It's August!   And, friends, we're a little bit behind the 8 ball this month. Our apologies for getting this issue to you a few days late. Some staff have been away on holidays (and may have indulged more than they should have); others are just about to leave for their summer retreat, but decided to start their vacation early. So, here's what the rest of the 'useless' staff have been able to cobble together: 

• Nick's Corner
• Roy's Corner 
• Olympic Commentary

Inside the Giant Cave (La Grotta Gigante) Photo © Nick Maiorano

Down, down, down, I went.  Deeper and deeper into the most magnificent and terrifying cave that I've ever seen. At the 101-meter point in this cold, subterranean world, I got to thinking about the circles of Dante's Inferno; I also briefly wondered if there was an elevator nearby. (Alas, none to be found). 

This summer, I learned so much during the one-hour descent and ascent of La Grotta Gigante. But one of the most interesting things for me was that there are two geodetic pendulums hidden in white vertical tubes (seen in the photo) that are fixed to the rock at the bottom of this cave. To this day these instruments are used to study movements of the Earth's crust. What's fascinating is that the discovery of the cave in 1840 by an explorer who was looking for fresh water, led to the development of this tectonic tool for detecting earthquakes. The "tiltmeters" in this cave are the only existing instruments to have recorded four out of the five major earthquakes in the past 50 years: Chile (1960 and 2010), Sumatra-Andaman Islands (2004), and Japan (2011).

I also learned that my skinny legs can still climb 500 steps. 

Who knew that Roy was moonlighting as a pineapple grower?  Photo © Roy Locascio.

This is my easy-peasy pineapple. I love pineapples, so one day I purchased one and decided to go on YouTube and watch a video about how to grow a pineapple myself.  I had no idea how simple it was!

If you twist the leaf portion in a circular motion, it will detach from the fruit.  Then, you peel the first three layers of leaves or frames off of the fleshy portion of the stem and fill a glass of water so that the stem sits in the glass and the water touches the fleshy portion and the exposed area that you created for the next few weeks. Replace the water every few days and make sure the water level stays the same. 

After 3-4 weeks, you will see the roots growing in the water.  Now you can plant it in a large planter or even a 5-gallon bucket. Just water it three times a week and in 10-14 months you will have an amazing pineapple. It's a bit of work, but the taste will blow away anything you can get at the market. 

The summer Olympics this year are - undoubtedly -  exciting to watch for their sports content. But, in our view, they also happen to be a smorgasbord of useless facts and trivia. Whenever we tune in to the special coverage, there are hundreds of unanswered questions that come to mind. Here are a few of them, followed by the answers:   

1. Do the gymnasts use plain old blackboard chalk when they 'chalk' their hands? Answer: It may look like chalk, but it's inorganic salt, magnesium carbonate.
2. What was the metal horse that galloped down the Seine River during the opening ceremonies made of?  Answer: aluminum shells, welded together and then covered with silver leaf
3. What is a zaganella technique? Answer: It's a way of adding micro sequins to a dress to create movement. It was used in the creation of Celine Dion's sparkly gown during the opening ceremonies. 
4. Why were Olympic surfers competing in Tahiti - 10,000 miles away from Paris? Answer: Tahiti is part of French Polynesia. It is an autonomous overseas country of the French Republic. It also has bigger waves. 
5. How much does an Olympic table tennis ball weigh? (Yes, this is an Olympic sport).  Answer: 2.7 grams (0.095 ounces).
6. The Olympic flame that burns in the cauldron isn't fire. So, what is it?  Answer: It's an illusion made of clouds of mist and beams of light. 
7. Who are the official mascots for the Games?  Answer: They look like little red blobs, designed to represent "Phrygian Caps".
8. What do Olympic medalists get, besides the medal? Answer: According to CNBC, several countries reward Olympic medalists with bonuses. Medalists from Kazakhstan get $250,000 and an apartment. South Korean men who earn a medal at the Olympics are exempt from mandatory military service. Hong Kong offers $768,000 for a gold medal and $192,000 for bronze. Olympic medalists from Indonesia got 5 cows, a meatball restaurant, and a new house.  
9. Which sport is debuting this year at the Olympics?  Answer:  Break Dancing (Breaking). The athletic dance style started on the streets of South Bronx in the 1970s.
10. Why is the Olympic pool in Paris shallower than the one used at the Games in Tokyo or Rio?  Answer: The Pool at La Défence Arena is 2.2m deep (7.2 feet), whereas the others were each 3.0m (9.8 feet) deep. The rules at the time the Olympics were awarded to Paris allowed for the difference. 

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