#7847 Dictionary by word importance

This dictionary reads more like a novel than a dictionary. It's for people learning a new language and want to beef up on vocab. The text is fun and memorable to aid the learning process and starts with the most important words and goes to the less important words. (Important meaning generally useful.) This way you don't waste your time on words you won't need for a while and you don't accidentally use a word that's far too deep or dated like 'loam' which means fertile soil (that one's at the back of the book.)

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#8763 18-yr-old "welcome to the board" brochure

I realize I wasn't the most with it teenager, but I certainly wasn't the bottom of the ladder. My knowledge of politics and the political system was restricted to national systems and that was last informed in 5th grade. What I'm thinking of is some kind of letter or email or web site where a new 18-yr-old can go to and see "Hey, you're of legal voting age. Welcome to the board." This would then explain that there are a whole lot of public servants out there working for you. And in fact, you don't have to hate the police, because in effect they work for you. And if you have a problem you can contact Mr Chief of Police or you can vote for the other guy when reelection time comes up. Also you have all these other people working for you including the mayor, governor, and up. If you think things should be run differently (and chances are they should) you should write to this person, or attend this meeting, or vote this way. Essentially demystify the behemoth o...

#8799 Shot-gun microphone for Q&A sessions

Have you ever been in a speech or something where the speaker fields questions from the audience? If you weren't in a UN-style microphone-at-every-seat equipped room, then you probably saw one or two saps running the microphone around to those asking questions. I was this sap recently in a press conference, and although I consider myself quite agile, it still delayed things and was noisy for the cameras (not to mention my beautimous profile when I had to run in front of them). I've also heard people bragging about shot-gun mics that can pick up someone's voice leagues away. Couldn't these work in this situation, where the sap can just stand at the front with headphones on and point the mic at whoever is talking? Maybe it wouldn't work so well in a football stadium, but surely a 20-person press conference could manage. Right?

#7483 Broadcast Café

This café is wired. There are cameras and microphones everywhere. What goes on inside is constantly broadcast in real-time on the café's website. There is a bold disclaimer on the front door telling everyone who enters that their conversation and image will be viewable by anyone accessing the site. It is open from 6am to 2am the next morning to maximize global viewing time, without becoming too seedy. It is located in New York or LA or maybe both. Another option: At the same time, monitors in the cafe show analytics in real time of how many people are on the website and where they are located. Maybe it even shows how many people are watching each camera and listening to each microphone. Perhaps people on-line could post chats and be active participants as well. Would no one want to go to a café where their privacy is completely nil? Would no one want to sit at their computer and watch people living instead of doing it themselves? Or do people have an inner desire to be seen, especi...

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