Comments on: Mandolin and Unicycle

Mandolin and Unicycle

unliteral — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:33:46 -0800

The Mandolin & Unicycle Project is a thesis project from Matt Manos. "I have always wanted to learn how to ride a unicycle, and I have always wanted to learn how to play the mandolin, so the most logical conclusion I came to was to learn how to play the mandolin while riding the unicycle. In one month." The project blog starts here.

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:44:47 -0800

Dude, that is inspirational. Though important missing background: Did he already play guitar? Did he, um, have other circus skills? Have to say, though, and I feel bad for feeling/saying this: [SPOILER] I'm kind of relieved that he doesn't master both by the end of that video. Oh, but a progress blog! Awesome. I love uni vids, and, well, your hands are free (once the flailing becomes less than absolutely necessary).

By: sanko

sanko — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:45:14 -0800

Aside from the fact that trying to learn either of these things while doing the other is making your learning unnecessarily difficult, I cannot think of any degree for which this is a suitable thesis project. I also think people on tall bikes look like they didn't get enough attention as children, so I am probably just out of touch.

By: cmoj

cmoj — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:47:46 -0800

This guy is diluting the value of my degree in the most difficult way possible. I didn't see anywhere what this was a thesis for. Was the term used loosely by the OP?

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:49:44 -0800

Oh, not thesis bashing. I politely ignored that part of the post. Meh. Some degrees you pay for. Some eventually pay you. The ones that don't don't "dilute" the ones that do. I say enjoy.

By: unliteral

unliteral — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:51:23 -0800

cmoj, from the Matt Manos link - "Mandolin & Unicycle" is my thesis project from UCLA's Design Media Arts department. I know what you are thinking... "You got to ride a unicycle for your graduation show??? When I was in college I had to write a 70 page paper on frickin' George Washington!"

By: fleetmouse

fleetmouse — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:54:52 -0800

I take care of the unicycles while the master is away.

By: cmoj

cmoj — Tue, 25 May 2010 19:55:07 -0800

That actually makes sense. The thesis isn't what he's doing, but how he's putting it out there. To be fair, I'm drawing pictures for my degree, diluting the degrees of Washington writers.

By: kenko

kenko — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:22:57 -0800

Though important missing background: Did he already play guitar? Yes. He says so in the link in "here".

By: Ms. Saint

Ms. Saint — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:42:24 -0800

I'm pretty sure this is concentrating the value of my degree, not diluting it. Awesome.

By: twoleftfeet

twoleftfeet — Tue, 25 May 2010 21:35:16 -0800

Unicycle + guitar. Unicycle + tuba & trombone. Unicycle + guitar + alcohol. Unicycle + previously.

By: komara

komara — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:26:48 -0800

Man, that's awesome! I've been looking for new ways to break a mandolin.

By: Nothing... and like it

Nothing... and like it — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:28:22 -0800

I know what you are thinking... "You got to ride a unicycle for your graduation show??? When I was in college I had to write a 70 page paper on frickin' George Washington!" George Washington? Yeah, no, I wasn't thinking that because for college I went to college not 4th grade.

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Wed, 26 May 2010 01:57:23 -0800

We don't get to see the real trick here -- earning a living with a degree based largely on unicycle riding/mandolin playing. Oh, you'll be flailing, my friend.

By: JtJ

JtJ — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:10:37 -0800

Myself, I have always yearned to play the unicycle whilst riding a mandolin. But (hey) this is a great second best!

By: krilli

krilli — Wed, 26 May 2010 02:21:27 -0800

Flail it 'til you nail it, eh?

By: scruss

scruss — Wed, 26 May 2010 04:35:35 -0800

There's a clip of a very young Mike Seeger playing banjo while riding a unicycle (it's on the New Lost City Ramblers 'Rainbow Quest' DVD). He's frailing, not flailing.

By: HuronBob

HuronBob — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:03:48 -0800

I've always wanted to scuba dive, and I've always wanted to be able to be a master electrician. I have not, however, run a 220 line to my bathtub. x+x≠always a good idea

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:15:35 -0800

Too bad it's not a banjo.

By: kaibutsu

kaibutsu — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:21:07 -0800

I had a banjo once. But one day I left in plain sight in an unlocked car. *sigh* Now I have two banjos.

By: Salvor Hardin

Salvor Hardin — Wed, 26 May 2010 05:56:48 -0800

He should learn how to tune that freakin mandolin while riding a unicycle first! But, yeah, props for almost doing it. Unicycles are for jedi, and I give respect for mastering that even without the mandolin.

By: grubi

grubi — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:47:14 -0800

hands of fate...

By: tommasz

tommasz — Wed, 26 May 2010 07:01:27 -0800

Did he, um, have other circus skills? For some reason, this cracks me up. "It says here on your resume that you have 'Other Circus Skills', could you perhaps be more specific? You know, fire eating, sword swallowing, etc."

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Wed, 26 May 2010 09:05:58 -0800

It's somehow become kind of catch-phrase in my circle, after a certain Incident with a pretty French lady and a Unicycle. I think I'll leave it at that. More mysterious that way, given that the story itself is not that interesting. As for awesome combinations, nothing beats stilt-walking fire-breathers, in my estimation.