NatCapVidMo Day 23: Greubel Forsey

As I stated in the molecular gastronomy video on Day 15, which was, like this video, more or less an advertisement, I receive no perks from this company. In fact, if Greubel Forsey somehow found this video and decided my captioning job was so brilliant that they just had to give me a complimentary Quadruple Tourbillon wristwatch, I don't think I'd know what to do with it. I haven't worn a watch in five years; whenever I need to check the time, I just pull out my cell phone. It's gauche but convenient. I didn't enjoy watching this video because I covet their final product. I just really like watching the illustration of their process in designing the watches, from the hand drawings to the CAD visualizations to the intricate hand-tooling under magnification with dazzling precision. To me -- and call me a philistine if you want -- the actual watch is almost beside the point. I just really like watching the combination of advanced modern technology with ancient mechanical techniques. (See also: Day 14: The Antikythera Mechanism.)

NatCapVidMo Day 22: Why Can't We Walk Straight?

A friend tipped me off to this fascinating story on NPR: Why Can't We Walk Straight? I chose to caption this for three reasons. First, I thought the animation was beautiful and it was the sort of video I wouldn't mind watching the four or five times it takes to go through the captioning process. Second, I thought it was strange that NPR didn't caption it, even though they offered a transcript for the audio link from Morning Edition at the top of the page. Third, I've got a simply terrible sense of direction even when I'm not blindfolded, so I like to think that my frequent habit of doubling back on myself and turning in circles when trying to find my way in an unfamiliar place is just a natural extension of this apparently inborn human tendency to walk in spirals, circles, and loop-de-loops.

NatCapVidMo Day 21: Engineer's Guide to Cats

Following up on the recent theme of ultra-nerdy videos about science stuff, this video was requested by a reader of the blog who would like to remain anonymous.



My own cat, Alcibiades, practicing his steno skills. (Cat-sized steno machine not pictured.)

NatCapVidMo Day 20: Science Tricks for Parties

Hey, I finally managed to get a video out before midnight! Go me. I've never tried any of these tricks, but they look like fun -- particularly the one with the baking soda.

NatCapVidMo Day 19: Work It Out

More music! Official video for "Work It Out" by RJD2, featuring dancer Bill Shannon. I've watched this thing over and over, and I'm still not sick of it. Also, it was filmed about ten blocks away from my office in Brooklyn.

NatCapVidMo Day 18: The Flashlight Toothbrush

Breaking Consumer Report: Ostensible "Shake Flashlight" From Dollar Store Not What it Appears to Be! Inventor and Product Tester Zachary Snyder has the story.

I admit that the main reason I decided to caption this video is because I'm jealous of his action figure collection. I found it randomly while searching YouTube for how-to videos and it amused me. I also kind of covet an illuminated toothbrush, though I think if you're gonna do it at all, do it properly and spring for the $30 Faraday model.

NatCapVidMo Day 17: Lunokhod-1

40 years ago today, Lunokhod 1 landed on the surface of the Moon and began taking pictures. It was only expected to last 3 months, but wound up staying operational for 11 months, and even today, though it hasn't transmitted any electronic signals back to earth since 1971, its reflector is still being used by by earth-based astronomers. Well done, little lunar robot! Maybe someday soon we'll come back up there to thank you for all your good work in person.