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Sunday, February 24, 2013

Effective Inventions, Cancun, Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

  Sometimes, ideas and the execution thereof are completely effective at accomplishing their goal simply and with no moving parts. Here are two such cases - speed reduction devices and taco holders.

As an automobile driver here in this part of Mexico, the above sign should strike fear in your heart. You may be lucky enough to see one of these signs before it is too late. That is, assuming there is even a sign to see. Sometimes there is no signage and you'd better just hope you reacted quickly enough to a visual sighting.

The word "tope" is translated from the Spanish to mean "limit, stop, check, buffer."  In this part of Mexico it means "SPEED BUMP."  And if you don't slow down to a snail's pace when you cross it, you will likely tear the undercarriage out of your car - and I do mean a snail's pace.  

This is what they often look like. Sometimes only one row, or two rows, but many are three rows.  And with the yellow paint worn off, they are sometimes hard to see up ahead. I have never seen a more effective speed control device in my life. I promise, you will only once go over one of these too fast. Such an experience I guarantee will make a believer out of you.

Here's another style with multiple solid bars - eight of them to slow you down!

Sort of the opposite of the "tope" is the "vado."  It is a depression or trench across the road that also forces the driver to slow down, literally a "ford."   It's a little more subtle than the "tope" and it seems you can cross it a little faster.

I have eaten tacos at hundreds of restaurants in my life but never have they been served in such a simple and effective manner.  Here, each one is propped up nicely by the little wooden spacers nailed to the cutting board serving tray instead of bunched in a basket and falling over and spilling out. 

Simple and effective.


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