A list of curious facts
One: The basketball courts of the future will be made of glass that is way stronger than hardwood and more resilient. But the best part—for coaches and advertisers—the LED surface can be redesigned with a swipe on an iPad. So you could sign your name right across the surface—like Niels Giffey of Bayern Munich—which already has a glass court:
Below’s a good example of the very cool ways coaches could use this interactive floor. (Associated Press)
Two: Did you know that it costs a minimum of $76,000 to even be eligible to own a car in Singapore? That’s the price of a 10-year Certificate of Entitlement—required to buy just a small to medium-sized engine of 1,600cc or less. SUVs will set you back by $106,630. The price tag has jumped 4X since the pandemic. What this means: The average household—which makes $7,376 a month—can’t afford a car even in a wealthy nation like Singapore. OTOH, there aren’t many traffic jams. (CNN)
Three: The wastewater treatment plant in Arklow is supposedly the “world’s most beautiful sewage facility.” The “cathedral of crap” on the edge of the Irish Sea cost €139 million. It is a magnificent architectural solution to a stinky, shit-infested local river that violated EU codes. As per The Guardian: “Its inspiration was Sydney Opera House and its paper-thin louvre windows are reminiscent of a luxury ocean-liner.” Well, it certainly looks quirky—if not quite the ‘temple of turds’.
Bonus fact: We leave you with a story of true resilience:) The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is home to 34 elephants rescued or rehomed from circuses, movie sets or private owners. Its most famous resident is Shirley. She was captured in Sumatra back in 1948 and forced into a world travelling circus. Shirley survived being kidnapped by Fidel Castro’s men, a shipwreck off Nova Scotia and a highway crash—only to end up as the only, very lonely elephant at a Louisiana zoo. Luckily, after 20 years of isolation, she was rescued and spent the rest of her 72 years with her adopted herd in Hohenwald. Below is an Emmy winning short documentary on her story. Yes, we’re crying.
