What if ... ? Grabbing story ideas from thin air.

Speculation about what could be isn't only tied to science fiction. Anyone can ask, "What if?" and apply reasoning and imagination to whatever they want. Many tremendous works of fiction have been birthed by such simplistic questions: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Forest Gump, Anne of Green Gables, Star Trek, mysteries of all kinds ... the list is endless. If you find yourself stumped for what to create, just start asking questions and let your mind wander.

I'm not sure when it became a bad thing to daydream, but it's sure battered down the heights of imagination most people aspire to. Actually, imagination is a strangely disparaged thing--people seem to think a bright imagination is bad. I can't understand it. For instance, I was helping my father put a television on the wall, with one of those extending and turning television brackets, and we were stumped by three screws that simply spun in place yet didn't come out. I sat and thought in frustration, then imagined the inside and some possibilities. In the end, we took the back off the television and discovered another bit that unscrewed rather than the screw. It was a simple thing to fix and reassemble. But, without such imagination, I don't know what we'd have done.

You see, if you begin with the question, "What if ..." then you are lead by your own imagination and experience into a completely new world. That's where huge leaps in technology come from, springing from seemingly nowhere, to dazzle the world with profound brilliance. I think back on my favorite books, and the majority are hugely imaginative. If you keep prodding yourself with imagination, you will naturally respond by fostering more imagination inside yourself. That's the best part! Clear away the cobwebs and let your mind soar into a universe of possibilities!

- M

Impossible! Nothing is impossible, my dear sir.

One of my favorite movies, "The Princess Bride," which is imminently quotable, has a great exchange between two of the characters. "Impossible!" says one, and his accomplice responds, "You keep using that word. I don't think it means what you think it means." The implication for the scene is that no matter how seemingly impossible the task, the hero nevertheless presses out a victory. Our own lives are filled with similar examples. We even have a modern phrase exemplifying the concept: "Those claiming it's impossible are drowned out by those accomplishing it."

Sure, there are impossible things: you can't jump to the Moon, live on nothing but air, stop the waves with your fingers, or fly like a bird. However, it depends on your perspective, doesn't it? You could jump onto a spaceship which flies to the Moon, go scuba diving, press a button that lowers a tidal barrier, and let an airplane do the flying. So, thinking beyond your box of limitations opens the impossible to new competition. Here's a question: are you allowing your current circumstances to dictate your possibilities?

It's truly incredible how often we are wrong when we claim something is impossible. People are constantly leapfrogging beyond limitations, finding new heights, and forging new frontiers. Take caution when you call something impossible. Perhaps you simply haven't given the idea a true opportunity. Impossible is frequently a cheap way out of trying. Let your imagination soar, shrug loose the limitations around you, find new methods, and give it a go. You might fail, or you might succeed. But, you might just redefine the word, "impossible," into "possible."

- M

Favorite myths

The world is filled with wonderful myths and tall-tales. My personal favorites are anything regarding dragons and the journeys of Odysseus. Myths are amusing. I have no idea how accurate many of them are, though I suppose they probably have a bit of truth to them. Some are called mythology, some urban legends, and others are flat out lies. But, we face myths and legends all the time. Even one of the days of the week is a myth--Thursday ... Thor's day (yup, the god of thunder day).

Sure, I love old myths, but there are plenty of modern ones. There's the Loch Ness monster, Bigfoot, bumblebees can't fly, a gold pot at the end of any rainbow, and who can forget that the Moon is made of cheese? Ok, sure, I'm having fun with the idea, but all of those are myths of one kind or another. To me, there's a sense of grandeur and fantasy about them, and that's incredibly seductive. Have we forgotten to have a mixture of wonder and delight with old stories?

The famous Loch Ness picture, now know to be a hoax
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Mythology tells of how things began, how they work, creatures in the world, and nearly every aspect of life. Take whatever you want from them, the tales have lasted throughout the centuries and formed the bedrock of many societies. Modern society tends to scoff at "myths" and ignore them completely, but perhaps there's a sound reason these myths persist throughout the years. Many myths are warnings or teachings. Maybe the Loch Ness monster isn't real, maybe it is, but either way I'm not swimming in that place ... I'd rather meet Nessie from the shoreline.

- M

When players change their minds ...

I'm a big believer in the power of imagination. It's phenomenal how expansive our minds are, if we allow it to happen. In the case of writing, I'm surprised by how real the characters become in my own imagination. So real, that they often will not do the things I plan, or expect, them to do. It's a battle between my conscious and unconscious mind, and I adore the interplay. When the characters begin writing themselves (figure of speech), the story flows with greater purpose and cohesiveness. There's a naturalness to it, and your audience will know you're no longer forcing the players into the action.

For me, stories are all about having fun. I want to enjoy the characters, the action, the scenery, and all the interplay. There's a really tough to define quality when a story feels "comfortable." Everything is working smoothly, naturally, and doesn't fight itself. Then, the emotions the story is generating are enhanced, heightened, piqued. Romance is more lovely. Mystery is deeper. Action is alarming. Suspense is nail-biting. Audiences love engaging in stories they relate to and will actively seek out more stories from the same author (and every author is secretly wanting exactly that circumstance).

So, if the characters suddenly take on a mind of their own, let it happen and treat it as a good thing. It means your subconscious has some powerful ideas. See where it leads you. The end may surprise even you. Creation is an act of will and imagination, but also of passion and love. Never let the concerns and fears of life stop you from producing more works. And, by all means, let your characters talk to you without interruption.

- M

I'm late. I'm late, for a very important date!

I was reading "Alice in Wonderland" and it got me thinking about the idea of professional imaginations. There are some people who are lauded and paid simply for having fantastical imaginations--people like the director Tim Burton, or writer Philip K. Dick of "Blade Runner" fame. William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest master of the English language, and I'll wager it has a lot to do with the imaginative use of said language. Why do we prize imagination so greatly?

The White Rabbit from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"

In some ways, it's like a magic trick--we know there's something simple behind it, but the effect is so dazzling we really don't want to know how it's done. We also know there's significant work and struggle in play, to the extent where most people prefer others to do the heavy lifting. There's nothing at all wrong with this attitude--since, it's the same one we use when we go to a restaurant and have someone else cook for us--and, so we are safely incredulous at the displays of wizardry.

I spend a lot of time observing people, and something I've noticed is nobody loses their imagination. Bored golfers sometimes perform amazing stunts with their equipment, dulled office workers may do circus acts with their pens, construction workers will dance with their own heavy machinery. It's incredible the depths of human imagination. Many times it's said that we lose our imagination as we age (I've said so myself), but I'm thinking now that our imagination simply changes from fantastical to useful. We still love fiddling and playing, though we make it look like work... seems contradictory, doesn't it?

- M

Sleep my pretty! And, dream of lollipop rainbows...

I don't remember most of my dreams. I know some people do, and that you can train yourself to do so, but I'm fine with letting those nighttime wanderings remain a mystery. There is the thought that some genius ideas float away with wakefulness, though I highly doubt they really are as wonderful as my unconscious mind believes--I have written some down and then wish I hadn't ... they were terrible. Dreams can be a whole lot of fun though, especially when you take control and gallop along with an imagination free from all restraint.

The human body apparently requires dreaming for full rest. So far as I can determine, science still hasn't figured out exactly what the REM state of sleep does for us--experiments have demonstrated people become very messed up without it. It's been theorized the brain sorts the previous day's memories at this time and basically trims the fat and keeps the important stuff. Maybe. Personally, I bet it's a lot more complicated than that, and most likely involves the brain performing maintenance activities not possible during wakefulness.

Whatever the mechanics of dreaming, I'm glad we can do it. Our imaginations are given free reign during sleep. We create vast worlds, do incredible things, and don't worry about the consequences of anything at all. It's very freeing. Well, at least when dreams are nice and fun (nightmares not so much, so I'll just ignore those). Dreams demonstrate how we never truly lose our imaginations, no matter how stuffy and grown up we become. Just go with it. Let your dreams bear you away to lands beyond time and space!

- M

What happens when imagination meets reality?

I love stage magic, particularly illusions which happen right in front of your face (typically accomplished with meticulous slight-of-hand). I've learned some tricks, but have never put in the time and effort to truly master the art. I'm dazzled by the performances, though I know enough about how it's done that I find some of the magic fades. I wish it didn't. I miss the awe and wonder.

Actually, I think the looks of amazement you can obtain with a really good trick is second to nothing. Especially with children, who gasp with such astonishment, it's like you get a breath of pure magic simply from being witness. My wife gifted a young girl with a bit of a quiltwork she had completed, and the girl smiled with pure wonder. That's imagination made real. Magic.

Stage magicians rely on our desire for wonder, amazement, and to be willingly baffled. They aren't the only ones though. Writers, painters, musicians, sculptors, cooks, and a host of other professions, all strive to bring a bit of magic to our lives. But, witness the wonders of nature and marvel all the same! Imagination's myriad creations challenge us to see the world in new ways, revealing wonders we never expected and will never forget. If there's one facet of the human being which never fails to give me goose bumps, it's our ability to imagine. What a miracle it is!

- M

Whistling. Working. Why not put them together?

Ever tried whistling more than a single note? I grew up whistling, and have been told I'm pretty good at it. I don't deny it. I love whistling songs, and having a good time by myself. It's relaxing, and let's me sing my favorite songs without having the vocal range to do it by voice. Even more, it let's me play with music and that's something I believe very strongly in. Music makes life better in every way.

Disney popularized "Whistle while you work" and it stuck in the popular imagination, not that I've ever seen anyone whistling at work really. Actually, I used to do that as a janitor when I thought I was alone (apparently not always, since people commented about it). The concept is a good one though, because it speaks about being happy about what you're doing. That's a great idea. We should all enjoy our work, even when it's hard and backbreaking.

I suppose the conclusion is to ask: What do you do to make your life happy? Whistling is only one thing we can do, but there are many options available to us. Enjoying what you do is more than an emotion, it's a commitment. Life is like that, rewarding our commitments with joy. Maybe not jump in the air joy, but a satisfaction of something done well.

- M

Time keeps slipping past ...

Another year has breezed past my grasping fingers, leaving me another year older and hopefully wiser. I do feel proud that this year I at least noticed it was my birthday. If you've ever seen the movie, "Groundhog Day," you'll understand how fun it would be to rewind the days and maintain your own learning ... I could learn languages, teach myself to paint, read all the books on my shelves, and loads of other things! However, since reality constantly slaps me across the jaw, I will trudge along and cram as much into my brain as possible.

Thinking about time naturally brings me to time travel. Would I want to use it, if time travel were available? Absolutely, yes! I think it would be fun, exciting, and every bit as crazy as Doctor Who would suggest. But, there's the inevitable issue of someone messing up the time stream. Well, there's lots of theory about what would actually happen, and I have my own favorites too. Safe to say, I doubt time travel will ever happen to the extent science fiction has shown. Pity. I'd love having my own pet triceratops.

The real question becomes, "what are you doing with the time available to you?" Not to get too philosophical here, but it's hard not to be. Time is a resource we'll never have any more of, nor any less of. Love the moment. Try to live with few regrets. Work hard and play hard. Use suntan lotion...

- M

Make more Tolkien movies, pretty please.

The successes of the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, followed by "The Hobbit" trilogy demonstrates the world has a great appetite for epic fantasy. There are mole Tolkien works available, and even further ones by Christopher Tolkien in the same expansive world. The biggest would come from "The Silmarillion." J.R.R. Tolkien spent a huge amount of effort creating not only the world, but all the stories covering its past. While "The Silmarillion" attempts to tell a cohesive story, it's really more of a series of short tales which a movie could easily latch onto and make real.

I don't see any reason we cannot have single movies within Tolkien's universe. They don't all have to be epically long trilogies. Why not tell the story of the creation of Middle Earth, which is a wonderful scene of creation where it is actually sung into existence. The story of how evil came about and festered is all part of it. Or, the corruption of the elves (hinted at in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but never explained). There are many, many, many, many captivating stories contained in chunks. Just give us a story within a single movie, and let it be at that.


April Fools joke from the "Skiffy and Fanty Show"

Maybe a resurgence of fantasy movies will happen, as it has with superhero movies. I love a good fantasy story to share with my wife--snuggle time. More than that, I feel fantasy encourages imagination more than any other genre. Anything is possible with fantasy, and it's so easy to capture the attention of any age with mysterious dragons and heroes and villains.

Please, Hollywood, make some more Middle Earth movies! I'll definitely go see them.

- M

Socks, and the untold mystery of their disappearances.

If you've ever done laundry, you've probably come across the weird phenomena of vanishing socks. I'm not sure why it's just socks and not underwear or something else disgusting, but I've never known anyone to miss their pants. I've thought about this dilemma for a long time, and I have some ideas.

First, I don't think socks are magically turning into dust in the dryer--despite how wonderful that theory is, there's not enough lint to make up an entire sock. Also, there are no black holes in the laundry room, because of lots of science reasons and the fact the Earth still exists. I doubt there is a sock monster roaming around either, so I would call that idea 50/50.


Sock mystery by Maria van Bruggen

So, what do I think is happening to these socks? Well, my personal theory is there is a previously unknown form of life which exists only within the confines of a dryer, due to the combination of heat and darkness. It's a kind of bacteria, but has great ability to absorb used cotton and footwear. It's droppings are the static electricity that bafflingly coats our clothes so thickly. This makes the loss of socks directly proportional to the level of static in your laundry. The dryer sheets we throw in to battle static actually absorb the bacteria's droppings and so prevents overwhelming sock loss. The bacteria avoid detection because they have a very hard shell which mimics the look and feel of enamel. The only way I know of to get rid of them is to starve them of socks for a month or two.

Happy hunting, and good luck.

- M

Ideas come from ... well, it's magic.

A cast of an anthill. Wow!

Have you ever asked an artist where they get their ideas? Likely a comedian will tell you it's from life. An artist might say their dreams. A musician perhaps will mention a particularly emotional time. A writer will smile and say, yes. You see, it's all of these things and more. Creative people are constantly sifting through their experiences and holding onto little nuggets they find interesting. It's like a little boy picking through stones at the side of a road. There are jewels to find, even if nobody else sees them. Imagination doesn't get bogged down by specifics or practicality. When something is fascinating, that's all it needs to be.

 

In Greek times they called inspiration a gift of the gods (specifically the Muses) and felt it was supernaturally gifted. I'll agree it sure feels like that when inspiration pounds you flat with awe, though most times it's a willful act of searching for something you like. Think of listening to music. Do you always listen to the same thing? If you have a large music library, you probably skip through quite a few until you settle down and let it play. Ideas are like that.

 

My favorite answer is to say I get ideas from clouds and then walk away. Best to give somebody a thing to ponder rather than shrug and say, "No clue. Why? Do you have an idea for me?"

 

What's the real issue is what you do with an idea. Is it worthy of putting effort into it, or is it only a puff of wind on your cheek? What could blossom from your work? And, if successful, how many people will be delighted? Ideas don't even have to be grand and profitable. Try out a few that have no more impact than a paper airplane gliding to the end of your living room. Ideas are magic, and so are you.

 

- M

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

When you first read the story of Snow White, did you ever wonder what the mirror would say if you asked the question yourself? I've never considered myself beautiful--naturally, since I'm a man--yet, I always wanted to have the aspect of beauty. It seems like these days we hear so much about self image, self-love, and all about self. But, beauty isn't about any of that. Real beauty is generous and humble, kind and forgiving, loving and confident. Yes, beauty is far more than outward appearance.

 

Funny thing is, in the story the gorgeous (and evil) queen gets destroyed in the end. Sure, the story has a moral--it's a kid's story after all. Beauty is fleeting, like flowers blooming in a field. Even so, beauty is wonderful to behold. We naturally treasure beautiful things, create beautiful art, and love beautiful music. We are created to appreciate beauty.

 

So, why do we get so preoccupied with it? Why do we ignore the incredible beauty all around us? I suppose it's also in our nature to be blind to it. Funny that. I'm not the first to point out these things, and I have no doubt there will be plenty more books confronting the subject. In the end, we need to satisfy our longings with confidence and quiet assurance. If we chase the wind, we catch nothing. Take a breath and enjoy the beauty all around you. Stop and watch the birds, count the clouds, and listen to the trees. You'll find your confidence growing, I promise.

 

- M

Simple pleasures

Something I've tried to cultivate in my life is noticing little wonders and curiosities. Flowers, ant hills, clouds, sunsets and sunrises, the sound of water crossing stones. Peace and quiet. Silence. There are times when it's good to sit by yourself and let the world spin on without you. It's a simple pleasure, and increasingly rare to find and even harder to appreciate.

We watch children and laugh at their fascination with ant hills. Yet, why shouldn't they be amazed? The world is fresh and wonderful to their senses. If you take the time to notice, you'll never stop finding amazing things. I wish we could all see the world that way.

So, why is it hard to enjoy the simple pleasures? Do we think it unearned? Or, maybe because it's simple, it isn't good? I'm not sure. Or, is it because we're in such a hurry and can't take the time out of our schedules? Whatever the reason, spend some time and find one thing each day to be excited about. Call it an investment in your future.

- M

Trials and tests, the fun of questing!

Why do so many classic stories involve people going on quests? Knights quest to save fair maidens, hobbits steal mountains away from fire breathing dragons, or minstrels go to the Underworld to retrieve lost loves. What makes questing so popular? And, more importantly, why do these stories do so well in the popular imagination?

 

Stories do change with time--mainly because sensibilities and desires change--yet there are frameworks that never change. The "Hero's Journey" is one and so is questing. You see, when there is a clear goal and clear opposition, the story just drapes right over the structure and the audience follows along easily. We understand how it works, even at very early ages. "The Hobbit" is a quest story, and is particularly enjoyable to younger readers. There's a magic ring, a dragon, heroes, villains, scary and funny, joy and conquest. Mix in a few surprises, and nearly any quest will gain you an audience.

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I think what really motivates people is goals. Okay, sure, not exactly breaking news, yet we forget how important goals are to everybody. Readers and audiences alike. When the goals are crystal clear, then the audience has a vested interest in following along and rooting the heroes ahead. We want to see them succeed, otherwise why would we even take the interest to follow? Give characters something to race toward, and they will take you on a journey of satisfaction! Now, go find the Crystal of Awesomeness and return it to the King, before the twelfth Moon sets!

 

- M

Squirrels are fascinating.

Ever since the movie, "Up," made blurting out, "squirrel," popular, I've been gathering little tidbits of information. Amazingly, the little furry critters have quite a strange mythology attached to them. Did you know that Norse mythology--ye olde stories of Thor and Odin--have a magical squirrel? Yup, it was called "Ratatoskr" and was a messenger for Odin, but mainly ran around and spread cruel gossip. Squirrels are in many cultures, though commonly as accusers--I'm probably not the only one who thinks squirrels are always throwing accusations my direction when I scare them up a tree.

 

Marvel comics has a "Squirrel Girl" superhero. People frequently keep them as pets. Plus, squirrels are immensely fun to watch. They are so wound up, skittish, jerky in motion and completely insane. In stories, they are the ones who jump at the slightest sound and have the attention span of an amoeba. The portrayal in "Over the Hedge" is my favorite of all squirrels--in particular, the part where the squirrel drinks an energy drink and then can move like the Flash.

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I think the joy of watching squirrels is because there is pure innocence in them. You can't help but laugh at their antics. When they go for the bird feeder, they demonstrate incredible agility and resourcefulness. If you've ever seen videos of the off-balance wheel attached to some feeders, you'll know what I mean. You can't help but laugh. And, the best part is seeing the squirrel chattering up at the silly feeder, as though the squirrel is issuing a very stern warning. Cute and adorable and endlessly amusing.

 

- M

 

..... Squirrel!

Lightning and the astonishing beauty of storms

I've enjoyed watching lightning since childhood. Where we were, lightning showed as a weird pearl necklace kind of stroke. My brother and I drew pictures of them (it's actually called "bead lightning," look it up). Those nights of wonder really inspired my imagination and helped me yearn for more ever since. To this day, my wife and I love sitting up and watching a lightning storm. I suppose it's kind of like enjoying a pleasant snowstorm. Nature is lovely.

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Sure, there's the terrifying side of nature, but for now I want to think about how amazing it all is. Who isn't dazzled by a waterfall? Or, what child can resist laying down and finding animals in the clouds? I enjoy watching anthills, water flowing down rivers, and penguins. There's just so much in nature to be excited about, that I simply don't understand why people do go enjoy it more often. I'll never forget so many walks through forests, playing in mountain streams, rolling in meadows, and throwing snowballs in the middle of summer.

 

Rainbows and spring showers are often used as the best of nature, but why stop there? Our parents are constantly telling us to go outside and play, so go do it and you'll be pleased to discover a whole real world out there. Think I'm joking? Take a look. It's not virtual, or a game. It's totally real! You can even touch it. Wow. Go find your own fascination.

 

- M

Augmented reality and the future of virtual reality

Most everyone has heard of Pokémon GO now. If you haven't, well ... you walk around and capture funny little creatures by pointing your phone all over and throwing balls at them, and then you can battle other players using the creatures you've found. Augmented reality is the idea of placing a computer created world right over the top of the real world (in practice, you do this by looking through a screen or holding up your phone and letting GPS do its magic). The idea is to get kids out and running about, rather than sitting on the couch and turning into lumps of pudding.

Pokémon GO

The tricky part is that whenever you put anything in the way of what is happening, you generally ignore one or the other. Which is why kids have been walking into parked cars and basically going where they shouldn't--makes you want to yell out, "Hey! Look where you're going!" I imagine it won't be long before players figure out how to do both, but it'll remain a problem. [note: I shouldn't talk much, since I was well known for walking and reading a book at the same time. I don't remember walking into any fence posts though ... maybe I forgot.] Despite our denials, our brains are really only good at focusing on a single task at once--everything else is either a quick glance, or ignored (if you doubt it, try turning on two videos at the same time).

 

I've seen some amazing uses of virtual reality (like putting a calendar onto a wall, where it remains), or virtual animals that wander around. Business presentations could become interactive, and imagine training surgeons by doing virtual surgery without all the clunky mechanisms. Augmented reality has a wonderful opportunity, but the trouble will be from an idea known as "information overload." Fighter pilots have this issue constantly--too much complex information fast becomes impossible to comprehend, so it gets tuned out--and there's tons of work done just to simplify things. It's easy for designers to put in wiz-bang toys, but if it's too much we break down. A perfect example is in movies where they put huge displays on car windshields (can you imagine driving with all that in your direct line of sight? Impossible!).

 

- M

Rolling in grass and stomping in the mud ... the joys of childhood.

If you've been around children, you've seen them roll in the grass and play in water puddles. A pool of mud is as fascinating to a little kid as the grandest diamond or the most perfect painting. Ant hills are endless entertainment. I remember well, when I was a little carpet muncher, walking home from elementary school and playing in the gutters. I made little dams and waterfalls for the water to run down, and make tiny whirlpools. I never tired of it. Actually, I still haven't, even now.

 

There's a simple kind of fun in the way children play. There's no grandeur to it; nothing fancy or special. They just want to play, and that's it. And, they group up without a care in the world. Go to any playground and you'll see them making friends with everyone there. There's magic in the way kids play, and I wish we all could enjoy it each day. The world would be a happier place.

Even animals play. I've watched seals slide down waterslides, horses rolling in the grass, and even a crow making an improvised sled with a plate so it could slide down a snowy roof. Why do we forget how to play as we get older? Are adults too aloof to have fun? We do enjoy watching and laughing, but why do we draw the line at joining in? I think we should break away from our stubbornness now and then and have a bit of mindless fun. It'll do your heart good.

- M

Trying new things and turning ideas upside down

Some ideas are such fun to toy with. Take time travel for instance. We've all seen movies, or read stories, or wondered how fun it would be. Yet, I've only really seen ideas where you either move forward or backward in time. Well, what if you compress it? Such that you could begin a trip and instantly be where you wanted. Or, expand it, so you could accomplish an enormous amount and have it take no real time at all. What about shifting out of reality all together, by means of isolating yourself from time? There's all sorts of fun to be had there.

Dr. Who TARDIS
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How about cakes? I remember when I thought you could only follow standard recipes, or use a cake kit. Now, I know I can use diet soda to make a sugar-free cake! Wow, what a concept! And, you can scramble an egg while it's still in its shell! I love new ways of doing things. But, why are we so surprised when we discover new ways? Probably we wished we had come up with them, right?

 

There's a great thinking concept, called "lateral thinking," which exercises your brain in coming up with innovative solutions. For instance, a manufacturer of metal ball bearings is ending up with dents because the balls are hitting the conveyer belt too hard from the upper level. How can it be fixed? Lots of ways, sure. The way the manufacturer used was to make many small drops on the way down, which didn't cause dents. Okay, now figure out another dozen ways to accomplish it... that's lateral thinking and you've just exercised your brain!

 

- M