No Such Thing As A Fish No Such Thing As A Safe Toothpick
Jul 9, 2021
Dive into the sticky world of SpiderTac, a resin that's shaking up strongman competitions and baseball alike! The panel debates whether grip enhancements are cheating, while sharing travel tales of giant competitors. Explore the fascinating history of toothpicks, from their royal past to quirky modern uses. Learn about pioneering stop-motion techniques and the unusual art of tiny sculptures crafted from toothpicks. Plus, what’s the deal with blue plaques commemorating other plaques? Tune in for a mix of fun facts and quirky insights!
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Grip Glue Changed Two Sports
- SpiderTac (a tacky polymer-rosin mix) was invented to improve grip on Atlas Stones and later disrupted baseball pitching performance.
- Its cross-sport misuse reveals how a niche product can radically change outcomes when repurposed.
Iceland Stones Test Grip, Not Just Strength
- James described lifting Icelandic stones like the Húsafell stone and smaller village stones that determined boat crew roles.
- He emphasised grip as the limiting factor even when weight felt manageable.
Stop-Motion Began With Wired Insects
- Władysław Starowicz pioneered stop-motion using insect corpses wired for movement and then progressed to full puppet feature animation.
- His work predated and influenced feature animation innovations that later defined the medium.