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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Perhaps what is most enthralling is simply childhood memories of coloring with Crayons.

This is a stationary automated gun turret. All they need to do is put it on a mobile base and you'd have a movie legend (see image at right).

Oh wait, they've already done that (these auto-track targets, but require a human to issue the command to open fire).

All this happened a block from my home.

You've got to love "happy valley". I think there are more tow trucks in town than there are bars. For most cities that wouldn't be saying much, but for a small college town with a bar on every corner (or more) that's a lot.

One thing that did disappoint Hall, however, was that "while all this was going on" a tow-truck company had arrived to haul away his assistant manager's car. "There was no sympathy from the tow-truck company whatsoever," said Hall, who was at the scene. The police had to explain that the car should not be towed, he said. The owners of the tow-truck company could not be reached for comment.

"I'm not a piņata!"

That was such a good laugh. Now back to work...

A robot with "taste" sensors recently identified that humans taste like bacon.

It's not really a surprise since humans have many similarities with pigs.

I'm not worried about our future robot overlords eating us because we taste good. But if I get hungry, I'll be sure to keep my friends close.

Click the image on this page for a demonstration.
(Warning: Linked web page may not be work-safe.)

Ignoring the largely unenforceable nature of such a legal document...
Will it be long until we need to resort to such extremes?
If handled properly, would such an agreement really be a bad thing?

This appears to be based on a research paper I reviewed more than a year ago. It's interesting to see a purely theoretical idea come one step closer to the "real world"... even if that is only in a commercial, which is still a long way from everyday implementation.

Now I have a better understanding of this video from about half a year ago. The monkey was trying to cure her own hiccups.

Now you know. Isn't science empowering?