Editing 1941: Dying Gift
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A Foucault pendulum is a type of pendulum that is commonly used in science museums to practically demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. In order to attain the sensitivity required to do this, the pendulum must be very long - in this case, it is thirty feet (approximately nine meters) in length: about the height of a large hall. It must also be undisturbed; any disruption, such as a touch on the pendulum, will prevent it from accurately portraying the rotation of the Earth. | A Foucault pendulum is a type of pendulum that is commonly used in science museums to practically demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. In order to attain the sensitivity required to do this, the pendulum must be very long - in this case, it is thirty feet (approximately nine meters) in length: about the height of a large hall. It must also be undisturbed; any disruption, such as a touch on the pendulum, will prevent it from accurately portraying the rotation of the Earth. | ||
− | By insisting that the pendulum never stop swinging, the old man has made it impossible for the pendulum to be simply detached and stowed away. Even transporting it will be extremely difficult, as it is thirty feet tall, and any change to its orientation will disrupt its swing. (Note, however, that the old man didn't specify that it has to ''work'' as a Foucault pendulum; merely, that it must not stop swinging.) | + | By insisting that the pendulum never stop swinging, the old man has made it impossible for the pendulum to be simply detached and stowed away. Even transporting it will be extremely difficult, as it is thirty feet tall, and any change to its orientation will disrupt its swing. (Note, however, that the old man didn't specify that it has to ''work'' as a Foucault pendulum; merely, that it must not stop swinging.) |
The title text takes it even further, with a life-sized ice sculpture replica of the Pietà which was blessed by the Pope. A {{w|Pietà}} is a representation of the body of {{w|Jesus Christ}} on the lap of his mother, {{w|Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary}}, in the aftermath of his {{w|Crucifixion of Jesus|Crucifixion}}. When styled "The Pietà" it usually refers to ''{{w|Pietà (Michelangelo)|Pietà}}'' a {{w|Renaissance}} sculpture by Florentine artist {{w|Michelangelo}}. It is widely considered one of the masterpieces of {{w|sculpture}}. While {{w|Replicas of Michelangelo's Pietà|replicas of ''Pietà''}} do exist, there are none known to have been {{w|Ice sculpture|made of ice}}, let alone made of ice ''and'' {{w|Blessing in the Catholic Church|blessed}} by the {{w|Pope}}. That said, if such a sculpture were made, there are several ways to obtain a papal blessing. Such a sculpture would be over six feet tall and weigh several tons, and would have to be constantly maintained at sub-zero temperatures. While the gift could potentially be very valuable, the statement "all gifts must be removed from my estate within 24 hours" would dramatically increase its chances of melting. | The title text takes it even further, with a life-sized ice sculpture replica of the Pietà which was blessed by the Pope. A {{w|Pietà}} is a representation of the body of {{w|Jesus Christ}} on the lap of his mother, {{w|Mary, mother of Jesus|Mary}}, in the aftermath of his {{w|Crucifixion of Jesus|Crucifixion}}. When styled "The Pietà" it usually refers to ''{{w|Pietà (Michelangelo)|Pietà}}'' a {{w|Renaissance}} sculpture by Florentine artist {{w|Michelangelo}}. It is widely considered one of the masterpieces of {{w|sculpture}}. While {{w|Replicas of Michelangelo's Pietà|replicas of ''Pietà''}} do exist, there are none known to have been {{w|Ice sculpture|made of ice}}, let alone made of ice ''and'' {{w|Blessing in the Catholic Church|blessed}} by the {{w|Pope}}. That said, if such a sculpture were made, there are several ways to obtain a papal blessing. Such a sculpture would be over six feet tall and weigh several tons, and would have to be constantly maintained at sub-zero temperatures. While the gift could potentially be very valuable, the statement "all gifts must be removed from my estate within 24 hours" would dramatically increase its chances of melting. |