Republic or Monarchy
George
Bush or an expensive tourist attraction, you decide.
So now
that's out of the way let’s discuss stupid inventions shall we?
Definition
Before I
get complaints I would just like to define what I mean by 'invention'. In this
instance an invention would be anything that didn't exist at one point in
history but now does. This could have been invented, created, evolved, appeared
by magic or supplied by aliens and I'll leave you, dear reader to categorise the following
'inventions' for yourselves.
There are
any number of stupid inventions in this world, ranging from potpourri to The X
Factor, from war to Michael Gove (he was definitely supplied by aliens) but I
have chosen to describe all those inventions that aren't stupid in the
conventional sense but do need highlighting.
The end
of Bell (or Bellend)
Stupidity
is not a modern phenomenon, as proved by the invention of the first telephone. “Are
you mad? The telephone was an invention of pure genius” I hear you say. But the
key to this is the word 'first'. Now I imagine Alexander Graham Bell was
overjoyed at creating the first telephone and I can also imagine his
exclamation, 'Look, I've invented the telephone, I must phone mother to tell
her the good news'. Then the realisation dawning that no one else had a phone.
So based
on this I consider the 'first' telephone to be a stupid invention. The
invention of the second telephone however.......that was genius.
As a
slight aside I've always been uncomfortable with the history of the telephone
and in particular the introduction of STD calls. This raises the question - did
the invention of the telephone result in an increase in the number of cases of
sexually transmitted diseases?
Toilets
uncovered
More
modern inventions have also contributed to the stupidity list.
As is
well publicised, the western world is blighted by the curse of obesity and it
would be easy to lay blame at the swollen ankles of the suffering individuals.
Of course there is some justification in this but you could also argue - and I
will - that a number of modern inventions are not helping to reverse the tide
of flab. One such creation is the slow closing toilet seat. If you are not
aware of this device it looks like a standard toilet seat but can be closed
with a flick of the wrist and you can happily walk away as it gently floats
down to the bowl.
Why? Why
would anyone consider this a necessity other than to avoid moving your arm a
whole 1 1/2 feet from cistern to bowl. And this is where these kind of
inventions do nothing to help the obese. If you're not even getting exercise by
closing a toilet seat what hope have you got.
Risk
assessment
If you
read my first Blog post, 'Health, Safety and Hedge Porn', you could be forgiven
for thinking that I am opposed to all things categorised as 'Health and
Safety', however this is not the case. I do dislike the 'sledge-hammer to crack
a nut' approach to most risks but there are some hazards that are a clear and
present danger and should have suitable mitigation.
One such
risk is the fire hazard generated by the invention of polyester leggings and in
particular the leggings worn by extremely large women. As these particular
females waddle down the road - often supporting themselves on the back of a
Poundland shopping bag laden buggy, affording them the ability to waddle and
chain smoke as they go - the heat generated by their fat thighs rubbing
together must be immense. That, coupled with the flammability of polyester,
surely increases the risk of bush fires. As a health risk, fat women in
leggings also don't help by inducing sudden and violent vomiting.
To add a
little balance to this argument it is not just the large ladies who provide a
health risk in their leggings. It is equally dangerous for perfectly formed
buttocks and shapely legs to be displayed in leggings in a public place for
risk of passing motorists being distracted and crashing into the car in front.
So please ladies, think on.
Not fit
for purpose
All of
the above must be classed as particularly stupid inventions, however one of the
highest accolades must go to the modern gymnasium. These places, full of
torture machines and sweaty, testosterone pumped bodies are proof that, if you
market a stupid invention well enough, there are plenty of gullible fools out
there willing to part with their hard earned cash for the privilege of
participating.
Consider
the evidence. Gyms contain running machines, cycling machines, rowing machines
and a variety of weights, the use of which can be subscribed to for an
exorbitant fee.
This
stupidity can be counteracted by carrying out the following actions.
1) Find a
river and go for a row in the fresh air - that's the rowing machine sorted.
2)
Instead of getting in your comfortable car and driving, try running to the gym
- the running machine is now redundant.
3) Buy
yourself a push bike and ride to the gym - the cycling machine is now no longer
needed.
4) Once at
the gym, lie down in the reception area, pull out your wallet making sure the
staff can see how much money it contains - due to the savings made by not
subscribing to their gym - and bench press it at your leisure.
By
following this advice you will have maintained your fitness levels and
highlighted the pointlessness of these establishments - there is nothing you
can do in a gym that you can't do outside.
Some will
argue that there is a social element to attending a gym but - if you'll excuse
me - this is bollocks. For the well buffed, six-pack displaying, hard-core
members it is a chance to show off their efforts - usually to themselves in the
mirror. For the newcomers their time is spent worrying that they are either so
scrawny they don't so much have a six pack as a toast rack or alternatively so
flabby that they can't see all of themselves in the mirror. To me this is not a
relaxing social situation but hell at a high price.
And the
winner is
Regardless
of the above no invention can be criticised more than testicles on the outside.
Whoever decided that the most sensitive area of the male anatomy should be
exposed to even the slightest of touches should be drawn through with rusty
barbed wire, and if you're reading this I hope your next shit is a hedgehog.
The end
is nigh
So in
conclusion, we need to wise up and challenge the perceived wisdom of genius,
ban polyester leggings for public health reasons and stop subscribing to
unnecessary memberships (and this includes the magazines where you can collect parts
to build a scale model of the Titanic in 400 monthly instalments priced at
£4.99 - another crap invention)
Authors
note: If you are offended by any of the points made in this post ask yourself
the question "Why do I think he's talking about me?" and relax, it's
only my opinion after all (I just happen to be right).
