Editing 1941: Dying Gift
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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.) He has also added an extra layer of guilt to the 'gift' by suggesting that if they do ever let it stop swinging it will be because they have forgotten him. | 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.) He has also added an extra layer of guilt to the 'gift' by suggesting that if they do ever let it stop swinging it will be because they have forgotten him. | ||
− | 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 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, it probably couldn't be sold without risking its maintenance, although a covenant could potentially be added to the contract of sale requiring that the buyer maintain it. |
For both the pendulum and the ice sculpture, it is theoretically possible to devise a way to remove, transport, and store them with all the necessary conditions met, but they would probably be huge and very expensive logistical feats, requiring substantial planning and preparation. The final condition that everything must be removed within 24 hours makes such a feat practically impossible. | For both the pendulum and the ice sculpture, it is theoretically possible to devise a way to remove, transport, and store them with all the necessary conditions met, but they would probably be huge and very expensive logistical feats, requiring substantial planning and preparation. The final condition that everything must be removed within 24 hours makes such a feat practically impossible. |