Howzabout…

In the world of credit cards, certain uncharacteristic behaviors will “red flag” transactions and prompt a service representative to contact the account owner to check that a purchase is authorized. This system is in place to help limit fraud and saves all consumers money in the lower rates it supposedly will allow. With the increasingly more affordable GPS devices, and ever more complex computer mapping functionality of various technology companies, a similar network could keep automobiles where they are meant to be by alerting owners when they stray beyond predetermined boundaries.

The Problem
Cars are often involved in the commission of crimes, but they rarely belong to the criminals, instead having been stolen shortly beforehand. Clandestine meetings are driven to by spouses on the sly, and rebellious teenagers go to forbidden locations to engage in questionable behavior.

The Opportunity
These instances and many more could be effectively limited if an early warning system of some sort were put into place.

The Insight
By putting electronic fail safes into the computer systems of new automobiles a sort of “dead man’s switch” could keep a car from going somewhere it ought not be.

The Execution
Allow user profiles to be loaded into on-board computers that set parameters of use and notification preferences that allow an “administrator” to OK use that is questionable, beforehand with a code of some sort, or on the fly when necessary after an alert has been issued.

The Selling Point
Greater ability for parents to monitor and limit the driving of minors, and issue drawing increasing attention due to the rise in fatalities in accidents with teen drivers.

The Incidental Benefits
Heightened safety for the general populace through a reduction of renegade criminal activity involving driving. An over ride could bring an immediate and safe end to high speed chases that create extraordinarily dangerous situations for innocent drivers.

11/20/2007

ATTN: Jeff Fisher
Tennessee Titans
Baptist Sports Park
460 Great Circle Rd.
Nashville, TN 37228

Dear Coach;

I know you are a member of the Competition Committee, so I figured it would do no harm to contact you. I have an idea for a simple, elegant improvement to the rules that I would like to share.

Instant replay is meant to be there to insure the right call is made, but the loop hole of the “once the next play happens you can’t throw the flag” nonsense cuts into that significantly. Last night I watched you waffle on the sidelines b/c you didn’t have the time to decide if a review challenge was warranted. Under the current system that should NEVER happen to a coach, a team, or a fan base. (Turned out the Broncos rendered that moot, but that instance is a perfect example b/c you were almost gypped out of 6 points!)

There is an easy fix for this: extra points don’t count as a play.

No need to change the rule, because that is already true! No time runs off the clock anyway, and there is always a commercial break after a touchdown. If they adjusted the rule so that a team had until the following kick off to challenge, then the decision of whether to contest a call or not could be an informed one and the rule would be more in keeping with the spirit of the system.

It won’t make games longer b/c the review could actually be taking place during the scheduled commercial. Go ahead and let the teams line up and kick the PAT, and if the on-field ruling of a score stands, then the result is recorded: it counts if it is good and doesn’t if missed. If the score is overturned, then it’s like that play never happened. No harm done either way. Who can argue against that obvious improvement?

Thanks for hearing me out. I hope you agree with me and are willing to propose the concept to the powers that be.

Sincerely,

Ken Head
kenhead@howzabout.org

PS - Field goals aren’t reviewable?! They’re a SCORING PLAY!! How do you stand it? That needs to be the next fix.

It has been a summer of unprecedented drought throughout the Southeastern United States this year, and about the only positive to come of it is a heightened awareness of just how wasteful we are when it comes to treated water usage. It is hard to blame someone for leaving the water running when they brush their teeth when water is a symbol for a limitless and free resource. But neither of those things are true, which got me to thinking…

The Problem
The pipes throughout the average home are a one-way path for treated water to the sewer system irrespective of the use it has seen. This standard needlessly causes much waste over time as homeowners wait for the water temperature to reach the desired level for bathing and hand washing.

The Opportunity
Construct homes with closed systems so that clean water would be recirculated without being used while it overcomes the drop in temperature that accompanies sitting in the pipes while not in use.

The Insight
The water from the hot water heater in a house can be brought to the desired faucet without first opening the tap, instead it can be circulated through the piping past that point until the water at the desired location has gotten warm enough for use.

The Execution
Install hydrothermostats in faucets and have them serve the same “pre-heat” function we already use when cooking with an oven. Once the water is hot enough the faucet can alert the user in some simple way.

The Selling Point
Water conservation. It has been postulated that humankind will run out of fresh water before food. (Sorry, no time to find a proper documentation to support this statement.)

The Incidental Benefits
It may be that having a constant circulation of water through the pipes (in the style of radiator heat systems) would bring down heating costs enough to offset the power used to drive pumps if the pipes and building materials used in the home were designed to lose heat in such a way as to warm the air when needed.