Slow going

I’m so lonesome I could cry: Although Lonesome George, the last Galapagos tortoise in the world, died in June, researchers are hopeful that by crossbreeding 17 other tortoises that have genetic material similar to George, they can resurrect his species. The only hitch is that the effort could take as long as 150 years.

And 50 years of that is just tortoise foreplay.

—

Beats Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride: The mayor of the New Jersey town of Seaside Heights is requesting permission from the Coast Guard to allow its partially submerged roller coaster, knocked off a pier during superstorm Sandy, to remain in place. The mayor believes the sunken coaster will make “a great tourist attraction.”

The Coast Guard is considering the request but has already determined that a sign must be posted that reads: “You must be able to hold your breath for 30 seconds to ride this coaster.”

—

Why is there newspaper on the floor? San Francisco has approved a change to its building code that will allow construction of apartments with as little as 220 square feet of space, basically allowing for a bathroom, kitchen and a living area 10 feet by 15 feet.

The “micro units” also will include an exercise wheel and a 20-gallon water bottle mounted to the apartment’s exterior.

—Jon Bauer, Herald staff