10,000 Brilliant Ideas

If you're wondering why this post was sent to you on a banana leaf, it's because I'm now in the Philippines! So expect a tropical/dev country slant for the next while. This is obvious, but it's weird to me why this isn't implemented. I'm sure it's quite ubiquitous as well. So I ride the Manila light rail system to work. I'm letting you in on this secret, because it isn't a secret. Everyone and their dog rides it as well. It's a great way to avoid Manila traffic - well automotive traffic, not human traffic, I'm not talking about the nasties that sell human beings, ok, you're right I'm not even talking...CROWDS ok? I'm just talking about crowds. Big crowds. Thank heaven I'm a head above most because I wouldn't be able to breath kind of crowds. And so we play this game. Tons (literally) of people wait on the platform. The train approaches and everyone guesstimates where a door will end up and muscles in front of one. The ...

When the rain is coming down lightly so that it's a bit annoying in your face, a regular umbrella works wonders. Anything more and it really is lacking. Okay sure your head and hand are dry, but the rain comes down off your umbrella and onto the bottom of your pants. Even with rain boots on, you have to be wearing waders to avoid any splashing. And if there's even a bit of wind, forget it. The other day, I saw a woman with a dome umbrella , which is the kind where you're meant to stick your head up in the umbrella and look out through its see-through self. (I didn't know people actually used these, but there she was). This re-sparked my idea for the ultimate commuter rain gear.  Imagine a set of attractive rainboots with clear durable plastic connected to the tops, which then goes all the way up to connect to a dome umbrella. You take off your shoes, tuck them in a bag, step into the boots, pull the umbrella up over your head and zip up the side. There are plenty ...