Earth’s equatorial diameter is 7,926 miles (12,756 km); its polar diameter is almost precisely 7,900 miles (12,714 km). (More specifically, Earth’s polar diameter is 7,899.806 miles (12,713.505 km), 1,024 feet (and a few inches) short of precisely 7,900 miles.) These two diameters differ by 26 miles (42 km); a difference of 0.330%. So, (very) strictly speaking, Earth is not a sphere but an oblate spheroid. An oblate spheroid can be thought of as a flattened sphere. To convey the concept, some illustrations greatly exaggerate this polar flatting and the attendant equatorial bulge. However, in reality any observer viewing Earth at a distance and from any angle will see what appears to be a perfect sphere.
The University of Texas vigorously defends its right to control the use of it’s signature color, usually referred to as burnt orange. They don’t own the term, but they will squash like a bug anyone, no matter how small, commercially using the defined color:PMS 1590, 65, 100, 9191, 87, 0#bf5700
Lawyers and color consultants can make good money on the small differences.
They also trademarked the silhouette head of a longhorn steer. Get anywhere close to it, and they will crush you and will nearly always win, since they have more money than all the gods of all known religions put together. ($271 million operating revenue on athletics alone, and over 200 patents each year, many very high tech indeed.) They also claim copyright of the words, Texas and Longhorns. Also the “Hook ’em Horns” (like the devil sign at AC/DC concerts), litigation having involved its use both upward and down. (They own both.) They did have to give on one item to avoid a costly legal war. They and the University of Tennessee share use of the interlocking UT logo.
cmxx 20 days ago
Stupid indeed, Mr. Alien. A circle isn’t a sphere, and a square pyramid isn’t a triangle.
John Lustig (Last Kiss) creator 20 days ago
Oh, don’t be such a square!
clearskies000 20 days ago
Don’t give Apple ideas, they already have a patent on the rectangle (USD670286S1) ;)
The Reader Premium Member 20 days ago
I got the patent on patents!
fencie 20 days ago
Pam, he’s telling you a patent lie!
Alabama Al 20 days ago
Earth’s equatorial diameter is 7,926 miles (12,756 km); its polar diameter is almost precisely 7,900 miles (12,714 km). (More specifically, Earth’s polar diameter is 7,899.806 miles (12,713.505 km), 1,024 feet (and a few inches) short of precisely 7,900 miles.) These two diameters differ by 26 miles (42 km); a difference of 0.330%. So, (very) strictly speaking, Earth is not a sphere but an oblate spheroid. An oblate spheroid can be thought of as a flattened sphere. To convey the concept, some illustrations greatly exaggerate this polar flatting and the attendant equatorial bulge. However, in reality any observer viewing Earth at a distance and from any angle will see what appears to be a perfect sphere.
My First Premium Member 20 days ago
Wait till he spills hot McDonalds coffee on his lap. Another personal injury lawsuit.
BJDucer 20 days ago
Maybe if I hurry I can get a patent on the square and the cube!
Slowly, he turned... 20 days ago
Aliens get more like Americans every day.
fjc007 20 days ago
Patent trolls are now coming in from all over the universe.
Gent 20 days ago
Oh yeah? Earthleengs is has patent on aliens.
ksu71 20 days ago
Does anyone here understand the difference between plane and solid geometry?
baskate_2000 20 days ago
Stupider and stupider.
jsimpso1 20 days ago
Reminds me of The Hudsucker Proxy “It’s for kids!”
MeGoNow Premium Member 20 days ago
The University of Texas vigorously defends its right to control the use of it’s signature color, usually referred to as burnt orange. They don’t own the term, but they will squash like a bug anyone, no matter how small, commercially using the defined color:PMS 1590, 65, 100, 9191, 87, 0#bf5700
Lawyers and color consultants can make good money on the small differences.
They also trademarked the silhouette head of a longhorn steer. Get anywhere close to it, and they will crush you and will nearly always win, since they have more money than all the gods of all known religions put together. ($271 million operating revenue on athletics alone, and over 200 patents each year, many very high tech indeed.) They also claim copyright of the words, Texas and Longhorns. Also the “Hook ’em Horns” (like the devil sign at AC/DC concerts), litigation having involved its use both upward and down. (They own both.) They did have to give on one item to avoid a costly legal war. They and the University of Tennessee share use of the interlocking UT logo.
ChessPirate 20 days ago
Intel tried to Copyright the number “586”, but failed, so they invented the word “Pentium”…
darcyandsimon 20 days ago
Next thing ya know, they’re gonna go after copyright…
eb110americana 20 days ago
This comic is “shaping up” to be a lot of nonsense.
mistercatworks 20 days ago
Isn’t this joke basically stolen from yesterday’s strip? :)
cuzinron47 20 days ago
That scam has been done to death.
Mike Baldwin creator 20 days ago
Smart! All the other shapes are too intellectually challenging.
Cactus-Pete 19 days ago
Stupid alien – the earth isn’t a circle (or sphere). You just have to look at it to see that.
Nick Danger 17 days ago
Fortunately, the Earth’s actual shape is an oblate spheroid, so we scrape by on a technicality.