The accidental Queen of Spin

This is not a review of the TV show American Inventor; I promised not to do any more reviews. But here's a quick story after tonight's viewing.

If you're not familiar with the show, it's on ABC, and it's basically American Idol with inventors. Same kind of process of funneling down wanna-bes. Hundreds bring their inventions; fifty are chosen; then twelve; and over the most recent four shows, a final four. Next week, the winner will be chosen by viewer calls.

The final finalist, chosen tonight, is Janusz Liberkowski (first name pronounced yah-NOOSH), a man who developed a car seat that spins rather than restraining like a traditional car seat. His work has a sad origin; it began after his infant daughter died in a car crash. He reports that every day, three children die in car accidents despite being in a car seat. He's determined to save lives with a seat that drastically reduces impact on children. Truly inspiring.

Like all twelve semi-finalists, he got a month and $50,000 to spend developing his prototype. An engineering firm brought the device a long way, and a crash test did indeed show potential to reduce impact on children and save lives . A high-speed camera showed that the test model spun its baby completely around but prevented injury.

The new prototype is large, and that's a strike against its feasibility. However, the inventor predicts that carmakers will respond to the demand for greater safety. Janet was impressed by the statement.

"It's revolutionary," she said.

"Revolutionary," Ethan repeated. "Get it?"

"What?" Janet said. "I don't get it."

She made one of the great puns of all time and didn't know it.

If you don't get it either, just think for a minute, and it will come to you, like it soon did for Janet.

Still, for being slow on the uptake, we have to say it: Janet, Ya Goof!