Size and shape of a napkin, but thicker, like a triple-thick paper towel. Cook on it. Use it as a cover. Then use it to pick up hot food. Pre-dampening helps cooking, prevents paper from sticking. Thicker and made not to shred, it can absorb some moisture without falling apart. Need? Maybe Micro Mitts or Micro Grabbers. Or Potholder Napkins. Bet a Read More …
“Fix this.” “Return to …” “Put Away.” “Water Me.” “Start Me Up.” OK, maybe only an aging, memory-challenged quasi-coot like me would this is a good idea, but isn’t the country more full of quasi-coots every day? You have this tall, wide book, and on each plastic or vinyl “page” are many little stacks of stickers, or Post-Its, with preprinted instructions. Read More …
Let’s call this program / utility “Blank Paper.” Using a mouse or graphics pen, not only can I write or draw on it, but so can you. Even at the same time. Let’s play Tic-Tac-Toe or Hangman, for starters. Let’s just have fun doing a sketch together. It could be a great teaching tool for Read More …
I was telling a young shoe designer, Layla Hassoun, about my idea for “Marshmallow Duckies for Hot Chocolate,” and she said if the duckies themselves were chocolate, as they melted they could turn hot milk or hot water into hot chocolate. Take that a step further. Why couldn’t Hershey’s create Instant Hot Chocolate Kisses? They pack cocoa and Read More …
Yes, there’s a noxious plant called Giant Hogweed. Better at popping out itchy blisters than poison ivy, supposedly. Can even cause blindness, some sites say. It’s cropping up in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, other states, and Canada. (Shot this photo of it outside Bancroft, Ontario.) Here’s my idea: Whoever develops an ointment to prevent or treat Read More …
Ever try to cut a big pizza slice in half so each person gets some crust? You get this skinny sliver you can hardly hold or eat. Or say you don’t want a big piece but the pie is huge. Do you grab an outer cutout that has crust, leaving a floppy, sloppy part without any Read More …
My family used to play an add-a-letter game called “Ghost” on long car trips. One person says a letter, the next person adds one. The trick: There has to be a word that starts that way, and you lose if you end a word. Gets you searching those mental vaults for odd words that will Read More …
There’s the Useful Edition: 5 more ways to tie a tie. How to tell better jokes. How to listen. What to get for Mother’s Day. 5 foods that lower cholesterol. 5 foods that raise it. Painting without spattering. And so. Then there’s the Trivia Edition: Your basically useless but interesting facts. Could also have the Brain Food Edition, which, Read More …
Here’s how my son, Alex, became the Invisible Man one Halloween. Suspended a hat in midair on top of two black coathanger wires. The wires were attached to a setup he wore on his head. A skinny piece of wood ran across that to simulate shoulders. That in turn held up a sweater with big enough holes to Read More …
If they can put talking or singing chips in birthday cards, you know it’s gotta happen with food. Probably a no-brainer figuring out how to add this feature to parts we don’t eat, like lollipop or popsicle sticks or cups or lids or bags or wrappers. But why? Contests (“You’re a winner!”). Advertising. Product identity. Read More …
This would be a popular product. Sure, people license cartoon characters for T-shirts and games and underwear. Fun stuff. But aren’t laughs even more needed during disgusting chores, like changing a catbox? Look forward to this every week at my house! Anyway, people love Garfield, people love cats, people love jokes, so market some catbox Read More …
Seeing some old guy waddle to the mound in striped flannel pajamas is pretty ridiculous. And a majorly missed marketing opportunity. Put coaches in knit or other casual shirts with team logos, and fans might buy more. (You can pretty much buy anything with a team logo these days.) Theory was you needed a uniform Read More …
Gasp. I can’t believe I’m posting this idea, since it could encourage smoking. But (a) I’d be surprised if it hasn’t been thought of already, and (b) if not, it might actually reduce smoking or some of the risks. Simple thought: Instead of cancer sticks as long as a pack’s longest dimension, make them only Read More …
We’ve all seen wraps, those round tortilla-like flatbreads handy for holding all sorts of tasty ingredients. But they’re often so oversized, the carbs and calories add up. Got me to thinking: How about making them smaller, just big enough to fold over a veggie burger, or sideways over a hot dog? Call ’em Flaps instead Read More …