Traveling equator to pole on a rotating sphere, I expected maximal Coriolis force (and more tornadoes) at 45 degrees latitude. But with d latitude/dt = c, I got maximal |acceleration| at the endpoints, except constant |acceleration| if c = w/sqrt(2), where w = Earth's angular velocity (d longitude/dt). Subtracting out the normal (local vertical) component introduces the expected extremum, but at latitude 2 2 c 1 asin sqrt(---- + -) 2 2 w instead of asin sqrt 1/2. Does this sound right? --rwg (DISTINGUISHEDLY THINLY-DISGUISED) Minor paradox: It gets too hot to mine about two miles deep. Even the Antarctic icecap melts underneath. But it's near freezing six miles deep in the ocean. My laser shop claims to have a 55,000 psi waterjet. That's 24 miles deep in a hypothetical ocean. Few materials could contain such pressure, let alone create it. Wouldn't rocks 24 mi underwater turn to mush from effects tending to change their surface area? Or would the water turn solid?