More than two million homes are expected to be foreclosed this year. What a waste. All because the owners can’t affort the particular payment on that house. Hmm. So what if we switched the people and the houses? Orchestrated a kind of mortgage musical chairs? Take Joe. Can’t afford his $600,000 house. But he could afford the Read More …
String theorists investigate the possibility that the universe has more than three dimensions of space and one of time. Positing more dimensions (usually curled up in tiny spaces) yields equations that, in some sets, describe facets of the universe very well. Problem is, as I foggily understand it, is that the possibilities are so astronomical (excuse Read More …
The other day my daughter, or someone she was reading, likened the future of newspapers to the fate of milkmen. They couldn’t imagine the service would fade away, but it did. Radio dramas were once popular, too, but they’re now a relic too. But in these examples is kind of buried a lesson for newspapers: Read More …
This a wild idea. Maybe it’s more of a stunt than a service. But with the power of the Web perhaps it’s possible: A way to ship something cross-country in just one day using almost no extra energy. Really puts the UNITED in United Parcel Service. Or maybe call it the Hand-Off Shipping Network. Basically people go to Read More …
I’m writing this on an Acer mini netbook I recently bought. Love its portability (2 lbs!) and affordable price ($350). Screen’s glarey in sunlight, but keyboard’s big enough for even my large paws. Anyway, for even more portability, why not invent the CompuSleeve? suggests a friend, Danielle Comisky. It’s a touch-screen computer that curls around your Read More …
Have tryouts to find a new Three Stooges. The national search! The embarrassing auditions where the losers can’t help coming across with dignity and intelligence! The judges … who … hit each other with seltzer and pies? My best reality-TV idea since “Beer Factor“?
Idea for an online amusement: A place where you can put anyone’s face on a famous painting. A whole gallery of paintings … all with faces that pop out. Upload your picture, position, and print. Voila! You’re in Manet’s The Picnic. Or grab a celebrity face from another gallery, and, zut alors, George Bush is Read More …
Not surprised: This has been thought of before. If electric cars have a limited range, why not be able to pick up recharged batteries as you drive? Swap ’em like tanks for gas grills. Freshcreation.com has a post, including a neat video of how electric car battery exchanges could work.
“Be here now” is familiar spiritual advice. To live in the timeless present is to be one with the One, to know God … or at least have a simpler, happier life. Ah, there’s always the rub of intention. Can’t try, can’t think, can’t conceptualize your way to true nowness. Indeed, if you overthink “here” Read More …
Basically, this website looks like a house. Maybe an old house, maybe a new one, maybe you get to pick. But everyone is free to go around and destroy stuff. Tip that vase over. Crash. Take a sledge hammer to the walls. Drive a car into the porch. Take a chainsaw to spiral staircase, watch 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 …
Who says celebs are truly interesting? Why not a book chronicling the struggles and wild lives of wannabes and gonnabes?
The presidency’s too much for any one man. Or woman. So divide it up. Besides, the more responsibilities a leader has, the more failures are accepted, and the more elections focus on likeability instead of issues. So suppose there were multiple “presidents,” (or commissioners) each independent with only one problem-solving job: Improving education. Winning the war on drugs. Making Americans Read More …
“Vote for Me! My ugly opponent’s pro-death and he wants to raise everybody’s taxes! This ad, brought to you by the Committee to Re-Elect Joe Jerkweed at Any Cost, not only just wasted $20,000 that could have gone for several children’s health-care premiums, but it may cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, gullibility, insensitivity, and major regret. Read More …
There’s sports talk. Opinionated political talk. Even shows all about money. But why not TV-movie-music-media-Web-celebrities-and-maybe-also-a-little sports-and-sex talk? Key to good talk radio is having two lively hosts who often disagree (a la WIP in Philly), and who can juggle several hot topics at once, to hook a wide audience. Keep the whiny politics out of Read More …