by Rick Badman

Created on: October 21, 2008

There are so many sources for ideas. Since I have been a creative person most of my life, I know of most of the sources. Sometimes ideas are self-generated. I start talking about something and it leads to talking about something I never thought of. I might be talking with a friend on the phone about UFO technology since he is big on UFOs. When we talk about the energy source, I might start talking about a certain element that is radioactive when exposed to a charged particle beam or field yet stable when it is unexposed. This could lead me to thinking about a battery that uses a similar element that can draw energy from the electromagnetic fields of the earth. If a series of these batteries is formed, they may be able to tear a hole through the atmosphere and allow cosmic rays to fry things on the earth.

A program on PBS years ago was "Connections." It might start with the launch of a Saturn V rocket to the moon and minutes later redirect the discussion of how the rocket came to be with how Napoleon needed to feed his army food that hadn't spoiled, so canning was begun. One idea can lead to another idea which leads to still another idea. The origin of an idea may have begun centuries ago. Step-by-step an idea would form on the backs of other ideas.

I love to write, draw, and compose music. Sometimes I get inspiration for music from listening to other music. If I hear a great piece of music like Rimsky-Korsakov's "Russian Easter Festival Overture" I become inspired to compose something great, if possible. Maybe when I compose my "Russian Collection" which will be between eight and 12 hours of music I'll be inspired by a century of Russian composers and their music.

Reading something in a magazine or book can inspire an idea. After I read Jules Verne's "A Trip To the Moon and Back," I was inspired to think of an electromagnetic cannon that would use a powerful electromagnetic beam to send a projectile into space. That was over 40 years ago. It has since become the Ground/Ship Launch/Propulsion System which may someday send things into orbit and even to the moon and beyond.

Talking with people can lead to ideas. They can contribute an idea and you may contribute one and eventually the ideas give birth to another idea. That could be why Edison had a workshop with a team of researchers. One might have an idea he would share with another person and those two may share with another person. In time the ideas amounted to many things we still use today like the light bulb,

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