Idea Of The Day. A new Idea Each Day. Some Don't Suck.

We post an all new idea every day. If you find an idea you like... do something about it. Make it happen.

What is Shameware? Beware of "I Know Something Else About You" Scam!

Sunday, October 24, 2021 8:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

BEWARE of SHAMEWARE!

As a tech guy, people come from me from time to time with some pretty unique questions. Shameware caught me off guard completely.

My first experience was when somebody told me they received an email asking for money or they would share nude photos of them to all their friends and family. They didn't explain why they felt somebody had those kinds of photos, so I didn't ask.

I didn't know anything about the scam back then and my biggest question was why they felt anyone would even have such photos in the first place, other than to think that the person was married to or dating somebody who was into taking such photos (with or without consent).

Several months later, several more people, including an 85 year old man, who received similar emails actuall... [More]

Continue...What is Shameware? Beware of "I Know Something Else About You" Scam!...

Coming Soon... Idea of the Day... LIVE!

Friday, May 1, 2020 7:29 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Live from New York... It's Idea of the Day LIVE!

Here I go again... Jumping into territory I've never tried before without any idea what I'm doing. What could go wrong?

I love the idea of doing something live, but I'm clueless about all the little things you need to make it happen.

My first attempt was just a test of my gear, and frankly, it didn't exactly go the way I planned. For one thing, I tried to stream in 4K, in spite of the fact that my laptop had a weak WiFi signal... not nearly fast enough to push a 4K stream.

Next, the stream literally stopped and I tried to re-connect, not knowing if it was continuing where I left off, or starting a brand new stream.

Another issue was that since I didn't give YouTube enough time to send an alert to my 800 or so subscrib... [More]

Continue...Coming Soon... Idea of the Day... LIVE!...

Baby Yoda SPEAKS!

Sunday, January 26, 2020 1:10 PM By Joe Crescenzi

Today I'm just having some fun thinking about what "The Child" (Baby Yoda) on the Mandalorian might sound like.

To be honest, it's pretty hard putting together a video like this. First, nobody's ever heard him speak... so I couldn't decide exactly what kind of voice I would use. Second, I needed to figure out what he should say. Lastly, I needed to figure out the best way to actually record and edit it.

It's not easy giving a voice to such an iconic and voiceless character, so check out my other channel for an upcoming behind the scenes video as I make another attempt to give this little guy a voice.

Return of the EWOKS!

Saturday, December 7, 2019 4:21 PM By Joe Crescenzi

There's something missing from the trailer for Star Wars Episode IX, "The Rise of Skywalker"... EWOKS! That's right, Ewoks. I'm serious about this, or at least as serious as anyone can be about a fictional character that looks like a Teddy Bear can be.

Simply stated, if the some of the action in the final chapter in the Star Wars Saga takes place on Endor, where the second Death Star was destroyed, then it stands to reason that in order to re-create the planet, you can't overlook the Ewoks. That's their home planet.

Darth Vader is Retuning to Star Wars?

Sunday, September 8, 2019 12:56 PM By Joe Crescenzi

Darth Vader is THE face of the Star Wars franchise... which is why I believe he's coming back to the Star Wars universe.

- Edit -

Well, he didn't exactly turn up in the sequel trilogy, but he did come back in some of the spinoffs that take place in the past, so score 1/2 point for recognizing that they'll find ways of including him in as many shows and movies as possible. Like I said, he's literally the face of the Star Wars franchise.

Idea Of The Day is BACK! Idea of the day #526

Saturday, August 25, 2018 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's been nearly a year since I've posted a new video on my YouTube Channel, but my new studio is just about ready for prime time and I'm ready to start posting my daily videos.

In today's video, I'm giving you a backstage tour of my new studio. It's still a work in progress, but it's coming together even better than I expected.

In addition to painting the rest of the walls blue (so I have an alternate background for chroma-keying), I've also added a new WhisperRoom voice isolation booth, so I'll have a quiet place to record voice-overs, audio books, and other narration. I've dabbled a bit with voice-overs, having done a few of my own commercials for CouponPages.Com, so I decided to take it to the next level. The Whisper Room is the first of... [More]

Continue...Idea Of The Day is BACK! Idea of the day #526...

New Videos Coming Soon!

Tuesday, June 12, 2018 6:43 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Back in the Saddle Again!

It's been months since I've posted a new video, but I'm coming back... very soon!

It's not easy creating a daily blog, especially one with a new video each day, but for what it's worth, I made it a point to find the time every day to post my daily ramblings. It was the highlight of my day, and for the most part, I looked forward to it.

So what happened?

As of the day of my last post, I already filmed at least a dozen more videos that were ready to run. All I needed to do was edit them, and write the blog post, but I didn't. My dog, Peekie, died that day and I just wasn't in the mood. The next day came and went, and I skipped them too. Before you knew it, weeks, then months passed without posting anything.

Eventually, I decided to just sk... [More]

Continue...New Videos Coming Soon!...

Expand Reagan's Star Wars Initiative

Thursday, August 24, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Back in the 80's, a lot of people opposed Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative. It's time we expand on it even further.

It's time we put politics behind us, and do whatever it takes to insure the world is safe from nuclear weapons. The best way to do that is to expand on Ronald Reagan's SDI program, and make sure that any nuclear attack on the US, or ANY country can be PREVENTED.

Many people opposed Reagan's SDI program because they felt it would EXPAND the Cold War, because it could potentially give the US a First Strike Advantage, because it could allow us to shoot down the USSR's first wave of missiles, so that we could respond with our own. While that rhetoric might've had some truth in the 80s, the reality is we still don't have this kind of technology,... [More]

Continue...Expand Reagan's Star Wars Initiative...

Hey Apple... Real Rewards, Not Badges!

Tuesday, August 22, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We Don't Need No Stinking Badges!

The Apple Watch is proof that Apple is committed to fitness. I think it's time they put their money where their mouth is.

Instead of offering cute little animation badges whenever you reach a fitness goal, why not give people something tangible... like an iTunes song? It would be a great motivation and also a great way to promote new artists and songs.

Whatever Happened to Paper Bags?

Monday, August 21, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why are paper bags so rare?

I grew up in the 70s. Back then, just about every store used paper bags, not plastic. By the end of the decade, stores started to make the change to plastic bags, because they were considered a better alternative to cutting down trees. This never made sense to me. We moved away from an organic product made from trees, to a synthetic product that doesn't even break down in landfills. Why is that better?

While I completely understand the underlying problem that cutting down trees to make paper that will eventually be thrown out, I can't understand the solution. Instead of paper bags, why didn't we focus on building better recycling programs? I realize there weren't many paper recycling programs back in the 70s, but switching to plastic was not... [More]

Continue...Whatever Happened to Paper Bags?...

Why's My Computer So SLOW?

Sunday, August 20, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do computers "get slower" over time?

People come to me all the time with their technical questions, and the most popular question of all time is "Why is my computer so SLOW!?". It doesn't sound all that complicated. You own a computer. The computer USED to be fast, so why not ask what went wrong, and how you can make it fast again? Unfortunately, it's not as simple as that.

First, let me explain one simple fact. The speed of your computer chips doesn't change over time. It can still do the same number of transactions per second that it did the day you bought it. Chances are, the real problem is that computer software and web sites get bigger and more complicated every day, and your older computer is simply not powerful enough to run the latest software.

For examp... [More]

Continue...Why's My Computer So SLOW?...

Milli Vanilli Wasn't Fake?

Saturday, August 19, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Do you remember Milli Vanilli?

Milli Vanilli were the hottest group of the early 90s. They had a string of top-40 hits, won all sorts of awards including Grammy Awards for best new group, and they sold tons of records. What could go wrong? Everything.

The problem was they were accused of being a "fake group", when it was revealed that they didn't sing on their own records or music videos. It was a huge scandal, and they were even stripped of their Grammy Awards.

Here's the thing. HOW can ANYONE be considered a "Fake Group?" That simply doesn't make sense. If a group makes a record, it's a group. If people like the music, they'll buy the records and play them on the radio. What's the difference WHO lip synched the songs on MTV. There was still SOMEBODY who sang the... [More]

Continue...Milli Vanilli Wasn't Fake?...

Nerds Vs Geeks Vs Hipsters

Friday, August 18, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Can you tell the difference between a Nerd and a Geek?

I'm not a Nerd. I'm a Geek. Contrary to what a lot of people think, there's a difference. While it may be true that both Geeks and Nerds share similar interests in technology and science, they're completely different in one key area, social interests.

Nerds tend to be introverts, and are very quiet and shy, whereas Geeks are social butterflies who love to share their Geeky passions with anyone and everyone. Whereas Nerds find it hard speaking up at a party, Geeks won't think twice about running around in a Batman cape while eating in a French restaurant. That's a pretty big difference.

Geeks also tend to explore all sorts of strange passions. There are Music Geeks, Camping Geeks, Movie Geeks, Japanese Anime Geeks,... [More]

Continue...Nerds Vs Geeks Vs Hipsters...

Why No Built-In QR Code Reader App on iPhone?

Thursday, August 17, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

QR Codes are EVERYWHERE... so why doesn't Apple include a built-in QR Reader?

The Boston Red Sox. You Call THAT a NAME?

Wednesday, August 16, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Who the heck came up with a name like that?

Although the names of sports teams can be a little strange, most teams spend at least some time coming up with a good name. Florida has the Marlins, Colorado has the Rockies, Houston has the Astros, but why the heck would you name your team after a pair of sox?

Sox? Red Sox? As strange as that is, Chicago has the White Sox. It's just plain strange.

We Need Better iCloud Sharing

Tuesday, August 15, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

We need a better way to share files with friends, family, and co-workers.

I love the way iCloud lets me share my files between all my devices. I can create a file on my iMac, and the same file automatically appears on all my other Macs, plus my iPhone, and iPad. It's like magic.

The only problem is, it's not easy sharing files with other people. You can share individual files, but there's no way to share an entire folder.

Deceptive Food Labels Suck

Monday, August 14, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Beware of deceptive food labels!

One of my pet peeves is deceptive food labels designed to trick people into thinking unhealthful foods are actually good for you. The trouble is, they're everywhere, so it can be hard to read between the lines and choose the right things to eat.

The funny thing is, just about every food with a label is somewhat unhealthful, so it's not surprising that so many labels are deceptive. If you want to avoid deceptive labelling entirely, you're best bet is to eat as much food from the fresh produce section in the supermarket. Fresh fruits and vegetables don't usually have labels, mainly because you already know what you're getting. For everything else in the store, you're going to have to learn to read between the lines to find out what's good for... [More]

Continue...Deceptive Food Labels Suck...

We Need Political Filters on Facebook

Sunday, August 13, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

I'm sick and tired of all the political posts on Facebook.

Remember when social media was... social? It seems to me that the majority of the posts I see on Facebook are about politics, and frankly, I hate politics, and I'm willing to bet I'm not the only one.

The biggest problem with all these political posts is that you have no way to turn them off, and that's the inspiration for today's Idea of the Day. What I'd love to see is an option to turn off posts that you're not interested in. Don't like politics? Why not click a button that turns it off? This would have a huge impact on my Newsfeed... bye bye politics... hello cat videos.

An End to Butt Dialing

Saturday, August 12, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why do so many people accidentally dial you by mistake?

Back in the days when phones had buttons instead of touch screens, people would often make the mistake of putting their phones into their pockets without locking them, and find out they "Butt Dialed" somebody by mistake. You can tell when you've received a Butt Dial when you can hear the other person, but they can't hear you, because their phones aren't even in their hands.

Now that smart phones have touch screens, you'd think that problem would've gone away, but I still get quite a few of these kinds of calls, but people still call you accidentally, simply by touching the screen as they put the phone away. That's the inspiration for today's idea of the day.

What I'd love to see is an option for chronic Butt Dialers... [More]

Continue...An End to Butt Dialing...

How to Get RID of Personal Clutter

Friday, August 11, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

It's not easy getting rid of personal items.

Many people find it hard getting rid of personal items because they're afraid they'll lose the memories that are attached to them. That's why so many people have closets, garages, and attics full of personal items.

I have to admit, I'm one of those people, but I'm starting to make progress. In the past couple of years, I've thrown out hundreds of plastic tote boxes full of objects that I've been saving since my childhood, simply because they remind me of my past. The root of the problem is the fact that so many of those objects remind me of places I've been, people I've known, and thing's I've done. When you throw objects like that away, you get this feeling inside that you no longer care about the memories they represent, so yo... [More]

Continue...How to Get RID of Personal Clutter...

Flooded With Free Music Spam Comments on YouTube.

Thursday, August 10, 2017 1:00 AM By Joe Crescenzi

Why are there so many spam comments about free music on YouTube?

I'm not sure why, but somehow I've been getting a ton of spam lately about royalty free music as comments on my YouTube Channel. Why is that? Am I the only one who noticed? Are other people getting them too? Just curious.

Leave a comment on my YouTube Channel... I'd love to know what you think.

Cat Video Network

Ketchonnaise - Pre-Mixed Ketchup and Mayonnaise

A Guaranteed Spam-Free, Pre-Encrypted Email Service

iPhone and iPad Keyboards Should Show Numbers Too

Sleeveless Snuggies!

Don't Bother With SEO. Use Real People Optimization Instead.

3 Ways Smoke Alarms Can Be More Pet Friendly

Emergency Contact Info Needs to Bypass Locked Phone

Autocorrect Should Translate Text Slang into English... Because Kids Actually Think It's Correct Grammar

Lookalike Finder Site

Out of Ideas? Fusion of Two or More Ideas Could Change Everything.

How Camera Makers Can Simplify On-Camera White Balance

Darth Vader is Retuning to Star Wars?

A Bedside Book Projector - Read Books on the Ceiling!

Reinvent The Wheel? YES. There's Always Room For Improvement.

Amazon Echo as an Intercom. Room to Room Communication, Even Across the World.

TV Needs More Shows Like Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood... The Seinfeld of Children's TV

Stop using default Security Questions... here's why.

A Car Periscope? Why Not?

Digital String on Your Finger... To Remind You You Left Something Behind...

Use Social Media to Listen To Your Customers, or They'll find Somebody Who Does.

Why Doesn't Apple Offer a FULL SIZED Wireless Keyboard?

How Banks Can Make Checking Accounts More Secure

4 Cell Phone Parental Control Ideas Your Kids are Guaranteed to Hate.

.Podcast Domain TLDs. A Direct Domain For Podcasters.

* Note: The ideas on "Idea of the Day" were posted without any formal research into existing inventions.

In some cases, patents may already exist for these ideas, in other cases, there may not be any existing patents and you are free to develop and explore the viability of developing and patenting the ideas.

The authors make no claim that any of the ideas are safe, practical, or suitable for any particular purpose. You are responsible for the results of trying, developing, patenting or using any of the ideas on this site.

For some people, our ideas are just an interesting read, but our goal is to encourage you to take action. If you see an idea that you like, do something with it... Take action.

- Joe

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