Looks kinda like one of them Rube Goldberg contraptions

[dr_hermes.insanejournal.com]

Rube Goldberg did not invent the corned beef and Swiss cheese sandwich. (Although many would praise him if he had.) Nope, he was a lifelong cartoonists who created a number of strips (he seems to have come with the "wiseguy answers to stupid questions" before WW I, long before Al Jaffee)and many political commentary panels. But he will be remembered for his infernal contraptions which perform a simple mundane task in a remarkably roundabout and inefficient way. You still see this done in movies, TV and cartoons (PEE-WEE'S BIG ADVENTURE had a number of these gags), but they owe their inspiration to Rube Goldberg.

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Comments

[aaron_bourque.insanejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/v/g2VCfOC69jc

[dr_hermes.insanejournal.com]

Ha, yes that's the Rube Goldberg spirit. I think the first GREMLINS movie also had a set-up like that just to make toast or something.

Relevant link is relevant:

[box_in_the_box.insanejournal.com]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4VWQupgmlg

Re: Relevant link is relevant:

[dr_hermes.insanejournal.com]

Hee hee. It even has Pee Wee's music.

[box_in_the_box.insanejournal.com]

The Pee Wee music and Peter's complaints at the end are what sell it.

"WHAT WAS THE POINT OF ALL THAT? IT JUST SHOOTS YOU! IT DOESN'T MAKE BREAKFAST AT ALL!"

[kiplingkat.insanejournal.com]

My brother (a fireman/paramedic) once took a 911 call to an old couples house in which the husband had set the entire house up with contraptions like these for his wife so she could remain as independent as possible. It actually made it a little difficult to enter, but once inside, my brother was highly impressed. It's just kinda tacky take snap shots while your trying to stabilize a heart attack, so he did not get any pics.

[dr_hermes.insanejournal.com]

That's an amazing story. People are so surprising.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

When and if I ever get a house of my own, I am totally going to rig it up with Goldbergian devices. I will have model trains carrying my dirty dishes to the sink, and a catapult attached to my bed for days when I cannot wake up. I wanna mad scientist house, dammit! If Wallace and Gromit can have one, why can't I?