Remember when Sherlock was so keen to tie himself to a bunch of balloons and become airborne? Mythbusters proved it would take more balloons than any reasonable person would want to inflate just to float a toddler, but I saw this today...
Half that desk is supported by balloons. Ones that, according to the article, "were genuinely air-tight and would never degrade, and Caltech were called upon to supply a Heluim/Hydrogen hybrid gas with an atomic weight 150 times lighter than Helium alone."
Not that we could get any, but that is pretty amazing.
77 comments:
That is...amazing is really the only word!
(I don't believe I'd dare put a desktop computer on it--maybe a laptop--and I fear the first time someone sits on it!!)
If you want to float over here, Danger, you can eat jam and scones and cream. Or Ninja Bread Men.
As long as you sing the national anthem...
That is amazing :-)
Mythbusters have a lot to answer for most of the time the gaffer tape episode most of all, but if they managed to stop Sherlock wanting to give balloon flying a go they aren't all bad I guess ;-)
anonybob
*boggles* Okay. That looks interesting, but maybe unstable. I'd be nervous the whole time I was trying to use the desk.
Is Sherlock making everyone sing for their supper, then? I can't wait to see what Mycroft comes up with when it's his day of the holidays to direct the activities.
Wow, that really is amazing. I wonder exactly how much weight that desk would support, truly. I mean, could you sit on it? Put a lot of books on it? And, as RSF says, just how stable is it, really? Hmm. I wonder if most of the weight/stability is provided by the other side - the big stack of wood that makes up the other pedestal. But regardless, it looks really cool.
I love Mythbusters, though I still get irritated every time I think about their baseball episode. Rife with errors, that one.
Hope the day is a lovely one!
That is pretty cool. I could never live in a room that white, though. Looks migraine-inducing just from the picture!
Heh, interesting concept.
Pimms, Ninja Bread Men and a cream tea? Sounds heavenly :-)
Ninjabread men are delicious.
Anonybob and Maz - so what was wrong with the baseball and gaffer tape episodes? I haven't seen either one.
I suspect that the desk doesn't see a lot of heavy use since it's only their reception desk. I certainly wouldn't try sitting on it.
Nameless - it's very very nice. He made the scones as well. Wonder what it would take to get him to make jam...
John - knowing Lestrade, now you've mentioned it, he's already planning it. I reckon he ought to hold out for some bribery and corruption though; I'm sure you could be very persuasive :-)
He could definitely try to corrupt my innocence.
Mythbusters is satuday morning telly in our house and most of the time it's very interesting but in the gaffer tape episode they were trying to work out if you could use gaffer tape to tape someone to the ceiling, apparently you can with enough gaffer tape, four year old daughter decided she wanted to tape one year old daughter to the wall, she couldn't reach the ceiling so the wall had to do. we found her with the gaffer tape from the cupboard wrapped around her sisters chest trying to get her to lean against the wall. I can't say the little one minded too much at that point but had we been much longer finding them god know what would have been going on ;-)
we still let them watch it every Saturday though :-)
Ha! I'm so glad Harry didn't see that when we were children.
L - You usually insist you were never innocent. I could try though...
i still won't stop you trying. sounds like fun.
Oh God, Pandabob, that's unreal. Funny, but unreal!
The baseball one just was a mess. I couldn't remember it all so I texted Mr. Maz, who is a big baseball fan and the most vociferous critic of it, and this is what he emailed back (yes, his complaints would not fit in a text.):
First, they tried to see if it was faster to slide into the base or not. However, the myth is whether one should slide into FIRST base or run through. (You should run through because you can, and it give you an extra step or two to drive against the ground.) The Mythbusters tested the myth at SECOND base, where one either has to slide or stop standing. The result is different. A slide to second can allow you to run hard and then use the ground and base to stop you. Running, you have to begin to slow down before the base.
Second, they botched the corked bat test. They created a rig that swung a bat at a constant speed, then tested a corked bat versus a control bat. They found the corked bat actually hit a ball a shorter distance because it had less mass. WRONG! The whole point of a corked bat is to INCREASE bat speed. And everyone knows that an double increase in speed is worth four times the force. Swinging a corked bat means greater batspeed and therefore more force onto the ball than a solid bat. That's why it's illegal.
The third test was Roger Clemens trying to curve a baseball or something, which is dumb on three levels. First, it had Roger Clemens. Second, that a curve ball curves, and a rising fastball doesn't actually rise was proven as far back as 1886 in Scientific American. Third, it had Roger Clemens and his ego, which is dumb twice over bears repeating.
Probably more than you cared to know, but Mr. Maz and his umbrage when someone gets baseball stuff wrong makes me laugh.
Maz, there's a lot more indignation over at mythbusters results, too. Some of which is contradictory!
http://mythbustersresults.com/episode83
:D
rsf
Maz - Ha! That does sound pretty bad (and amusing). I have no idea who Roger Clemens is, but the other two sound like pretty silly mistakes to make.
Haha, Maz. I totally agree with the Roger Clemens opinions of Mr. Maz. Especially since he played for my two least-favorite teams, the 'Lestrades and the Yankees.
I'm sure he didn't play for my team...
No! The 'stros, not the Lestrades! Awww, I'm sorry; I'm a big fan of Team Lestrade. :(
Heh. I was wondering what baseball team that could be a typo for.
Well..i couldn't have cut that any finer. ONly here just in time.
DW, I was hurt - hurt I tell you, to be one of your least favourite teams. I always tthought we got on so well...
We do! I mean, iat least I think we do, too. I mean... Little help, anyone?
Can I make it up to you, Lestrade?
I think DWs fingers were going for 'stros, and you know, sometimes we type fast and ended up with 'strades, and I think it's a completely explainable phenomenon. I'm happy with Team Lestrade, too, though I've always been a big Team Danger fan, myself. Though I need to replace my team jersey - the sparkles are falling off.
(Clemens is a complete ego-maniac and was considered a Hall of Fame pitcher until he was caught up in a steroids scandal, which led to him being in court facing perjury charges right now.)
post him a cute pic for that point in the night when work is driving him mad and he'll love you as much as always DW :-)
DW - blame your autocorrect, that seems to work for Lestrade :-p
Maz - I am amused and impressed by Mr Maz's passion, despite not actually understanding much of it :-)
Yes, exactly Maz. Thanks.
Per Anonybob's suggestion:
http://29.media.tumblr.com/YOw2NulGXget80f5Hv5U4ddio1_500.jpg and http://fuzzyco.com/news/archives/uploaded/2005-08-22/hedgehogbabies.jpg
Also, what Nameless said. Yeah.
I accept your autocorrect excuse, DW. all is forgiven. everyone always forgives me, afterall.
<3. Thanks. Hope your shift goes well. :)
Hm. Team Lestrade has music and motorbikes, but Team Danger has SPARKLES! I am torn...
rsf
no need to be torn RSF in reality it's team Danger-Lestrade anyway, motorbikes, music, sparkles and all :-)
Does that make it Team LeDanger? Sounds vary...French.
*sigh* "very" not "vary"
Better than Dangstrade...
Dangstrade sounds like a German heavy metal band.
How's work?
Yeah, fine. Lots of drunk people out partying though. Wouldn't be surprised if we got a job.
Team Ledangholmes? I wouldn't want to leave out the boys. That way Mycroft gets to play with music and the motorbikes and Sherlock gets to wear the sparkly jacket.
rsf
I managed to find a report on some of the beacons that we can see in the US, if anyone is interested. Can't see the concert here. There will be "highlights" tomorrow.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18321664
rsf
Hope you're all having loads of fun. Wish I was with you.
L - hope you don't. Have you got enough to keep you occupied without? We're leaving shortly. I'm not convinced Sherlock's going to make it, though he insists he's 'SO awake'.
Hope you don't get a job, that is! If you can find a way to have fun at work, I'm all for it. Wish you were with us too.
Okay, I'm going away for a week, so:
Have a great half term Sherlock and Mycroft. Hope Wednesday goes as well as possible, Doc. Lestrade, may work give you sufficient to do without becoming migraine inducing. And all four of you enjoy next weekend.
As for the rest of you badgers, be good, and if you can't be good, be careful.
be good, and if you can't be good, be careful
and if you're not in bed by ten o'clock go home. SH? ;-)
enjoy your holiday :-)
Have fun, SH!
and if you're not in bed by ten o'clock go home. SH? ;-)
Mean. I spit out my tea all over the place. :P
Sherlock still awake with 5 mins to go? Mycroft enjoying it?
Have fun, SH!
L - Still awake even now! Sitting on my shoulders. They're both enjoying it very much although Sherlock is of the opinion that people who can't sing shouldn't try to sing along...
The fireworks all looked pretty spectacular on TV; hope you had a good time there :-)
Lestrade - hope the crowds don't cause you too much of a headache tonight.
Make sure you don't hurt your shoulder. I can give it a rub in the morning if you want.
Glad they're enjoying it. You too?
(i know what Sherlock means, but everyone should be allowed to join in if they enjoy it.)
He nearly pulled my hair out with excitement over the fireworks. Mycroft had to loan Mrs Hudson his handkerchief. I think she's almost as excited as Sherlock to be here.
Mrs Holmes is eyeballing the crowd with deep distrust. I'm trying not to do the same. Pretty much enjoying it though, just could do with a few thousand less people.
sorry DW I hope you didn't damage anything ;-)
I'm glad the boys are enjoying themselves John (and that your shoulder is feeling well enough to carry Sherlock :-) )
There looked to be a lot of people around in London tonight Greg I hope it doesn't get too busy for you!
(I can't sing Sherlock but sadly it doesn't stop me inflicting my voice on other people sorry)
Okay...why did Mrs Hudson need a hanky? Because I'm thinking of excitement and ... elderly people or oung kids, and then thinking why hankies would be needed...and I'm sure it's not that ;)
Hope you're okay. I can hear the fireworks from here, even if I can't see them!
I hope the night passes without too much incident Greg and that you're not too tired by the morning :-) (I really am not going to tell you to be careful riding home I promise ;-) )
Good luck getting Sherlock home and to bed tonight John I hope he and Mycroft allow you a very long lie in in the morning after all the excitement :-)
Sometimes, Lestrade, it's like you go looking for trouble... Hope you have a quiet night, at least until Mrs Hudson catches up with you :-p
Hope you, the boys, and both Mrs H's have an easy journey home (and that the very large crowds weren't too disconcerting for you).
Apparently she met her first husband in the crowd at the coronation. I had no idea she had a first husband.
We've extracted ourselves from the madness. Not quite home, but nearly. Sherlock's asleep. And heavy. I'll take you up on that shoulder rub.
Not surprised he's heavy, he packed away about five scones earlier.
We just got a shout. Stabbing by the river. So I shall love you and leave you.
Call me if you wake up. There's ice in the freezer and one of those microwavable wheat bags in the top of the wardrobe, if your shoulder needs either.
All right. I love you, don't get stabbed or anything. See you in the morning.
do my best to return to you with the same number of holes I left with :)
Sleep tight.
I just got home from work and found a video of the end of the concert, with the lighting of the beacon by means of the biggest diamond I think I've ever seen. The crowds looked ginormous. It would have made me want to thin them out by a few hundred thousand, not just a few thousand! I hope you didn't have any trouble wading through the humanity to get home.
L - I'll be hoping that the fracas by the river is easy for you to deal with, and that the victim isn't too badly damaged. It can't be easy getting through the city on a night with so many people out and about, not even for ambulances or police.
Things would be a lot simpler if it weren't for other people...
Very true. Hope you're doing all right.
Hope things aren't too horrible for you put there, L--and I hope you're not hurting, John.
Sounds like the earlier part of the night was a major success, at least!
OUT there... *sigh*
I hope you're heading home or nearly heading home to your boys Greg :-) I'm sure Sherlock will have lots to tell you about his adventure last night :-)
Lots of quiet fun ordered for everyone today I hope :-)
Sherlock, mycroft were the events of lastnight fun? It sounded like a lovely surprise from your mum :-)
Just got in. Need food and sleep.
Glad you're safe home, L.
Did you find the stabber as well as the stabbee? Did the drunks stop partying before sunrise? Did Sherlock sleep in? Did Mrs. Holmes need to stay the night to avoid the traffic? Inquiring minds might want to know, but must fall back into nice warm bed themselves first.
rsf
It took me longer than I want to admit to figure out what "ninja bread men" were. They do sound delicious.
John, are you watching the tennis? Today sounds like a good one - Del Potro pushing Federer to a fifth set, and Tsonga and Djokovich currently battling through their fifth.
I haven't had much time to actually watch, but I've been following the scores. I'm shocked Federer won - I thought he'd do that thing he does where he comes back from two sets down only to lose in a tiebreak in the fifth. Very pleased he managed it! Really hoping Tsonga manages to do the same with Djokovic.
I feel a bit sorry for Juan Monaco - Rafa absolutely destroyed him.
Ah, Tsonga couldn't pull it off. I haven't been able to watch the matches themselves - all I can see from work is the scores automatically updating - so I can't say how dominant any player looked. Though the scores for the Rafa/Monaco match do indicate absolute destruction, yes. But they're buds, so presumably they'll go fishing at some point!
(Dare I ask if you [which can include Mrs. Holmes, the collective "you"] managed to get tickets for Wimbledon and/or the Olympics?)
Damn, he was doing so well too.
Can't speak for Mrs H, but I did the lottery for Wimbledon this year, and no, sadly. There's always the queue, but I'd feel a bit selfish leaving L and the boys to go and camp out for tickets. I didn't even try for the Olympics.
Too bad! I am going to be booking my tickets for the US Open on Monday, so speak now if you want me to pick up four more!
(I so wanted Tsonga to play giant-killer once more and take Djokovic out. Ah, well. Fingers crossed that Rafa gets his seventh!)
so speak now if you want me to pick up four more!
Ha, I wish! Someday...
If you ever do make it over here we'll have to lure you up to Boston too, so that Sherlock can see the huge Van De Graaf generator in our Museum of Science.
http://www.mos.org/sln/toe/toe.html
(I was going to say something about hosting a US Open here awhile back, but then I remembered it was golf, not tennis. I need more caffeine.)
Danger and innie: Yay, now I can comment about the tennis some more. I was very disappointed in the Monaco/Nadal match, in part because I had been so hoping that Raonic would beat Monaco. I mean, how many top tennis players have been Canadian?
Ryo
Hi Ryo! Welcome.
Those first two sets! I was worried. But he turned it around in the end.
Yeah, me too. And amazed he pulled it off, to be honest, but very happy.
I'm amused by how unexcited almost everyone seems to be by Djokovic's winning streak.
RSF - the Van De Graaf generator looks amazing!
The French Open doesn't seem to be on free-to-air telly anymore, which is VERY ANNOYING. I know I could watch it on the computer (I remember John provided a link a while ago), but it's nowhere near as convenient to watch it on the computer as on the tv. (I'm such a whiny baby!)
Welcome, Ryo! Your name is so close to mine it's a little odd! I've only just woken up, so I'm imaging you as my evil doppelganger, and the 'y' in your name is the typing equivalent of a goatee. I don't think I got enough sleep last night.
And now I have to go shower and get ready for work. Wah.
The Van de Graaf generator is really cool. Any time I have people who like science come visiting I make sure it's on their list. It especially tickles me that it really is Van de Graaf's generator and not just "a" Van de Graaf generator.
Hey, Ryo! There are actually a whole bunch of tennis-lovers who comment on John's blog while Lestrade mutters darkly about Federicorn. I'm sorry Raonic disappointed you - he looked to be in top form from the scant few minutes I saw of his match with Monaco. But I'm always rooting for Rafa, so vamos!
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