a blab by idle

ピタゴラスイッチ, known in English as PythagoraSwitch, is a darling little NHK children's show that seems to be a highly focused left-brain cousin of Sesame Street. There are segments throughout the show known as "Pythagorean Device" (ピタゴラ装置) featuring Rube Goldberg-esque devices that are incredibly reminiscent for me of the Pinball Number Count segments on Sesame Street. (Come on, you know you know them and loved them, even if you didn't realize that it was the Pointer Sisters voicing it.) Anyway, Cliff Johnson's website pointed me to a YouTube-hosted collection of the best of ピタゴラスイッチ, and they range from amusing to truly incredible. The fact that they seem to be all made at home with pretty much nothing but standard household items really takes the cake.

Check it out; it's well worth the watch. Totally safe for work, too. (Not that I'm suggesting anything about where you should watch it… um, wow, look at the time; gotta run!)