Ideastox
A place for people to post ideas and get something from them. Seems like an interesting idea! Also, I'm gratified that it's noticeably lacking some of the features I have in an idea along the same lines.
Jul 24, 2008 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Nine Cities, Nine Ideas
"Ann Arbor, Mich., and Beijing, China, have precious little in common. But the modest college town and sprawling national capital do share one trait: They're part of a world-wide movement by cities to rein in their runaway energy use."
Via Kottke
Feb 12, 2008 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Dawdlr
The opposite of Twitter. Question: is there a market for an "opposite of" every service? A stay-away-from-this-page Digg clone, for example? Try negating the premise of your favorite Web app and making a service that does just that!
Oct 19, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Point Break LIVE!
A stage adaptation of everyone's favorite movie. The brilliant part? "[T]he starring role of Keanu will be selected at random from the audience each night, and will read their entire script off of cue-cards."
Via Fark
Sep 30, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment (1)
Solution for the Real Estate Market? Take Your House Public?
"By selling equity in a home, the buyer gets an asset based security that will move up and down with the market. If this market is big enough, there should be enough liquidity to move in and out of positions... The seller receives cash that can be used to pay down the debt and thereby reduce his/her monthly payments... Beyond creating liquidity options for individuals in the housing market... This exchange listing approach will certainly make for better information available for the market, which in turn will also reduce the volatility."
Aug 19, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
What Have We Learned From History?
Jul 13, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
LOLCODE
HAI
CAN HAS PROGRAMMING LANGUIDJ?
ORLY?
YARLY!
KTHXBYE!
Jun 25, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Bringo: Stop Talking to Machines and Talk to a Real Human
Give Bringo a number, it calls it, navigates the phone tree, and then calls you back when there's a person on the line. Question: does it wait on hold for you too?
Via Shahine.com/omar
May 21, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Flexpetz
You can have fractional ownership of condos, airplanes, cars, and now... dogs? This is... an interesting idea. I wonder how many people want a dog for just a few hours or days a week? And how the dogs feel about having so many mommies and daddies? Although, I guess dogs love pretty much anything.
May 1, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas, Consumer Lust | Comment
Who is Sick?
Like epidemiology, but all Web 2.0-y. See what people around you have and if your symptoms are unique! Also brings the interface greatness of Trivial Pursuit.
Apr 19, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Jaxtr
Need to give out a phone number but don't feel like giving out yours? Use Jaxtr's service to link your phone to their number, and have people call away -- then shut it off.
Mar 23, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Jott
Send yourself -- or your co-worker -- a to-do via phone. Looks pretty smart!
Via shahine.com/omar
Mar 21, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Mailbox Locator
For when you really need a blue mailbox. Comes with maps and, best of all, pickup times for that box, so you can find what you need.
Mar 17, 2007 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Repeal Day
"Folks, there are a few drinking holidays here in the United States, but I’m here to tell you that none of them are as important as the new celebration I’m proposing for this great country of ours." This is a great holiday idea, one I'll back next year!
Dec 7, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Pandora.FM
A Pandora and Last.fm mashup that puts what you listen to on Pandora in your Last.fm profile.
Oct 25, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Spam Stock Tracker
"What if I purchased 1000 shares of stock from EVERY stock tip mentioned in a SPAM email? Could we all really be missing out on a great opportunity? Of course, I don't have the money to actually waste on an experiment like this. I made this little web site to keep track of the value of those stocks... without my actually purchasing anything. In other words I haven't bought any of the stocks listed here. This is just pretend. BUT if I did actually buy them, this is how much money I could be making or losing as of today."
Jun 8, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Test-Drive Your Dream Job
"Enter a two-year-old Portland (Ore.)-based company called Vocation Vacations, a business that gives people the opportunity to "test drive" their dream jobs. Creating temporary but intense mentor/apprenticeship experiences, Vocation Vacations enlists professionals from a variety of fields -- everything from winemakers and makeup artists to architects and sword makers -- and pairs them with people who fantasize about leaving their day jobs and want spend a few days in a profession that they had previously thought beyond their reach."
Apr 29, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Russian Software Developer Beats Pirate in Boxing Ring
"In February, Smirnov saw the dealer selling CDs with his company’s software at a computer market without a license. Smirnov demanded that the dealer stop the illegal sale. A scuffle broke out, but they were stopped by the guard. After that, the pirate expressed a wish to continue the fight in the street, but Smirnov suggested a fitness center."
Mar 24, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Runaway Cars Tagged to Stop Chases
"The Los Angeles Police Department is testing a new secret weapon to halt high-speed pursuits: smart darts. The LAPD will use air-propelled miniature baseball size "tags" equipped with a global positioning system. The officers fire the darts, which stick to a fleeing motorist's car, and within minutes can find and track the suspect's location."
Feb 5, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
PackageMapper.com
"Package Mapper shows you a map of your FedEx, UPS, USPS package routes. Enter a carrier and a tracking number to see your package's progress plotted on the map."
Jan 8, 2006 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
10 over 100
"I hereby make a personal promise to give 10% of whatever I make over $100,000 each year to charity. I will donate money directly to organizations of MY choosing, including charities, relief funds, schools, churches, etc. I understand that this promise is morally, not legally, binding."
Nov 16, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
My Outsourced Life
How to outsource yourself -- even phone calls with your parents, gifts for your wife, and reading to your children -- to India. Plus see The Guardian's remarkably more sober take on personal outsourcing.
Oct 16, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Sorry, Gotta Go!
Sounds for when you absolutely, positively have to get off the phone!
Oct 7, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
Pledge-A-Picket
"Here's how it works: You decide on the amount you would like to pledge for each protester (minimum 10 cents). When protesters show up on our sidewalks, Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania will count and record their number each day from October 1 through November 30, 2005. We will place a signoutside the health center that tracks pledges and makes protesters fully aware that their actions are benefiting PPSP."
Sep 23, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
SaveMyAss
"SaveMyAss is a personal assistant that keeps your girlfriend or wife happy by sending her flowers on your behalf, on a regular but semi-random basis."
Sep 20, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas | Comment
The Mystery of the Pioneer Anomaly!
Back in the '70s, NASA sent out the Pioneer spacecraft to explore to, and past, the edge of our solar system. Now these spacecraft have moved off of the very precise course predicted for them -- and nobody knows why. Whatever's causing it is probably an undiscovered truth about physics. But NASA's run out of money to process the data already sent back by the Pioneers and will soon throw it all away. Donate to the Planetary Society to help them get the data from NASA and analyze it all, and learn more about our universe!
Jul 25, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
An open letter to my dearest creditor
"Dear MasterCard,
This is to inform you of a change in our credit agreement. It has come to my attention that you are unable to keep my credit and debit card information safe." A consumer-defined card agreement!
Jul 20, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
TerraPass
- Your car emits 10,000 lbs (three times its weight!) in carbon dioxide each year.
- You enroll in TerraPass.
- TerraPass members finance projects that reduce industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
- Your TerraPass purchase is certified to eliminate the equivalent of your car’s carbon dioxide pollution, helping to preserve the environment for future generations.
Only about $40 for my car! Seems like money well spent!
Jun 21, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
What color eyes would your children have?
Calculates the odds based on distribution of genetic characteristics in the population.
Jun 15, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
How much is that worth today?
Convert (British Pounds) into current values, for any year from 1240 on.
Jun 11, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
PowerPoint’s “Presenter View”
"This enables you to display your slides through the projector as usual while simultaneously viewing the slide on the projector, your upcoming slides, your notes, and a timer—all on your laptop."
Mar 31, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
Clocky
"Clocky is a clock for people who have trouble getting out of bed. When the snooze bar is pressed, Clocky rolls off the table and finds a hiding spot, a new one every day."
Mar 24, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing and Email: Where to Go To “Just Say No”
"Tired of having your mailbox crammed with unsolicited mail, including pre-approved credit card applications? Fed up with getting telemarketing calls just as you’re sitting down to dinner? Fuming that your email inbox is chock-full of unsolicited advertising? The good news is that you can cut down on the number of unsolicited mailings, calls and emails you receive by learning where to go to 'just say no.'"
Mar 11, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
Your Rights When Stopped or Confronted for Photography
"The right to take photographs is now under assault more than ever. People are being stopped, harassed, and even intimidated into handing over their personal property simply because they were taking photographs of subjects that made other people uncomfortable. Recent examples have included photographing industrial plants, bridges, and bus stations. For the most part, attempts to restrict photography are based on misguided fears about the supposed dangers that unrestricted photography presents to society."
Feb 16, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
The Business Of Touch
How to greet properly, around the world, for businesspeople.
Feb 15, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
Baby Name Voyager
Thinking about a name? See when it's been popular in the past, how popular it is now. Want to use some letters in a name? Start typing. Incredible, brilliant interface.
Feb 10, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
Moantones
Because your cube-mate's Ashlee Simpson ringtone isn't distinctive enough, porn star Jenna Jameson will start offering "moantones". No statement yet telling if getting personal calls at work will now constitute sexual harassment.
Jan 21, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
43 Things
What are your goals? A great place to store yours, and see how others are achieving the same things. (Here are mine.)
Jan 6, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
La Culona (The Big Booty Festival)
Apparently the Cubans have a festival celebrating people with junk in their trunk. I want to go to this festival.
Jan 5, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
FoodKeeper
How long should I keep food? What's the best way to store it? This answers those questions, in simple tables that you can attatch to your fridge. Warning: PDF
Jan 4, 2005 in Brilliant Ideas
What's That Song?
Identify 10 songs by your favorite band (if you click on the link, you get my favorite band, but you can choose yours too). Very clever, but not sure how it's done. Not sure where they grab the music samples from, or, more exactly, who pays for them.
Dec 12, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
The 1906 Aerial Photographs of George R. Lawrence
After the San Francisco earthquake, Lawrence sent up kites with cameras to take aerial pictures. Fascinating for for the technology and for the images of devastation.
Dec 11, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
iPod My Photo
Like the visual style of those iPod ads? Send in your photo and get one made of you!
Dec 9, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
The Yes Men
"Identity Theft: Small-time criminals impersonate honest people in order to steal their money. Targets are ordinary folks whose ID numbers fell into the wrong hands. Identity Correction: Honest people impersonate big-time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them. Targets are leaders and big corporations who put profits ahead of everything else." Guess which the Yes Men do.
Dec 8, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Badge Keeps Paparazzi Out Of The Picture
"By wearing a specially designed electronic badge that jams electronic cameras, [celebrities] will be able to prevent photographers from taking unwanted pictures."
Nov 24, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Vacuuming The Lungs
A method to ensure proper breathing when you're nervous.
Nov 21, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
National Public Toilet Map
If you're in Australia, here's where you go to find out where you can go!
Oct 22, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Everyone's A Football Manager
Europe has better ads.
Oct 17, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Google SMS
Search Google via text message on your cell phone!
Oct 11, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
BBC Lists UK Top 40 Legally Downloaded Songs
Sep 1, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
GMailFS
Mounts your GMail account as a network drive. Wish it were available for Windows!
Aug 31, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Home, James!
Drink too much? Don't want to drive? Don't want to leave your car in faraway locales, then schlep back the next day, figting your hangover all the way? Call Home James, they'll show up in their little scooters, put you in your car, put their scooter in the trunk, drive you home, and zip away on their scooter!
Aug 21, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Lorem Ipsum Dolor
A Lorem Ipsum generator; plus, the history of the text.
Jun 2, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Calculate The Cost Of Sex
How much do you spend to get laid? It's hilarous, too bad it's associated with such a hateful, sexist site.
May 28, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Maybach 62
My boss just got one of these... drool...
May 21, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
A Temptation Called Excel
Excel automation: often overlooked, but with a big payoff!
May 4, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Veep-O-Matic
Who do you think John Kerry should choose for his running mate? Try the Washington Post's Veep-O-Matic! (Every time, Wes Clark came up #1 for me; Bob Graham and Bob Kerrey always also were in the top 5. I guess that shows my priorities).
Apr 20, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
Loftcube
How about a 21st-century trailer home on your roof? I knew you'd want one.
Apr 14, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
How The CIA Tricked The Soviets And Caused The Biggest Non-Nuclear Explosion Ever
Feb 2, 2004 in Brilliant Ideas
I'm With Stupid
Cringley proposes that social networks can be the cure to identity theft -- after all, who could steal your identity if they needed to prove to people who know you that they are you? Not a bad idea, although it needs careful refinement to be truly effective. Has the massive advantage of needing virtually no new infrastructure to put into place.
Nov 7, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas
Automatic Flatterer
Aug 29, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas
Bright Ideas
"Three local companies think it's about time to change Edison's light bulb. They say that light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, are the future of illumination."
Aug 25, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas
Support A Lawyer-Free Internet Top-Level Domain
.ianal -- a part of the internet which lawyers are not allowed to enter.
Aug 25, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas
Counter-Googling
How to use Google to get information on your customers and provide them with the service and products they need.
Aug 19, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas
Tales Of Stupid Security
Aug 4, 2003 in Brilliant Ideas