Areas of Unrest

QOTD: "It is one thing to praise discipline, and another to submit to it." - Miguel de Cervantes

Reading: Angela Nissel, The Broke Diaries

Listening to: nothing

Decluttering accomplishments: threw out some old college notes

30 May 2002 - Two Ideas

It's really a pity that I don't rule the universe, because I would do so well at it. Today, I happened to mention an idea I've had for a long time to a few friends and it was widely acclaimed. Namely, I have a proposal for a new constitutional amendment. In order to be president of the United States, one should be required to be able to pronounce the word "nuclear" correctly. It really isn't very difficult, and I cringe whenever I hear someone say "nu-cue-lar" instead of "nu-cle-ar."

My other brilliant idea of the day came to me as a result of being awakened from an early evening nap by yet another bloody telemarketer. At least, I assume it was a telemarketer, as there was no response to my hello when I finally got to the phone. But being awakened by telephone rings is annoying even when it's someone you might otherwise want to talk to.

So it strikes me that it ought to be possible to develop a simple little nightcap with a sensor in it that would detect the brainwave patterns of a person and inhibit the phone from ringing when those patterns indicate sleep. You could even have a more sophisticated algorithm and check for brainwave patterns that indicate sexual activities. And, eventually, you could tie this into a caller id system that lets the phone ring if it's that sexy guy you've had your eye on, but not if it's your mother.

I expect that I will now be deluged with email from venture capitalists. But, remember. I will only accept a nuclear partnership.