For my first post, I thought I’d post a couple of short videos that I made earlier this year. The inspiration was the following sequence of pictures I put in my book illustrating what I call the “double torus clothesline trick.”
It seemed like everyone I showed it to had trouble following the sequence of pictures.
Then I saw David Pogue’s video about the iStopMotion software for making stop motion videos using a webcam. In a flash I realized that I could make a claymation video of the trick!
Here was my first attempt at creating a claymation movie.
Next, I made an animation of the clothesline trick. I think it turned out pretty well.
David Richeson: Division by Zero 
I love the clothesline trick! I agree that the pictures can be difficult (though not impossible) to follow, but the claymation is awesome. And really, when is claymation not awesome?
I greatly enjoyed your book but this figure needs to be revised! I googled “double torus clothesline” and came upon this most excellent claymation. Now I get it. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words about the book!
I struggled and struggled with that sequence of pictures. I’m still not sure how I should have drawn it so that it was more clear what was happening. Steps 5 to 6 is where everyone gets confused.
It is funny to read the comments on the YouTube site. Some viewers think I cheated somehow.