December, 2008

The recession is not just the only reason why you should have a part-time online business. You should have an online business--with or without the recession--because it is another stream of income. Are you one of those people who complain about their salary not being enough to make ends meet but don't really do anything concrete about it? Read on to learn more.

This Cup of Coffee table fountain is a lot easier to "get" than the floating chained bottle of wine I posted a few weeks ago, but there is something unnerving about this endless coffee fountain.

Like cows, nutritional experts urge us humans to graze throughout the day; eating smaller portions of healthy snacks instead of binging during our 3 daily meals. A new company in the UK plays into this trend, by offering consumers a convenient method to snack. I bet their name won't come as a surprise either, accurately describing their nutritional services by calling themselves Graze.

For some people, golf is a status symbol. They join the most prestigious clubs, play the top courses and buy only the best gear. Now, a UK based business called Eye Candy Caddies takes this to the next level by providing young, attractive, female caddies to assist with or distract you from your golf game.

The earphones come in a variety of styles including soccer ball, skull and cross bones and panda, and as they double as earrings, they allow the wearer to break several fashion rules at once while continuing to rock!

Most of us are not aware of our rights to refunds and compensation when we cancel our travel plans or when weather or overbooking disrupts our airline flights. Two progressive and trendsetting new companies in the travel industry help people reclaim their rightful funds at a time when the economy requires us to watch our finances.

"The Birds" Barbie. Hitchcock would be proud that his motion picture classic has been adapted into a child's toy... wouldn't he? I'm a little on the fence with this one...

"Beeeep?" "Ting-Ting?" or "La-la La-la-la. Tschoo-te-tscha-te-tscha-tscha?"

Okay, so I can't write rhythm, but you get the point? If you have a timer in your kitchen, which one would you want to hear when the hour is up? My choice is a member of the band of samba playing, dancing, wind-up dolls from the fanciful French house of Pylones.

What did you do the Christmas your child questioned the existence of Santa Claus?

Ate Santa's plate of cookies? Dressed up as Kris Kringle? Dropped a white glove in the living room?

Didn't work, did it?

Want a way to trick your kids into working on their eye/hand coordination? This cool ZOOB vehicle kit may just be the answer.

French designer 5.5 has created a few new international coins! Well, they're not exactly coins, but they are international. They are really coin casings for LaCie's flash drives, and they're very cool.

Is 5.5 launching a new trend by actually putting something useful in a USB port? I don't know, but the CurrenKey is a good start and it's got a short catchy name too!

Glassdoor.com plays into the trend of transparency tyranny by allowing people to look through the office doors of major organizations and see what it's really like to work there. Employers can setup their own accounts to encourage their current staff members to provide their ratings and opinions; all under the veil of anonymity.

Surveys are coming out right and left these days, as retailers try to find out exactly what people will buy when they really shouldn't be buying anything at all. And don't think the pet industry has been asleep at the wheel. The American Kennel Club (AKC), the purveyor of the well-bred dog, released data from its survey yesterday.

Psst. She loves the dog more.

The sports center in Callao, Peru will never be the same. Oh, it will probably look the same, but after this past Sunday, it will likely never smell the same.

The best talent scouts have a special instinct that tells them if a new band has the stuff to make it big - and make the record label money. Now, researchers have developed a software program that uses data from search queries on peer-to-peer file-sharing networks to predict which new artists will have hit songs.

I'm starting to get a complex. There now exists a robt that can dance better than I can. Well... to be fair, a half-eaten bag of Doritos can dance better than me. But I have to say this: Move over John Travolta! This robot owns the dance floor!

It can be tough to find a protein shake or nutritional bar that tastes good and contains all the ingredients you're looking for. You Bar gives you exactly what you want by allowing you to create your own customized bars and shakes online. Be prepared, this article might start your stomach grumbling.

A mutant roundworm that rapidly consumes its own fat could help researchers develop new treatments for obesity in humans.

Romance is definitely in the air with the Tandem Umbrella. Designed by Jasmine Rasnahan, this umbrella promises to let couple cozy in together while walking in the romantic rain.

Each year Fortune Magazine releases the 100 Best Companies to Work For; a list that every company on the up and up strives to land on. The businesses on the list set the standard for their industries, so it is a great resource for entrepreneurs to learn what has made their competitors a resounding success.

A new firearm, designed for easy access and shooting ability, and usable by millions of disabled and elderly persons, has received a listing from the FDA as a "medical device." The Palm Pistol™ is now appealing for Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

"Hey Doc? How about a prescription for this handgun?"

Christopher Brosius, entrepreneur, artist and founder of CB I Hate Perfume has made his distain for floral and effeminate scents into a profitable business. His line of personal and home scents may be off the wall, but they are being picked up by perfume retailers in Canada and the US.

This year, reward your staff for their hard work by treating them to a fun and unique holiday party. Instead of the typical hotel reception room venue, with the 5-piece cover band and 4-course dinner; experience murder mysteries, James Bond or Hollywood themes with Shot in the Dark Mysteries or Canadian Outback Adventures.

Get ready all of you video gamers out there! The HTX Helmet will take you to the next level or gaming realism--via punching you in the head!

If you're like me, you might have a few empty cans sitting around the house. Instead of throwing them away--or, more approriately, tossing them into the recycling bin--why not build a robot?

In an exhibit entitled The Power Of Seat(ing) at Milan Design Week 2008, designers Sung-Hyun Kyung, Jesse Weser, and Gesthimani Papadopoulou used their collective talent to create chairs that reflect individual psyches, either who a person is, or who he wants to be.  Which of the chairs represents you? The Queen, Superman, or The Thinker?

We all hate seeing our favourite clothes on someone else. But in the world of mass production, it is bound to happen. And let's face it, not all of us can afford designer haute couture...

SANS is here to rescue us.

This year, honor your New Year's resolution to get in shape by trying a new fitness trend. The Gyrotonic brand's new archaic-looking fitness apparatus and Gyrokinesis classes combine the benefits of swimming, yoga, gymnastics, dance and more, to give fitness enthusiasts a full-body workout and spiritual-like healing experience.

Two young and enterprising entrepreneurs have created wear once underwear for the morning after, after a one night stand. Packaged to fit into a case the size of a lipstick case, these panties can be a lifesaver.

As beautiful and sentimental as they may be, most wedding photographs follow a similar format that are timeless but not what you'd call unique. Trash the Dress.com showcases the photos of the risk-taking bridal parties willing to throw caution (and their glamorous wardrobes) to the wind to capture a series of unique shots.

Journalism and writing are popular career aspirations for today's youth, but most don't know the right way to go about chasing their dreams. Leah McLaren is a popular columnist, magazine contributor and author who sets a model example for young entrepreneurs hoping to see their names in print.

Dorks. Nerds. Geeks. If you read this site, there's a good chance you are one, or at least are friends with one. That may have been a bad thing in middle school, but in adulthood, we really start to see that thinking different is actually a great thing. Here's your chance to find some great gifts worthy of the dweebs on your list.

The Dad's Cab is a neat gadget that breeds an interesting business idea. How about charging children for the services we provide as parents, including carting them around to their many activities and engagements?

Some insects use plants as telephones, communicating with each other at opposite ends of the plant, researchers have found. Insects that live below ground and feed on a plant's roots send chemical signals via the leaves of the plant, alerting leaf-eating insects that live above ground that the plant is already occupied.

Apparently, the artist that made these suitcase designs wanted to experiment with the idea of what we see and how it compares to how we perceive it. How we judge a book by its cover, you may say.

In an effort to maintain a steady population of fish, many fisheries have rules for minimum fish sizes or weights. If the fish is too small, it must be thrown back to give it more time to grow and reproduce. Now researchers have found that this policy is flawed.

The best business opportunities in 2008 opened the doors of success for entrepreneurs looking to start their small businesses. Within these markets, businesses both successful and bizarre established themselves and found their niches.