task (and can consistently repeat), but uses the most steps to complete the task.

It reminds me of something a car enthusiast friend once said about the difference between Japanese and German auto engineers:

• The Japanese will build a car with features and they are performed in the most efficient, streamlined, and foolproof way possible - and they work every time.
• The Germans will build a car with really cool, advanced features and accessories, but it takes 8,000 different operations to make that one function happen, and usually the feature breaks after a short time.
• The Italians build incredibly sexy cars, but they throw them together with whatever they happen to have laying around in the shop - which is why you shouldn't be surprised if you tap your left turn signal, and your right headlight starts blinking.
• The Americans . . . built the Pinto, which exploded if rear ended. So you had to buy a new car. Cha-ching.

[xamilo]

That was absolutely awesome!!!!!

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Harry Longshanks

There is an annual competition every year for that kind of thing. I can't remember the name of it (it's named after a person.

I believe it's Rube Goldberg.

[ClairefromClare]

Rube Goldberg sounds right.

For those of us less technically minded, there's always the Bulwer-Lytton contest. The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by ClairefromClare

Rube Goldberg sounds right.

For those of us less technically minded, there's always the Bulwer-Lytton contest. The Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

Some of those were hilarious! The champion entry was a riot.

I especially like the winners of Historical Fiction (raised by bats....) and Vile Pun (Splenda in the gas....)

[slickpitt]

That's awesome lol

[Harry Longshanks]

I assume everyone in the world has seen this one by now (and for those not familiar with it, yes, everything is real.):



It's even more impressive in hi-rez.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by Harry Longshanks

I assume everyone in the world has seen this one by now (and for those not familiar with it, yes, everything is real.):

It's even more impressive in hi-rez.

That's very cool, but I question the "everything is real" part. The one that seals it is when the wheel hits the next wheel and sends it up the ramp, which in turn hits another, propelling it further up the ramp, where it hits yet another, and pushes it up the ramp.

I'm no physicist, but I don't believe there is anywhere near enough energy in the first collision to make that happen.

[I just watched it in hi-rez, and I see they have some spring assists helping the wheels up the ramp. - So....never mind.]

[SiberianDVM]

Very nice. I'd love to see someone who is allowed to live with a cat attempt one of those thingies.

[Harry Longshanks]

Originally Posted by Eracer

That's very cool, but I question the "everything is real" part. The one that seals it is when the wheel hits the next wheel and sends it up the ramp, which in turn hits another, propelling it further up the ramp, where it hits yet another, and pushes it up the ramp.

I'm no physicist, but I don't believe there is anywhere near enough energy in the first collision to make that happen.

[I just watched it in hi-rez, and I see they have some spring assists helping the wheels up the ramp. - So....never mind.]

That was my question too when I first saw it and I was skeptical. There is an article out there somewhere about the commercial and how many takes it took to get it to work (a lot), and they explain the part about the tires. [EDIT: They put a weight in the tire to make it roll up.]

EDIT: Snopes has some good info and links:
http://www.snopes.com/photos/adverti...s/hondacog.asp

[ClairefromClare]

Originally Posted by SiberianDVM

Very nice. I'd love to see someone who is allowed to live with a cat attempt one of those thingies.

Easy--no one should be allowed to live with a cat.

[MCDavis]

Originally Posted by ClairefromClare

Easy--no one should be allowed to live with a cat.

I like you even more, now!