Practical solutions to little problems.

[reynardo]

Situation: You live in a duplex - a two-story semi-detached townhouse. The "living" areas are downstairs - lounge, dining, kitchen. The bedrooms are upstairs.

The teenager (aka da_norvegicus) has the back bedroom. He also has a computer with a very good set of headphones.

You really don't feel like climbing the stairs every time you need his attention, such as mealtimes, or asking him to perform housework. But yelling up the stairs makes you feel like a nagging fishwife, and besides, it doesn't always work.

So - how do you get his attention?



The INTERCOM.


This handy device, carefully tipped in plastic to avoid damaging your kitchen ceiling, can be used to obtain the attention of your very own recalcitrant teenager. Simply bang on the ceiling, and the percussive waves will transmit through even his noise-reduction headphones.

It is useful to arrange a code with the teenager that is easily remembered. In this case:

Three knocks = Your presence is required.

Three knocks then one = Food.

Two knocks then two = Bring down your washing, there's a load needs filling.

Further entries can be arranged, and should be written on the side of the Intercom for convenience.

No guarantees that the teenager will really hear it. Also, the command "every time you come down, bring any cups, plates and food scraps" will not always be remembered. Frequent reiteration of the rules may be necessary. Intercom Services do not recommend the use of a larger stick - the teenager is unlikely to hear it, and it may damage your ceiling.

Comments

[gelsey.livejournal.com]

LMAO. <333

I love your Intercom.

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

Low-tech solutions are often the best, fewer moving parts to cause failure.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Awesome.

[mr-figgy.livejournal.com]

Walk softly and carry a rubber tipped stick.

[starduchess.livejournal.com]

That's great, if he hears it.

I was thinking more along the lines of installing a doorbell or maybe a light switch and light bulb, but that would require running electrical wires.

[feodora.livejournal.com]

Maybe you both should use skype (works fine for my sister with 3 teenagers one is in L.A. and when they want her to call, they just left a message on skype) and so you can CALL him downstairs or I think with windows adminsitrators you can do a "Call" to all the users connected.

Or just switch the LAN of...

But Your "Device" is great!!!

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Switching off the LAN is great, except it disrupts us too - and sometimes he's on his DDR game which isn't web based. But you're right. It's the best "backup" to the Intercom.

And usually, if I'm using the Intercom, I'm *not* at my computer and possibly don't want go near it - hands covered in flour or water or holding great piles of Teenager's washing that he needs to take upstairs...

Hmmm. Skype. Shall consider this.

[moxie_man]

This IS all your fault. Your directions on the teenager summoner triggered this earworm and you deserve to suffer from it too!

[reynardo.livejournal.com]

Heh. We used to sing that during the "Talons of Weng Chiang" on Dr Who. (He knocks on the trapdoor three times)

[nefaria.livejournal.com]

Then the new Doctor Who messed it up with all that "he will knock four times" claptrap.