# What is this thing? \[Strange grid ball\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 12, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989 "2013-01-12T20:37:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2013, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/421 "2013-06-30T19:02:09Z")
In many threads, actually, the object is completely unclear. ---
**Author:** ![Valorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/76d3ee/32.png) [@Valorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valorous)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/422 "2013-07-05T12:32:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Vaguely, but there’s no way the object of this thread is watertight, much less pressure-tight. I was thinking more of a mock-up. Not a serious guess, but it could be something like [this](http://simundo.org/?page_id=144) where each segment is meant to house it’s own processor. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/423 "2013-07-05T12:41:15Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > In many threads, actually, the object is completely unclear. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/424 "2013-08-02T05:40:33Z")
I don’t know if this has been posted yet, but watch very closely at about the 0:17 mark [in this Hyundai commercial.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZ8LZQMPys) :eek: Clearly this is some sort of global 😉 conspiracy. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/425 "2013-08-02T06:06:39Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > I don’t know if this has been posted yet, but watch very closely at about the 0:17 mark [in this Hyundai commercial.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPZ8LZQMPys) :eek: > > Clearly this is some sort of global 😉 conspiracy. Holy cow. Time for an email. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/426 "2013-08-02T06:07:10Z")
pipecleaner ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/427 "2013-08-02T12:34:34Z")
It’s used with a Roman dodecahedron. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/428 "2013-08-02T13:30:53Z")
That commercial was already linked to [back in February](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15974989&postcount=386). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/429 "2013-08-02T13:39:11Z")
:: egg on face :: ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/430 "2013-08-02T13:41:33Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > That commercial was already linked to [back in February](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15974989&postcount=386). Do not taunt strange grid ball!! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/431 "2013-10-15T15:44:08Z")
Well, I finally got to a campus department and official who could answer some of my questions. It is an artwork, by a moderately famous name. It was acquired in the late 1990s as part of a campus art garden project, and funding delays and the death of the project’s principal advisor have things on hold. There are “responsible parties” keeping an eye on the grid ball and the other metal artworks, and the plan is still to mount them throughout the campus in due time. I am very disappointed that I won’t be able to buy it and mount it in my front yard to amaze and amuze my neighbors, but at least I can visit it on my photographic passages through the yard, and it’s not likely to be broken up for scrap or sold for poor reasons, and someday I may be able to tell people where they can visit it in front of the Chem or English building. It’s been a fun thread. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/432 "2013-10-15T16:00:00Z")
Thanks for the follow-up! ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/433 "2013-10-15T16:04:44Z")
Wow – closure! Sort of. I guess it was designed to be outdoors in all kinds of weather, so it won’t deteriorate as some of us speculated. Be sure to followup your followup if it ever gets mounted or displayed. I’m sure we’d like to see what it looks like then. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/434 "2013-10-15T16:30:06Z")
I’ll keep up a commentary and post some new shots of it from time to time. Kinda bummer/not quite bummer news, and on me birthday, too. Huh. ---
**Author:** ![CannyDan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cannydan/32/548_2.png) [@CannyDan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CannyDan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/435 "2013-10-15T17:54:43Z")
Thanks for the update and the resolution, such as it is. Oh, and I hope you have a happy natal anniversary too 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/436 "2013-10-15T17:55:39Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > and on me birthday, too. Huh. I heard that in Mr Krabs’ voice. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/437 "2013-10-15T19:12:37Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > There are “responsible parties” keeping an eye on the grid ball and the other metal artworks, and the plan is still to mount them throughout the campus in due time. We have top men working on it right now. _Who?_ Top. Men. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/438 "2013-10-15T19:16:41Z")
Typical University non-action IMO… ::: Grump ::: ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/439 "2013-10-15T19:23:11Z")
> [@GusNSpot](#): > > Typical University non-action IMO… ::: Grump ::: You might say that. I couldn’t possibly comment. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@Big\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989/440 "2013-10-15T19:30:07Z")
All in the name of art! 🙂 Thanks for the update! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-thing-strange-grid-ball/646989.md?page=23)