More cards promoting random acts of kindness

Original: More cards promoting random acts of kindness

We've featured several concepts that promote acts of kindness, including KIND Snacks' series of KINDED cards. For those not yet convinced, comes yet another spotting: California-based Boom Boom! Cards. Named for the karmic notion that every good deed comes back to its performer, boomerang-style, Boom Boom! Cards exist to inspire altruism. Available in packs of 26, the artistically designed cards each specify a particular act of kindness. It might be something as simple as saying "please" and "thank you" in every interaction over the course of a day, or it might be something more tangible, like buying a stranger a cup of coffee. There's also a pack aimed at teens that focuses on family, friends and school.

Either way, users begin by registering their deck and performing the specified kind acts, one at a time. Each time they do, they give the card away to someone else and then write about their experience on the Boom Boom! website. Users can upload photos and video to help tell their story, and the site's mapping feature allows them to follow each card and see where their kindness spreads. Since the site's launch into beta almost a year ago, more than 2,600 "agents of altruism" have joined what the company calls "the uprising of guerrilla goodness." Each deck of Boom Boom! Cards is priced at USD 9.99; of that price, 5 percent is donated to iSpot Compassion and 5 percent goes to the charity of the purchaser's choice.

Boom Boom! Cards are currently available both online and from select California and Minnesota retailers. Time to start proving that virtue really is its own reward! ;-) (Related: Online game focuses on real-world kindness — Clothing brand asks its wearers to be kind — Random acts of kindness for Hyatt's most loyal guests.)

Website: www.boomboomcards.com
Contact: info@boomboomcards.com

Spotted by: Michael Corrales

Shark Tank Episode 14: A Recap

Original: Shark Tank Episode 14: A Recap

Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Original: Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-25 10:55.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.batterblaster.com/

In 2001, Sean O'Connor was a co-owner of Thee Parkside, a San Francisco club that served up punk bands alongside yak burgers and bear-meat chili. When the dot-coms collapsed, he pared down the menu to focus on cheap, creative snacks. During an experiment with whipped cream canisters and funnel cake l. It's a convenience item and great for the elderly, who make single servings, along with parents, single people and campers," says Jeff Mejia, director of perishables for DPI Specialty Foods, which distributes the product to Albertsons, Bristol Farms and Jensen's stores. The product retails for $4.99 a can.

There's no denying the lowbrow reputation of sprayable foods. (Think Easy Cheese and Reddi-wip.) O'Connor argues that what Batter Blaster lacks in cachet, it makes up for in a hassle-free, fun-to-use design that appeals to families.

That sounds about right to chef Manuel Trevino of the newly opened Travertine restaurant in New York City. "I would most likely only use it when cooking for my kids," he says. "You will undoubtedly be sacrificing a little flavor for fun, but utilizing a spray makes it easier to master the art of creative pancake-making, which children tend to love."

O'Connor is banking on kid-friendliness. His plans? More versions of th %26qid%3D1248519584%26sr%3D1-3&a

Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Original: Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-25 10:55.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.batterblaster.com/

In 2001, Sean O'Connor was a co-owner of Thee Parkside, a San Francisco club that served up punk bands alongside yak burgers and bear-meat chili. When the dot-coms collapsed, he pared down the menu to focus on cheap, creative snacks. During an experiment with whipped cream canisters and funnel cake l. It's a convenience item and great for the elderly, who make single servings, along with parents, single people and campers," says Jeff Mejia, director of perishables for DPI Specialty Foods, which distributes the product to Albertsons, Bristol Farms and Jensen's stores. The product retails for $4.99 a can.

There's no denying the lowbrow reputation of sprayable foods. (Think Easy Cheese and Reddi-wip.) O'Connor argues that what Batter Blaster lacks in cachet, it makes up for in a hassle-free, fun-to-use design that appeals to families.

That sounds about right to chef Manuel Trevino of the newly opened Travertine restaurant in New York City. "I would most likely only use it when cooking for my kids," he says. "You will undoubtedly be sacrificing a little flavor for fun, but utilizing a spray makes it easier to master the art of creative pancake-making, which children tend to love."

O'Connor is banking on kid-friendliness. His plans? More versions of th %26qid%3D1248519584%26sr%3D1-3&a

More cards promoting random acts of kindness

Original: More cards promoting random acts of kindness

We've featured several concepts that promote acts of kindness, including KIND Snacks' series of KINDED cards. For those not yet convinced, comes yet another spotting: California-based Boom Boom! Cards. Named for the karmic notion that every good deed comes back to its performer, boomerang-style, Boom Boom! Cards exist to inspire altruism. Available in packs of 26, the artistically designed cards each specify a particular act of kindness. It might be something as simple as saying "please" and "thank you" in every interaction over the course of a day, or it might be something more tangible, like buying a stranger a cup of coffee. There's also a pack aimed at teens that focuses on family, friends and school.

Either way, users begin by registering their deck and performing the specified kind acts, one at a time. Each time they do, they give the card away to someone else and then write about their experience on the Boom Boom! website. Users can upload photos and video to help tell their story, and the site's mapping feature allows them to follow each card and see where their kindness spreads. Since the site's launch into beta almost a year ago, more than 2,600 "agents of altruism" have joined what the company calls "the uprising of guerrilla goodness." Each deck of Boom Boom! Cards is priced at USD 9.99; of that price, 5 percent is donated to iSpot Compassion and 5 percent goes to the charity of the purchaser's choice.

Boom Boom! Cards are currently available both online and from select California and Minnesota retailers. Time to start proving that virtue really is its own reward! ;-) (Related: Online game focuses on real-world kindness — Clothing brand asks its wearers to be kind — Random acts of kindness for Hyatt's most loyal guests.)

Website: www.boomboomcards.com
Contact: info@boomboomcards.com

Spotted by: Michael Corrales

Why I Didn’t Think Of That

Original: Why I Didn't Think Of That

Gourmet wines designed for cooking

Original: Gourmet wines designed for cooking

Opportunity awaits those who can make consumers' lives easier, as countless innovations prove every day. Take choosing a wine. We've already seen several efforts to simplify the process of finding a good one for drinking—including, among many other approaches, a classification system that uses colours and numbers—and now California-based Académie Culinary Wines aims to do the same for wines that will be used in cooking.

Académie wines are sourced directly from California's premier wine regions. With the help of gourmet chefs, the company has developed a line including four blends that are designed to make culinary creations the best they can possibly be. Blend #1, for example, is designed for use in red sauces and meat dishes. Blend #2, meanwhile, targets seafood, poultry and pork. Blend #3 aims to complement beef and poultry marinades, while Blend #4 is for game bird, fish and lamb. All Académie wines are highly suitable for drinking as well, the company says, and are packaged in a convenient, waste-proof 375mL size that's still ample for tasting while the cooking proceeds. To facilitate the culinary magic, the Académie site includes a variety of recipes geared toward each of the wines in its line.

Available online and from select California retailers, Académie wines come in single 375mL bottles for USD 7.99 each or sampler packs of four for USD 28.76. Shipping is currently available only within California; one to partner with and bring to the rest of the cooking world? (Related: Wine tasting packs feature four mini samples — Wine search engine uses animation to visualize aromas — Modern wine paired with ancient Roman cuisine — Sommelier, go away: food pairing made easy.)

Website: www.academiewines.com
Contact: support@academiewines.com

Niche Biz: Atlanta Insurance Live

Original: Niche Biz: Atlanta Insurance Live

Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Original: Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-25 10:55.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.batterblaster.com/

In 2001, Sean O'Connor was a co-owner of Thee Parkside, a San Francisco club that served up punk bands alongside yak burgers and bear-meat chili. When the dot-coms collapsed, he pared down the menu to focus on cheap, creative snacks. During an experiment with whipped cream canisters and funnel cake l. It's a convenience item and great for the elderly, who make single servings, along with parents, single people and campers," says Jeff Mejia, director of perishables for DPI Specialty Foods, which distributes the product to Albertsons, Bristol Farms and Jensen's stores. The product retails for $4.99 a can.

There's no denying the lowbrow reputation of sprayable foods. (Think Easy Cheese and Reddi-wip.) O'Connor argues that what Batter Blaster lacks in cachet, it makes up for in a hassle-free, fun-to-use design that appeals to families.

That sounds about right to chef Manuel Trevino of the newly opened Travertine restaurant in New York City. "I would most likely only use it when cooking for my kids," he says. "You will undoubtedly be sacrificing a little flavor for fun, but utilizing a spray makes it easier to master the art of creative pancake-making, which children tend to love."

O'Connor is banking on kid-friendliness. His plans? More versions of th %26qid%3D1248519584%26sr%3D1-3&a

Edible decals turn cakes into works of art

Original: Edible decals turn cakes into works of art

Professionally made desserts are all very well, but for true bake-it-yourself types, there's nothing like a homemade confection. Much the way Sprinkles Cupcakes mixes aim to give baking enthusiasts a way to emulate professional results in their own kitchens, so Ticings allow them to add a dash of photographic-quality art.

Ticings are edible images that can be applied to cakes, cookies, brownies and cupcakes. Users need only peel them from their paper backing and then press them onto a baked confection. Whereas some baking embellishments drag when cut, Ticings merge with soft frosting to create edible art that creates no resistance for the knife. Launched last month, the US-made decorations—which are FDA approved, kosher certified and gluten free—are available from LA-based Ticings in sheets of 12 2.25-inch images for USD 15.95 or 35 1.25-inch images for USD 22.95. Themes include birthdays, weddings and seasonal motifs; shipping is available only within the continental US. Coming soon from the company are gourmet artisan sprinkles.

Giving crafty consumers yet another way to make it themselves—upgraded to help them compete with the professionals—Ticings will soon also be available through a bakery in northern California. Other gourmet retailers around the world: time to add yourself to that list? (Related: Upscale takeaway meets onsite cooking school — Shirt sold out? Make it yourself — DIY wedding rings.)

Website: www.ticings.com
Contact: hello@ticings.com

Spotted by: Lara McCulloch

The Women In The Body Shop

Original: The Women In The Body Shop

Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Original: Pancakes in a can make its inventor rich

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-25 10:55.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.batterblaster.com/

In 2001, Sean O'Connor was a co-owner of Thee Parkside, a San Francisco club that served up punk bands alongside yak burgers and bear-meat chili. When the dot-coms collapsed, he pared down the menu to focus on cheap, creative snacks. During an experiment with whipped cream canisters and funnel cake l. It's a convenience item and great for the elderly, who make single servings, along with parents, single people and campers," says Jeff Mejia, director of perishables for DPI Specialty Foods, which distributes the product to Albertsons, Bristol Farms and Jensen's stores. The product retails for $4.99 a can.

There's no denying the lowbrow reputation of sprayable foods. (Think Easy Cheese and Reddi-wip.) O'Connor argues that what Batter Blaster lacks in cachet, it makes up for in a hassle-free, fun-to-use design that appeals to families.

That sounds about right to chef Manuel Trevino of the newly opened Travertine restaurant in New York City. "I would most likely only use it when cooking for my kids," he says. "You will undoubtedly be sacrificing a little flavor for fun, but utilizing a spray makes it easier to master the art of creative pancake-making, which children tend to love."

O'Connor is banking on kid-friendliness. His plans? More versions of th %26qid%3D1248519584%26sr%3D1-3&a

US Government Posting Wealth Of Data

Original: US Government Posting Wealth Of Data

How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Original: How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Wed, 2010-01-20 12:12.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.sfactor.com/

An Exotic dancer who wants to be an actress? OK. But the other way around?

Meet Sheila Kelley, a star on NBC's L.A. Law and in films such as Cameron Crowe's Singles. Her career detour began back in 2000, when she portrayed a stripper in the film
Kelley is currently overhauling the curriculum, and she has plans for a second book as well as three new videos scheduled for release in 2010. She still acts, but S Factor commands most of her attention. She regularly teaches classes and travels to collaborate with instructors and students.

"I'm an accidental entrepreneur. I set out to find something I loved to do, and to have fun," K " target="_blank" href="http://w

Board game stimulates sustainable (re)thinking

Original: Board game stimulates sustainable (re)thinking

Games have long been used as an educational tool, and not just for kids. Canadian Akoha, for example, encourages players to be more kind. Now, along similar lines, Play Rethink invites users to redesign everyday objects to make them more sustainable.

Play Rethink ("The Eco-Design Game") is an effort from London-based Rethink Games to help people think—or rethink—how to make everyday objects and services more socially and environmentally friendly. Each game includes a multicoloured wheel and 98 drawing cards along with an eco-strategies key card and an instruction sheet with activities. With each spin of the wheel, players get a card asking them to rethink a particular everyday object, such as a chair or a vacuum cleaner. They then describe their idea for a more sustainable approach by drawing it on the card. Ideas players are particularly proud of can be uploaded onto the Play Rethink website, where others can rate, comment and be inspired by them. What's more, each month Rethink Games selects one idea to serve as the project of the month, and it's currently working on setting up partnerships with organizations that can help develop those ideas further. Play Rethink is sold online and through select London retailers. Pricing

Facilitating the idea generation process is all very good and well, of course; what will make this really interesting, however, is a way to turn the best ideas into reality. RedesignMe found a way to do that through partnerships with manufacturers, and it also took the critical step of paying the Generation C(ash) consumers whose ideas got used. Play Rethink may be a game, but it's also another way to tap into the global brain. Who will help pave the way toward some real results? (Related: iPhone game gets kids into the (hidden) park.)

Website: www.playrethink.com
Contact: info@rethinkgames.com

Spotted by: Estee Chaikin

How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Original: How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Wed, 2010-01-20 12:12.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.sfactor.com/

An Exotic dancer who wants to be an actress? OK. But the other way around?

Meet Sheila Kelley, a star on NBC's L.A. Law and in films such as Cameron Crowe's Singles. Her career detour began back in 2000, when she portrayed a stripper in the film
Kelley is currently overhauling the curriculum, and she has plans for a second book as well as three new videos scheduled for release in 2010. She still acts, but S Factor commands most of her attention. She regularly teaches classes and travels to collaborate with instructors and students.

"I'm an accidental entrepreneur. I set out to find something I loved to do, and to have fun," K " target="_blank" href="http://w

The Hawaii Chair

Original: The Hawaii Chair

Board game stimulates sustainable (re)thinking

Original: Board game stimulates sustainable (re)thinking

Games have long been used as an educational tool, and not just for kids. Canadian Akoha, for example, encourages players to be more kind. Now, along similar lines, Play Rethink invites users to redesign everyday objects to make them more sustainable.

Play Rethink ("The Eco-Design Game") is an effort from London-based Rethink Games to help people think—or rethink—how to make everyday objects and services more socially and environmentally friendly. Each game includes a multicoloured wheel and 98 drawing cards along with an eco-strategies key card and an instruction sheet with activities. With each spin of the wheel, players get a card asking them to rethink a particular everyday object, such as a chair or a vacuum cleaner. They then describe their idea for a more sustainable approach by drawing it on the card. Ideas players are particularly proud of can be uploaded onto the Play Rethink website, where others can rate, comment and be inspired by them. What's more, each month Rethink Games selects one idea to serve as the project of the month, and it's currently working on setting up partnerships with organizations that can help develop those ideas further. Play Rethink is sold online and through select London retailers. Pricing

Facilitating the idea generation process is all very good and well, of course; what will make this really interesting, however, is a way to turn the best ideas into reality. RedesignMe found a way to do that through partnerships with manufacturers, and it also took the critical step of paying the Generation C(ash) consumers whose ideas got used. Play Rethink may be a game, but it's also another way to tap into the global brain. Who will help pave the way toward some real results? (Related: iPhone game gets kids into the (hidden) park.)

Website: www.playrethink.com
Contact: info@rethinkgames.com

Spotted by: Estee Chaikin

Vermont school builds net-zero field house

Original: Vermont school builds net-zero field house

If ever there was a compelling reason for a school to build sustainably, it's the one faced by Vermont's Putney School not long ago. Namely, warmer winters resulting from global climate change had reduced the cold-weather sports opportunities the private boarding school traditionally relied on, leaving it with a sudden need for gym space for the first time. Its solution? A net-zero field house that's on track to be one of only five platinum LEED-certified school buildings in the nation.

By definition, net-zero energy buildings generate as much energy as they consume over the course of a year, and that's at the heart of the Putney School's 16,800-square-foot athletics building, which opened its doors last fall. Designed by Maclay Architects, the super-insulated, super-energy-efficient building uses the sun for its heating and electricity needs. Specifically, 16 sun-tracking photovoltaic solar panels power the building, feeding excess energy during sunny months back into the grid and earning the school 6 cents per kilowatt-hour as they do. In the winter, the building draws energy out again, but in an average year, it's expected to do better than break even on its energy use. Other green features of the USD 6 million field house, include low-water fixtures and composting toilets, a white reflective roof and local materials such as site-harvested wood.

"We want to show the world that net-zero energy technology for public buildings exists right now," explains Putney School Director Emily Jones. "It's time to move net-zero energy buildings from the theoretical realm into reality." Indeed, we couldn't have said it better ourselves. An eco-iconic innovation to emulate at the earliest opportunity—particularly for schools with sustainability on the curriculum. (Related: Green school with an entrepreneurial bent.)

Website: www.putneyfieldhouse.org
Contact: info@putneyschool.org

Spotted by: Rick Noyes

How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Original: How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Wed, 2010-01-20 12:12.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.sfactor.com/

An Exotic dancer who wants to be an actress? OK. But the other way around?

Meet Sheila Kelley, a star on NBC's L.A. Law and in films such as Cameron Crowe's Singles. Her career detour began back in 2000, when she portrayed a stripper in the film
Kelley is currently overhauling the curriculum, and she has plans for a second book as well as three new videos scheduled for release in 2010. She still acts, but S Factor commands most of her attention. She regularly teaches classes and travels to collaborate with instructors and students.

"I'm an accidental entrepreneur. I set out to find something I loved to do, and to have fun," K " target="_blank" href="http://w

Out Of The Boutique & Into The Livingroom

Original: Out Of The Boutique & Into The Livingroom

Small By Choice

Original: Small By Choice

How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Original: How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Wed, 2010-01-20 12:12.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.sfactor.com/

An Exotic dancer who wants to be an actress? OK. But the other way around?

Meet Sheila Kelley, a star on NBC's L.A. Law and in films such as Cameron Crowe's Singles. Her career detour began back in 2000, when she portrayed a stripper in the film
Kelley is currently overhauling the curriculum, and she has plans for a second book as well as three new videos scheduled for release in 2010. She still acts, but S Factor commands most of her attention. She regularly teaches classes and travels to collaborate with instructors and students.

"I'm an accidental entrepreneur. I set out to find something I loved to do, and to have fun," K " target="_blank" href="http://w

Monthly mail service turns kids into globe-trotters

Original: Monthly mail service turns kids into globe-trotters

Remember the excitement you felt receiving mail as a child? That's the inspiration behind San Francisco-based Little Passports, a new educational subscription service that aims to turn 5-to-10-year-olds into world travellers, one country at a time. Little Passports delivers monthly travel packages designed to provide a fun, hands-on way for kids to learn about other countries without leaving home. The first shipment in the USD 10.95 per month subscription prepares little voyagers for their global adventure with a mini suitcase, passport, world map and a letter and photo introducing their travel guides, Sam and Sofia.

Each following month, children receive a personalized letter and package from Sam and Sofia, which includes travel-related items like a passport stamp, suitcase sticker and collectible boarding pass to access online games and activities that teach geography, history, culture and vocabulary. As the months pass, little travellers notch up a jetsetter's stamp-filled passport, personalize their suitcase, and pack it with country-specific souvenirs.

In an era dominated by electronic communication, people are embracing concepts from a slower age, like the company that transforms emails into paper letters and one that resurrected the classic telegram. Little Passports combines that nostalgia for 'real' mail and combines it with the convenience of a subscription service. What else could this formula be applied to? (Related: Interactive piggy bank teaches kids about money.)

Website: www.littlepassports.com
Contact: info@littlepassports.com

Spotted by: Jason Ferguson

How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Original: How To Become Stripper-Fit.

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Wed, 2010-01-20 12:12.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - If You Sell Links On Your Site, I Will Buy Them Off You


http://www.sfactor.com/

An Exotic dancer who wants to be an actress? OK. But the other way around?

Meet Sheila Kelley, a star on NBC's L.A. Law and in films such as Cameron Crowe's Singles. Her career detour began back in 2000, when she portrayed a stripper in the film
Kelley is currently overhauling the curriculum, and she has plans for a second book as well as three new videos scheduled for release in 2010. She still acts, but S Factor commands most of her attention. She regularly teaches classes and travels to collaborate with instructors and students.

"I'm an accidental entrepreneur. I set out to find something I loved to do, and to have fun," K " target="_blank" href="http://w

Your purchases, published in real time for all to see

Original: Your purchases, published in real time for all to see

We've seen the social shopping trend manifested in various forms in recent years, including TeethYou, the Chinese site we covered back in 2007 that let shopping fans show off their favourite purchases. Adding to that concept a heady splash of so-called nowism is Blippy, a Twitter-like effort that lets users automatically publish their shopping transactions in real time for all the world to see.

Launched to the public just last week, California-based Blippy bills itself as "a fun and easy way to see and discuss the things people are buying." Users begin by creating an account and—much like with Twitter—searching for friends who also use the service. Friends can select to follow each other, meaning that they'll see a constantly updated feed reflecting those people's latest purchases. It's up to each user, however, to choose which categories of purchases they'd like to share by actively linking the accounts they'd like to make public. They can choose to automatically share their purchases at vendors including iTunes, Amazon, Netflix and Blockbuster, for example, or they can publish all those made through a particular credit card, debit card or bank account. They can also deliberately keep more private transactions to a "non-Blippy" account. Visible for each linked account, meanwhile, are the amount spent on each individual purchase, as well as a detailed list of w

There are obviously a number of privacy considerations associated with using Blippy, though the site says it performs "super-human feats" to protect its users' data. The potential benefits, however, are intriguing. In addition to paving the way for affiliate fees through the vendors that get mentioned in its stream, Blippy also stands to increase transparency by facilitating reviews and comparisons. To wit: "Imagine being able to tell if you're getting ripped off with what you're paying for a gym membership or on your Comcast bill when compared to what your friends are spending on the same things," as TechCrunch points out. An API is also reportedly in the works, promising even more transparency in the future. In the meantime, one to watch! (Related: Cheap & simple

Website: www.blippy.com
Contact: hello@blippy.com

Spotted by: Benoit Rigaut

MLK On Doing Great Work

Original: MLK On Doing Great Work

ezShade For The Busy Family On The Go

Original: ezShade For The Busy Family On The Go

Rental service for kids' video games

Original: Rental service for kids' video games

Given the remarkable speed with which children can tire of their toys, it's not too surprising that we've seen toy rental services emerge in both the US and—more recently—France. Since the very same phenomenon tends to occur with video games, it makes perfect sense to see a brand-new startup that focuses exclusively on that category of entertainment.

Like both Babyplays and Dim Dom, California-based SmartyRents uses the Netflix model to help parents keep their children aged 9 months to 10 years old challenged and entertained. The effort was launched just last week by two former teachers, which is why it also focuses on games with an educational bent. Included in its inventory, for example, are top games from LeapFrog—including Little Leaps, Clickstart, Leapster and Didj—and from Vtech, including V.Smile Baby, V.Smile, V.Motion and V.Flash. Parents begin by signing up and choosing from among four rental packages, depending on how many games they'd like to have at one time. Monthly pricing ranges from USD 9.99 for one game at a time to USD 24.99

Whether it's toys or college textbooks, baby clothes, designer dresses or cellphones, freedom from the bonds of ownership is increasingly the way to transumers' hearts. SmartyRents, however, currently serves only the US; one to emulate for kids and parents in other countries?

Website: www.smartyrents.com
Contact: www.smartyrents.com/contact.php

Spotted by: Susanna Haynie

Touring The Gangland

Original: Touring The Gangland

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-18 10:48.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.lagangtours.com/




Alfred Lomas, 45, a former gang member and the creator of the tour ($65, lunch included), said this drive-by was about educating people on city life, while turning any profits into microloans and other initiatives aimed at providing gang members jobs.

But aside from its unusual logistical challenges — the liability waiver describes the tour as "inherently dangerous" and warns of the risk of death — the venture has also generated debate about its appropriateness. Chicago has a tour of Al Capone sites and Las Vegas has one devoted to the mob — but this gangland lore is still happening.

"Everybody says we are the gang capital of the world, and that is certainly true, no denying that," said the Rev. Gregory Boyle, who has spent decades trying to steer people out of gangs into legitima ld raise awareness of needs in d

Young Entrepreneur Finds Success On Net

Original: Young Entrepreneur Finds Success On Net

Partnering with Crunch, pop-up Gap store focuses on fitness for a month

Original: Partnering with Crunch, pop-up Gap store focuses on fitness for a month

Timing is everything, as a wise Greek poet once said, and in few areas is that more true than pop-up retail. Case in point: Recognizing that many consumers are particularly focused on fitness at the start of a new year, Gap has transformed its rotating New York City concept store into a workout haven for a month.

Through a partnership with fitness chain Crunch, Gap's temporary Fitness Lab at 680 5th Ave. now features workout attire from its new GapBody Sport collection along with demonstrations by Crunch personal trainers, discounts and opportunities to win free stuff. Shoppers at the store, which will remain open through Feb. 7, can win free Crunch guest passes, for example; in addition, each day one lucky winner is chosen to receive a free, year-long, all-access Crunch membership. Existing Crunch members, meanwhile, can enter to win a USD 500 Gap gift card, Racked reported.

Far from fading away, the longstanding pop-up retail concept seems to just be getting stronger—both for major brands and for minipreneurs—and timely tie-ins stand to make its impact even greater. An example worth emulating for pop-ups the world over! (Related: Appealing to gravanity of smokers who plan to quit — A public incentive to stick to one's goals — Fitness class by Reebok and Cirque du Soleil.)

Website: www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=250293389784
Contact: www.gapinc.com/public/About/abt_contact.shtml

Spotted by: Racked via Judy McRae

Touring The Gangland

Original: Touring The Gangland

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Mon, 2010-01-18 10:48.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.lagangtours.com/




Alfred Lomas, 45, a former gang member and the creator of the tour ($65, lunch included), said this drive-by was about educating people on city life, while turning any profits into microloans and other initiatives aimed at providing gang members jobs.

But aside from its unusual logistical challenges — the liability waiver describes the tour as "inherently dangerous" and warns of the risk of death — the venture has also generated debate about its appropriateness. Chicago has a tour of Al Capone sites and Las Vegas has one devoted to the mob — but this gangland lore is still happening.

"Everybody says we are the gang capital of the world, and that is certainly true, no denying that," said the Rev. Gregory Boyle, who has spent decades trying to steer people out of gangs into legitima ld raise awareness of needs in d

Crazy: A Music Player for the Unborn

Original: Crazy: A Music Player for the Unborn

Original: Casttoo Success Story

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Thu, 2010-01-14 10:29.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/


http://www.casttoo.com/

If there's anything less pleasant than breaking a bone, it's having to stare at a drab, ugly and increasingly dirty cast over the weeks or months it takes for recovery. Enter Casttoo, a Colorado firm that makes tattoo-like decals to transform those unsightly orthopedic e llow customers to upload their own designs, beyond personal X-rays—and maybe even kick off a crowdsourcing effort whereby the best such customer-made creations are ultimately voted into production (with rewards, of course, for their creators).

For more unusual ways to make money, visit this site.

 

[Via - Springwise]

The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone: Eas dp%2F0910627886%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%

Virtual game purchases benefit Haiti Relief Fund

Original: Virtual game purchases benefit Haiti Relief Fund

There are plenty of opportunities for companies to demonstrate their generosity even during the best of times, but when disaster strikes, there's a much greater potential to make a difference. That, no doubt, was part of the motivation behind last year's Bushfire Housing, and it's also surely at work in social gaming company Zynga's Haiti Relief Fund.

Starting this past Thursday, Zynga is conducting a special relief campaign in three of its top games—FarmVille, Mafia Wars and Zynga Poker—which together reach more than 40 million users daily. Specifically, players of those games can now purchase limited-edition in-game social goods, and 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards supporting emergency aid in Haiti. Within FarmVille, there's white corn that will not wither if left unattended for a week; in Mafia Wars, there's a Haitian drum. Zynga Poker fans, meanwhile, can buy a special chip package in exchange for a rare premium item. Users can also donate directly to the World Food Programme, which has set up an emergency response team to distribute food and other relief to thousands in Haiti.

Yet another shining example of the corporate generosity now being expected by what our sister site calls Generation G, Zynga's Haiti Relief Fund is one to be emulated as soon—and as often—as possible! (Related: Donated site helps families keep their homes.)

Website: www.zynga.com
Contact: businessdevelopment@zynga.com

Why I Didn’t Think Of That….

Original: Why I Didn't Think Of That….

Home enhancement service focuses on senior citizens

Original: Home enhancement service focuses on senior citizens

Much the way French wellness shop HOJO aims to help keep senior citizens healthy and independent for as long as possible, so UK home renovation firm Ruby Slippers hopes to help them enjoy their homes for as long as they can.

Launched just last week, Ruby Slippers specialises in combining good design with practical functionality that can help people enjoy their home throughout their retirement years. At the heart of the Ruby Slippers service is a concept it calls "ageless design," which essentially boils down to accommodating the effects of aging in an invisible way through smart design features that are not just stylish but also geared toward safety and comfort. Kitchens, for example, can be redesigned with colour-contrasting work surfaces and flooring for enhanced visual orientation; effortless single-lever taps; and a flush hob with level burners for safer transfer of hot pans. Bathrooms, meanwhile, can be redone to feature European-style level-access showers, stylish grab rails and an outward-opening bathroom door to ensure emergency access in case someone falls.

Far from diminishing a home with ugly tools focused purely on functionality, Ruby Slippers instead aims to make homes not just more livable for seniors, but also more attractive. An "Ageless Home" audit service is available from Ruby Slippers at a special introductory price of GBP 250 including a full home audit and a written report of recommendations. Also available are design review—priced at GBP 250 as well—and handyman service for GBP 30 per hour.

There were more than 519 million people aged 65 and over around the world last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and that's expected to triple to 1.53 billion by 2050. Time to tailor some services to seniors in your part of the world...? (Related: Helping seniors relocate — Driving service for seniors — Supermarkets for seniors.)

Website: www.rubyss.co.uk
Contact: info@rubyss.co.uk

Spotted by: Raymond Kollau at Top Trends

Casttoo Success Story

Original: Casttoo Success Story

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Thu, 2010-01-14 10:29.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/


http://www.casttoo.com/

If there's anything less pleasant than breaking a bone, it's having to stare at a drab, ugly and increasingly dirty cast over the weeks or months it takes for recovery. Enter Casttoo, a Colorado firm that makes tattoo-like decals to transform those unsightly orthopedic e llow customers to upload their own designs, beyond personal X-rays—and maybe even kick off a crowdsourcing effort whereby the best such customer-made creations are ultimately voted into production (with rewards, of course, for their creators).

For more unusual ways to make money, visit this site.

 

[Via - Springwise]

The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone: Eas dp%2F0910627886%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%

10 branded suites make up renovated boutique hotel

Original: 10 branded suites make up renovated boutique hotel

We've seen myriad examples of hotels partnering with non-hotel brands, including W Hotels' collaboration with Puma for in-hotel fitness services, as well as sponsored rooms in various hotels. Now taking the branding even further is La Casa del Camino Hotel in Laguna Beach., Calif., where every one of the hotel's 10 newly renovated suites features a different, immersive branded experience.

Billabong Suite 206, for example, is designed to be a surfer's paradise, with artwork including a 3D piece that tells the company's history through images of surfers, palm trees and the Billabong logo cut into reclaimed wood. Glacéau Suite 315, meanwhile, features aquatic hues and fabrics made, appropriately, from recycled plastic bottles. Other brands involved include Rip Curl, etnies, Roxy, Quiksilver, L* Space and Lost International. A different designer was recruited to create the theme in each branded suite; together, they are all part of the Casa Surf Project in the Riviera Magazine Design series. Pricing for each suite begins at about USD 250 per night, and a portion of the proceeds is donated to charity during the hotel's first year. Pets are welcome.

Whereas many of the in-hotel branding efforts we've covered have amounted to tryvertising initiatives, this one is closer to a collection of brand spaces, offering patrons an immersive look at each brand's signature style. In addition to tapping into the name recognition of those brands, of course, La Casa del Camino's use of corporate sponsorship also no doubt helped subsidize the costs of renovation. A model to emulate, particularly during tough economic times! (Related: Beer cans that sleep two — Hotel as retail space.)

Website: www.casasurfproject.com
Contact: stay@casaresortsinc.com

Spotted by: Adam Hicks

The Justice League Of Entrepreneurs

Original: The Justice League Of Entrepreneurs

Casttoo Success Story

Original: Casttoo Success Story

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Thu, 2010-01-14 10:29.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/


http://www.casttoo.com/

If there's anything less pleasant than breaking a bone, it's having to stare at a drab, ugly and increasingly dirty cast over the weeks or months it takes for recovery. Enter Casttoo, a Colorado firm that makes tattoo-like decals to transform those unsightly orthopedic e llow customers to upload their own designs, beyond personal X-rays—and maybe even kick off a crowdsourcing effort whereby the best such customer-made creations are ultimately voted into production (with rewards, of course, for their creators).

For more unusual ways to make money, visit this site.

 

[Via - Springwise]

The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone: Eas dp%2F0910627886%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%

Lufthansa tool now sends auto-updates via email

Original: Lufthansa tool now sends auto-updates via email

When we wrote about Lufthansa's MySkyStatus tool last October, it gave travellers the option of having their flight status updates posted automatically to either Facebook or Twitter. Some 17,000 automatic tweets have since been posted as a result, and now the German airline has expanded the free service with new capabilities.

Still available for passengers on any airline, the MySkyStatus tool now gives users the option of having their departure, in-flight location and arrival updates sent via email as well. Travellers can choose who will receive their updates and when; they can also add a personalised message. In addition, a new drop-down menu lets them share their reason for flying.

There's no doubt it's a real-time world out there, with heavy emphasis on up-to-the-minute updates on as many platforms as possible, and personalisation capabilities make the deal even sweeter. Keep the (branded) conversation-boosters coming!

Website: www.myskystatus.com
Contact: konzern.lufthansa.com/en/service/contact.html

Original: Casttoo Success Story

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Thu, 2010-01-14 10:29.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/


http://www.casttoo.com/

If there's anything less pleasant than breaking a bone, it's having to stare at a drab, ugly and increasingly dirty cast over the weeks or months it takes for recovery. Enter Casttoo, a Colorado firm that makes tattoo-like decals to transform those unsightly orthopedic e llow customers to upload their own designs, beyond personal X-rays—and maybe even kick off a crowdsourcing effort whereby the best such customer-made creations are ultimately voted into production (with rewards, of course, for their creators).

For more unusual ways to make money, visit this site.

 

[Via - Springwise]

The Million-Dollar Idea in Everyone: Eas dp%2F0910627886%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%

Exercise-Loving Mom’s Inspire Neighbors To Get Fit

Original: Exercise-Loving Mom's Inspire Neighbors To Get Fit

Google To Replace Billboards In Street View

Original: Google To Replace Billboards In Street View

Facebook tool prints and mails personal newsletter

Original: Facebook tool prints and mails personal newsletter

Facebook may have 350 million or so users, but there are still plenty of friends and loved ones out there who can't connect online. We've already covered UK-based Peggy Mail, which lets Facebook users sent printed postcards to their offline friends, and now there's News from YOUs, which goes a step further by enabling them to send a complete, personal newsletter instead.

News from YOUs is a Facebook application currently in the works that will automatically share users' Facebook news and photos in a printed newsletter aimed at grandparents and other offline relations. Users will begin by logging onto Facebook and opening the News from YOUs application. They then select the friends and family members on Facebook whose news and photos they want to include. From that selection they can edit content as they wish, deleting status posts or updates as they see fit. Next, they indicate who they want the newsletter sent to, and Detroit-based News from YOUs will do the rest, printing the custom newsletter and putting it in the mail.

There's no word yet on News from YOUs' pricing or availability, but it seems safe to say there's still plenty more room for more apps to bridge the online and offline worlds. Keep the OFF=ON innovations coming! (Related: An online address for the offline world.)

Website: www.newsfromyous.com
Contact: info@newsfromyous.com

Spotted by: Margarita Barry

A $6 million cargo cult

Original: A $6 million cargo cult

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Sun, 2010-01-10 12:17.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/

(CNNMoney.com) -- In 2001, Matt Chasen's mother wanted to send an antique dresser from Ohio to Texas, but was staggered when she received a $1,000 shipping quote -- far more than the dresser was worth. Unable to find a cheaper option, she never sent it.

One year later, Chasen reserved a nine-foot truck to move from Seattle to Austin. When he arrived at the rental center, the only one left was a 20-footer, so he took it. Standing in the back of the cavernous vehicle, he thought of his mother.

"I thought, 'Wow I wish I could have gotten in touch with people with half-empty trucks to move my mom's dresser,'" he recalls.

The idea: Inspiration hit Chasen, 34, ver with an empty truck who moved everything for $3,800.

"You have to do the homework yourself but it makes it much easier to find a deal," says Eldred.

The risk: Not everyone wants to help people like Eldred or Chasen's mother. Many drivers simply aren't interested in the hassle of picking up and moving a bunch of random stuff, whether it's a broken-down bulldozer or grandma's piano, suggests Tim Barton, CEO of Freightquote.com, an 800-employee Kansas City company that also offers competitive bidding and brings in $400 million in annual revenues.

And uShip faces another quandary: in a weak economy, Chasen can expect plenty of excess truck capacity, but fewer people who want to ship, while good times will bring the reverse, explains Kevin Sterling, a transportation analyst at BB&T Capital Markets. "They've got to manage that," he says.

The reward: While bigger players like Freightquote.com and CH Robinson Worldwide may be ideal for the sh transport companies.

Crowdsourced ski reports bring transparency to the slopes

Original: Crowdsourced ski reports bring transparency to the slopes

Transparency tyranny has already forced countless industries to be more honest, as we've been documenting for several years. The latest to succumb? Ski resorts, which were shown by a recent Dartmouth study to exaggerate their snow conditions on weekends by as much as 23 percent in the hopes of attracting more skiers. Thanks to a free iPhone application, however, skiers need rely on the resorts' own reports no more; instead, they have access to real-time reports from their peers.

Available both as an iPhone app and as a Google Gadget, Ski Report lets skiers view and publish first-hand ski reports and photos right from the slopes. They can track their favourite trails at a glance, as well as locating nearby ski areas via GPS coordinates. Powder points highlight areas with the most snowfall, while live ski area cams and weather forecasts for ski areas are also available. The iPhone app and Google Gadget cover ski areas within the U.S. and Canada, while the SkiReport.com website includes 700 areas worldwide.

It should be noted that there are also related apps out there from brands such as REI, whose interest in the community is certainly understandable. Seems to us, though, that the ones who really ought to be sponsoring this kind of thing are the ski resorts themselves. The Dartmouth study found that resorts exaggerated considerably less after the Ski Report app came out, and that the improvement was most evident at resorts with good iPhone reception. Had that improvement been at the resorts' own initiative, they could have been the ones to lead the innovation rather than being forced to follow along behind. Dispense with the deception, embrace openness and community instead, and make the transparency triumph your own! ;-) (Related: Website: www.skireport.com/iphone/
Contact: contact@skireport.com

Spotted by: Rick Noyes

All-You-Can-Learn For $29 A Month

Original: All-You-Can-Learn For $29 A Month

A $6 million cargo cult

Original: A $6 million cargo cult

Submitted by Dmitri Davydov on Sun, 2010-01-10 12:17.

Posted in: Statistics And Other Lies

Link of the day - I will pay you $25, if you come up with a cool domain name for me.

http://www.uship.com/

(CNNMoney.com) -- In 2001, Matt Chasen's mother wanted to send an antique dresser from Ohio to Texas, but was staggered when she received a $1,000 shipping quote -- far more than the dresser was worth. Unable to find a cheaper option, she never sent it.

One year later, Chasen reserved a nine-foot truck to move from Seattle to Austin. When he arrived at the rental center, the only one left was a 20-footer, so he took it. Standing in the back of the cavernous vehicle, he thought of his mother.

"I thought, 'Wow I wish I could have gotten in touch with people with half-empty trucks to move my mom's dresser,'" he recalls.

The idea: Inspiration hit Chasen, 34, ver with an empty truck who moved everything for $3,800.

"You have to do the homework yourself but it makes it much easier to find a deal," says Eldred.

The risk: Not everyone wants to help people like Eldred or Chasen's mother. Many drivers simply aren't interested in the hassle of picking up and moving a bunch of random stuff, whether it's a broken-down bulldozer or grandma's piano, suggests Tim Barton, CEO of Freightquote.com, an 800-employee Kansas City company that also offers competitive bidding and brings in $400 million in annual revenues.

And uShip faces another quandary: in a weak economy, Chasen can expect plenty of excess truck capacity, but fewer people who want to ship, while good times will bring the reverse, explains Kevin Sterling, a transportation analyst at BB&T Capital Markets. "They've got to manage that," he says.

The reward: While bigger players like Freightquote.com and CH Robinson Worldwide may be ideal for the sh transport companies.

Crowdsourced ski reports bring transparency to the slopes

Original: Crowdsourced ski reports bring transparency to the slopes

Transparency tyranny has already forced countless industries to be more honest, as we've been documenting for several years. The latest to succumb? Ski resorts, which were shown by a recent Dartmouth study to exaggerate their snow conditions on weekends by as much as 23 percent in the hopes of attracting more skiers. Thanks to a free iPhone application, however, skiers need rely on the resorts' own reports no more; instead, they have access to real-time reports from their peers.

Available both as an iPhone app and as a Google Gadget, Ski Report lets skiers view and publish first-hand ski reports and photos right from the slopes. They can track their favourite trails at a glance, as well as locating nearby ski areas via GPS coordinates. Powder points highlight areas with the most snowfall, while live ski area cams and weather forecasts for ski areas are also available. The iPhone app and Google Gadget cover ski areas within the U.S. and Canada, while the SkiReport.com website includes 700 areas worldwide.

It should be noted that there are also related apps out there from brands such as REI, whose interest in the community is certainly understandable. Seems to us, though, that the ones who really ought to be sponsoring this kind of thing are the ski resorts themselves. The Dartmouth study found that resorts exaggerated considerably less after the Ski Report app came out, and that the improvement was most evident at resorts with good iPhone reception. Had that improvement been at the resorts' own initiative, they could have been the ones to lead the innovation rather than being forced to follow along behind. Dispense with the deception, embrace openness and community instead, and make the transparency triumph your own! ;-) (Related: Website: www.skireport.com/iphone/
Contact: contact@skireport.com

Spotted by: Rick Noyes