Split-level + catenary Misu Misu cat has recently taken to resting in a "split-level" position (for explanation of "split-level", See below). Several mornings, when I come out of the bedroom, I have found Misu resting and watching at the top of the stairs that go down to the first-floor of the house, her front paws on the floor itself, and her body on the first step down, so that her head and front paws are a step higher than her rear end (animals generally have their front and rear paws at the same elevation/altitude). Something similar is seen in the above picture, where Misu's rear end is resting on top of the toaster oven, and her front paws on top of the coffee maker. The top of the coffee maker is 4+3/4 inches higher than the toaster oven, so we see Misu in a "split-level" position. In addition, here [unlike when Misu rests at the top of the stairs], there is a horizontal gap of 3+1/2 inches between the toaster oven and the coffee maker, so Misu's middle is hanging in air, i.e., in a catenary arc (for explanation of "catenary", See below). [As the picture suggests, Misu has a lot of "body" -- Misu is a big "pudge-ball".]   See:  "KilroyMisu was here" + A tisket, a tasket, Misu in yet another basket (May 2005)   http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/GO/catenary.html Copyright © 2005 Brad McCormick, Ed.D. bradmcc@cloud9.net (2006-03-19 ISO 8601) 19 March 2006 v01.05

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Split-level house (United States; ca. 1959)		I (BMcC) had my adolescence during the Split-level ethnological era of the United States (late 1950s, early 60s). This period was followed by the Raised-ranch age (the 70s and 80s). The Raised-ranch era was, in its turn, followed by the McMansion period, in which we are still living today (2005). In 1959, my parents almost bought a house that looked very similar to the picture at left, only "reversed" ("mirror image", "opposite handed"...), i.e., with the garage on the right and the living room and chimney on the left. They decided against that one and finally bought a different but still split-level house, in a "better development", including a full acre of grass to mow.		Raised-ranch house (United States; ca. 1980)

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A rope [rope bridge, etc.], hanging freely and held only at its two ends, forms a catenary arc.