I learned two interesting things sitting in class today. First, did you know that UPS uses GPS software to calculate their routes to include only right turns? That's right, UPS trucks do not take left turns. The thought behind it is to eliminate wait time. Left turns require waiting at stoplights and waiting on other cars. UPS claims that their trucks drive 28.5 million less miles per year by eliminating left turns from their routes. I think thats crazy. Now I just have to figure out how to get to school and back every day without any left turns...I think it can be done.
The second thing I heard was that Niagara Falls is cut off at night. Now I've seen the falls myself and I had a hard time believing that was possible, so of course I had to see what Google thought about the situation. It turns out they actually do reduce the water flow by 50% at night during tourist season (April 1st to October 31st). The rest of the year it is kept at 50% 24 hours a day. The reason is that the hydro authorities use the water that would typically flow over the falls to produce hydro generation. During the tourist season they pump water into huge reservoirs at night so they can continue to generate power during the day. I think it's insane that people can have so much control over Niagara Falls; to reduce 50% of the flow!
This is the kind of knowledge you get by paying attention in a senior seminar graphics class. Just to think, they told me it would pay off and I didn't believe them. Shame on me.
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