-- The other evening at a spurring IASL Membership Meeting, there were the usual newbies - first timers - who were sitting in the audience.

-- An inventor spoke from the audience that he had an ongoing new invention. He told of his concept - that niche that his product covered and began to stir our member listeners to hear more of his tale. -- When I tried to continue the meeting on its timeline agenda, some begged him to go on. [They just didn't know.]

-- What was happening is called in the selling trade, "A feeding frenzy." e.g. When the big fish attack schools of smaller fish to gulp them down. - When sharks attack helpless swimmers. - (You get the idea.) - When 'idea people' get suckered. Ya-know: when one wants it - they all want it.

-- In carnivals, they plant shills to draw-in the suckers. 'The apparent spectator' who offers to buy the snake-oil-elexir-cure-all and the Rube, who 'bites' and buys. He didn't know that that guy was a circus stooge, planted outside in the crowd to pull-in the marks with their moola.

-- Ladies and Gentlemen, you just learned an important lesson. You're from Missouri (as they say) and I just "Showed You" by example.

-- Everything happened innocently and it wasn't planned by me. I stood by letting it happen. - After all, I was the Chairman. It was all in innocence with no one getting hurt. -- In fact, that first time visitor to our meeting was our Guest Speaker on May 19th, 2005.

-- SIDE BAR: Check out Kip Harm's Website: Welcome to TP Mister
-- Good things come to a good end.

SEGUE: In carnivals, the ballyhoo-barker announces that "there are pick-pockets among you - hold on to your money." -- Your instinct makes you grab your pants pocket, vest pocket, jacket, and purse where your wallet is kept. -- You have just been suckered into revealing the location of your valuables to that pick-pocket. :-(

SEGUE II: Another crafty guy is the "Puller-Inner." -- He would stand outside the clothing store - jewelry store and when he saw a person that was just browsing, he would grab him by crooking his own elbow under your arm and literally pulling you into his store to buy. The clerk inside, with his gift for gab, would convince you to try it on - use their E-Z payment plan - and your wife or girlfriend will love it. -- Now you know what they meant when they said, "I'll sell this guy by hook or by crook."

--> "Scanning for security and the perfect jeans - Innovation - MSNBC.com" --

--> "FOXNews.com - Strip Search: Camera That Sees Through Clothes From 80 Feet Away - Science News" --

-- "By Jove, everybody does seem to be doing it!!" -

-------->> R-i-g-h-t

-- More so, a lot of people are cashing-in on "Inventing" and making it their thing to do. -- It's the thinking person's lottery.

-- "I hope I'm not too late?"

--> "You're not too late, believe me. As P.T. Barnum once said (and I'm sure he said this many more times than once,) - "A sucker is born every minute."

-- "Don't tell me that! Tell me how to beat the system."

-- The Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly. --

-- "O.K. This is what we do:
(1) We get smart. We read the books and find the ways to create and protect an invention.
(2) Inventor Clubs are formed. Inventors with would-be inventors begin to pool their knowledge and resources.
(3) We pay our dues and devote our time for this cause.
(4) Like having positions on a football team, we key-in the players to who can do what?
(5) We position back-ups and make secondary teams.
(6) We put our heads together and come up with ideas for inventions.
(7) We research the ideas to find which ideas have merit and would return 'more bang for the buck.'
(8) We pool our money and issue 'shares.' -- Those who don't have money 'place a value on their time.'
(9) Everything is run by a 'business plan' and everyone gets as much out - as much as he or she puts in.
(10) This is the American Way. Are you with me? :-)

-- "To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -- Anatole France

-- "Fly the World: Segway creator unveils his next invention a magic water purifier" --

-- Here's a simple and fun way to discover a little bit about yourself: Select the letter that comes closest to describing your reaction to each of these ten situations. Then give yourself: 5 points for every "A" - 4 points for every "B" - 3 points for every "C" - 1 point for every "D"

1. When I wake up in the morning I tend to
- A. Lie still and try to remember my dreams
- B. Leap out of bed and into the day
- C. Do some gentle stretching exercises and/or yoga
- D. Hope somebody brewed the coffee and started breakfast

2. The classic tune that best describes my outlook on life is:
- A. "Imagine" by John Lennon
- B. "My Way" by Frank Sinatra
- C. "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" by Simon and Garfunkel
- D. "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones

3. The best way to learn something new is to:
- A. Read a how-to book
- B. Ask a teenager
- C. Take a course
- D. Consult an expert

4. My favorite childhood TV show was:
- A. "The Adventure of Rocky and Bullwinkle"
- B. "The Adventures of Superman"
- C. "Captain Kangaroo"
- D. "Mister Rodgers' Neighborhood"

5. If I were a pet instead of a human being, I'd most likely be a:
- A. Songbird
- B. Dog
- C. Tropical fish
- D. Cat

6. As I step outside on that glorious first day of Spring, I can't help but think about:
- A. The beauty of the forsythia blooms
- B. How I am going to make my garden even better this year
- C. What fun a block party would be
- D. Getting work done on the yard and garden

7. The most important component of my preferred dinner is:
- A. Delicious taste
- B. Lots of fresh fruits and vegies
- C. Great company
- D. Someone else cooking

8. I love:
- A. The Pillsbury Doughboy
- B. The Energizer Bunny
- C. Ronald McDonald
- D. The Jolly Green Giant

- 41 to 50 points -
You are an optimist--you help others believe that, as terrific as today is, tomorrow is bound to be even better. And with your influence, it often is! People respond to your creative solutions to problems and appreciate your imagination. [PERFORM Magazine]

-- As his Mentor, I made the following 'fine-tuning' suggestions:
- 1) Start a cover page with his 'selling testimonial'. - One where a very satisfied customer is proudly telling others how the Welker Wall Snake saved him over a thousand-dollars. - How quickly it worked. - How relieved he was that no walls were scarred or broken. How his stereo-system was up and playing for that big party he was having that evening.
- 2) Applying for an additional Trademark feature. - Calling his Welker Wall Snake's feature: "The Serpent's Tooth Probe" -- This catches the public's eye. This is the 'sizzle' in his sales-pitch because it holds his buyer's attention. It adds value to his product above and beyond other 'wall snakes'

-- Prize-Winning Invention
David Ward of Oregon won the $25,000 "Modern Marvels" grand prize from the History Channel and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. His invention is a machine that weaves waste straw into cables. Then, using a clay-cement material, the machine binds the cables into building materials such as blocks and beams...

-- --"Incorporate a Business Online -- -- Incorporation Services, Form an LLC and Learn About Incorporating Corporations"

http://www.export.gov/stop_fakes_gov/index.asp

Mark Birsinger - Mark

Your Question:
"Do most of the members already have an established business or are they looking to get one started?"

They appear to be varied. I normally never ask that question, so I really don't know.

Their question lies with "How do I take my idea and get it patented?" Or, "Who do I take my invention to that will finance it?" Or, "How do you make money from an idea that I have?" Or, "I don't want to manufacture it, I just want somebody to take it and make it and give me money for selling my idea to them?" Or, "If you help me, I'll give you half of what I make."

Mark, I'm sure that some have their own businesses. Some are Retirees and have worked for others. I have one that sold his business and owes it all [his good fortune] to the 'good advice' he received from the IASL years ago.

I have Entrepreneurs looking for the next windfall. They have ideas and don't know where to go with them? They want to be discovered. They want to be lucky. They want "The American Dream."

Robert Scheinkman, President/Director
Inventors Association of St. Louis

-- WHAT'S GOOD FOR WHAT AILS YOU - OR ???

-- Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

-- Did you know that Colgate Toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

-- Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong Altoid Peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

-- Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of Horseradish in a cup of Olive Oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as a massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

-- Sore Throat? Just mix 1/4 cup of vinegar with 1/4 cup of honey and take 1tablespoon six times a day. The vinegar kills the bacteria.

-- Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never been advertised for this use.

-- Eliminate puffiness under your eyes..... All you need is a dab of Preparation H, carefully rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The hemorrhoid ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

-- Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

-- Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

-- Easy eyeglass protection... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Maybelline Crystal Clear Nail Polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

-- Coca-Cola cure for rust... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

-- Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

-- Smart splinter remover... just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

-- Hunt's Tomato Paste boil cure... cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress. The acids from the tomatoes soothes the pain and brings the boil to a head.

-- Balm for broken blisters... To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine... a powerful antiseptic.

-- Heinz Vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

-- Kills fleas instantly. Dawn Dish Washing Liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good-bye fleas.

-- Rainy day cure for dog odor... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

-- Eliminate ear mites... All it takes is a few drops of Wesson Corn Oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

-- Vaseline cure for hair balls..... To prevent troublesome hair balls, apply a dollop of Vaseline petroleum jelly to your cat's nose. The cat will lick off the jelly, lubricating any hair in its stomach so it can pass easily through the digestive system.

-- Quaker Oats for fast pain relief.... It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.