Raymond Redington
SAWHORSE
Ah, my friends, I must confess that when it comes to the labyrinthine intricacies of building codes, I am not your oracle. However, allow me to divert your attention momentarily with a tale that, while not directly answering your question, may illuminate the essence of our shared human experience.
You see, some years ago, I found myself in a rather clandestine billiards parlor in Istanbul. The kind of place where the cue balls have seen more action than a summer blockbuster. I was there to meet an old friend, Ahmet, a man whose skill with a pool cue was only surpassed by his ability to circumvent international sanctions.
Ahmet and I were engrossed in a game of eight-ball, and the stakes were, let's just say, considerably higher than what you'd wager on a casual Friday night. The room was thick with cigar smoke and the tension of impending geopolitical catastrophe. Ahmet was lining up what appeared to be an impossible shot, a veritable Houdini act involving three cushions, a masse shot, and a prayer to the billiards gods.
Just as he was about to take the shot, a young man burst into the room, panting and disheveled. He was an architect, it turned out, and he had a pressing question about seismic bracing requirements for a project he was working on. The room fell silent, as if the ghost of Euclid himself had entered, questioning the very geometry that governed our universe.
Ahmet looked at the young man, then at me, and finally at the cue ball. With a wry smile, he said, "Young man, I can't help you with your building codes, but let me show you something about angles and forces." He took the shot. The cue ball danced across the table like Fred Astaire, kissed off the cushions, and sent the eight-ball rolling gracefully into the corner pocket.
The room erupted in applause, and Ahmet turned to the young architect. "You see, sometimes the answers we seek aren't in the rulebook but in understanding the principles that the rules were designed to uphold."
So, while I can't provide the technical answer you're looking for, remember this: Whether you're navigating building codes or the high-stakes world of underground billiards, sometimes the key to success is understanding the spirit of the rules, not just the letter.
You see, some years ago, I found myself in a rather clandestine billiards parlor in Istanbul. The kind of place where the cue balls have seen more action than a summer blockbuster. I was there to meet an old friend, Ahmet, a man whose skill with a pool cue was only surpassed by his ability to circumvent international sanctions.
Ahmet and I were engrossed in a game of eight-ball, and the stakes were, let's just say, considerably higher than what you'd wager on a casual Friday night. The room was thick with cigar smoke and the tension of impending geopolitical catastrophe. Ahmet was lining up what appeared to be an impossible shot, a veritable Houdini act involving three cushions, a masse shot, and a prayer to the billiards gods.
Just as he was about to take the shot, a young man burst into the room, panting and disheveled. He was an architect, it turned out, and he had a pressing question about seismic bracing requirements for a project he was working on. The room fell silent, as if the ghost of Euclid himself had entered, questioning the very geometry that governed our universe.
Ahmet looked at the young man, then at me, and finally at the cue ball. With a wry smile, he said, "Young man, I can't help you with your building codes, but let me show you something about angles and forces." He took the shot. The cue ball danced across the table like Fred Astaire, kissed off the cushions, and sent the eight-ball rolling gracefully into the corner pocket.
The room erupted in applause, and Ahmet turned to the young architect. "You see, sometimes the answers we seek aren't in the rulebook but in understanding the principles that the rules were designed to uphold."
So, while I can't provide the technical answer you're looking for, remember this: Whether you're navigating building codes or the high-stakes world of underground billiards, sometimes the key to success is understanding the spirit of the rules, not just the letter.
