The Written Word...with gumballs?

Ah friends - another opportunity to share a unique, unexpected, and perhaps revolutionary use of the gumball and the gumball machine. In this case, a few literary fellows have used the gumball machine as a medium for expression, thus transforming a simple sweetened-orb dispensing machine into a potentially life altering apparatus. This is what Shakespeare or Whitman would have done if they had had a sweet tooth. The gumball is truly an apt locale for the written word.

Now, more about the folks who have spawned this cross-breed of the mellifluous and the lexical. Gumball Poetry is "a non-profit literary magazine that publishes the best poetry it can get a hold of. But we publish it differently - into gumball machines (capsules) and onto the Web." [Gumball Poetry]

Check out their great looking gift boxes complete with gumball poetry:


















Also of note - the folks at Gumball Poetry have set up gumball poetry gumball machines! Check it out:





The machine looks a lot like some of the gumball machines at Gumball.com like this one.















What a great idea this truly is. An inspiration for intellectuals and foodies alike.

Gumballs can be scary.

Hello all!

Sorry about the lack of posts lately - it's been a hectic week. I don't have much time for today's post either (expect much more next week!), but I did want to share this picture.

I would say it's kind of cool, but honestly, it's more scary than anything. Enjoy, and look out for gumball reviews on Peach Gumballs and Jelly Bean Gumballs!

Feng shui-ed gumball machine

First off, I wanted to let everyone know that I've been recently published on a great chocolate blog called The Chocolate Review. Everyone should definitely check it out - it's got great photos and content. Definitely one of the better chocolate blogs out there.

Second, the feng shui gumball machine. It's called the Picture Perfect Gumball Machine. It's very hip - perfect for chic chewers.

That's all for now. Expect more reviews soon...

Music with...gumballs?

Another answer to the gumball skeptics out there! Gumballs have truly infiltrated all parts of our diverse and complex culture, influencing philosophy, microfinance, and even football. The diverse uses of that rubbery orb confirm the range of potential thought of the human race. Divinely inspired? Perhaps.

The next use of the gumball has arrived. It is known as the "Bubblegum Sequencer." Techno fanatics might already grasp what this device entails simply from its title, but for the gumball fans out there, the explanation of this "sequencer" my evade comprehension. Here goes.

Here's the simplistic explanation:
The Bubblegum Sequencer is a physical step sequencer that lets you create drumloops by arranging colored balls on a tangible surface. It generates MIDI events and can be used as an input device to control audio hardware and software. Finally, people can't claim anymore that electronic music isn't handmade.
Here's how it works: A grid of holes, consisting of several rows with 16 holes each is the canvas. On it, you arrange colored gumballs. The 16 columns represent the 16th-notes in a measure. Each color is mapped to a specific sample.
Because the output is generated in the form of MIDI events, the Bubblegum Sequencer can be used to control any kind of audio hardware or software. [http://backin.de/gumball/]
From the video, it appears that these gumball techies have used basic, 1 inch assorted color gumballs. Perhaps not from our friends at Gumball.com, but a similar product nonetheless.

The lesson for today: Gumballs are delicious and, at times, can be down right groovy.

Gumballs in the future

I am on a roll.

I found another awesome and innovative use of gumballs. This time, it's not microfinancing.

It's LEGOs.

Some LEGO nerds apparently constructed a contraption dedicated solely to the sorting of gumballs. And, the best part is: "If you are an obsessive compulsive this LEGO Mindstorms Robot that sorts Gumballs by color may be able to save you countless hours of work! Just think no more late nights spent hunched over the coffee table sorting gumballs into their respective colors." [Hackedgadgets.com]

To all of you who thought "Gumballs? How could he blog ONLY about gumballs?" - I hope that I'm beginning to prove you wrong. Gumballs are everywhere! They're in the future. They're making the world a better place. And, my oh my, do they taste great.

Hope this has been an enjoyable visit to Maison de Gumball.

Come back soon.

Excellent cause with...gumballs?

Yes, friends. Gumballs can actually do good for this world. Look no farther than an emerging organization on the Stanford University campus as well as many others across the country.

Gumball Capital is "inspiring entrepreneurship for social impact with our microfinance benefit competition — The Gumball Challenge.

Participating teams receive $27 microloans and 27 gumballs from Gumball Capital. After a one-week creativity spree in November, the teams donate any revenue to a microfinance-related organization of their choice.

We offer the Gumball Fund as one option, for students interested in supporting developing-world entrepreneurs through microfinance." [Gumballcapital.com]

Their homepage has a very fun of video of gumballs interacting with their environment called "Gumballs Making Change." Definitely check this one out.

Also, turns out my supplier of gumballs, Gumball.com, is supplying the gumballs for Gumball Capital, as well. From their video and logo, it looks like they're using the assorted gumballs.

Gumballs for a cause. Quite a concept and an honorable one, indeed.

Meet the king of gumball helmets

Welcome again to Maison de Gumball,

Browsing around for gumball related news, I found a great story about a man deemed the "king of gumball helmets."

Check this story out here at ESPN.com. This guy has one hell of a collection. I think it's great to be such a dedicated collector. Plus, you can use them with gumballs! Totally cool. I think it would look great if he displayed the helmets with solid colored gumballs in the team color.

Anyway, read the story; tell me what you think. More great tidbits like that to come later.

Although it was quick, I hope you enjoyed this first/second/third stay of what I hope will be many at Maison de Gumball.

Over and out,
Shmoel