Pythagoras Switch

About six months ago, Maki's dad sent us a DVD of a program that had aired on Japanese television. The DVD is called Pitagora Suicci or Pythagoras Switch. It seems there is a huge underground of Rube Goldberg fans in Japan: schools host competitions, programs are aired on TV, and there are countless videos on YouTube devoted to what CJ calls "marble games." CJ calls them marble games because many involve rolling marbles through elaborate mazes, tracks and contraptions.

Here's a video from the Japanese program
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uv1eFphpLQ
-- at the end of each segment, you hear "pitagora suicci" or Pythagoras Switch
-- if this is what they are airing on Japanese TV, no wonder the schoolkids are so interested in math and science!

Here's one of our favorites. It involves rolling balls and marbles up and down ramps to finally create a bowl of ramen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kvdq8cRNBM

Remember the Honda Rube Goldberg ad? It's on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UScbWzhieNc&NR=1

Here's a French Rube Goldberg Video Involving Pool Tables and Dominos - unbelievable!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fPnsCPGhvE

We are addicted to these videos and watched a ton of them on New Year's Day, courtesy of the Apple TV! Hope you enjoy them, too!