I’ve come up with an idea that may one day revolutionize the world as we know it. As you’re probably aware, people go to the gym to work out, but did you ever think about all of the wasted energy they produce? They lift heavy objects, ride bicycles that don’t move an inch and run on a small rubber mat that moves backward while the individual runs forward. It makes you wonder what aliens would think if they were to observe people at a gym. Ah, but I digress.

My idea is that we should figure out a way to harness all of that energy and put it to good use. The most obvious would be to hire those who show up at the gym to do certain jobs. Want to work on your upper body? You can load bales of hay for the local farm (and make money while you get in shape) Want to ride a bicycle? You can deliver packages as a bicycle courier. Runners could be hired to power rickshaws so people would no longer need to catch a bus. They could just swing by the nearest gym to hitch a ride. See? It’s a win-win situation.

The other part of my other idea is for those people who want fine-tune their muscles by doing specific exercises at the gym instead of manual labor. Their energy could be used to produce electricity to power the gym, and with enough people, the city. I’ve seen the bicycles at science museums that light up light bulbs when you pedal fast enough, and windmills and water turbines can already produce electricity. If someone could just figure out how to apply the same principles that makes those produce power, the more gyms a city had, the less it would cost to provide electricity. Just think, Los Angeles could do away with those pesky rolling blackouts and people would be getting healthier at the same time (and happier because of the decrease in their power bills).

It could also provide incentive for people to go to the gym. If the city was getting low on power, it could dim everyone’s lights a bit, just as a friendly reminder of course. I’m sure they would flock to the gyms to replenish the energy.

I know, the question on all of your minds now is, “Why didn’t I think of that, it’s brilliant?” (Hah! Get it, brilliant?)

Then again…maybe not.