Crazy World

Lester is struggling through a bus station with two huge and 
obviously heavy suitcases when a stranger walks up to him and 
asks "Have you got the time?"

Lester sighs, puts down the suitcases and glances at his wrist.  
"It's a quarter to six," he says.

"Hey, that's a pretty fancy watch!" exclaims the stranger.

Lester brightens a little.  "Yeah, it's not bad.  Check this out," 
and he shows him a time zone display not just for every time zone 
in the world, but for the 86 largest cities in the world.

He hits a few buttons and from somewhere on the watch a voice says
"The time is eleven 'til six" in a very West Texas accent.  

A few more buttons and the same voice says something in Japanese.  
Lester continues "I've put in regional accents for each city."  

The display is unbelievably high quality and the voice is simply 
astounding.

The stranger is struck dumb with admiration.  

"That's not all," says Lester. He pushes a few more buttons and a 
tiny but very hi-resolution map of New York City appears on the 
display.  "The flashing dot shows our location by satellite 
positioning," explains Lester.  "View recede ten," he says, and 
the display changes to show eastern New York State.

"I want to buy this watch!" says the stranger.

"Oh, no, it's not ready for sale yet; I'm still working out the 
bugs," says the inventor. "But look at this," and he proceeds to 
demonstrate that the watch is also a very credible little FM radio 
receiver with a digital tuner, a sonar device that can measure 
distances up to 125 meters, a pager with thermal paper printout 
and, most impressive of all, the capacity for voice recordings
of up to 300 standard-size books, "though I only have 32 of my
favorites in there so far," says the proud inventor.

"I've got to have this watch!" says the stranger.

"No, you don't understand; it's not ready."

"I'll give you $1000 for it!"

"Oh, no, I've already spent more than -"

"I'll give you $5000 for it!"

"But it's just not -"

"I'll give you $15,000 for it!"  And the stranger pulls out a
checkbook.  

Lester stops to think.  He's only put about $8500 into materials 
and development, and with $15,000 he can make another one and 
have it ready for merchandising in only six months.  The stranger 
frantically finishes writing the check and waves it in front of 
him.  "Here it is, ready to hand to you right here and now. 
$15,000.  Take it or leave it."  

Lester abruptly makes his decision.  "OK," he says, and peels off 
the watch.  They make the exchange and the stranger starts happily 
away.

"Hey, wait a minute," Lester points to the two huge suitcases he'd 
been trying to wrestle through the bus station, "Don't forget your 
batteries."