To: Neeka who wrote (29556 ) 10/17/2003 12:15:47 AM From: Lance Bredvold Respond to of 62559 Jake is struggling through an airport terminal with two huge and obviously > heavy suitcases when a stranger walks up to him and asks: "Have you got the > time?" > > Jake sighs, puts down the suitcases and glances at his wrist. "It's a quarter > to six," he says. > > "Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger. > > Jake brightens a little. "Yeah, it's not bad. Check this out..." And he shows > him a time zone display not just for every time zone in the world, but for > the 86 largest metropolis. He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the watch > a voice says "The time is eleven till six" in a very West Texas accent. A few > more buttons and the same voice says something in Japanese. Jake continues, > "I've put in regional > accents for each city. The display is unbelievably high quality and the voice > is simply astounding." The stranger is struck dumb with admiration. > > "That's not all...," says Jake. He pushes a few more buttons and a tiny but > very hi-resolution map of New York City appears on the display. "The flashing > dot shows our location by satellite positioning," explains Jake. "View recede > ten," Jake says, and the display changes to show eastern New York State. > > "I want to buy this watch!" Says the stranger. > > "Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the bugs," says > the inventor. "But look at this," and he proceeds to demonstrate. "The watch is > also a very creditable little FM radio receiver with a digital tuner, a sonar > device that can measure > distances up to 125 meters, a pager with thermal paper printout and, most > impressive of all, the capacity for voice recordings of up to 300 standard-size > books, > though I only have 32 of my favorites in there so far." Says Jake. > > "I've got to have this watch!" Says the stranger. > > "No, you don't understand; it's not ready." > > "I'll give you $1000 for it!" > > "Oh, no, I've already spent more than..." > > "I'll give you $5000 for it!" > > "But it's just not..." > > "I'll give you $15,000 for it!" And the stranger pulls out a checkbook. > > Jake stops to think. He's only put about $8,500 into materials and > development, and with $15,000 he can make another one and have it ready for merchandising > in only six months. The stranger frantically finishes writing the check and > waves it in front of him. > > "Here it is, ready to hand to you right here and now. $15,000. Take it or > leave it." > > Jake abruptly makes his decision. "OK," he says, and peels off the watch and > hands it to the stranger. > > They make the exchange and the stranger starts happily away. > > "Hey, wait a minute." Calls Jake after the stranger, who turns around warily. > Jake points to the two suitcases he had been trying to wrestle through the > terminal. "Don't forget your batteries." >