Reload this page for a new random thought.

#9

First somebody had the bright idea of transmitting computer data over a phone line. Then someone decided it might be a good idea to transmit computer data over cable TV lines. I agree that it's a good idea to avoid having more application-specific lines come into the average American home, but I don't think the developers of these technologies are being creative enough. I think we should transmit computer data through the plumbing. Think about it. We've already got this elaborate, tree-structured plumbing system in place that connects every home to local centralized plants. If we connect all the local plants together by satellite or something, we would effectively have a network topologically similar to the Internet, but simpler and more geographically intuitive. I say we do it. We could transmit the data via recyclable immersible flotation capsules, or perhaps with timed flushing sequences. Of course, excess rain could cause some line noise, but these are the types of problems civil engineers are paid to solve.