Where Does The Inner Child Go To Play?

January 10, 2010 was the 9th Annual No Pants Subway Ride. This event originated in New York City and has spread to about 43 cities in 16 countries. All one has to do to participate in the event is ride a subway with a straight face and no pants. In NYC approximately 3,000 participated. In San Diego, a first-time participant in 2010, there are no subways. Instead, approximately 35 people rode pantless on trolleys from 2 to 5 pm. Although one might think these people must have had something better to do, they definitely weren't being "slackers".

January 12, 2010 may have been the first and last British Bobbie Slide. After being caught on video and shown on YouTube, some officers in Oxford, England were reprimanded by their superintendent for taking advantage of the unusual snow and using their riot shields to slide down a hill. The man who shot the video was surprised by the officers' behavior because he thought they were going to reprimand him for sliding down the hill on a kayak. For those who think the British are rigidly reserved people, the answer is obviously - snow.

January 29, 2010 billionaire Richard Branson of Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic Airways unveiled his underwater plane, "Necker Nymph". Two riders and a pilot can fly underwater in the Caribbean Sea for 2 hours at a speed of 2 to 5 nautical mph and reach a depth of more than 100 feet. An open cockpit provides a 360-degree view. Riders must follow SCUBA procedures, wear a mask when underwater and be trained as or accompanied by a certified pilot. One week's use of the Nymph costs $25,000 plus another $300,000 for a one-week stay on Necker, Branson's private island. It's an underwater vacation that might require floating a loan.

In the summer of 2010 the manufacturer of the colorful building blocks for children is introducing a new line of toys - board games. Lego, which means "play well" in Danish, started in the 1930's in a carpenter's workshop in Billund, Denmark. In spite of the 2009 recession, sales rose 30%, with the company controlling about 4% of the U.S. toy market. The board games - which will cost between $10 and $35 - are designed to test children's memory and logical skills. Parents' trust of classic toys and their sense of nostalgia are Lego's building blocks for future success.