Haha, wow. Went to the Exploratorium today and saw this guy there with his sculpture. Now it's on the front page of Hacker News! What a coincidence.

He said that when people ask him when he started building it, he replies "Well, I got up real early this morning."

This just makes me thinking that people just have misplaced talent. Just imagine if cancer research and solving aids was as approachable as building things with toothpicks, we'd probably be way further than we are in solving the world's problems.

I was impressed, but then I learned there are a dozen paths through. Now I'm baffled.

Likewise. For the first 45 seconds or so I was like "Oh, that's kinda neat" but it went on to show more and more tours interwoven together and his little hidden personal details in it... That's a thing of beauty right there.

Not to be a pedant, but I believe that this is not a Ruth Goldberg machine, but rather, a Jolly Ball track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4qlXjhUHvg

Mr. Gorrell does indeed get this wrong. (It's 'Rube', btw)

I couldn't help but think of how fragile it is, and how I could never spend so much time making something if I knew it could (physically) break so easily.

Exactly what I was thinking. The thought of tripping and falling and destroying 35 years worth of work makes me really uncomfortable.

Tibetan Buddhism isn't for you then:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_mandala

"Sand mandalas traditionally take several weeks to build, due to the large amount of work involved in laying down the sand in such intricate detail." "A sand mandala is ritualistically destroyed once it has been completed and its accompanying ceremonies and viewing are finished to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life."

Yeah. One of the nicest things, for me, about making software is that it lasts. It may become irrelevant, sure, but it doesn't rot, and you can make copies.

I've just recently returned from my first trip to SF. This video really made my day, and it feels so much more real now that I've actually seen most of this things.

Those of you who live in SF, you can't imagine how lucky you are! I envy you all!

Don't ask for the 'Great Quake and Fire of 1906' path.

I wonder how many people living in San Francisco actually know its beautiful history.

I think that may be waxing just a tad romantic. I know a thing or three about San Francisco's history, and I wouldn't call it beautiful.

I'm struggling to think of anywhere that has a history that I would call beautiful.

The Playboy mansion?

What happens to the sculpture, now he has completed it? Does it go on permanent exhibition somewhere? Curious to know its fate. I would like to visit San Fran some time, and I would pay to go and see that sculpture if I did.

It's currently at the Exploratorium, but I have no idea how long it'll remain there.

the best part is the centrifugal force.

You just made my Sunday night.

Like most of these sorts of projects, it's a combination of "impressive" and "kinda sad".

edit: Removed bit about children

At 55 seconds he says the Toll Booth "has the time our son was born". This man achieved a work of art that is far from sad. It's very obvious that this has tons of sentimental value, but it is also a wonderful work of art. I hope I can achieve a long-term disciplined accomplishment like this in my lifetime (my children notwithstanding).