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By The Numbers

#OscarsSoNotWatched

Tobin Low Feb 29, 2016

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to retire your gifs and memes about Leonardo DiCaprio losing at the Oscars (he finally won, you guys). Here are some need-to-know numbers for today.

via GIPHY

While Sunday may have been a good time for Leo, it wasn’t as much for the Oscars. The event saw its lowest ratings in eight years, declining 6 percent in viewership from last year. This year’s awards were troubled well before hitting the airwaves, as the #OscarsSoWhite movement called into question its nominating policy that shut out actors of color. As Deadline notes, the ceremony was also uncontested in terms of live, broadcast television events, which doesn’t bode well for how poorly it performed.

But the Academy isn’t the only organization worried about low numbers. The Alaska Zoo, for example, has trouble bringing in visitors in the cold months of winter. But fear not. Caribou ribs to the rescue. For $200, visitors can get one-of-a-kind experiences like feeding caribou ribs to packs of wolves, and more. It’s part of an effort to bring in visitors during notoriously slow periods. The winter months cause a lot of interesting challenges to the zoo’s staff: Namely, animals like bears go into hibernation. Not much to look at there.

In contrast, the Microsoft HoloLens augmented reality headset will be a lot to look at. Now available for preorder, the technology projects displays onto the wearer’s surroundings. It’ll cost you, though. As BBC Tech writes, you’ll pay $3000 for a set.

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