Monday, December 07, 2009

1001 Ways To Tune Up The World, Number Fifty-Two

52. Make cups and glasses wider on the bottom. (All cups and glasses.)

Last night, I poured Mr F a glass of milk and was about to put the cap back on the carton of milk (which really isn't a carton anymore, it's a jug, but that's besides the point) and my hand nicked the edge of Mr F's glass with just enough force to send the glass (which was an ordinary cup in that it had a smaller base than top) falling over, spilling the milk and making me restart the whole process and have to move Sweetie's little Smore-man candy dish and clean under there.

Some travel mugs have larger bases than tops. But no other cups do, so far as I have seen in my life, and I have seen pretty far in my life.

Why? Why aren't coffee cups, milk cups, all cups and glasses larger at the bottom to prevent unnecessary spills (there's no point trying to prevent those necessary spills, right?) Is it aesthetics? If so, shouldn't people like me (i.e., smart people who are also clumsy) have a choice as to which we think looks better, a small-on-the-bottom glass next to a puddle of grape soda, or a larger-on-the-bottom glass we're not afraid to set next to our computer?

Is it a cost thing? Because I'd pay more to avoid dumping liquids all over my life.


Still 2 days left in the contest: Comment on this post! You could win a book or magazine subscription (details here) and you'll be making me happy (details on that here.)

Prior entries:



























13. Ban driving any kind of automobile, motorcycle or other personal vehicle within 1-2 miles of downtown in any city with a population of more than 100,000.

12. Abolish gym class; instead, teach kids to play musical instruments.


11. Change copyright laws to allow anyone to use anyone else's creative work provided that the copier pay 60% of the profit to the originator and that the copier not cast the original work in a negative light.

10. Have more sidewalk cafes and outdoor seating.

9. When you have to give someone a gift, ask them what they want, and then get that thing for them.

8. Never interrupt or finish someone's jokes.

7. Periodically, give up something you like for at least a month.

6. Switch to "E-money."

5. Have each person assigned one phone number, and then add an extension for the various phones and faxes that person might be reached at.

4. Abolish Mondays and Tuesdays.

3. Don't listen to interviews with athletes or comedians.

2. Have "personal cashiers" at the grocery store.

1. Don't earn more than $200,000 per year.

No comments: