FLATTENED, not FLAT

I believe it's about damn time for a new "Fact of the Day." I'm still getting a "new" text message each day. I say "new," but I've actually received a surprising number of duplicates. You'd think they'd be able to find SOME sort of meaningless drivel on a daily basis without repeating themselves (and meaningless drivel it typically is), but apparently the "Fact of the Day" think-tank could use a little help. Interestingly, I've seen the "elementary rule of mushroom collecting" fact at LEAST three times since I've been a FOTD subscriber. Do people really need to be reminded of this - oh, shall we say a simple issue of common sense - so often? PEOPLE, use caution with your fungi, for crying out loud!

Here is a new NEW fact:

Maybe they weren't that off in the olden days, after all. No, the world is not FLAT, but it is FLATTENED at the poles - Close enough.

Whether flat or round (but DEFINITELY bulging at the equator - aren't we ALL - well, actually I am much more of a pear, so perhaps in planetary terms that makes me a gourd-like spheroid? I don't know a cool and scientific way to say "far more bulbous on the lower half."). I just like saying "oblate spheroid." Try it. "Oblate spheroid." "Oblate spheroid?" "OBLATE SPHEROID!" It sounds nearly vulgar and threatening, with the flavor (a soupcon, shall we say) of some medical condition.

"He has an acute oblate spheroid with the expected pulmonary complications. I'm so sorry."

See? OBLATE SPHEROID!!!

soupcon.