IN THE DAYS WHEN EUROPEANS WERE STILL LIVING IN CAVES, THE 
CHINESE WERE PLAYING WITH FIREWORKS AND HELICOPTERS.  
THOUSANDS OF YEARS LATER THE  EUROPEANS CONVERTED THOSE TOYS TO 
ROCKETS AND PRACTICAL OFF-EARTH VEHICLES.  MANY OTHER DREAMS OF 
MAN HAVE DEVELOPED THROUGH THE AGES VIA SIMILAR TOYS TO 
BECOME EXTREMELY USEFUL PRODUCTS.

TODAY THAT HASN'T CHANGED, BUT THE SETTING HAS.   TWO STORIES 
UNDERGROUND, NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF BURRARD AND GEORGIA 
STREETS IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER, SOME OF THE NEW BREED OF 
MODERN-DAY INVENTORS AND TINKERERS ARE FOLLOWING THEIR OWN 
PATH, MUCH IN THE MANNER OF TESLA, EDISON, DEFOREST AND FORD 
DURING THE HEADY DAYS OF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE.  THIS LABORATORY 
HOLDS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF THINKING INDIVIDUAL:  ONE WHO REALIZES 
ALL  THINGS ARE CONNECTED.  THEIR "MARVELS" ARE ALSO VERY 
DIFFERENT.  BUT THEIR INDEPENDENT THINKING IS JUST AS STUBBORN, 
ECLECTIC, DARING AND BRILLIANT AS THEIR NOW DISTINGUISHED 
PREDECESSORS.  LAURENCE PICKUP, MAURICE GOULET AND THEIR 
COLLEAGUES IN PACIFIC LEVITATION SYSTEMS INC. ARE SO CLOSE TO THE 
CUTTING EDGE THAT IT IS SOMETIMES HARD TO DETERMINE WHICH SIDE 
OF IT THEY ARE ON.

TO FINANCE THEIR BOLDER DREAMS THEY HAVE DEVELOPED A TOY GLOBE, 
PICTURED HERE (SEE "ILLUSTRATIONS").  IT DEMONSTRATES ONE OF THE 
ADVANCED PROJECTS THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR THE PAST THREE 
YEARS.  THEIR GLOBE IS "HELD" IN SPACE BY MAGNETIC FORCES  --  JUST 
LIKE THE MOON AND EARTH.  IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES A TECHNOLOGY 
THAT WILL PRODUCE A PHENOMENAL ADVANCE IN THE 
TRANSPORTATION, ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND OTHER FIELDS, ONCE 
PERFECTED.  IT IS THE FRICTIONLESS BEARING.  WHEN USED IN SPACE IT 
WILL NOT EVEN ENCOUNTER AIR RESISTANCE.  COUPLED WITH 
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY, NOW BEING ADVANCED RAPIDLY AT A HUNDRED 
WORLD CLASS LABORATORIES, THE FRICTIONLESS BEARING COULD 
PROVIDE THE CLOSEST THING YET TO PERPETUAL MOTION.

THIS "TOY" GLOBE ALLOWS A JUMP IN COMPREHENSION DIFFICULT TO 
ACHIEVE THROUGH READING A TEXTBOOK.  IT WILL BECOME A POPULAR 
"EXECUTIVE TOY".  IT HAS ALL THE VIRTUES.  IT'S AN ART OBJECT. ITS 
EDUCATIONAL AND INDUCES SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY.  THIS MAGNETIC 
LEVITATION GLOBE IS MYSTERIOUS, FASINATING AND FUN.

CONTROLLED BY INVISIBLE FORCES, JUST LIKE OUR PLANET, THE GLOBE 
USES MODERN ELECTRONICS AND THE LAWS OF PHYSICS TO HOLD  ITS 
UNUSUAL POSITION.  SPUN SLIGHTLY BY HAND AND FOLLOWED BY A 
TEMPORARY STREAM OF AIR FROM YOUR MOUTH,  THE GLOBE WILL 
CONTINUE TO SPIN  --  ON FRICTIONLESS BEARINGS  --  LONG AFTER YOU 
HAVE WALKED AWAY.

MY SUGGESTION:  DO YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EARLY FOR THAT 
EXECUTIVE WHO HAS EVERYTHING.  GET HER ONE OF THESE GLOBES.  YOU 
WILL BE BANK-ROLLING WORK ON ADVANCED LASER PRINTERS WITH 
SCANNING POLYGONAL MIRRORS, ROBOTIC VISION, HIGH DEFINITION 
MONITORS AND MEDICAL AND CELL CULTURE INCUBATOR CONTROLS.  THE 
WORLD WILL PROBABLY BENEFIT MORE FROM THIS EXPENDITURE THAN 
FROM YOUR TAXES.

MORE INFORMATION:  ROWEENA BACCHUS, PACIFIC LEVITATION SYSTEMS 
INC., #31, 1030 WEST GEORGIA STREET, VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA V6E 
2Y3.  TEL 604/682-5824.  FAX 604/682-4386.

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