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Opportunity: USPS Urgently Needs New Invention — Parallax Forums

Opportunity: USPS Urgently Needs New Invention

ercoerco Posts: 20,259
edited 2012-10-07 08:14 in General Discussion
Florida retirees keep crashing their cars into their post offices. There's a need for some new automotive device which monitors GPS location and hair color (blue/white) in order to automatically control vehicle steering, throttle and transmission selector (drive/reverse).

Might be a job for a Propeller.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/u-postal-asking-floridians-stop-crashing-post-offices-213551323.html

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-09-21 09:17
    I think the solution is much simpler: require everyone over 70 to drive with a standard transmission.

    -Phil
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2012-09-21 12:10
    erco wrote: »
    Florida retirees keep crashing their cars into their post offices

    Much easier solution is to invent the drive-thru post office. Something we all need, and it addresses the problem head-on. So to speak.

    -- Gordon
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2012-09-21 13:41
    How else are you going to be sure your mail-in ballot is going to get where it needs to go so your vote (for the guy who wants to take away all those social services upon which your very existence depends) will be counted?

    little-old-lady-driver.jpg

    While in Flawr-ida, there are a number of things you seriously need to be on the lookout for (I'm not kidding!):

    1. Elderly drivers.
    2. Ambulances rushing old people to the hospital.
    3. Elderly drivers who just got out of the hospital.
    4. Ambulances rushing the victims of elderly drivers to the hospital.
  • xanaduxanadu Posts: 3,347
    edited 2012-09-21 14:02
    Steel reenforced concrete pillars in the front of buildings seem to work well. You'd think a government building would already have it tons of privately owned companies do it.
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-09-21 18:48
    Used to live in Florida.

    Got ran clean off the road by an elderly driver... was going to roll my window down and yell my disgust when my wife stopped me.. It was her grandmother. God bless'em...

    Jeff
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-09-23 11:09
    Florida is a state of insanity. Between aligators and boa constrictors, the problem will eventually be solved by human depopulation. It is just too bad it won't happen before the Presidential election as they might end up being a significant swing state.

    Drive thru post offices? Now there is an idea that should have occured 40 years ago.
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-09-23 11:19
    It's bad enough standing in line at the PO behind a blue-haired grandmother trying to decide which stamps to buy for her grandkid's birthday card. Imagine if that transaction had to take place in a drive-thru via a vacuum-canister system: "No. I'll send these back. Let me see the ones with the puppy on them again."

    -Phil
  • Oldbitcollector (Jeff)Oldbitcollector (Jeff) Posts: 8,091
    edited 2012-09-23 11:58
    @Phil, my first response to the idea of Drive-Thru post office was "Heck, ya!", but then you ruined it for me.

    I stand behind those blue-haired grandmothers every afternoon when mailing packages for GG/PP. If you guys would order just a few more packages a day, I could switch to pickup. :) (Hint, Hint)

    Jeff
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2012-09-23 12:34
    Drive-throughs have their own problems ....

    Employee: How can i help you today?
    Customer: I'll have a small number one, no onions, no cheese, with a Coke.

    E: Ok, you want a number one?
    C: Yes. Small, no onions, no cheese, with a Coke.
    E: What size would you like?
    C: Small.
    E: You want cheese on that?
    C: No.
    E: What kind of drink would you like?
    C: Coke.
    E: Anything else sir?
    C: Please no onions.
    E: Ok, that will be $6.50
    C: Ugh

    Pay at next window. Check order. Burger has onions. So, do you ask for another burger with no onions or move on? I rarely go to such places now days, but every time I do it refreshes my desire to stay away. There must be a better way ... bar-code maybe?
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-09-23 13:59
    Solutions:

    1) Soup Nazi drive through. YOU mess it up, "No soup for you!"

    2) Cheeburger, Cheeburger. Pepsi, no Coke!
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-09-23 14:23
    Here in Norway, drivrs over the age of 75 are required to have a certificate from their doctor stating that they are fit to drive,and this must be renewed yearly...
    Of course, a lot of doctors are 'too kind' to their patients...

    Our Norwegian Public Roads Administration (almost the same as the US DMV) holds refresher courses for people over the age of 65.
    12Hours over 3 days, and a practical lesson is offered for those who wants to.
    Most importantly, there is no danger of losing the license if one does or says something one shouldn't.
    They even held it in Spain because so many Norwegians retire there.

    I haven't seen the statistics, but they claim that it helps.
    Of course, those who REALLY need it never takes this course because they're either too dement to remember to sign up, or too paranoid.

    I see those old biddies at the postoffice, too, when returning used networking gear. Luckily, our supplier sends us pre-paid labels, so I can just drop the packages off at the package drop.No need to stand in line... (Strange thing; when people get a package pick-up note in their mail, and the note has a clearly labelled field for a signature, why doesn't anyone sign it before they get into the line? )
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-10-06 22:04
    Here's one stick-shift granny who won't be jumping the curb and plowing through plate-glass windows at strip malls:

    -Phil
  • potatoheadpotatohead Posts: 10,261
    edited 2012-10-07 03:30
    @Jazzed: My issue exactly. I often wonder how well a random food drive through would work. Since there is a high probability you won't get what you want anyway, emphasize cheap and fast instead!

    Menu is limited to a few items, all of which have very broad appeal, and you bring your own drink, or get water only, and the amount is always the same. $5.00 period, no handling of that penny to insure the cash drawer gets opened, etc... Customer self-swipes at the time of purchase, and there is a branch in the line right there. If it's cash, drive forward to exchange cash for food. If it's card, swipe, and either exit, or drive forward to collect food, something...
  • mindrobotsmindrobots Posts: 6,506
    edited 2012-10-07 04:21
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    Here's one stick-shift granny who won't be jumping the curb and plowing through plate-glass windows at strip malls:

    Yay, granny!!! Sweet car and sweet lady! She must have one heck of a left leg to get the clutch in on that baby!
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-10-07 08:14
    http://youtu.be/SQMqgSaZZmM
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