|
|
|
Posts Archived Under Business
Thomas Edison's Electric Pen |
On August 8, 1869, Thomas Alva Edison was granted the patent
for his mimeograph
machine. This copying device was the predecessor of ditto
machines and today's copiers. Such is often the story of great inventions --
they are improved upon with time. The cotton gin
of old gave way to modern
versions, and photographs have morphed from daguerreotypes to digitals. To improve upon a brilliant
idea is understandable, but what about those inventions whose first incarnation
should be their last?
From noodle-splash
faceguards to the self-twirling
spaghetti fork, the world is full of pointless and unnecessary inventions. While
one can usually discern the impetus
for the device's creation, that doesn't mean the idea is a good one. Sadly,
many inventions appear to be inspired by profound laziness
or an alarming
lack of reason,
and knowledge of their existence persists only because of their sheer entertainment value.
Though some of these imbecilic inventions may leave us fearing for the future (and the
priorities) of mankind, we must remember that even the greats didn't
always get
it right.
Suggested Sites...
|
|
Directory categories:
Inventions, TIME.com: Inventions of the Year, Patents, Engineers and Inventors |
|
Archived under: Business, Flops, History, Humor, Invention, Inventors, Science, Technology |
| Post a comment (0) | Email this posting |
Thomas Edison's Electric Pen |
On August 8, 1869, Thomas Alva Edison was granted the patent
for his mimeograph
machine. This copying device was the predecessor of ditto
machines and today's copiers. Such is often the story of great inventions --
they are improved upon with time. The cotton gin
of old gave way to modern
versions, and photographs have morphed from daguerreotypes to digitals. To improve upon a brilliant
idea is understandable, but what about those inventions whose first incarnation
should be their last?
From noodle-splash
faceguards to the self-twirling
spaghetti fork, the world is full of pointless and unnecessary inventions. While
one can usually discern the impetus
for the device's creation, that doesn't mean the idea is a good one. Sadly,
many inventions appear to be inspired by profound laziness
or an alarming
lack of reason,
and knowledge of their existence persists only because of their sheer entertainment value.
Though some of these imbecilic inventions may leave us fearing for the future (and the
priorities) of mankind, we must remember that even the greats didn't
always get
it right.
Suggested Sites...
|
|
Directory categories:
Inventions, TIME.com: Inventions of the Year, Patents, Engineers and Inventors |
|
Archived under: Business, Flops, History, Humor, Invention, Inventors, Science, Technology |
| Post a comment (0) | Email this posting |
Although it's not quite clear if we're in a recession, many of us are finding that with rising prices and other economic challenges, we have to change our spending habits. In lean times, it only makes sense that more people have garage sales. Folks need extra cash, so they throw open their garage doors in the hopes of losing a few white elephants and gaining some capital. Others benefit from the bounty of inexpensive goods when paying retail is not an attractive option. And whether you're a newbie or a seasoned veteran, this Saturday is the day to brush up your bargaining skills and participate in National Garage Sale Day.
If you'll be hosting a garage sale of your own, you'd be wise to do some preparation. The Internet has brought this age-old pastime into the 21st century, and there's no shortage of advice for those who are inexperienced shopkeepers. The helpful hint that I've seen overlooked the most is presentation: People simply pop open their storage boxes, sit back, and wait for the customers. But only the most dedicated shopper will sift through your unsorted mounds and clutter.
My own pet peeve is the death of the "garage sale price." People seem to have forgotten that in the sell-it-yourself food chain, the yard sale still sits well below eBay. I've been to more than one yard sale at which the host displayed an eBay printout and attempted to sell an item for only a little less, with no bargaining. We're all feeling the pinch of the slow economy, but if you're going to sell something in your driveway, be generous! Your customers are also your neighbors. If they really like that old vintage grill you haven't fired up in years, let 'em have it for a quarter. You might be invited to their next barbecue.
Suggested Sites...
|
|
Directory categories:
Antiques and Collectibles, Auctions, Cleaning, Classifieds, Bartering and Swapping |
|
Archived under: Business, Collectibles, Collecting, Decorating, Freecycling, Garage Sales, Home and Garden, Recycling, Shopping |
| Post a comment (0) | Email this posting |
"Window shopping" in Amsterdam's
Red Light District
(Photo by Erica Simone) |
Today is "Luv Guv" Eliot Spitzer's birthday (we can guess how he's not celebrating the occasion), which naturally got us thinking about prostitution. While the sex trade has been in the news a lot this year, beyond the schadenfreude of titillating scandals and primetime humiliation, we're mostly oblivious to the world of prostitution.
Obviously the "world's oldest profession" is not a new business -- records date back to at least 2400 B.C. -- but it seems ubiquitous throughout human history and around the globe, going through cycles over the centuries, from morally corrupt criminal act to socially acceptable cultural practice and back again. Today it's a crime worthy of the death penalty in some places, and a government-regulated, unionized trade in others. Dozens of countries and communities have decriminalized or legalized prostitution, from Nevada brothels to the red light districts of Amsterdam's De Wallen and Hamburg's Reeperbahn.
But in America, where escorts ply euphemistic companionship services in phone books and newspapers, the cultural perception of prostitution is confusing. The subject polarizes feminists and leaves many moral, thoughtful people confused (after all, many wonder, why should it be illegal to sell something that's legal to give away?). Meanwhile, Hollywood loves stories about strangely wholesome hookers and snarky sex workers, but the public treatment of real-life prostitutes is another matter. While we see tearful confessions (and quick retreats from public life) from the busted clients, we seldom hear from the women on the other end of the transactions.
Online, the voices are more varied and the arguments on all sides of these complex, thorny issues are abundant. Whether your views are set in stone, or you're looking for more information about the pros and cons of prostitution, it can't hurt to learn more, straight from the source.
Suggested Sites...
|
|
Directory categories:
Prostitution, Sex Work, Sex Workers' Blogs, Sexuality, Eliot Spitzer |
|
Archived under: Business, Crime, Law, Politics, Scandals, Secrets, Sex and Sexuality |
| Post a comment (1) | Email this posting |
Paul Newman's hot salsa
(Photo by Jess Lo) |
We read an article the other day detailing the woes that Jackie Chan is having running his Segway dealership. Jackie Chan? Segways? Does he really need the money that badly? But after doing a little research, we found that Chan is only one of innumerable celebrities who have tried to parlay their show business fame into commercial success.
Some of these products are more beneficial than others. Peter Gabriel wants you to know about music and movies he finds worthwhile, and Kanye West is doing his darnedest to find you a cheap airline ticket. On the other hand, Willie Nelson, Marilyn Manson, and Sammy Hagar would all like to cloud your mind with alcoholic beverages. If you drink too much of their products, you can always sober up with some of David Lynch's coffee.
Now, not every celebrity is in it for the money: some have artistic ambitions. Tony Bennett, Billy Dee Williams, and even Jack Kevorkian have expressed their creativity on canvas (and David Bowie is interested in promoting young artists as well as himself). And there are some celebrities who have done what they can to make the world a better place: Peter Gabriel also founded The Elders, dedicated to solving some of the world's toughest problems, and Bob Geldof's work with Live Aid has raised millions for famine relief.
Perhaps the celebrity who has best managed to combine commerce and charity is Paul Newman, whose line of foods -- ranging from salad dressings to steak sauce -- has raised more than $200 million for thousands of charities since 1982.
The only problem with celebrities leveraging their fame is that sooner or later everyone will want to get into the act -- even fictional characters.
Suggested Sites...
|
|
Directory categories:
Celebrities, Celebrity Artists, Musician Artists, Shopping and Services |
|
Archived under: Actors, Artists, Brands, Business, Celebrities, Charity, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Philanthropy |
| Post a comment (3) | Email this posting |
|
|
