My boss has been really been bugging me lately. I think I spend more of my day thinking about how to avoid him than I spend working on the stuff he needs from me. So, for this week's article, I had the bright idea of giving you some sage advice on the types of bosses you need to avoid.

I don't know about you, but when I think about bosses, it makes me think of asses, and when I think of asses, I think of ___holes, and without fail, when I think of ___holes, I think of toilets. How about you?

So here's my advice on the 10 Types of Bosses You Should Avoid, as demonstrated with the help of toilets: read more »

FlybarWhen you think of pogo sticks, do you think of them as latest rage in extreme sports?

Our guest blogger, Emily Swan, graduated with highest honors from Butler University in Indianapolis. After school, she worked in public relations for Borders Group Inc, the book, music, and movie retailer. She's since jumped the PR fence and now works as a freelance writer. An avid science junkie, we hope you'll enjoy her quirky (and sometimes philosophical) takes on modern gadgets. Emily introduces us to the next generation of pogo sticks.

Here's Emily's article for AmericanInventorSpot.com:

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What happens when you cross an eight time World Cup skateboard champion with an inventor who has a degree in physics from MIT? Just ask Andy MacDonald, a.k.a. Andy Mac, and Bruce Middleton. For the past few years, the two unlikely cohorts collaborated on the most extreme pogo stick ever invented.

Hi All:

Here's my wacky find of the week, for your commenting pleasure.

I thought this was funny for some reason. (link)

So, can you come up with some comments on this to make us all laugh?

Would you ever buy this thing and what would you do with it? read more »

Amused and Bemused
Featured Blogger
AmericanInventorSpot.com

Inflatable Haunted HouseI love Halloween. Seriously, as a kid, what is better than knocking at someone's door and having someone hand you candy. When my oldest son was two years old, he got the hang of trick-or-treating a little too quickly. At the age of one, my youngest child had more candy from trick-or-treating than I ate the first 20 years of my life (no, he didn't eat all of the candy, he just accumulated it). read more »

I love the decorations too. I came across this inflatable haunted house that looks like a giant playhouse. Its better than all those other inflatables they have out for Halloween because it does more than just sits there looking spooky. You can walk (or run) through it.

Have a few hours on your hands? Why not enter an invention contest?

Our Guest Blogger, Tim Whitney, is a bit of a contest nut. He's the National Grand Prize Winner of the KeyCite Key to Good Law Contest, and a national finalist in both the 2005 Staples Invention Quest and Digital Innovations Design-Originality-Creativity Awards. Tim gives us three reasons why we should spend a free afternoon entering an invention contest instead of watching TV.

Here's his article:

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Every year, you'll find about a dozen opportunities to enter national invention (or other idea-related) contests. Some hold out the promise of bringing a product to market, some just financial incentives. read more »

Diamond Crypto SmartphoneI've heard some people say that their cell phones are cost them a fortune. Obviously, the've never seen the Diamond Crypto Smartphone, designed by Peter Aloisson.

The actual phone is made out of platinum and rose gold. It has over 80 diamonds on it. There are 50 diamonds going up and down the sides (10 are blue diamonds), the navigation key has 28 diamonds surrounding it and the navigation button is actually a 1/2 carat diamond. The buttons on the sides are suppose to be diamonds too. read more »

No doubt many of you caught on to the still-popular-as-ever accent wall fad. With the help of home makeover shows like Trading Spaces and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, the American public was introduced to cheap and affordable ways to spruce up the home. But, as with any trend, the market is always looking for ways to keep the ball rolling and Green Fortune has come up with a unique way to take the accent wall one step further. read more »

Starting this week, I’m writing a weekly column called “Game of the Week,” (a.k.a. GotW). The idea is to pick one game each week and talk a little bit about it.

After the release of the XBox 360 in November of 2005, it was common belief that the games released for the console were very similar to the previous generation games. The first widely accepted “next generation” game on the XBox 360 was Dead Rising. read more »

ALLERCA kittensSome people who are afflicted with cat allergies get itchy or runny eyes, plugged up noses and may even be plagued with shortness of breath. I break out in hives all over my exposed areas. Our cat rubs up against my legs: bloop! bloop! bloop! You can almost instantly see the repugnant patches popping up all over the place. But there is no reason to suffer anymore. Thanks to the company Allerca, Allergy affected cat lovers like me can now purchase the world’s first hypoallergenic cats! read more »

The Soccer PlayerIf you have a weak stomach, turn away. This subject is about to go beyond the common life saving practice of donating human organs to those in need. Today you can donate your body too, not to save a life, but to be placed on display in a museum. read more »

Experimental Setup for Odor RecorderHave you ever gotten hungry just watching the cooking channel on cable? What if you could smell it too?

Our guest blogger, Emily Swan, graduated with highest honors from Butler University in Indianapolis. After school, she worked in public relations for Borders Group Inc, the book, music, and movie retailer. She's since jumped the PR fence and now works as a freelance writer. An avid science junkie, we hope you'll enjoy her quirky (and sometimes philosophical) takes on modern gadgets. Emily gives us a glimpse of what our future can be like while we're watching TV at home.

Here's Emily's article for AmericanInventorSpot.com:

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At the beginning of the twentieth century, French writer, Marcel Proust, explored a theory that human senses are intricately entwined with memory.
read more »

ElevatorWonder what you would do if you were riding in an elevator with one of the judges from the American Inventor TV show?

Our Guest Blogger, Tim Whitney, is a bit of a contest nut. He's the National Grand Prize Winner of the KeyCite Key to Good Law Contest, and a national finalist in both the 2005 Staples Invention Quest and Digital Innovations Design-Originality-Creativity Awards. His background in law, marketing and design helps him bring a critical and analytical eye to the inner workings of these contests in an effort to advise and inform entrants and help them make the most of these and other opportunities to promote their ideas. Tim gives us some tips on how to pitch your invention in 30 seconds or less.

Here's his article:

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In the marketing/branding world, there's this thing called the "elevator pitch." read more »

It’s that time of year again when ghosts and goblins and Flappers and Ninjas hit the streets in search of loot. Halloween is upon us, so it’s time to get those thinking caps on to help dream up the perfect costume for the loved ones in your family.

For years, I have gussied up our dogs for the holiday so they can join in on the festivities. We have a pair of pups, so we usually opt for theme costumes. We have had Hula Boy and Hula Girl. (Yes, my dog did don a coconut bra.) I’ve rounded up some adorable costume ideas for you here to get you going on your Halloween brainstorming. read more »

New Mona LisaWhat is it about Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa that makes people want to create her image over and over again? Why is it so intriguing? Maybe it’s that enigmatic smile she wears or the facial hair she lacks, such as the missing eyebrows. read more »

This is my wacky find of the week:

Monthly Doos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, for the person with a lot of empty space on their walls, we have the Monthly Doos calendar. (Calendar). The merchant says "Finally, a calendar dedicated to the colorful achievements of man's best friend! "

I am left speechless, so I need your help in coming up with some funny comments for this product. Is this wacky or wonderful?
read more »

It finally feels like its fall in the Northeast. I'm seeing leaves fall and kids starting to cough. I thought of this article I wrote back during the summer and thought it was very appropriate right now. Hope it makes your winter a little easier. Here it is. ..

If candy wasn’t so bad for my kids, I would let them consume it 24/7. Nothing seems to quiet a whinning child as quickly and effectively as candy. Now imagine your child sick at home and whinning and having the amazing ability to say, “Hey, I’ve got a great idea, why don’t you have a lollipop?” Your child will look at you with questioning eyes. Is it a trick?

read more »

Staples Invention QuestThere's an inventor inside everyone of us. I don't know of a single person that hasn't had at least one great idea. Ever wonder whether you should enter into the Staples Invention Quest contest with that great idea?

Our Guest Blogger, Tim Whitney, is a bit of a contest nut. He's the National Grand Prize Winner of the KeyCite Key to Good Law Contest, and a national finalist in both the 2005 Staples Invention Quest and Digital Innovations Design-Originality-Creativity Awards. His background in law, marketing and design helps him bring a critical and analytical eye to the inner workings of these contests in an effort to advise and inform entrants and help them make the most of these and other opportunities to promote their ideas. Tim gives us some of his thoughts about the Staples Invention Quest contest.

Here's his article:

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For as much fun as I had making it to the finals of the 2005 Staples Invention Quest, there was always an undercurrent of corporate agenda that made some of us finalists wonder if we were being naïve about Staples' true intentions for the contest. With some of those elements intact for the 2006 version of IQ (www.staples.com/iq), I think it merits some discussion so the naivete isn't passed to a new generation of entrants. read more »

YalosOh, what to do? What to do? I have $130,000 laying around and I can put a down payment on a house, buy a few cars, feed a starving country or I can buy one TV. The choices some people have to make.

Keymat, has just come out with the Yalos Diamond LCD TV that costs $130,000.
read more »

Staples Invention QuestEver wish you had insider's guide to what's going on in an invention contest?

Our Guest Blogger, Tim Whitney, is a bit of a contest nut. He's the National Grand Prize Winner of the KeyCite Key to Good Law Contest, and a national finalist in both the 2005 Staples Invention Quest and Digital Innovations Design-Originality-Creativity Awards. His background in law, marketing and design helps him bring a critical and analytical eye to the inner workings of these contests in an effort to advise and inform entrants and help them make the most of these and other opportunities to promote their ideas. Tim gives us some tips for Staples Invention Quest contest.

Here's his article: read more »

ChopStick KidsI grew up using chopsticks. Personally, there isn't a type of Asian food that I don't like (ok - so there really isn't any ethnic food I don't like). In this day and age where Chinese food restaurants are as common as the local pizza shop, all kids should get to know how to use chopsticks. My kids have a couple of pairs of them and when we go to restaurants, the wait staff usually makes their own version of children's chopsticks. Here are couple I've found for the kids (and grownups). read more »