But they DO fry your brains, you know...

June 20, 2008 6:01 PM

Did you happen to see those "making-popcorn-pop-with-a-cellphone" clips that showed up at the end of last month on the toobs? Well, WIRED wrote about it, and a kajillion copycat clips showed up in about the time it'd take to, you know, make some popcorn. Turns out it was a viral, natch, as a cursory search will reveal. But just today a clip appeared that explains how the actual stunt was pulled off. Well, anyway, as you've probably guessed by now, this is all just an excuse to link to Popcorn. Yep, Popcorn.

Actually, I lied. This was all just an excuse to link to this utterly charming video of the Tetris theme played on bottles.

posted by flapjax at midnite (42 comments total)

Kids, don't try that popcorn trick at home. Any stunt that begins with "remove the magnetron from your microwave" can only end with someone's eye getting cooked.
posted by GuyZero at 6:09 PM on June 20, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

WFMU's 79 versions of popcorn scoff at your paltry 1.
posted by dersins at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

Popcorn?
posted by Roman Graves at 6:15 PM on June 20, 2008

You like popcorn as I do , don't you like to smell the butter flavouring in mwave popcorn?

Please don't, it can contain diacetyl.

In rare instances, bronchiolitis obliterans may be caused by inhalation of airborne diacetyl — a chemical used to produce the butter-like flavoring in many foods such as candy, microwave popcorn and wines. This first came to public attention when eight former employees of the Gilster-Mary Lee popcorn plant in Jasper, Missouri, developed bronchiolitis obliterans. In 2000, the Missouri Department of Health called in NIOSH to make a determination of the cause, and to recommend safety measures. After surveying the plant and each patient's medical history, NIOSH recommended respiratory protection for all workers in microwave popcorn production. Due to this event, bronchiolitis obliterans began to be referred to in the popular media as "Popcorn Lung" or "Popcorn Workers Lung".[4][8][9]

One heavy consumer of microwaved popcorn has been diagnosed with this disease, which is the first known case involving a consumer.[13]

posted by elpapacito at 6:17 PM on June 20, 2008

Popcorn ?

No. Mother Popcorn.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:18 PM on June 20, 2008

I remember being told that if you hold two Nokia cell phones together while they are broadcasting that they will start to melt. This would have been somewhere in the late 1990's. The weird but true thing about this innocuous story is that the person who told it to me was Leif Garrett...
posted by Tube at 6:22 PM on June 20, 2008 [3 favorites has favorites]

That's not very bright. Besides being dangerous to humans, its dangerous to electronics. Like, maybe the battery will explode or catch fire dangerous.
posted by loquacious at 6:25 PM on June 20, 2008

In elementary school we had an organized dance thing we did in P.E. class involving the song "Popcorn" and a giant parachute. Good times. . .
posted by arcanecrowbar at 6:26 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I mean, the part about linking to Popcorn. That was just irresponsible, man. Like hell if I care if someone wants to irradiate themselves or fry their dumb cellphone.

Which reminds me. Did you know if you microwave your cellphone long enough it turns into delicious candy? Mix and match! Try three at once!
posted by loquacious at 6:29 PM on June 20, 2008

That's not very bright. I mean, the part about linking to Popcorn. That was just irresponsible, man.

Yeah, loq, you're right. But I'm just feeling a little reckless today. I'm sure you know the feeling.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:33 PM on June 20, 2008

I'm uh, 99% positive that the guy that put a magnetron under the table is hoaxing. Why go through all that trouble when they could have just put a heating element under there?
posted by empath at 6:37 PM on June 20, 2008

I'm uh, 99% positive that the guy that put a magnetron under the table is hoaxing. Why go through all that trouble when they could have just put a heating element under there?

Well, it did cross my mind that the magnetron clip might be just a continuation of the viral campaign, you know, to keep the whole thing going a few days longer... but, a heating element under a table? Um, wouldn't you set the table or the table cloth on fire before you popped corn?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:42 PM on June 20, 2008

a heating element under a table? Um, wouldn't you set the table or the table cloth on fire before you popped corn?

Not if you heated the element with a magnetron!
posted by dobbs at 6:55 PM on June 20, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

An. not AND. Why do people make that mistake? I saw and ostrich. Did you want and apple? It makes no sense!

Popcorn.
posted by Stewriffic at 7:00 PM on June 20, 2008

link to Popcorn

Aren't virals supposed to capture one's interest? And inspire one to forward on?

...wouldn't you set the table or the table cloth on fire before you popped corn?

What is this, the Middle Ages? What better candidate for digital fakery than a fast moving blur that's on screen for maybe .75 seconds.
posted by DU at 7:02 PM on June 20, 2008

It's horrible and very wrong that I knew exactly what song would play when I clicked "that" link, but I wanted to do it anyway because - well, because I knew what song would play. You're a bad, bad man.
posted by yhbc at 7:04 PM on June 20, 2008

That's nothing. Look at what happens when you microwave your cell phone like popcorn.
posted by infinitewindow at 7:07 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

You like popcorn as I do , don't you like to smell the butter flavouring in mwave popcorn?

Argh. No. No no no. Very few things set me off quite like that horrid smell. Even just the memory of it sets me on edge. It's totally nauseating, and I think it's only fitting that it be linked to a horrible disease. (And who puts butter flavoring in wine?)

Ahem. Anyway. The magnetron thing - it's just spitting out photons, right? I don't see why, with the right table, this wouldn't work. I mean, I agree that it's pretty dangerous (not to mention overkill) to go around disassembling a microwave if all you want to do is play a prank, but in principle it seems like it should work. But if you use that horrible fake-buttered microwave popcorn and stink up your kitchen table for hours, don't blame me for - ahem. Sorry. I think I need to to go play something to get my mind off popcorn. Pengo sounds nice...
posted by wanderingmind at 7:19 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Metafilter: It's just spitting out photons, right?
posted by ericbop at 7:22 PM on June 20, 2008

Aren't virals supposed to capture one's interest?

Well, they're designed to capture interest in whatever product they're hawking. I personally have no such interest in those products. Presumably, some people do, though, so I imagine the viral campaign might've been reasonably successful. I guess.

And inspire one to forward on?

Hey, I linked to Popcorn, man! What, that's not inspiring?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 PM on June 20, 2008

Damn those fatcats in the popcorn lobby.
posted by Deep Dish at 7:41 PM on June 20, 2008

Jiffypop satori
posted by hortense at 7:42 PM on June 20, 2008

What better candidate for digital fakery than a fast moving blur that's on screen for maybe .75 seconds.

Well, my thought process went as far as "Why do something that could potentially kill you when you can do this much more safer and low tech thing", but not as far as "Why do a low tech and safe thing when you can just do it in After Effects with five minutes worth of work."
posted by empath at 7:43 PM on June 20, 2008

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON! DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!!

First, the video "exposing the hoax" is a hoax itself.

A microwave oven magnetron might just possibly do what he sez it duz- but that one didn't! Only two wires going out to the maggie- to the filament connector- and no ground wire going back to the microwave case- so it ain't getting high voltage where it needs it!

Here's the danger part- THEM WIRES HAVE VERY HIGH VOLTAGE ON 'EM- LIKE 2,000 TO 3,000 VOLTS! That'll kill ya deader'n a doornail, real quick!
posted by drhydro at 7:43 PM on June 20, 2008

I love that Popcorn song. The part where the drums kick in is scrumtrilescent, to quote Will Farrell's James Lipton.

Also, OH MY GOD...
In elementary school we had an organized dance thing we did in P.E. class involving the song "Popcorn" and a giant parachute.
did not everyone in grade 5 do this? Am I insane? This was awesome, in gym when they'd bring out the 'chute and you'd flap it around to the sound of Popcorn and Up Up and Away and Spinning Wheel. No one that I talk to remembers this. Was it a crazy '70's Ontario hippie thing? The best part was when you lifted it up high and then everyone ran under.

Flapjax, you turned this post from a shitty viral YouTube thing to a Popcorn fest. And I am happy.
posted by chococat at 7:54 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

Only two wires going out to the maggie- to the filament connector- and no ground wire going back to the microwave case- so it ain't getting high voltage where it needs it!

I hare to be the one to break this to you ...
so I won't. Pass some of that hydro yer smokin there, doc.
posted by IronLizard at 8:28 PM on June 20, 2008

From the historical advances in popcorn technology file.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:36 PM on June 20, 2008

and it's time to make you friends crazy

Not to mention sterile.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:25 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

a chemical used to produce the butter-like flavoring in many foods such as candy, microwave popcorn and wines

WHAT THE FUCK

WHO DOES THAT

also I love fake butter flavour. I like a lot of fake flavours, make no mistake about them being real or good for me or anything, but fake butter and fake watermelon and fake RED (whatever it's supposed to be) are yummy. Not all together of course.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 10:23 PM on June 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Not to mention sterile.

If this video is all it takes to sterilize half of MySpace, I will personally send this man $20.
posted by bhance at 10:42 PM on June 20, 2008 [4 favorites has favorites]

I just found out today that the POP-CORN time service is no longer available in Northern California :(
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:42 PM on June 20, 2008

For wanderingmind:

Pengo does "Popcorn"
posted by retronic at 12:21 AM on June 21, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

While you've got the magnetron out, try zapping a rapidly spinning lollipop of sulfur, to experience the newest kind of electric lamp.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:16 AM on June 21, 2008

I did it with my friends link
posted by frecklefaerie at 6:44 AM on June 21, 2008

in rare instances, bronchiolitis obliterans may be caused by inhalation of airborne diacetyl

You have to work around it all day for years on end, or you have to eat pounds of the shit every day for years on end to get so-called "popcorn lung". Worrying about diacetyl is an even bigger waste of time than worrying about the worldwide avian flu pandemic that's gonna be here any day now oh yeah for sure.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 7:15 AM on June 21, 2008

Research into the origins of the term "popcorn" in funk and soul music.
posted by furtive at 7:33 AM on June 21, 2008

You have to work around it all day for years on end, or you have to eat pounds of the shit every day for years on end to get so-called "popcorn lung". Worrying about diacetyl is an even bigger waste of time than worrying about the worldwide avian flu pandemic that's gonna be here any day now oh yeah for sure.

Yeah, but it still smells disgusting.
posted by Caduceus at 3:38 PM on June 21, 2008

In 2nd grade, square-dancing for PE class at Starkey Elementary in Largo/Seminole, FL, the teacher took off the regular corny square-dancing record....and put on Popcorn by Hot Butter.

I know because as soon as I heard the record, and realized I was really listening, I stopped square-dancing, walked out of the group and trotted my seven-year old self over to the record player, and stared at the playing disc, mesmerized, stunned, affected, and realized that what ever was going on here I wanted to be a part of it.

Thank you, Flapjax. You better believe I love Popcorn. It made me who I am today.
posted by humannaire at 6:37 PM on June 21, 2008

[BTW, the legend that I stopped the record mid-play much to the chagrin/delight of my playmates is strictly hearsay. Or that I put it on and had to hear it again three more times in a row. Or that I later in the inside and alone in the privacy of the classroom found the record and played it backwards by hand-spinning it against the motor. Fiddle-faddle and poppycock, I say!]
posted by humannaire at 6:44 PM on June 21, 2008

did not everyone in grade 5 do this?

The only time I've ever done the Popcorn and parachute thing was while working as a teaching assistant at a special school. Some of the kids who normally did nothing more than sit in their wheelchairs dribbling would absolutely hoot with pleasure while being whizzed under the parachute - it was this that convinced me that Popcorn is more than just an ace song, also having Important Healing Powers.
posted by jack_mo at 4:45 AM on June 22, 2008

I loved LOVED the parachute thing in school. We would put those red balls on it during the popcorn song. It was awesome. Then there were the scooter days.
posted by Belle O'Cosity at 10:59 AM on June 22, 2008

You can always have popcorn and beer on your iphone. Video.
posted by jvilter at 11:43 AM on June 22, 2008