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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 4:29 am Post subject: devices with mirrors |
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Dear teachers:
Galileo's contemporaries refused to look through his telescopes, no doubt in part because they believed that it was some kind of trick, producing an image of what was not there as *devices with mirrors* were known to do.
Are "devices with mirros" toys? Do they have other names?
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Bob S.

Joined: 29 Apr 2004 Posts: 1767 Location: So. Cal
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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The only one I can think of is a kaleidoscope, though I don't know if the invention is as old as Galileo. Perhaps there was a similar toy available in Italy at the time. (Venice is known for its glasswork afterall.) |
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toe
Joined: 12 Jun 2005 Posts: 120 Location: michigan, usa
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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There's also the expression, "It's done with mirrors."
This refers to the idea that something is not really true, it's just a trick.
For instance, a magician will pretend to make someone disappear, or pretend to cut someone in half, when in fact it's all just an illusion. It only "appears" that he cut them in half or made them disappear. Usually those type of tricks are done with mirrors----how, I don't know! Maybe they used to be done with mirrors somehow. But it has become this phrase now, to explain the unexplainable, usually in a cynical or sarcastic way.
"How did he do that?" Marvin asked, incredulous that Harry landed the new account all by himself.
"Mirrors," Zelda deadpanned.
?? Make sense?
Toe |
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river1974
Joined: 20 May 2003 Posts: 525 Location: Taiwan
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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"How did he do that?" Marvin asked, incredulous that Harry landed the new account all by himself.
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Thank you both. Does "landed" here mean "got"? |
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bud
Joined: 09 Mar 2003 Posts: 2111 Location: New Jersey, US
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Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject: |
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Yes. |
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