SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Pastimes : Laughter is the Best Medicine - Tell us a joke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?


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."
>