Posts by Dr. Science:
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Cartoon Characters
On 05/28/2012 in Question
Why do cartoon characaters have only 4 fingers on each hand?
———- from Harry Hamill of Colorado Springs, CO
Computer animation has become so sophisticated and lifelike that it’s become necessary to devise a way to distinguish cartoon characters from real people. So the FCRA, the Federal Cartooning Regulatory Agency, mandated that all cartoon characters have three or four fingers. Three fingered cartoon characters tend to wear white gloves, though this is more the result of a convention started by the Disney Studios rather than a federal directive. That is not to say that all humanoids with less than five digits are cartoon characters. Many very real people share that condition as the result of birth or accident. A far more convincing test of cartoon-nature comes when such a person runs off a cliff. A cartoon character will linger, seeming to stand on air for a few seconds. A human will not.
Computer animation has become so sophisticated and lifelike that it’s become necessary to devise a way to distinguish cartoon characters from real people. So the FCRA, the Federal Cartooning Regulatory Agency, mandated that all cartoon characters have three or four fingers. Three fingered cartoon characters tend to wear white gloves, though this is more the result of a convention started by the Disney Studios rather than a federal directive. That is not to say that all humanoids with less than five digits are cartoon characters. Many very real people share that condition as the result of birth or accident. A far more convincing test of cartoon-nature comes when such a person runs off a cliff. A cartoon character will linger, seeming to stand on air for a few seconds. A human will not. Filling the Ocean
On 05/25/2012 in Question
With all the rivers running into the ocean, why doesn’t it get any fuller?
--- Here's the answer from Dr. Science
Upright Humans
On 05/23/2012 in Question
Hey, why can’t humans hold themselves upright unless they’re awake?
--- Here's the answer from Dr. Science
Dr. Science’s Voice
On 05/21/2012 in Question
I’ve noticed that your voice on your radio series has changed over the years. In the beginning, you were a smooth voice announcer, albeit one with noticeable speech defects, mainly a sibiliant “s” and a lazy “l”. In the last few years, you’ve developed a hoarse quality, a barking, blustery manner that seems exaggeratedly midwestern. Your speech defects are still there, for sure, but seem masked by this new abrasive delivery. Are you changing or is the role of Dr. Science played by a variety of actors?
--- Here's the answer from Dr. Science
Filing Systems
On 05/18/2012 in Question
