Greatest Romance Authors of All Time

Top 10 Greatest Romance Authors of All Time

One of the most precious skills any author can have is an inimitable command over the genre he/she chooses to specialize in. Those who steered their careers towards the romance genre have had a tough time to rise above the cliché love stories and create pulse pounding romance works that live to this day. In the following list, I aim to trace those classic and contemporary romance authors who have most significantly made their name worthy of acclaim along with each of their most popular quotes that explain the depth of their writing abilities.

1. Jane Austen 

 (1775 - 1817)

At first mention, it is hard to categorically accept Jane Austen as a romance author even though she has penned some of the best romantic fiction novels of the English literature including Pride and Prejudice (1813), Sense and Sensibility (1811) and Persuasion (1818). Unlike other contemporary writers, Austen’s novels intersperse love with societal elements having a great deal of emphasis on social norms and female characters.

“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” ― Jane Austen, Pride And Prejudice

2. Charlotte Brontë 

(1816-1855)

Most accredited for bringing something new to the table with her gothic melodrama in romantic fictions, Charlotte Brontë was another gifted writer who raised the benchmark for romantic novels with her all-time classic: Jane Eyre (1847). The novel tells the story of an orphan governess who makes the dreadful mistake of falling in love with her employer.

“I have for the first time found what I can truly love–I have found you. You are my sympathy–my better self–my good angel–I am bound to you with a strong attachment. I think you good, gifted, lovely: a fervent, a solemn passion is conceived in my heart; it leans to you, draws you to my centre and spring of life, wrap my existence about you–and, kindling in pure, powerful flame, fuses you and me in one.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre

3. Emily Brontë 

(1818-1848)


Shakespeare, Austen and Charlotte Brontë are sometimes believed to be only close runner ups against Emily Brontë’s literary masterpiece, Wuthering Heights (1847). The book challenged 19th century Victorian norms about social class, gender, religion and morality. It is unfortunate that her only published novel received widespread criticism in its initial years and Emily did not live to see how it gradually gained acceptability to become one of the most widely read and favourite love stories of all time.

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ― Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

4. Margaret Mitchell

 (1900-1949)


American journalist and author Margaret Mitchell is the fourth participant in this category owing to her Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gone With the Wind (1937) which sold more than 30 million copies and was converted into a an academy award winning film. Mitchell began her love stories fetish as a child and went on to write adventure books and later even directed plays. Her second novel, Lost Laysen (1996) – a manuscript discovered after her death- is also a love story set in the South Pacific.

“Well, my dear, take heart. Someday, I will kiss you and you will like it. But not now, so I beg you not to be too impatient.” ― Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind

5. Audrey Niffenegger 

(1963 – )


Writer, academic, visual artist and most lauded as a graphic novelist, Audrey Niffenegger is an American born 21st century Renaissance woman. Her romantic novel is distinct because of its mix with science fiction in The Time Traveler’s Wife (2003) which sold over seven million copies, translated in forty languages and was adapted into a film. Rumour has it that Niffenegger was troubled with her own love life during the time the she wrote this novel
which makes it even more poignant.

“Don’t you think it’s better to be extremely happy for a short while, even if you lose it, than to be just okay for your whole life?” ― Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler’s Wife

6. Nicholas Sparks 

(1965 – )

Arguably one of the world’s most loved romantic storytellers, Nicholas Sparks is an American producer, screenwriter and novelist with seventeen novels to his credit as well as one non fiction book. Nine of his novels were translated into films including The Notebook (1996), A Walk to Remember (1999), Dear John (2006) and Safe Haven (2010) to name a few.

“I am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common man with common thoughts and I’ve led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I’ve loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.” ― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

7. Nora Roberts

 (1950- )

Nora Roberts also known as J.D.Robb, Jill March or Sarah Hardesty, is one of the world’s bestselling authors and has been revered for rewriting the rules of romantic fiction. She has written 209 romance novels, is a founding member and inductee of Romantic Writers of America’s Hall of Fame, was awarded RWA Lifetime Achievement Award and was an unprecedented 21 of the RWA’s RITA Awards-the highest honor awarded in the romance genre.

Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live. ― Nora Roberts, Charmed

8. Jude Deveraux

 (1947 – )

Famous for merging history with romance, Jude Deveraux is a popular romance novelist with 36 of her novels being featured in The New York Times Bestseller List as of 2010, had over 60 million copies sold and her work has been translated into 18 languages. Her love-stories revolve around humour, history, and adventure. A Knight and Shining Armour (2002) is believed to be her best work thus far.

“There are some things that are as ancient as time, and knowing when a man desires you is one of those.” ― Jude Deveraux, Secrets

9. Julie Garwood

 (1944 – )

Many say that that storytelling comes naturally to the Irish and this was also true for Julie Garwood who takes pride in her Irish heritage. She has written more than twenty-seven novels in romance and historical genres, sold over thirty-five million copies and remained New York Times Bestsellers for 24 of her novels. Julie’s goal is to make her readers cry and laugh and fall in love altogether whilst reading her books.

“I know the truth now. You’ve figured out I’m falling in love with you and you’re trying to make me stop by hurting me this way. Well it won’t work. ― Julie Garwood, The Wedding

10. Judith McNaught

 (1944 – )

Her very first novel, Whitney My Love (1985) won a Romantic Times Award which speaks for itself when it comes to this bestseller writer who, over the years, has McNaughtized millions. Until You (1994), Remember When (1996) and Night Whispers (1998) and five more novels were a smashing success in the romantic genre category too as they hit number 1 on the NY Times Bestsellers list.

“There will be a few times in your life when all your instincts will tell you to do something, something that defies logic, upsets your plans, and may seem crazy to others. When that happens, you do it. Listen to your instincts and ignore everything else. Ignore logic, ignore the odds, ignore the complications, and just go for it.” ― Judith McNaught, Remember When

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World’s Most Expensive Autographs: Whose Signatures Are Now Worth a Fortune!!!

10 of the World’s Most Expensive Autographs: Whose Signatures Are Now Worth a Fortune!!!

Autographs, especially by someone who is historic or world-famous figure, can be reallyvaluable. Fans flock to their favorite actors and actresses with a pen and paper, hoping their idols would grant their wish and sign their precious signatures on whatever surface their fans present them. While anything signed by a Hollywood superstar can increase in value over time, not all expensive autographed items are inked by those who toil in the entertainment industry.

Signatures of sports icons, political figures, famous scientists, and even outlaws are also worth a lot, especially if they are signed on something that carries much relevance to their respective industries, to the society and, in a larger scale, to the world. Here are the 10 most expensive celebrity autographs in the world.

#10 John F. Kennedy’s Newspaper: $39,000

Who thought an old page of a newspaper can be worth almost $40,000? Well, it is if former President John F. Kennedy placed his signature on it two hours before he was assassinated. On November 22, 1963, a woman approached the president and asked him to sign the front page of the Dallas Morning News, where a photo of him and wife Jackie Kennedy was featured. It was Kennedy’s last known autograph.

#9 Jesse James’s Photo: $52,000

Jesse James was considered the Robin Hood of the United States back in the 19th century. Like the fictional swordsman slash archer of English folklore, James purportedly stole from the rich and gave it to the poor. After a series of successful robberies form 1866 to 1876, James’ gang of bandits was virtually decimated. On April 3, 1882, as James and his cohorts prepared to stage another robbery, fresh recruit Robert Ford shot him in the back, killing James instantly. It was soon discovered that Ford was working with the Governor of Missouri to apprehend or kill James. The photograph is the only one Jesse has ever signed. Since he was an outlaw, he rarely signed everything, thus his signature has now significant value to the collectors.

#8 Jimmy Page’s Guitar: $73,000

Anything a musician signs can be very valuable, especially if that particular musician reached critical and commercial success during his career. The same is true for guitarist Jimmy Page, who helped form and headed Led Zeppelin, one of the biggest rock bands in the 1970s. And when a 1963 Gibson EDS-1275 model with Page’s signature came up for sale, every music fan went crazy over it. Even after almost 50 years, the guitar is still functional and playable, which adds more to its value.

#7 Albert Einstein’s Photo: $75,000

Scientists, especially someone like Albert Einstein, project a serious aura of knowledge, which augments their serious views on science and the world we live in. So when Einstein stuck out his tongue for a snapshot, it easily became one of the scientist’s most iconic images. Einstein requested a bunch of copies for this photograph but only signed a few. Forgers tried to make money by selling similar photos with fake signatures. However, one picture with Einstein’s original autograph soon surfaced and was sold for $75,000.

#6 Joe DiMaggio & Marilyn Monroe’s Baseball: $191,200

Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were superstars in their own right. DiMaggio was a baseball god and Monroe was America’s favorite bombshell. It was only natural that their star power grew exponentially when they got married. So when both icons signed a baseball, not only did it become one of the most expensive baseball memorabilia in the world, it was THE MOST EXPENSIVE signed baseball in the world when it was sold in 2006. That record has been broken in 2012, though.

#5 Jimi Hendrix’s Contract: $200,000

Contracts are supposed to be signed by all parties involved, containing terms and arrangements that are beneficial to all people or entities concerned. But Jimi Hendrix, one of the few musicians well ahead of his generation and gone from this world all too soon, was clearly ripped off in a contract dated October 15, 1965. 1% of royalties to one of the greatest guitarists of all time was clearly a bad deal. Too bad, Hendrix did not live to see his contract rake in $200,000 at an auction.

#3 John Lennon’s Murderer Signed LP: $525,000

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot four times in the back by Mark Chapman. Five hours earlier, Chapman approached the singer as he was leaving home and asked Lennon to sign Chapman’s copy of Lennon’s Double Fantasy LP. The signed album soon became evidence during the murder trial, where Chapman was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

#2 Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: $3.7 Million

President Abraham Lincoln signed a total of 48 copies of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1864. Out of these, only 26 are known to have survived. Most of them are displayed in museums and universities while others were kept by private citizens and politicians. In 2010, one of the copies surfaced in an auction and was sold for $3.7 million, the highest amount ever paid for a document bearing Lincoln’s signature.

#1 George Washington’s Acts of Congress: $9.8 Million

One of the most valuable pieces of literature in American history, Acts of Congress was George Washington’s personal copy of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the First Congress. The first page contains Washington’s signature. In 2012, Sotheby put the book on the auction block and bidder Ann Bookout immediately dropped $9.8 million to secure the book. The auction was over in five minutes. Bookout, who serves as a Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association Regent of the Board, place the book in the president’s library where it belongs.

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Gold Producing Countries In The World

Top 10 Gold Producing Countries In The World

All that glitters is not gold, but fear not: there’s plenty of gold to go around. Much of the wealth is distributed unevenly, however, and gold production varies widely among different nations. From relative unknowns like Uzbekistan to long-time champs South Africa, gold production of dozens of tons per year is not unheard of in the most gold-rich nations. This sample of gold producers starts at number ten, Uzbekistan, until the surprise grand champion nation which produces almost four times as much.

10. Uzbekistan – 90,000 kilograms

Uzbekistan is one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on precious resources (though they might have a tougher time shipping them!). Coming in at number 10 on our top ten biggest gold producing countries in the world is Uzbekistan, producing 90,000 kg of gold per year. Much of the country’s gold is nationalized, and owned by Navoi Mining and Metallurgial Combinant mine. While Uzbekistan is at the bottom of our top ten list, it does boast the biggest open-pit mine in the world, which is the Murutau mine. Gold isn’t the only precious resource that Uzbekistan is known for. It also boasts impressive reserves of copper, molybdenum, silver, and uranium.

9. Indonesia – 100,000 kilograms

While Uzbekistan claims the largest open-pit mine in the world, the record for the largest gold mine on the planet, belonging to Indonesia, is Grasberg. This mine employs 19,000 workers. Unfortunately, it’s also considered one of the world’s most toxic locations. This mine releases 1,000 tons of mercury into the atmosphere every year, in addition to producing 100,000 kilograms of gold. In fact, the people who live near this mine consume fish that contain twice the recommended amount of mercury, meaning that it’s an extremely unhealthy process for the people of the area.

8. Ghana – 100,000 kilograms

Once known as the Gold Coast for the abundance of metals, Ghana produced 100 tons of gold in 2011, though its supplies are diminishing as there are only an estimated 1,400 tons in reserve. Ghana’s gold mining industry makes up 5% of the country’s GDP, and minerals are 37% of the nations exports. Ghana is second on the list of largest gold producing countries in Africa, behind South Africa.

7. Canada – 110,000 kilograms

Oh Canada, land of snow, oil, and precious metals. The majority of Canada’s gold is from Ontario, specifically Red Lake gold mine. Canada is so patriotic about its gold, in fact, that if you have a few hundred dollars laying around, you can get yourself a Canadian gold coin for several hundred dollars! Get them while you can, because the Canadian gold mines are among the smallest in the top ten list of highest gold producing countries.

6. Peru – 150,000 kilograms

Peru is the largest producing gold country in Latin America, and only second in the Americas to the United States. While the country is bringing in some certain money from gold profits, the price of gold mining has negative impacts on the environment. Mining in Peru has increased by 400% in the past decade, which means that a huge toll has been taken on the Peruvian Amazon. The problem with Peruvian gold mines is that many of them are located at the top of mountains, and the mountains and land in the surrounding area are affected by the mining processes.

5. South Africa – 190,000 kilograms

The number one gold producing country in the entire content of Africa is South Africa, coming in at 190,000 kilograms per year. Perhaps the most amazing thing about South Africa’s gold mining is that there is still more than 6,000 tons left to be uncovered. In fact, until 2006, South Africa was considered the largest producer of gold on the planet, and while there’s some lagging behind these days there’s room for catching up. Gold mining in South Africa has been the biggest driving force behind the country’s participation in the global economy. An 1886 South African gold rush led to the establishment of Johannesburg, the biggest city in the country today.

4. Russia – 200,000 kilograms

With roughly ⅙ of the world’s landmass, it is not surprising that Russia would be chalk-full of gold. Over 5,000 tons are still sitting, mostly untouched, in the far eastern reaches of Siberia and beyond, but Russia has also been steadily importing gold to feed its seemingly insatiable appetite for the shiny stuff: in 2012, it imported roughly 5% again of its then-reserves of over 900 tons of gold sitting in the bank. Whether sitting in the bank or under ground, Russia surely likes its gold.

3. United States – 237,000 kilograms

Topping the Russians are their Cold War rival: the United States, the third-ranked producers of gold at current rates. While its mines are mostly in Nevada (nearby to Las Vegas–a strange coincidence of shimmering city with shimmering metal) and Montana, most of its gold sits in vaults under New York City, Fort Knox, and elsewhere. Over 8,000 tons of gold are held in these vaults by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department; the totals are equivalent to 75% of total foreign reserves. The current high production figures are due to the reopening of once defunct mines in Montana as gold prices have spiralled up in recent years.

2. Australia – 270,000 kilograms

The miners down under have been working steadily under their barren soils to yield a massive haul and earn second place on the list with 270,000 kilograms of gold. Two thirds of the total comes from mines in Western Australia, based out of Perth. The largest open mine on the continent, named the Golden Mile, leads the nation in production of this valuable export, which earns Australia $14 billion per year. In addition to roughly 7,400 tons of unmined reserves, Australia holds around 80 tons of gold or 9.3% of its foreign reserves.

1. China – 355,000 kilograms

Topping this list as it tops so many others, China mines almost ⅓ more than the next closest competitor. In addition to taking top honors as producer, China is the number one consumer of gold, befitting a country whose development has pulled hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. Most mines sit in Shandong Province, located midway between Beijing and Shanghai, and roughly one fifth of output is controlled by the China National Gold Group. Despite its vast gold mines, only 1,000 tons are held as reserve–a massive amount by most standards but a mere 1.7% of its foreign holdings. Over 1,900 tons are still sitting in the ground, although they are fast going: its annual pace has risen over 10% and seems, if anything, likely to pick up with higher gold prices.

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Most Intelligent People In The History Of The World

13 Most Intelligent People In The History Of The World

We know these people are exceptionally intelligent and talented. But just how intelligent are they compared to each other? Here are 13 of the most intelligent geniuses in the world, or at least as far as two Western scientific studies had afforded us.

How we get the IQ

Estimating the IQ levels of people who had died centuries before a refined scientific intelligence benchmarking had been developed is tricky; but here we have two of the most often quoted studies: the 1926 Early Mental Traits of 300 Geniuses by American psychologist Catherine Cox, who computed the IQs of geniuses from the fifteenth to the nineteenth century; and the 1994 Book of Genius by English learning expert, Tony Buzan, who ranked a more encompassing 100 greatest geniuses of our world.

The disparity in their lists is evident. Buzan had Da Vinci at the top with an IQ of 220, while Cox gave the artist-inventor only 180 points. Still, it’s fun averaging the two lists to see who among these geniuses trump their fellow brainiacs in sheer IQ performance. Those who didn’t appear in the top twenty of both lists are automatically out of the game, but it’s not to say they are any less than intelligent than the people in this list (we can never tell).

Moreover, the list didn’t include twentieth-century geniuses such as Albert Einstein, Enrico Fermi and Stephen Hawking. Likewise, you’ll note that these are European geniuses; hence, mind masters from Asia did not appear, too. Those things aside and without further ado, here they are: the most genius of geniuses and their mind-boggling IQ levels and achievements.

13. Charles Dickens – IQ level: 165

The English writer, poet, social critic. He is known for his literary masterpieces including Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol and David Copperfield. He is also regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period, the time when England reigned supreme in the literary, science, trade and military world.

12. Raphael – IQ level: 170

Yet another Renaissance artist made it to our list, the Italian contemporary of Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Raphael was a painter and architect, the third member of the trio great masters of the High Renaissance. His most famous works include the Mond Crucifixion, the Deposition of Christ, and the Transfiguration.

11. Michael Faraday – IQ level:175

The English scientist who received little formal education. His works advanced the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry, the precursor of the high technologies that we enjoy today. Testament to his genius, numerous scientific principles are named after him: Faraday’s law of induction; Faraday effect: Faraday cage; Faraday paradox; Faraday wheel; and Faraday wave among others. His research would make it possible for later inventions in electricity and current.

10. Baruch Spinoza – IQ level: 175

A Dutch philosopher. He was among the first to lay down the foundation of the age of Enlightenment that saw science challenged the status quo of the Church. The age led to great leaps in the fields of science, politics, and economics, spearheaded by among others, Spinoza’s magnum opus, the Ethics, which challenges the authenticity of the Hebrew bible.

9. Michelangelo – IQ level: 177

Tied with the French philosopher is another Italian Renaissance man, the sculptor, painter, architect, poet, and engineer, Michelangelo.  Famed for his masterpieces, namely David, Pieta, Sistine Chapel, The Last Judgment, and The Creation of Adam. Many experts even argued he is the greatest artist of all time, a subjective account yet not without substance considering his contributions to the High Renaissance art.

8. Desiderius Erasmus – IQ level: 177

A Dutch humanist, theologian, social critic. He was a strong advocate of religious tolerance during the Reformation age, when Catholics and Protestants were at each other’s throat. Using humanist techniques, he prepared a new batch of Latin and Greek editions of the New Testament, which would become influential materials during this tumultuous time. Although critical of the Church, Erasmus maintained his Catholic faith, believing the Catholic hierarchy could be reformed internally without the need to create an offshoot faith.

7. Rene Descartes – IQ level: 177

The French philosopher, mathematician, and writer. He is called the Father of Modern Philosophy because of his writings. Notably, the Meditations on First Philosophy is still a standard reference in universities around the world. He is also renowned for his mathematical contributions, specifically the Cartesian coordinate system and for bridging algebra and geometry that made the development of calculus possible.

6. Galileo Galilei – IQ level: 182

The Italian physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher. He is best known for giving us the telescope. But that’s just a mere speck in his wide-reaching scientific achievements, namely the discovery of planetary objects such as Callisto, Galilean moons, Europa, Ganymede, and Io. He was also responsible for confirming through actual observation the heliocentrism nature of the solar system—the sun is at the center and the planets revolve around it—putting him at the crosshair of the Inquisition during his time.

5. John Stuart Mill – IQ level: 182.5

An English philosopher and political economist. He is best known for his influential contributions to liberalism, the idea of individual freedom in contrast to unfettered state control in handling the economy. The Mill’s method is also widely used today to arrive at a conclusion via induction, a tool that lawyers and scientists have used in advancing their arguments.

4. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz – IQ level: 191

The German philosopher and mathematician. He is regarded to have contributed to the development of calculus independent from Newton, notably his works, Law of Continuity and Transcendental Law of Homogeneity. He was also a prolific inventor in the field of mechanical calculators, making it possible for non-genius like us to calculate complex mathematical problems with the aid of this device.

3. Isaac Newton – IQ level: 192

The English physicist and mathematician. He is regarded to have developed much of calculus, the building blocks of today’s engineering feats. His Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy is one of the most influential scientific works, heralding the age of enlightenment when Europe burst into an era of advancements that gave birth to modern technologies.

2. Leonardo Da Vinci – IQ level: 200

The Italian Renaissance man. His genius spanned across science and art. Best known for his Mona Lisa, Da Vinci was actually more than an exceptionally talented painter.  He was a mathematician, engineer, inventor, sculptor, architect, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. He was the epitome of the Renaissance man, bringing to the world his wealth of knowledge to advance mankind’s fate.

1. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – IQ level: 220

The German poet, novelist, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He’s best known for his literary works, such as, The Sorrows of Young Werther, Sturm und Drang, and Faust. Although he’s best regarded as a literary genius, Goethe was also involved in scientific studies, particularly in the field of natural science. He had a wide collection of minerals as part of his extensive studies in geology.

These people might appear remarkable and rare, but genius is more prevalent than we imagine it to be. “Everybody is a genius,” so said Einstein, “but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

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The Poorest Countries in the World

The Poorest Countries in the World

While many people in the U.S. worry about waiting in line too long for coffee or whether the car they want comes in the right color, across the globe there are many people simply trying to make ends meet every day. These people frequently live in the poorest countries in the world — places with struggling economies, a lack of natural resources or a combination of that and more.

To determine the world's most cash poor countries, FindTheData, a world data site by Graphiq, ranked countries based on their on their gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, as reported by the World Bank in 2015. They only included members of the United Nations.

Note: Although the CIA World FactBook lists North Korea's GDP per capita as $1,800, FindTheData excluded North Korea from the list due to its lack of reliable reporting.

List & Statistical view of  The Poorest Countries in the World

Maldives

#115 - Maldives
GDP per capita: $7,681.08
Country GDP: $3,142,812,004
Population: 408,000
Government type: Republic

                                                     to be continue...

10 Awesome New Inventions You'll Never Hear About

Start the Countdown

Is this gold vending machine, the first to be installed in the U.S., going to become a commonplace invention or one bound for the footnotes of history?

Some inventions are so ubiquitous that it's difficult to imagine they started as an idea scribbled on paper and then a patent application submitted to, say, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Aluminum foil, adhesive bandages, the ballpoint pen, the computer mouse, the microwave oven -- these are just a few examples of great ideas that became indispensable products we now take for granted.

Nevertheless, of the 520,277 applications that inventors filed with USPTO in 2010, chances are that not even half will be granted patents, and far fewer will become commercial successes [source: USPTO]. For every new gadget that becomes a household name and changes our lives, there are thousands of others that languish in patent office files, unappreciated except perhaps as curiosities. Some of them are ingenious, but plagued with small but fatal flaws. Others are too outlandish to ever gain widespread acceptance. A few are simply ahead of their time.

In that spirit, here are 10 of the most outré technological advances from recent years -- inventions that push the boundaries of innovation, yet seem unlikely to gain widespread acceptance. Enjoy them with a caveat: There were people who scoffed at the notion that the motorized carriage would ever replace the convenience of having a horse, and others who figured that nobody would ever need or want to carry a telephone around in their pocket. Enjoy.

10. Military Mind Control

No mind control for these U.S. soldiers on patrol -- yet.

The helmet used by the U.S. military has changed dramatically over the years. In World War I, the M1917/M1917A1 helmets, also known as "Doughboy" or "dishpan" helmets, protected the heads of American infantrymen. They were replaced in 1941 by the M-1 "steel pot," the standard-issue helmet in World War II, the Korean conflict and throughout the Vietnam War. By the 1980s, U.S. military helmets had evolved into a one-piece structure composed of multiple layers of Kevlar 29 ballistic fiber.

The helmet of the near future, however, may contain something more than extra protection from flying shrapnel. An Arizona State University researcher, working under a grant from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is trying to develop a military helmet equipped with technology to regulate soldiers' brains. The technology is transcranial pulsed ultrasound, which delivers high-frequency sound waves to specific regions of the brain. Under the influence of these sound waves, neurons send impulses to their targets, exerting control over them. On the battlefield, this has enormous implications. Using a controller, a soldier could release ultrasound pulses to stimulate different areas of the brain. For example, he or she might want to be more alert after being awake for many hours or relax when it's time to catch some shuteye. The soldier might even be able to relieve stress or become oblivious to pain, eliminating the need for morphine and other narcotics.

Of course, some people think this type of neurotechnology is pure science fiction. Others worry that Uncle Sam is trying to take over the minds of its soldiers. After all, it's one thing to have a drill sergeant yelling in your ear. It's another thing completely to have one inside your head [source: Dillow].

09. Pencil Pusher

A sketch of what the pencil-making device might look like

U.S. businesses use about 21 million tons (19 million metric tons) of paper every year -- 175 pounds of paper for each American, according to the Clean Air Council. This has led to office recycling programs, "please think before you print" e-mail signatures and printers that offer double-sided printing. Now a trio of Chinese inventors hopes to add another device to the cubicle environment: the P&P Office Waste Paper Processor, which turns paper destined for recycling into pencils. The machine, looking a bit like a three-hole punch crossed with an electric pencil sharpener, was a finalist in the 2010 Lite-On Awards, an international competition that seeks to stimulate and nurture innovation.

Here's how the pencil-making gadget works: You insert wastepaper into a feed slot. The machine draws the paper in, rolls and compresses it, and then inserts a piece of lead from a storage chamber located in the top of the device. A small amount of glue is added before -- voilà -- a pencil slides out from a hole on the side. It's not clear how many pieces of paper form a single pencil, but you figure the average office worker could generate a decent supply of pencils in a month.

And that seems to be the biggest drawback to the pencil-producing gadget. How many No. 2 pencils can an office really use, given that most workers take notes on their tablet PCs or laptops? And how much glue and lead core do you need to buy to keep up with the overflowing paper recycle bin? Too much, we would suspect, which is why you may never see this gadget in your office supplies catalog [source: Bonderud].

08. Perpetual Printing

The PrePeat, minus its plastic paper

Printing has come a long way since the computer landed on the desktop. First, there were daisy-wheel printers, then dot-matrix printers, then inkjet and laser printers. The problem with all of these output devices, of course, is that they require paper -- lots of it -- and expensive consumables, like toner. Why can't someone invent an inkless, tonerless printer that allows the operator to reuse paper?

As it turns out, this isn't a new idea. Xerox has been working with so-called electronic paper since the 1970s. Its most promising solution is a type of paper called "Gyricon." A Gyricon sheet is a thin layer of transparent plastic containing millions of small oil-filled cavities. A two-colored bead is free to rotate inside each cavity. When a printer applies a voltage to the surface of the sheet, the beads rotate to present one colored side to the viewer, offering the ability to create text or pictures. The images will remain on the paper until it's fed through the printer once again.

A Japanese company, Sanwa Newtec, is offering its version of inkless, tonerless and rewritable printing technology. Its product is called the PrePeat rewritable printer, which, like the Xerox solution, requires plastic paper. But PrePeat uses a different technique to produce an image. Each sheet of paper comes embedded with leuco dyes, which change color with temperature -- colored when cool and clear when hot. The PrePeat printer, then, heats and cools the paper to first erase an image and then create a new image in its place. According to the company, a single sheet of paper can be reused 1,000 times before it needs to be replaced.

What's the catch? A single PrePeat printer costs almost $6,000, while a pack of 1,000 sheets of paper costs more than $3,300. If you're running a printing-intensive business, you might be able to recoup your investment over time. But the average PC user likely won't be willing to shell out that kind of money to replace a standard printer [source: Miller].

07. Insect Assailants

A NAV will be a lot smaller than the EMT Aladin airborne reconnaissance drone this German soldier is using for close area imaging during patrol on Oct. 17, 2010, in Afghanistan.

Many people don't know it, but USPTO can apply a secrecy order to a patent if patent office staff and their military advisers think the idea could be used to threaten national security. Once the USPTO decides that a technology is no longer a threat, it can publish the patent and pave the way for commercialization. Some patents may remain cloaked under a secrecy order for one or two years; others languish for decades. More than 5,000 patents -- inventions we may never know or see -- currently have secrecy orders attached to them [source: Marks].

That's not the end of hush-hush inventions. Each year, the Pentagon sets aside billions of dollars to develop top-secret military weapons. This so-called "black budget" has grown tremendously since the Sept. 11 attacks, surpassing even the funds spent at the height of the Cold War. Some of that money has gone toward the development of nano air vehicles (NAVs), remote-controlled micro-drones that could easily infiltrate enemy territory. We all know how the U.S. military has used larger drones to conduct reconnaissance, transport supplies and even target individuals. Unfortunately, the larger attack drones, such as the MQ-1 Predator, can result in unwanted civilian casualties.

Lockheed Martin's Samarai micro-drone could solve that problem. Weighing a mere 5.29 ounces (150 grams) and boasting a 12-inch (30-centimeter) wingspan, the Samarai looks like a maple-seed whirligig, except this one comes with a miniature jet engine to provide thrust and a tiny flap on the trailing edge of the wing to control direction. In the near future, this nature-inspired micro-drone will snap photos using a camera mounted on the gadget's central hub. But the longer-term goals are to turn the Samarai or other similar micro-drones into armed attack vehicles capable of killing a single individual with little or no collateral damage [source: Weinberger].

06. Seed Racer

The BIOME, in all its far-out organic glory. Future, please hurry!

Mercedes-Benz has been an innovator for decades. You can thank the German auto manufacturer for diesel and supercharged engines on passenger cars, antilock brakes, electronic stability systems and more. But nothing could be more innovative than the BIOME concept car, unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2010. Here's how the official press release described the vehicle: "The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material."

Engineers from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, Calif., created the car as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge, which called for a safe and comfortable compact car of the future that could accommodate four passengers, demonstrate good handling and weigh only 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). The BIOME represents the Mercedes-Benz vision. It is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre so that the finished vehicle, though wider than a typical car, only weighs 876 pounds (397 kilograms). If you think that sounds too good to be true, then get this: The BIOME isn't assembled. It grows from two seeds -- one that forms the interior and one that forms the exterior. The wheels germinate from four additional seeds placed in the nursery.

Of course, you won't find the BIOME at your local Mercedes-Benz dealer. That's because the far-out design is a vision of the future -- a concept car that's decades ahead of its time. As such, it couldn't exist today. But it might be as common as a Corolla after 20 or 30 years of innovative thinking and inspired engineering [source: Leavitt].

05. Body Armor With Built-in Stun Gun, Flashlight and Cameraphone Charger

The Armstar Bodyguard 9XI-HD01 looks a bit like that scary black body armor that Christian Bale wears in the recent Batman movies. And it is kind of like that, actually.

The Bodyguard, which was patented by a California inventor in 2007 under the title of "wearable shield and self-defense device," is designed to be a shield, a non-lethal weapon and a communications device all in one [source: Justia.com]. The flexible arm, which is armored with Kevlar and hard plastic, contains a rechargeable lithium battery pack that powers an "electronic deterrent" device built into the arm's artificial skin. All the user has to do is pull a pin, and an assailant who grabs his or her arm is going to get zapped with electricity. The Bodyguard is also equipped with a bright LED flashlight, an HD camera capable of transmitting pictures, and a charging slot into which an iPhone apparently fits nicely.

We could see this gadget becoming an indispensible tool for law enforcement officers and bodyguards of the future, but given that you have to inquire about it to get a price quote, we're guessing that it'll be too costly to make much of a dent into the everyday suburban adventurer market [sources: Armstar.net, Inventionreaction.com].

04. Bat Suit

Wingsuit flyers, like the one pictured, need to jump out of an airplane or off a cliff to fly.

Have you ever wanted to leave the ground and soar like a bird -- or perhaps a bat? In January 2012, a Connecticut-based inventor was granted a patent for what the application describes as "a completely dynamic human powered flying suit" that is modeled after the bat's style of aviation. The inventor explains in the patent application that bats are fellow mammals and the flying creatures "most closely related to human beings."

The device consists of a pair of strap-on batlike wings with rigid and non-rigid portions that can be manipulated by the wearer once aloft. Initially getting off the ground is a bit trickier: Unlike bats, who simply do what comes naturally, the wearer of the flying suit would have to be towed, or ride on a bicycle, skis or rollerblades down an incline and then assume a leaning-forward flying posture and leap into the air at the appropriate moment [source: USPTO]. The question is: Would this really work?

03. Portable Cat-toy Park

Think about it.

Comedian Steve Martin used to have a routine in which his pet cat figures out how to imitate his voice and orders $3,000 worth of cat toys from a mail-order company. The bit certainly resonated with cat owners, who know how easily felines can get into mischief when they're trying to alleviate boredom. In 2009, a New York-based inventor was granted a patent for one possible solution: a fold-up "cat toy park" equipped with a scratching post, a tunnel for crawling through, a hanging chew toy, and most ingeniously, a tube equipped with a fan that blows colored balls around a mesh tube, a game that's "devised to occupy one or more cats" [source: USPTO].

While cat fanciers may applaud the ingenuity of the concept, cats are notoriously fussy and capricious, and there's no guarantee they would choose to play with such a toy rather than, say, claw your antique furniture. Also, the value of having a portable cat entertainment center is questionable, since we've never seen a cat who was a willing traveler.

02. License Plate Flipper

The Aston Martin DB5 driven by James Bond in the film "Goldfinger"

Remember James Bond's tricked-out Aston Martin in the 1964 movie "Goldfinger" -- the one equipped with hidden machine guns, pop-out razor rims to slice pursuer's tires and an ejector seat? Wouldn't you love to outfit your Toyota Yaris with some of that stuff?

The high-powered weaponry, alas, probably is a bit impractical, not to mention dangerous. But there is a company that offers an electronic license-plate flipper of the sort that Bond used to conceal his identity from prying eyes. The $79.00 Vehicle Plate Flipper doesn't allow you to impersonate a Swiss or French driver, but it does flip down at a 90 degree angle at the press of a button to display a message on an underlying plate for the driver behind you. There's also a special $74.99 version for motorcycles.

We're not sure that this gadget will ever become widely popular, though, in part because some of the device's conceivable uses -- hiding your identity from red light cameras and police, or provoking tailgaters with taunting messages -- could get drivers in a lot of trouble. Indeed, the company that sells the device attaches a disclaimer to its Web site, warning that the gadgets are "STRICTLY intended for off-road use only" and informing potential customers that they take responsibility "for all liabilities associated with the use or misuse of our product" [source: Plateflipper.com].

01. Robot That Devours Insects and Rodents

An old-fashioned mouse trap

At this point, robotic vacuum sweepers, singing androids and mechanical dogs are old hat. But British inventors Jimmy Loizeau and James Auger have made a quantum leap with the Carnivorous Domestic Entertainment Robot, an automaton that would stalk and devour mice and insects, and then eat them and digest their bodies to produce its own power.

They've come up with five different concepts, including the mousetrap coffee table robot, which is designed to lure unwary vermin onto its surface, which contains a trap door triggered by motion sensors. Rodent victims trapped by the device would be chemically dismantled and fed to a microbial fuel cell. A light on the side of the device would inform the owner of how much energy is being produced by the auto-extermination. Other configurations include the Lampshade Robot, which would lure flies and moths to their doom, a Cobweb Robot that would trick spiders into weaving webs and then extract and feed them into its fuel cell, and the Flypaper Robotic Clock [source: Scott].

Right now these robots are still just concepts, which you might say is good thing: Realistically, who wants to watch their coffee table devour a mouse?

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