I and two others lunched at Cicero's on Tuesday, and we ended up at a table that wobbled substantially.
Others: This table wobbles too much, let's fix it.
Me: It's fine, we can deal with it.
Others: No, we should fix it or move.
Server: Let me see what I can do.
Me: This wouldn't happen if the table had just 3 legs, because 3 points define a plane.
Server: What? ::puts some coaster cards under two legs::
Others: But this table has a pedestal.
Me: Right, so it has 5 points of potential contact with the floor: the pedestal and the four feet coming out of the pedestal.
Server: Huh? ::puts coater cards under the third leg::
Others: You're not saying that a pedestal and two legs would do the job?
Me: No, the pedestal shouldn't count as a point in the plane; only the feet should.
Server: Almost have it! ::puts coaster cards under the fourth leg::
Me: The table is still wobbling, but it's about 3 inches higher than before.
Server: Let me get more coaster cards. ::starts to leave::
Others: What good will that do? You already have cards under all the legs, and the table's too high.
Server: I'll put some cards under your chairs' legs. ::leaves::
i love the tension between theory and practice
Posted by: Anonymous at September 18, 2003 5:38 PM
Sounds like something that would happen to my friends and I. You totally have my sympathy. And a grin at the scenario, too.
Posted by: The Phantom Reviewer at September 30, 2003 1:02 PM