New Inventions for the New School Year
This week, we caught up on the latest trash can technology, dreamed up innovations for the home, and gave advice to the incoming students in Lowell, MA.
Ben: - Hello there, listeners. You're tuned into 91.5 FM, WML Lowell. This is off the rails, on the airwaves. That's right, we're here. We're still squatting our spot, as it were.
Vicki: - Yeah, I think I saw on social media that students moved into Lowell's campus today, so.
Ben: For
Vicki: All the students that might be tuning in, we were you like 50 billion years ago. I remember the day like it was 50 billion years ago. It was sunny. Someone helped me carry the mini fridge in. What a hero. the random volunteer that helped me with that. I don't know, nothing else was truly eventful from that day except lugging the mini fridge upstairs because there was no elevator.
Ben: What do you remember? Yeah, that elevator was really a thing. Yeah, I remember having a mini fridge also, and I think... that probably 90% of the things that were stored in my mini-fridge were hummus.
Vicki: That makes so much sense for you, but that really does,
Ben: and I don't know, like, what else you could fit in those tiny mini-fridges besides, like, hummus and, like, three beers in the drawer.
Vicki: Yeah, I... don't really think I had much food in there but I had like milk for cereal back when I used to drink cow's milk very exciting um that's a good one actually cereal is a good dorm snack yeah but I I don't even know if I really used it I gotta be honest leftovers from Supa's pizza I guess was probably like in the fridge Um
Ben: , it was
Vicki: Probably in like 90% of UMass Lowell mini fridges, leftovers from Supas, but yeah, I can't really think of how else I'd utilize it, to be honest.
Ben: Yeah. Oh, this is, speaking of pizzas, this is exciting news from New York City. They're debuting specific... trash cans for pizza boxes. Okay
Vicki: , we should actually talk about this really quick. I have recently attended like I guess a pizza party and we're breaking the boxes into two because the part on the bottom that gets greasy from the pizza you cannot recycle but the part on the top is essentially just cardboard paper. So like in these pizza box recycling bins like is it all compost? Like what's going on? Because like essentially you have two parts of the pizza box. You have the unaltered like cardboard and then the grease like stain. like cardboard.
Ben: Yeah
Vicki: , I agree
Ben: . I
Vicki: Just, I need to know.
Ben: I think that the real issue
Vicki: is, um, is it a space thing? Yeah, it's a space thing. Like they don't actually, I was hoping that
Ben: They would answer what you're describing is like, that you're going to do with the pizza boxes. But these new bins are actually just about accommodating the amount of pizza boxes that are thrown out.
Vicki: - Okay, that makes sense. That's sad though. I feel like we need to dedicate at least a research intern on staff or a PhD student at Columbia to researching. Like
Ben: ,
Vicki: How to, like what to do
Ben: With
Vicki: The pizza box after you use it
Ben: . You gotta, there's got to be something you can make like lawn furniture or like clothing. I don't know. Yeah, it's just, it stresses me out, you know, stresses me out.
Vicki: Yeah, you can do some landscaping. Like, at the same time, it's what else are you going to put a pizza in to deliver it? truly like the best
Ben: Vessel you know that's yeah it's not going to go in a bag
Vicki: no you
Ben: Can't and
Vicki: Then what if you do plastic it's like huge yeah no like one wants that yeah so let me just describe
Ben: The uh the pizza box bins just so so you can kind of of paint a picture here, they're describing the
Vicki: Problem
Ben: That currently exists is like, it is literally trying to fit a square object into a round hole, putting a square pizza box into a normal trash bin. So they have a, it is, the size of a pizza box exactly that footprint just as a as a bin it's a square trash and it has a slot on top and then all the boxes just neatly fall down on top of each other and it has the cute um red and white checker pattern on top like okay very italian Yeah, the Italian
Vicki: Tablecloth look.
Ben: Yeah.
Vicki: So it's kind of just like a mailbox for pizza boxes. Is that what I'm gathering?
Ben: Pretty much, yeah, and it's the perfect size, and you just slot it in, and it nicely falls and stacks on top of itself.
Vicki: Are they I have a lot of questions like as a like city planner questions like are they deploying these pizza box? bins to like
Ben: Certain areas of New York that have like, okay. Yeah I was just curious if it would be everywhere like if it was just like a big rollout like recycling bins, you know I wish there was one on my block, but no, they're specifically putting them in parks,
Vicki: And they're also- because the parks department is doing this.
Ben: Not the-
Vicki: Probably like Times Square or whatever. Yeah, it's not DSNY, it's the parks department, trying to keep the parks clean.
Ben: So they did a pilot program in- the in central park and then they're rolling them out so the first one uh went in the little um tiny like you know triangle park across from joe's pizza in greenwich village so like an iconic
Vicki: Yes this makes sense this is so smart I hope whoever came up with it got a raise, and if not, and you're listening, give them a raise. Yes. Yeah, it's it's exciting. New York's a start, but this has got to roll out across
Ben: The United States. You know, I feel like this is a need in many places. It definitely is, especially at a pizza place. place they can just get one and have it
Vicki: Yeah
Ben: And all the boxes go in and whatever it
Vicki: Truly shows you that sometimes the simplest designs may end up being the most impactful right like to this day up until the year 2024 no one thought to make a pizza box shaped trash bin yeah that's and now this person like if they patent it Like, there's
Ben: no
Vicki: Way. This is such a good idea.
Ben: They do retail for $950 each. Yeah, they have to sell like, I don't know, a million of them and then they're gold.
Vicki: This is great. I agree.
Ben: This is something where it's like, oh, why didn't I think of that? Like, so obvious. Yeah, now I'm
Vicki: Gonna be like, you know, thinking like what other like simple modern problem
Ben: Requires like a truly robust yet like minimal solution, you know? Okay, well, we may need to come back to that later in the show.
Vicki: Okay, yeah, I gotta brainstorm, for sure. Yeah, and I feel like when Kyle inevitably arrives, he'll have a lot to say, as he usually does. Definitely.
Ben: In the meantime, I guess we'll kick it back to some tunes, but welcome back. back to school everyone and we're coming to you live here on WUML LOWL. Keep it locked!
PSA's & Bathroom Innovations
Ben: I have an important message as well. Have you checked out your car recently? Having your car checked out before the cold winter months can avoid the stress of a breakdown during harsh weather. Experts at the Car Care Council recommend checking your battery, and if it's more than three years old, replace it. Fixing it Very cold temperatures can reduce a vehicle's battery power. While you're at it, check your coolant. It should be flushed and refilled every two years. Don't add 100% antifreeze. Switch to low viscosity oil in winter as it flows more easily between moving parts when cold. Thickened oil can make it hard to start the car when the thermometer dips. half full. This decreases the chance chances of moisture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. Check tire pressures as tires lose pressure when the temperature drops. The Car Care Council promotes regular vehicle maintenance through its Be Car Care Aware campaign. For a free copy of its Car Care Guide, visit carcare.org. This message brought to you from the Car Care Council and your friends here at WML Lowell. Wah!
Vicki: That was a mouthful.
Ben: Yeah, that's a good one. Car Care Corner with the Car Care Council.
Vicki: Yeah, what a tongue twister. Um, yeah. I don't know, do you want to kick it to music? Do you have any invention ideas? I'm still on the drawing board personally. Uh-huh, about the inventions. The only invention, earlier we
Ben: Referenced uh the pizza box trash can and what a great idea that was and asked if we had any other simple, brilliant, problem-solving ideas like that. The only one that I could... like, started thinking about was, um, something to put your phone on when you're on the toilet. Okay,
Vicki: I was also thinking toilet. Um, I was thinking, like, like, this is a little too techie, but like an automatic, like, toilet seat closer. So when you're done, you don't have to put it down. It does it for you. Yeah.
Ben: I bet it wouldn't have to be techie. I bet you could rig something up with like pulleys and counterweights.
Vicki: Yeah. So, okay, let's talk about your invention. Uh huh. Like, is this just a little tripod stand? Like, is there, are you putting it in like portrait or like landscape mode for videos? Like what is...
Ben: Ideally it should do both, right? I was thinking like, similar to your idea of having the toilet seat go down, like, when you sat on the toilet something would drop down. I actually think we could combine these. Like, it's all a weight system.
Vicki: Like, when you lift the toilet seat, like, the string, like, drops. drops down your phone holder and then when you and like the weight of like your phone keeps it that way and then when you like take your phone out like then it counterbalances to close.
Ben: This is perfect yeah what if it was like a murphy bed type of thing like something folds
Vicki: Out of the wall. actually I kind of like that because then it's not just you know just randomly there it's like hidden
Ben: it's
Vicki: Hidden you have so you and you have a see of a like a shelf that folds down and a toilet
Ben: Seat that folds up and they're connected to each other oppositely so when the shelf is down the
Vicki: Seat is up or the lid is up and when it is down the shelf is up yeah Because, you know, the toilet really hasn't been reinvented, like, very much in recent years, like, I feel like sometimes you get, like, the bidet, like, in the toilet, which is
Ben: ,
Vicki: Like, a good adaptation, or, like, I know there's, like, heated toilet seats for the rich, but, like, for an average person, Like, I feel like these are two things that would make the bathroom experience just, like, way better.
Ben: Yeah, it would make the bathroom experience way better, and it is something that would actually change, instead of just having, like, a fancy or a toilet seat. Like, this is a new piece here, you know? Like, we're not just making something better, we're coming up with a new idea.
Vicki: Well, it's a good idea, because it kind of... - Toilet is already like gravity based, like with like the way it flushes with the water. - Oh yeah, the water could get involved too. - Yeah. No, I actually think that this could be it. This could be our get rich quick scheme.
Ben: - Yeah.
Vicki: - For sure. Yeah, I'm about it.
Ben: - Uh-huh, okay. I'm coming up with some really bad gravity liquid. ideas right now, and
Vicki: I
Ben: Think
Vicki: we
Ben: Should just
Vicki: Move
Ben: on before I say them out loud
Vicki: . Okay, yeah, I don't want to know what you're going to call it. I'm sure the name is not
Ben: Radio-friendly, or like maybe, but like shouldn't be said out loud. Yeah, okay. The only other
Vicki: Things I'm thinking are like, like kitchen stuff. I feel like the kitchen could be optimal. my eyes in a way. Yeah, better.
Ben: Always.
Vicki: But like, I don't, I don't know. Like, I like sometimes a kitchen. Like there's too many random appliances and like tech where it like almost is like, better to go back to the basics. Yeah, and so like, what would be like a, like bowl like thing that would just like make the kitchen better. I don't know
Ben: . Yeah, that is that is a tough one. I mean like the stoves where you use wood and it heats the whole house. Maybe we'd go like way back. The other thing that I really like and is kind of newer is that with the induction stove tops that are magnetized. that are really good actually, like they're super fast, super hot, very safe because they don't heat up the pans with heat. It kind of like extends your countertop, because if you're not using the stove, it's just a flat surface. So like, I can put my cutting board down and chop stuff. Or like I could roll out a dough
Vicki: or
Ben: Like it sort of expands your counter space
Vicki: Yeah, you do make a very good point with that That's cool, it's not a new idea, but that that's cool
Ben: More counter is always good counter, but I agree There's there's too many appliances and that's why I need more counter space because there's there's too many appliances going on Yeah, what
Vicki: if, simply, like, in the kitchen, like, where there's not cabinets, it was kind of like bike storage, where, like, your appliances are sort of just suspended in the air, and you can, like, pull them down to use them.
Ben: Mm-hmm. Like, a little... Oh, yeah, like, pulley... or like hoist hoists
Vicki: Yeah yeah
Ben: I
Vicki: Don't know I don't know it'd be like the best
Ben: Way to do this but I feel like like that could be an option yeah I don't know or
Vicki: All the pots and pans get hung then all the appliances go in the cabinet oh wait I know what I would want I know what I would want in the kitchen it would be Uh
Ben: -huh
Vicki: . Are you ready? Yes. Okay. When you close the refrigerator door, it closes the drawers for you.
Ben: Okay, yeah, I love it, but talk me through.
Vicki: Okay. So you go into the fridge.
Ben: Yeah, I go into the fridge.
Vicki: The fridge i reach down to the bottom drawer i pull out a cucumber i'm trying to make a salad instead of having to close the cucumber like vegetable drawer like it's with the same mechanism as the door close and so as i close the regular fridge door it automatically pulls the draw in oh we yeah this this is i this
Ben: We could easily make
Vicki: This
Ben: . I feel
Vicki: Like
Ben: I could make this
Vicki: Right now. This
Ben: is
Vicki: Such a good idea. Wait, this is my best idea I think I've ever had. Wow. Like
Ben: , I actually want this so bad because the amount of times I don't close it enough and then it, like, crashes because it doesn't fully close.
Vicki: This is brilliant.
Ben: Yeah,
Vicki: and just like a simple, like, pulley system that pulls it closed.
Ben: Like...
Vicki: Yeah,
Ben: And
Vicki: This isn't, this isn't a revolutionary idea, there are other things that do this. This is it. This is my get rich quick. Okay. Yeah. I shouldn't have said it on air. New refrigerators.
Ben: The refrigerator closes itself for you. That's the idea.
Vicki: Yeah. Well, I mean, the refrigerator has like a weeded door that like generally shouldn't. close but yeah but
Ben: it doesn't close the drawers for you
Vicki: it doesn't close the drawers and that is like so frustrating sometimes
Ben: Yeah okay well i think these are these are all great ideas
Vicki: That that we should get the interns over to the patent office immediately what we really need to do is we need to talk to the person who invented the pizza box trash can because like they definitely know who we should talk to
Ben: Yeah uh-huh yeah they're well connected in the in the world of invention that's for sure yes if you are that person the number to call is 978-937-422-4224 Yeah, you can
Vicki: Also head to OffTheRailsRadio.org. There's definitely a way to contact us on there. I'm not really sure. While you're there, subscribe to the newsletter. I don't know. We don't bother you too much with the newsletter.
Ben: That's for sure. Yeah. we do a new show. Yeah
Vicki: ,
Ben: and you get a little update. That's all. Yeah
Vicki: , but
Ben: Yeah
Vicki: ,
Ben: if
Vicki: You are
Ben: The pizza box trashcan guy, we would love to hear from you. Yes, yes, please do. Please reach out. Please do reach out. We're gonna kick it back to some music. Just a reminder, you are tuned into WUML LOL. coming to you live this Saturday evening.
Advice for Incoming Students
Ben: Well, good evening listeners. You are listening to, because you're a listener, you're listening to WML LOL. That's how that works. Yeah. We are off the rails on the airwaves.
Vicki: Yes, except we're about to be off the airwaves at 8 o'clock. It will be Factory 303 with another hot air. mix but you have been tuned in to us and we are so grateful you came on this journey yeah do you have anything else to say yeah I agree you've always got to
Ben: End with gratitude that's that's an important step so here we are saying
Vicki: Thank you we appreciate your support yeah to all the new students back on Lowell's campus, join the radio station. It's
Ben: The
Vicki: Best club on campus. So that's our plug. Is there anything else? Any words of wisdom? Words of wisdom for the incoming students?
Ben: Yeah. Yeah.
Vicki: Yeah. That's... Don't try to do too much.
Ben: The free, the college free. time is important. You never know what's gonna happen. You make friends you meet, or a club you join
Vicki: , or exploring Lowell, reading a book. Oh yeah, that's probably my word of wisdom
Ben: is actually explore Lowell. It's pretty cool. Lowell is great. Yeah. There's awesome food, awesome people, cool cultures. cool history.
Vicki: Yeah,
Ben: Yeah,
Vicki: Totally.
Ben: If
Vicki: You
Ben: do any of those things, let us know off the rails radio.org. We'd love to
Vicki: Hear from you. Otherwise, we'll be back next week. It's that simple. Catch y'all later. Oh, wait, we haven't.
Ben: Our catch phrase in a long time so i think it was just the two of us we should probably
Vicki: Okay yeah we can do it we can do it uh should i should i start or do you want to take the lead okay if you can breathe it in you can breathe it out
Ben: Incredible timing because Vicky, you just froze completely. So it was just me. We're gonna just style this one out. Thanks for listening, folks. We'll be back next week.
Vicki: Whoops, sorry. That was incredible timing.