"Doc Shop" was the idea of a Texas hospital. The program allows prospective patients to have 5-minute interviews with each of approximately 12 OB-GYN doctors. It's free, lasts about an hour and even includes lunch. Notices about upcoming Doc Shops are sent to e-mail addresses in the hospital's data base, posted on Facebook and Twitter and advertised at local businesses. Since the program was started in the fall of 2009, there have been 4 shops. Ten more are planned for 2010 and will include pediatrician shopping. It's a lot like speed dating without the dating - but perhaps with more lasting relationships.
Because there are about 100 different bacteria that grow on human skin, a scientist at Colorado University/Boulder had the idea to use them as bacterial fingerprints. Everyone has bacterial communities on their bodies that are unique to them. Because these communities don't change very much, they can be used for identification. After swabbing the bacterial DNA from 3 computer keyboards, the scientists were able to match it to the bacteria on the fingertips of the computer owners. Bacteria can be matched even after 2 weeks on surfaces. In the future bacterial ID technology is expected to be "germ-ane" to forensic investigations.
After 30 years the Army came up with the idea to modernize its fitness training in order to adapt to actual battlefield experiences. Bayonet drills and 5-mile runs are out. Zigzag sprints and honing core muscles are in. There are more calisthenics to build body power, strength and agility. Over the 10 weeks of basic training, there's a strict schedule of exercises, which are done on different days so muscles can rest, recover and strengthen. Having soldiers fit for today's wars is a good idea. Having no wars for the soldiers to go to is a better idea.
Good ideas solve problems, but solving some problems - like those caused by golf balls - requires more than one good idea. At a golf course in Northern Ireland a raven had been stealing golf balls. Because the raven seemed to think the balls were eggs, golfers changed to yellow balls. At the only golf course on the South Pacific island of Tonga, there's no penalty if a monkey steals your ball. At a golf club in Uganda golfers get a free drop if their ball lands in a hippo footprint. Ideas like these keep golfers from going "ball-istic".
Because there are about 100 different bacteria that grow on human skin, a scientist at Colorado University/Boulder had the idea to use them as bacterial fingerprints. Everyone has bacterial communities on their bodies that are unique to them. Because these communities don't change very much, they can be used for identification. After swabbing the bacterial DNA from 3 computer keyboards, the scientists were able to match it to the bacteria on the fingertips of the computer owners. Bacteria can be matched even after 2 weeks on surfaces. In the future bacterial ID technology is expected to be "germ-ane" to forensic investigations.
After 30 years the Army came up with the idea to modernize its fitness training in order to adapt to actual battlefield experiences. Bayonet drills and 5-mile runs are out. Zigzag sprints and honing core muscles are in. There are more calisthenics to build body power, strength and agility. Over the 10 weeks of basic training, there's a strict schedule of exercises, which are done on different days so muscles can rest, recover and strengthen. Having soldiers fit for today's wars is a good idea. Having no wars for the soldiers to go to is a better idea.
Good ideas solve problems, but solving some problems - like those caused by golf balls - requires more than one good idea. At a golf course in Northern Ireland a raven had been stealing golf balls. Because the raven seemed to think the balls were eggs, golfers changed to yellow balls. At the only golf course on the South Pacific island of Tonga, there's no penalty if a monkey steals your ball. At a golf club in Uganda golfers get a free drop if their ball lands in a hippo footprint. Ideas like these keep golfers from going "ball-istic".
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