Michael Shields blogMichael Shields blogBecause you were wondering- (Found July 15, 2008 ) The Central Park Zoo has an Endless Pool for polar bears. I know what you are thinking: are polar bears the largest non-aquatic mammal that swims The answer appears to be no. According to the National Wildlife Federation, an adult bison can weigh 900 kg and is a good swimmer. An adult male polar bear would be large at 600 kg. What about the hippopotamus Adult hippos are much larger than bison, weighing up to 3,200 kg. Buoyant baby hippos are born underwater and nurse...http://www.msrl.com/blog/2006/03/10#big-swim Internet construction is complete- (Found July 15, 2008 ) According to a new ITU study, the major barrier to Internet expansion worldwide is not, at this point, getting it built out. Our research suggests that affordability and education are equally important factors. This is a significant finding. It says that the bulk of people who would and could benefit from Internet access, if it were available, already have access. In other words, future growth of demand will come from the long slow work of making the world wealthier and better...http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/12/01#done Children play the video games of the past- (Found July 15, 2008 ) Reviewers, aged 10 to 13, play video games of the Pong to Tetris era. Brian: What's this supposed to be EGM: Football. It's one of the first great portable games. Brian: I thought it was Run Away From the Dots. John: I don't see how this has anything remotely to do with football. EGM: Which team are you playing Kirk: The red lines. Tim: They could've just as easily called this game anything&151;Baseball, Bowling, Escape From the Monsters. EGM: Did you score Kirk: I bumped into a...http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/10/17#videogames Altoids revisited- (Found July 15, 2008 ) I had an idea the other day: Garlic Altoids! For better or for worse, it turns out they don&8217;t exist.http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/10/08#altoids2 Diamond signs- (Found July 15, 2008 ) Don Knuth says: During our summer vacation this year, my wife and I amused ourselves by taking leisurely drives in Ohio and photographing every diamond-shaped highway sign that we saw along the roadsides. (Well, not every sign; only the distinct ones.) For provenance, I also stood at the base of each sign and measured its GPS coordinates. This turned out to be even more fun than a scavenger hunt, so we filled in some gaps when we returned to...http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/10/03#diamond Ginger ginger ginger- (Found July 15, 2008 ) CVS doesn&8217;t carry them, they haven&8217;t been noted on Snackspot, and even the manufacturer&8217;s web page doesn&8217;t have any mention of them &8212; but thanks to Trader Joe&8217;s, I&8217;ve now obtained a box of Ginger Altoids. These are damn tasty! Very sharp, like Reed&8217;s Extra Ginger, and not too sweet. Much more successful than Cinnamon Altoids and, I think, possibly even better than the original. Go ginger go!http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/09/30#altoids Micropayments- (Found July 15, 2008 ) The Web-wide reticence among independent artists to actually hunker down and charge for material is because we know that if we did so, we wouldn't get fame or fortune. We'd get, at best, beer money and a clique. http:slumbering.lungfish.comindex.phpp=chargingpeople.1064271013http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/09/25#micropayments The best magic trick ever- (Found July 15, 2008 ) From Ricky Jay&8217;s book, Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women. During the performance of a stage illusion show, a magician requested the help of a volunteer from the audience. An unassuming fellow stood up and climbed onstage. The man was placed in a wooden box and the familiar sawing-in-half illusion commenced. The box was severed and each half separated to the delight of the audience. The halves were then pushed together and the volunteer restored. The...http://www.msrl.com/blog/2003/02/22#jay |