July 25: TJI (XAW, Day 9)

[Nate the Great]

Does anyone have a Newton's Cradle that I can watch swing back and forth?

[evay]

Is that what it's called? wow, I never knew. I mean, how do you Google that? "swinging balls on strings perpetual motion machine"?

...ooh, actually, that does give you the name. 8) Google rocks! Well, okay, The Straight Dope rocks. I actually found TSD via their books, which my best friend lent me in college, and was delighted to find the column on the web. It's a little like TVTropes for trivia buffs.

Speaking of TVTropes, why isn't there one for The Wacky Aunt, aka Auntie Mame? Or am I looking under the wrong keywords? I'm up to S3 of Eureka, and Carter's wacky sister just came to town. She reminds me a lot of Jess's flaky mom from Gilmore Girls, and they're not a big leap from Lwaxana Troi (whose portrayer, Majel, noted that she deliberately played her as "Auntie Mame in space"). Doesn't the crazy aunt/goofy uncle have a trope name?

[Nate the Great]

I'm not sure where I first saw the name "Newton's Cradle," but it was probably in a store.

If you want to see one being microwaved, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWZhNsuqGvM

[Tate]

Well, okay, The Straight Dope rocks.

Yeah, that can be good reading.

She reminds me a lot of Jess's flaky mom from Gilmore Girls, and they're not a big leap from Lwaxana Troi (whose portrayer, Majel, noted that she deliberately played her as "Auntie Mame in space").

Huh. I watched "Auntie Mame" once. Never noticed the similarities between her and Lwaxana, though.

I'm not sure where I first saw the name "Newton's Cradle," but it was probably in a store.

If you want to see one being microwaved, go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWZhNsuqGvM

Interesting. Of course, I'd say the answer to "Is it a good idea to microwave this" is 'no' unless it's food. If you ask my dad, the answer is 'no' even if it is food. Especially if it's pizza.

[Nate the Great]

Time keeps on slippin' (slippin', slippin') into the future...

[evay]

Steve Miller Band! Okay, my turn:

An' I would walk five hundred miles, an' I would walk five hundred more, just to be the man who walks a thousand miles to fall down at your door.

Name the band!

[Sa'ar Chasm]

The Scottish Twits!

Well, that's what Dad called them. They call themselves the Proclaimers, and boy are they fugly-looking dudes.

[Chancellor Valium]

Originally Posted by evay

Steve Miller Band!

Now leader of the opposition in the UK...

[Nate the Great]

Isn't it nice being in a black hole where one day feels like three months?

[evay]

I bet you get a lot of chores done. I wouldn't mind a few extra hours in a day myself, frankly...