July, 2006

This is the first entry by Christian Hoopes as a featured blogger. Christian knows how to win friends and influence people; he just chooses not to. He grew up in a desert and therefore is an expert on beating the heat, albeit not exactly in style. He also thinks they should bring back Peanut Butter Snickers.

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Summer is in full swing with no signs of letting up any time soon-these may in fact be considered the ‘dog days’ of summer. Why the dog days? Because it’s so hot that you pee anytime someone rings the doorbell, and you can’t stop panting and licking yourself. It’s not pretty.

Therefore, we at American Inventor Spot have decided to leap to your rescue. Everyone wants to find a better way to beat the heat, but not everyone has the luxury of taking the day off and splishing around at the local water park-some of us have jobs, you know. It is for these unfortunate individuals that we direct our assistance. read more »

Love the gadgets James Bond has?

Our Guest Blogger Candice Leigh Helfand is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, with a degree in journalism & Media Studies and is a serious movie buff. In addition to writing for American Inventor Spot, she also writes for the website of the Contemporary A cappella Society of America. In her free time, Candice enjoy singing, performing in community theater and writing on her blog (http://www.xanga.com/jersey_shocker ).

Here's her article discussing James Bond's toys for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com.

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Almost everyone knows what the number 007 represents; that would be James Bond's spy identification number, for those who may not know. His films were filled with gadgets and gizmos that would become the wish and dream of every male (and to be honest, most females) ever to see the films. read more »

Hi Everyone:

We have quite a bit of new to share with you.

Click to read up on everything going on at AmericanInventorSpot.com.

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Parental Control ScreenshotLooking for parental control over what your kids see?

Our guest blogger Imani Peterson has a new find to share with readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com.

Imani is the webmaster of several sites, including Shirtgroups.com and believes the internet is to be molded at will. He is also a graphic designer and a music producer who is currently working with an artist for a future release.

Here's his article:

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I have a new free tool to let you in on software designed to protect your children from explicit internet content. This is something anyone who has children around should read about and try.

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Its been a few months since the grand finale of the American Inventor show aired (May 19, 2006) when Janusz Liberkowski won the title American Inventor. Janusz is the inventor of the Anecia Survival Capsule (a safer carseat).

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"Is that a doorway? Make sure by walking close and seeing if it vomits on you..." seems like a pretty strange thing to say, but it did account for some pretty surprising moments in gameplay, I must say so myself. These types of strange objects or obstacles become more apparent, and livelier, as the game progresses, which add to the immersion of the gameplay and storyline. read more »

Prey Video GamePassionate about video games, our Guest Blogger Matt Wood is a young writer from the great city of Seattle, Washington. He is almost always listening to music and his all-time favorite video games include Sim City 4, Halo 2, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and the classic game Frogger.

Here is his article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com .

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Looking out your window one warm summer night, would YOU expect to see big blue lights coming from some kind of giant aircraft hovering over your family-owned bar? I certainly wouldn't, and if this were to happen, I would like to think it would bring a whole new meaning of "UFO" to mind. Thinking hard about this phenomenon waiting in the wings, I tried out the new hit game Prey.
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A big movie fan, our Guest Blogger Candice Leigh Helfand is a recent graduate of Rutgers University, with a degree in journalism & Media Studies.

In addition to writing for American Inventor Spot, she also writes for the website of the Contemporary A cappella Society of America. In her free time, Candice enjoy singing, performing in community theater and writing on her blog (http://www.xanga.com/jersey_shocker ).

Here's her article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com.

* * * * * Cartoons and movies have depicted robots as a facet of modern life since the 1950's. Even today, robots are a common plot device in motion pictures. Often times, the robot is included as either an enemy or a friend to humans, with a set of motivations and opinions that one sees normally in humans.Throughout the years, robots have been shown as interactive, emotional characters with specific agendas, other than their programmed or originally intended functions.
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Passionate about video games, our Guest Blogger Matt Wood is a young writer from the great city of Seattle, Washington. He is almost always listening to music and his all-time favorite video games include Sim City 4, Halo 2, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and the classic game Frogger.

Here is his article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com.

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Looking into the face of evil isn't so easy for some of us, but what about facing a simple, easily solved obstacle? Well, you might have to give a little on the simple part, or even the easily solved part, but there are sure to be obstacles in the new computer game Portal, being developed by the creators of Half Life 2: Episode Two. read more »

Our Guest Blogger Jule Goag is a shopholic on the lookout for the next deal too good to be true. She loves gadgets, lives in Seattle and wrote this article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com:

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Cell phones used to be thought of as portable phones, and nothing more. Sure, this is no mean feat, to have convenience sitting in the palm of your hand.... However, cell phones have far outstripped their initial functionality. As we all know from advertisement bombardment and salespeople everywhere, cells now come with an almost bewildering array of features.

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Our Guest Blogger Tim Dunn lives near environmentally concious Seattle, Washington.

Tim has diverse interests, as can be gathered from his websites, dunnanddunnrealtors.com, seattlemetrorealestate.blogspot.com , freerelationshipadvice.blogspot.com and steelsilhouettes.com.

Here's the article Tim wrote on innovative ecologically friendly products for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com:

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Do you want to help save mother earth?

If so, then make consider making "green" choices when you purchase products large or small. Here is a selection of products that use bamboo, from a computer mouse to a large screen television.

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So, have you ever been in a situation where you pounded out something hateful or embarrassing on your keyboard, pressed send and then immediately regretted it?

Me? I've done it so many times I can't even begin the remember them all.

Well, I found a solution to that problem that too many of us have...diarrhea of the hands. The solution is ingenious really.
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Our Guest Blogger Matt Wood is a young writer from the great city of Seattle, Washington. He is a passionate gamer, who is almost always listening to music. His all-time favorite video games include SimCity 4, Halo 2, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, and the classic game Frogger.

Here is his article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com.

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Stepping up to the plate to face 90 mph fastballs, sprinting full on into an action packed battlefield amid a storm of bullets and explosions, and driving at high speed around tight corners and being involved in high speed, explosive wrecks, will become bigger and better than you ever thought imaginable come this winter.

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Our new Guest Blogger Jule Goag is a shopholic on the lookout for the next deal too good to be true. She lives in Seattle and wrote this article for readers of AmericanInventorSpot.com :

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These days, consumers are inundated with the sheer number of gadgets that are present in the market. How do you know when a gadget is really a good buy? Some items are truly great finds, whereas you wonder what the makers were thinking with other items. Here are some of the most recent gadget do's I would invest in, and the gadget don'ts (are you kidding me?).
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So what do you do when your child starts climbing out the high chair and there is no longer a use for it? Combi's come up with a solution. Combi has made a high chair that converts into a table and chair.

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Peter PottyNo one likes potty training. But maybe my find will make your life a little easier. Maybe, I said.

The product I found is a kid sized urinal called the Peter Potty by Visionaire Products. The Peter Potty is the world's only flushable toddler urinal. The company claims that the Peter Potty will reduce the potty training time by at least 6 months on average (up to 15 months). read more »

Here's another article from our Guest Bloger Sharon Bender for AmericanInventorSpot.com. Sharon holds numerous scholarly degrees, has served as an educator and is a freelance writer. She loves investigating the latest survival gadgets and technology. Here is the latest:

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Nearly anywhere you go in the world today you will find undrinkable water. Even at the local restaurant things can be a little daring. The glass of something that resembles water sitting on the table in front of you causes speculation as you stare at it for a few awkward moments. You wonder how it will taste. You try to see through the glass to determine what's floating in there. Is it just a bubble or something else?

There is a new product in the protoype phase that is an exciting innovation. Once it becomes available, it will be a modern day necessity. Here are three great reasons:

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Here is another innovation find for AmericanInventorSpot.com from our guest blogger Imani Peterson. Imani is the webmaster of several sites and believes the internet is to be molded at will. He is also a graphic designer and a music producer who is currently working with an artist for a future release.

Here's his article:

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Apple Computer and Nike have teamed up to bring consumers the Nike+ Ipod Sports Kit.

The Nike+Ipod Sports Kit creates an interactive run giving joggers specific information including the amount of calories burned, distanced they've traveled and even the ability to transfer the information to their Ipods in real time. Let's not forget the most obvious here, it plays songs too.
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by thinkoutsidethecircle

Food. Let’s face it, it’s awesome. And as such, it’s the inspiration for many an invention. (Just watch late night TV.) Whether you’re a beef eater or a vegan, you love sugar or despise caffeine, there’s one thing we all can agree on. Food makes the world go ‘round. So in honor of the everyday consumable that every human being since the dawn of man has needed… I give you my top 10 food inspired finds. From the dumb to the practical to the delicious—there’s something for everyone. Just like food itself.

Ben & Jerry's Pint Lock10. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY PINT

If you’re one of those types who just can’t part with the last scoop of Phish Food, then you need to pick up this new pint size padlock from Ben and Jerry’s. Just place the lock around the top of the pint, snap it closed, your favorite late night snack will be there when your sweet tooth kicks in. Just make sure not to forget the secret combination. For more info on Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Lock click here .

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Here's another article from our Guest Bloger Sharon Bender for AmericanInventorSpot.com . Sharon holds numerous scholarly degrees, has served as an educator and is a freelance writer. She loves investigating the latest survival gadgets and technology. Here is her latest:

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iRobot PakBotPackBot, an iRobot product goes beyond cleaning floors. It has become a new device that is popular with our U.S. troops who haven’t been able to stop devising new ways to use it. PackBots can do everything from carrying heavy loads to inspecting roadside bombs. The military has purchased two million of them. They are already employed in fighting terror and they can snoop out the opposition without being seen. This saves the lives of our young men and women in the service. PackBots can investigate places a soldier wouldn’t fit like narrow tunnels.

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It is a common misconception that the truly innovative or ingenious products often have high prictags associated with them. Our guest blogger Imani Peterson shares with our reader one ingenious product that everyone can afford.

Imani is the webmaster of several sites and believes the internet is to be molded at will. He is also a graphic designer and a music producer who is currently working with an artist for a future release.

Here's his article:

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Have you ever been at home during a bad storm when all of a sudden the power has gone out? Your first instinct is to find a flashlight as quickly as possible because after all we humans need our light. We don't have nocturnal eyes like cats or owls that allow us to see in the dark. Light soothes us and keeps our bodies tranquil. There is no substitute for it and we value it tremendously. read more »

We have a new Guest Blogger who has graciously agreed to share his passion with computer gaming with us. Andrew Kineiski is an avid computer user and programmer from New Jersey. In his free time, he enjoys music, writing and he plays several instruments. With so much on his plate, he still finds time to work as a part time contractor for a home remodeling company!

With his boundless energy, he has written this article for AmericanInventorSpot.com:

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A man stands amidst a lush field of grass, poised for combat. His shining steel armor glistens in the twilight. The air on his neck stands at end, sweat dripping from his brow. Then in a sudden burst of speed and strength he swings his mighty sword in the direction of his target, a dark assassin sent for the bounty on his head.

An entire community still exists today. A community that lives two lives. One life, in the hustle and bustle of the everyday world, and another in a fantasy land of knights and magic. If you are not already familiar with it, let me introduce to you the world of Multi User Dungeons, where your dreams come reality.

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From time to time, we ask writers with interesting perspectives to write for us as a Guest Blogger for AmericanInventorSpot.com. Sharon Bender holds numerous scholarly degrees, has served as an educator and freelance writer, and she loves investigating the latest survival gadgets and technology. We asked if she would share some of her finds with our readers and she graciously agreed. Here's her article on one clever survival gadget:

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MagFireWho hasn’t thought about the need to start a fire in a pinch? It is one of the basic necessities for survival and for life in general.

It seems every film you see in which the plot is about someone being lost or marooned somewhere, the unfortunate soul is trying to start a fire with wet matches or worse . . . no matches at all! Sticks lying nearby are not a guaranteed fire starter. It takes know how to make fire out of twigs.

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Spiked MohawkWhen I was a kid, no one wore bicycle helmets. You were probably risking a butt whooping if you wore one. Today, our kids have to wear bicycle helmets (at least where I live). But they aren't the cooliest thing in the world to be seen in.
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In doing a bit of research for my Dust to Dust posting, I discovered this interesting collection of uses for dust. Who knew something so decorative could come from the dust bin.

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Everyday Edisons

10/29/06 UPDATE:  Audition in San Diego, CA, Februar 24, 2007

9/08/06 UPDATE: Audition in Chicago, IL on October 28, 2006

9/06/06 UPDATE: Change in audition cities

8/10/06 UPDATE: New audition dates announced

Everday Edisons is an inventors' show that aired on PBS. The second season will air this September. The website says that "this is a unique lifetime opportunity for the world to see your idea taken through a comprehensive, market-proven product reality process — following it from prototype design to branding and packaging to the store shelves… And it will all play out on a televised reality show." read more »

The Lite Cylinder - Transparent Propane TankWell, the 4th of July has come and gone. I don’t know about you, but my long weekend involved grilling, more grilling and a trip to the local boat store for a fill-up on the propane. You see, propane is one of those thing you just don’t get to see. Until now. read more »

I like highlighting artists who use interesting materials in inventive ways. I recently discovered to art of Scott Wade, a artist who uses a material that completely surrounds us...ordinary dust. His work reminds me of sand artists, whose creations disappear with the next tide or ice sculpture artists who lose their work to the sun.
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Tide To GoOver the long holiday weekend, I decided on new category for my blogs. Must Haves. Those are the things that make life significantly easier for me and absolutely must have it.

So my first must have is Tide to Go Instant Stain Remover Sticks.

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UBC invented 3,145 Mpg CarThe engineers over at UBC have created a vehicle that can travel from Vancouver to Halifax (coast-to-coast) on one gallon of gas. And although it’s not the fastest car on the block, it proves that somebody out there isn’t trying hard enough to make our everyday cars just a little more efficient.

This vehicle can go coast-to-coast (in Canada) from Halifax to Vancouver on one gallon of gas. That’s roughly 3,145 miles. And for this amazing feat, it has earned first prize at the yearly Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Supermileage Competition that was held on June 9th in Marshall, Michigan. read more »

Cacoon CasketThe Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) are dedicated to fostering business and public understanding of the importance of industrial design excellence to the quality of life and the economy. Winning the IDEA is a distinction like no other that brands your design as the very best in the business. The 108 Idea winners were in numerous categories such as EcoDesign, Consumer Products and Furniture. (More...)

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Lite BriteA couple of weeks ago, my sons came across my old Barbie dolls. Wow. What a flashback I had when they opened up my Barbie doll case (the box that held all my dolls and clothes). Talk about a flood of memories from my childhood. read more »

I was sitting at a restaurant the other day, watching a mom and a dad arguing with their little girl about whether the dad should take a new job. ... It's clear that the parents had lost control of their obnoxious daughter, but I also thought it clear that they had also lost control of their senses.

This incident got me wondering about whether we have gone too far in spoiling our children. We let them make decisions they should not make, do things they should not be doing and buy junk they should not have. I think some of us may spoil our children too much, and in that way fail our kids as parents.

I think the way we have come to overly spoil our kids is obvious in the stuff that we buy for them. With that idea as my inspiration this week, here are my 11 finds for the foolish ways we spoil our kids... read more »

Owl Inside Eye of NeedleIt's not every day you visit an art gallery only to find the exhibition is visible only through the lens of a microscope. "Painstakingly fashioned from gold, specs of dust, precious gems, droplets of glue and paint along with numerous other materials including eyelashes and spiders webbing, each artwork is living proof of the power of belief."
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Hi Everybody:

Welcome back to our new and improved site. We hope you had a great 4th holiday.

For the past week, our technical guru Roger had asked the AmericanInventorSpot.com Team to take a break and give him time to upgrade our software and servers and change hosting companies. (More...)

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For all those people who are looking for the Final 12 Live Blog, we're sorry to say that it's gone. Yes, we actually had the live blog and it was amazing. Problem was that our server went down and we lost the actual data from the live blog. No way to recover it either. read more »