Slashdot Mirror
The Parking Meter Turns 75 Today
nj_peeps writes "75 years ago Carl Magee filed a patent application for what would become one of the most hated inventions in history: the parking meter. From the article: 'Magee's brainwave was to install a device that had a coin acceptor and a dial to engage a timing mechanism. A visible pointer and flag indicated the expiration of the paid period, meaning you either had to move, put in more money, or face the wrath of the local constabulary. The design continued largely unchanged for more than 40 years.'"
Where do you think you are? This is Slashdot, where no one cares about the unintended consequences of their actions or policy changes. We just want to get software for free, get music for free, park for free, to use other people's brilliant ideas for free. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
What a fool believes, he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.