Deep into Sleep

The Good Life Parable

2011-12-23T20:43:00.001-05:00

Came across this inspirational story my Mark Albion, social entrepreneur, former Harvard Business School professor and co-founder of six organizations, including Net Impact.

What are you going to do with your lucky lottery ticket? That's a question every MBA faces. A lot of time and money has been invested in you, and once you graduate you're supposed to cash that ticket in for as much money and status as you can. Your parents and peers expect it. And you may feel that there's really no other choice. You can't risk wasting that expensive education. It's the safe thing to do. Isn't it? Mark Albion doesn't think so. In "The Good Life", a movie by FreeRange Graphics, Mark takes you to a chance meeting between an MBA and a fisherman on a small island. As the MBA tries to teach the fisherman about business, the fisherman teaches him about life.

Role of Patient Education and Monitoring of their Medical Compliance

2011-12-06T22:34:00.001-05:00

Here are some notes from a very interesting panel as part of the ongoing the Mobile Health Summit. With the proliferation of mobile health apps and remote monitoring technologies it has become particularly important for compliance, patient data and education. Some of the innovators in the field shared their views on this topic.

Eric Schultz talked about the importance of 'practical ambition' for mobile health services companies which has been a focus for QuantiaMD.

Distractions is one of the main reasons for lack of patient adherence. Apparently, only 6% continue to use an app 4 weeks after they have downloaded them. Now, imagine the patient engagement if your doctor prescribes you a mobile health app! (in addition to the credibility factor) I guess this brings the whole gamification aspect into a new perspective. Everyone knows why referrals are more effective in general and mobile health apps/services could define a new aspect to the doctor patient relationship.

Logistimo uses the cloud through mobile phone technology to address supply chain issues. They have a very impressive supply chain model applied to the Bottom of the Pyramid (BoP) and would be interesting to learn about the applicability for patient data.

John de Souza talked about MedHelp which is one of the largest online health community helping patients manage their health. It is amazing to see the data been collected my such sites and at an aggregate level these could provide valuable insights about our health.

The stats shared on nationwide exercise data were interesting, like on an average people exercise 44 minutes/week. Better tools are needed to communicate with patients and the condition specific health applications are very relevant. Critical thing is integration of different devices that gives everyone the capability to interact with data whenever you want at your convenience.

Who pays for the mobile health business models?

You have to be around to make an impact and deliver real value.
If you have a bad solution & make it mobile then all you have is a bad mobile solution.
Tactful compliant ways to engage sponsors, third party organizations and insurers.
Economies of scale do play a big part when you think about customers paying for mobile health. (volume of consumer base will make it sustainable)
Physicians have an opinion which concludes this part really well. They need an effective patient solution which provides the right education, proper care and effective outcomes. It is important to have quick turnaround times for patients in doctors clinics without increasing the workload for the physicians since the current clinician supply chain is overworked.
Unbranded education by pharmaceutical companies or similar programs.

Top criteria to develop the mobile health 'Angry Birds' version

Interoperability across platforms/devices
Simplicity in terms of communication with the users (think healthcare vocabulary)
Play on the psychology of the patient in a positive manner (gamification)

Challenges

FDA without doubt is a major impediment
HIPAA prevents collaboration (patients are ready to share the data if it makes us healthier)
Misalignment in incentives within the ecosystem

An interesting question from the audience was around cultural aspects for healthcare and mobile apps.

Cultural disparities in care delivery are happening. Healthcare is going to be rationed and unfortunately the economic reality is that the same services won't be available everywhere. CareFusion is another organization providing insights on healthcare costs and focusing on medication errors and hospital-acquired infections.

There is a difference between a business user and consumer (monetize the BoP network).

Here is a link to watch other videos at the mHealth Summit.

Misdiagnosis - Checklists, Policy and Safety

2011-11-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

This is perhaps one of the things which both patient and physicians have an opinion about and surprisingly it does align! Where is the breakdown? Patient safety? Cognitive errors? Policy approaches?

We keep reading a lot about medication errors/mistakes due to the malpractice suits. Surprisingly, the number of diagnostic errors is pretty high as well. A lot of these are attributed to the history of the patient, physician exams, assessment, the battery of tests, etc. The payment system and reimbursements add another layer of challenges. As a freshly minted MBA, I am inclined to think whether Six Sigma or similar variations of the tools/strategies used in business processes can be applied to healthcare practice settings. After all, it is about process excellence!

Actually, Dr. Don Berwick put this quite nicely: 'Genius diagnosticians make great stories, but they don't make great health care. The idea is to make accuracy reliable, not heroic.'

Everyone has their personal stories about their last visit to a doctor and unfortunately a lot are not that positive. Why is it so? Complexity of care? Misdiagnosis? or just broken workflow processes at the hospital/clinic leading to the experience!

QuantiaMD did a study with 6400 clinicians on this topic and the results were fascinating. Diagnostic error is defined as a diagnosis that is missed, wrong, or delayed, as detected by some subsequent definitive test or finding. The top diagnoses identified at greatest risk for diagnostic errors were:

Pulmonary embolism
Bipolar disorder
Appendicitis
Breast cancer
Myocardial infarction
Infection
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Colorectal cancer
Heart failure

Here are some other stats that I think are interesting from the study and speak for themselves.

47% of clinicians encounter misdiagnosis at their practice at least monthly (Tweet)
64% of physicians say up to 10% of misdiagnoses they’ve seen have resulted in patient harm (Tweet)
83% of physicians believe efforts to change the way physicians think will help reduce misdiagnosis (Tweet)
75% of physicians believe computerized decision-support and artificial intelligence will help reduce misdiagnosis (Tweet)

Dr. Stewart Segal mentioned about the importance of the human factor and how the community is drifting towards the art of practicing template medicine. The financial 'pressures' and reporting requirements are pushing physicians even further in this direction. The top three reasons that are strong contributing factors to diagnostic errors:

Societal "zero tolerance" attitude toward any mistake a physician makes it a strong contributing factor to diagnostic error
Over-testing in order to mitigate malpractice risk
Prescriptive, inflexible or inadequate care pathways or protocols

Delays in proper care, re-admissions, etc. affect the healthcare system (patients included) in a major way. Patient safety is at the center of this and it is encouraging to see HHS considering the topic seriously. Pay for Performance or linking the compensation/reimbursements to the work quality/patient outcomes has already shown improvements in efficiency as well. EHRs can help a lot to identify and prevent breakdowns in the diagnostic process of care and perhaps even create something like diagnostic decision aids to assist clinicians. Patient perspective - I have found that patient education handouts are very useful for understanding the diagnosis and even asking appropriate questions to the doctor.

Neither am I an authority on this topic nor a practicing physician however as an patient I believe that an essential part for diagnosis boils down to listening and talking to the patients. I encourage everyone to listen to this passionate TED talk 'A Doctor's Touch' by Abraham Verghese.

I really like the simple and effective checklist approach by Atul Gawande. This is one step in the right direction and their are many success stories on why it works in the healthcare setting. The integration of technology and/or protocol approach will help minimize the misdiagnosis, yet the balance needs to be maintained. I can't help but think of hospital acquired infections while writing about this but I think it deserves a separate discussion post.

Some of the interesting literature I came across, if you want to further read on this topic:
Dr. Gordon Schiff and colleagues have done a study looking at diagnostic errors and recommend ideas for an error-free diagnosis. There is an interesting paper on 'Sleep Deprivation, Elective Surgical Procedures, and Informed Consent' in NEJM. Also, a couple of years back the Journal of American Medical Association published the commentary by Dr. Pronovost & Dr. Newman-Toker on 'Diagnostic Errors — The Next Frontier for Patient Safety.'

And if you really fancy the topic, pick up the book by Dr. Jerome Groopman on 'How Doctor's Think' where he mentions the process many doctors follow for the likely diagnosis and the best treatment. Medical decision making is a combination of intuition (continuous improvement with experience) and rationalization (analytical mode of reasoning).

Where do we go from here? Is EMR/PHR the answer? Should patients utilize technology to communicate and engage with doctors? How about metrics like customer satisfaction and high quality care? From a physician standpoint, the central question remains whether diagnosis is an art or a science? The balance of this process will continue to evolve and hopefully so will the probability for even getting it right in the wrong patient.

Future of Healthcare: Social and Connected?

2011-10-25T10:19:00.000-05:00

The genesis for this post was a very interesting topic of discussion during the healthcare social media chat. What makes medicine - social medicine? Is all social medicine good? And how does this differ from telemedicine for patients?

Let's start with some basics:

Telemedicine: It is the use of telecommunication and information technologies in order to provide clinical health care at a distance.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Social medicine: The field of social medicine seeks to: 1) understand how social and economic conditions impact health, disease and 2) the practice of medicine andfoster conditions in which this understanding can lead to a healthier society.
(Source: Wikipedia)

There are plenty of opportunities waiting for entrepreneurs to develop end-to-end solutions that engage and empower patients benefiting the quality of care delivered by HCPs. Within the current landscape their are so many changes happening in the delivery of healthcare that every corner will have a new company.

Matthew Katz (Community based doctor) mentioned a very important aspect: 'Medicine is an inherently social endeavor, regardless of the tools we use.'

There are many institutions which are working wonders when it comes to telemedicine. The Center for Connected Health definitely is one I reckon looking at. The applications are spread across many domains like mobile health, remote monitoring, web-based clinical workflows, online consultations, etc. In contrast, when you think about social medicine, the term 'communication' instantly pops up in your mind. It is indeed very important to learn about the story behind every interaction whether it is patient-patient or doctor-patient (in which case it is even more important).

Healthrageous uses data from biometric devices in an effort to achieve your health goals. You have the very popular MyFitnessPal website/app enabling used to log your food + track activities. Such concepts are entirely based on the user engagement and participation. From a social medicine perspective, currently there is no dearth of networking websites/platforms and now we have numerous ones for specific purposes for both groups patients + physicians. Patientslikeme is a great health information sharing website for patients. You get an instant glimpse into health information that is relevant to your condition/disease from people who have gone through similar episodes. Again, in such cases you have the important transformation of groups into communities happening effectively driving healthcare decisions at the patient level.

I believe we shall see an array of companies emerging based on analysis of all the social interactions data available through your everyday activities. The smartphone is becoming an invaluable device where you have companies like Ginger.IO effectively data mining to understand and gain insights about your health. Amazon/Netflix do an amazing job at identifying 'segments of one' and deliver the best user experience possible based on that information. I wish healthcare was or rather will be on par with such experiences. Combine all the data from all electronic devices you interact with in any capacity and you start developing personas. Deliver quality healthcare using this information...this is what social medicine is about!

I feel there is going to be a convergence of these different fields sooner than later. Example in point: The business model of American Well providing access to medical care through the web for patients while ensuring that physicians are compensated. It is amazing to see all three sectors: patients, providers and payers as part of this platform. I found this part pretty intriguing on their website which is another example for the things in store: 'Online Care has received the federal government's "meaningful use" stamp of approval by earning electronic health record (EHR) modular certification. Providers using telehealth can now qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.'

I guess the future of telemedicine is dependent on the physician adoption/acceptance which is similar to the engaged patient necessary for social medicine to work successfully. The most effective tools/platforms will creatively merge these so that the doctor-patient interaction improves in the continuum of care with a big focus on patient responsibility. Either way, the future of healthcare is improving drastically and we shall cross the 'chasm' sooner than later.

Data, Technology & Healthcare

2011-10-09T21:09:00.000-05:00

You will be missed!

2011-10-05T20:40:00.001-05:00

The world is at a loss of words. Steve Jobs will continue to be an inspiration for many including me. Here are some of his best quotes.

“I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.” [NBC Nightly News, May 2006]

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." [Stanford commencement speech, June 2005]

"Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.” Steve Jobs [The Wall Street Journal, May 25, 1993]

And a few more links worth reading:

Steve Job's Patents
"He changed the way movies are made, the way music is sold, the way stories are told, the very way we interact with the world around us. He helped us work, and gave us new ways to play." ~ Article by Gizmodo
Steve Jobs, Apple’s Visionary
WSJ
Steve Jobs, 1955-2011

Steve Jobs’s Appearances at All Things Digital conferences

I have watched this video of the Stanford commencement speech where Steve Jobs urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks - including death itself. I'm sure I will watch it many more times. "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

Thank you Steve for everything!

Stand up, get moving!

2011-09-03T23:54:00.002-05:00

Thought of this as very relevant to me and a lot of my friends. Hence re-posting this from the Medical Billing and Coding website.

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

Spices

2011-04-19T13:25:00.004-05:00

The soul of Indian cooking!

Entrepreneurship Crash Course

2010-11-15T20:45:00.005-05:00

Some of the best quotes and advice from the speakers at 9th Annual Babson Forum on Entrepreneurship & Innovation held in Babson College last weekend.

"You spend 90% of your time working or sleeping. So get a great mattress and do what you love"- Brian Halligan

Only two metrics in business "better" or "cheaper" there is no in between. - Roger Berkowitz

If you have no constraints, create some. Run as many fast and cheap experiments as you can. - Colin Raney

Success in entrepreneurship has more to do with the width of your brain not width of your wallet.

It's easy to be an entrepreneur. It's not easy to be a successful entrepreneur.

Two secrets to success in business - you have to have an intuitive sense of your cash flow. Business is about customers. - Bob Caspe

1. Ask the impossible question 2. Beware of conventional thinkers 3. Seek new models - Marshall Carter

If you want a date go with Angels, if you want to get married go with a VC -Sean Dalton

You reinvent yourself as an entrepreneur as you reinvent your business. - Matt Lauzon

People think being a CEO is sexy. But, you spend your time making hard or controversial decisions that no one else wants to make.

Don't pay for marketing, just piss people off and let them get the word out. - Johnny Earle

The things we've screwed up are the things we haven't moved fast enough on. - Ben Fischman

Don't underestimate how company culture impacts success.

I have gone to the dark side

2010-11-05T19:46:00.008-05:00

No, I have not become a VC or got VC funding! Still very much bootstrapped :)

Anyways, the title of the post refers to the new phone. After spending 2 years on Android have decided to spend the next 2 years with iPhone 4. The 4 part is important to mention here since soon everyone will be talking about iPhone 5 which will have a working antenna, 3G Facetime, etc. (and perhaps the near field communication capability)

One of the things I realized very quickly is that you can't only buy an iPhone! You will need some sort of case (definitely), screen protectors, and other accessories based on your taste to personalize your phone. And most people do buy these more than they originally intended. (including me)

After switching to AT&T the very next day this ad from Tmobile came out.

Not going to talk about the similarities and differences with Android since a number of websites have tons of stuff written over this.

The learning curve for an iPhone is steep but a quick one to climb. All things said have enjoyed the wonderful apps and the phone so far.

Where All the Good Ideas Come From

2010-10-15T22:56:00.002-05:00

David Stern, Executive Vice President, Endocrinology, EMD Serono talks about measuring the success of you marketing campaign or organization, the trend towards education in the Pharma industry, and catching up with old friends at the Multi-Channel Pharma Marketing Summit.

EMD Serono's David Stern Talks About Where All the Good Ideas Come From from Zemoga on Vimeo.

Full disclosure: I am currently working at EMD Serono closely with the Marketing team.

Asia's rise -- how and when

2010-06-25T15:10:00.001-05:00

Hans Rosling was a young guest student in India when he first realized that Asia had all the capacities to reclaim its place as the world's dominant economic force. At TEDIndia, he graphs global economic growth since 1858 and predicts the exact date that India and China will outstrip the US.

Snowstorms or Earthquakes

2010-05-26T13:18:00.010-05:00

Which one do you prefer? Well, I am talking about living in Massachusetts or California. I have moved back and forth between these two beautiful states and wanted to take a quick glance at how both the states compare. I remember writing about this when I had moved to the west coast.

Pacifica to Atlantica:
From Boston to San Francisco, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the west to the east, from MIT to Stanford, from biotechnology to information technology, from EST to PST, from 1600's to 1800's, from Acorn Street to Lombard Street, from Massachusetts to California, from winter to summer, from Harvard to Berkeley, from Red Sox to the Giants, from Big Dig to Golden Gate, from neighboring New Hampshire to neighboring Nevada, from MBTA to BART, from the Boston Globe to the San Francisco Chronicle, from Revere beach to North beach, from Martha's Vinyard to Lake Tahoe, from Patriots to 49ers, from Museum of Fine Arts to San Francisco Art Institute, from Cambridge to Berkeley, from Boston Tea Party to the California Gold Rush, from 17 NBA titles to none, from the Longwood Medical Area to UCSF, from I-90 to I-80, from Boston Logan to SF International Airport, from the American revolution to America's favorite city I have traveled a long way from Boston to San Francisco.

Well, last year I just reversed all of that! Back to the east...

Coincidentally, today I was checking some health data and saw this website http://www.statehealthfacts.org/
Here are some stats:

Total Population
36,408,700 - CA
6,374,700 - MA

Population Living in Poverty
7,193,900 19.8 % of total population of CA
981,300 15.4 % of total population of MA

Median Annual Income
$57,988 - CA
$60,038 - MA

Unemployment Rate, March 2010 (numbers in thousands)
2,308 12.6% - CA
324 9.3% - MA

Uninsured Population
6,717,700 18.5 % of total population of CA
346,000 5.4 % of total population of MA

Of course, these are just few of the numbers. There are a lot of overlaps and differences but just thought of writing about this. Well, weather aside the comparison speaks for itself. On a separate though related note: Totally looking forward to a Celtics vs. Lakers showdown in the NBA finals. For a bit more on education read why Massachusetts leads and California lags.

I guess for now I am living the snowstorms!!

Babson Year 1

2010-05-25T06:14:00.014-05:00

Can't believe we are done with the first year of MBA @ Babson College. From creativity to bufoonery it was an exciting journey.

After the initial post I had written while starting school Babson MBA indeed kept me more than busy.

In terms of the curriculum the year was divided into 4 modules. Each module was cross-disciplinary, and built on those that came before. Although on paper we only covered all of the below in reality it was much more than that. Besides the intense curriculum the learning opportunities outside the classroom provided a truly holistic experience.

Module I - Creative Management in Dynamic Organizations
ESR - Ethics and Social Responsibility
CCD - Career Development
COM - Communications
CMDO - Creative Management in Dynamic Orgs.
FIBD - Financial Impact of Business Decisions
FSS - Fundamental Skills Session
LAW - Law
LDO - Leadership in Dynamic Organizations

Module II - Assessing Business Opportunities
CSCA - Competitive Strategy & Competitive Assessment
DA - Data Analysis
FIBD - Financial Impact of Business Decisions
LAW - LAW
MEIA - Market Environment & Industry Adjustment
MODA - Market Opportunity: Definition & Assessment
MCF - Managing Cash Flows

Module III - Designing and Managing the Delivery System
DMS - Designing Marketing Systems
DSS - Decision Support Systems
ESR - Ethics and Social Responsibility
ISM - Information Systems for Managers
LAW - Law
MVC - Managing and Valuing Cash Flows
ODP - Organizational Design Process
SCS - Strategic Cost Systems
TOM - Technology and Operations Management

Module IV - Managing Business in a Changing Global Environment
ESR - Ethics and Social Responsibility
ER - Entrepreneurial Renewal
FS - Financial Strategy
LAW - Law
MGE - Managing in a Global Economy
NBS - National Business Systems

The highlight has to be the Babson Consulting Alliance Program (BCAP) experience. The BCAP Program delivers cost effective competitive analysis and consulting services to alliance companies while providing a real business-world environment for MBA candidates to utilize what we've learned in the classroom.

... and before I could retrospect I am already wearing business casuals and putting the theory into practice over the summer in a biopharmaceutical company. Can't get better than that!!

Entrepreneurship as a method

2010-04-07T19:51:00.003-05:00

Entrepreneurship Education is more important than ever but are educators equipped to teach the next generation of entrepreneurs? Current views of teaching entrepreneurship may no longer be sufficient to teach students to navigate and excel in the uncertain environments we are experiencing today.

Heidi Neck, Associate Professor at Babson discusses the topic on Entrepreneurial Thought In Action, A Babson Faculty Blog.

Touching the Future

2010-04-03T13:00:00.010-05:00

Yes, I am talking about the iPad. Got a chance to play around with the device yesterday and it does impress! Simple, elegant and revolutionary! (As most of the Apple products are)

Besides being lightweight, the iPad has a good sized screen and typing does not seem like an issue. I believe the apps will make all the difference and to start with iBooks is amazing.

Also, as we are moving from desktop internet to the world of mobile computing which I think is the future of consumer computing. The mad scramble is already underway to create the most popular and profitable apps for the iPad. In fact, according to TechCrunch, the iPad app store already has 3000 apps.

Courtesy: http://www.apple.com/ipad/

Read the Engadget review for in-depth analyis on the hardware and software.
"iPad -- more than a product -- it's a statement, an idea, and potentially a prime mover in the world of consumer electronics."

And Gizmodo gives you an insight into most of the apps on the iPad.

It will work wonders for all places where data entry on the go is essential.
I can see plenty of potential uses in the healthcare, education and media industry.

The future is here. It's just not widely distributed yet. ~ William Gibson

Healthcare and Life Sciences Forum

2010-03-30T16:48:00.002-05:00

The Babson Healthcare and Life Sciences Club is pleased to announce its 7th Annual Industry Forum to be presented on April 15, 2010.

The current healthcare debate and resulting legislation is a watershed moment for the delivery of care to patients. Old institutions and inefficiencies are being done away with in favor of technological advances that encourage high-touch care and patient empowerment. As occurs during industry turning points, opportunities for entrepreneurs are abundant. Identifying these opportunities and acting on them requires the ability to see and understand the interplay among many seemingly disparate groups.

The forum is set to represent a diverse set of sectors, from suppliers (pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices) to healthcare delivery and services, as well as a broad range of functions, from marketing to business development to investors. The vision we have set forth for the various topics of interest are listed below.

* Can Healthcare Reform Live Up to the Hype?
* Is Healthcare IT Headed for a Tipping Point?
* Healthcare 2.0: The Impact of Social Media on Health Information
* Healthcare Entrepreneurs in Action
* Healthcare Funding – Show Me the Money!
* Reaching and Retaining Female Talent in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry

Some of the speakers include Matthew Emmens, Jonathan Bush, Tom Dehner, Eric Elliott, John Halamka, Sharon Vitti, John Halamka, Ben Heywood, Alan Crane, Larry Weber, Dave deBronkart, Lisa Adler, Shwen Gwee.

Check out our website http://www.babsonhealth.com for the entire list of speakers.

If you have any questions you want to ask the speakers for the Healthcare IT panelists or for that matter anyone leave a comment and we shall try to have them answered.

Is Healthcare IT Headed for a Tipping Point?

Technology is a core focus of healthcare reform as it relates to generating cost savings and eliminating redundancies. Integrated healthcare delivery is made possible by the technological interconnectedness of unique groups to streamline the flow of data. The opportunity is rich not just for traditional healthcare players, but also technology companies traditionally focused outside of the health space. Telecom companies are paving the way for mobile health; software and hardware companies are developing home health solutions. Currently the flow of data occurs in pockets, but not openly across all platforms. With these companies focusing on full-range solutions, the question becomes, “How will these technologies work together to deliver more integrated healthcare, and ultimately improve patient outcomes?”

Panelists:

John Halamka - CIO, Beth Israel Deaconess & CEO MA-SHARE
Steve Wardell - Senior Director Business Development, PatientKeeper
Rob Havasy - Business Analyst, Center for Connected Health
Chris Steel - U.S. Country Head, PA Consulting
Sue Schade - CIO, Brigham and Women's Hospital

The rise of cricket, the rise of India

2010-03-16T11:32:00.000-05:00

The tale of a major global cultural phenomenon: Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle describes the spectacular arrival of fast-paced 20-20 cricket as it parallels the rise of modern India. He traces the game from its sleepy English roots to the current world of celebrity owners and million-dollar player contracts.

... and for all the cricket fans the IPL's YouTube Channel lets you watch matches, highlight videos, player interviews and much more.

British Drought Continues in Australia

2010-01-31T21:28:00.001-05:00

East vs. West -- the myths that mystify

2010-01-18T17:27:00.002-05:00

Fascinating talk by Devdutt Pattanaik the 'Chief Belief Officer' of Future Group (Big Bazaar chain) talking about bringing the wisdom of Indian mythology into Indian business.

He takes an eye-opening look at the myths of India and of the West -- and shows how these two fundamentally different sets of beliefs about God, death and heaven help us consistently misunderstand one another.

Organization Culture in a Nutshell

2010-01-12T22:11:00.002-05:00

If you think of the employees and culture as plants growing, I'm not trying to be the biggest plant for them to aspire to. I'm more trying to architect the greenhouse where they can all flourish and grow."

--Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos, as quoted by The New York Times

Aloha from Hawaii

2010-01-01T16:06:00.005-05:00

It was spectacular!

Instead of traveling 6 hours east of California we thought of going west. Thanks to some little facebook status update by our friend which actually inspired an impromptu trip. It was well worth it! We continued with a parade of activities: surfing, snorkeling, outrigger canoe paddling, cataraman sails, hula shows, sunset on the beach, and more.

Here are some tips and anecdotes from the trip:
I would strongly recommend getting a hotel close to the world's most famous beach - Waikiki. It will give you a chance to enjoy Waikiki from sunrise to sunset and beyond.

Get a tan or take a break. A stroll along the beach as the sun crests the rim of the Diamond Head is the perfect prelude to a long day. As part of the 'relaxation therapy' we took a chaise lounge chair under an umbrella on the beach. The sight of the tranquil ocean in front and coconut trees swaying with the gentle breeze in the background completed the mental picture of a beach.

Grabbed a boogie board and tried to catch a few rolling waves onto shore. Back on the chair! That was the routine for almost half a day :)

You will find plenty of places to rent the equipment behind the lei-draped statue of Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki beach.

Surfing the wave of Waikiki beach was an adventure in itself. We should have perhaps spent more time learning the basics.

We had a great time riding the moped along the coast past the lighthouse into the most prestigious neighbourhood of Kahala. This is the place of multi-million dollar homes and beachfront properties,home to many business moguls and celebrities. Other places we could recommend going on a moped would be Manoa Falls, Kailua town and Diamond Head.

Diamond Head - This volcano has been extinct for 150,000 years. The most famous volcanic crater in the world is Mt. Leahi, located along the southeast coast of Oahu, at the end of Waikiki. The hike takes about 30 minutes to the top and it is certainly worth the breathtaking, unparalleled view of the coastline.

(The crater became a Middle East P.O.W camp for the TV show Lost)

Some more trivia heard from local sources:

On an average apparently people from North America spend $176 every day whereas Japanese spend around $280 per day.
The Hawaiian word for fresh water is wai, and the word for wealth is wai wai.
90 % of the population of Hawaii lives on Oahu

Definitely counted as one of the best beaches in the world Kailua is something you'll remember forever. The waters of Kailua beach are often dotted by brightly colored kayaks.

Strung from beautiful Hawaiian flowers, lei play an important role in island life. The most popular lei is made from plumeria. This garland is a symbol of aloha, welcome and love. Generally, it is presented to someone special to honor an achievement, commemorate a special event of simply to express affection. Also, one should always present and receive a lei with a kiss and embrace.

Home of the largest maze and the Pineapple experience is a must see destination. It makes a perfect rest stop on the way or returning from the scenic North Shore. Did you know that each pineapple plant has roughly only three fruit harvests? The first takes 18 months, the second at 32 months and the last one at 45 months.

With these new found respect for the fruit we feasted on plenty of pineapples. Also, it was a a welcome surprise to see (which shattered my perception of) how a pineapple plant looks.

The Pineapple Express takes you through the plantations for a fully narrated tour detailing the history of the pineapple, linked so closely to Hawaii.

You can spend an entire day in the great North Shore. Sunset, Waimea, Banzai Pipeline, Turtle bay, Dole Plantation and the town of Haleiwa are all closeby.

The North Shore of Oahu has waves reaching uptp 20 feet high. This is where 'The Eddie' surfing tournament is held. The most recent tournament was in December 2009, when waves in the bay reached 30 to 50 feet high.

The art and recording studio of Ron Artis and his family in Haleiwa is another tourist spot. If your timing is right, you will walk into an impromptu musical performance by Ron, his wife Victoria and at least a half dozen of his 12 children.

Hanauma Bay - This natural crescent beach is tucked inside the walls of an extinct volcano. It is one of the best places to go snorkeling with a diverse population of marine life and a large, rich coral reef.

Stand up paddling (in calm waters, done on a surfboard) is another activity we enjoyed. It is a great way to get into the water. You put your paddle on the board and walk it into shallow water. With the leash fastened to the leg (so you don't lose the board when you fall) you get onto the board on hands and knees. You stand up to shoulder width stance (atleast try to), grabbing the paddle as you rise. Splash! Right back in the water! Well, it was definitely harder than it seemed. It's all about balance and it took some practice until we were back on our feet. Once you hit your groove gliding across the ocean's glassy surface is a treat with exquisite views of the shoreline.

The Polynesian Cultural Center embraces the Go Native! theme of different cultures.

The ending show Ha: The Breath of Life is a visually stunning spectacle of over a hundred performers from across the Pacific, drums, dance, all new music and special effects, a fire spewing volcano and an awesome fire knife performance.

Here you can experience the cultures of Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii Aotearoa and Samoa.
I learned some Tongan spear throwing, tested my skills of the drums and some Tahitian dance.

The other interesting thing were the ABC stores. These are apparently around literally every single block in Waikiki. The theme they mention ABC stands for is Aloha Brings Customers however the word around the block is that it stands for All Blocks Covered.

When talking to locals, in response to I am from California I got the constant reaction ohh that's not too far. In fact, we consider as one of our other island.

If you are planning to explore the island by yourself I would definitely recommened the Go Oahu Card.

“What’s best in me, and what’s best in my message, is consistent with the tradition of Hawaii.” ~ Barack Obama

The Hawaii tourism has put up a website dedicated to the President's recent trips.

A Hui Hou!(Until we Meet Again)

Generosity Economy

2009-12-14T21:07:00.004-05:00

Recently visited the restaurant Taste of Himalayas in Berkeley. They had the Karma Kitchen going on.

What does that mean?

Imagine a restaurant where there are no prices on the menu and where the check reads $0.00 with only this footnote: "Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those dine after you."

Karma Kitchen is run by a group of volunteers that assembles at the restaurant
each week to practice generosity through the simple act of serving a meal. It is slightly different than the pay-as-you-wish restaurants which have come up in the past couple of years.

Charity Focus says gift economy is a whisper in the ear of the collective, a whisper insisting against the odds that there is another way of encountering this world and each other: through generosity.

At its core, gift-economy is a shift from consumption to contribution, transaction to trust, scarcity to abundance, and isolation to community.

Whenever we give or receive unconditionally , we participate in a quite, no-strings revolution where act acts serves as its own catalyst - and as a movement from isolation to community, from scarcity to abundance.

What a fantastic concept! Was glad to be a part of it and actually see it working.

Mallika Sarabhai: Dance to change the world

2009-11-26T22:51:00.001-05:00

At TEDIndia, Mallika Sarabhai, a dancer/actor/politician, tells a transformative story in dance -- and argues that the arts may be the most powerful way to effect change, whether political, social or personal.

Cyberposium @HBS Keynote

2009-11-21T19:46:00.005-05:00

Cyberposium is the premier MBA technology conference in the world. Held annually at Harvard Business School, Cyberposium facilitates an interactive network of current and future business leaders to engage in a provocative dialog about technology and its impact on business and society.

Here is a wrapup of the 2 keynotes for the day:

The day started with Jim Balsillie, Co-CEO of Research In Motion speaking about BlackBerry market share and future strategy. However, throughout the keynote he alluded at taking names of any of the rivals. The following stats were talked about:

BlackBerry has 32M subscribers, 200K developers, 500 carriers.

Blackberry moves about 4 petabytes of data per day, compared to 8 petabytes moved on the internet.

6 out of 10 cellphones best seller phones in North America are BlackBerry.

He continued with the message that RIM is fundamentally a services middleware company in an enabling role. The 2 things he repeatedly talked about were constructive alignment with the ecosystem and deep rich application integration. He reinforced that RIM is not just an app company but it's core competency is the enabling role. The focus is on a transformative and contextualized user experience. Balsillie framed wireless and mobility as an multivariant scarcity optimization model. The strategy is that the seamless intersection between applications and core should be delivered as a managed service. This essentially helps provide a transformative and contextualized user experience.

His best quote I liked: "I make radios for 100 bucks and sell them for 200 bucks"

Chad Hurley followed it after lunch. Here are some stats which came up during his talk:

YouTube serves 1 billion videos a day.

It went from 67 to 600 people after the Google acquisition which helped them grow to where they are today

A YouTube video that gets shared gets 7 times more views

Only 3 countries are blocking YouTube today - Iran, Turkey, and China

The conversation with HBS Prof. continued discussing YouTube's mantra of Find,Follow,Feed Chad mentioned how the integration of WiFi with TV will change the industry whereas set-top boxes are short term fix. He gave the example of how in future buying a TV without WiFi will be the equivalent of someone buying a laptop today without wireless capabilities. Also, YouTube will be providing transaction capabilities to any partner - big or small. Implementing this transaction model for will help earn revenue for partners. He mentioned that in future, everything will be on-demand/IPTV and Hulu won't see real traction until it's connected to the TV.

Focus on audience, build better tools, create ad solutions: 3 things we do ~ Chad

Advice to entrepreneurs: Don't start with PowerPoint or an organizational chart but start with a whiteboard and go to the product.

And finally the best quote from Chad that I liked: "Start building something before you start pitching."

Social Media Explained

2009-11-19T00:55:00.002-05:00

Social media opens up unimaginable possibilities for the individual and the organization both alike. Here are 2 interesting links which explain the concept.

Social Media Marketing - zero to educated in minutes.

View more presentations from shannonboudjema.

Social Media and Pharma

2009-11-15T12:36:00.001-05:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently held a public hearing to provide an opportunity for broad public participation and comment on promotion of FDA-regulated medical products (including prescription drugs for humans and animals, prescription biologics, and medical devices) using the Internet and social media tools. The two day hearing - which was live cast and Tweeted - wass intended to help guide the FDA's policy decisions, especially in the areas of social media tools and search.

FDA is seeking participation in the public hearing and written comments from all interested parties, including, but not limited to, consumers, patients, caregivers, health care professionals, patient groups, Internet vendors, advertising agencies, and the regulated industry. This meeting and written comments are intended to help guide FDA in making policy decisions on the promotion of human and animal prescription drugs and biologics and medical devices using the Internet and social media tools. You can submit your comments on the FDA website here.

Here is an intresting background article to read:
Why Pharma Stays Stuck in the Web's Past

And if you missed #fdasm? Here is the complete twitter transcript for the 2 days: http://bit.ly/2p6Vvr

FDA will likely issue a draft guidance document following the comment period for the public hearing.

Google FDA Public Hearing

Complete coverage of the FDA public hearings on internet and social media

.. and some more related articles from Reuters and HBR.
FDA tackles gray area of social media

The FDA, Big Pharma, and Social Media: What's the Right Rx?

Seeding innovation in the water sector

2009-11-14T11:44:00.003-05:00

The Ripple Effect project is a collaboration between IDEO, Acumen Fund, and organizations in India and Kenya to improve access to safe drinking water for over 500,000 of the world's poorest and underserved people. This 7-minute video shows the Ripple Effect project in India, working with 5 Indian organizations to pilot new product, service, and business ideas.

The Ripple Effect in India, by IDEO and Acumen Fund from IDEO on Vimeo.

Mass Innovation November

2009-11-11T23:17:00.004-05:00

Mass Innovation Nights connect Massachusetts-based innovators with the marketplace using social media. I got a chance and time to visit this event and it was totally worth it.

Here is a rough synopsis about the companies that were represented and I visited today evening.

The Risk-Wise Investor
They were selling this book about understanding and managing investment uncertainty and risk.

Conversion Associates
First impression - something similar to Google Analytics although had different functionality.

Implementation Factory, Inc.
Document sharing and online collaboration tool.

Lime Design, Inc.
It is a handheld drink rimmer, Yes, that's right! After all, it was a Mass Innovation Night! You press a button and the device dispenses your spice (5 flavors) to rim your cocktail your way.

Magic Toob
Innovative idea to hold the bulb.

Teenlife
It is a way for parents and middle/high school students to find opportunities beyond school. They aggregate volunteer and community service opportunities, summer programs, teen events, etc.

Textaurant
Web based application for restaurants that sends (SMS) updates on the wait time and notifies customers when the table is ready.

Think Flood They had the RedEye system which they call the personal remote. It allowes the iPhone and iPod touch to control nearly any TV/DVD and other device that receive standard infrared signals. The way it works: iPhone/iPod acts as the controller and the RedEye device acts as the Wi-Fi to infrared bridge.

uTest
It is crowdsourced software testing. They have a community of 20000+ testers for everything form web apps to desktop/gaming apps.

V.i. Labs
It combines piracy business intelligence and software protection technology to prevent theft of software intellectual property, recover sales revenue and avert reputation damage.

Looking forward to December 9th for the next round to meet innovative companies and entrepreneurs.

Seth Goldman - Honest Tea

2009-11-07T01:30:00.001-05:00

Seth Goldman, TeaEO of Honest Tea spoke at a Net Impact event for Babson, Olin, and Wellesley College students on September 23, 2009

World-Changing Business-Plan Competitions

2009-11-07T01:16:00.002-05:00

1) The Imagine H2O Prize Competition

The inaugural Imagine H2O Prize competition is now open for submissions. The competition offers prizes of $70,000 in cash and in-kind services, which will be awarded to the business plans which promise the greatest breakthroughs in the efficient use and supply of water.

The Imagine H2O Prize is designed to encourage the competitive and ambitious spirits of entrepreneurs, investors, experts, inventors and academics around the world to focus on water issues. This inaugural business plan challenge focuses on solutions to improve water efficiency in agriculture, commercial, industrial or residential applications, such as water demand reduction, improved water use, water recycling and/or reuse.
Deadline: November 16th. Details: www.imagineh2o.org

2) William James Foundation Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition

The William James Foundation supports entrepreneurs who are starting for-profit businesses with defined social and/or environmental goals. We can best help entrepreneurs who are passionate about their expertise (e.g. renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, moving people out of poverty, etc.) but are new to starting their own for-profit business. These entrepreneurs come from all over the world, and range from teenagers starting a community business to PhDs with multi-million dollar ideas for renewable energy.

We provide this help through a Socially Responsible Business Plan Competition. Entrants start by submitting a short executive summary (no more than five pages) by December 4th, 2009. Almost all entrants will receive an average of ten pages of constructive feedback per plan per round. This feedback comes from our pool of hundreds of experts from the worlds of finance, academia, in-the-field practice, and other entrepreneurs. This is an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs to learn from those who have successfully combined their passion for a better world with the rigor of financial sustainability. The top entrants will also have a shot at dozens of prizes that are together worth more than $100,000. Please visit www.williamjamesfoundation.org/criteria to see who can enter and how to do so.
Deadline: December 4th

3) Park Street Church Social Change Competition

The objective of the Social Change Competition (SCC) is to harness the high-powered education of New England students to engage them in missions that will create new initiatives and propel advanced thinking. The proposals should address the problems of this world as they relate to poverty and immoral and unjust practices in specific areas of the world, particularly in places that have the least amount of exposure to the good news of Jesus Christ. Proposals can also address detrimental environmental issues and offer new ideas to create renewable energy. By relating the good news of Jesus to these issues, it is hoped that a new strategy of missions will emerge that may concentrate on the poor, the disadvantaged, and the environment.

Deadline: Intent to submit: Oct 20th (but hopefully if you’re interested you can submit this part late). Final proposal due Dec. 1st http://www.parkstreet.org/parkstreet200k

4) LEEDS Net Impact Case Competition- February 19-20

The Leeds Net Impact Case Competition is the premier case format competition built around businesses facing sustainability challenges, while succeeding financially. This competition brings the top rated business schools and future industry leaders to Boulder, Colorado for a two-day event. The competition is an opportunity to bring together students, executives and businesses who share a common commitment to sustainable business practices and financial returns.

Some of this year's benefits include:

1. $10,000 in prize money
2. Great networking opportunity
3. Discounted lodging in historic Downtown Boulder, Colorado
4. More to come....

Deadline: Register by November 16th Details: http://leeds.colorado.edu/MBA/interior.aspx?id=9042&ekmensel=c580fa7b_154_602_btnlink

5) Social Impact Exchange Business Plan Competition
(Social Impact Exchange is a collaboration between Duke University and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Scaling Social Impact Competition is a business plan competition that identifies social sector scaling initiatives with demonstrated impact and readiness to grow – and supports them with up to $100,000 of financial and consulting awards. The Competition helps develop a strong pipeline of growth ready organizations and provides them with the resources to successfully take the next steps in their growth trajectory.

Deadline: December 18th Details: http://www.socialimpactexchange.org/bpc_overview.cfm

Innovation Inside Google

2009-10-25T14:37:00.002-05:00

I got a chance to visit the Google Cambridge office that had an Open House session as part of the Innovation Open House Series. The NE Innovation series offers currently-enrolled students the opportunity to visit interesting companies and meet founders and senior executives. Some of the companies they have planned are Google, Zipcar, IDEO, Blue State Digital, iRobot, Hubspot, etc.

A big thanks to Scott Kirsner and Stephen Vinter for organizing this. It's a nice way to create connections and visit some of the most innovative companies in this part of the world in an interactive, casual, fun environment.

Click here to register for the next ones.

We have heard enough about the perks and benefits Google offers to it's employees but this was a chance to find out why and see life inside Google.

According to Steve opening an office in Cambridge was a great strategic decision for Google with the greater Boston area having such a rich combination of universities, innovative high tech companies, and many Google business partners and customers.

The session started off with the question: What comes to your mind when you think about Google?

The answers started pouring in... Gmail, Google Search, Calendar, Youtube, etc.
The 11th or 12th item on the list was Google Ads which apparently makes 98-99% of Google's revenues. This is amazing!

The conversation continued with the data driven and experimental approach that Google uses and the thought process behind this. Some of the philosophy included asking questions like: How do you make things easier? How will we add value to the web?

Later they had a raffle for answering any of the 5 questions:
How much revenue does Google earn outside US?
How many books are there in the world?
How much time would it take to watch all the videos uploaded on YouTube in a minute?
How many open source projects is Google involved with?
Forgot the 5th one.

Yours truly got 2 right!... and a tshirt ofcourse :)

Embedded within the culture is an essential ingredient: "Don't make a PowerPoint, build a prototype" (I think it is critical that students and the business school faculties understand this)

The session continued with more conversations about Android, the reason to introduce Chrome, Google wave and Google analytics.

The did have a demo about Google Insights which is an amazing tool to have for any business.

The tour of the company was simply awesome and I loved the idea that you should never be more than 50 feet from food.

The most important take away for me was that I learned more about strategy and marketing in a 2 hour session @Google than during the last 2 months in grad school.

And the best quote I liked was:
Google is like graduate school - you have more stuff to do than you can really do. The question is how do you choose which is the right stuff to do?

Tim Brown on creativity and play

2009-10-15T17:33:00.000-05:00

At the 2008 Serious Play conference, designer Tim Brown talks about the powerful relationship between creative thinking and play -- with many examples you can try at home (and one that maybe you shouldn't).

Obama? Nobel Prize? huh? eh?

2009-10-09T08:35:00.003-05:00

The Nobel peace prize is one of five awarded annually since 1901 by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden. The other four prizes are for physiology or medicine, physics, chemistry and literature. Starting in 1969, the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel also has been awarded.

While the other prizes are awarded by committees based in Sweden, the peace prize is determined by a five-member panel appointed by the Norwegian parliament.

The Nobel recipient receives a prize of 10 million Swedish crowns, or about $1.4 million.

Read this last night on CNN on the Nobel contenders awaiting the peace prize decision

And the news broke out today morning the most revered honor goes to the world leader!

The Wikipedia entry says: The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to U.S. President Barack Obama "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples

Read this analysis on why Obama's Nobel honors promise, not action
The prize seems to be more for Obama's promise than for his performance. The Nobel committee cited as his key accomplishment "a new climate in international politics." The president has become "the world's leading spokesman" for its agenda, the committee said.

NY Times reported "In Surprise, Nobel Peace Prize to Obama for Diplomacy"

Here is the actual transcript from The Norwegian Nobel Committee:

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Should he accept the award? What has he accomplished? Is this a mockery of the process?

While awarding Obama the Nobel Prize might seem premature, the committee was responding to a genuine change that Obama has brought about. The prize seems to be more for Obama's promise than for his performance.

Composing a Career and Life

2009-10-04T11:07:00.002-05:00

Linda Mason was originally going to make a case study of Bright Horizons, her $1.3 billion, early childhood care business, but reconsidered in light of the current economic crisis -- to the benefit of her audience. Instead, she takes up her own story as a recession-era entrepreneur who built several hugely successful, socially oriented ventures, navigating very real pitfalls and challenges along the way. Her “nonlinear path” yielded important life lessons, which she shares in this talk.

“Discover your passions,” Mason advises, and combine them with your skills “to give your life meaning.”

The Resposibility Revolution and Social Entrepreneurs

2009-09-25T14:30:00.003-05:00

Cadbury is investing nearly $75 million in Ghana to boost cacao farmers' incomes and fund schools. Starbucks is slowly progressing to procuring all its coffee ethically sourced and since October 2007, its employees have completed over 400,000 hours of community service. Walmart has asked it's top suppliers in the U.S. to share details about their carbon footprint, resource use and ethical business practices. Acumen fund is providing patient capital and identifying entrepreneurs in developing countries.
Gap, GE, Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo and many others are ratcheting up their responsibility commitments. Corporate social responsibility can also lead to good brand recognition and most of the people are ready to pay a premium to buy the products if they know about it.

We have companies like PeaceWorks and World of Good which work on a 'not only for profit' model.We have unique concepts like Better World Books and D.Light making a big social impact.

The Global Impact Investing Network is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to increasing the effectiveness of impact investing. Impact investments aim to solve social or environmental challenges while generating financial profit. "Social entrepreneurs see a problem that they feel compelled to resolve, show the world a solution, and start implementing it." ~INSEAD Assistant Professor for Entrepreneurship, Filipe Santos.

Today, we realize as global citizens to care for people and the planet. And, yes, this is just the beginning. There are so many ways within your own community that you can get involved and be engaged.

Listen to this video about the debate over foreign aid often pits those who mistrust "charity" against those who mistrust reliance on the markets. Jacqueline Novogratz proposes a middle way she calls patient capital, with promising examples of entrepreneurial innovation driving social change.

And if you have read so far you shall enjoy reading the exclusive interview in TIME with The Obamas on "The Meaning of Public Service".

The Girl Effect

2009-09-07T10:54:00.001-05:00

No wonder MFI's focus more on women!

Schooool

2009-09-04T18:15:00.002-05:00

Back to school!

165 awesome classmates!

The President Leonard A. Schlesinger, Dean Raghu Tadepalli and MBA Admissions Director Dennis Nations gave wonderful welcome speeches on Day 1.

I think the common message was that Babson is a global curriculum that has heavy emphasis on holistic learning, entrepreneurial thought and action and real world consulting projects. The Dean touched upon the fact that technical and analytical skills are just one aspect however the should students learn how to recognize and define the changes critical to growing businesses in a global marketplace. Learn the 'soft skills' was the take away.

Day 3-5 included the business simulation called Techmark. Competed with fellow teams to sell 'Rehmertz' in Euphoria, Ledakka and Nihono.

Lost millions in the process though earned it all back thanks to some collaborative efforts and strategic management decisions. Loved the entire exercise while learning a lot about marketing, strategy, pricing, accounting, debt, markets, budgeting, supply, demand, costs, profits, etc.

And we did all this while achieving the financial targets and maintaining the inventory to asset + debt to asset ratios. Hoping to do better 2 years from now.

Also, realized why "the early bird may get the worm, but it's the 2nd mouse who gets the cheese..". The schedule has been hectic for the orientation itself however I think we shall survive.

Well let's see how it goes when the actual courses(beginning tomorrow) ... for now the sentiment is something similar to this song :)

Quotable Quotes

2009-08-29T00:13:00.002-05:00

'It's good to have money and the things that money can buy, but it's good, too, to check up once in a while and make sure you haven't lost the things that money can't buy' ~ George Horace Lorimer

'Take my factories and my money, but leave me my salesmen and I'll be back where I am today in two years' ~ Andrew Carnegie

'Everyone has a game plan until they get punched in the mouth' ~ Mike Tyson

‘In life when we face choices, just throw a coin. Not because it settles the question, but while the coin is in the air you will know what your heart is hoping for ..’

'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.' ~ A. Lincoln

‘Problems are not stop signs ; they are guidelines’

‘Be like a postage stamp – stick to one thing until you get there'

Secrets of the Sleeping Brain

2009-08-25T23:53:00.003-05:00

Why do we sleep? Although science has yet to explain the reason we spend one-third of our lives in this bizarre state, an exciting theory suggests that sleep can solidify newly learned memories by rewiring the architecture of brain.

Emerging neuroscience evidence also indicates that sleep can intelligently associate and integrate new memories together, performing a kind of "sleep-dependent alchemy." This phenomenon may fuel creative human insights, often reflected in dream content.

In addition to memory benefits, recent findings also suggest that sleep can "refresh" emotional brain reactivity, smoothing away the rough edges from our prior waking concerns, thereby allowing rational next-day decisions.

Thinking about skimping on your Zs? You'd better hear what UC Berkeley's Matt Walker has to say about it first!

.. or watch it here:
http://fora.tv/2009/08/11/Matt_Walker_Secrets_of_the_Sleeping_Brain

Read more on the WalkerLab website.

Charity Focus

2009-08-22T02:38:00.003-05:00

Had attended this event where Nipun Mehta from Charity Focus spoke about social entrepreneurship and engaging stories about Mahatma Gandhi, Aravind Eye Care, Kalyan Bhel from Pune, etc. His motive: "Bring smiles to the world and stillness to my heart". I heard for the first time about "Generosity entrepreneurship". After finishing the session along with Premal Shah from Kiva he gave hugs to everyone who came to talk with him quite in sync with the free hugs campaign.

CharityFocus is an all volunteer run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that endeavors to leverage technology for inspiring greater volunteerism and providing meaningful volunteer opportunities for all who want them -- no matter what their skills, how much time they have to give, where they are located, and what their interests. In the process, CharityFocus volunteers provide much-needed assistance to nonprofit organizations worldwide and create inspiring local events that manifest the spirit of service.

Here, are some highlights form his wonderful talk:
1) Find value where nothing exists, discover surplus
2) You have to be efficient
e.g. Aravind Eye Care which was a radical innovation and streamlined the process
If you have the time do read the story of Dr. Venkataswamy), the legendary eye surgeon from South India who made it his mission to restore sight to the blind and whose work has resulted in one of the world's most extraordinary models of service delivery. Aravind Eye Care System today is the largest and most productive eye care facility in the world.
3) Create new value (synergistic value)

I would recommend subscribing to the the Daily Good Blog from them which is essentially an inspiring quote, a related good-news story, and a simple action -- delivered to your inbox for free by volunteers every day. Just a ripple a day, simply to spread the good.

Also, follow them @CharityFocus

Jainism - Paryushan

2009-08-17T01:43:00.001-05:00

Jainism is an ancient religion from India that teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation.

Paryushan is the most important Jain religious observance of the year. For both Shvetambars, who observe the festival over a period of 8 days, and Digambars, for whom Paryushan Parva lasts 10 days, this is a time of intensive study, reflection, and purification. The festival through which an attempt is made to put an end to all vices, passions and lustful desires in thought, speech and deeds. During these days, the main message and focus is the idea of forgiveness and internal purification. Each day is focused on removing impurities such as our passions or kashays (anger, pride, deceit and greed).

It is the time of year where we reflect on our actions from the previous year, and meditate on new goals and resolutions for the following year to help us continue positively in our spiritual path. We use these eight to ten days to purify our soul, forgive our enemies, and ask for forgiveness from them as well.

Jains try to observe ten cardinal virtues during this time period: forgiveness, charity, simplicity, contentment, truthfulness, self-restraint, fasting, detachment, humility, and continence.

One custom to be followed after the last day of Paryushan (Samvatsari) is that of saying "Michhami Dukkadam". On Samvatsari day the ritual of "Pratikraman" is performed. Under Samvatsari Pratikraman there comes the retrospection of all bad deeds and mistakes committed in the past year. We are critical of the bad deeds and resolve not to let them happen in the future. We also request forgiveness from all the living beings in the world if we might have knowingly or unknowingly caused harm to them. Thus, after the Pratikraman it is customary to request forgiveness from everyone we know and meet by saying "Michhami Dukkadam".

If you are interested do read more on Paryusan click below:
http://yja.org/paryushan2009/index.php

"Micchami Dukadam"!

... and these websites for Jainism
Young Jains of America
Jain Center of Northern California
The Jain Study Circle
Religion & Ethics - Jainism

Click here to see a listing of Jain Centers and Temples across North America
http://www.jainmaps.com/

Boston

2009-08-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

The move to Boston is on the cards and I'm slowly getting jazzed up. Saw this amazing video about from TedxBoston about some historic Boston-area innovations.

Must-see talks from TEDGlobal 2009

2009-08-11T16:17:00.002-05:00

Wiring a web for global good
We're at a unique moment in history, says UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown: we can use today's interconnectedness to develop our shared global ethic -- and work together to confront the challenges of poverty, security, climate change and the economy.

Biomimicry in action
Janine Benyus has a message for inventors: When solving a design problem, look to nature first. There you'll find inspired designs for making things waterproof, aerodynamic, solar-powered and more. Here she reveals dozens of new products that take their cue from nature with spectacular results.

Water filter turns filthy water drinkable
Too much of the world lacks access to clean drinking water. Engineer Michael Pritchard did something about it -- inventing the portable Lifesaver filter, which can make the most revolting water drinkable in seconds.

A mother's best advice

2009-08-01T13:10:00.004-05:00

MSNBC readers were encouraged to share the best advice given to them by their mothers. Here is a list of some of it.

"Bloom where you're planted"
"If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all."
"Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty. They'll wash clean."
"Work before play."
"You can if you think you can!"
"Keep your chin up. It's not the end of the world."
"Life isn't always fair."
"Never lie, cheat, or steal."
"Never be too proud to ask for help when you need it."
"You catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
Nothing you can’t
"Give and take in that order".
"Don't wish your life away"
"Say hello in there, appreciate others, especially elderly people". "
"Not everyone has someone".
"Always have a love for learning".
"Be yourself"
"Imagine it and it can happen"
"Never pass up the opportunity to use the bathroom or eat something. You never know when you will get another chance".
"Don't sweat the small stuff".
"Foul language makes the speaker sound ignorant and coarse, while a full vocabulary brings tact and clarity."
"Books are the best and cheapest way to travel the world".
"Respect others"
"Actions speak louder than words"
"Keep criticism private"
"Laughter is the best medicine"
"Be compassionate and understanding to people who were mentally or physically disabled".
"Listen kindly, but make your own decisions."
"Don't let anyone tell you what's best. You'll figure that out on your own."
"If you don't know what to do, ask someone whose had experience."
"Look past looks"
"Attitude is everything"
"You do what you have to do".
"Communication is key"
"A person who can grasp the proper way to speak and write will always have doors opened to them, that would otherwise be shut."
"Look to the inside"
"Things are not always as they seem; people are not always as they seem."
"Treat the maintenance man and the CEO the same way -- with respect."
"Smile and enjoy the journey".
"Engage your brain, before opening your mouth"
"Move away from trouble"
"All that anyone can ever ask is that you do your best."
"Love yourself"
"Life gets easier"
"What's the worst that could happen?"
"Optimism pays off"
"It never hurts to ask"
"Honesty starts with one's self"

Read in more detail here.

Almost nothing has been invented yet

2009-07-22T00:53:00.000-05:00

Woody Norris shows off two of his inventions that treat sound in new ways, and talks about his untraditional approach to inventing and education. Hypersonic sound:Put sounds where you want it to be.

Postgraduate research in India

2009-07-20T00:19:00.002-05:00

TWAS fellowships in India are offered in collaboration with four programme partners, including:
• Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR);
• Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the Ministry of Science and Technology;
• Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS); and
• S.N. Bose National Centre for Basic Sciences.

The main eligibility criteria to apply for the TWAS Fellowships in India are:
• Be a maximum age of 30 (postgraduate) or 40 years (postdoctoral). In the case of fellowships offered through CSIR the age limits are 35 (postgraduate) and 45 years (postdoctoral);
• Hold a master's degree (postgraduate) or PhD (postdoctoral) in the natural sciences;
• Be nationals of a developing country (other than India).
• Obtain a preliminary Acceptance Letter from the chosen host institute (refer to the sample Acceptance Letter in the application form).

To learn more about the application
procedure and to download application forms,
see:
www.twas.org/Exchange
TWAS Fellowships Office
ICTP campus - Strada Costiera 11
34014 Trieste, Italy
Tel: +39-040-2240314 Fax: +39-040-2240689
E-mail: fellowships@twas.org

Click here to read more.

SF Aids Walk 2009

2009-07-19T22:33:00.002-05:00

SF Aids Walk 2009
Originally uploaded by transcendental

More than three and a half million dollars raised.

Compassion is indeed recession proof!

About 25,000 people joined the 23rd annual AIDS Walk in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Sunday. The event is a major source of funding for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation.

The Last Days of the Indian Tiger

2009-07-18T14:13:00.000-05:00

A World Without Poverty

2009-07-16T01:28:00.005-05:00

Muhammad Yunus put things in perspective and reminded everyone that the purpose of microcredit is to eliminate poverty in the shortest possible time frame and showed that it can be done!

Consumer philanthropy and micro-lending have revolutionized the world by providing the financial resources to empower the poor to become economically self reliant. It's easy to understand the appeal of microcredit. It plays an important and major role in the eradication of poverty besides providing an opportunity for everyone to get involved. I salute the entire community of contributors.

Kiva, Microplace, Wokai, SKS, Grameen Bank, United Prosperity and many others are essentially creating the platforms for an average person to make a tangible impact.

I think there should be more transparency in the whole process. The system is moving towards it albeit too slowly though. Microcredit is making people’s lives better around the world but I believe still a lot needs to be done to lift them out of poverty. Also, for all the heart warming stories in the media there should be sufficient evidence to back it up.

Best put forth by Dr. Yunus: Microcredit turns on the the economic engines among the rejected population of the society. Another testimony to this fact is that today microfinance is still flourishing, and even expanding. I definitely encourage everyone to read this report by Deutsche Bank Research on microfinance as an emerging investment opportunity. Yet, to avoid microfinance from crumbling under the pressure of capitalism we need a thorough administration of microfinance policies, principles and processes. Also, the next generation of MFIs should ensure that microfinance does not become the next asset bubble.

I am not a skeptic but a strong believer and proponent of microfinance however a lots needs to be done. We are moving in the right direction and let's keep marching ahead.

Here are a few questions to ask before you contribute:

Are these organizations actually performing well?
What are the improvements in health, education, and community development?
What percentage of women are served?
Look for the 2 important aspects: sustainability and outreach?
How much of your money actually gets to end user? What interest does the MFI charge?
(The global average interest charged on microloans is 30% (typical the range is 15% to 70%)) Is lowering interest rates for poor borrowers an important goal?

These websites are also helpful if you are interested to learn more.
Microcredit Summit Campaign, CGAP , GDRC, and SEEP Network.

Thoughts for the week

2009-07-14T00:47:00.000-05:00

There is no way to happiness : happiness is the way. ~ Buddha

Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts! ~ Robert Browning

If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties. ~ Francis Bacon

The more one belabors a point, the more skeptical I become; the louder one talks, the further I back off. Repetition raises doubts in the minds of those to whom you wish to make your point.
~ Robert J. Ringer

How Technology May Soon "Read" Your Mind

2009-07-12T22:49:00.004-05:00

Neuroscience has learned so much about how we think and the brain activity linked to certain thoughts that it is now possible - on a very basic scale - to read a person's mind.

Watch this CBS 60 Minutes video to learn more about how this incredible research lets scientists get a glimpse at your thoughts.

Who Needs Sleep

2009-06-19T14:09:00.001-05:00

Billy Crystal, Julia Roberts, Annette Benning, Martin Sheen, Darryl Hannah, Paul Newman and others all discuss sleep deprivation in the film industry.

An extra clip from Haskell Wexler's controverisal documentary WHO NEEDS SLEEP?

Read more on the Brain Basics: Understanding Sleep

Entrepreneurs Can Change the World

2009-06-15T19:56:00.000-05:00

Found this video by Grasshopper, an 800 phone number provider for small businesses.

United Prosperity: Make a difference

2009-06-08T20:11:00.002-05:00

United Prosperity is the world’s first person to person loan guaranteeing website.

Small entrepreneurs all over the world need funds to start and grow their businesses. Banks however don’t lend to them without collateral. Small entrepreneurs cannot provide collateral since they are often very poor. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) lend to the poor without collateral but they in turn (especially the smaller MFIs) need guarantees to borrow from banks.

You can help the entrepreneurs earn a better livelihood by providing cash collateral – a guarantee – on our website. Your guarantee allows the entrepreneurs to access a microloan through one of our partner Microfinance Institutions (MFIs).

Operations began in India in May 2009 and over time will expand to other countries

If anyone has funds available that they want to use to help microfinance in India, and help get another microfinancing nonprofit going, please visit:

http://www.unitedprosperity.org/us

If, and Only If

2009-05-27T13:30:00.002-05:00

Only as high as I reach can I grow,
Only as far as I seek can I go,
Only as deep as I look can I see,
Only as much as I dream can I be. --Karen Ravn

Business logic of sustainability

2009-05-18T15:57:00.001-05:00

At his carpet company, Ray Anderson has increased sales and doubled profits while turning the traditional "take / make / waste" industrial system on its head. In a gentle, understated way, he shares a powerful vision for sustainable commerce.

What can you do?

2009-05-17T12:13:00.004-05:00

Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh @ TiEcon

2009-05-16T12:02:00.000-05:00

Read about it on the TiEcon blog.

Zappos - TiECON - 5-16-09

View more presentations from zappos.

Nandan Nilekani's ideas for India's future

2009-05-14T13:10:00.003-05:00

Nandan Nilekani, visionary CEO of outsourcing pioneer Infosys, explains four brands of ideas that will determine whether India can continue its recent breakneck progress.

- Ideas that have arrived
- Ideas in progress
- Ideas in conflict
- Ideas in anticipation

Brownie

2009-05-12T23:25:00.001-05:00

Tribes will change the world

2009-05-11T09:11:00.000-05:00

Seth Godin argues the Internet has ended mass marketing and revived a human social unit from the distant past: tribes. Founded on shared ideas and values, tribes give ordinary people the power to lead and make big change. He urges us to do so.

Microfinance: An effective tool for poverty alleviation

2009-05-11T00:03:00.004-05:00

Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. Give a woman microcredit, she, her husband, her children and her extended family will eat for a lifetime.
~ Bono (Paul Hewson), U2 Lead Singer and Global Poverty Activist

Microfinance is an idea whose time has come. ~ Kofi Annan

This is not charity. This is business: business with a social objective, which is to help people get out of poverty. ~ Muhammad Yunus

At the most basic level, the key to ending extreme poverty is to enable the poorest of the poor to get their foot on the ladder of development. ~ Jeffrey D. Sachs

Microloans enable the poor to lift themselves out of poverty through entrepreneurship.
~ Pierre Omidyar

Check out Grameen Foundation and Kiva.

Gourmet Ghetto

2009-05-09T21:57:00.003-05:00

"Northern California is one of the most exciting places in the world for food and it's because growers and eaters take all aspects of food extremely seriously. I am thrilled to bring people straight to Berkeley, the heart of Northern California's culinary epicenter, so they can experience what makes this region's food culture important and special." - Lisa Rogovin

I guess one of the common aspect everyone in the Bay Area would agree upon would be yummy food. Berkeley is without doubt a food lovers paradise. The stretch on Shattuck Avenue. bordered on the two ends by Rose & Hearst streets forms this celebrated Gourmet Ghetto.

I am fortunate enough to live in such a place and enjoy the gustatory pleasures. There are plenty of small eateries, cafes, bakeries, etc. to hang around and places like Chez Pannise, Cheeseboard Pizza, etc.

Looking for love at first bite? Stop by the Gourmet Ghetto. The food is so fresh it's bursting with gigantic, singing flavor. Yelp is another excellent resource to try out these different cuisines.

There is history to this place too. Alice Waters founded her famous restaurant, Chez Panisse. The Cheese Board Collective began its passionate presentation of worldwide and local California artisan cheeses. And Peet’s coffee started educating Americans about the complex pleasures of coffee drinking. And thus started the food revolution...

Check out the these websites for more information.
http://www.sfgate.com/neighborhoods/eb/gourmetghetto/
http://www.gourmetghetto.org/

And if you read this article until now, Congratulations! You're officially a foodie of the highest order.

Bottled Water Disaster

2009-05-08T17:55:00.002-05:00

And you thought that bottled water was better than tap water???

Water Disaster

View more presentations from ninad70.

Entrepreneurship in Bay Area

2009-05-05T14:53:00.002-05:00

List of interesting events in the area.

A workshop on entrepreneurship hosted by Imagine H2O and Berkeley Energy & Resources Collaborative (BERC) @ Haas School of Business.

Come network with business leaders, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and market experts in water-related fields, and learn about:
* The emerging water crisis and challenges
* Business opportunities and market needs in an emerging water efficiency ecosystem
* Imagine H2O's business plan competition on water efficiency and business incubation resources

____________________________________________

A TiEcon 2009 preview. TiEcon, the largest conference for entrepreneurs, invites you to a conference preview - TweetUp with two social media goliaths, Twitter and LinkedIn. Engage in a candid discussion about social media – what are the trends today and what can we expect tomorrow? Bring all your questions – there will be plenty of time for Q&A. Bonus! attend the TweetUp and get a discount on TiEcon 2009 registration fees.
TiE Conference Center
2903 Bunker Hill Lane
Santa Clara, CA 95054

____________________________________________

Perspectives on an Evolving India

____________________________________________

Revitalizing Education for Children in Rural India
A talk by Ramji Raghavan, Agastya International Foundation

Register here.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Rock Hall, UCSF Mission Bay
Lobby Level, 1550 4th Street
San Francisco, CA 94158

--and--

Thursday May 14, 2009
India Community Center
525 Los Coches Street
Milpitas, CA 95035

Heard of Twitter?

2009-05-04T10:47:00.000-05:00

Headlines alternately shout how Twitter is a Google Killer, and how it is a narcissistic flood of updates about what people you don't care about had for lunch. How can something that looks like noise from the outside be so compelling from the inside?

Laura Fitton - @pistachio - explains how microsharing on Twitter and similar services can make the web feel warm and human, can give you real-time information on what customers think of you and why she hasn't bought anything over $50 without asking Twitter first.

With concrete examples, she'll show how Twitter has enabled large companies to gain sales and reduce support costs, how the famous have used it to cut out media misrepresentation, and how the Twitter platform has enabled a new class of web developers to take off fast.

Bay Area Conferences

2009-05-03T20:00:00.004-05:00

TiEcon 2009 has tailored its program especially to arm the BOLD entrepreneur with the tools, insights, connections and inspiration to launch a business, grow a team, or join a budding start up in this challenging econimic climate. Check out the exciting, new features such as PowerConnect, TiE50, and Business Bootcamp. TiEcon 2009 – the best stimulus package for these challenging times (May 15 - 16th, 2009)

The NetSquared Global Conference, held in San Jose California, is a two-day meeting that brings together the minds of unlikely allies from different professional fields including: leaders in philanthropy, corporate philanthropy, engineering, media and world-class innovators driving the development, distribution and use of social technologies for progressive change. (Tuesday, May 26 – Wednesday, May 27, 2009)

Microfinance California 2009
Up to Two Million Entrepreneurs in California can’t access the small amounts of capital they need to get their business off the ground. What are U.S. microfinance organizations doing to meet this demand? Attend the first state-wide conference on microfinance to learn the nuts and bolts of domestic microfinance, visit Bay Area microfinance borrowers through small group tours, understand the impact and future of microfinance in California and contemplate your role in the field of microfinance through small group dinners with practitioners, leaders, and investors. (May 28th 2009)

The Sustainable Brands Conference is the preeminent event for discussing the rapid rise of sustainability as a driver for revenue growth and brand equity in the 21st Century. SB'09 amplifies business success surrounding innovation for sustainability, and educates business leaders throughout an organization about how they can help create a leading sustainable brand. (May 31 - June 4, 2009)

The National Conference on Volunteering and Service is the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders from the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors.Co-convened by Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service, the annual event provides attendees with an opportunity to learn, connect, and be inspired through a wide range of exciting and informative plenary sessions, workshops, special events, service projects, exhibits, specialized corporate tracks and more. (June 22 - 24, 2009)

Dove Evolution

2009-05-02T13:19:00.000-05:00

No wonder our perception of beauty is distorted.

UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition 2009

2009-05-01T00:53:00.004-05:00

Entrepreneurship, the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources you currently control, is now a subject with segmented interest across a wide variety of fields and topics, including new venture creation, venture capital, social ventures, business model innovation, open software, internet, corporate entrepreneurship, global business, and biotechnology.

The Lester Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is the primary locus at Berkeley for the study and promotion of entrepreneurship and new enterprise development.

The UC Berkeley Business Plan Competition consists of several rounds of judging followed by a public presentation by the finalists. The winner receives $25,000; 2nd place $10,000; 3rd place $5,000; and a People's Choice Award of $5,000. It is the marquee entrepreneurship event at Berkeley; nurturing entrepreneurial action across the UC Berkeley community.

Today, it was the public presentation day for the 8 finalists.

Here is my take on the teams and the plans:

AutoTB is developing a medical device that improves the diagnostic process for tuberculosis. The device would decrease analysis time, increase sensitivity, and reduce the chance of human error present in current procedures, while remaining affordable for developing countries. They didn't talk much about their device which automates sputum microscopy. I liked the refugee camp clinical trials idea and the treatment monitoring part. (Won the 1st Prize)

GamesThatGive Inc. is a start-up venture dedicated to the development of socially responsible video games. The presentation was a joke under the pretext of confidentiality though would have loved to hear about the actual plan. Here is an interesting link about social gaming from Business Week.

Integrated Diagnostics has used integrated circuit technology (CMOS IC technology) to create a hand-held device to enable health care providers to expedite diagnosis and forgo traditional laboratory-based testing for early-stage, accurate HIV detection. Future growth: multiplexed assays and low cost assay kits. (Won the 3rd prize and the people's choice award) Personally, this was my choice.

LavaHealth provides business intelligence solutions that enhance the capabilities of the Electronic Health Information Systems that hospitals use to manage patient records, order laboratory tests, and exchange information. They are banking on hospitals that have adopted electronic health information systems. Plan to use cloud computing from Amazon.

Logicularity is a graphical design solution that allows a business user to visually explore structured and unstructured information and test-drive dashboards and reports in order to make better decisions. It was nice to hear their presentation which was in a interaction/play format. The plan is basically about information asset mgmt. and both Amit & Deepak have plenty of experience in the consulting and business domain.

Novophage provides engineered bacteriophages to treat contamination on food products and in food processing plants that is safer and more environmentally sustainable than harsh chemical treatments and antibiotics used in the food processing industry. Superb and very well qualified team with an advanced biological solution to treat antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in a clinical setting. (Won the 2nd prize)

Siverde is developing a technology that converts CO2 into biofuels without relying on photosynthesis, which requires either expensive infrastructure or arable lands. Again great team. Superior compared to algae based approaches as it does not require light and as a higher carbon capture.

Ulteamail is an online email collaboration tool in which project team members can view, add, and share information, such as status updates, comments, and to-do list items. Primarily, geared towards managers they plan to charge $500/month for usage. Loved the presentation however was skeptical in the utility for product.

Jerry Engel definitely kept the show running with his wisdom and humor. The winner's walked away with cash prizes totaling $45,000 and a lot of exposure. The overall atmosphere in the Anderson auditorium was friendly, lively and collaborative filled with investors, venture capitalists, entrants, organizers and budding entrepreneurs!!

Social Enterprise in Emerging Markets

2009-04-28T22:50:00.001-05:00

Attended the GSVC Symposium on Social Entrepreneurship. It was an exciting day indeed! and I definitely recommend GSVC for anybody interested in exploring social entrepreneurship.

Social enterprises are creating jobs, introducing new technologies, and pioneering new business models in emerging markets. However, the success of these ventures often hinges upon the extent to which founders account for region-specific considerations such as cultural norms, the level of infrastructure development, and the favorability of government policy.

Panelists:
Swati Mylavarapu, Consultant, Dalberg Global Development Advisors
Mark Pretorius, Managing Partner, Premanco Ventures
Rose Shuman, Founder, Open Mind and Question Box

Moderator:
Paul Braund, Co-founder and Executive Director, RiOS Institute

The breadth of knowledge of everyone on the panel about social enterprises (and everything relevant) was truly amazing. Here are some takeaway points from the session about trends, challenges and promising new ventures.

Swati:
3 tactics for creating successful business enterprises (applicable for social ventures too)

1. Best business models leverage existing distribution channels (because of fixed capital costs)
2. Price points matters
3. Besides understanding 'user needs' try to look @ 'user wants'.

Here is another list of points:

Know you market (if you don't know - learn)

Know demand

Start small but know your avenues for scale (don't get stuck in the pilot phase)

Iterate

Partner

Be patient

Trust people and organizations

Have some guts (force yourself to compete with standard for profit enterprises out there)

Know the enterprise side of the equation before venturing down the social side

And some more words of wisdom to ponder from Swati, Rose & Mark.

"Establishing a social value proposition is the easiest part. It's the enterprise model that is much harder"

"Every time there is a lack of something it's an opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurship"

"Most of the world does not share our culture of it's okay to fail."

"There's no safety net; you fall and you hit gravel."

"It's important to do some anthropological research (especially in the developing world) before addressing the problem"

The Nothing Box

2009-04-27T02:43:00.001-05:00

Very nice video about the differences between the way men and women think and feel.

Chicken a la Carte

2009-04-26T23:48:00.002-05:00

Director: Ferdinand Dimadura
Genre: Drama
Produced In: 2005

Synopsis: This film is about the hunger and poverty brought about by Globalization. There are 10,000 people dying everyday due to hunger and malnutrition. This short film shows a forgotten portion of the society. The people who live on the refuse of men to survive. What is inspiring is the hope and spirituality that never left this people.

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Came across this video via Amitabh Bachchan's blog.

Technology, Entertainment, Design (x)

2009-04-24T14:48:00.003-05:00

TED is an annual event where some of the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. TED2010, "What the world Needs Now," will be held Feb 9-13, 2010, in Long Beach, California, with a simulcast event in Palm Springs, California. TEDGlobal 2009, "The Substance of Things Not Seen," will be held July 21-24, 2009, in Oxford, UK and TEDIndia will be held in November 2009.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that brings people together to share a TED-like experience. (x=independently organized TED event)

It's a new way for local communities to create and host their own unofficial TED-style events!

Visit the TEDx website to learn more about the program.

The Bay vs. The Bag

2009-04-17T18:06:00.003-05:00

Plastic bags cause serious problems for the health of our coast and bay shorelines.
San Francisco Bay, the largest estuary on the West Coast, is particularly vulnerable to plastic litter and debris. Thirty percent of California’s land and thousands of miles of creeks and rivers drain to the Bay. It is estimated that more than one million plastic bags end up in the Bay watershed every year, threatening the ecosystem.

Save The Bay is the Bay Area's leading organization is working exclusively to protect, restore and celebrate San Francisco Bay and its watershed. The Bay Area's quality of life and economy depend on a healthy and vibrant Bay. Read more about their Bay vs. Bag campaign.

Elections in India

2009-04-15T22:20:00.000-05:00

Indian elections cover an electorate larger than 700 million people - the largest democratic country in the world. On April 16th, 2009 the first phase of the voting for the Indian general elections will begin and conclude on May 13th, 2009. The country has been divided into 543 Parliamentary Constituencies, each of which returns one MP to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. This is the 15th general elections in India since it became independent in 1947. In the 2004 election to Lok Sabha there were 1351 candidates from 6 National parties, 801 candidates from 36 State parties, 898 candidates from officially recognized parties and 2385 Independent candidates.

Jaago Re! One Billion Votes is a non-partisan national campaign launched by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy (a non-profit organization) and Tata Tea, to awaken and enable the citizens of India, especially the youth, to register for voting.

The National Election Watch (NEW) is a nationwide campaign comprising of more than 1200 NGO and other citizen led organizations working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India.

There is also a No Criminals campaign started so that no political party will give tickets to people with criminal antecedents in the 2009 general elections.

Here a few links to track and follow this exciting phase over the next couple of months:

Rediff

Google

Yahoo

Election Commission of India

IBNLive

Stop complaining about bad roads, corrupt politicians and unfair reservations. Go vote for a new tomorrow. Make democracy work for you.

Beautiful California

2009-04-14T19:00:00.003-05:00

From recent hikes on the weekend!

Don't judge a book by its cover

2009-04-12T13:00:00.001-05:00

Check this video out -- Susan Boyle - Singer - Britains Got Talent 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Thoughts for the Day

2009-04-11T11:51:00.003-05:00

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who
~ Rudyard Kipling

Don’t put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket but into your own.

Good days give you happiness; bad days give you experience. Both are essential to life.

Have the determination of a mirror, which never loses its ability to reflect, in spite of it being broken to pieces.

We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. ~ Jimmy Carter

In most cases, strengths and weaknesses are two sides of the same coin. A strength in one situation is a weakness in another, yet often the person can't switch gears. It's a very subtle thing to talk about strengths and weaknesses because almost always they're the same thing. ~ Steve Jobs

A man who does not think for himself does not think at all. ~ Oscar Wilde

When you have decided that a thing ought to be done, and are doing it, never shun being seen doing it, even though the multitude should be likely to judge the matter amiss. For if you are not acting rightly, shun the act itself; if rightly, however, why fear misplaced censure? ~ Epictetus

What I Miss(ed)

2009-04-09T01:33:00.002-05:00

The post wisdom teeth extraction saga continues...

Within the constraints and the do's/don'ts recommended by the dentist I realized how much I miss 'regular' food. Besides, of course, the whole mouth yawns, the cheek to cheek smile, the snack munching, making faces at people and half a million other things.

Having survived one entire week on soup, juices, mashed potatoes, rice, tofu etc. I was in dire need of some real food. (Yes, it's all about food for me :) ) I searched through the different feasible options and decided to venture into something that had flavor and substance. The few recipes I managed to cook & swallow yet were tasteless. Again it was back to fluids, fluids and fluids. I still remember the last good meal with my wisdom teeth the day before the surgery. The good 'ol days! The past one week has seen me going through bleeding, little bit of swelling, fluids, pain, healing to finally food! Not to mention I did enjoy all the pudding, 'shrikhand' and ice cream.

The wisdom teeth are popularly referred as third molars by dentists and 'cash cows' by oral surgeons. The real story behind removing 'these teeth' is evolution. Yes, wisdom teeth are being eliminated as a step of evolution. We have evolved from ape-like ancestors that possessed larger jaws and teeth than us. In this process of evolution the jaw has become smaller, allowing less room for the third molars and causing numerous dental problems. Also, our diet over decades has become so refined that we no longer need bigger jaws or third molars. Thus, we no longer require wisdom teeth. Even if the wisdom tooth bud develops, there is no space in our jaws to accommodate it, so it stays within bone, troubling the tooth adjacent to it. I guess people without wisdom teeth are highly evolved.

Mine are out and am happy the way things have gone so far especially after reading the possible things that could go wrong! Now, I have this real urge and need to bite into something hard. Hopefully sooner! Well, this damn shortcoming in evolution definitely hurt me physically and monetarily. Good news is that I'm getting better and have entered the food with flavor phase now!!

Social Responsibility

2009-04-08T01:50:00.002-05:00

What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality

2009-04-07T10:49:00.000-05:00

"That is an astonishing statement and yet proven a thousand times every day of our lives. It expresses, in part, our inescapable connection with the outside world, the fact that we touch other people’s lives simply by existing.

But how much more are you, Harvard graduates of 2008, likely to touch other people’s lives? Your intelligence, your capacity for hard work, the education you have earned and received, give you unique status, and unique responsibilities. Even your nationality sets you apart. The great majority of you belong to the world’s only remaining superpower. The way you vote, the way you live, the way you protest, the pressure you bring to bear on your government, has an impact way beyond your borders. That is your privilege, and your burden.

If you choose to use your status and influence to raise your voice on behalf of those who have no voice; if you choose to identify not only with the powerful, but with the powerless; if you retain the ability to imagine yourself into the lives of those who do not have your advantages, then it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, but thousands and millions of people whose reality you have helped change. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better."

That was a part of the fantastic speech by J.K. Rowling. She delivered a very noble, thought provoking and inspiring commencement address, "The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination," at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association.

J.K. Rowling Speaks at Harvard Commencement from Harvard Magazine on Vimeo.

Read the entire transcript of the speech here The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination.

Blog Rally to help the Boston Globe

2009-04-06T21:59:00.000-05:00

We have all read recently about the threat of possible closure faced by the Boston Globe. A number of Boston-based bloggers who care about the continued existence of the Globe have banded together in conducting a blog rally. We are simultaneously posting this paragraph to solicit your ideas of steps the Globe could take to improve its financial picture:

We view the Globe as an important community resource, and we think that lots of people in the region agree and might have creative ideas that might help in this situation. So, here's your chance. Please don't write with nasty comments and sarcasm: Use this forum for thoughtful and interesting steps you would recommend to the management that would improve readership, enhance the Globe's community presence, and make money. Who knows, someone here might come up with an idea that will work, or at least help. Thank you.

(P.S. If you have a blog, please feel free to reprint this item and post it. Likewise, if you have a Twitter or Facebook account, please add this url as an update or to your status bar to help us reach more people.)

Changemakers

2009-04-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

Changemakers is an initiative of Ashoka: Innovators for the Public that focuses on the rapidly growing world of social innovation. It provides solutions and resources needed to help everyone become a changemaker and presents compelling stories that explore the fundamental principles of successful social innovation around the world.

Changemakers is building the world's first global online "open source" community that competes to surface the best social solutions, and then collaborates to refine, enrich, and implement those solutions. Changemakers begins by providing an overarching intellectual framework for collaborative competitions that bring together individual social change initiatives into a more powerful whole.

Visit http://www.changemakers.net/ for more info.

Life

2009-04-05T16:55:00.000-05:00

I loved this quote on Amitabh Bachchan's blog. "Life laughs at you when you are unhappy. Life smiles at you when you are happy. But life salutes you when you make others happy."

... and another from the book "The Blue Sweater" by Acumen Fund founder Jacqueline Novogratz.

"At the end of the day, finding answers to a fractured world must begin with encouraging and honoring the discipline and ambition, hard work and generosity of so many billions who want the same things we all do"

Social Actions and the Microphilanthropy Movement

2009-04-04T13:19:00.000-05:00

Social Actions has launched a search interface and open API that aggregates actionable opportunities from 20 social action platforms including DonorsChoose.org, Kiva, Idealist, and Change.org.

Social Actions Founder Peter Deitz and Lead Platform Liaison Christine Egger describe these initiatives, placing them within the context of a growing microphilanthropic sector, and explore the implications of Web 2.0 applications that accelerate and amplify an individual's ability to create and contribute to social change campaigns of every kind.

Wisdom Today, Gone Tomorrow

2009-04-03T12:55:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, I lost the only symbolic thing I could brag about my wisdom :) & God it hurts now!! Well, yes I finally decided to go through the dreaded wisdom teeth extraction and had all 4 of them removed. Why do we have wisdom teeth when they just need to be removed? Also, they are the last permanent teeth to develop yet the first to go.

As always it is the anticipation of the event which causes more anxiety than the event itself. Enter the clinic operated by Diplomats from the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery. It was a reassuring fact that I was getting the surgery done from this clinic who only does this one thing day in & day out. The consent and consequences documentation was signed and off I went with the nurse. She did make sure that I did not eat or drink for eight hours prior to my appointment and also that I had rented movies for post surgery days.

The actual surgery was pretty neat and got over quickly. Clips were put on both my hands to monitor heart rhythms, a clasp on the bicep for measuring the blood pressure and pulse oximeter on my finger to monitor the oxygenation level. They put a band/tube around my nose apparently for oxygen supply. However, I felt it was not sufficient 'for my lungs' which the nurse answered in a typical air hostess fashion: The air will be flowing even if the tube does not inflate. The only thing she forgot to say was: "If there is a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will fall down automatically, just place the mask over your nose and tighten the strap, oxygen will flow automatically."

Anyways, I did not even realize when and how quickly I fell asleep. Ironically, I was having a conversation with the doctor about how sleep is tied to your memories and so forth. The last sentence I remember him saying was that well you are definitely not going to have any memory of this even though you are falling asleep. It felt like I was asleep for 5 min however it was more like 45 min. By the time, I was awake (not in my senses though) the entire procedure was done and I was home by the end of the hour.

I love the part that the stitches are made of resorbable material which means that they do not have to be removed. Ice bags helped a lot to control the swelling although yest. after the anesthetics wore off the soreness started setting in.

I cannot emphasize this more "TREAT PAIN BEFORE IT OCCURS". If you receive a prescription (which mostly you do, some sort of ) for pain medication, take it as needed with food. Buy nonprescription analgesics (advils, tylenol etc.), high calorie liquid food, juices, prepare soft foods like mashed potatoes, puddings etc. all beforehand. Don't use straws.

My personal tips: Take plenty of rest especially sleep well. Drink nutritious liquids. Keep your mouth clean. The healing process continues for me and let's see how it goes.

Also, ask whatever questions you have to the doctor. Although, mine were trivial, funny and unrelated to the actual procedure it helped calm my nerves.

Now back to my liquid diet, painkillers and mouthwash ...

Awards, Grants, Scholarships, Fellowships

2009-04-02T21:45:00.003-05:00

Grand Challenges Explorations fosters innovation in global health research. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has committed $100 million to encourage scientists worldwide to expand the pipeline of ideas to fight our greatest health challenges. The grant program is open to anyone from any discipline, from student to tenured professor, and from any organization – colleges and universities, government laboratories, research institutions, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies. Initial grants of $100,000 are awarded two times a year. Successful projects have the opportunity to receive a follow-on grant of $1 million or more.
Applications for Round 3 of Grand Challenges Explorations are now being accepted through May 28, 2009.

The Jenzabar Foundation 2009 Student Leadership Awards will recognize seven student groups and their respective leaders for demonstrating a commitment to making a difference through community service and/or humanitarian endeavors either in the United States or globally. Awards will be delivered in the form of a $5000 grant to the institution or non-profit organization listed on the nomination form with the expectation that the funds will be used to continue the work advanced by the student leader(s).
Nominations must be received by April 14, 2009.

The TED Fellows program helps world-changing innovators from around the globe become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. It is designed to bring together young world-changers and trailblazers who have shown unusual accomplishment and exceptional courage. The program targets individuals from the Asia/Pacific region, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East, though anyone from anywhere in the world, age 18 and over, is welcome to apply. Click here to apply.
They accept approximately 25 Fellows each to TED in Long Beach and TEDGlobal in Oxford, and 100 to TEDIndia in Mysore.

Applications for
TEDGlobal Fellows
Open: March 6, 2009
Due: April 3, 2009

Applications for
TEDIndia Fellows
Open: April 20, 2009
Due: June 15, 2009

The PopTech Social Innovation Fellows program is designed to equip the next generation of world-changing innovators with the tools, insights, visibility and social network that can help them scale their impacts to new heights. Fellows work in both the for-profit and not-for-profit worlds, have a minimum of 3-5 years experience, and are working in organizations that are well positioned for sustainable growth. Fellows then participate in and present briefly at PopTech, the renowned thought leadership conference, which will take place this year from October 21-24, 2009 in Camden, Maine. Fellos participate in an all-expenses-paid, multi-day intensive program focused on insights and tools for accelerating and scaling “big bet” innovations, such as branding, media relations, social/Web2.0 media, finance, leadership, digital storytelling, design for impact and organizational development.Click here to apply.

Young people today are not protesting or rioting—instead, we are proclaiming ourselves social entrepreneurs and actively searching for the best models to address poverty. This movement is brewing on campuses across the country and the world, including my own, and Acumen Fund wants to help us develop the skills and knowledge we need to pioneer new approaches to poverty alleviation. cumen Fund is hosting its first annual workshop for student leaders on May 28th-30th, 2009 in New York City. Sessions will focus on Acumen Fund and its model, types of enterprises and investors within the social enterprise sector, ideas for skill development and career planning, and opportunities for leadership and engagement in the sector. Click here to apply and read more about the workshop.
Application Due: April 10, 2009

Connecting to a Global Tribe

2009-04-01T02:33:00.002-05:00

Remember the guy in the video dancing around the world? Matt Harding’s videos of himself dancing in locales around the world have drawn more than 20 million viewings on YouTube. He is working on a book about his travels titled "Where the Hell Is Matt."

Also, read/listen to this essay by him on NPR.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Want to see the difference Earth Hour has made?

2009-03-30T16:57:00.006-05:00

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/earth_hour_2009.html

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness. Earth Hour is a message of hope and a message of action. More than 1,000 cities in over 80 countries observed Earth Hour 2009 on Saturday March 28th, as homes, office towers and landmarks turned off their lights for an hour starting at 8.30 pm local time to raise awareness about climate change and the threat from rising greenhouse gas emissions.

The Boston Big Picture website has an excellent collection of a series of before-and-after photographs - which will fade between "on" and "off" when clicked.

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/03/earth_hour_2009.html

Solitude

2009-03-29T01:54:00.000-05:00

Saw this person sitting at the end of the Tiburon Ridge in Old St. Hilary's Open Space. This little-used rolling grassland offers million-dollar views of San Francisco Bay, the downtown skyline, and the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a perfect setting where the sense of calm and peacefulness is worth experiencing.

Leadership Skills

2009-03-28T15:04:00.002-05:00

Paul Orfalea gave the opening keynote at Stanford’s Entrepreneurship eConference.

* Leaders notice success around them.

When you see a line out the door of a small hotdog business, do you think about demand and profit margins or are “you just buying a hotdog”?

* Leaders see “what isn’t there”.

Don’t let your education, training, or privileges stand in the way of seeing what is, and isn’t, right in front of you.

* Leaders make ideas work for them.

Learn to feel comfortable with ambiguity. Act on ideas and make the tough decisions including saying “No” quickly rather than stringing people along.

* Leaders cultivate intuition.

Figure out how to manage people and help employees define success for themselves. If you prefer to manage things, you probably should not be a leader.

* Leaders know workers are the boss.

Workers are the ones face-to-face with the customers/beneficiaries and actually doing the work (and probably doing it way better than you could).

* Leaders remove obstacles.

Enable your workers to do their job and “leave the store”. Balance trust and verification – sometimes just the presence of the leader can destroy the confidence of a manager.

* Leaders understand the importance of being cheerful and uplifting.

You don’t have share all the bad news and have an “open kimono” all the time.

* Leaders sleep.

Sleep gives time for imprinting what you have learned during the day, and besides, no one wants to follow a leader who is tired and haggard.

* Leaders balance work, love, and play.

If you do all three, you’ll make better decisions. “All you workaholics, go drink some beer!”*

Came across this posting on http://www.socialedge.org/ by Jill Finlayson

Retreating Glacier

2009-03-27T10:40:00.001-05:00

Saw this today...scary!

In 2006, James Balog and National Geographic, attempted to photograph the effects of global warming as they unfolded. The result is the "Extreme Ice Survey."

26 solar-powered cameras capture time-lapse images of glaciers in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, the Alps, and the Rocky Mountains. Over the next two years the project will take more than 300,000 pictures. You can view these spectacular images by clicking here.

Came across on Al Gore's website.

Value of 500 Rupees

2009-03-26T13:26:00.001-05:00

Wal-Mart of garbage

2009-03-25T12:35:00.000-05:00

It all started in 2001 when two Princeton University students set out to change the way people do business. Inspired by a box of worms, these students had a dream: a company could be financially successful while being ecologically and socially responsible.

Co-founders Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer were determined to turn the worm box concept into a real-life, commercially viable process. That summer, they developed prototype equipment and proved their concept was feasible by reprocessing solid waste from dining halls at Princeton University.

The emerging concept of Eco-Capitalism holds that organizations must be accountable for their performance in the consumption and production of natural capital, an economic term for the goods and services available from nature. Such goods and services include the resources we use in conducting manufacturing and commerce, both nonrenewable (oil, coal, metal ore, etc.) and renewable (forests, fisheries, grasslands, etc.). In an eco-capitalist manufacturing model, garbage is used as the raw material. The material is processed by a sustainable factory and is turned into a product that can be re-used again as a raw material.

Traditional capitalistic business practices and public policies have typically ignored the value of natural capital. In a standard capitalist manufacturing model, raw material is procured, often with a serious environmental impact. The material is processed by a factory and is turned into a product that often ends up as garbage.

With a brilliant business model built around recycling - shipping free junk in by the truckload, then spinning it into gold TerraCycle will definitely go big.

Read the article "Garbage mogul makes millions from trash" on CNN Money.

Visit TerraCycle to learn more about how they do it.

TEDIndia: The Future Beckons

2009-03-23T17:18:00.000-05:00

Mysore, India
November 4-7, 2009

Inspired speakers and game-changing ideas, evocative locations and transporting entertainment: TEDIndia offers a vision of the future that's rich with invention, entrepreneurship, cross-disciplinary problem-solving, unexpected solutions and sensory delight. Hosted in a country that’s reinventing itself – and reshaping the world...

Visit TEDIndia

Earth Hour 2009

2009-03-21T16:04:00.001-05:00

This year, the world's first global election is taking place, an election between earth and global warming. It's not about what country you are from, but what planet you are from. Your light switch is your vote. We need one billion votes for earth, because our planet is worth saving. Vote Earth by simply switching off your lights for one hour and join the world for Earth Hour. Saturday march 28th, 8:30-9:30pm.

You can learn more about Earth Hour at www.EarthHour.org, and you can sign up to participate at www.EarthHour.org/signup.

If you’d like a high level history of Earth Hour, more than 50 million people in 400 cities around the world took part in Earth Hour 2008. The lights went out at Sydney’s Opera House, Rome’s Coliseum, the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. Even the Google homepage went dark for the day. Many major corporations took part including HP, Coca-Cola, and Morgan Stanley.

Energy efficiency isn’t just good for the bottom line. We all have a stake in the future of our planet and must learn to operate in ways that don’t deplete our world’s limited natural resources. By simply turning off all non-essential lighting for one hour at our company buildings and in our own homes, we will join tens of millions of concerned citizens throughout the world in calling for action to save our planet for future generations.

I’m excited about Earth Hour and I hope you’ll join me in uniting with the world to make a difference for our planet. Don’t forget—March 28th at 8:30 pm, turn out, take action.

President Obama Interview

2009-03-20T12:44:00.001-05:00

The President sits down with Jay and talks about politics, the economy and adjusting to his new lifestyle.

Thought

2009-03-19T14:14:00.002-05:00

"If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place."
-Nora Roberts

The next Web of open, linked data

2009-03-18T14:12:00.000-05:00

20 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. For his next project, he's building a web for open, linked data that could do for numbers what the Web did for words, pictures, video: unlock our data and reframe the way we use it together.

What drove Tim Berners-Lee to imagine this game-changing model for information sharing, and will its openness be its undoing?

Read this article on Scientific American:"Remembering the Day the World Wide Web Was Born"