Pinballing #2 - Gas Attack!

In theory, Grossology is an educational, traveling exhibit whose purpose is to educate children about biology and various biological functions through a series of interactive exhibits and whimsical animatronic characters.  However, in practice, Grossology is an orgy of terror populated by the most disturbing robotic creatures to ever haunt your nightmares.

Creatures like this:

And this:

Why do I bring this up?  They had a pretty cool pinball machine.  Made by Stern Pinball,"Gas Attack!" is a lesson about digestion in pinball form (yes, I think those are supposed to be intestines on the side of the machine):

Points seem to be accumulated based on the gas inducing potential of various food items.  It's also worth noting that it semeed to be made to be played for free as a part of the exhibit and was very popular with the kids there (who weren't crying and screaming in terror at the robots).

I caught the exhibit during my recent trip to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History but check their site to see if the madness is coming to your neighborhood.

Geology Vending Machine

There are not nearly enough educational vending machines out there.  That's why it was a nice surprise to come across this little beauty:

That's right, for 50 cents you can try your luck and end up with your very own fossil and/or mineral specimen.  We found this at Inner Space Caverns in Georgetown, TX.

 

We ended up with a piece of fossilized raptor egg shell.  Not a bad prize.

 

Penny Press #3 - Fort Worth Museum of Science & History

Another day, another smashed penny.  This one comes courtesy of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History where they have not one, but two machines available for your penny smashing pleasure:

The one on the left has an assortment of museum logos and western themes.  I went with the one on the right.  It only had one option but it was a bold option indeed: The Acrocanthosaurus!

It's a dinosaur whose fossils are found around the area.  This machine was no nonsense.  No levers, no buttons, no cranks.  Just insert the money and watch the penny smashing magic happen.  And that's just what I did.

Pizza Vending Machine

After a successful run in Europe you might be seeing one of these beauties pop up on your corner:

D.A.R.E Copter

No propeller?  No rotor? No problem for the D.A.R.E Copter!  Climb aboard!

This one was spotted outside an North Texas grocery store.

Custom Gumball Machines

I stumbled across some cool custom vintage gumball machines on eBay:

These are made by eBayer "thetrebusgallery."  You can see his items for sale HERE.

Diaper Change Kit Machine

75 cents gets you a Diaper Change Kit which I assume includes a diaper...but that's just pure speculation.  This was spotted in a Wal-Mart in East Texas.