🚀 go-pugleaf

> How about pulling a piece of string taut?  Won't that give a straight line?

	"There is no force, however great,
	 can stretch a cord, however fine,
	 into a horizontal line
	 that is accurately straight."

Well, I couldn't resist.  The above is an unintentional poem that someone
found in a textbook a few decades ago, after which it eventually found its
way into Martin Gardner's column.  I don't remember the specifics.  I do
remember that the author was not amused, and changed the wording in the
next edition of the textbook.

A folded piece of paper can make a decent straightedge, though this is
obviously not a practical solution for longer distances, or if a high
degree of accuracy is required.
-- 
Mark Brader 		"Oh, especially if it's accurate. There's nothing worse
utzoo!sq!msb		 than *accurate*, ill-informed, irresponsible press
msb@sq.com		 speculation."  -- Sir Humphrey ("Yes, Prime Minister")

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