999 Ideas

Moving My Blog

2008-10-17T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am moving my blog to my website, where I will be able to pay closer attention to it. Here is the new URL:

http://www.999ideas.com/blog

I am also renaming it "The New Ideas Blog." I have added seven or more posts and a couple pages since starting it there a few days ago, and I hope to keep it updated much more frequently. In fact, I expect to have new content at least several times weekly.

We just returned from a short vacation (two days) in a mountain cabin here in Colorado, and I even posted twice while we were there. Wireless internet service seems to be almost everywhere now, making this easy. I'll be adding a new post later today as well.

New Way To Make Money

2008-09-29T13:52:00.000-07:00

I just ran across a new way to make money online. RantBlogger.com pays for you to complain about whatever you want to. Following the instructions, last night I sent a six paragraph rant about the exclusionary rule to them. It took me about twenty minutes to write it. An hour later they wrote back offering me $8 for it, and even would include a link to this blog.

I replied with my email address for my Paypal account, and they paid me shortly afterwards. This morning I noticed that my writing was posted. Not a thrilling amount of money, but it is one more way a person can make money online without investing a dime.

The least they pay is $5 (if they want your rant). They have the right to use your piece elsewhere, but it is a non-exclusive right, meaning you can still post it elsewhere, use it on your website, etc. More or less this is the same deal you get with a submission to an article directory, but in this case you get paid.

I'm not sure what their budget is or how many posts they'll take from one person, but it seems a smart commentator could spend an afternoon writing opinion pieces and make $50 or $60.

The Human Apes

2008-04-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

I was looking through my notes today, and found an idea for a story that I had a year or so ago. It was about the origin of humans (and their religions). After noting that he has never gotten a woman pregnant despite taking no precautions to prevent it, a man discovers the truth: he is actually an ape, and he isn't the only one. In fact, there is a group of apes that have been around since before man, and they contact him to let him know his "heritage."

Originally, tens of thousands of years ago, a species of ape developed language, and they later taught humans to talk. Similar in appearance, they pass themselves off as humans, but cannot interbreed. Those living today are the keepers of the secret. The secret is that man has never been the most developed species on the planet. In fact, not only was he taught language by the more intelligent apes, but also leaned religious ideas from these apes, who thought of it as a useful tool for what they considered "children." It was a tool to be used and someday outgrown.

The secret was passed on through the ages, and now the battle had come between those apes who thought that man was ready for the truth, and those who thought the secret should be buried and that they should rule over humans, rather than live among them. Man is an animal and nothing more. Not only were the gods inventions, but they were not even his own inventions. The members of this species of ape are actually the most intellectually advanced animal on the planet, and were uniformly atheists.

Anyhow, those were the few notes I had on the idea. But there was another interesting aspect to my rediscovery of my notes. Upon reading them, I immediately recalled where I was when I had the idea. My wife Ana and I were in the hot spring pools in Ouray, Colorado. I can even recall which part of the pool. This is common for me. I strongly associate locations with the ideas I have there. I wonder if this is common with others or not.

New Newsletter

2008-03-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

Just completed 30 mailing for the Unusual Ways Newsletter (On unusual ways to make and save money). Here is an excerpt from a recent issue;

Inventions And Ideas
Unusual Ways Newsletter

Inventions are easy - on paper and in your mind. In fact, if you know the right techniques, you can sit down tonight and have dozens of ideas for new products, services and gadgets. The real work is in the follow-through: making prototypes, patenting, marketing and distribution.If you think you can get someone to do those things, you're right. However, convincing other people or companies of the value of your idea may be one of the most difficult parts of the process. Who would have thought a man could sell a million "pet rocks?"

In any case, here are some invention ideas for things I haven't yet seen. If you want to take them and run with them - go for it. But be sure to do your patent research. Just because I haven't seen them doesn't mean they aren't out there somewhere, and if I can think up these ideas, so can others.

Inventions and Ideas For Children

Giant Children's Books

There are all sorts of kid's books out there. They have mirrors in them, holes that allow a picture to be continually seen as you turn the pages, pop-ups and more. What I haven't seen yet is a giant book. You can bet that little children would be fascinated by a meter-high colorful book.
Parents would buy it not only to make the children happy, but to be...

Continued here...
http://www.unusualwaystomakemoney.com/z-inventions.html

Or, if you want to subscribe (it costs nothing), just go to:
http://www.unusualwaystomakemoney.com/z-inventions.html

Newest Products and Pages

2008-02-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of having "secrets Of Lucky People" published in a paperback version. The ebook is completely updated as well, and with bonuses will always be the better deal You can find out more about that here:

http://www.goodlucksecrets.com/

In other news, here are:

The latest pages from RadicalNewThoughts.com:

How To Kill A Million People: Altruism Versus Self Interest - The real danger is...

Natural Selection In The Viral Spread Of Religion - A look at how bad ideas get perpetuated.

The latest pages from IncreaseBrainpower.com:

IQ Test Or IA Test? - Is the intelligence quotient that matters or the intelligence application?

Solving Problems More Creatively - By asking deeper questions.

Newest Page On Patriotic Nonsense

2008-01-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

I am certain that the following two new pages will offend some people who consider themselves to be American patriots. That's okay, at least this is still a country where I am free to say what I want, a right most patriotic people would gladly vote against.

America- Love It Or Leave It? - A look at a silly thought. A bumper sticker for those who think they get "extra" rights for waving a flag.

On The American Flag - A look at the dangers of patriotism and flag worship. I will bow before no flag, because all flags and national hypnotic symbols lead to violence and hatred of others.

Secret Information Website

2007-12-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the newest pages from The Secret Information Site, another website that is full of new ideas (and the debunking of old ideas).

Affiliates : How to sign up and sell the book for a 50% commission.

Three Secrets You Aren't Supposed To Know : Credit, medical, news...

Secrets Of Learning A Language : Some tricks that really speed things up.

Lies : Five common lies that you are told (and the truth).

Lie Detection - Trapping A Liar : Sometimes you have to get tricky.

Latest Radical Ideas

2007-12-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest pages from http://www.radicalnewthoughts.com/:

Adam and Steve - A Look At Consciousness - With a radical theory as to what it is.

Is Mandatory Sentencing A Good Idea? - No, it isn't, as shown here.

Rational Mysticism - What could this be?

The Military Draft Is Immoral - An argument in the form of a story.

Rights Come With Responsibilities? Nonsense! - A look at a bad idea from the mthology of freedom.

Gay Marriage - A Radical Solution - And a solution for legal issues of marriage in general.

Socialists For Capitalism - Honest socialist should at least favor partial-capitalism.

Is Flip Flopping Really So Bad? - Why politicians should be allowed to change their positions.

Famous Dropouts - Check out the names on this list of high school dropouts.

Jury Nullification - As a juror, you can veto the law.

New Radical Thinking Website

2007-11-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

I have a new website to announce, and a warning. The website is RadicalNewThoughts.com, and covers a variety of new ideas, radical theories and more.

Warning! Some of the content may offend or upset you. Or it may fascinate you or change your mind. Curious? Check out the pages below (and many more soon) and get your free:

Radical Thinking Course

Some of the pages:

Obedience To Authority? - There is no duty to obey the law...

Selling Human Organs - Allow it? Some of the arguments, and my own opinion.

Against All Authority - Accept no authority above that of your own mind.

No Authority - Do you give authorities too much respect?

Jury Nullification - You can veto the law.

Should You Be Open Minded? - What it can mean to have an open mind.

Newest Ideas From The Site

2007-10-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Here are the newest pages from the site:

Big Ideas

Big ideas start with big questions. What is the basis of morality? How can we motivate ourselves to do what we really need to do? Is there a better way to organize a city or a country? Is understanding a problem always the best way to solve it, or is it sometimes better to forget about the causes and get on with the solutions more directly?

If you want to have big ideas, then, whether for a book, an essay, a discussion, or just for your own intellectual entertainment, start with powerful questions. Ask how things could be different, and assume that you will have some sort of answers. Ask questions that seem silly even, as long as they are "big" questions like, "What if there were no wars?" or "What if cities were built without streets?" "What if" questions are some of the best, by the way.

Big Ideas From Challenging Premises

There are many specific idea-creation and problem-solving techniques that can yield new and big ideas. One of the simplest and most profound is to challenge the premises of existing ideas. Let's look at an example.

Licensing of doctors by governments is an almost universally accepted idea. Such licensing only requires a minimum standard that is primarily measured in terms of education and training, not performance, but this still leads the public to be complacent, to the point where people spend twice as much time researching which stereo to buy than they do researching which doctors to go to. The premise patients have is that doctors are licensed and so are...

Continued here...http://www.999ideas.com/big-ideas.html

Stupid Laws

We laugh when we hear about the usual stupid laws. It is illegal, for example, to catch fish with your bare hands in Kansas. Wyoming has a law forbidding you from wearing a hat that obstructs a person's view in a theater or event. You need a permit to be a fortune teller in South Carolina, and in Kansas City, Missouri, children can't legally buy toy cap guns. However, they can buy real shot guns at the gun store.

Then there are the stupid laws that are not considered stupid by most people. That is what this article is about. In particular, those laws and regulations that are supposedly for public safety, but are really intended to benefit some particular interest group or businesses. It seems like a good idea to have laws that make people safer. But such laws are often just an excuse for creating more control or profits for some industry, or for bureaucrats who like to exercise power for its own sake.

To understand what I mean, lets start with my eye infection. A minor problem, it could be easily cured with antibiotic eye drops in a few days. I've used them before with no side effects. In fact, I would go buy some right now - if I was allowed to. But stupid laws prevent buying such eye drops without a prescription from a "medical professional."

Oh, but those laws keep us safe, some of you will claim. Is that right? Perhaps it sounds reasonable, but let's look at the matter. I have an eye infection that could be easily cured with $5 eye drops. However, laws have made it so I have to make a doctor's appointment and...

Continued here...http://www.999ideas.com/stupid-laws.html

From Evolution To Invention

2007-08-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the latest pages from the site:

What a Mechanic In A Hot Spring Taught Me About The New Economy - Information unlocks capital - or why this debt-burdened economy keeps going strong.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/new-economy.html

Probabilitism - Life According To The Odds - A principle of good poker play used as a life philosophy.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/probabilitism-odds.html

Cheap Housing Ideas - Inflatable houses and other interesting ideas.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/cheap-housing-ideas.html

Inventions For The American Inventor TV Show - And ideas on how to get those three "yes" votes for your invention.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/american-inventor.html

The Meaning Of Life - A Dangerous Idea - Why there may be better questions.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/meaning-of-life.html

Why I Hate Hate Crime Laws - The dangers of laws that punish ideas and opinions.
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/hate-crime.html

Thinking Outside The Box - Want to start thinking outside the box? What is the box, and how do you get outside of it with your thinking? Start with...
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/thinking-outside-the-box.html

Survival Of The Fittest - A confused idea perpetuated even by the most scientific minds. It's easy to say that that a giraffe has a long neck for the purpose of reaching the leaves higher up, but the truth is...
Continued here... http://www.999ideas.com/survival-of-the-fittest.html

New Ideas On New Pages

2007-04-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the most recent pages on my web sites:

Ciphers or Cyphers?

Ciphers, also spelled "cyphers," are the same as "codes" in common usage. However, there is a technical distinction used by cryptographers. A code is something that works at the level of meaning. In a coded message, for example, "big daddy" might refer to a person or a boat, or anything else. An otherwise meaningless string of letters or numbers, like "wwx23" could represent a word or a whole phrase, such as, "Meet me at the usual place." (Because of this, codes can actually shrink the length of a message, or the space and time needed to create it.)

A cipher (or cypher), on the other hand, works at the level of individual letters or at least small groups of letters, or even bits of information in the case of modern computer encryption. A simple substitution cipher, for example, might replace each letter with a two-digit number (a=11, b=47, etc). Using both ciphers and codes in the same system makes messages even harder to decipher.

The problem with codes is that...

Continued here... http://www.increasebrainpower.com/ciphers.html

........

A Sense Of Humor And Brainpower

Does a sense of humor make for a more powerful mind? Perhaps. There are certainly many creative and intelligent people who also like to have a good laugh. Consider the following two examples.

American physicist Richard Feynman was a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965, for his work on quantum electrodynamics. He is credited with the concept and early exploration of quantum computing. He also had a very well developed sense of humor.

Here is how he is described in Wikipedia: "As well as being an inspirational lecturer, bongo player, notorious practical joker, and decipherer of Maya hieroglyphs, Richard Feynman was regarded as an eccentric and a free spirit. He liked to pursue multiple seemingly independent paths, such as biology, art, percussion, and lock picking." An unusual character, to say the least.

Another example of the combination of a very creative mind with a sense of humor is found in Albert Einstein. You may have seen one of the more famous photos of him, in which he is...

Continued here... http://www.increasebrainpower.com/sense-of-humor.html

........

Drug Research Lies

Do you think that the drug research done by pharmaceutical companies is honest? Think again. The Guardian newspaper recently reported on many systematic reviews which demonstrate that pharmaceutical industry studies show positive results far more often than those funded by independent sources. Coincidence? They just happen to get more of the results that they want? Not Likely.

It is also unlikely that drug companies directly tamper with clinical drug trials in any criminal way. They aren't likely to change the reported results afterwards either. This kind of dishonesty is probably very rare in drug research, because it isn't necessary. There are more subtle ways to get the results you want.

First, a company can design a study in a biased way. For example, even if a study is theoretically double-blind, a company could create procedures which let doctors...

Continued here... http://www.99lies.com/drug-research.html

........

Good Luck Test

Are you a lucky person? Answer the following questions as honestly as you can, and then tally your score according to the simple directions at the bottom of the test.
In general, do good things happen to you?

1. Almost never
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Very often

Are you doing something you enjoy for a living?

1. No
2. Sort of
3. Yes

Are you generally happy with the relationships you have?
1. No
2. Not sure
3. Yes

How often do you say...

Continued here... http://www.goodlucksecrets.com/luck-test.html

New Ideas on a New Site

2007-02-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest from my site 99 Lies:

Rational Opinions?

Most of us think that we have rational opinions about the things we take a stand on. We like to think that it is just evidence and logic that rules us. We feel that we are immune to the persuasion techniques of politicians and others.

The truth is that most of our opinions are created from a variety of unidentified forces. We then defend them after the fact, with "reasoning," which is really just rationalization. The following example shows how unaware we are of the influences that shape our "thinking."

A Look At "Rational Opinions"

Gary Wells and Richard E. Petty coauthored a little known paper in the journal "Basic And Applied Social Psychology" back in 1980. It was titled "The Effects Of Overt Head Movement On Persuasion," and it reported on a study done with a large group of university students.

The students were told they were participating in a study to test the quality of headphones for an electronics manufacturer. Specifically, the company wanted (they were told) to test how well the headphones worked when the body was in motion. All of the students who participated listened to the same set of songs, followed by a radio editorial which argued that the basic tuition at the college should be raised from $587 to $750.

The students were in three groups. The first was told to keep nodding their heads up and down during the entire time of the test. The second was instructed to shake their heads back and forth. The third group was the control group, and these students were told to just keep their heads still.

After the test, the students were questioned. They...

Continued here:

http://www.99lies.com/rational-opinions.html

Two New Pages

2007-01-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

The Latest Pages On 999 Ideas .com

How To Have New Product Ideas

There are many techniques for coming up with new product ideas. One of the easiest ways is simply to think of ways to improve existing products. How do you do this most effectively? As you look at an product, ask good questions, starting with these.What can be changed?

What can you change about a product to create a new one? Looking at a book, for example, you might imagine it to be bigger, smaller, longer or shorter. Quickly review what advantages there might be to each of these changes, and you may find some good ideas for a new product.

For example, "bigger" might make you think about a coffee table book that IS the coffee table. Imagining them smaller could lead to a line of books that truly fit easily in your pocket. "Shorter" could give you the idea for cheap short novels that make the reader want to buy the next in the series (and the next and the next). If you get really imaginative, you might think of making books that are...

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/product-ideas.html

Five New Ideas

Coming up with new ideas is easy if you know the right techniques. The following are six ideas I came up with while watching the snow fall outside the window, followed by a few suggestions for creating new ideas.

1. Power naps reduce stress and increase productivity. But if you work in a busy office or busy city how do you find a quiet place to take one, and how do you fall asleep quickly? A storefront operation with something like tanning booths may be the answer. Using brainwave entrainment CDs, sleep would come easily and quickly.

2. Can mosquito blood be used to solve a crime? The idea may be more suited to fiction than real police work, but it is logical. A suspect says he wasn't in an area and police need to prove he was, so they could test the blood collected by mosquitoes, looking for the suspect's DNA. Mosquitoes don't travel far, so to find his DNA in this way would be fairly conclusive.

3. A new answering machine. They have our own messages, prerecorded messages, and funny messages. How about an answering machine with different messages depending on who is calling? Have the machine connected to the caller ID. If no data is available a generic message plays, but if it's one of the numbers...

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/new-ideas.html

The Damage That Social Programs Do

2006-12-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Newest page:

My direct experience with social programs consists of collecting unemployment 20 years ago for about three months. As short a time as this was, it showed me some of the problems that are inherent in programs which are supposed to help people. Basically, it made me not want to work.

The way in which unemployment benefits were paid at the time allowed for a claimant to make up to half of his or her benefit rate without reducing the benefit. In other words, since I was collecting $140 per week, I could make up to $70 in income without a reduction in my unemployment check. I worked one day per week, which netted me about $65, so I was getting the whole amount.

Then an offer for some work came in. I could work for another day per week and make about $50. The problem was that if I took the job, my income would pass that 50% mark in relation to my unemployment benefit. When that happens, the benefit is reduced by half. In other words, if I made $50 more, I would lose $70. In effect I would actually have to pay to work...

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/social-programs.html

Another New Ideas Site

2006-11-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

I just started a new website full of new ideas. It is called 99 Lies and offers a free newsletter hat gets at the truth of the matter in many areas of life. It focuses on common lies that are told and believed, and also includes inside information on a variety of topics.

This is a site that will save you money, make you money, and open your eyes. You can check it out here:
http://www.99lies.com

In conjunction with this. I am also offering a new "secrets" package that includes the book "99 Lies," as well as several excelllent bonuses. You can get more information on that here:
http://www.thesecretinformationsite.com/99lies.html

New Pages On Ideas And Inventions

2006-09-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Newest pages on the site:

Invention Submission Services: Questions you need to ask them.

A List Of Inventions : Waiting to be invented.

Easy Ideas : How to have them.

More Money Making Ideas : Be the first to use them.

New Product Ideas

2006-07-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here are some new product ideas for things yet to be invented, or innovations yet to be tried. Why don't you be the inventor or innovator? Help yourself. There are no patents on the following ideas as far as I know - but do your patent research, of course.

1. A pavlovian dog calling device. The scientist Ivan Pavlov trained dogs to salivate when a bell rang - simply by ringing a bell whenever they ate. Imagine a small beeper on your dog's collar. Each time you feed him you first start the beeper with a radio-control device. Soon all you have to do to get him to come running for the kitchen is push that button and make the device beep.

A range of up to a mile would be nice for calling the dog home. The technology for this is already here, waiting to be put together, but would people buy it? I think so. It's interesting, useful, and new product ideas for pets are always in high demand lately.

2. The Innovation Game. This is a competitive innovation teaching-game, to help develop the players creative skills. Cards challenge players to invent something (on paper) based on certain criteria. For example, a card might require players to...

Continued here: http://www.999ideas.com/new-product-ideas.html

Innovation and Atheists

2006-06-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

The newest pages:

Innovation

We all know the myth of innovation as a sudden flash of insight that comes from nowhere. It is that "aha" moment, or that light bulb turning on in the mind. This is true to an extent. Einstein, for example, really did get flashes of insight while shaving in the morning. Of course, he was working on the particular problems he had insight into. He didn't suddenly have ideas for new kitchen gadgets or movie plots.

In other words, the innovations he came up, no matter how "sudden" the insightful idea was, came from past and present mental work. Like a singer who works at his craft for ten years and then becomes an "overnight success," innovative people only have "sudden" flashes of insight and new ideas because they have habitually worked and thought in certain ways for some time. To become an innovative thinker, then, why not start...

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/innovation.html

Can An Atheist Believe In God?

What does an atheist believe? Does he say "God does not exist." Most atheists I know wouldn't say that. Even most dictionaries misrepresent atheism, with definitions like "Denial of the existence of God."

What most atheists do believe:

1. Experience and evidence should be the basis for any beliefs.

2. Those making an assertion have the responsibility for proving it.

Therefore, if I have no experience to convince me, and you do not prove the existence of God, I have no reason to believe he (or she) exists. I also have no reason to say he doesn't exist, since...

Continued here:
http://www.999ideas.com/atheist-god.html

New Gadgets

2006-05-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

It is possible that some of these new gadgets already exist in an inventor's basement or garage somewhere. One or two may even be patented, but then again, maybe not. Probably most things are dreamt up ten or ten thousand times before someone actually does something with the idea. The dreaming is more fun for some of us, so feel free to do something with the following.

Magnets For Windows

These signs would be a new advertising gadget. Already, thousands of businesses use large flexible magnetic signs for their vehicles, with the company name and logo on them. However, these can only be used on metallic surfaces. To to stick to car or building windows, they need to have a similar magnet or steel mesh material that is placed on the other side of the glass, to hold them in place magnetically. This may not be a patentable product, but the first to trademark a catchy name and market them widely might do well.

Invisible Walls

This new gadget would just be fun. Make a wall covered with properly placed cameras, and use the other side of the wall as the projection screen for these cameras. The effect would be that of looking right through, into the other room. It would be like an invisible wall. Although I'm not sure what the practical applications might be, an "invisible ceiling" would provide a nice view at night...

Continued at http://www.999ideas.com/new-gadgets.html

New Site and New Pages

2006-05-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

I recently put together six special reports:

400 Ways To Save Money - You can save money on almost anything, and this is not some little list of money saving tips. The "Six Principles Of Saving Money," for example, will open your eyes.

100 Ways To Increase Your Mind Power - This may just be the most information-packed 21 pages you have read. You can prove some of the techniques to yourself five minutes after you order.

How To Have Good Luck - You know that some people have more good things happen to them than others, right? This report shows you how to be one of those people.

Negotiation Skills And Techniques Of Master Negotiators - Want to know how to get the best price on that car or negotiate a pay raise? Then you'll want to read this report.

Boarding House Profits - How To Make Big Money With Room Rentals - Want thousands of dollars of extra income every year? Rent out a room or two in your house.

Problem Solving Power - More than two dozen effective and fun techniques for solving problems and generating ideas. 32 information-packed chapters that will change your thinking.

They can be found on my newest website, called 99 Reports. Here is the link:
http://www.99reports.com

Money Making Ideas Gone Wild

2006-04-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

Some money making ideas are great because they are simple and immediately usable. Sometimes, though, you just have to let your imagination run wild. However crazy the ideas may seem at first, there is usually a way to bring them down to earth, as in this first example.

Cabins In The Air

I like to start with a crazy thought like, "What if people could rent a cabin for the weekend that was up in the sky?" Immediately, the mind tries to make sense of the idea, and if the over-all goal is to have profitable ideas, it looks for ways to make it into a money making idea. The first thought that came to my mind was cabins which are suspended under large hot-air or helium balloons.

In the end this doesn't seem practical, as much fun as it might be. Exploring the idea further, though, I wonder if existing balloon-ride businesses could tap into other markets. For example, if the gondolas were outfitted properly, and the balloons tethered, so they could be allowed to float two thousand feet overhead, would meditators pay for a peaceful meditation retreat in the sky?

Renting stationary balloons that could be high in the air, but easily cranked back in on a line, might be simpler and cheaper than traditional rides, which involve chase vehicles and unpredictable landings. Maybe this could just be another way to make money with the balloons, charging a lower rate, and so getting new customers that couldn't afford the usual rides.That is how a crazy idea comes back to earth.

Maybe even the "weekend cabin in the sky" idea...

Continued on the site at:
http://www.999ideas.com/money-making-ideas.html

New Idea For Cheap Carpet

2006-04-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

I try not to limit the site to new inventions, gizmos and such, so here is a new area: carpet. Want to know how you can carpet a room for less than $40? That's cheap carpet, and no, it isn't used carpet. For the rest of the story, visit:
http://www.HowToRemoveCarpetStains.com/cheap-carpet.html

New Fundraising Ideas

2006-04-08T08:36:00.000-07:00

Want some new fundraising ideas? If your group or organization needs to raise money for a trip or project, there's nothing wrong with another bake sale. However, if you do something a little different, you may get more volunteers for the event. You may also get more media exposure, meaning more people will participate, which means more money raised. Here are some new ideas.

A treasure hunt could be a big event, and even an annual one if your organization needs a regular fundraising event. The basic idea is this: Rope off an area of a beach, and bury silver bars and coins in the sand, allowing people to hunt for them for an entry fee.

Let's suppose you buried 4 quarter-ounce gold coins, 20 one-ounce silver bars, 1000 various foreign coins (some coin shops will sell these to you for ten cents each), 500 dimes and 2000 pennies. At todays prices it would cost you about $1,000, which you might first raise through donations. 300 people paying $10 each would net your group $2,000, plus you could sell hotdogs and drinks during the event...

For the rest of the article visit:
http://www.999ideas.com/fundraising-ideas.html

New Products and Inventions

2006-04-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

So how many new products and inventions can you think of in thirty minutes? More than a few if you know the techniques of innovation and creative problem solving. The following are thirty minute's worth, with some notes at how they were arrived at.

New Products and Inventions From Old

A fast way to invent new things is to start with existing concepts and find new applications. With the concept of inflatable things, the first thing that comes to my mind is inflatable shelters for emergency situations, such as after earthquakes or hurricanes. Such shelters could be transported easily, and erected quickly with a simple air pump. A basic large tent design, but with inflatable ribs instead of poles might work.

We can always find new products and inventions for babies. Inflatable cribs or playpens come to mind. Deflated, they could be folded up and stored almost anywhere. A simple design for a playpen might be a plastic floor with a simple wall that surrounds it and is attached to it. Think of air mattresses for swimming set on there sides, connected end to end and wrapped into a circle and you'll get the idea.

When we used to go "tubing" down rivers in Michigan, we were forever trying new ways to carry a cooler with us while keeping it convenient to get a soda or beer out of it. A solution could be an inflatable bar. It might have a cooler built into it, have can and glass holders, and maybe even a secure place to set snacks. It could be used in a pool, lake or river.

Many people drive into water and die each year. One solution to this problem might be inflatable flotation that is activated when the car begins to sink. They would quickly inflate in an accident involving submersion, and would keep the car afloat. Put one in the trunk, and another inside the car, or have them come out from the wheel wells. To avoid accidental inflation, the triggering device would be activated by water, but be in a place where rain and car washing water couldn't reach.

Vending Machine Products and Inventions

When I considered the concept of vending machines, the first thing that came to mind was a beer machine. It could only be used in a bar that was restricted to adults, of course. A big benefit is that it would lessen the need for bartenders, since half of all the drinks sold in a bar are just simple beers. It is an innovation...

For the rest of the article, visit:
http://www.999ideas.com/new-products-inventions.html

Spirituality and Science

2006-04-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

An excerpt from the newest page:

Science isn't system, but an approach to knowledge, a method. Scientists will argue forever about the definition of science, but still agree it is the most useful or productive method of understanding the world. What are its essential characteristics? They are objective observation, the deriving of principles and "laws", and predictions based on these. (When it produces things, it is also technology.)

Science can be easily differentiated from religion by the fact that all of the knowledge it produces might be proven wrong. Religious "knowledge" is typically sacred, and untouchable, while scientific knowledge is always being overthrown or refined by further application of science. While faith is the cornerstone of religion, evidence is for science.

This explains why "creationist" science is not actually science. A creationist "scientist" will not allow his religiously based beliefs to be challenged by new evidence. He will openly tell you that his "faith" is more important to him than the evidence. He only uses the pretense of science to support his preconceived notions. Many scientists, on the other hand, have overturned even their own theories, because the essence of science is to go where the evidence leads you.

Spirituality And Science Combined

It seems that spirituality and science contradict one another, but this would only be true if all spirituality was based on religious beliefs. Spirituality, though, can be seeking higher levels of experience, asking the deepest questions, and seeking the true "self," which in no way makes it contrary to science...

For the rest, visit
http://999ideas.com/spirituality-and-science.html

I am going to work on creating a dozen new invention ideas next. Hasta luego,

Steve

New Brainpower Section

2006-04-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

I have added a new section to the site, www.IncreaseBrainPower.com, on applying brainpower to creating a better life. Here is a link to that:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/better-life.html

Other new pages on the site:

The Riddles And Puzzles Index - now all the riddle, joke and puzzle pages are in one place:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/riddles-and-puzzles.html

A Probability Lesson - can you answer a simple probability question correctly?:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/probability-lesson.html

Math Riddles - there are a few tough ones here:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/math-riddles.html

Funny Thoughts - to make you laugh and think:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/funny-thoughts.html

Brain Facts - How much does your brain weigh, and how many neurons does it have?
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/brain-facts.html

Word Riddles - what is the only type of cheese that is made backwards?
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/word-riddles.html

The IQ Scale - What does it mean, and what is an average or above average score.
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/iq-scale.html

I'll tell you more about the new section on better life soon.

Steve

Oil Shortages

2006-03-28T13:03:00.000-07:00

Some of us remember the oil shortages of the late seventies. It isn't just the inconvenience of occasional gasoline rationing that remember. Numerous elderly people actually died in the New York City area because of a lack of heating oil, and many people thought it would only get worse, that we would run out of oil completely before long.

However, at the same time, gold and many other things much rarer than oil were available to anyone who wanted them. They always are, and this gives us a clue to what causes an oil shortage, or any other shortage. Normally, it is just one thing...

To find out the cure for shortages, one that will simultaneously stimulate the creation of new inventions and technologies, you can finish the article here:
http://www.999ideas.com/oil-shortages.html

There is also a new page on our sister site, www. Increase Brain Power .com. It is on the IQ scale; what it means, what an average IQ score is and a bit of IQ history:
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/iq-scale.html

New Brainpower Pages

2006-03-25T22:35:00.000-07:00

Here are the newest pages of the 999ideas sister-site,
http://www.increaseBrainpPower.com :

Riddles and Puzzles : All riddle and puzzle pages are indexed here :
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/riddles-and-puzzles.html

Funny Thoughts : To make you laugh and get you thinking.
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/funny-thoughts.html

Brain Facts : Did you know...
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/brain-facts.html

A Probability Lesson: Can you answer a simple probability question?
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/probability-lesson.html

Word Riddles: Word riddles, and a few tests of your lateral thinking ability.
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/word-riddles.html

Above Average IQ Score - A How To Guide : A few more ways to boost that score.
http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com/average-iq-score.html

Enjoy!
Steve

Thought Provoking Questions

2006-03-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

Six Thought Provoking Questions:

1. When several million want a given person or party in power, but can never elect them because only Democrats and Republicans will be elected by the other 90 million voters, can they believe that this is a representative government? Would a system that allowed them to send their own representatives to congress be more fair? Is there a way to devise a system which allows any million voters that agree on a candidate to have representation? (There are a couple million libertarians, for example, who never get represented.)

4. Since a moral rule like, "don't steal," can lead to immorality, as in not stealing to feed your child when that's the only option, is it possible we need a new way to define morality? Can morality be permanently codified in words, or should we use words only to point at what is beyond the definitions, and alter the definitions as often as we come to understand new things about the world and our role in it?

For the complete article, see the page:
http://999ideas.com/thought-provoking-questions.html

Backpacking Inventions

2006-03-11T14:59:00.000-07:00

Part two of the page "Backpacking Gear Ideas." A few more inventions or ideas for backpacking inventions.

Inflatable Frame Backpack

Those of us with frame-less backpacks often put folded sleeping pads in the pack, against our backs. This provides some cushioning and some support for the load. This could be also be done by having the part of the pack that rests against the user's back inflate. Using the same technology as the lightweight self-inflating sleeping bag pads, it would only add about six ounces, and the backpack could then double as a foot-bag/pad for sleeping.

Water Bag Pillow

I usually use a plastic soda bottle to carry water when backpacking, but when I need to carry more water I have used the plastic bladders from boxed wine. They are very strong, and I inflate the bag with air to use as a pillow too. To market this as a dual-purpose water container/pillow, it just needs a soft covering of some sort.

For the rest of the backpacking inventions, see the page
http://www.999ideas.com/backpacking-innovations.html

2006-03-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new internet business ideas that I won't be using, but I hope that someone will. The first comes from peoples frustration with technologies like e-books. They don't want to spend the hundreds for the software, and even when they do, they have trouble learning to use it.

A service business that compiles e-books for people is a solution to this problem. You could even have customers e-mail a photo and story about each family member or friend, and have you make a photo scrapbook for them. The idea is that they can download the book when done.

You also host it on your site for a year or more, with the download link on a page that only they know the address of. That way they can give the book away, sell it, or otherwise distribute it to whomever they please. A larger contract might be the first high school yearbook in an e-book format (probably already done by the time you read this).

New Internet Search Engine Ideas

If you know a little about search engines, you may know that Google and others give preference to sites that are older. This is a part of their search algorithms, and probably a good idea. It does mean, however, that even the best site in the world on a given topic may be nearly impossible to find. This can also happen because the site has few incoming links (another part of the algorithms).

One solution is a search engine that gives priority to new web sites. In fact, this search engine might drop sites from the results once they are six months old, or perhaps always display those older sites on the bottom half of the page. The top results would be the most relevant sites that are the newest... (continued at http://www.999ideas.com/internet-business-ideas.html )

Great Ideas

2006-03-08T23:57:00.000-07:00

How do you have great ideas? You could wait and see if they pop into your head someday, and they honestly might. If, however, you want a more immediate and systematic method, here it is in three steps:

1. Gather knowledge.

2. Apply idea-generating techniques.

3. Pick out and refine the best ideas from the results.

Great Ideas Come From Knowledge

Really, you wouldn't expect to come up with a new theory of relativity if you had no knowledge in physics or mathematics, would you? Of course not. You have to have some knowledge in the area in which you want new ideas. If you want great ideas, you should probably have a great deal of knowledge.

If, for example you want to create a new transportation device, you would want general knowledge in that field. The more specific things that would be helpful, would be a listing of all the current modes of transportation. Add to that a list of things that have been tried and failed, and a list of all the things that people want in their transportation.

Great Idea Generating Techniques

Inventions start in the mind, and the mind follows certain patterns and rules. This is where tools such as problem solving techniques and other idea generating techniques come in. Take the "concept combination" technique, for example. If you tell your mind that you need a useful combination of a plane and a motorcycle, it will search for it until it finds it. It took this mind twenty seconds to imagine wings that expand out at high speed from a motorcycle, allowing it to be used as a glider.

The technique of redefining problems can open whole new areas...

( continued at http://www.999ideas.com/great-ideas.html )

Words To Live By?

2006-03-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

While watching the news the other day, it occurred to me that people who have "words to live by" often begin to attack and even kill others. I remembered my own angry attitude from years ago, when I could easily use words to justify violent thoughts which might have become violent actions. Words are valuable tools, and yet it seems that they can be more dangerous than gunpowder.

For a moment, imagine two men facing each other, pointing past one another. One man is pointing at a tornado that is coming. The other is pointing at a raging fire headed towards them. They each see their own truth and each is angry at the sight of the other's hand. They feel that the other's hand is "wrong." This seems silly, but replace the tornado and fire with any modern issues, and the hands with words, and this scene describes how we often try to communicate.

People point past each other with their words, arguing as though they are looking at the same facts and experiences. They want to prove that their words are the right ones, instead of learning to look at what the other's words are pointing at. Words are seductive, and for all their undeniable usefulness, they also can lead us away from understanding when we focus on them, when we make them more important than the truth they are meant to point at.

There Are No Words To Live By

It isn't just a matter of communicating with others. We often focus on, and get trapped in a net of words that we use to explain the world to ourselves. We easily call things "right" or "wrong" for example, according to how they compare to our "definitions." However... (continued at http://www.999Ideas.com/words-to-live-by.html)

New Money Saving Ideas

2006-02-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an article borrowed from The Secret Information Site:

Grocery Coupons And Food Secrets

by Steve Gillman

How do grocery coupons can cost you more than they save? When is whole wheat not really whole wheat? Why are some frozen foods better for you than fresh foods? Should you buy the small or large bananas? Read on for the answers.

Grocery Coupons

Coupons are designed to get you to buy something you weren't planning to buy. If the things you buy with them don't replace more expensive options, you spend even more instead of saving money. To save money with them, then, you should use them for products you regularly buy, or to try new brands that are similar in price to what you already use.
Some stores still offer to double the value of your coupons on given days or for temporary promotions. The key to saving money in these cases is to use as many coupons as you can, and buy the smallest sizes of the product that the coupons allow. This will almost always get you the lowest unit-cost.

For example, if you have a coupon for 50 cents off on dish detergent, and the store is doubling your coupons, you'll get 1 dollar off. If you buy the 38-ounce size, priced at $2.19, it will cost you $1.19, or 3.1 cents per ounce. However, if you buy the 18-ounce size, priced at $1.19, it will cost you only 19 cents! That's just a bit over a penny per ounce, or one third the cost. Sometimes you can even get a 99-cent item for free with a doubled 50 cent coupon.

Other Grocery Store Secrets

Read the labels and you'll see that sugar is showing up in almost everything. Most recently, it has been added to most brands of kidney beans, which used to be packed in just water and salt. Why? For the same reason it is added to peanut butter and many other products that don't need it for taste - it is cheap. Cheaper than the other ingredients, in fact. Due to government subsidies, there is so much cheap sugar that growers need to dump it into as many products as they can.

You will also notice that almost all packaged products have hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil in them. This is the stuff that is used to give mice heart disease when scientists want to study that disease! Fortunately, due to consumer demand, some brands, like Doritos, have stopped using it in some of their products. It is still in well over half of all packaged products, though.

Whole wheat is only whole wheat if it says exactly that. "Wheat flour," "unbleached wheat flour," and "wheat," all just mean some variety of processed white flour. "Wheat" bread is nothing more than white bread with enough whole grain thrown in to color it. "Wheat blend" pasta is yet another trick to make you think you're buying whole wheat.

Frozen fruits and vegetables, when tested against "fresh" fruits and vegetables, usually have more vitamin content. It makes sense. They are flash-frozen shortly after being picked, while the "fresh" foods are in trucks for days, exposed to heat and air. Then they sit at the grocery store for days, then in your refrigerator for days. Buying frozen fruits and veggies, then, can be healthier, and they are even cheaper at times, like when the particular fruit or vegetable isn't in season.

Grocery coupons aren't the only way to save money buying food. Store brands are often substantially cheaper, and guess what? Often they are really the name brands in disguise. Read the label and you may see something like, "Packed for ABC Grocery Stores by Kraft Foods, Inc." In any case, you can try the store brands, and if you can't tell the difference, why pay more?

Finally, what size bananas, eggplant and other fruits or vegetables should you buy? If they are sold by the piece, buy the biggest, to get the most for your money. If they are sold by the pound, buy the smallest. You'll still eat one banana at a time for a snack, right? The small ones might be half the price of the large, saving you money with every snack. When it comes to saving money shopping, there is more to it than grocery coupons.

Steve Gillman has been hunting down obscure knowledge and useful secrets for years. Learn more and get a free gift at: http://www.TheSecretInformationSite.com

New Brainpower Book

2006-01-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

I am working on a new brainpower e-book. It will have:

A thorough explanation of how to use at least twenty diiferent creative problem solving techniques.

Step-by-step exercises for increasing your innovative ability.

Techniques for coming up with new inventions.

Creativity enhancement methods.

100 or more ways to boost your IQ or brain function.

Techniques for creating good mind-power habits.

And more... It won't be done for a few months, but when it is, I will be announcing it here, so be sure to check back from time to time. It will probably be under $30 and come with several bonus e-books on related topics. I also will announce it the Brainpower Newsletter. If you want to subscribe to that (free) you can get more information HERE.

Hasta pronto,

Steve

P.S. Thanks for the nice comments Joy.

How To Quit Your Job

2006-01-25T13:54:00.000-07:00

Newest page : How To Quit Your Job

Why should you take my advice on how to quit your job? Because I'm a job-quitting expert, and my expertise has been gained through experience. I've quit many jobs in many industries. In fact, I can think of fifteen jobs that I've quit off the top of my head.

Anyhow, there are a few new ideas about the topic, and that is what the site is about. The title above is the link if you want to see the page.

Adios,

Steve

New Marketing Ideas

2006-01-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple new marketing ideas:

Hour coupons. This idea is for offline businesses that want to increase the traffic to their web sites. Announce in any other advertising that you'll have an "internet coupon" good for a free drink (or whatever) up for an hour on Friday. It takes about two minutes to change a web page, so it is easy to have it up for just an hour. Meanwhile, visitors will be returning again and again to try to be there at the right time to get the freebie. If you collect pay-per-click advertising fees, this repeat traffic might be especially profitable.

Word links for sale. You may have heard about the entrepreneur that sold a million pixels on one web page for a dollar each. You could buy a minimum of 100, and the image would link to your site. There have been many copycats so far, but I haven't yet seen anyone selling words. This would be even better for the advertiser, because they could buy the words that are relevant to their product. Of course, a page full of random words isn't pretty, but these things get publicity and traffic for their novelty.

Cereal box advertising. People spend a lot of time staring at cereal boxes. You might get a good rate on advertising on them. There has been some advertising there, of course, but not a box covered in ads yet. Brokering ad space on cereal boxes might be a good business to get into.

For more, see the page on New Marketing and Promotional Ideas.

New Concepts

2006-01-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

New concepts in several areas.

New Concepts - Inventions

Human kites. I used to design and build kites while living alone in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Hang gliders are like kites, I always thought, but since there isn't much altitude in Michigan, I often wondered if you could use them in high wind, instead of from high hills. I can't think of a reason why, if tied to the ground by a strong line, you wouldn't rise up in a hang glider, just like a kite. To come down, you would just detach the line and glide back down.

Magnetic paintings. Start with a flat "canvas" of magnetic material, and an assortment of many colors of iron dust or small shavings. Apply the metal dust carefully to create any "painting" you can imagine. Like a Buddhist sand mandala, it could be very intricate and beautiful, and slightly more permanent. You could even hang it on the wall.

Wipe it clean if and when you want to start a new painting. The fact that the colored metal dust couldn't be salvaged and separated is a good thing from a marketing standpoint. It means that users have to buy more in order to "paint" more.

For the rest ofthe page, including new concepts in Justice, TV shows and more, visit the page New Concepts.

New Innovations

2006-01-18T15:50:00.000-07:00

How do you generate ideas for new innovations? Try extracting some basic ideas from existing products and inventions, and then applying them to new areas.

If you look at a thermostat, you might think "A device to control the indoor climate." That is certainly an idea that can be used to come up with something new. Look deeper, though, if you want more creative innovations. Think, "It measures the temperature and then, using that information, turns the heater on or off, to keep the house comfortable."

Or, "using measurement in order to control something." That is the deeper concept. With the technology already existing today, we can make things happen automatically, according to almost anything we can automatically measure. This is a powerful idea that can and will lead to some fantastic new innovations.

In the post on thought control I pointed out that since we can measure the changing activity of the brain as we change the nature of our thoughts, we can already build a device that is operated just by our thoughts.

I suggested suggested a sign that changes it's message according to the weather. A restaurant, for example, could have the sign say "Come in out of the cold," when it was cold, or "Cool off with an ice cold drink," when it was hot, and so on.

Other New Innovations

To come up with many such ideas and new innovations, you just have to look around and start applying the basic concept of control by measurement. When I look at the television, and think of measurable things related to it, time is an obvious one. Already there are "sleep timers" that turn the TV off after a certain amount of time. How about a device that only allows the TV to be on for three hours in any given day. The kids can watch when they want, but they won't be able to watch too much.

For the rest of this article, visit the page on New Innovations.

New Thoughts

2006-01-16T10:43:00.000-07:00

Some Random New Thoughts

One way to have new thoughts is to just look for new ideas to replace old ones. Then you can expand on the idea, to see what value you might find in it. Here are a few examples of new thoughts, without expanding on them (help yourself).

- Do we really want to encourage uniformed people to vote? Maybe it's better to encourage people NOT to vote, unless they are willing to educate themselves on the issues.

- Is multi-tasking really a sign of efficiency? Perhaps the fact that we need to be so busy just to get what we want shows that our actions aren't effective enough.

- Why shouldn't we pay less for a surgeon who kills more people on the operating table? Why not recognize that there are better and worse doctors, have that information available, and pay accordingly?

- Can we replace faith with wonder? Faith is just believing without reason. Wonder is to marvel at the world and accept that we don't have reasons or explanations for everything.

Our level of creativity, and ability to have new thoughts isn't just something that is set at birth. It is a systematic process, one that may not be recognized by those who use it, but can be identified and copied. All of us can train ourselves to have creative new thoughts.

More new thoughts: New Thoughts

Thought Control Machines

2006-01-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

This will sound like a futuristic science fiction invention to some, but a machine that you use to control things with your mind is a possibility right now.

How would you like to be able to turn on your television just by thinking? Or have the door to your house open by mind power when your hands were full? This isn't something that will remain science fiction for long. The technology necessary to make this happen is here now.

First of all, you have basic thought control now, meaning you can control and direct your thoughts. You can imagine a friend talking in your mind, for example. Then you can choose to hear music in your imagination. If you are hooked up to an electroencephalograph when you do these things, it will also be clear that these two thoughts are handled in different parts of your brain.

This electroencephalogram, or EEG, is important, because what we can measure, we can use to do things. Think about this for a moment. Modern electronics has made it possible to easily operate things as a response to measurement. A thermostat measures the temperature, for example, and turns the heater on or off according to that measurement. Security lights turn themselves on when light levels get low.

How do you apply this to making a simple invention that would let you think thoughts and have your thoughts operate things? Read the rest of the explanation on the page:
Thought Control.

Until next time,

Steve

A Few More Ideas For Inventions

2006-01-13T10:19:00.000-07:00

A few more ideas for inventions today.

Are there solar-powered cell phones out there yet? Why would they be needed? I was out in the wilderness with a friend and his battery went dead. Since cell phones have saved lives in many cases of wilderness emergencies, it would be good to have a way to recharge them while away from electricity. Certainly, this would appeal to backpackers and other adventurers.

Here's a fun invention or novelty. Have extremely realistic fake fish that are three times normal size. The idea here is that a guy out fishing with his buddy could pretend to pull in a huge bass or perch. Hey, they sell singing fish that hang on the wall, so...

Another fun invention: A giant plastic ball that you can walk inside of. It floats on water, and because the outside has ridges to catch the water, it moves in the direction you walk. You can just wander around on the surface of the lake.

An invention and business idea: Solar powered pop machines. There are times when electricity isn't available, like at events that take place in the desert or beach. If a machine could keep pop cold, using photo-voltaic cells, it might be the only reliable source of a cold drink. Maybe the machine could be anchored in the back of a pick-up truck for easy transport to events.

Here's an invention for the kids: Giant story books. Have you ever looked at kids books? Some of them only have a few dozen sentences. You only need a few pages. Why not make them more interesting by making them four-feet high? Many kids would love to have one of these leaning against the wall in their room.

That's it for today. Adios! .... Steve

New Brainpower Newsletter

2006-01-11T14:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post today to let you know that I changed the Brainpower newsletter. If you have been to my web site, IncreaseBrainPower.com and subscribed to the newsletter, you know that you just recieved a paragraph and a link to the newsletter in your e-mail. The newsletter was hosted on the site, so you had to click through.

No longer. Now the newsletter will be in your mailbox. There will be links to specific pages on the site as I mention them, of course, and to any other relevant resources. However, the bulk of the content will be there in your mail. I am also lengthening the newsletters and striving to include even better content.

So if you are interested in increasing your brainpower, and haven't yet subscribed, now is the time. And yes, it is still free. You can use the link below to go to the homepage:

http://www.IncreaseBrainPower.com

Easy Invention Ideas

2006-01-09T19:57:00.000-07:00

Here are some easy invention ideas, because sometimes it is just too intimidating to think about building a new type of car, television, or other invention. These are ideas for garage or basement tinkerers. You can come up with a prototype for most of these for the cost of the money in your pocket. Like all the ideas on this site, they are not patented yet, as far as I know.

Helium Kites

Perhaps its been done, but I haven't seen them sold yet. The idea is that with some lift from the helium, these kites could be flown in any amount of wind. With proper design, they would still fly something like a kite, and with some maneuverability if designed like a stunt kite. Your first prototype might be a kite with a small helium balloon attached. How's that for an easy invention?

Kite Ads

This is more of a marketing idea than an invention. Put ads on kites and get paid to fly them at the beach or during big outdoor events. Even in my former small-town home they paid for planes to drag ads around during festivals, so the market might be there.

Deer Carrier

Hunters regularly die of heart attacks while carrying their bucks out of the woods. My idea is to have an inflatable wheel, using coated nylon that won't puncture easily. When you get your deer, you blow up the wheel, and using the clamps on either side you attach two poles or sticks that you cut on site. A nylon sling attaches between the sticks. This gives you a wheel-barrow-like device that will carry a deer over even rough trails. It shouldn't weigh more than two pounds, so it can be carried easily in a day pack.

For the rest, see the new page, Easy Invention Ideas.

Inventing Short Story Ideas

2006-01-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a new idea for inventing stories.

Remember that car travel game I created called "Explain This?" It was in a recent post. A player suggests an unusual scenario in a sentence or two, and then each player explains it in a plausible way. I discovered it's also a great way to come up with short story ideas.

Use anything that pops into your head, and write it down. Here's an example: "Todd handed out the dollar bills to the people as they walked by, trying to distribute as many as he could quickly, before the police could stop him." Try to explain that. Our minds insist on explaining things, so you will find an explanation if you try, and if it's an interesting enough explanation, you have your next short story.

Personally, I imagine the dollar bills are signed or otherwise identifiable, and they can be traded at a big seminar for a gift worth even more. Spend it and get a soda? Or get something truly valuable for it? This may go in the marketing ideas file instead of the short story ideas file.

Maybe Todd is handing out the last of his money as per the instructions of his spiritual leader. It could be a "get rich quick" cult that requires all members to start from zero. A religious movement based on getting rich? I think someone could make it into a plausible story.

For more on inventing new short story ideas, visit the new page, Short Story Ideas.

New Ideas For Travel Games

2006-01-07T11:26:00.000-07:00

Travel games help fill the time, entertain us, and sometimes even educate us. Here are some new ideas for games of every type. They are mostly designed for car travel, but can be adapted to travel by plane, bus, or other means. They're all new games, or at least I hope they are, since I invented them.

The "explain it" game. Someone starts the game with an unlikely scenario, described in one or two sentences. Then each player tries to come up with the most logical and plausible explanation for the scenario. For example, a player might start with, "A car is on top of a house in Kansas City, and a dog is jumping around inside it." The explanations might include floods, tornadoes, an promotional stunt, or whatever else anyone can think of.

Random presentation game. Here's a travel game that starts with someone looking out the window and randomly selecting an object. Players then try to imagine a creative way to make money with it. Old houses become places to sell advertising, llamas are rented out for kids parties, and an RV becomes a traveling discotheque.

Radio word search. In this game, each player chooses a word. The player whose word is spoken (or sung) first on the radio is the winner. You may want to require words of five letters or more.

For ten more travel games, visit the new pages, Travel Games and Car Travel Games.

Speculators and Speculation

2006-01-05T16:35:00.000-07:00

Speculators get a bad rap. Speculation in stocks, currecies and commodities futures is a necessary part of our economy. Many people have the idea that there is no added value in people "gambling" on commodities prices, for example. The truth is, most people just don't understand of the role of speculators and speculation.

The Truth About 'Speculation'

Speculative trading is crucial to a modern economy. Let's use corn for an example. A farmer can plant his corn, and then see the price drop so low by harvest time that he loses his investment, and possibly goes bankrupt. How can he prevent this?

By selling some of his future production now, at a set price, he can plan ahead safely. The contracts he creates and sells will go up and down with the price of corn, but the risk is all in the hands of the speculators who buy them. They profit by re-selling them if the price goes up, and they lose money if it goes down. Our farmer, though, has his price, and can plan his business now.

Now, on the other side, a cereal company needs predictability in the prices of their basic commodities, in order to plan future production. They can't hire new employees and buy new equipment, only to see the price of corn triple, making consumers unwilling to buy their expensive corn flakes. Buy a contract for future delivery at a set price, and they can plan, and again, the speculators take on the risk. They sell a contract, planning to buy the corn necessary for delivery. They make money if the price drops, and lose if it goes up, because they have to deliver at a set price.

Not just farmers, but all industries based on basic commodities would go through terrible swings in fortune if it weren't for these "gamblers," who take on the risk. Without them, there would be more bankruptcies, and more dramatic swings in consumer prices. In all markets with speculation, speculators provide the liquidity and ability to plan ahead that is needed.

New Ideas In Speculation

Maybe we need more speculation, not less. Wouldn't it be nice if businesses and even individuals could guarantee that gas for their cars would be near the same price next year? Speculators could provide that guarantee, and some businesses would love that kind of predictability.
You buy a contract, for example, to get your next 1000 gallons of gas at $2.20 per gallon. You put down a small deposit, and pay as you go, but you know that the next 1000 gallons will be $2,200, guaranteed.

A speculators role is to back the other side of the contract (to sell it). He is the one guaranteeing your price, so if the average price for the next 1000 gallons is $1.80, you still pay $2,200 in the end, but his cost is $1,800, so he makes $400 on the contract. Now if the price averages $3.30, he pays $3,300. You still pay $2,200, so he gambled and lost $1,100.

Speculators, like most gamblers, will probably bet on almost anything. We need to find more ways for them to take on our risks. Just imagine the many contracts could be invented, based on speculation.

Do It Yourself Rollercoaster

2006-01-04T08:04:00.000-07:00

This came to me in a dream. It was a rollercoaster for cars. You could drive your car on this track, and signs told you how fast you had to go to do certain things, like the loop. Yes, you could actually drive through an upside-down loop if you had enough speed.

Now, obviously the technical challenges aren't nearly as much of a problem as the safety and legal liability issues. This is not an idea that will become reality (although it was REALLY fun). It does make me wonder about the possibility of a self-directed multiple-route rollercoaster ride, though. There might be a safe and fun way to make that work.

Hidden Pet Cameras

2006-01-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

I saw a new product for pets the other day. It is set of three steps that you put next to the bed, couch or even car seat, so your dog or cat can easily get up there. "Pet Steps," I think they called them. It got me thinking about pet-related inventions, and little surveilance cameras came to mind.

I imagine it's been done a number of times by those who play with - I mean work with - surveillance equipment. It seems natural to look at the dog one day and say, "Hey, let's put a camera on Fido." It's probably been done, but we need someone to make it into a workable product.

Most likely, the cameras would have to be attached at the collar of either dogs and/or cats. The weight isn't an issue now, since there are cameras that weigh an ounce out there. Hiding the camera might be the real challenge. Perhaps a flower or bow on the dogs collar might do the trick, with the lens in the center.

Of course, the camera would have to transmit the image to a remote monitor or recording device. The range on these types of cameras is enough now to get a clear image from around the neighborhood.

Why Hidden Cameras For Pets?

Novelty value is a start. Just strap the camera on Spot, and let him go wander the neighborhood while you watch the show. Just don't tell the neighbors you saw what happened in their backyard. Naturally, all the surveillance enthusiasts out there would have to add this invention to their collections.

With a trained dog, you could use this system for more specific spying. It has probably been done before, whether or not such a camera has been marketed yet. The first such use might be for a reporter's expose of the conditions in dog kennels.

Now the people at PETA might not like this next idea for these hidden cameras, but it is a natural. In a war zone, dogs could go into areas that are too dangerous for soldiers, and provide a view of what's going on. There might be similar applications in criminal investigations too.

Finally, have you ever wondered where your cat goes all day? Or where the kids go when they have the dog along? You could easily find out with these hidden cameras.

Corporate Crime?

2006-01-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Corporate crime? I'm not sure that there is such a thing. And if we want to reduce the crimes that are given that lable, we need to quit handing out large punitive fines to corporations. The idea isn't as radical as it sounds.

First of all, when I say that there isn't such a thing as corporate crime, I simply mean that it is always individual people who commit crimes. With that in mind, you can imagine what my better way to reduce this crime is: Go after the criminals!

Who Pays For Corporate Crime?

Exactly who pays when a large corporation is fined for breaking the law? To begin with, the stockholders pay. Many of these are innocent retirees who have money invested with the company and had no idea they were breaking the law. Then the employees pay with the loss of jobs, if the financial situation of the company is damaged by the fines. Who doesn't pay? Just the criminals - the individuals who chose to break the law.

All crimes are committed by PEOPLE, not companies. When a company dumps poisons into the environment, a PERSON made the decision to do that (or several people). When a company steals from a pension fund or violates workers rights, INDIVIDUALS made those decisions. People commit corporate crime, not corporations!

If you want to stop corporate crime, start putting the individuals who are involved in the crime in PRISON. Our current system often has company officers making cost/benefit calculations as to whether the profits from certain crimes are greater than what the occasional fines add up to. Even though laws are broken, they stand little chance of being held personally responsible. Why not hold them responsible?

To fine companies for the actual costs imposed on others by a crime is appropriate. We have to clean up toxic messes, and in other cases compensate those who suffer damages. This also means that shareholders have a reason to be careful in who they elect to the board of directors. However, "punitive" fines are ridiculous unless they are levied against the individual criminals. Make the person who committed the crime pay the fine.

Is this such a radical idea? I don't think so! By the way, which do you think is more likely to deter a corporate officer from committing a crime, a fine that is paid by the company, and doesn't even affect his salary, or ten years in jail? The answer to that gives us the answer to corporate crime.

New Ideas For New Years Resolutions

2006-01-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

New years resolutions. You promise yourself you'll quit smoking, lose ten pounds, take that vacation or buy that dream car. Did you know that 93.5% of new years resolutions are never followed through on? Okay, I made up that statistic, but it's believable, isn't it? Time for some new ideas.

New Ideas For New Years Resolutions

How about a resolution to do the things which make all your goals more achievable? You can't make a lot of money if you don't have the habits that lead to that. You can't have better physical conditioning if you just start another exercise program and then quit. You have to change your mind before the rest will change. Here are some new ideas for that interior self improvement.

Kaizen For The New Year

Kaizen: "Japanese for continuous and incremental improvement, a business philosophy about working practices and efficiency." What does this have to do with self improvement and new years resolutions?

First came the "continuous improvement" theories of efficiency expert W. Edwards Deming in the 30s and 40s. After the war his ideas were picked up by the Japanese and developed into "Kaizen," a method for efficiently creating quality products through small and continuous changes. Guess what? This is perfect for accomplishing your personal goals, too.

Want to quit smoking? The kaizen way might be to stop smoking in your car, as the first small step. Then you could switch to a brand with less nicotine, stop smoking in the house, and so on.
Kaizen uses "small questions." In factories this meant no more questions like "What are you going to do to improve the company profits this year?" That elicits fear more than creative ideas. A better question is, "What small change could we make in your department to reduce expenses or improve quality?" This approach was found to be far more productive.

For purposes of improving your life, this means asking small suggestive questions, like, "What could I do to free up five minutes for my meditation practice?" or "What small change could I make if I wanted to improve my relationships today?" Small questions dispell the fear, intimidation, and procrastination that come with facing the issue head-on.

Small questions, small comfortable changes, and continual progress - that's kaizen. Imagine where you'd be if you had consciously made one small change in your life each week for the last few years. Better yet, imagine where you'll be next year, if you start the process today.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." - Lao Tzu

Forget The Affirmations

Stand in front of that mirror if you want, repeating to yourself "Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better." If it doesn't do what you hope, though, here's a new idea (okay, an old idea renewed): Evidence is more convincing than affirmation. To that I add: What you look for, you find, and it changes your mind.

Prove this to yourself by watching for nice people for a few days, making a mental note each time you see one. It will change your experience of people in a positive way. Then, to test the idea further, watch for rude people for a few days, and you'll see them all over. Do this exercise, and you'll quickly come to understand that you experience the world not just according to what is there, but even more according to what you pay attention to.

To use this to motivate yourself towards positive change, find your successes. If your new years resolution is to exercise more, notice when you remember to park farther away from the store so you have to walk. Write it down even. Point out your successes to yourself, and you'll start to have more of them. If you want to lose weight, note everytime you walk past the refrigerator without opening it. Focus on and remember any success. You can start doing this right now.

First things first. Resolve to change the habits in your mind. Isn't that better than the typical new years resolutions?

Some More Ideas

2006-01-01T17:39:00.000-07:00

Here are some more creative concepts.

100 Bad Ideas. This is my creative concept for a hopefully funny book. The bad ideas might include putting poetry on cereal boxes, hitchhiking through Iran with a Salmon Rushdie t-shirt on, and a new super-hero doll called "Super Bin Laden."

Door To Fantasy. Have a door on the wall that doesn't actually go anywhere. Instead, when it is opened, it reveals a beautiful painting of an outdoor scene.

Disposable Pets. Breed dogs for a short life, preferably less than two years. "Genetically guaranteed short life pets." These are for those who don't want a long-term commitment.

Horrible Foods Cookbook. Want a serving of tuna fish ice cream? How about chicken pudding or anchovy soda?Homeless To Hopeful. This comes from a creative concept I read about. Shy, non-social kids watched films that showed non-social kids like themselves joining in the activities with the other kids. They immediately began to change and join in activities with others. This is the power of an example. My idea is to create a book of true success stories in which homeless people turned their lives around, with and without help. The book would be distributed in the streets, to provide models and examples for the people living there.

There are a lot more of these at the site, of course.

Weird Inventions

2005-12-29T14:07:00.000-07:00

I just put up a new page on weird inventions, or rather on weird ideas for new inventions. Here are a few of them:

Bone wind chimes. There are a lot of people out there who like the morbid side of life, right? Anyhow, they don't have to be human bones!

Glow -in-the-dark furniture. You could just have the edges trimmed with a glow-in-the-dark material. No more bumping into the coffee table in the dark. it creates a nice party atmosphere too.

Nap inducing machine. The brain wave entrainment CDs I've been using for months are really powerful. One I use to relax puts me to sleep everytime, anytime of the day. Why not have a system for baby cribs and kid's beds that plays CDs which slow down their brain waves and puts them to sleep? I can think of a few parents who would buy this.

For the rest of the ideas, visit the page Weird Inventions.

Adios for now.

New "New Ideas Blog"

2005-12-28T22:26:00.000-07:00

Put on your thinking caps. Or take them off. You can get new ideas, or you can learn how to generate your own new ideas. Why not visit the site today? Then put this blog on your favorites list, because everything will be here before it makes it to the site.

What Kind Of Ideas?

Inventions, political theories, creative concepts, strange businesses, story ideas and philosophic thoughts. Nothing patented or trademarked - as far as I know, but do your patent and trademark research. I'm not offering legal advice. I'm just letting anyone use the results of my mental playing.

While you are there, sign up for the free course, "How To Have New Ideas." Finish the course, and you'll get th e-book, "24 Creative Problem Solving Techniques," for free.

Some Of The Pages:

Invention Ideas

New Business Ideas

Problem Solving

Creative Concepts

Economic Theories

Political Theories

Deep Thoughts

Story Ideas

Newest Pages:

New Ideas In Criminal Justice : Get rid of the exclusionary rule and punitive fines against corporations.

Wake Up And Smell The Roses : A gentler alarm clock, one that uses scents instead of harsh sounds.

The Wealth Of The United States : Is our robust economy due to our free markets or something else?

How To Create New Stories : Ways to get ideas for new stories.

The Politics Of Taxation : It mostly just precludes any science or logic.

Random Business Ideas : A collection of ideas that are new, under-used or applied in new ways.

Deep Quotes : A collection of thought-provoking quotes, ideas and one-liners.Speculation : Is speculation necessary in a modern economy?

This will not be a daily blog, but I hope to post new entries every few days at least.