The Low-Tech Times

My wife and I went on vacation last year to New York.  Seeing Niagara Falls was certainly a highlight of the trip.

One interesting tidbit about Niagara Falls is that the first suspension bridge across the river was built with the aid of a kite.  Kitelife.com describes the situation:

Back in 1848 the first suspension bridge to span the Niagara Gorge was being planned. The problem of the day was trying to get the first steel cables across the very fast and dangerous river below. It was decided that the easiest solution was to hold a contest. The first person to get a kite across the gorge would win a cash prize. The kite line could then be used to haul over heavier and heavier lines till eventually a steel cable could be pulled across. The contest was a huge success as many people showed up for a chance to win a prize. In the end it was a fifteen year old American boy named Homan Walsh that got that first kite across the falls.

[Cross-posted at Olddominionwildlife.com]

As a former ultramarathon runner, I found this article in Discover magazine of interest:

Born To Run

 

Biomechanical research reveals a surprising key to the survival of our species: Humans are built to outrun nearly every other animal on the planet over long distances.

But of course, sometimes a horse wins.