a:=[["14","34",12.1","4.5"],["2","4","6","1.5"]]

how do I parse the data?  I came up with something but it seems quite bloated.

b:=map(a->[parse(a[1]),parse(a[2]),parse(a[3]),parse(a[4])],a)

Is there an easier way to parse the list without using map?  And if I use map, must I use the parse command on each position?

Just something simple.  What's the easiest way to seaparate a list into a list of xy points?

I had come up with 

with(plots);
with(plottools);
a := seq(sphere([1, 1, 1], 5*i), i = 0 .. 10);
b := seq(sphere([3, 3, 3], 5*i), i = 0 .. 10);
display({a, b}, insequence = true);
 

I'm trying to show a couple of expanding spheres but display doesn't seem to like objects with different coordinates.  I would like to try to see if display can do this.  Can it?  How would I use animate and plot3d instead in that case?

I'm not sure the simplest way to do this.  It's part of a larger project I'm attempting to do.  So initially what I want to do is animate a curve that starts at 0 (like an upside down parabola) and then increases in height to a maximum then back to zero. 

Something like this, so far I have it starting from 0 and going to 10.  I'd like it to go back to 0 but I'm not sure of the best way.

display(seq(plot((1/10)*(-x^2+10)*t, x = -10 .. 10, y = 0 .. 10), t = 0 .. 10), insequence = true)

I want to smooth the data but retain the shape. Here is a smaller set of points for an example.

with(plots):
a := [[1, 1], [3, 2], [3.5, 4], [4, 6], [5, 5], [6, 7], [7, 6], [8, 5], [9, 5.5], [10, 4], [11, 1], [12, -5], [11.5, -6], [12, -12], [10, -10], [8, -14], [7, -10], [3, -10], [2, -5], [1, -8], [0, 0], [1, 1]];
lisplot(a);