It's time for the Name That Weird Invention! contest. Steven M. Johnson comes up with all sorts of wacky inventions in his weekly Museum of Possibilities posts. Can you come up with a name for this one? I can't even figure out what it's for! The commenter suggesting the funniest and wittiest name will win a free T-shirt from the NeatoShop.
Contest rules: one entry per comment, though you can enter as many as you like. Please make a selection of the T-shirt you want (may we suggest the Science T-shirt, Funny T-shirt, and Artist-designed T-shirt categories?) alongside your entry. If you don't select a shirt, then you forfeit the prize. Good luck!
Update: Congratulations to qwhacker, who called this "The Long Arm of the Law". Qwhacker wins a t-shirt from the NeatoShop! The second place entry was from cs, who did not specify a t-shirt:
"The future of traffic enforcement - The Self-Service Ticketing Lane Response Vehicle and Revenue Generator. No longer will officers have to be inconvenienced by weather or in danger from other vehicles on the highway. They will be able to work comfortably from the nearest coffee shop and use Facetime to issue tickets while sipping their latte.
Neato Turtle XL
The officer drives up to the stopped individual, who in turn, has apparently driven up to the video interface. Drive Up times 2.
Neatoramabot on gray, medium
"Dispensing justice with threatening reach."
This joke only works for D&D fans
Neato Turtle XL
Special Tickets Enforcement Tactics
"Dun dunna dun dunnnn"
Neato Turtle XL
"The law enforcement vehicle that does 0-50 in 20 seconds, requires four lanes to make a u-turn, and won't drive in reverse. Now with forty percent tire protection!"
Neato Turtle XL
Moose Likely to Succeed, Medium, Serene Green
(we call the state patrol 'staters' in WA state)
Moose Likely to Succeed, Medium, Serene Green
As long as it has a siren, call it the "Whooping Crane"
Since it keeps cops out of harm's way, "Cop-out"
Or, since police stay in the vehicle, "Cop-in"
"Long arm" would have obvious references to the law.
It may help catch thieves, but the spectacle may slow traffic: "Robber necker"
The extendable arm gets its own name: "Telis-cop"
The video screeen could be called "No-eskype" (or the ticket wicket?)
And the keypad/license reader could be called "Patrol Control" or "Speeder Reader".
"Because ruining your day should be more comfortable for us."
Neato Turtle XL
Moose Likely to Succeed, Medium, Serene Green
Master of my domain XL
May the Fork Be With You
Black XL
Gene Therapy
Military Green XL
Gene Therapy
Military Green XL
Gene Therapy
Military Green XL
I want to believe - M
Special Weapons Enforcing Tickets
"Dun dunna dun dunnnn"
Neato Turtle XL
...is what I meant to say
(Although I like "The Long Arm of the Law", qwhacker).
Come to the Dark Side, We Have Cookies (Black - L)
[T-Shirt: Brainier Than the Average Bear, L, Ash Grey]
Type Bike pink XL
Proposed situation:
On a game show
" Hello miss you are on with the Cop-Chat-O-Matic! I have been meaning to ask you: ... Can I see your license and registration please?! "
I would like the " chemists do it periodically" shirt in a small please
t-shirt astronomers do it under the stars, black XXL
Long Arm Ofthe Law
It has to be the 'iPlod'
Come To The Dark Side - We Have Cookies XL
Moose Likely to Succeed, Medium, Serene Green
Vampire Poser, Ladies L, Black
ORLY, Medium, Chocolate
Oh, and don't forget - iPlod
T-shirt = Look Out Schroedinger's Cat, It's a Trap! Male, 2XL, chocolate or black