Of course you haven't. What a silly question. I'm the only one who knows about this unearthed gem.
Now what of Science and The Simpsons? We've already blogged here at The World's Fair about classroom Simpsons and science utility, but of course that can only be a start. Let's do this slow and let the audience drive it, after I put in the first: Duffless.
Duffless is 4th Season, which is to say, at the pinnacle of the run, where every episode is super upper echelon. It's a split-plot one, where the one half is Homer-centric, with Homer quitting drinking for a month; the other theme is Lisa-centric, with her Science Fair experiment ruined by Bart. It's a Tomato -- genetically engineered? plant biotech here? DNA and whatnot? Or just in-field hybrid work?*-- to solve world hunger. Bart throws it at Skinner. Lisa explodes in anger. Hilarity ensues. Thus begins the "Is my brother dumber than a Hamster?" experiment for the Science Fair.
First, a perfunctory choice quote:
"For a school with no Asian kids I think we put on a pretty darn good science fair." -- Principal Skinner
Here are the fair contributions (and they might be nice to compare to Dave's prior posting on the Creationist Science Fair)
- Evolution? Teaching Theory As Fact!
- How Gravity Works (Milhouse)
- Volcanoes (Chuck)
- The Journeys of Phineas Fogg (Martin)
- Wasting Squirrels With B.B. Guns (Nelson)
- Alcohol Fueled Car (Ralph)
- Is My Brother Dumber Than A Hamster? (Lisa)
- Miracle Of Science: Can Hamsters Fly Planes? (Bart)
A recent "Ask a Science Blogger" was about the representation of science in the movies, and I didn't shift over to TV, but this topic is yet another of how science gets culturally represented. Nope, it isn't "right," but it is playing off sterotypes of what "right" science is. Right? And, what is the "right" representation?
Fine, then, you want my confession? I don't even have a real reason for posting this, except I miss the days when The Simpsons was good. Oh hell, even that isn't true -- I do have real reasons, why are you pressuring me? -- this episode is tip-top, every inch of it worth it, Tartar Controleld Duff, the Q-Zone, "Lisa: How can a hamster write mysteries? Clerk: Well, he gets the ending first, then he writes backward" -- and that's enough to waste your prescious blog space on.
*She actually grew a "futuristic tomato by fertilizing it with anabolic steroids."
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You forgot that it also includes the funniest dialogue ever between Homer and his brain:
Homer: Well, time to go to work.
Homer's brain: Little do they know I'm ducking out early to take the Duff Brewery tour.
Homer: Roll in at nine, punch out at five, that's the plan.
Homer's brain: Heh, heh, heh. They don't suspect a thing. [camera pans down to Homer's mouth, but he doesn't say anything] Well, off to the plant.
Homer: Then to the Duff Brewery.
Homer's brain: Uh, oh. Did I say that or just think it?
Homer: [panicky] I've got to think of a lie fast!
Marge: Homer, are you going to the Duff Brewery?
Homer: Aah! [Runs off]
Greatest TV show ever (if you overlook the last few years). I am always quoting from the Simpsons. I kind of creapy, actually.
Favorite sences:
Quimby: We will now hear suggestions for the disbursement of the two million dollars.
Lisa: Don't you mean million dollars?
Quimby: [looks around nervously, adjusts his tie] Of course. `Three` million dollars.
Lisa: You're a latter-day Clarence Darrow!
Hutz: Uh, was he the black guy on the Mod Squad?
Bart: When I grow up, I want to be a lawyer just like you.
Hutz: That's good, boy. If there's one thing America needs, it's more lawyers. Could you imange a world without lawyers? [The thought of a world without lawyers sends a chill up Hutz's spine.]
This is definitely a great example of something going viral. I was sent the damn thing multiple times over the last couple days. Now this. The amazing thing? It all happened in about a week! The lesson for would-be viral campaigners: include a free caffeine fix.
Hi. Thank you for the pictures. I need this for my report in Seminar in Developmental Psychology on Theories of Development. This episode is one good example of Operant Conditioning by B. F. Skinner (note that the principal in The Simpson's is Skinner also). I could still remember that there are other experiment in this experiment, one with electric shocks. Its comparative in approach between Homer and the hamster. The hamster learned that there is an aversive stimulus on the food so it tried to avoid the food. While Homer would keep on getting the food even if he is electrically shocked. He he!!