Fuddland
As was suspected, the statue is indeed of Sir Isaac. What I didn’t know was that it appears to also be a sundial — although I’ve not actually been able to see if it works [and is at all accurate] due to [a] there being no shadow-casting sun and [b] me not knowing how to read the sundial even if there was shadow-casting sun.
As you can see, it’s not one of your normal circular dials, but a rectangle which has the hours marked as well as a kind of figure-eight with the months along it. There’s a plaque which attempts to justify the presence of the statue by telling us that Newton lived in Lincolnshire which is “only” 25 miles from Leicester, but it doesn’t explain how to read the time on a sunny day. Perhaps one of the professors will know.
Comments
meesh | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 13:13
Is it me…. or does the statue just look a little odd? I’ve seen a ‘bust’ and even a small statue just of someone’s head, but this one of Newton looks like someone has just hoiked off with the lower half! Wouldn’t it have looked a bit better if the statue was a full man size - especially as he’s showing you the time with his sundial?
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 13:49
That’s how Newton liked to be remembered. He used to spend much of his day stood inside a waist-high square pillar, so most statues show him in that pose.
David | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 13:49
Re #1 & #2: He always did things the hard way! ;)
[Edited by commenter — 13:51]
meesh | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 14:44
re:#2…. so old Newty babes was a fore runner to the Darleks then?
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:11
Correct. In fact he theorised his first law after the motor and brakes in his roving pillar broke and he was unable to prevent himself from crashing into a nearby vending machine.
David | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:14
Re #4 & #5: ‘Tis true. And he trundled around the halls of Cambridge University screaming “Differentiate! Differentiate!” in a strange, electronic voice. [For everyone else, that’s a calculus/Doctor Who joke, and not a very funny one at that.]
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:18
*groan*
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:19
Incidentally that’s the first time I’ve used the whole asterisk thing to indicate a non-verbal action.
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:21
I’d best *grin* now aswell, as for every action there’s an equal and opposite reaction.
[Edited by commenter — 16:25]
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:21
Sorry.
David | 2004 / 10 / 18 – 16:24
Re #9: You’ve got to come up with a 2nd Law gag now to complete the set. *indicates the extension of a challenge with subtle raising of eyebrows*
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 08:22
Given the decrease in velocity of gags since yesterday, I think I’d have to force it too much to crack a suitably weighty joke.
David | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 09:32
This weekend I’m going to watch Nightmare On Elm Street 2–5, go to Church, read the paper, go to my amateur dramatics class, explore the space underneath my house, and finally, deliberately ignore someone.
In other words:
Four sequels, Mass, Times, act, cellar, a shun.
[I’ll get my coat…]
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 09:41
Bravo.
Brown | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 09:50
Re #13: Only if mass is constant.
David | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 10:44
Re #15: Yep, every Sunday, always the same old stuff.
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 12:11
Ha ha ha. I love Physics jokes - on one level they require intelligence and humour, on the other hand they make you seem a complete git. I assume everyone knows the Heisenberg one?
David | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 12:38
Re #17: You mean the one that ends, “No, but I can tell you exactly where I am.”?
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 13:13
That’s the one. Genius.
David | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 13:17
Re #19: No, I’ve never heard it. ;)
the manly smell | 2004 / 10 / 19 – 14:12
I’m sure that with you’re cerebral prowess you can work it out from the punchline ;)
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