The night I got drunk and tried to invent something

stephen says:

07:42am | 08/09/11

Pyjamas that don’t shrink in the wash.
Invent that, and everything will be alright.

jf says:

08:42am | 08/09/11

When I was a callow youth (thirty years ago) I loved watching the inventors.

I used to send them blueprints for my inventions. One of them was liquid soap. Thirty years ago.

The other was for a dishwasher that had two seperate drawers.

There’s a big step between coming up with the idea executing it.

MD says:

08:57am | 08/09/11

‘Inventions reached their limit long ago and I see no hope for further development.’

— Julius Sextus Frontinus, prominent Roman engineer (c. 40-103 AD)

Reddragon says:

09:11am | 08/09/11

@Tina “invention was driven by passion and achieving something. Contributing to a better environment. “

Yes indeed. Just look at the work of Banting, Best & MacLeod - insulin. No patent fees, done for the good of mankind. They would probably be regraded as insane today.

fairsfair says:

11:04am | 08/09/11

Father’s Day 2009 we brainstormed and invented the ATAP (TM). Sad thing was, it was breakfast on the Esplanade and no alcohol was involed.

The All Terrain Adult Pram. Pronounced “ay-tap”. As the name suggests, it is a buggy type automated piece of machinery that is purpose built for the owner. It has a convertable type clear roof that allows the operator the freedom to interract with other ATAP (TM) users or remain in a climate controlled cone of silence where they can go about their business. It had various attachments including but not limited to the lawn mowing attachment, the BBQ attachment and the housework attachment.  Dad’s had extractors and a NOS connection as he is not one to wait around for others.

It was custom and we felt it would really take off. So nobody steal my idea. I always cack myself at the electric toothbrush add where she takes that “dentist clean” feeling home via driving to her house in the chair….

gra gra says:

02:26pm | 08/09/11

Aussies are recognised as being the most innovative of people.  I have developed many products, one of which was a cradle that disallowed infants to sleep in any other position than on their back, the position in which most SIDS victims are found.  I began selling them for cost plus ten percent, and thought that I was helping expectant mothers, if only to distance the fear of infant mortality. Bad investment. John Howard’s hatchet men, aided by his then Health Minister, cut the project. Reason? May not be sterile.
When I pointed out that the lambswool cover was already, by the same department ruled ‘hospital safe’, and despite recommendations from the SIDS Foundation, the drug companies who supported, and still support the Liberal/anybody coalition, said “NO!” and Howard listened. Don’t believe me? A fairly high ranking bureaucrat from the Dept. of Health rang me and explained that as he had lost a grandchild to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome he knew what value my invention had, but tearfully explained that it was a political, not medical decision, that halted my distribution of the cradle. A particular State Chief Justice of that State’s Supreme Court had purchased one for his daughter, for fear of his grandchild suffering such a dreaded fate. And also to alleviate his daughter’s fears, which of course can lead to possible harm to the foetus.
Howard’s slashing of grants, Federal assistance in things like exporting, ridiculously high patent fees, and the perceived necessity to keep the rabble where they belong, has led to the Victa mower, the Hills hoist, and many, many other inventions being things of the past.
It costs a minimum of $20,000 to put even the simplest of innovations on the discussion table, all due to Howard’s “cost cutting”.
Don’t talk to me of ideas that don’t come to fruition. Inventor’s bottom draws are full of brilliant ideas that are there because the backyard handyman, the source of most of the great innovations, (whether the ‘backyard is at home or simply in the mind), is stifled by those who cannot believe that anyone not born to rule should rule, if only for the good of others.
And Australia, morally, ethically, and financially is the poorer.
Should anyone have doubts about my motives for penning this epistle, let me explain that the cradle cost me $21,000 to put on the market. I sold nearly eight hundred before Howard’s axe fell, despite repeated entreaties to his office, (I even offered it to the Commonwealth for manufacture and distribution free of any charge), and sadly continued to read of cot deaths continuing,
This is why inventors stack the bottom drawer. We, other inventor’s and I, (i’m certainly not the only one by far), call that bottom drawer “Howard’s bin”. Rather apt and very, sadly for Australia, true.

red dog says:

02:38pm | 08/09/11

Were you drunk on the night of Sept 11 2001? Where were you on the night of Sept 11 2001? Sleeping it off ? Inventing bad dreams?

Zopo says:

03:18pm | 09/09/11

My mates and I have invented a lot of things over the years, the only problem is once the liquor wears off Ive lost all motivation.

Im glad i still have the ideas in my memory bank…