Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
St. Louis
|
|
I'm concerned. This sounds like it could escalate into some "Domesticated Violence"
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2006 - 02:41pm PT
|
Janet - Nope, not Mass.
West Virginia - any other state and it would have been call a teethbrush.
|
|
Loom
climber
167 stinking feet above sea level : (
|
|
There has been a disturbing development.
Lately, I've been testing my 100 Cat Droppings Method™. I discovered that some of the cats who survived must have begun working on something truly horrifying: a weapon of mass destruction. They have put together parts of dead dropped cats to create an Un-Dead Cat™ to seek revenge for all building drops, shelter gassings, and . . .
(cue music signifying impending doom)
. . . roadkills!
But it doesn't end there!
It seems that another cell of cat terrorists has been training a legion of Ninja Cats™ . . .
. . . we'll see how this turns out, because we all know how hard it is to train a cat to do anything. But these Ninja Cats™ apparently have it in for anything or anyone with Pirate tendencies.
I think the only safe thing is to surround yourself with water. I've signed up to go to sea on a pirate barque. Arr.
|
|
thedogfather
Trad climber
Midwest
|
|
Be especially careful when in your closet since ninja cats are masters at hiding there.
And don't make fun of them because their very stare can kill.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2006 - 04:12pm PT
|
loom - you are overreacting. cat's do not join up in groups. Have you ever tried herding cats? Even Mac's dogs can't or won't do it.
|
|
bones
Trad climber
San Diego
|
|
You guys have it all wrong. These methods involve catching, killing, and carrying dead cats to the roof of a building. Easier to just lure a dog to the roof with a bisquit and then pretend to throw the bisquit off the roof. Dog will fall for it every time.
Seriously though, 100 posts on a subject like this? ...wow. At least a few of you really are sick weirdos. Did your childhood cat catch you in the act of masterbating to your grandma's panties or something?
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 4, 2006 - 09:23pm PT
|
Another cat lover puzzle has been posted here.
At this point, I can't tell whether everyone has given up on finding the truly simple elegant solution to the building height problem. Or whether they simply do not care anymore - in which case they will probably not post, or they would really like to see the answer.
So I will offer just a hint or two. The simplest solution that I can think of requires no physics, no math almost, and is so simple that a criminologist, nurse, dental assistant, or even an anthropologist could explain how it works.
Actually I am surprised that Juan did not chime in, but perhaps he is flying to Turkey.
Two toothpicks, one dead cat (live cat in a pinch, but make sure it is one that will not go home with you afterwards). No stopwatches, tape-measures, no barometers, or anemometers.
Optionally could include a bottle of wine, RWEYL (or other companion as preferred), cheese, crackers, blanket.
Playing crappy music might be too distracting though and cause observational failures.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 5, 2006 - 10:55am PT
|
Don't come near me with those toothpicks. I am not dead!
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 06:14am PT
|
Glad you survived. But do not go off on a tangent here. That would be a sure sine that you are looking for something too complicated. Knowledge of trigonometry or astrology is not required. Just a couple of toothpicks and a single dead cat.
It is reasonable to assume that the building is south of the arctic circle, and north of the other circle, so you will not need to skin the cat for warmth.
BTW. I do not know if you saw this one:
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=161712&f=35&b=0
Having a HS knowledge of physics might help, but any math is simple enough that you can look it up using google. The clock is ticking on that problem. If it falls off the second page, I will assume that everyone is completely stumped or does not care and just post the solution. Hint, thinking about a grandfather might help, but grandmother probably would not get you anywhere.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 07:36am PT
|
I had intended that clue for the weight of the dead cat thread. Though I suppose you could use it for this one. But it is not related to the two toothpick building height solution.
The solution does exist. Just nobody has posted it.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 07:40am PT
|
Janet - I think you have a dirty mind. Are you saying Grandmotherly female anatomy would not be gruesome?
radical - you can save your answers in the form of a question for jeopardy. :)
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 05:51pm PT
|
You live near Lake Erie, right? Are erie cats unusual. Just kiddin'. Have fun with the toothpicks.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 06:16pm PT
|
Must get pretty eerie up there in the winter, what with so little sunlight, lake effect, and all.
|
|
Dru
climber
HELL, BABY, HELL!
|
|
measure shadow of building with toothpicks
measure shadow of dead cat with toothpicks
measure length of dead cat with toothpicks
ratio of building shadow to cat shadow is same as ratio of building to cat.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 06:23pm PT
|
It is possible to use the cat for the measurement. It is also possible not to have to do any math (other than counting), i.e. no ratios.
But Dru has the idea! And the nice thing, unlike the mirror approach from earlier, is that it does not require level ground.
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 6, 2006 - 06:51pm PT
|
LOL. That was good! So are you going to be able to improve on Dru's solution? No ratios.
And what about determining a cat's weight? You are so creative, I thought you would have had an answer there.
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
St. Louis
|
|
TIG states "And the nice thing, unlike the mirror approach from earlier, is that it does not require level ground."
However, it only appears to require one dead cat.
|
|
Apocalypsenow
Trad climber
Cali
|
|
My lord! These Canadians really don't like cats!
|
|
TradIsGood
Trad climber
Gunks end of country
|
|
|
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 7, 2006 - 05:52am PT
|
Janet, I like your style.
No, I said before no trig. Dru used similar triangles from geometry. If you do not remember that, you could use wikipedia to find out why it is important.
Sundials take advantage of the fact that a fixed object will project a shadow, whose orientation, and usually size, will change through the course of the day.
Of course, if one is north or south of the corresponding polar circles, there are times during the year when there will be no sunlight during the day.
So Dru's solution allows one to take advantage of similar triangles, a large one and a small similar one, and use the fact that the ratios of one pair of sides is the same as the ratio of a corresponding pair. He measured 3 directly and obtains the fourth using a ratio.
Now if one is clever, the use of the ratio can be eliminated (on a nice sunny day). And this is where the two toothpicks are used. ;)
|
|
Crimpergirl
Sport climber
St. Louis
|
|
I can't take another sleepless night, tossing and turning, wondering - What is this solution???
Post up!
I'll send a beer as a form of bribery!
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!