Ideas that make you laugh – Rambling on about innovation and life

Editor's note: WRAL Local Tech Wire has added another feature with the launch of the "Innovation Exchange." Noah Garrett, former executive director of communications for the North Carolina Technology Association, is a creative spirit, from writing music to news stories, who recently launched NGC Communications. The focus of the Innovation Exchange is just that – creating a Web community through which people can exchange ideas and foster creativity.

Participate in the Exchange. Send ideas and feedback to: noah@thinkngc.com

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – As we continue the judging process and narrowing down the top three entries for our Start Doing For STEM Contest, the Innovation Exchange is taking time out this week to review STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) submissions and to discuss life's funny ironies and other random ramblings.

We should all reflect on occasion. After all, how often have random thoughts led to innovation, entrepreneurship and success?

As I am going through entries and waiting for those last minute submissions, I've been sitting at my computer thinking of nonsense. In other words, I came up with some completely random thoughts while waiting for procrastinators to finish up their work. So, with downtime comes contemplation, and I've come up with a few ideas that really made me laugh.

These are all random, some funny and some not, but I hope you enjoy them. Please feel free to share some your personal ironies and anecdotes for a future posting. And, be sure to look for the top three STEM logo entries to appear in next week's Innovation Exchange. By the way, it's not too late, I'll accept last-minute submissions at noah@thinkngc.com.

Here are my ideas for the week, obviously in no particular order:

1. Rushing to get somewhere just to sit still. It's true! How often do you find yourself running late to get somewhere just to sit still when you get there?

2. Fishing is relaxing. Fishing has long been a pastime known for relaxation. However, do many of you anglers out there find that you are even more stressed when you're not catching anything? I know I do. Of course, a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work. Everyone knows that. But, how relaxed are you when you come home from a fishing trip after catching nada?

3. The term "Civil War." Does this really need an explanation?

4. True story. This happened on Sunday and inspired this rant. A rickety `ol pickup truck zoomed past me along the highway with the driver talking on a cell phone. As the truck passed me I noticed a big sticker on the bumper that read "Get off the phone and drive." I hope you find that as funny as I did, because if you don't, just stop reading now.

5. Cool, you're still here. What about the irony of getting in a wreck while attempting to put on your seatbelt? I have found myself so many times forgetting to put it on and trying to put it on while driving and almost crashing. I have realized that I might be better off putting on my seatbelt prior to pulling out of the driveway.

6. Buying a sports car with an automatic transmission. That's not really ironic, that's just plain stupid. Why spend all that money on a sports car, if it's not a stick shift? What's the point!

7. A chicken nugget. I really don't know what part of the chicken the nugget comes from but I really don't want to know. I've heard of chicken wings, breast, thighs, but it's anatomically incorrect to eat the nugget of a chicken.

8. Applying and getting an interview for a career as a financial advisor when you yourself don't have a dime to your name. Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

9. And, lastly, writing a blog in the comedy genre that really isn't funny.

That is all. Good morning or good night whatever time you're reading this.