The Non-Stop Top is no perpetual-motion dreidle

The term "non-stop-top" conjures up for me the late December unveiling of some mad Jewish inventor's latest patent, the perpetual motion dreidle. Spun delightedly by his daughter, the perpetual motion dreidel begins its rapid circulatory blur, but instead of gradually slowing, unsmearing its Hassidic array of Nun, Gimel and Hei, it instead spins faster, faster, faster, until the skeletons of the horrified onlookers are sucked out of their skins and their empty skins lay flaccidly shin, forever.

Instead, however, we get this pink, battery-powered top, somewhat resembling the UFO of an extra-terrestrial race of drag-queen Liliputians. It is neat, and will spin for up to 8 hours of its own volition, but it is no perpetual motion dreidle, my friends.

Non-Stop Top [I Want One Of Those via Gizmodo]

[#1 posted by strider_mt2k , October 6, 2008 7:28 AM]

I think with the proper spells you'd have a version of Niven's "Warlock's Wheel".

Use with care!

[#2 posted by Anonymous , October 6, 2008 9:24 AM]

But have you ever seen the electronic dreidels that light up and play a tinny electronic version of the dreidel song?

Gimel!!!

[#3 posted by strider_mt2k , October 6, 2008 3:25 PM]

"...Dreidel Dreidel Dreidel,
bound by the laws of thermodynamics you will stay!"

Friction!

[#4 posted by Anonymous , October 6, 2008 7:53 PM]

strider

you obviously didnt read it

[#5 posted by strider_mt2k , October 7, 2008 4:18 AM]

anon, You obviously didn't get it.