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Re: Aluminum Sphere for sale



Original poster: Ed Phillips <evp@xxxxxxxxxxx>

Tesla list wrote:

Original poster: Mddeming@xxxxxxx
In a message dated 3/17/06 9:29:23 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, tesla@xxxxxxxxxx writes:
Original poster: gary350@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Most people on the TC list improvise by collecting and using JUNK to
save money.  I am a pack rat and I collect too much junk.   EXACT
english or wording my be expected or demanded by some but not by
everyone.   Sphere in this case is just a figure of speech.   Webster
dictionary says a sphere is round.   My sphere is egg shaped.  If you
don't want one fine I couldn't care less.



Hi Gary,

You're right, the improper use of terms is a problem only for those who know the difference. Fortunately for the current ilk, we who care about communicating ideas accurately are a dying breed that will probably be extinct within a generation or two. In the meantime, calling and ovoid (egg-shaped object) a sphere is NOT a figure of speech, it's just sloppiness.
(It could be acute astigmatism)

Matt D.

Unfortunately, in this case the "not quite a sphere" had a ring around the middle which would lower the breakdown voltage significantly, so the complaints are not mere quibbles over definition. When I saw the first note I was interested in possible use as the top terminal of a Van de Graaf generator but after looking at the picture I saw that it would be usefless for that purpose.

Ed