The House of Representatives last week managed a landslide victory for “the little guy” passing the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act by a vote of 407-18.
The bill would allow entrepreneurs to “crowdfund”. That means they could raise money over the Internet through relatively small donations from people they don’t know.
The legislation removes barriers so that business owners can raise up to $2 million from an unlimited number of individuals who can invest as much as $10,000 each.
Today is Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year.
If you know which websites to shop, you can save 40% or more on cameras, laptops and toys.
Consumer advocates this mornings revealed some of the best deals online.
For instance, the EasyShare digital camera by Kodak, regularly priced at $140, can be purchased for $69 at OfficeMax.com. (But shoppers are warned to “be quick” to ensure access to some of these deals.)
A 32-year-old police officer hasn’t benefitted from a good night’s sleep in years. Suffering with sleep apnea, the only option for him was an invasive tracheotomy. Until now.
A new robotic surgery to cure the disorder gets to the narrow channel of the throat and removes the obstructing tissue as the surgeon guides the tiny instruments.
Karl Rabeder, the Austrian businessman who last year decided to give away his $6.7 million fortune, because he realized money didn’t make him happy, now lives on just $1,350 a month.
It was one of the most shocking headlines of 2010. A millionaire from Telfs, Austria, announced he was in the process of selling his luxury properties, sports cars and private plane because he had realized money actually prevented him from being happy. His goal was to “have nothing left, absolutely nothing”
His entire fortune went to a charity he set up called MyMicroCredit, which helps people in third world countries to start businesses.
Where is he now and what’s he up to?
(READ the article w/ photos in Oddity Central)
Using cutting edge materials and proven technology to harvest energy from the sun and wind, SolarBotanic is planning to produce artificial trees that look like real plants, but produce electricity when the wind blows and sun shines.
SolarBotanic’s method of energy capture is both clean and renewable with a wide spectrum of applications, but the aesthetics are also pleasing, which is useful in areas where wind turbines are not allowed.
Using cutting edge materials and proven technology to harvest energy from the sun and wind, SolarBotanic is planning to produce artificial trees that look like real plants, but produce electricity when the wind blows and sun shines.
SolarBotanic’s method of energy capture is both clean and renewable with a wide spectrum of applications, but the aesthetics are also pleasing, which is useful in areas where wind turbines are not allowed.
Monique van der Vorst has completed a remarkable transformation – from Paralympic athlete to road racing cyclist with a top professional team.
The 27-year-old Dutch rider signed with the Rabobank women’s team, meaning the former wheelchair and handcycle racer will now line up against elite able-bodied cyclists.
Van der Vorst lost the use of her legs as a young teenager following ankle surgery. But she didn’t lose her drive and determination.
Gloom is giving way to a glow of optimism in two northern Maine towns.
Paper-making, for generations the lifeblood of Millinocket and East Millinocket, is back, and a closely related new industry knocks on the door. And mill workers and those who draw a living from one of Maine’s traditional industries say they finally have something to be thankful for.
On Thanksgiving weekend, we are all taking time to acknowledge what we’re grateful for. It’s a nice gesture, of course, but why do we do it? What good is gratitude?
For more than a decade, researchers have studied the effects of gratitude on physical health, on psychological well-being, and on our relationships with others.
The results have been overwhelming. Studies of more than one thousand people, from ages eight to 80, found that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:
On Thanksgiving weekend, we are all taking time to acknowledge what we’re grateful for. It’s a nice gesture, of course, but why do we do it? What good is gratitude?
For more than a decade, researchers have studied the effects of gratitude on physical health, on psychological well-being, and on our relationships with others.
The results have been overwhelming. Studies of more than one thousand people, from ages eight to 80, found that people who practice gratitude consistently report a host of benefits:
Aided by a grant from Chevrolet, a professional photographer is helping homeless children visualize their dreams through the lens of a camera.
“Pictures of Hope” founded by Linda Solomon will travel to ten homeless shelters in ten cities this year.
During each session, Solomon teaches a basic photo class. At the conclusion of the tutorial, the children are surprised with cameras and given their first photo assignment as young photojournalists: capture their “hopes and dreams” on film.
“When you show children that you care about what they wish for in life, perhaps a child who never felt he or she had self worth, now will,” says Linda Solomon.
The children in all ten cities are ages 6-13 and will celebrate their “Pictures of Hope” at Meet The Young Artist Receptions during November and December.
The photos became holiday greeting cards, with 100% of the proceeds going to back to the shelters.
(WATCH the videos below – from NBC and CBS) You can read more at Linda’s website.
Aided by a grant from Chevrolet, a professional photographer is helping homeless children visualize their dreams through the lens of a camera.
“Pictures of Hope” founded by Linda Solomon will travel to ten homeless shelters in ten cities this year.
During each session, Solomon teaches a basic photo class. At the conclusion of the tutorial, the children are surprised with cameras and given their first photo assignment as young photojournalists: capture their “hopes and dreams” on film.
“When you show children that you care about what they wish for in life, perhaps a child who never felt he or she had self worth, now will,” says Linda Solomon.
If your looking for help on how to choose ebook reader, here is a buying guide that can help you navigate the many choices.
One of the most important decisions to make is whether to choose an e-Ink display or LCD screen. From there, you can compare prices and other features on this handy chart.
After nearly two years of bickering, NBA players and owners are back on the same side.
“We want to play basketball,” Commissioner David Stern said.
Come Christmas Day, they should be.
The sides reached a tentative agreement early Saturday to end the 149-day lockout and hope to begin the delayed season with a marquee triple-header Dec. 25.
To combat the devastation caused by illegal assault rifles in Africa’s war zones, founder of Ethos water, Peter Thum, announced this week the launch of Fonderie 47. Based in New York City, Fonderie 47 removes AK47s from war zones and transforms them into rare watches and $32,000 cufflinks.
In partnership with NGOs working in Africa, Fonderie 47 already has destroyed more than 6,000 assault rifles. The sale of each piece of Fonderie 47 jewelry funds the destruction of dozens more assault rifles.
Fonderie 47 sprung from the experiences that founders Peter Thum and John Zapolski had in Africa, where they saw assault rifles in the hands of children and witnessed firsthand the problem of weapons hindering many aspects of development across Africa.
“A transformation is needed to break this cycle of violence in Africa. To this end, we are turning the power of the AK47 against itself,” said Peter Thum, cofounder of Fonderie 47. “Not only do we destroy these weapons, but we invert what they stand for by remaking them into wearable art.”
Fonderie 47’s initial pieces include a limited series of men’s cufflinks, custom-made men’s rings, and hand-made earrings for women. The items currently are sold at private events around the world. Sales of each item, along with donations from individuals and foundations, fund programs to destroy more assault rifles in Africa.
“While we create rare objects, their true value emanates from the principles, purpose, ideas, and skill that go into them. The pieces are not merely beautiful – they have real impact on the world. To us, that is the measure of an object’s – and a person’s – character,” said Peter Thum.
Thum (left) previously founded and grew the social venture Ethos Water, which Starbucks Acquired in 2005. Ethos has funded over $6 million in safe water projects, helping more than 420,000 people around the world gain access to water and sanitation services. Thum also is founder of Giving Water.
For more information on purchasing products watch the video below, or contact Fonderie 47 online at Fonderie47.com; with login serial number 87538336.
To combat the devastation caused by illegal assault rifles in Africa’s war zones, founder of Ethos water, Peter Thum, announced this week the launch of Fonderie 47. Based in New York City, Fonderie 47 removes AK47s from war zones and transforms them into rare watches and $32,000 cufflinks.
In partnership with NGOs working in Africa, Fonderie 47 already has destroyed more than 6,000 assault rifles. The sale of each piece of Fonderie 47 jewelry funds the destruction of dozens more assault rifles.
Inspector James Guida has been in the NYPD for 30 years. He was assigned to command troubled precincts, and for the last four years logged an increase in arrests and hundreds of successful search warrants.
While battling the drug scourge, he has been fighting cancer.
For his dedication and perseverance through serious illness, Guida is the Daily News Hero of the Month: Surgeries and radiation treatments cannot keep him from his command.
(READ the story in the NY Daily News)
Home prices in many of the world’s most famous cities run to well over $1,000 per square foot. By contrast, MIT architects have produced the first prototype from the Institute’s “1K House” project, an effort to see if low-cost homes for the poor can be constructed for $1,000, total.
The project’s debut effort, called the Pinwheel House, was constructed in Sichuan Province, China, at the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake.
Designer Ying chee Chui, a graduate of MIT’s Department of Architecture, created the housing especially for areas prone to natural disasters. Chui incorporated hollow brick walls with steel bars for reinforcement and wooden box beams to withstand earthquakes up to 8.0 in magnitude. The home turned out bigger and more costly, but at $5,925, it is still very inexpensive in relative terms.
Home prices in many of the world’s most famous cities run to well over $1,000 per square foot. By contrast, MIT architects have produced the first prototype from the Institute’s “1K House” project, an effort to see if low-cost homes for the poor can be constructed for $1,000, total.
The project’s debut effort, called the Pinwheel House, was constructed in Sichuan Province, China, at the epicenter of the 2008 earthquake.
Designer Ying chee Chui, a graduate of MIT’s Department of Architecture, created the housing especially for areas prone to natural disasters. Chui incorporated hollow brick walls with steel bars for reinforcement and wooden box beams to withstand earthquakes up to 8.0 in magnitude. The home turned out bigger and more costly, but at $5,925, it is still very inexpensive in relative terms.
Rather than typical careers in finance, consulting, and law, Andrew Yang wants to recruit young talent to ignite entrepreneurial sparks in such economically depressed areas as Detroit; Providence, Rhode Island; and New Orleans.
In the process, he believes he can create 100,000 U.S. jobs by 2025.
