Supposing that's one thing, I suspect it's The Washington Monument. (The other obelisks I know are smaller.)
It is the Washington Monument. 555 ft. & 5 1/8 in. It is also the tallest structure in Washington D.C. and because of The Heights of Buildings act in 1910 capping the height of future structures in Washington D.C. to 160 ft., it will stay as the highest in our nations capitol.
Washington DC (with the Washington Monument) is not the only city that currently has an obelisk. Not counting little statue-sized things of 2 stories or less, name at least TWO cities that currently have obelisks, and name the obelisks, if possible. (I can name 4 off the top of my head.)
*checks* Yes, there's an obelisk there, and it's inside the city, so that counts.
Actually, there's a LOT of obelisks out there, and Cairo and Rome each are cities with several.
The ones I was thinking of originally were the ones called "Cleopatra's Needle" (despite having no connection to her), in the Vatican, London, and New York City. I was also thinking of "The Obelisk" (El Obelisco) in downtown Buenos Aires. It's around 1/2 the height of the Washington Monument. As it's in the middle of a city, it looks taller than it might if it was surrounded by empty space like the WM. There's plenty of other obelisks I had no idea existed, but I knew those 4 in particular. (I've seen the ones in DC and BA, Benny Hill sometimes mentioned the one in London, and "Babylon Mystery Religion", IIRC, made a big deal about the one in St Peter's Square.
So, having named 2 cities, George had the right answer, and George is up.
Current electrolytic methods allow aluminum to be manufactured economically, but when the Washington Monument was built, aluminum was as costly as silver.
The capSTONE of the monument weighs about 3000 lbs. but the aluminum cap at the very top weighs about 100 ounces. It cost $225 in 1884, or about $7200 in today's dollars. It was the largest single piece of cast aluminum up to that time.
FYI, the current price of aluminum is about one dollar per pound (enough to make 32 cans).
Recycling aluminum is important because separating aluminum from ore is a costly, difficult process, compared to the other metals. So recycling aluminum cans is a LOT more cost-effective than recycling other metals, which is why it's done a lot more than other metals. (Although recycling metals in general is a good idea.)
I suspect aluminum was chosen because of its properties concerning rust. It actually rusts so efficiently that the rust on the surface acts as a barrier to rusting farther down. If steel beams rust, they can collapse a bridge, but aluminum rusts on the surface and doesn't affect its structure. Further, to the casual eye, rusted aluminum looks the same as non-rusted aluminum.
Anthony Hopkins and Martha Stewart were an item, dating for about a year or so in 1990-91. Although probably not a power couple, what brought Martha Stewart to cut it off with Hopkins?
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GeorgeStGeorge
No. (Misread it.) George
WordWolf
Raf clears the table! (Been practicing billiards lately?) A) 1605 was the last time- before JP1- that there were 3 different Popes in the same calendar year. It has to coincide with the concl
Human without the bean
Don't forget about me Raf, I'm so petty too. From "Wildflowers" to "The Last DJ".
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Human without the bean
The hurricane that hit New Orleans maybe. Katrina. And by the way, George, is Pearland, TX., anywhere near the path of the latest hurricane?
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GeorgeStGeorge
It was the Hurricane of 1935. Hit the tip of Florida at about 185 mph.
FREE POST
George
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Human without the bean
Okay, I know you geeks know this, but let's give it a try anyway.
What is the tallest stone structure and obelisk in the world?
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WordWolf
Supposing that's one thing, I suspect it's The Washington Monument. (The other obelisks I know are smaller.)
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Human without the bean
It is the Washington Monument. 555 ft. & 5 1/8 in. It is also the tallest structure in Washington D.C. and because of The Heights of Buildings act in 1910 capping the height of future structures in Washington D.C. to 160 ft., it will stay as the highest in our nations capitol.
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WordWolf
Neat.
Because it's on my mind, the next question....
Washington DC (with the Washington Monument) is not the only city that currently has an obelisk. Not counting little statue-sized things of 2 stories or less, name at least TWO cities that currently have obelisks, and name the obelisks, if possible. (I can name 4 off the top of my head.)
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GeorgeStGeorge
I know there's one in Vatican City, but I can't think of another off the top of my head.
George
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WordWolf
There's at least 3 more.
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GeorgeStGeorge
Cairo?
George
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WordWolf
*checks* Yes, there's an obelisk there, and it's inside the city, so that counts.
Actually, there's a LOT of obelisks out there, and Cairo and Rome each are cities with several.
The ones I was thinking of originally were the ones called "Cleopatra's Needle" (despite having no connection to her), in the Vatican, London, and New York City. I was also thinking of "The Obelisk" (El Obelisco) in downtown Buenos Aires. It's around 1/2 the height of the Washington Monument. As it's in the middle of a city, it looks taller than it might if it was surrounded by empty space like the WM. There's plenty of other obelisks I had no idea existed, but I knew those 4 in particular. (I've seen the ones in DC and BA, Benny Hill sometimes mentioned the one in London, and "Babylon Mystery Religion", IIRC, made a big deal about the one in St Peter's Square.
So, having named 2 cities, George had the right answer, and George is up.
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GeorgeStGeorge
What is the top (pyramidal cap) of the Washington Monument made of?
Extra credit: why was this significant (for the time)?
George
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WordWolf
I think it's copper, but I'm neither sure it is, nor clear why this would matter.
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GeorgeStGeorge
It is not copper (or brass or bronze). If it were, it would have a green patina like the Statue of Liberty.
It's a common material today, but not so much in the late 1800s.
George
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WordWolf
Aluminum???
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GeorgeStGeorge
Yes!
Current electrolytic methods allow aluminum to be manufactured economically, but when the Washington Monument was built, aluminum was as costly as silver.
The capSTONE of the monument weighs about 3000 lbs. but the aluminum cap at the very top weighs about 100 ounces. It cost $225 in 1884, or about $7200 in today's dollars. It was the largest single piece of cast aluminum up to that time.
FYI, the current price of aluminum is about one dollar per pound (enough to make 32 cans).
George
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WordWolf
Recycling aluminum is important because separating aluminum from ore is a costly, difficult process, compared to the other metals. So recycling aluminum cans is a LOT more cost-effective than recycling other metals, which is why it's done a lot more than other metals. (Although recycling metals in general is a good idea.)
I suspect aluminum was chosen because of its properties concerning rust. It actually rusts so efficiently that the rust on the surface acts as a barrier to rusting farther down. If steel beams rust, they can collapse a bridge, but aluminum rusts on the surface and doesn't affect its structure. Further, to the casual eye, rusted aluminum looks the same as non-rusted aluminum.
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WordWolf
New question, probably easy.
The original Olympics, of course, were in Greece. The modern Olympics were first held in what country?
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Human without the bean
You're right WordWolf, that is easy. It's the same country. Greece.
I've got something.
Edited by Human without the beanedited for reasons unknown
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GeorgeStGeorge
I think that was also Greece.
George
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Human without the bean
Oh George, you beat me again. I'm going edit mine now.
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Human without the bean
Or did I chime in first? Maybe then I am up.
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Human without the bean
Okay, now I think I'm up.
Anthony Hopkins and Martha Stewart were an item, dating for about a year or so in 1990-91. Although probably not a power couple, what brought Martha Stewart to cut it off with Hopkins?
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GeorgeStGeorge
He didn't like her cooking?
George
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Human without the bean
No. Something different.
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