Reader Does the Math

Blog reader Tony M. sent a comment regarding a betting pool in last week’s Buzz column. From last week’s edition:

Blog staffers started a betting pool on how far the float will travel along the Rose Parade route before something major goes wrong. Given the weight of the gigantic tub, some predict it will move downward (but not forward), sinking a foot or two into the ground as the road beneath it collapses. Given the slosh factor, some predict the water will reach the finish line at least an hour ahead of the float.

Tony wrote: “I think I read in the information about the float that the size of the tank would put the weight of the water at 10 tons. According to my calculations, the weight of the water would be 74 tons. Either way, I’ll take the ‘unders’ on the distance traveled forward before something major goes wrong.”