AN American inventor wants to patent a way of sending a message from beyond the grave — a video-screen tombstone.
The device is the brainchild of Robert Barrow of Burlingame, California, the British weekly New Scientist reports in Saturday’s issue.
The hollow headstone houses a computer with a hard disc or memory chip that allows the deceased to relay a video message via a flat LCD touch screen.
“They might relate their life stories… or worse: they could confess to lurid indiscretions,” the British weekly says.
The tombstone would draw its electrical supply from the cemetery’s lighting system, and to avoid disturbing other visitors, people can listen to the message through wireless headphones.
Electronically-enhanced tombstones are not new, however.
Other inventions include a gravestone that displays a collection of the deceased’s photographs, alongside tributes from that person’s friends.
By: paul178 - 5th October 2015 at 13:42
Well that confirms that members of the NRA are governed by the size of their weapon not the size of their brain.
My post still stands though Moggy.
By: charliehunt - 5th October 2015 at 13:23
Only as long as there was a majority in both Houses for it…..when the system has the Executive and Legislative branches in opposition the democratic process is not straighforward.
By: Moggy C - 5th October 2015 at 12:52
Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the bulk of Americans don’t care
Isn’t the place supposed to be a democracy? If the bulk wanted something done about it legislation could go through tomorrow.
Moggy
By: Bruce - 5th October 2015 at 12:24
Might I enquire what would happen if a group of American citizens took up their rights under the second amendment, and formed a militia to protect their rights?
How far would they be allowed to go?
By: j_jza80 - 5th October 2015 at 11:53
Admittedly, I’m not American, and perhaps that is why I don’t understand their obsession with guns.
But the whole argument with these shootings seems to boil down to this: stricter regulation vs arming teachers.
I can’t see how this is even a valid argument, as arming teachers will still result in innocent children having to bear witness to people being shot and killed.
By: charliehunt - 5th October 2015 at 11:53
Surely satire almost by definition needs to be timely and cutting to be effective. Which is why some of the anti extreme Muslim satire has been so good, although not among those lacking an ability to laugh at themselves, of course.
By: Creaking Door - 5th October 2015 at 11:36
Well, I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the bulk of Americans don’t care, but certainly the ‘gun lobby’ (if I can, rather unfairly, call them that) care more about other things (their rights), or see their point-of-view, widespread gun ownership, as being a solution rather than a problem.
As for ‘Newsthump’; are the deaths of children in a shooting-spree appropriate ‘material’ for (rather childish) satire on a spoof news website, only a few days after the shooting, or ever? I would say not. But that is just my opinion.
By: Moggy C - 5th October 2015 at 10:38
‘Newsthump’ ought to have a bit more respect for the bereaved families!
Why? Patently the bulk of Americans don’t care about them?
Moggy
By: charliehunt - 5th October 2015 at 09:17
My concern is, has anyone from Newsthump ever been to Chad? Do they REALLY know what is going on there? I think we should be told.
By: Creaking Door - 5th October 2015 at 09:07
Meanwhile Newsthump sums it up nicely…
‘Newsthump’ ought to have a bit more respect for the bereaved families!
By: Moggy C - 5th October 2015 at 08:42
Pssst! It’s a spoof article 🙂
By: paul178 - 5th October 2015 at 08:38
Well that confirms that members of the NRA are governed by the size of their weapon not the size of their brain.
By: Moggy C - 5th October 2015 at 07:09
O.K. Moggs, Arm the Teacher by all means, but as soon as the gunman downs him, it would then be like a Turkey shoot in a barrel, shooting at the kids.
Of course it will. Chances are the teachers will take out a few themselves, either deliberately or by poor aim. Why should we worry about a few more hundred American children blown away when the Americans themselves are perfectly content?
Meanwhile Newsthump sums it up nicely
US National Rifle Association calls for ban on ‘schools’
After further shootings at US schools, the National Rifle Association has insisted that the only way to prevent further tragedies of this nature is to ban schools.
The shooting at the Umpqua Community College left four children dead and forced the NRA to call for immediate changes to existing legislation.
NRA spokesperson Wayne Keene told reporters, “This is a terrible moment for the United States, and our hearts go out to all of those affected, but now is the time to acknowledge that this senseless act would never have happened if it wasn’t for this ‘school’.”
“People will say that the right to an education is an inalienable right and was core to the vision of this country’s forefathers, but we live in different times now, and clearly something needs to be done.”
“It won’t be popular, and people will obviously resist the change, but in order to protect this nation’s children it is now the time to ban schools.”
“Do you know how many school massacres there are in Chad? None. Do you know why? Because the don’t have an organised secondary school system.”
“The evidence is right there in front of us.”
National Rifle Association
When asked if tighter gun control laws could also have prevented the shooting, Keene said such suggestions were simply ‘grasping at straws’.
He went on, “People will make knee jerk assumptions on why this tragic event occurred but I would ask you all not to lose sight of the fact that these children were gathered in a convenient place of learning.”
“Columbine, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and now Umpqua. Education is at the root of all these tragedies.”
“High-powered assault rifles don’t kill children, schools do.”
Moggy
By: Creaking Door - 5th October 2015 at 01:02
Just another case of another SSRI prescribed idiot that belonged locked up if he wasn’t mentally able to deal with society…
In related news: the Highway Patrol have been tasked to revoke the driving licence of…
…anybody who is going to have an accident!
By: Creaking Door - 5th October 2015 at 01:01
Something occurs to me about these shooting-spree killings; why do none of the perpetrators seem to want to ‘pick them off from a distance’ (given that they have decided to kill in the first place)?
To me that seems to say something about the motivation of some of the perpetrators.
By: Lincoln 7 - 4th October 2015 at 22:12
O.K. Moggs, Arm the Teacher by all means, but as soon as the gunman downs him, it would then be like a Turkey shoot in a barrel, shooting at the kids. They have access over there to some mighty powerful weapons, and could just wait for the kids to go out at playtime, and pick them off from a distance, Your familiar with Firearms, so you don’t need me to tell you it’s perfectly feasible .
Jim
Lincoln .7
By: Moggy C - 4th October 2015 at 21:04
Why not approve arming of the teachers?
Then, they will be the first target and maybe their death will save one child’s life?
Moggy
By: Lincoln 7 - 4th October 2015 at 11:51
For those outside of the US I would remind you that I decided a long time ago we ( as in the US) need to stay out of your crap….saying that, this is bulll****. Just another case of another SSRI prescribed idiot that belonged locked up if he wasn’t mentally able to deal with society. Te government and Pharmaceutical companies have created these monsters, and it’s about time we start asking the real questions.
So what is the REAL question?. Congress ratified the 2nd, Congress can make subtle amendments !!.
Jim
Lincoln .7
By: Y-20 Bacon - 4th October 2015 at 08:00
just a normal day in murica!
By: chuck1981 - 4th October 2015 at 07:22
For those outside of the US I would remind you that I decided a long time ago we ( as in the US) need to stay out of your crap….saying that, this is bulll****. Just another case of another SSRI prescribed idiot that belonged locked up if he wasn’t mentally able to deal with society. Te government and Pharmaceutical companies have created these monsters, and it’s about time we start asking the real questions.
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