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It is relatively easy to annotate an
invention once it is posted. It is more
challenging, perhaps, to annotate first
and
invent second.
In the interests of experimental creative
reverse-causality, I suggest that we
annotate a yet-to-be created idea. There
are only two rules:
[EDITED]
1)
The annotations must be copied-and-
pasted from other ideas.
2) One week from today, any interested
bakers can post their emergent ideas, in
the form of a long anno.
3) No points will be awarded, but the
moral high-ground goes to the baker
whose invention most ingeniously
reflects all of the foregoing annotations.
Hey, this is the first link !
http://www.msss.com...ges/moc/2004/03/01/
Propontis [normzone, Jul 08 2007]
the other Propontis
http://en.wikipedia...wiki/Sea_of_Marmara
[pertinax, Jul 08 2007]
[link]
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Why must the annotations be copied from other ideas? |
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Also, this requires the "idea" part of the page to be annotable by all members (which in itself is kind of a cute idea as an option) |
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1) Because it is more fun that way. |
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"Have you tried a piece of string? Like people use with dripping faucets?
Galbinus_Caeli, Mar 08 2007" |
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Sounds like a "Whose Line Is It Anyway" game. Fun! |
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(+) The crevice tool really makes this one.
(jutta, Mar 07 2007) |
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Harvesting is not such a bother. All it takes is wearing a plastic glove on one of the hands. (Pericles, Feb 18 2003) |
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from the mfd help file under attempt to
create a list : "list - the invention itself is a
conversation game that is played in the
annotations" |
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[Brau] and [Xen] point taken, so [marked-
for-deletion] it is. Is it traditional for the
inventor to perform the coup-de-grace, or
a moderator? |
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While this idea as posted is a list, I think applying this way of sparking creative new ideas, i.e. reading several annos at random from several random ideas and then thinking of an invention that they would all fit, is a promising approach. I'm going to try it. So thanks for that idea, [Max]. |
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I'd leave this one to the moderators...
it's not such a bad idea, so it may get to
stay (camera pans to Jutta's or other's
hovering finger twitching over the "keep
or dump" button) |
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I'm fine with this idea staying here as a suggestion.
If this became a regular halfbakery parlour game that people actually played, I'd kindly ask the players to move elsewhere and to just get back to the site with those of their creations they find interesting in themselves, as inventions, not just as feats of interconnection. |
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I think, on balance, I can see this isn't
really an invention per se, and that as a
game it doesn't really belong here, so I'll
delete a little later today. |
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Max, don't delete this one just yet, I think its worth seeing what comes out of it once. The idea is in fact an idea and I think a fun idea at that. It is kind of like half-bakery jeopardy. I actually have an idea for the three posted annos. I don't think it falls under the list category just the playing of the game does. |
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Reminds me of the "cut up" method for song writing - which, while fun here, I abhor musicians using. |
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[great invention, really! can we have a cross-platform .so file for linux too, I hate it i cannot use all those intersting emails some people send me] |
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OK - with Jutta's indulgence I'll leave
this here for the week, and say that I'm
happy for Jutta to delete it once it has
run its course, or before. On that basis,
I propose that we start afresh in earnest
beneath this line (earlier annotations
reposted): |
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------------------------------ |
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"Have you tried a piece of string? Like
people use with dripping faucets?
Galbinus_Caeli, Mar 08 2007" |
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(+) The crevice tool really makes this
one. (jutta, Mar 07 2007) |
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Harvesting is not such a bother. All it
takes is wearing a plastic glove on one
of the hands. (Pericles, Feb 18 2003) |
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<aside> Franks, Thank - inspired and
inspiring. But the idea was
to let a week's worth of annotations
accumulate... |
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"I'd buy one. I currently have about 1.25
tonne of confidential waste in storage,
awaiting the day I have enough to get it
picked up and shredded for free. My
shredder died of overwork.
[UnaBubba, Jul 25 2002]" |
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I'm going to have to say (-). What mr Bean
did to Whistler's Mother made me wince so
badly. [madradish, Feb 20 2003] |
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Gotta have a flying mermaid on the front of that cart. (thumbwax, Jul 22 2002) |
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Finally, something to do with my fondue
machine! [nick_n_uit, Jun 14 2001] |
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+ I gave this a bun a few days ago, but failed to find a suitable anno to post, or rather, too many suitable annos. |
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// I think the key here is how you're going
to lock the balls in place. Any real ideas?
[DrCurry, Mar 25 2005] |
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//Attach oars to the cabin bulkheads, and give leather whips to the attendants...//
reensure, Oct 30 2000, "Non-flight simulator" |
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//*obligatory what-if-the-cat-gets-stuck
question* LoneRifle, May 14 2003// |
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<aside>If this were being played as a competitive game (I'm not suggesting we do this here, just mentioning it as an aside) it might enhance the game to have a 'challenge' option. On your turn, you would either add a new annotation to the list, or you would challenge your opponent to come up with an idea (within a set time limit) that fits all the annotations so far. That would end the string of annos at the ideal point (i.e. the very point where it's just now become impossible to come up with a suitable invention - or so it seems), whereas at the moment any number of annos could be added, making it ever more impossible to think of a suitable invention to fit them all. </aside> |
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That said, I've got a neat invention in mind at the moment, so carry on... |
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<also aside> True - that would be an
interesting extension. However, that
might work better if you had a finite
number of players. In this case, all
manner of flibberty-jibbets may be
dropping in and dropping out again. I fear
chaos would be the inquevicable result. </
aa> |
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<aside to also aside> perhaps the scoring of the invention should be based on how many annos it fits and how well it fits them</ataa> |
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<completely to one side> Jhomi, you
mean sort of like Rule 3, above ? <ctos> |
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//There's a place for it in most of the
world, as even those areas affected by
permafrost have normal, relatively
unchanging soil temperatures beneath the
permafrost layer.// [UnaBubba, Jul 13
2005] |
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You can't preserve it or unpreserve it or waste it or buy more or spill it on the cat.-lurch, Mar 14 2007 |
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//What a waste of ninjas. When's the killing start??? -- [simonj] Jul 06 2004// |
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<teetering on the edge of aside> I think I was thinking that if there were 20 annos and I could come up with a wiz bang idea to fit 15 of them that was much better than someone else's attempt to fit all 20 then i might be judged better. on the other hand a super great idea that only used 5 annos would have a long way to go. That make sense?</toteoa> |
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//What is a sphericon? -- [bungston], Feb 16 2005// |
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//Freeze-dried cat turds... |
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I reckon the world market for those would be about... oh, 5//
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<aside> Jhomi, I am sure that you will be
able to come up with an idea which
proflects all of the annotations perfectly
</a> |
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//So that's where all the fog comes from,
eh? 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Nov 03
2002// |
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If you can't handle the heat, then don't electrify your body for fun.
notmarkflynn, May 15 2006 |
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//Ducks? I think they like custard. Well,
who doesn't? [Worldgineer, Jun 05
2003]// |
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As per the invention as posted,
annotations are now closed. Ideas
(admittedly, posted as annotations) which
ingeniously reflect the foregoing
annotations are invited. |
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Here is a summary of the annos for the challenge. |
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"Have you tried a piece of string? Like people use with dripping faucets? Galbinus_Caeli, Mar 08 2007" |
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(+) The crevice tool really makes this one. (jutta, Mar 07 2007) |
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Harvesting is not such a bother. All it takes is wearing a plastic glove on one of the hands. (Pericles, Feb 18 2003) |
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"I'd buy one. I currently have about 1.25 tonne of confidential waste in storage, awaiting the day I have enough to get it picked up and shredded for free. My shredder died of overwork. [UnaBubba, Jul 25 2002]" |
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I'm going to have to say (-). What mr Bean did to Whistler's Mother made me wince so badly. [madradish, Feb 20 2003] |
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Gotta have a flying mermaid on the front of that cart. (thumbwax, Jul 22 2002) |
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Finally, something to do with my fondue machine! [nick_n_uit, Jun 14 2001] |
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delightful (benfrost, May 05 2005) |
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The calculations would appear to be simpler with a vertically-falling rodent. [Basepair] May 25 2005 |
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I think the key here is how you're going to lock the balls in place. Any real ideas? [DrCurry, Mar 25 2005] |
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Attach oars to the cabin bulkheads, and give leather whips to the attendants...reensure, Oct 30 2000, |
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*obligatory what-if-the-cat-gets-stuck question* LoneRifle, May 14 2003 |
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There's a place for it in most of the world, as even those areas affected by permafrost have normal, relatively unchanging soil temperatures beneath the permafrost layer. [UnaBubba, Jul 13 2005 |
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You can't preserve it or unpreserve it or waste it or buy more or spill it on the cat.-lurch, Mar 14 2007 |
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What a waste of ninjas. When's the killing start??? -- [simonj] Jul 06 2004 |
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What is a sphericon? -- [bungston], Feb 16 2005 |
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Freeze-dried cat turds... I reckon the world market for those would be about... oh, 5 |
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So that's where all the fog comes from, eh? 2 fries shy of a happy meal, Nov 03 2002 |
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If you can't handle the heat, then don't electrify your body for fun. notmarkflynn, May 15 2006 |
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Ducks? I think they like custard. Well, who doesn't? [Worldgineer, Jun 05 2003] |
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Ooh! I get to go first! This idea's a long one but the scheme it describes is simplicity itself: |
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Guano-Smuggling Ninja Pirates
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(Category = Business: Smuggling) |
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The problem with guano being a highly-prized, valuable resource is that people don't like you taking it. My team of ninja pirates, however, employ a unique and perfect method of stealing and smuggling guano. Here's how we do it: |
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A) Before Setting Sail: The ninja pirates take a suitably emblazoned cart around a port town, collecting waste paper. This, they load onto their ship. Already on board are a few dozen male cats, a flock of ducks, and a large number of lemmings. (If questioned before leaving port, the ninja pirates' cover story is that they have been commissioned to make papier-mâché using pure ocean water, and that the animals are their pets.) |
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B) Outward Voyage: Once the ship sets sail, the cats and lemmings are set to work shredding the paper into small pieces, while the ninja pirates sail the boat. (It would be good if the crew can keep an eye on the animals while they row, somehow, to make sure the animals don't slack off.) The paper scraps are then turned into papier-mâché, and sculpted into guano-like lumps, mounds, etc. (I'm sure there must be some simple way to encourage the papier-mâché to slowly drip into forming stalactites and other complex, natural-looking shapes - ideas?) |
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C) Guano-Stealing: The ninja pirates approach the shoreline at night. There are three stages to the guano-harvesting operation: |
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1. The trained ducks drop the lemmings on top of the cliffs. The lemmings' undersides have been coated with glue. As the lemmings run toward the edge of the cliff, they become heavily coated in guano. A net at the bottom of the cliff safely catches most of the lemmings (though calculating where to best position the net will be tricky, as it depends how fast the lemmings leap off the cliff). The ninja pirates scrape the guano off the lemmings and return them to their cages. |
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(We need strong ducks for this to work. I'm thinking of feeding them custard, but not sure if they like it. Also, is it easy to store custard on a ship full of lemmings and ducks and cats?) |
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2. The best-quality guano is often found in caves and crevices on the cliff. The lemmings can't reach these, so the ninja pirates use their special crevice-cleaning tools, otherwise known as cats. When released, the cats naturally scramble up the cliff-side, in the hopes of catching the lemmings at the top. Also glue-covered, the cats collect most of the guano from the nooks and crannies as they climb. Obviously, we can't afford to let the cats actually eat the lemmings. That's why each cat has a long rope tied securely to its balls. When the ninja pirates see the cats nearing the top of the cliff, a sharp tug on the rope brings the cat falling down to the ground. Admittedly, the cats aren't too happy with this arrangement, so the ninja pirates have to be careful not to get scratched when they 'harvest' the guano by scraping it off the cats. |
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(One useful by-product of this process is the cat turds - most cats find being yanked off a cliff by their balls to be a somewhat terrifying experience, and react accordingly. These turds could perhaps be freeze-dried and sold separately.) |
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3. This last part is the smart bit. The ninja pirates themselves scale the now guano-free cliffs, and place papier-mâché where the guano was. The similarity in appearance between the papier-mâché and the guano itself means that the locals won't notice the guano's been stolen until the pirates are well away from the area. |
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D) Return voyage: On the way back, the guano is first purified by mixing it with water and letting it bubble away in fondue pots for a while. (If questioned about the fondue pots before setting sail, the pirates would have explained that they have so many fondue sets because custard fondue is their favourite meal.) This purifying process produces a lot of steam, which is handy since it conceals the pirate ship in a dense mist. |
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The purified guano-water mixture is just the right consistency to sculpt into papier-mâché-like sculptures. These can be either modern abstract sculptures like sphericons, or classical sculptures like the statue of David. However, most are sculpted into life-size statues of Mr. Bean. (I mean, everyone likes Mr. Bean, right?) Once lacquered and painted, no-one would know that these sculptures are in fact made from guano. |
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E) Back In Port: The sculptures of smuggled guano can be sold anywhere where there's dodgy people happy to buy smuggled guano. So basically, anywhere with soil that people might want to fertilise. |
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Yes, I admit this is a risky scheme. That's why we only hire highly-trained ninja pirates to carry it out. Anyhow, you know what they say: if you can't handle the heat... |
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I am awed! Imaginality is clearly in the
lead by virtue of having not only the only,
but also the best, entry so far. |
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The proposition you propound seems out
of proportion - I shall retract my
propodium, or perhaps retreat to
Propontis. |
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That's quite a trip you're proposing to Propontis (link). |
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I guess things go in phases - I've also
noticed the lack of serious ideas (or at
least seriously silly ones, which I like
best). Plus, I'm a
great believer in national (or
international, or community) moods.
Personal moods are (I think) inherently
chaotic; you might expect the mood of
a larger group to be more stable, but I
don't think it is: increased mass does
not confer greater stability. |
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Regarding this idea as a way to kickstart
inventions, I've sort of lost hope in it -
it wasn't as clever or fruitful as I'd
thought. |
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Don't worry - the system will swing into
interesting areas of its own accord, and
a kick is as likely to damp down the
oscillations as it is to accelerate them. |
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I'd like to nominate [imaginality]'s idea as Best Idea Ever in Any Category. Any chance of getting that into the Espys? |
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