AP Photo
Engineer Stewart Huxley views The Corpus Clock, a new installation at Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge unveiled today by Stephen Hawking. It's nearly four feet in diameter.
They call it the time eater. With every snap of its fearsome jaws, sting of the tail and release of the claws, it devours another second.
Today an extraordinary new type of clock was unveiled at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge by Professor Stephen Hawking.
This gold-encrusted monster - part grasshopper and part locust - advancing around the golden disc to measure the passage of time cost over £1million to make and seven years to build.
Unlike conventional clocks, the Corpus Clock does not use hands or digital numbers.
Instead it uses a series of 60 slits cut into the face, each six degrees apart, which light up to show the time.
The seconds are counted down by each step of the mechanical insect who crawls around the disc edged like a lizard's spine.
Its movement triggers blue flashing lights which dart across the clock-face, running in concentric circles to mark passing seconds before pausing at the correct hour and minute...
"Another quirky feature is the eerie sound of a chain dropping into a wooden coffin hidden behind the clock on the hour, which is intended to be a reminder of human mortality. "
So Steven Hawking finally produced something besides his thinly-disguised search for God in "A Brief History of Time." If this is art then Steven seriously needs a new hobby.
pat said:
Sheila,
That clock is just amazing. Dr.Taylor must be a genius. I hope I'll have an opportunity to see it someday.
The video didn't work yesterday but we of the 'I know what I like' school of art don't believe that art requires explanation. Sorry, it still looks like a hubcap that fell off the stereotypical Superfly Cadillac.
At best, I see a cynical statement in the consumption of time by the hideous fly.
In Cincinnati, there was a piece of sculpture called "Law and Order" and it was a massive block of granite that still bore the quarry marks. The sculptor did nothing more than to put a little dent in the top of it and mount it on chrome legs.
You could argue that it's symbolic of the little dent that law and order has made into corruption, most notably in financial institutions of late but historically in the farcical war on drugs as well. However, in my view and that of most others, the thing was a multi-ton eyesore.
It started out in Fountain Square, the showplace of the center of Cincinnati. Over the years it moved from one park to another, slowly moving closer to the Ohio River. Ultimately it disappeared and no-one really knows what happened to it but most figured that justice came when the thing was pushed right into the river.
Perhaps in the end it really did represent law and order as this timespan roughly roughly paralleled the advent of the farcical Department of Homeland Security that terrorizes women over breast milk but somehow mysteriously permits tons of heroin into the country for America's junkies. (Do the math: take a conservative estimate of the number of junkies multiplied by some number of grams of heroin per day and the volume of the drug that is required to supply them is astounding.)
Nevertheless, I don't see anything that contradicts my position that these types of 'artistic' creations would have driven Van Gogh mad....had he not been mad as a hatter already!
c.ecker said:
' Silas Scarborough said:
'
' So Steven Hawking finally produced something
' besides his thinly-disguised search for God in
' "A Brief History of Time." If this is art then
' Steven seriously needs a new hobby.
'
The same can be said for you. Posting comments to articles is a strange hobby for someone who is as cognitively challenged as you appear to be.
R.Patton said:
As it eats time it should poop out things that waste time, i.e. it's own creation
Paul Bailey said:
What a fantastic Clock.
GAY, TYPICAL BRITISH FOOLERY. Just think of the amount of people who could have had their teeth fixed with that money.
I'll fix my teeth. When you fix your banking system
TheObserver said:
If it weren't so noisy I'd like to have one!
Creepy and cool at the same "time"
Tom Haberthaler said:
I think it's just delightful. I want to call the builder of the thing a Luminary if I may. I wish someone would do one with a spider, maybe a calendar with a spider! I feel that human immagination has absolutely, no limit. That there will always be good people who think to do great things. that there will always be luminaries among us who bring joy and pleasure to millions of people.
big O said:
That's about the ugliest creature I have ever seen! I would much rather see the inner workings of the clock through clear glass.
awake said:
I am starting to really believe David Icke.
Something very disturbing is happening in this world.
The Antichrist is alive and well and preforming his miracles everyday. These hideous works of art and paganism are popping up all over the world.
You people better wake up! The bible (with it's Mysterious and Beautiful words) have warned you of the coming days!
Also please note: the true meaning of the world democracy means (demon possessed)
Could this be something far beyond a simple timepiece?
Anyone else out there notice similarities in appearance to the circular pattern of the Mayan calendar?
I can't shake the feeling that this is a countdown device to something sinister. We'll know the truth eventually.
Brian said:
***I am starting to really believe David Icke.
Something very disturbing is happening in this world.
The Antichrist is alive and well and preforming his miracles everyday. These hideous works of art and paganism are popping up all over the world.
You people better wake up! The bible (with it's Mysterious and Beautiful words) have warned you of the coming days!
Also please note: the true meaning of the world democracy means (demon possessed)***
I know what is disturbing and happening in the world. You bible beating lunatics who see 'the end' and 'the antichrist' in everything, right down to the dump you took!
Get off your self righteous high horses and FIX the world, not whine about it because it's fun. MAYBE, there wouldnt be an 'end time'......
pat feinstein said:
Hi - Sheila,
I haven't checked this blog until this morning.
This psychiatrist happens to love all kinds of clocks and admire most inventors and artists. I absolutely love the clock, its beauty, precise mechanism and minute details - the disc, the lighting, etc. that went into this special time piece. The initial, grass-hopper image was also beautiful and interesting. The term, Time-eater itself is meaningful and thought-provoking, isn't it?
To me, the clock is a very unique artistic show piece, as well as being decorative in a grand scale and also being utilitarian at the same time.
I'm not obsessed with time, but I would consider myself to be 'time-sensitive'.
I see " Scientific-mindedness, Creativity, Originality, Perseverance and Beauty " when I look at this clock.
kmwmtd said:
I would suggest that 'awake' check his facts before posting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy). 'Democracy' does not mean 'demon possessed', but 'popular government' ... literally, 'people' + 'rule, strength'.
As for David Icke, I'm afraid that anyone who believes that all the prominent people in the world, including the Queen Mother, are lizards in human masks is ... well ... one grasshopper short of a time-eater clock ;-)
Undecided on whether I like it or not. Symbolism is a little sinister, and it is no more impressive or innovative than various clocks built by Tim Hunkin on a far more modest budget(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hunkin)
kmwmtd said:
Just remembered that Tim Hunkin has a website - should have posted that earlier instead of the rather limited Wikipedia page. Here is his home page if anyone wants to see some of his designs - http://www.timhunkin.com/
Mama'san said:
Creepy, interesting, and eerily disturbing. The locust/grasshopper looks like something out of a nightmare. The head looks like one of the deep ocean fish with the sharp teeth.
I like it. When will they be mass produced for the public?
As for those who feel they need to put a religious twist to it; give it up. Not everything needs to be brought into a religious sense. It's a peice of art, as sinister as it may look. Aesthetically pleasing to some. Besides, the bible was written 2000+ years ago by humans; has been written and re-written in several different languages to fit the needs of all the other religions. The message has been lost in translation. I have to agree with Brian on this one.
more illumaniti magick bullocks!
they probably forced hawking to promote this demon magick falisman.
i wonder if they threatened to remove his glucose tube.
oh and for all those ridiculers,about these subjects,give it up.the whole (intelligent people )of the world know your game.that you work for the MAN(rothschilds)spresding disinfo and disention to stop the spread of truth.
the Real Grand Architech OF THE UNIVERSE Jehovah,is going to destroy a those who hurt others and he will start HIS nwo.
the first thing he will probably do is trash your demonic POS clock.
Ash said:
While I agree that democracy does not mean demon possessed, I don't think one shouldl ever cite Wikipedia as a source of reliable information.
kmwmtd said:
Ash, that's a matter of opinion. In my experience, wikipedia is no worse than most other sources of information on the internet, many of which take their data from wikipedia, incidentally, and considerably more up-to-date than offline sources. While I certainly wouldn't use it without checking the facts elsewhere first, it is the current, best starting point for information. If people choose to then confirm the details in whatever way they wish, so be it.
truth seeker, Jehovah does not exist. If he did, and he was a wrathful as you suggest, he'd strike me down now ... well, I still seem to be here. Maybe he's busy wrecking clocks, or whatever else you think gods get up to in their spare time.
Tomac1 said:
Hey ABU,
Instead of fixing teeth maybe they should take the money and educate people like yourself as to why it is really very inappropriate to use a descriptor such as "gay" to signify something negative. Did it make you feel a bit better about yourself to use it? Says a lot about you Abu :).
Personally, I would prefer to have people with bad teeth keep their mouth shut from embarrassment rather than fix them if only to use more socially ignorant non-redeeming dialogue.
Please take care and please please eat as many sweets as you can :). (Guys ... keep building those clocks! ... we have a few more mouths that need to go !)
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So Steven Hawking finally produced something besides his thinly-disguised search for God in "A Brief History of Time." If this is art then Steven seriously needs a new hobby.
Report Abuse
Sheila,
That clock is just amazing. Dr.Taylor must be a genius. I hope I'll have an opportunity to see it someday.
Report Abuse
Pat, what does a psychiatrist think of this clock?
Silas, it's wonderful to see "art or not" is back.
I really like public art, and I like triggers that move me off old centers.
Report Abuse
GAY, TYPICAL BRITISH FOOLERY. Just think of the amount of people who could have had their teeth fixed with that money.
Report Abuse
Abu, they'll never fix everybody's teeth.
Report Abuse
The video didn't work yesterday but we of the 'I know what I like' school of art don't believe that art requires explanation. Sorry, it still looks like a hubcap that fell off the stereotypical Superfly Cadillac.
At best, I see a cynical statement in the consumption of time by the hideous fly.
In Cincinnati, there was a piece of sculpture called "Law and Order" and it was a massive block of granite that still bore the quarry marks. The sculptor did nothing more than to put a little dent in the top of it and mount it on chrome legs.
You could argue that it's symbolic of the little dent that law and order has made into corruption, most notably in financial institutions of late but historically in the farcical war on drugs as well. However, in my view and that of most others, the thing was a multi-ton eyesore.
It started out in Fountain Square, the showplace of the center of Cincinnati. Over the years it moved from one park to another, slowly moving closer to the Ohio River. Ultimately it disappeared and no-one really knows what happened to it but most figured that justice came when the thing was pushed right into the river.
Perhaps in the end it really did represent law and order as this timespan roughly roughly paralleled the advent of the farcical Department of Homeland Security that terrorizes women over breast milk but somehow mysteriously permits tons of heroin into the country for America's junkies. (Do the math: take a conservative estimate of the number of junkies multiplied by some number of grams of heroin per day and the volume of the drug that is required to supply them is astounding.)
Nevertheless, I don't see anything that contradicts my position that these types of 'artistic' creations would have driven Van Gogh mad....had he not been mad as a hatter already!
Report Abuse
' Silas Scarborough said:
'
' So Steven Hawking finally produced something
' besides his thinly-disguised search for God in
' "A Brief History of Time." If this is art then
' Steven seriously needs a new hobby.
'
The same can be said for you. Posting comments to articles is a strange hobby for someone who is as cognitively challenged as you appear to be.
Report Abuse
As it eats time it should poop out things that waste time, i.e. it's own creation
Report Abuse
What a fantastic Clock.
GAY, TYPICAL BRITISH FOOLERY. Just think of the amount of people who could have had their teeth fixed with that money.
I'll fix my teeth. When you fix your banking system
Report Abuse
If it weren't so noisy I'd like to have one!
Creepy and cool at the same "time"
Report Abuse
I think it's just delightful. I want to call the builder of the thing a Luminary if I may. I wish someone would do one with a spider, maybe a calendar with a spider! I feel that human immagination has absolutely, no limit. That there will always be good people who think to do great things. that there will always be luminaries among us who bring joy and pleasure to millions of people.
Report Abuse
That's about the ugliest creature I have ever seen! I would much rather see the inner workings of the clock through clear glass.
Report Abuse
I am starting to really believe David Icke.
Something very disturbing is happening in this world.
The Antichrist is alive and well and preforming his miracles everyday. These hideous works of art and paganism are popping up all over the world.
You people better wake up! The bible (with it's Mysterious and Beautiful words) have warned you of the coming days!
Also please note: the true meaning of the world democracy means (demon possessed)
Report Abuse
Could this be something far beyond a simple timepiece?
Anyone else out there notice similarities in appearance to the circular pattern of the Mayan calendar?
I can't shake the feeling that this is a countdown device to something sinister. We'll know the truth eventually.
Report Abuse
***I am starting to really believe David Icke.
Something very disturbing is happening in this world.
The Antichrist is alive and well and preforming his miracles everyday. These hideous works of art and paganism are popping up all over the world.
You people better wake up! The bible (with it's Mysterious and Beautiful words) have warned you of the coming days!
Also please note: the true meaning of the world democracy means (demon possessed)***
I know what is disturbing and happening in the world. You bible beating lunatics who see 'the end' and 'the antichrist' in everything, right down to the dump you took!
Get off your self righteous high horses and FIX the world, not whine about it because it's fun. MAYBE, there wouldnt be an 'end time'......
Report Abuse
Hi - Sheila,
I haven't checked this blog until this morning.
This psychiatrist happens to love all kinds of clocks and admire most inventors and artists. I absolutely love the clock, its beauty, precise mechanism and minute details - the disc, the lighting, etc. that went into this special time piece. The initial, grass-hopper image was also beautiful and interesting. The term, Time-eater itself is meaningful and thought-provoking, isn't it?
To me, the clock is a very unique artistic show piece, as well as being decorative in a grand scale and also being utilitarian at the same time.
I'm not obsessed with time, but I would consider myself to be 'time-sensitive'.
I see " Scientific-mindedness, Creativity, Originality, Perseverance and Beauty " when I look at this clock.
Report Abuse
I would suggest that 'awake' check his facts before posting (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy). 'Democracy' does not mean 'demon possessed', but 'popular government' ... literally, 'people' + 'rule, strength'.
As for David Icke, I'm afraid that anyone who believes that all the prominent people in the world, including the Queen Mother, are lizards in human masks is ... well ... one grasshopper short of a time-eater clock ;-)
Undecided on whether I like it or not. Symbolism is a little sinister, and it is no more impressive or innovative than various clocks built by Tim Hunkin on a far more modest budget(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hunkin)
Report Abuse
Just remembered that Tim Hunkin has a website - should have posted that earlier instead of the rather limited Wikipedia page. Here is his home page if anyone wants to see some of his designs - http://www.timhunkin.com/
Report Abuse
Creepy, interesting, and eerily disturbing. The locust/grasshopper looks like something out of a nightmare. The head looks like one of the deep ocean fish with the sharp teeth.
I like it. When will they be mass produced for the public?
As for those who feel they need to put a religious twist to it; give it up. Not everything needs to be brought into a religious sense. It's a peice of art, as sinister as it may look. Aesthetically pleasing to some. Besides, the bible was written 2000+ years ago by humans; has been written and re-written in several different languages to fit the needs of all the other religions. The message has been lost in translation. I have to agree with Brian on this one.
Report Abuse
more illumaniti magick bullocks!
they probably forced hawking to promote this demon magick falisman.
i wonder if they threatened to remove his glucose tube.
oh and for all those ridiculers,about these subjects,give it up.the whole (intelligent people )of the world know your game.that you work for the MAN(rothschilds)spresding disinfo and disention to stop the spread of truth.
the Real Grand Architech OF THE UNIVERSE Jehovah,is going to destroy a those who hurt others and he will start HIS nwo.
the first thing he will probably do is trash your demonic POS clock.
Report Abuse
While I agree that democracy does not mean demon possessed, I don't think one shouldl ever cite Wikipedia as a source of reliable information.
Report Abuse
Ash, that's a matter of opinion. In my experience, wikipedia is no worse than most other sources of information on the internet, many of which take their data from wikipedia, incidentally, and considerably more up-to-date than offline sources. While I certainly wouldn't use it without checking the facts elsewhere first, it is the current, best starting point for information. If people choose to then confirm the details in whatever way they wish, so be it.
truth seeker, Jehovah does not exist. If he did, and he was a wrathful as you suggest, he'd strike me down now ... well, I still seem to be here. Maybe he's busy wrecking clocks, or whatever else you think gods get up to in their spare time.
Report Abuse
Hey ABU,
Instead of fixing teeth maybe they should take the money and educate people like yourself as to why it is really very inappropriate to use a descriptor such as "gay" to signify something negative. Did it make you feel a bit better about yourself to use it? Says a lot about you Abu :).
Personally, I would prefer to have people with bad teeth keep their mouth shut from embarrassment rather than fix them if only to use more socially ignorant non-redeeming dialogue.
Please take care and please please eat as many sweets as you can :). (Guys ... keep building those clocks! ... we have a few more mouths that need to go !)
Report Abuse