h a l f b a k e r yMake mine a double.
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A pen that will only work while paired with a specific Bluetooth or other short range radio device. If you take the pen with you when you leave the area, it becomes useless. In some embodiments it could also be rigged to burst into flames, explode, or simply leak all of its ink after a timed delay.
Giving
credit to prior art: Though I thought of this on my own, I just found [goldbb]'s "Solid ink pen" (link) idea - using a solid dye that melted by an internal power/heat source, as needed. Something like that could be part of this system. My addition is using short range radio to enable/disable it, and intended use to keep people from stealing the things.
Inspiration: At a place I worked, access to one secured area was controlled by a digital lock needing both an access card and a PIN, and all entries and exits were electronically logged - but you still needed to sign in and out ON PAPER. Even though the pens where tethered to the clipboards, they routinely disappeared. This suggests even people with the highest clearances and access can't be trusted with a 25 cent ballpoint pen.
Solid_20ink_20pen
[a1, Apr 06 2023]
Sad when stolen
stuff_20that_20gets_20sad_20when_20stolen
The genus of which this is a species [pertinax, Apr 07 2023]
Dive-bombing seagulls driven mad by flying ants
https://www.itv.com...m-style-flying-ants
[a1, Apr 08 2023]
[link]
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// This suggests even people with the highest clearances and access can't be trusted with a 25 cent ballpoint pen.// |
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Never trust a man who won't add a couple of inches to his fish. |
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Is that what the kids are calling it these days? |
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Where can I steal one of these 25 cent ballpoint pens from? They sound a lot more fun than the one I stole from the post office, which I am using to write this anno. |
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// Where can I steal one of these 25 cent ballpoint pens // |
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You’ll have to check bulk generic office supply stores to get them at that price. Government pays around a dollar each for them these days, even when buying by the gross. |
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The tethered pens will still get stolen though and have to be replaced. Perhaps they should also emit a powerful smell that attracts flocks of pigeons or swooping seagulls, who will follow the pen thief around, becoming a total nuisance. |
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A powerful smell would also be detectable by the thief; better would be something like a silent dog whistle. |
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Maybe, instead of an obvious smell, some sort of pheromone could be used, of which a human would not be conscious. |
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Something attractive to flies or mosquitos? |
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If some clever scientist could extract or synthesise seagull pheromone, then that would keep us busy here coming up with innovative ways to use it for quite a while I would say. |
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Still think we’d be further ahead by attracting insects - and if it’s seagulls you want, the insect of choice will be flying ants (link). You just need to match the pheromone of the queen ready to mate. |
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Swarms of insects AND dive-bombing seagulls - best of both worlds. |
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