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July 21, 2012 8:46 AM Subscribe
And it still never told us anything about Bin Laden's location.
posted by PlusDistance at 8:50 AM on July 21, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by PlusDistance at 8:50 AM on July 21, 2012 [11 favorites]
implode surely...
posted by edgeways at 8:53 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by edgeways at 8:53 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
No, I would definitely call that an explosion, as it ended up all over the room.
posted by bitslayer at 8:58 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by bitslayer at 8:58 AM on July 21, 2012
Small watermelon. But it's a reference point, and as a philosopher once said, "knowing is half the battle".
I keep wondering about the extensional semantics in his theory of knowledge though.
posted by syntaxfree at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
I keep wondering about the extensional semantics in his theory of knowledge though.
posted by syntaxfree at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Any chance of a video of people stacking straw on a camel's back?
posted by ambrosen at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [18 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [18 favorites]
Can someone please tell me how much time elapsed? Just because if someone maybe wanted to do this as an experiment for an after school science club and needed to budget time? (And bribe the Chief Custodian...)
posted by peagood at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by peagood at 9:09 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
SCIENCE
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 9:13 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Hollywood Upstairs Medical College at 9:13 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, the center is obviously the most fragile point, but had they set aside 1/3 of the bands to cover the watermelon at the thirds of its large radius (i.e. 1/6, 1/3, 1/6), they would have likely breached skin before.
The way they're doing things the watermelon explodes because it finally overcomes the structural integrity in the line between the vertices, but with extra rubber bands they would have both increased pressure between the extra thirds and the vertices and between the center band cluster and the extra thirds.
posted by syntaxfree at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [8 favorites]
The way they're doing things the watermelon explodes because it finally overcomes the structural integrity in the line between the vertices, but with extra rubber bands they would have both increased pressure between the extra thirds and the vertices and between the center band cluster and the extra thirds.
posted by syntaxfree at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [8 favorites]
Awesome.
Next up: How many rubber bands, made into a rubber band ball, does it take to make a black hole? (Note: This should be researched not only outside, but outside the solar system.)
posted by beagle at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [8 favorites]
Next up: How many rubber bands, made into a rubber band ball, does it take to make a black hole? (Note: This should be researched not only outside, but outside the solar system.)
posted by beagle at 9:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [8 favorites]
I'm a little surprised they didn't wear some kind of eye protection. I wouldn't want a watermelon seed exploded into my eyeball.
posted by Talanvor at 9:16 AM on July 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Talanvor at 9:16 AM on July 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
The horror. The horror.
posted by likeso at 9:16 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by likeso at 9:16 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Slo Mo Guys have a high speed video camera and their own YouTube channel. Here is their version of the stunt, which has an excellent slow motion moment-of-explosion.
posted by Tube at 9:19 AM on July 21, 2012 [26 favorites]
posted by Tube at 9:19 AM on July 21, 2012 [26 favorites]
I can't be the only one mortally afraid of rubber bands snapping and injuring you.
posted by notseamus at 9:20 AM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by notseamus at 9:20 AM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
peagood: now I want to join your after-school science club!
What kind of protective eyewear would a school require for rubber-banding a watermelon? and what other fruits & veggies --- tomatoes? grapefruit? --- would make fun messes?!?
posted by easily confused at 9:22 AM on July 21, 2012
What kind of protective eyewear would a school require for rubber-banding a watermelon? and what other fruits & veggies --- tomatoes? grapefruit? --- would make fun messes?!?
posted by easily confused at 9:22 AM on July 21, 2012
Wa'ermellon i'nit?
posted by humboldt32 at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by humboldt32 at 9:25 AM on July 21, 2012
Although I am not a scientist, I enjoy watching science in action and sometimes think, "I could also do that science."
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 9:30 AM on July 21, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by One Hand Slowclapping at 9:30 AM on July 21, 2012 [7 favorites]
Oh no, America has lost its edge in watermelon-destruction research too?
posted by 1adam12 at 9:34 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by 1adam12 at 9:34 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think we should try that experiment on Rush Limbaugh.
posted by anothermug at 9:35 AM on July 21, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by anothermug at 9:35 AM on July 21, 2012 [11 favorites]
You kids and your bondage videos.
posted by crunchland at 9:54 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 9:54 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
I would love to work in a place where you could explode a watermelon with office supplies and not have to worry about losing your job.
posted by tommasz at 9:56 AM on July 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 9:56 AM on July 21, 2012 [4 favorites]
This is so stupid, I posted it to my facebook page.
HA!
posted by Doohickie at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2012
HA!
posted by Doohickie at 9:57 AM on July 21, 2012
I like how when they started it was none rubber band at a time. The they started doing them in bunches. I also like how they went 1074, 2074, 3074, etc. I find that funny for some reason.
Also, don't watch the follow up video with the Yorkie. Totally disappointing that it could only take 2073 rubber bands.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:02 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, don't watch the follow up video with the Yorkie. Totally disappointing that it could only take 2073 rubber bands.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:02 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh no, America has lost its edge in watermelon-destruction research too?
Not even close
posted by clearly at 10:14 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not even close
posted by clearly at 10:14 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Hm. The question might have done King Arthur in....
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 10:14 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 10:14 AM on July 21, 2012
easily confused:
I don't know, but I've just spent time creating a file for it and will now move on to planning whatever fundraiser I'll also have to run to afford having syntaxfree come and teach it too. I'm imagining two teams, and a race to see which watermelon explodes first...kids wearing garbage bags and shower caps and goggles...big tarps in the school yard...making predictions on a board...
I put up a board at the end of the year asking students which clubs they'd like to have next year, and this would likely fit the requests for gross club, science club, nerd club, art club, math club, possibly cooking club, (though not likely poo club)...
posted by peagood at 10:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
I don't know, but I've just spent time creating a file for it and will now move on to planning whatever fundraiser I'll also have to run to afford having syntaxfree come and teach it too. I'm imagining two teams, and a race to see which watermelon explodes first...kids wearing garbage bags and shower caps and goggles...big tarps in the school yard...making predictions on a board...
I put up a board at the end of the year asking students which clubs they'd like to have next year, and this would likely fit the requests for gross club, science club, nerd club, art club, math club, possibly cooking club, (though not likely poo club)...
posted by peagood at 10:15 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
There are safer ways to make a rubber band ball, people.
posted by TwelveTwo at 10:20 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by TwelveTwo at 10:20 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why is the bread watermelon bleeding?
posted by blue_beetle at 10:28 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by blue_beetle at 10:28 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
I think we should try that experiment on Rush Limbaugh.
Yes, I have just spent a very pleasant 10 minutes or so imagining this done to the heads of my nemeses. Delightful!
posted by elizardbits at 10:32 AM on July 21, 2012
Yes, I have just spent a very pleasant 10 minutes or so imagining this done to the heads of my nemeses. Delightful!
posted by elizardbits at 10:32 AM on July 21, 2012
http://youtu.be/PK8dsAeMmPk
With more slow-motion. Also, a juicier-looking watermelon.
posted by lewedswiver at 10:35 AM on July 21, 2012
With more slow-motion. Also, a juicier-looking watermelon.
posted by lewedswiver at 10:35 AM on July 21, 2012
If these guys weren't such a bunch of sissies, they would just shoot the watermelon.
(Happened to see that yesterday; the rubber-band video just made me wonder why people have it in for watermelons all of a sudden.)
Also: In the grim darkness of the far future, there are only watermelons.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 10:46 AM on July 21, 2012
(Happened to see that yesterday; the rubber-band video just made me wonder why people have it in for watermelons all of a sudden.)
Also: In the grim darkness of the far future, there are only watermelons.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 10:46 AM on July 21, 2012
i'm squishing your watermelon/squints through pinched fingers
posted by Ron Thanagar at 10:51 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ron Thanagar at 10:51 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why is the bread watermelon bleeding?
Because it's a vampire, obviously.
posted by hattifattener at 11:06 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
Because it's a vampire, obviously.
posted by hattifattener at 11:06 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
I am dissatisfied with the parameters of this experiment. It did not show how many rubber bands it takes to make a watermelon explode. It merely showed how many rubber bands it takes to bisect a watermelon. I suggest an improved layout of rubber bands, rotating the position of each band from the last. This would apply force more evenly across the surface of the spheroid.
posted by charlie don't surf at 11:08 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by charlie don't surf at 11:08 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
The Slo Mo Guys have a high speed video camera and their own YouTube channel. Here is their version of the stunt yt , which has an excellent slow motion moment-of-explosion.
Thanks a bunch, I just spent an hour watching the Slo Mo Guys. Frickin awesome!
posted by Mojojojo at 11:12 AM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
There's also a whole genre of videos on Youtube where they play around with a massive amount of virtual watermelons with the Oblivion game engine. Here is one example.
posted by tykky at 11:42 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by tykky at 11:42 AM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Funding: APPROVED
posted by Jofus at 11:44 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Jofus at 11:44 AM on July 21, 2012 [3 favorites]
I actually would be interested in how many rubber bands it would take to crush a human skull. We must be stronger than a watermelon. I hope.
posted by DU at 11:45 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by DU at 11:45 AM on July 21, 2012
I'm pretty sure I'd give up the ghost somewhere on the near side of 500 rubber bands.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:57 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by Sing Or Swim at 11:57 AM on July 21, 2012
Safety glasses, kids, safety glasses!
posted by hydrophonic at 11:58 AM on July 21, 2012
posted by hydrophonic at 11:58 AM on July 21, 2012
The question is, what would fail first?
I'd bet on the eyeballs. *pop!*
posted by Scientist at 12:07 PM on July 21, 2012
I'd bet on the eyeballs. *pop!*
posted by Scientist at 12:07 PM on July 21, 2012
I'm a little surprised they didn't wear some kind of eye protection. I wouldn't want a watermelon seed exploded into my eyeball.
Yes! I almost turned it off when I realized they weren't wearing glasses or goggles.
posted by limeonaire at 12:56 PM on July 21, 2012
Yes! I almost turned it off when I realized they weren't wearing glasses or goggles.
posted by limeonaire at 12:56 PM on July 21, 2012
Also: This looks like it was at work. I wonder what their bosses had to say about this...
posted by limeonaire at 12:56 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by limeonaire at 12:56 PM on July 21, 2012
In the North, they do the same experiment with political prisoners' heads
posted by Renoroc at 1:03 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by Renoroc at 1:03 PM on July 21, 2012
I want demand to see the resultant rubber band ball!
Oh, and hickok45 in clearly's link is great.
posted by porpoise at 1:52 PM on July 21, 2012
Oh, and hickok45 in clearly's link is great.
posted by porpoise at 1:52 PM on July 21, 2012
I like very much how shocked the guy in white seems when it finally bursts. What did he imagine was going to happen?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:09 PM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:09 PM on July 21, 2012 [1 favorite]
If these guys weren't such a bunch of sissies, they would just shoot the watermelon.
Pfah. Real badasses don't need tools.
posted by restless_nomad at 2:22 PM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
Pfah. Real badasses don't need tools.
posted by restless_nomad at 2:22 PM on July 21, 2012 [2 favorites]
"A sort of crazy Japanese video..."
Ngh.
Nnnnngh.
posted by KChasm at 5:07 PM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
Ngh.
Nnnnngh.
posted by KChasm at 5:07 PM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]
While the payoff was good, the opening animations, with huge-faced spastic cartoon Korean guy, remind us that terrible television exists the world over.
posted by JHarris at 5:53 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by JHarris at 5:53 PM on July 21, 2012
I was going to say, can't we blame this one on the Korean wave?
posted by maryr at 6:01 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by maryr at 6:01 PM on July 21, 2012
tykky: How can people post great links like that in comments when, with a couple of other links (maybe an explanation), they could make a pretty entertaining FPP?
posted by JHarris at 6:15 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by JHarris at 6:15 PM on July 21, 2012
Amazing...nearly 60 comments and no mention of Gallagher.
posted by fzx101 at 9:17 PM on July 21, 2012
posted by fzx101 at 9:17 PM on July 21, 2012
fzx101: "Amazing...nearly 60 comments and no mention of Gallagher."
Ahem.
posted by subbes at 10:31 PM on July 21, 2012
Ahem.
posted by subbes at 10:31 PM on July 21, 2012
The Slo Mo Guys have a high speed video camera and their own YouTube channel. Here is their version of the stunt , which has an excellent slow motion moment-of-explosion.
Holy shit, their eyes close reflexively before the watermelon could possibly hit them. That's impressive to me to see in slow motion.
posted by disillusioned at 2:06 AM on July 22, 2012
Holy shit, their eyes close reflexively before the watermelon could possibly hit them. That's impressive to me to see in slow motion.
posted by disillusioned at 2:06 AM on July 22, 2012
How many rubber-bands does it take to make a watermelon explode?
I've never made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl.
posted by hippybear at 3:42 PM on July 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've never made it without biting. Ask Mr. Owl.
posted by hippybear at 3:42 PM on July 22, 2012 [1 favorite]
restless nomad --- I really, really like how the only guys in your video are staying way back.... ya need a watermelon split? Ladies, could you step over here for a minute?!?
posted by easily confused at 11:33 AM on July 23, 2012
posted by easily confused at 11:33 AM on July 23, 2012
Heh. We do that every summer, and it's always a crowd-pleaser. Or possibly a crowd-intimidater.
posted by restless_nomad at 11:46 PM on July 23, 2012
posted by restless_nomad at 11:46 PM on July 23, 2012
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posted by Kid Charlemagne at 8:48 AM on July 21, 2012 [6 favorites]