May 20, 2007

Flowers and free time

flowers
I took some free time today to do some gardening. That puts me up by three flower planters and some re-potted houseplants.

In some ways this is a "keeping up with the Jones'" scenario. One of my neighbors did work on her landscaping, adding some new flowers. That inspired me to do some work for my own home. I don't normally do much beyond taking care of the lawn. I'm lagging behind all of my neighbors.

Even with what I did today, I'm still behind the curve, but at least I put forth some minimal effort to be socially acceptable.

I don't want them all to think I'm a unabomber in training.

February 24, 2007

Hawaii 2007

three weeks in Hawaii.
what a wonderful way to avoid a frigid Pennsylvania winter. 
that much time yields lots of photos. 
follows is a small assortment.

Continue reading "Hawaii 2007" »

February 19, 2007

bad math

1 Kings 7:23 And he made a molten sea, ten cubits from the one brim to the other: it was round all about, and his height was five cubits: and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.

circumference = pi * diameter

The diameter is given as 10 cubits, and the circumference is 30 cubits.

If the diameter is 10 cubits, then the circumference would be 31.4 cubits, an error or 1.4 cubits.
If the circumference is actually 30 cubits, then the diameter would be 9.5 cubits.

Rounding doesn't really work for the first case, but one could argue that the diameter could have been rounded up from 9.5 to 10 cubits.

Unfortunately, it's clear that measuring in fractional cubits was practiced, so that excuse isn't valid.

1 Kings 7:31 And the mouth of it within the chapiter and above was a cubit: but the mouth thereof was round after the work of the base, a cubit and an half: and also upon the mouth of it were gravings with their borders, foursquare, not round.
32 And under the borders were four wheels; and the axletrees of the wheels were joined to the base: and the height of a wheel was a cubit and half a cubit.

February 18, 2007

Smallest seed

31Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Acually, the mustard seed is not the smallest seed. The orchid, poppy, and wolffia (duckweed family) are smaller.

December 25, 2006

Automotive revolution

RiderRiderI've been pondering how to put this all together in one article, and am tired of these sitting in my writing queue. As such, this will be a pretty course overview.

Link - A fuel-cell powered three-wheel self-balancing "motorcycle". It appears this is only a concept vehicle and won't be sold any time soon. Nor does there even appear to be a prototype yet.

Link - A motorcycle with a wide two-wheel front end. Tilt-assisted steering enhances performance and safety. As-pictured, it appears to be for off-road use only. It's scheduled for release in Summer 2007.

Link - A 3-wheeled car. Non-hybrid. Tilt steering. Computer-enhanced suspension. It looks like this won't make it to market, at least in its current incarnation.

Link - A 3-wheeled scooter.

Link - A 3-wheeled motorcycle. Electric motor in the rear wheel.

Link - A 3-wheeled hybrid sports car. Over-powered gas engine, plus an electric motor in each wheel.

Link - 3-wheeled electric trike. The battery and motor are essentially invisible. Very cool design. Runs at 10mph for 4 hours.

December 20, 2006

20 questions

20 questionsThis is a fun site that demonstrates the power of neural network artificial intelligence.

20Q sets you against a computer in a game of twenty questions. If you answer the questions accurately, it will probably figure out your item by the time it gets to its twentieth question.

Good luck!

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