parsha bit: Matot-Mas'ei

This week's parsha gives the command to set up cities of refuge to which an accidental killer may flee. These are ordinary cities, not penal colonies. Rambam says that each city must be "marketable" -- in an attractive location and with sufficient water resources. The cities must be set up to attract settlement in their environments. (Mishneh Torah, "On Homicide", 8:8)

interviewed by figmo

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on the lighter side...

But first, thanks to everyone for the comments about glasses on a prior post!

A "scientist" claims that if enough people on earth jump at precisely the same time, we can kick the planet into a better orbit (courtesy of a coworker). Excerpt: Niesward claims that on this day "Earth occupies one of the most fragile positions in its orbits for the last 100 years." According to the site [http://WorldJumpDay.org], the shift in orbit will "stop global warming, extend daytime hours and create a more homogeneous climate." It is, of course, a prank, but it sounds like it was well-done. It's also generated some counter-prank in the form of an anti-jump movement:

Members of the online environmental site treehugger.com have been debating not only the physical possibility of the jump's promise but the morality of its outcome. Some believe it's risky to alter Earth's orbit, while others fear the jump will make the Gregorian calendar obsolete because of the length of Earth's new orbit. Others doubt the ability of the world's population to synchronize an event like this.

(Well, I hope that anti-jumpers are doing this tongue in cheek; I'll admit I didn't follow it up. :-) )