“A mobile phone-sized printer designed to spit out specific messages could free both the email-obsessed and the technologically tentative from their fears.”

Now THIS looks like a cool invention. Why can’t there be a small printer that’s about this size that would spit out things on a ticker tape, similar to the receipt you get at a self-serve pay-at-the-pump? That would be so much easier. This goes along with a series I’ve been meaning to do: things that need to be invented.

The first came to me last night while in the shower. “Self,” I said to myself. “Why are we still using these archaic temperature control knobs to regulate water temperature?” So I says to myself again, “I know what we need: COMPUTERS.”

Basically my idea is simple: utilizing existing tankless hot water heater technology (which are genius in and of themself: hot water on-demand and a limitless supply of it), there would be a digital, waterproof control panel (similar to the panel on an oven that I use at work) where different people could program their own shower or bath settings. This is mainly for water temperature regulation; the control panel would read “ok, it’s Tim. He has programmed his shower to be 110 degrees. Here it is!” and you’d NEVER have to fiddle with the shower again! There would of course be a safety in it to prevent the temperature from going any higher than say, 230 degrees (Fahrenheit) (I’m proud — I spelled that correctly on the first attempt! GO ME).

So don’t steal my idea, but if you do, please send me one of these gizmos.

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I saw this article on digg and my first thought was “wow, this is pretty cool. What not to eat over your keyboard.” But then it turns out that the list is totally lame! I mean, come on, rice krispies? There are way worse foods than Rice Krispies to eat over your keyboard, such as:

tacos
hoagies
philly cheesesteaks
donut burgers
soup
fried chicken
buffalo wings
sheep*
sugar
all chinese food

Please, feel free to add to this. There are many, many things that are worse to eat over a keyboard than rice. Who eats plain rice, much less over your keyboard?

*wolves only

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Did you watch the Transformers or the Gobots in the 80’s? Who cares if you didn’t, these robots are lame, and as an 8-year old I don’t think I exactly realized just how lame the transformer that changed into a microscope was.

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This dude decided to have a $39 experiement in which he mailed letters off to 100 companies basically asking for a free sample. Some said yes, some never wrote back and others flat out refused. His letters are pretty funny. This is a great hobby of mine, except I love writing letters of complaint more. Check this one out:

Dear Sir or Madam:
I am a gum addict. I have tried every flavor of gum made, and nothing compares to your Eclipse “Cherry Ice”. Did you stop making that flavor? I’ve heard people say that it tastes like a cough drop to them – but I love the flavor. Please send me free samples of any and every single gum flavor you have and can send me. I love gum more than I can put into words. Remember that girl from Willy Wonka, always chewing gum? I put that girl to shame. Thank you.
Tom Locke, gum enthusiast

I have written to Wrigley’s complaining about this exact gum and I got free Lemon Ice in return! He got nothing! Also be sure and check out the Quiznos/Subway letters.

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