On behalf of us all...
Posted on 07/08/2004 7:51:18 PM PDT by Vision Thing
Burlingame, CA, Jul. 8 (UPI) -- Application for a U.S. patent has been filed by a California man for his system that allows the dead to speak from their tombs, New Scientist reported Thursday.
Robert Barrows of Burlingame has devised a hollow headstone fitted with a flat LCD touch screen. It also houses a computer with a hard disc or microchip memory that allows the deceased to speak from the grave through a video message.
The tombstone would draw its electricity from the cemetery's lighting system, and as a civil touch, comes with wireless headphones so as not to disturb others.
If his patent is granted, Barrows says he would encourage people to leave a parting video with their lawyer when making out a will.
Gary Collison, professor of American studies at Pennsylvania State University in Pittsburgh, thinks video tombstones are a natural progression from outsize monumental stonework.
"Cemeteries are places where people try to outdo each other," he said. "This would certainly be a new way to do that."
Copyright 2004 United Press International
"Hi. You've reached the gravesite of Tall_Texan. I'm not available to take your condolences right now but if you'd like to leave a message..."
Damn! I thought of that 10 years ago!
On behalf of us all...
What do you want on your tombstone? How about 42 trojans and 132 popup adds. :-P
Although I do agree with your point, I do have to say that some of the dead are more "honored" than others. And I believe most of those pre-planned their memorials. So I think there is truth in both points.
HEH!!
I say BRAVO! You know, my will has me being cremated, but I might just change it and prescribe one of these things!
LOL
Mine. "Hello, you've reached the grave site of blam, please deposit $5.00 to continue."
"He left me to drown in the car! After he ran the car off the bridge he just left me! He was drunk! They let him get away with it! He's been a United States Senator for decades. He's had a fantastic life! And lived like a king! And all that time I've just been dead! What about me? What about my life? That bastard killed me!
My condolences to you on the loss of your husband. He sounds like the kind of man who has the decency and modesty to choose against placing such a device in his own resting place.
I'm thinking there are a lot of graves in Arkansas which could speak volumes...
If you documented your invention and have signed witnesses for it, you can try to cut in front of the current inventor. It sounds like it has some appeal because it received a lot of press, and it's only a patent application, not an issued patent.
Speaking of which, something tells me Bubba is gonna want one of these for his own gravesite.
Cemeteries have long been the cheapest form of prophylaxis from a public-health perspective; as ceremony they serve as silent reminders of the ineluctable nature of time.
LOL! And he'll transfer to the great beyond thinking people will actually want to listen in. There's a graphic there somewhere: tombstone of Slick with a thickly-cobwebbed set of headphones. Sign says "Speak to Bill Clinton! Just 25 cents"
I'm not so sure. Women who date kennedys tend to have a high tolerance for abuse and disgrace. And they tend to forgive the kennedy punks for anything.
You never know. There seems to be a never-ending supply of Monica Lewinskys in this world. I'm sure some of 'em will show up to watch and listen and sigh in girlish delight.
Thanks, Sarge. *Wipes tear from eye*
And eternal thanks for the job you and other soldiers do to keep the free world, well, free. Cheers.
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