Looking at the flip side of everything

"There's a flip side to everything," the saying goes, and in 2 minutes, Derek Sivers shows this is true in a few ways you might not expect.
 

Twenty five dollar Incubators to save 20 million babies

In the developing world, access to the normal $20,000 incubators is limited by cost and distance, and millions of premature babies die each year. TED Fellow Jane Chen shows an invention that could keep millions of these infants warm -- a design that's safe, portable, low-cost and life-saving.

Skicross- new Olympic sport

Yes, Skicross–the only new sport to be featured at the 2010 Winter Olympics (beginning on February 12)–is as dangerous (and exciting!) as it sounds. While it’s allegedly based on the rules of motocross, after close observation, I’d say Skicross is more akin to a downhill Roller Derby match.The extremely physical competition was first introduced at the X Games and requires each skier (within a group of 4 or 5) to vie  for first place while navigating a narrow twisting path, with bumps and jumps, at speeds upwards of 50 mph. While the Skicross category was added to turn younger fans onto the games, the allure of the challenge has brought a number of alpine racing veterans out of retirement

Story of training to holding Breath for World Record

For the first time, David Blaine shares his story about breaking the world record for holding his breath. Simply amazing! He was under the water over 17 minutes.  Most people are considered brain dead after around 6 minutes.  Amazing and funny

Newspaper front pages

The Newseum displays daily newspaper front pages in their original, unedited form. Some front pages may contain material that is objectionable to some visitors.You can see 765 front pages of newspapers  from 74 countries around the world.  Amazing  (Thanks to Kay Fraser for this link)

Newspaper Front Pages

Newspaper front pages

Earthquake and Hurricane Nails

Here is one tiny difference to help with injuries caused from earthquakes.

As news reports continue to predict a cluster of destructive hurricane seasons in the coming years, BOSTITCH responds with HurriQuake™; its most innovative nail design yet. Engineering Manager of Fastener Technology Dr. Ed Sutt said, "The HurriQuake™ nail can be described as a 'smart nail' ... it knows how to withstand two very different types of destructive forces - uplift and shear - like no other nail. These forces account for the vast majority of structural damage during hurricanes and earthquakes." 

Tinkering School

This would be a dream school for me.  Even now!

Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.
 

Paper worth more than the Money its Printed on

The Zimbabwean newspaper, has been driven into exile for reporting on how the Mugabe regime has rigged elections, crushed the opposition, caused poverty, disease and the total collapse of the economy. And now, having been exiled, the regime has slapped a 55% luxury import duty on the paper (as if freedom of speech is a luxury) that makes it unaffordable for the average Zimbabwean. To get the paper into Zimbabwean hands, it needs to be subsidized, and our client can only do that by raising awareness, acquiring new customers and driving sales outside Zimbabwe.

Paper Cutting

Fabulous paper cutting from the New Zealand Book Council.

The Chalkbot

Developed in partnership with DeepLocal and StandardRobot, the Chalkbot in appearance is similar to an ink jet printer, except at a much larger scale. The trailer mounted device is fully self-contained and pneumatically spray out either messages or graphics. The device will debut at the 2nd Stage of 2009 Tour de France on July 5th. 

Heifer International- the story

Maine is an amazing state full of extraordinary people.  Here is a story from Jan West Schrock telling the story of the Heifer International that started at the end of WWII.

Bertrand Piccard's solar-powered adventure

Bertrand Piccard circumnavigated the Earth in a hot-air balloon.  For the dawn of a new decade, adventurer Bertrand Piccard offers us a challenge: Find motivation in what seems impossible. He shares his own plans to do what many say can't be done -- to fly around the world, nonstop, in a solar-powered aircraft.  Now he wants to circle it in an airplane powered only by solar energy. 

A Comeback of Ping Pong

Bill Geist explores the resurgence of the classic game of ping pong, which is now getting the celebrity treatment.  Remember how amazingly Forrest Gump played ping pong?


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Just Feel Like Laughing

Just people in a variety of situations that can't stop laughing.  

Optical Illusion

You may have to watch this a couple of times to see how it works.

Nuts Optical Illusion - Watch more Funny Videos

Mom passing along Regular people making a difference

One woman is traveling across the country to find ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help others. Barry Petersen video report on Sunday Morning.

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Dan Pink on the surprising science of motivation

Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think.

How to Live Before You Die by Steve Jobs

Three stories of Steve Jobs at Commencement Speech at Stanford.  How to Live Before You Die.

inspirational

Make a Map

Use this site to make a map of anything you choose.  Here is one of all the places in the world I still have left to see. (In the white)

Locations Where I have Still Have to See

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com