Tuesday, May 24, 2011

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Eleven: I've Got an Idea, Now What?

Join inventor Dr. Wright and I as we discuss the how to make your dream invention a reality. First step: DON'T TELL ANYONE YOUR IDEA BEFORE YOU PATENT IT. If you do, then it magically becomes part of the public domain, and you can't patent it. Scary.

No MSPaint animations today, but I've included several silly inventions from the 1920s and 50s. Enjoy!

This episode of "Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You" has been generously sponsored by the All Weather Safety Whistle Company



Monday, May 23, 2011

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down For You," Podcast Ten: But How Is Electricity Used in Daily Life?

Join Storm whistle inventor (and high school chemistry teacher) Dr. Wright as we discuss how humanity harnessed whatever happens when you zap your kid sister into That Thing That Makes Computers Work. Featuring Hans Christian Oersted, Michael Faraday, Nicola Tesla, and a girl milking a cow. And some awesome animations made in Microsoft Paint (of course!).

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Nine: Electricity

In this week's episode, Storm Whistle inventor Dr. Wright and I discuss the mysteries of electricity. It's confusing stuff, and Dr. Wright keeps the analogies coming faster than bolts of lightning. Chocolate sprinkled doughnuts, frogs, balloons, and my truly awful Microsoft Paint animations accompany our daring journey through the Land of Electrons.



"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You" Podcast Eight - How Do Flowers Know It's Spring?

In this week's episode, Storm whistle inventor (and high school chemistry teacher) Dr. Wright and I discuss how flowers know when to bloom in the springtime, and when to hunker down in the fall. Apparently the sun acts as some sort of timer device? The whole thing kinda blew my mind.

Featuring some adorable bears, an extremely hairy horse, and my Microsoft Paint animations, as always.



"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You" Episode Seven: The Potato Famine

In this week's episode, Storm whistle inventor Dr. Wright discusses the causes of the Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s-50s.

This episode's a bit of a downer as well. Let's all agree never to be as cold-hearted as the people who were EXPORTING FOOD from Ireland during the Famine.


"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You" Episode Six: Crowds

In this week's episode, Storm whistle inventor Dr. Howard Wright discusses both slow and fast-moving crowds, and the different techniques needed to survive each one.

Also featuring that one crowd scene from "The Blob," which, in this context, is a good deal scarier than The Blob itself.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Five: Ever Wonder about Traffic Lights?

In this week's podcast, Storm Whistle inventor and high school chemistry teacher Dr. Wright explains the various mysteries and origins of the traffic light. We chat about flag-twirlers, a horn-operated traffic signal (a.k.a. the worst idea ever), and the possibility of getting arrested.

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Four: The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

In this week's episode, Storm Whistle inventor Dr. Howard Wright discusses why the explosions occurred in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the dangers of radioactive iodine, and what the "smoke" coming from healthy nuclear power plants really is (spoiler alert: just steam).

Accompanied, as always, by my very own MSPaint animations.

We sound a bit shaken in this podcast, which was recorded about a week ago. Not that surprising.

"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Three: Thundersnow!

Dr. Wright, inventor of the Storm Whistle, and Jessica, creator of Microsoft Paint animations, collaborate on yet another epic podcast. We discuss thundersnow, electrons, and when it's appropriate to eat dog food.


"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode Two: Thomas Jefferson and the Microphone

Join us on this delightful romp as we discuss what politicians did before microphones. Helmholtz resonators, elephants, and the ancient Greeks all make an appearance, along with our favorite presidents.


The video for this podcast also features an animation that I made in MSPaint, which is either adorable or really embarrassing. I hope everyone sees it as the former.


"Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," Episode One: Exactly How Does the Storm Whistle Work Underwater?

Please take a listen to our first episode of our new podcast, "Dr. Wright Breaks It Down for You," where Dr. Howard Wright, Storm whistle inventor and high school chemistry teacher, explains the mysteries behind everyday phenomena. For our inaugural episode, we discussed how the Storm Whistle works underwater. Hilarity ensues! Though this is before I got a decent microphone.