Friday night's Open Lines featured a special hotline for inventors. Angela, a Ph.D. psychologist, shared her "public domain" migraine remedy. The ingredients in her analgesic cocktail include low doses of L-tryptophan, niacin, calcium, caffeine, and aspirin. Another caller discussed a chip he created using "Bucky balls" that can absorb heat and make electricity.

One caller, inspired by the smell of fresh laundry, said he invented a scented pad that attaches to any furnace/AC filter and provides a pleasant fragrance throughout the house. He claimed his invention -- now sold under the name FilterFresh -- was stolen after he took it to an invention submission company. The caller advised would-be inventors to ask for references before doing business with any invention submission company.

Jerry in San Diego described his patented SterilPhone, which uses ultraviolet light to sterilize the mouth piece of a phone receiver. He reported that there were more germs on an office phone than on a public toilet seat. The phone will cost "less than one trip to the doctor," the caller estimated.

Nostradamus Quake

In the first hour, Nostradamus scholar John Hogue discussed a prophecy in which Nostradamus predicted an earthquake in Asia:

"Mars and Mercury and the silver [Moon] in conjunction.
Towards the south there will be a great drought.
From the bottom of Asia an earthquake will be reported.
Corinth [Greece] and Ephesus [Asia Minor] then in a troubled state." (Quatrain 3, Century 3)

According to Hogue, the prophecy could apply to one of three Asian earthquakes, including the recent Sumatra quake that occurred on December 26, 2004. The astrological time frame mentioned in the quatrain is partially fulfilled by that event and there was also a full moon that day, Hogue pointed out.