That's still not mass-market tourism, but the region's growing attraction has evoked howls from some quarters.

FORBES: Go with the Floe

The boardwalk is the obvious draw, a tourist attraction stretching about four miles along the coast with a diverse mass of humanity -- rich and poor, young and old, black and white, families and miscreants -- tromping up and down the wooden slats.

BBC: Atlantic City��s fading boardwalk empire

The coil is suspended in an external magnetic field and the current running through it adjusted so that the attraction between the two magnets balances the gravitational force on the suspended mass.

ECONOMIST: Weighing a kilogram

The internet has done a good job of harnessing the public as voters for things like motel rooms, and I use TripAdvisor, Yelp, and similar mass-participation ratings when trying to find out if a budget hotel is habitable or if a local attraction is worthwhile.

FORBES: Finally, An Online Sports Gear Review Site That's Critical and Expert