Shower Power

Why is it that we often do our best thinking in the shower? Is it the water, the heat, a soaking deluge that allows the brain to pour forth its secrets? The soap, cleansing our mind's shelves in anticipation of the day's clutter? Or just the brain slugging out of REM and tuning in to the pragmatic world with a few, last, foolish synapse fires for good measure? Or maybe it's being naked, uninhibited and primordial in our private realm of faux porcelain tile.

Regardless, it works, so let's use it. How satisfying to come up with your day's three ideas in five lathery minutes. If these ideas seem to revolve around personal hygeine, blame it on the Irish Spring.

1. Calcigum

I'm no fan of fluoride. Perhaps I'll include my research on it here one day. Teeth need calcium. I was wondering if there was a way to provide topical calcium for teeth without having to go to the dentist. Hence, calcigum - gum impregnated with calcium. Alas, this idea was already taken. But, no one seems to have it in stock. Perhaps it's an idea ahead of its time.

http://www.amazon.com/Estroven-Calci-Gum-Spearmnt/dp/B000TDX8WA

2. Mandaids

There's something so unmanly about a bandaid. A real man doesn't need a band aid. They're for sissies and kid's knees. Real men ignore the pain and get back to work. Or else they use something - I don't know what - to stem the flow of blood. This idea, too, I'm not the first to have conceived. I found an entry in the urban dictionary.

A mandaid is apparently a piece of duct tape with a piece of paper towel a manly man uses instead of a band aid - used when injuring yourself (such as cutting off your finger) doing manly things like construction, lifting weights, or eating red meat.

3. Shamp'u

Aha. One that hasn't been used yet. One of the basic principles of Taoism is P'U, the Uncarved Block. The essence of the Uncarved Block is that things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed (for those of you who haven't read The Tao of Pooh). Shamp'u is a way of starting the day fresh and new. Start simple. This shampoo would be imbued with aromatherapeutic oils - such as essence of lemon, rosemary and pine needle - which give the bather a clear mind. I even have a tagline. Shamp'u: clear your head.