Oh! Another gadget! Or was it rabbit?
In the late 60's while in the army, they encouraged a program where folks who actually did the work would make suggestions that would reduce cost and increase efficiency. There actually were a couple good one's made. Ergo, it came down from above that the suggestions would now be mandatory....and each work unit would submit at least one suggestion per month.
Break away for a moment to listen to what I once heard one officer tell another: 'The enlisted man is generally amoral, devious, lazy and bears watching at all times.'
Two of the suggestions made after the mandatory order came down:
1) Plastic extensions for pencils. You can only sharpen a pencil so many times, then can no longer grasp it. The extension would allow full use of the pencil.
2) Openings on both ends of the duffel bag (aka sea bag). Because what you want or need is always on the bottom.
For some reason those suggestions were not implemented. After a couple more months, the program "disappeared".
"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe, while Congress is in session." Mark Twain