Nail it on

In another pertinent OP innovator Sam Asano describes the problem of worn heel. Immediately I was put in mind of a half-moon-shaped device called 'Shoe Heel Plate' that is nailed on the back of the heel to prevent that very contingency. That Sam didn't mention it, probably owes to its obviousness to almost everyone 'cept the occasional A2K Reader that doesn't 'stand such,

..mebbe some li'l girl or your Average Dimwit [me]

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/shoe-heel-plates

But speakin' of inventions, thanks to Email correspondent Mele for 'Eclipse ingenuity,' an OP describing her clever son's means for observing the eclipse. It pleases us old fellas to be assured the young, at least some of 'em, are still thinkin'. By the sheerest coincidence, later the same dday, 'A prison vacation' by Mij O'Neirb, who laughingly suggests the near-perfect 'all-inclusive resort.'

Indeed, I've often wondered whether the old-fsashioned way, assignin' them an island somewhere, where they could all live peacefully robbing and killing one another, might be much cheaper for Our Taxpayer. Oh, why 'ertwhile' ? Sounds so much less disparaging than 'former.'