Hubbard's E meter makes LIFE's list of dumbest ever inventions

Rrose Selavy · 12th October 2009, 08:32 AM

LRH decided he wasn't making enough money interviewing tomatoes so he later used it on humans.
http://www.life.com/image/76796742/i...umb-inventions

But why not get a deluxe Baby Cage for your precious little one ....?
http://www.life.com/image/3136964/in...umb-inventions

calebprime · 12th October 2009, 08:37 AM

These are great!

Piscivore · 12th October 2009, 08:50 AM

Wait, without the rocket belt and the flying platform, where would Johnny Quest be?

Also, the Illuminated Tires are just awesome.

Rrose Selavy · 12th October 2009, 09:06 AM

I just love this one

http://www.life.com/image/3092725/in...umb-inventions

Bikewer · 12th October 2009, 09:12 AM

Although some of these are a bit bizarre, others are merely ahead of their time. The "mini-TV" looks to be about the same screen-size as your average multi-media phone...

The shoot-around-corners attachment for the M3 submachine gun had a perfectly good military purpose, and all services had some version during WWII.

Cuddles · 12th October 2009, 09:17 AM

Hmm. Some of those are genuinely stupid, some could be considered stupid in the form presented but were simply ahead of their time, and some really aren't that stupid at all.

For example - rocket belt flying platform. May not have worked too well at the time, but personal jetpacks and the like are things still being actively worked on, and some don't work all that badly. The invention itself isn't stupid, they just didn't work all that well.

Mini TV. Is it even possible to buy a phone or media player without a mini TV built in to it any more? I guess it would be kind of stupid if it needed mains power rather than a battery, but the idea itself is hardly stupid.

External turkey roaster. This is pretty much what is used in every kebab house. Maybe a little inefficient and inelegant for home use, but again not really stupid.

TV glasses. What's stupid about that? Even in the form presented it seems a perfectly reasonable way to ~~give yourself eye cancer~~ avoid annoying other people who don't want to watch the same show. And in the modern form of HUD type things built in to glasses it's potentially very useful.

Cat-mew machine. I don't know if it actually works at scaring mice, but doesn't seem like such a stupid idea in principle, even if it doesn't work.

Birdman suit. They exist and work quite well. If the first ones weren't as successful that doesn't necessarily make them stupid. In fact, the one presented here worked. He died because the suit was damaged when he jumped out, not because there was anything wrong with it in principle.

Illuminated tyres. Now that is genius. I wonder where I can get some.

This is why I dislike lists of this kind. Sure, some of them are rather stupid ideas. But there are always plenty that turn out not to be stupid at all, and seem to reflect more on the intellect and imagination of the person criticising them rather than the person who invented them.

Olowkow · 12th October 2009, 09:21 AM

http://www.life.com/image/2661340/in...umb-inventions
Mythbusters tried this on their Ninja episode, and could not make it work. Adam wound up in the drink.

http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/walkin...de_recap;recap

Careyp74 · 12th October 2009, 09:39 AM

Originally Posted by Cuddles

Hmm. Some of those are genuinely stupid, some could be considered stupid in the form presented but were simply ahead of their time, and some really aren't that stupid at all.

For example - rocket belt flying platform. May not have worked too well at the time, but personal jetpacks and the like are things still being actively worked on, and some don't work all that badly. The invention itself isn't stupid, they just didn't work all that well.

Mini TV. Is it even possible to buy a phone or media player without a mini TV built in to it any more? I guess it would be kind of stupid if it needed mains power rather than a battery, but the idea itself is hardly stupid.

External turkey roaster. This is pretty much what is used in every kebab house. Maybe a little inefficient and inelegant for home use, but again not really stupid.

TV glasses. What's stupid about that? Even in the form presented it seems a perfectly reasonable way to ~~give yourself eye cancer~~ avoid annoying other people who don't want to watch the same show. And in the modern form of HUD type things built in to glasses it's potentially very useful.

Cat-mew machine. I don't know if it actually works at scaring mice, but doesn't seem like such a stupid idea in principle, even if it doesn't work.

Birdman suit. They exist and work quite well. If the first ones weren't as successful that doesn't necessarily make them stupid. In fact, the one presented here worked. He died because the suit was damaged when he jumped out, not because there was anything wrong with it in principle.

Illuminated tyres. Now that is genius. I wonder where I can get some.

This is why I dislike lists of this kind. Sure, some of them are rather stupid ideas. But there are always plenty that turn out not to be stupid at all, and seem to reflect more on the intellect and imagination of the person criticising them rather than the person who invented them.

What about the Shooting Robot? That would be a great hit in the saloons back in the day. I would hope that they put blanks in the guns though.

Cuddles · 12th October 2009, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by Careyp74

What about the Shooting Robot? That would be a great hit in the saloons back in the day. I would hope that they put blanks in the guns though.

I considered mentioning that and pointing out that there are currently plenty of shooting robots in military use, and lots more under development. However, this robot appears to have been developed solely to draw a gun from a holster while looking like a cowboy, which really isn't useful at all. Even if it managed to see some use in theme parks or something, I'd stand by them calling this stupid.

Lisa Simpson · 12th October 2009, 09:44 AM

I like the rainy day cigarette holder, because god knows, you don't want rain to interfere with getting cancer.

Wowbagger · 12th October 2009, 10:26 AM

I third the coolness of the light-up tires. http://www.life.com/image/2668080/in...umb-inventions

I can totally see someone pimpin' out their ride with some of those, today!

Olowkow · 12th October 2009, 11:50 AM

Bird suits. This video is worth the time:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...nt;cbsCarousel

Safe-Keeper · 12th October 2009, 12:00 PM

More working bird suits:

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the JREF. The JREF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

jasonpatterson · 12th October 2009, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by Olowkow

http://www.life.com/image/2661340/in...umb-inventions
Mythbusters tried this on their Ninja episode, and could not make it work. Adam wound up in the drink.

http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/walkin...de_recap;recap

It looked to me like this guy linked his 'shoes' together to make a small raft to stand on. Either way, this is another reason why I get annoyed watching Mythbusters. If they can't get something to work, they usually say that it's impossible. (Occasionally they'll revisit something to cover fan feedback though, which is unusually thorough for a TV show...)

thrombus29 · 12th October 2009, 01:26 PM

http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions

Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after?

soylent · 12th October 2009, 02:07 PM

Oh come on. No radium suppositories "for restoring sex power"? No morphine toothache drops for soothing the gums of teething infants? No corn ethanol? No hydro-electric toilet? No AAA rated CDOs based on the crappiest tranches of mortgage backed securities stuffed to the gills with liars loans?

Instead they pick on the jetpack, which for all its faults is unbelievably cool.

Wowbagger · 12th October 2009, 02:18 PM

We should compile a list of more recent stupid inventions.

I nominate the following, right off the bat:
1. The :CueCat
2. DivX (the discs, not the general encryption system)

Rrose Selavy · 12th October 2009, 02:38 PM

Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste?

BenBurch · 12th October 2009, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by thrombus29

http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions

Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after?

Yes.

soylent · 12th October 2009, 02:44 PM

3: RealMedia in all incarnations.
4: 32-bit windows 7(take old yeller out back and blast it with both barrels already).
5: USB coffee cup warmers(standard allows only 2.5 W to be drawn and that's shared if connecting to an unpowered hub).

recycled from my last post:
6: MBSs and CDOs backed by used used dogfood.
7: Hydro-electric toilet.

soylent · 12th October 2009, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy

Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste?

Sure, but few of them contained seriously harmful amounts of radium. Most were based on generating and disolving radon from uranium or thorium bearing ore submerged in water.

Radium was also used as an adjective for marketing and branding; like how platinum is used in "platinum membership".

FreshHat · 12th October 2009, 02:57 PM

I quite enjoyed the side boob content of # 13 and # 20.

Floyt · 12th October 2009, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by thrombus29

http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions

Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after?

Regardless of his achievements as an editor, his own work is generally considered to feature way too much technical exposition and cardboard characters with no notion of human motivations.

Therefore, this photo does not surprise me at all!

Rrose Selavy · 12th October 2009, 04:08 PM

Wiki says he held 80 patents - not that any of them had to be practical

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Gernsback

technoextreme · 12th October 2009, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by jasonpatterson

It looked to me like this guy linked his 'shoes' together to make a small raft to stand on. Either way, this is another reason why I get annoyed watching Mythbusters. If they can't get something to work, they usually say that it's impossible. (Occasionally they'll revisit something to cover fan feedback though, which is unusually thorough for a TV show...)

Except for the fact that the original Myth had nothing to do with that invention. It was walking on water that they busted not raft on water.

Madalch · 12th October 2009, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

I third the coolness of the light-up tires. http://www.life.com/image/2668080/in...umb-inventions

I can totally see someone pimpin' out their ride with some of those, today!

Until you hit a pothole and shatter all the bulbs.

And the cigarette holder that holds a whole pack? Priceless.

jasonpatterson · 12th October 2009, 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by technoextreme

Except for the fact that the original Myth had nothing to do with that invention. It was walking on water that they busted not raft on water.

I remember that, but again, the fact that a 40-something awkward goofball had trouble walking on water doesn't mean it's impossible (not that I think that this particular 'myth' was practical by any stretch of the imagination.)

Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy

Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste?

I prefer diatomaceous toothpaste. It was so abrasive that it wore away the enamel if used regularly. Supposedly you can still find toothpaste with diatoms, but not in the quantity that used to be produced (Brand X was the big name in abrasive toothpastes, as I recall.)

Wowbagger · 12th October 2009, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by Madalch

Until you hit a pothole and shatter all the bulbs.

Today, it could be done with sturdier materials, I'm sure. Perhaps one could engineer a way to light up the whole tire from a single bulb source, or a small set of very bright LEDs.

Any materials experts want to chime in here for suggestions?

Verde · 12th October 2009, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by Bikewer

Although some of these are a bit bizarre, others are merely ahead of their time. The "mini-TV" looks to be about the same screen-size as your average multi-media phone...

Sir Clive was a freakin' genius. {#18 on the list, BTW}
I had one of his wrist-watch radios, and the ZX-80. Just what can you do with a whole 1k of RAM?

LRH, on the other hand, was a nutcase.

V.

Evilgiraffe · 13th October 2009, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by Wowbagger

Today, it could be done with sturdier materials, I'm sure. Perhaps one could engineer a way to light up the whole tire from a single bulb source, or a small set of very bright LEDs.

Any materials experts want to chime in here for suggestions?

I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road.

bluesjnr · 13th October 2009, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by jasonpatterson

I remember that, but again, the fact that a 40-something awkward goofball had trouble walking on water doesn't mean it's impossible (not that I think that this particular 'myth' was practical by any stretch of the imagination.)

Hey! Enough of that! How young do you have to be to make it more "practical".

Heck, I'm going the whole hog and I'm gonna say that it's impossible at any age. Like the boys almost say "Myth Bollocks"

SezMe · 13th October 2009, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe

I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road.

But how many cars in urban areas get coated in crud. I think LEDs are part of the solution and this idea will make a come back. It is really cool.

Evilgiraffe · 13th October 2009, 01:18 AM

Check under your arches next time you go to your car. You might be surprised how disgusting it is under there.

SezMe · 13th October 2009, 01:31 AM

Ok, I confess. I have no idea what my car "arches" are. Is that what I call the "wheel well", the place where the tire is shrouded by the exterior of the car?

bluesjnr · 13th October 2009, 02:00 AM

Car arches = Wheel arches (or it should) and yes, that area wherein a fitted wheel will be found. Usually at each corner of the vehicle.

Wheel well = The area in the boot (OKA trunk) or elsewhere, usually concave wherein sits a spare wheel.

Starthinker · 13th October 2009, 03:38 AM

Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe

I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road.

No one would be looking up under your arches, they'd be looking at your cool glowy tires. Not too far off from people who put neon under their cars.

Dave Rogers · 13th October 2009, 04:25 AM

Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe

I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road.

I thought the light source was actually inside the tyres, which were translucent. If that's not the case, I think I need to talk to a patent office.

Dave

Shrike · 13th October 2009, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by Dave Rogers

I thought the light source was actually inside the tyres, which were translucent. If that's not the case, I think I need to talk to a patent office.

Dave

Yes they were. A special kind of synthetic rubber it says.
Anyway, nowadays you can use glasfiber tubes with a single light source, as BMW does for example.

Evilgiraffe · 13th October 2009, 05:56 AM

Gah! I think you're right.

If that's the case then the tricky part isn't making the lights, it's developing a translucent rubber that is strong and durable and sticky enough to be useful as a tyre. It's all very well having tyres that glow in the dark, but you won't look very cool if you skid your car into a tree at the first sign of rain.

nathan · 13th October 2009, 06:06 AM

Originally Posted by Piscivore

Also, the Illuminated Tires are just awesome.

Want.

12th October 2009, 08:32 AM	#1
Rrose Selavy Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,156	Hubbard's E meter makes LIFE's list of dumbest ever inventions LRH decided he wasn't making enough money interviewing tomatoes so he later used it on humans. http://www.life.com/image/76796742/i...umb-inventions But why not get a deluxe Baby Cage for your precious little one ....? http://www.life.com/image/3136964/in...umb-inventions
	Last edited by Rrose Selavy; 12th October 2009 at 08:33 AM.

12th October 2009, 08:37 AM	#2
calebprime Somewhat Elitist Parasite Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,745	These are great!
	__________________ again: By the way have you anyone here aside from myself produced what to you is or should be the very first principle of clear thinking?--yrreg

12th October 2009, 08:50 AM	#3
Piscivore Smelling fishy Join Date: May 2004 Location: Yubaba's Bathhouse Posts: 19,124	Wait, without the rocket belt and the flying platform, where would Johnny Quest be? Also, the Illuminated Tires are just awesome.
	__________________ A brave man once requested me to answer questions that are key- "is it to be or not to be?"- and I replied "oh why ask me?" Does it get tiring to be correct about everything? - Francesca R ...untrustworthy obnoxious twerp. - CFLarsen

12th October 2009, 09:17 AM	#6
Cuddles Decoy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A magical land full of pink fluffy sheeps and bunnies Posts: 10,317	Hmm. Some of those are genuinely stupid, some could be considered stupid in the form presented but were simply ahead of their time, and some really aren't that stupid at all. For example - rocket belt flying platform. May not have worked too well at the time, but personal jetpacks and the like are things still being actively worked on, and some don't work all that badly. The invention itself isn't stupid, they just didn't work all that well. Mini TV. Is it even possible to buy a phone or media player without a mini TV built in to it any more? I guess it would be kind of stupid if it needed mains power rather than a battery, but the idea itself is hardly stupid. External turkey roaster. This is pretty much what is used in every kebab house. Maybe a little inefficient and inelegant for home use, but again not really stupid. TV glasses. What's stupid about that? Even in the form presented it seems a perfectly reasonable way to ~~give yourself eye cancer~~ avoid annoying other people who don't want to watch the same show. And in the modern form of HUD type things built in to glasses it's potentially very useful. Cat-mew machine. I don't know if it actually works at scaring mice, but doesn't seem like such a stupid idea in principle, even if it doesn't work. Birdman suit. They exist and work quite well. If the first ones weren't as successful that doesn't necessarily make them stupid. In fact, the one presented here worked. He died because the suit was damaged when he jumped out, not because there was anything wrong with it in principle. Illuminated tyres. Now that is genius. I wonder where I can get some. This is why I dislike lists of this kind. Sure, some of them are rather stupid ideas. But there are always plenty that turn out not to be stupid at all, and seem to reflect more on the intellect and imagination of the person criticising them rather than the person who invented them.
	__________________ This space not left unintentionally blank.

12th October 2009, 09:21 AM	#7
Olowkow Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,548	http://www.life.com/image/2661340/in...umb-inventions Mythbusters tried this on their Ninja episode, and could not make it work. Adam wound up in the drink. http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/walkin...de_recap;recap
Olowkow Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,548	__________________ It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. --Albert Einstein Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare

12th October 2009, 09:06 AM	#4
Rrose Selavy Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,156	I just love this one http://www.life.com/image/3092725/in...umb-inventions

12th October 2009, 09:12 AM	#5
Bikewer Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis, Mo. Posts: 5,249	Although some of these are a bit bizarre, others are merely ahead of their time. The "mini-TV" looks to be about the same screen-size as your average multi-media phone... The shoot-around-corners attachment for the M3 submachine gun had a perfectly good military purpose, and all services had some version during WWII.

12th October 2009, 09:39 AM	#8
Careyp74 Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Trevose, PA Posts: 1,656	Originally Posted by Cuddles Hmm. Some of those are genuinely stupid, some could be considered stupid in the form presented but were simply ahead of their time, and some really aren't that stupid at all. For example - rocket belt flying platform. May not have worked too well at the time, but personal jetpacks and the like are things still being actively worked on, and some don't work all that badly. The invention itself isn't stupid, they just didn't work all that well. Mini TV. Is it even possible to buy a phone or media player without a mini TV built in to it any more? I guess it would be kind of stupid if it needed mains power rather than a battery, but the idea itself is hardly stupid. External turkey roaster. This is pretty much what is used in every kebab house. Maybe a little inefficient and inelegant for home use, but again not really stupid. TV glasses. What's stupid about that? Even in the form presented it seems a perfectly reasonable way to ~~give yourself eye cancer~~ avoid annoying other people who don't want to watch the same show. And in the modern form of HUD type things built in to glasses it's potentially very useful. Cat-mew machine. I don't know if it actually works at scaring mice, but doesn't seem like such a stupid idea in principle, even if it doesn't work. Birdman suit. They exist and work quite well. If the first ones weren't as successful that doesn't necessarily make them stupid. In fact, the one presented here worked. He died because the suit was damaged when he jumped out, not because there was anything wrong with it in principle. Illuminated tyres. Now that is genius. I wonder where I can get some. This is why I dislike lists of this kind. Sure, some of them are rather stupid ideas. But there are always plenty that turn out not to be stupid at all, and seem to reflect more on the intellect and imagination of the person criticising them rather than the person who invented them. What about the Shooting Robot? That would be a great hit in the saloons back in the day. I would hope that they put blanks in the guns though.

12th October 2009, 09:43 AM	#9
Cuddles Decoy Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: A magical land full of pink fluffy sheeps and bunnies Posts: 10,317	Originally Posted by Careyp74 What about the Shooting Robot? That would be a great hit in the saloons back in the day. I would hope that they put blanks in the guns though. I considered mentioning that and pointing out that there are currently plenty of shooting robots in military use, and lots more under development. However, this robot appears to have been developed solely to draw a gun from a holster while looking like a cowboy, which really isn't useful at all. Even if it managed to see some use in theme parks or something, I'd stand by them calling this stupid.
	__________________ This space not left unintentionally blank.

12th October 2009, 09:44 AM	#10
Lisa Simpson THE Lisa Simpson Administrator Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: 123 Fake Street Posts: 14,830	I like the rainy day cigarette holder, because god knows, you don't want rain to interfere with getting cancer.
	__________________ In any dispute the intensity of feeling is inversely proportional to the value of the stakes at issue. - Wallace Sayre Facts are satanic litter on the heavenly highway to blind faith! - Betty Bowers

12th October 2009, 10:26 AM	#11
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,724	I third the coolness of the light-up tires. http://www.life.com/image/2668080/in...umb-inventions I can totally see someone pimpin' out their ride with some of those, today!
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

12th October 2009, 11:50 AM	#12
Olowkow Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,548	Bird suits. This video is worth the time: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/...nt;cbsCarousel
Olowkow Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,548	__________________ It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer. --Albert Einstein Our remedies oft in ourselves do lie, which we ascribe to heaven. --Shakespeare

12th October 2009, 12:35 PM	#14
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 903	Originally Posted by Olowkow http://www.life.com/image/2661340/in...umb-inventions Mythbusters tried this on their Ninja episode, and could not make it work. Adam wound up in the drink. http://www.tv.com/mythbusters/walkin...de_recap;recap It looked to me like this guy linked his 'shoes' together to make a small raft to stand on. Either way, this is another reason why I get annoyed watching Mythbusters. If they can't get something to work, they usually say that it's impossible. (Occasionally they'll revisit something to cover fan feedback though, which is unusually thorough for a TV show...)
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

12th October 2009, 01:26 PM	#15
thrombus29 Flame War Master and JREF kid Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 1,058	http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after?
	__________________ Now I am not going to justify what may appear to be a failure in carrying out this prediction but rest in the fact that there will be success. -St. Paul Bethke Targzissians are obviously reptilian

12th October 2009, 02:07 PM	#16
soylent Muse Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 657	Oh come on. No radium suppositories "for restoring sex power"? No morphine toothache drops for soothing the gums of teething infants? No corn ethanol? No hydro-electric toilet? No AAA rated CDOs based on the crappiest tranches of mortgage backed securities stuffed to the gills with liars loans? Instead they pick on the jetpack, which for all its faults is unbelievably cool.
	__________________ "A lot of those lobbyists genuinely like people. But then, fleas like people too." - Mike Munger. Last edited by soylent; 12th October 2009 at 02:09 PM.

12th October 2009, 02:18 PM	#17
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,724	We should compile a list of more recent stupid inventions. I nominate the following, right off the bat: 1. The :CueCat 2. DivX (the discs, not the general encryption system)
	__________________ WARNING: Phrases in this post may sound meaner than they were intended to be. SkeptiCamp NYC 2009: http://www.skepticampnyc.org/ Photos and Stuff Now Available A conference on science and skepticism where *you* could be a presenter!

12th October 2009, 02:38 PM	#18
Rrose Selavy Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,156	Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste?

12th October 2009, 02:44 PM	#19
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 13,778	Originally Posted by thrombus29 http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after? Yes.
	__________________ A Liberal Dose of Talk Dog is my co-pilot. GENERATION 7: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

12th October 2009, 02:51 PM	#21
soylent Muse Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 657	Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste? Sure, but few of them contained seriously harmful amounts of radium. Most were based on generating and disolving radon from uranium or thorium bearing ore submerged in water. Radium was also used as an adjective for marketing and branding; like how platinum is used in "platinum membership".
	__________________ "A lot of those lobbyists genuinely like people. But then, fleas like people too." - Mike Munger.

12th October 2009, 02:57 PM	#22
FreshHat Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: It's Just A Jump To The Left Posts: 400	I quite enjoyed the side boob content of # 13 and # 20.

12th October 2009, 03:38 PM	#23
Floyt Chordate Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Dunedin Posts: 754	Originally Posted by thrombus29 http://www.life.com/image/72386721/i...umb-inventions Isn't this the dude the Hugo award is named after? Regardless of his achievements as an editor, his own work is generally considered to feature way too much technical exposition and cardboard characters with no notion of human motivations. Therefore, this photo does not surprise me at all!
	__________________ Science is about finding out which untruths can be asserted so as to make the system tractable, while still achieving an adequate account of what will appear. They had no god; they had no gods; they had no faith. What they appear to have had is a working metaphor. - Ursula K. Le Guin, "Always Coming Home"

12th October 2009, 04:08 PM	#24
Rrose Selavy Graduate Poster Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,156	Wiki says he held 80 patents - not that any of them had to be practical http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Gernsback

12th October 2009, 07:37 PM	#25
technoextreme Master Poster Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,886	Originally Posted by jasonpatterson It looked to me like this guy linked his 'shoes' together to make a small raft to stand on. Either way, this is another reason why I get annoyed watching Mythbusters. If they can't get something to work, they usually say that it's impossible. (Occasionally they'll revisit something to cover fan feedback though, which is unusually thorough for a TV show...) Except for the fact that the original Myth had nothing to do with that invention. It was walking on water that they busted not raft on water.
	__________________ It's amazing how many of these "paranormal" icons seem to merge together. There always seem to be theories about how they link together in some way. I'm sure someone has a very good explanation as to how Bigfoot killed JFK to help cover Roswell.-Mark Mekes This isn't rocket surgery.-Bill Nye

12th October 2009, 10:51 PM	#26
Madalch The Jester Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: The wet coast. Posts: 4,810	Originally Posted by Wowbagger I third the coolness of the light-up tires. http://www.life.com/image/2668080/in...umb-inventions I can totally see someone pimpin' out their ride with some of those, today! Until you hit a pothole and shatter all the bulbs. And the cigarette holder that holds a whole pack? Priceless.
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12th October 2009, 11:08 PM	#27
jasonpatterson Philanthropic Misanthrope Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Macedonia, OH Posts: 903	Originally Posted by technoextreme Except for the fact that the original Myth had nothing to do with that invention. It was walking on water that they busted not raft on water. I remember that, but again, the fact that a 40-something awkward goofball had trouble walking on water doesn't mean it's impossible (not that I think that this particular 'myth' was practical by any stretch of the imagination.) Originally Posted by Rrose Selavy Weren' t there a few "health" inventions involving getting doses of radiation before the adverse effects became known - such as radium toothpaste? I prefer diatomaceous toothpaste. It was so abrasive that it wore away the enamel if used regularly. Supposedly you can still find toothpaste with diatoms, but not in the quantity that used to be produced (Brand X was the big name in abrasive toothpastes, as I recall.)
	__________________ Sandra's seen a leprechaun, Eddie touched a troll, Laurie danced with witches once, Charlie found some goblins' gold. Donald heard a mermaid sing, Susie spied an elf, But all the magic I have known I've had to make myself. - Shel Silverstein

12th October 2009, 11:26 PM	#28
Wowbagger The Infinitely Prolonged Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Westchester County, NY (when not in space) Posts: 7,724	Originally Posted by Madalch Until you hit a pothole and shatter all the bulbs. Today, it could be done with sturdier materials, I'm sure. Perhaps one could engineer a way to light up the whole tire from a single bulb source, or a small set of very bright LEDs. Any materials experts want to chime in here for suggestions?
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12th October 2009, 11:50 PM	#29
Verde Thinker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Where the jackalopes roam. Posts: 206	Originally Posted by Bikewer Although some of these are a bit bizarre, others are merely ahead of their time. The "mini-TV" looks to be about the same screen-size as your average multi-media phone... Sir Clive was a freakin' genius. {#18 on the list, BTW} I had one of his wrist-watch radios, and the ZX-80. Just what can you do with a whole 1k of RAM? LRH, on the other hand, was a nutcase. V.
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13th October 2009, 12:19 AM	#30
Evilgiraffe Catalytic Ungulate Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London-ish Posts: 348	Originally Posted by Wowbagger Today, it could be done with sturdier materials, I'm sure. Perhaps one could engineer a way to light up the whole tire from a single bulb source, or a small set of very bright LEDs. Any materials experts want to chime in here for suggestions? I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road.
	__________________ Chemistry is a trade for those without enough imagination to be physicists - Arthur C Clarke Last edited by Evilgiraffe; 13th October 2009 at 12:20 AM. Reason: remove rogue apostrophe

13th October 2009, 12:26 AM	#31
bluesjnr Professional Nemesis for Hire Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Not where I should be. Posts: 501	Originally Posted by jasonpatterson I remember that, but again, the fact that a 40-something awkward goofball had trouble walking on water doesn't mean it's impossible (not that I think that this particular 'myth' was practical by any stretch of the imagination.) Hey! Enough of that! How young do you have to be to make it more "practical". Heck, I'm going the whole hog and I'm gonna say that it's impossible at any age. Like the boys almost say "Myth Bollocks"
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13th October 2009, 12:38 AM	#32
SezMe Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 9,129	Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road. But how many cars in urban areas get coated in crud. I think LEDs are part of the solution and this idea will make a come back. It is really cool.

13th October 2009, 01:18 AM	#33
Evilgiraffe Catalytic Ungulate Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: London-ish Posts: 348	Check under your arches next time you go to your car. You might be surprised how disgusting it is under there.
	__________________ Chemistry is a trade for those without enough imagination to be physicists - Arthur C Clarke

13th October 2009, 01:31 AM	#34
SezMe Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Posts: 9,129	Ok, I confess. I have no idea what my car "arches" are. Is that what I call the "wheel well", the place where the tire is shrouded by the exterior of the car?

13th October 2009, 02:00 AM	#35
bluesjnr Professional Nemesis for Hire Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Not where I should be. Posts: 501	Car arches = Wheel arches (or it should) and yes, that area wherein a fitted wheel will be found. Usually at each corner of the vehicle. Wheel well = The area in the boot (OKA trunk) or elsewhere, usually concave wherein sits a spare wheel.
	__________________ Belief is the death of intelligence. - Robert Anton Wilson Creationists make it sound as though a 'theory' is something you dreamt up after being drunk all night. - Isaac Asimov He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife. - Douglas Adams Last edited by bluesjnr; 13th October 2009 at 02:01 AM.

13th October 2009, 03:38 AM	#36
Starthinker Illuminator Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 3,834	Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road. No one would be looking up under your arches, they'd be looking at your cool glowy tires. Not too far off from people who put neon under their cars.
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13th October 2009, 04:25 AM	#37
Dave Rogers The Unbanned Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Notlob Posts: 8,008	Originally Posted by Evilgiraffe I'm sure LEDs would work fine... for about a mile, until your wheel arches got coated in crud from the road. I thought the light source was actually inside the tyres, which were translucent. If that's not the case, I think I need to talk to a patent office. Dave
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