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Monster Pong Video Clip May 8, 2009

Posted by SparkBugg in Uncategorized.
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Here is the latest video of my co-invention (with Everyday Edisons), Monster Pong.  Hopefully one day it will end up on store shelves.

…Quinn Baron Fleming… October 20, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Uncategorized.
4 comments

my daughter, and best (co)invention ever….

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…metapost: Everyday Edisons Premiere!! June 21, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Uncategorized.
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Erin, Matt’s wife here…..I’m excited to report that Everyday Edisons Season 2 premieres today on several PBS affiliates.   You can check out the EE website which features Season 2 inventors here (Matt is on the right, in the green shirt).   Sadly, we won’t be able to see it today as our DC PBS station isn’t airing it in June or July (for your location and times, go here).   It’s been an exciting ride over the past 18 months being part of the show and we are thrilled that viewers will be able to see the journey!

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576. Bright Idea: The NeoCube June 21, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Product, Video.
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I just got this fun fidget toy in the mail last week.  I haven’t figured out the fancy maneuvers like those in the clip below, but it is still whimsically playful, for about $35. I love it.  Their website HERE; buy it HERE.

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…metapost… March 17, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Video.
1 comment so far

Check it out: the Promo for Everyday Edisons, Season 2. I am the guy in the black SparkBugg.com t-shirt (with my wife, also sporting the shirt).

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575. Bright Idea: the Xcelerator Scooter March 17, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Product, Transportation.
4 comments

I was wondering when someone would produce this: a scooter that also has a kick pedal so you can continue to propel yourself without touching the ground. I may buy one soon, for $120. Below is a quick clip of this product in action. Their website HERE; Via BornRich.


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…metapost… February 26, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Uncategorized.
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Here is a Bright Idea…try to see if this blog can help with an important cause. A dear friend of mine has multiple sclerosis, and I will be joining her and her team for the MS walk this April 5th. I have pledged $100 to the cause. If you would like to contribute as well, or just learn more about MS, please click HERE.

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574. Bright Idea: Solve-a-math-equation Alarm Clock February 26, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Product, Video.
2 comments

This smart clock requires you to be more alert in order to turn it off, and will exercise your brain in the process. Well done, via Make.

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573. Bright Idea: the Fusion Dining Pool Table February 26, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Furniture, Game, Product.
3 comments

I don’t know about you folks, but my wife and I use our dining table about 3 times a year, when we get around to having a dinner party. Otherwise, we eat on our kitchenette every night.

So that is why I think this dining table, which converts into a pool table, is a Bright Idea. Finally use your dining room more frequently. Add a ping-pong tabletop addition, and you will use that room even more. Check all the versions out HERE; via BornRich.

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572. Bright Idea: the EZ Clean Spray Bottle February 18, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Product.
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This 32 oz spray bottle holds a roll of paper towels. Quite convenient to use, but maybe not so to transfer the cleaning solution from the original bottle. For $10, buy it HERE.

Watch the 30-sec cheesy infomercial below.

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571. Sparked Art: The Cloud February 11, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Art, Video.
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This digital sculpture is found in Heathrow Airport, and is made out of about 5,000 individually-controlled (via computer) flip-dots. Designed by Troika. Check out the clip below (via Make).

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570. Bright Idea: Emily Wall Clock February 11, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Product.
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No need to lift your head off of the pillow to read this clock. Though it is not yet in production, I would instantly purchase one if (A) I didn’t have to put on glasses to see the clock anyway; (B) I allowed electric clocks near my bed (yup, it’s my EMR concerns again). Via Inventorspot.

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569. Bright Idea: Shampoo Rinse Cup January 4, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Baby, Product.
3 comments

This rinse cup has a soft flexible yellow panel to conform to your child’s head. Keep that soapy water out of your little boo-boo’s eyes. Buy it HERE ($9).

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568. Bright Idea: the Storyline shelf January 3, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Art, Product.
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Artistic, practical, versatile, and outrageously priced (at $319; buy it here). By Frederik Roije; Via BLTD.

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567. Sparked Art: Patricia Piccinini January 3, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in Art.
3 comments

I saw Piccinini’s work last year in Louisville’s amazing 21c Museum Hotel. Makes me feel like a kid again, imagining where these Wild Things Are.

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Check out her website HERE; via Make. Reminiscent of Ron Mueck.

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566. Bright Idea: the Peak Bathtub January 3, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in IdeaSpark*, Product.
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This bathtub is designed to support your knees and conserve water. I like the idea, but I wonder about two possible problems: (1) if two people are in the tub facing each other, it could get awkward getting both sets of legs comfortable; (2) I like to occasionally slide my body down to submerge my entire head, and with this tub I can’t.

IdeaSpark*: a proposed solution addressing both problems: Manufacture just the peak (a large triangular wedge) out of a material that won’t float. Make different sizes, then anyone can buy one to use in their regular tub. Slide it down to submerge your head; remove it to make room for your partner. Bonus: way less expensive.

Designed by Lyndon Craig (here); via ApartmentTherapy.

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565. HumBugg: Fireplace DVD January 3, 2008

Posted by SparkBugg in HumBugg, Product.
3 comments

My in-laws have birds residing in their chimney, so they never use their fireplace. So as a holiday gift, I purchased for them Brookstone’s Fireplace DVD: 50 minutes of high-definition film of a crackling fire (with or without holiday music). Instantly my father-in-law realized that there was a problem: like with most plasma TV screens, a constant image will burn pixels after about 30 minutes. On the DVD, the fire itself moves, of course, but the rest of the image was static. I guess I didn’t find the fine print that indicated that this DVD was only for LCD and old-school TVs.

Since it was a Christmas gift, this was truly a bah HumBugg.

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564. IdeaSpark*: Scooting Luggage, with better handles December 20, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in IdeaSpark*.
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I recently saw this Omni-directional suitcase (it has 4 casters) by Brookstone at an airport ($69, here). It glides effortlessly, so I thought it would be cool to add a little attachment and area for my foot so I could use the entire thing as a scooter. There are long distances to walk in airports, and the floors are always oh-so smooth. Why not glide scooter-like through the concourses? At least until the airports ban this idea, that is.

Meanwhile, I find the typical handle on these rolling suitcases awkward, forcing my forearm to twist as if I am about to do a bicep curl. IdeaSpark*: Why not add a simple flip-out attachment (like with swiss army knives) so the additional handle is parallel to my direction of movement, as If I was carrying a briefcase. There could be one of these handles on each side, so I could choose the one closest to me depending on which side of my body I am rolling the suitcase.

Sure, they make attachments you can purchase (like this one), but the luggage companies should simply integrate this idea into the existing handle.

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564. Bright Idea: Laptop-friendly Carry-on luggage December 20, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Computer, Product.
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Anything that keeps the heat and EM radiation of a laptop away from my gonads is a Bright Idea.

This carry-on bag has an integrated table, where the ubiquitous handle extension used when rolling ingeniously doubles as the legs of the table. And the whole thing is affordable ($129; buy it Here).

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563. Quickie Web: Video: Megaminx December 20, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Plaything, Quickie Web.
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The Bright Idea: the Megaminx, a Rubiks Cube on steriods. The video: some guy solving it in a minute and a half. Via Neatorama.

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562. Bright Idea: Sunny Person December 19, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Plaything, Product.
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Here is a calming and whimsical little novelty toy from Japan: Hidari no Tami (Sunny People). Solar powered, for $30 (Buy it here); via PopGadget.

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…metapost… October 18, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Uncategorized.
9 comments

I am coming up on one year of posting, but am quickly running out of steam. Lately, I have been debating retiring SparkBugg, but will continue, albeit with less frequent postings, for now.

I am still grateful to have any readers at all. Thank you.

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561. Bright Idea: the Binibottle October 18, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Food and Drink, Product.
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Designed by the pictured 15 y.o. Swede, this bottle has a side opening so you can fit it under you household faucets. It is sold in Sweden for $5. I doubt it will come to the US. Why? Because the tap water here sucks. Unless the Binibottle soon includes a little Brita filter, I am passing on this one. Via SciFiTech.

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560. Bright Idea: the Mamaponcho October 18, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Baby, Product.
1 comment so far

Awww. What a cute and Bright Idea: snuggling with your baby like you’re both in a burrito. Not so Bright Idea: the gender-exclusionary name. Unless they also make the Papaponcho, I am a little irritated and hurt. Buy it HERE (€200+); via Babygadget.

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559. Bright Idea: the Insulated Ice Cream Bowl October 18, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Food and Drink, Product.
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The inner stainless steel is insulated by a melamine shell. Bonus: it’s dishwasher safe. Store these in your freezer for even longer lasting cool for your frozen comfort food. Buy it HERE ($10); via Slashfood.

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558. Bright Idea: the Better Bicycle Stand October 18, 2007

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Space saving, and it automatically locks in the front wheel. Simple and genius. By Roel Vandebeek; Via Core77.

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557. Bright Idea: the Yamaha Tesseract October 10, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Art, Product, Transportation.
2 comments

What a beautiful concept vehicle. This is what I call mechaporn. Via Gizmodo.

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556. Quickie Web: Video: Balloon Bowl October 10, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Quickie Web, Video.
2 comments

Put 8,000 balloons in a swimming pool. Then videotape your buddy skating through it. Looks fun. Via Neatorama.

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555. Bright Idea: Kwik’N-E-Z Medicator October 10, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Baby, Product.
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I wondered about this idea a few months ago with some friends who are new parents. They said I should invent it.

Too late. Of course it already exists. Buy it HERE ($4); via NerdApproved.

Meanwhile, I am fine-tuning my newest idea: cutting loaves of bread into slices and selling it that way.

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554. Bright Idea: Wastebasketball October 10, 2007

Posted by SparkBugg in Plaything, Product.
1 comment so far

Catchy name, catchy idea. By Labexp; Via MoCoLoco.

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