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Pot Luck

Let’s go on a magic carpet ride

By Pot Luck

What is it with all these scientists exploring the domains of fairy tales and legends?

When I created the invisible cloak cartoon, I discovered that scientists had actually achieved an invisible cloak (well, not exactly, but did a whole heaps of calculations and demonstrated on a small model). Thinking that flying carpets would be a no go zone, I was surprised to find a mathematician (and a team – can you imagine asking for a support team – how would that conversation go with your boss, I wonder) has proven mathematically it is possible. (See Telegraph post for those technically inclined).

To a scientist, this means it’s possible in theory, but to an engineer, this means the next trick is to achieve this in practical terms.

What other cool things in fairy tales do you wish were possible? You may find some scientist and their support team are busy trying to make it true, just for you!

April 30, 2012
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TLA

By Pot Luck

Did you ever wonder what ACME stood for on the Road Runner show?  Well, I looked up ACME in the Acronym Geek website to see what I could find.  Of the 320 ACME entries, here were a few possibilities:

  • Augmented Collaboration in Mixed Environments
  • Antique Caterpillar Machinery Enthusiasts
  • Awesome Company that Makes Everything

The last is probably the most likely, but on further investigation, it would appear that the words were added later by others. Back in the early 1920’s when  business directories were created, people would come up with names which began with A, in order to get themselves further upfront in the alphabetized listing.  Chuck Jones, Road Runner cartoonist, explained it below.

‘We were little madcaps along the beach and we did what we enjoyed doing and could get dirty and could eat hot dogs and so on. Since we had to search out our own entertainment, we devised our own fairy stories. If you wanted a bow and arrow you got a stick. If you wanted to conduct an orchestra you got a stick. If you wanted a duel you used a stick. You couldn’t go and buy one; that’s where the terms acme came from. Whenever we played a game where we had a grocery store or something we called it the ACME corporation. Why? Because in the yellow pages if you looked, say, under drugstores, you’d find the first one would be Acme Drugs. Why? Because “AC” was about as high as you could go; it means the best; the superlative.’

April 20, 2012
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One armed freestyle race

By Pot Luck

Did you know that the Paralympics first started in 1948 when Ludwig Guttmann organized a sports competition which involved WW2 veterans that had spinal injuries? From there it has grown from the 1960 event in Rome with 400 participants from 23 countries, to 3806 participants and 136 countries in the Athens 2004 Olympics. Personally, I prefer watching the paralympics. You get a feeling of the true spirit of competition and I’m always amazed in what humans can accomplish.

April 3, 2012
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BYO brewery to have with your pizza

By Pot Luck

Did you know that the humble honey mushroom is the largest living (single) organism (by area) on earth, covering about 2,300 acres (that’s 1665 football fields!) in the Malheur National Forest, Oregon?  Not only is its size impressive, but its age too. Scientists estimate it to be anything between 2,400 and 8,600 years old.  Makes annual birthday cakes celebration a potential fire hazard!

March 15, 2012
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Culture shock

By Pot Luck

It’s the beginning of a new week. Why not set a challenge for yourself?

Yes, I’m leading you somewhere, I wonder where. Possibly somewhere you don’t want to go. Are you still reading? Well maybe I’ve got you hooked. Are you ready for it?

Why not challenge yourself to coming up with a cartoon caption for the March cartoon caption competition?  Enter here.

March 12, 2012
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Does size of brain indicate size of intelligence?

By Pot Luck

I thought I’d come up with a clever new unit of measure here, only to find that there have been legitimate scientific studies in this area already. (Wiki provides a quick overview) Admittedly, I’d heard of the notion, but never thought anyone would get funding research into it.

I have a small confession to make, but only to those special people who bother reading beyond the cartoon. My first version plotted both male and female, at different positions on the graph. In the interest of not losing subscribers (I had the potential to upset on average 50% of my subscribers), I decided to change it. Say no more, I’ll let you guess who was placed where.

February 17, 2012
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So long and thanks for the fish

By Pot Luck

Who would have thought that the humble message in a bottle idea could spark so many ideas and interpretations? I Googled the phrase for fun and came up with businesses selling messages in a bottle (weddings, messages of love – you name it), of course who could forget the song by the Police, and then there are the real life stories of people finding messages in a bottle.

I found this one particularly interesting – an interview with message in a bottle hobbiest Harold Hackett. The green in me couldn’t help but wonder how many seals and whales also found one of his 4,800 bottles.

And on the competition front, things are starting to rev up with 9 entries to date.  Have you never won anything in your life? Well, with odds like this, things are looking pretty good for winning. Go on, lay your wit on the table and enter now. Click here to enter.

February 8, 2012
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Ever had that feeling someone is watching you?

By Pot Luck

I found in drawing this cartoon, that trying to draw someone, as if they’re inside a box looking out at the viewer was not as easy as I had imagined. I hope my drawing didn’t let me down.

I was inspired to create this after reflecting on one of my all time favourite cartoons created by the amazing Chuck Jones – Duck Amuck. Australians love underdogs in preference to tall poppies. Daffy certainly is an underdog in this cartoon where the animator Bugs Bunny wreaks havoc on Daffy, who is only trying to do his best and meet his animation contract. I found the cartoon on You Tube. Still brings tears to my eyes.

February 7, 2012
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