The governing equations for the inverted pendulum is developed and shown to be analogous to the gravity modulated porous layer heated from below. In particular the temperature in a gravity modulated porous layer heated from below (R> 0-unstable) is likened to the motion of an inverted pendulum ( unstable). As gravity modulation stabilizes convection, Transport Porous Med. 57 ( 2004), 113, it is found that oscillating the pivot point of an unstable, inverted pendulum stabilizes the motion.