Miguel's Pizza

Have you ever climbed at the Red River Gorge. It's a beautiful place, and it is also a home of famous Miguel's Pizza. Miguel came to Connecticut from Portugal many years ago and then moved to KY to start an ice-cream shop that evolved into Pizza Place.

Miguel also open his "backyard" for climbers to camp and hang out. It became a sort of landmark and created good business for Miguel.

Image form http://www.flickr.com/groups/miguels/pool/

Why am I writing about this? –I like the idea of starting a place - a community of people to get together and sharing their stories and insights.

Google & Flu

Everything is interconnected and there are creative ways to find things.
How can you track flu besides keeping track of the actual reported cases – what about number of “flu” searches on google.

http://www.google.org/about/flutrends/how.html

I think a couple of years ago there was also article on tracking the “actual” drug use of each city block by tapping into sewer lines.

Random Find: South African Entrepreneural Blog

IDEATE

http://www.ideate.co.za/

These guys have an interesting thing going - there are many articles on their entrepreneural experiences and the experiences of people around them.

Coffee and Food (you choose the price)

Coffee shop where you choose to pay whatever price you think is right. There is something very elegant about this idea.

http://www.terrabite.org/

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003558690_terrabite06e.html

Bike Simplicity and Beauty

http://www.grappo.fi/velotribute

Harlan Hubbard

Harlan Hubbard - The American Artist and Writer who lived a life of Henry Thoreau.

"To arise in the frosty morning at the point of daybrak, climb the hill and cut wood, while the sky lightens above the trees; to eat this wholesome, sweet food(;) to use my body, hands and mind at the endless work I have to do; to read by the firelight, to sleep warm and snug; all this shared and enjoyed by my loving partner – what manner of a man originated this idea of a happier life beyond death?"

– H.H., April 1955

Computer in a Briefcase

My computer is working great now, but while I was looking for a processor I had another great idea. I can buy an old briefcase, put a motherboard inside, cut some holes for ventilation, powersource, etc. – and there you have it - portable PC.

Computer

My laptop died the other day (the processor overheated because of bad ventilation). I was not in the mood of spending money on a new computer, since my old one was still good, so I went to the local small electronics/computer shop and got a used processor for $25.

Works great -Problem solved.

I think this idea can be applied to so many other problems/ideas in our lives.

Ace Hotel

Ace Hotel = Simple Solutions + Creative Design + Salvaged Materials

"The recipe involves taking a characterful old building in an emerging location, a small budget requiring lateral thinking and some clever industrial salvage, a design aesthetic that mixes uncluttered comfort with a bohemian vibe, and the experience that comes from being a seasoned traveler and knowing what you do and don’t need when it comes to resting your weary head. Pay-per-view TV? No thank-you. Free Wi-Fi internet access? Of course."

Land, Farmer, Community: A Sacred Trust To Create Heaven on Earth

“What I do is more than farming. It’s learning how to care for life and improve society.”

Japanese farmer that grows food using natural methods and also gets his customers to come and help out!”

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/337

(Lisa M. Hamilton) Published in the September/October 2007 issue of Orion magazine

Bamboo Bikes

Bamboo Bikes (http://www.bamboobike.org/)
Using readily available resource (in Africa) + some creativity and skill

"The Bamboo Bike Project is a collaboration between Scientists and Engineers at The Earth Institute at Columbia University, and a bicycle builder at Calfee Design. The project aims to examine the feasibility of implementing cargo bikes made of bamboo as a sustainable form of transportation in Africa."

Aspirations

A buddy of mine who ran track in college wanted to coach a track team. I imagine that it is hard to get into that unless you are a track star or have a comprehensive background in athletic training.
So he came up with an interesting idea of proposing a track team to some small colleges that currently do not have one as recruiting/retention tool.

He succeeded and they hired him on half time basis with a open door for another half time position on campus.

It seems like it’s a matter of just going for it (+ creativity)…

Idea

I’ve been thinking about putting something together like this for quite some time. The basic idea behind this project was to share ideas and questions so that we can multiply (amplify) our thinking process (brain power)…

The first time I thought of this was several years ago when my car died, and I needed to find a way to get from rural Illinois to Wisconsin. I came up with the plan on a fly to bike to nearest train station which was 17 miles away – catch the train to Chicago – switch trains from Chicago to Wisconsin – and the bike in Wisconsin another 15 miles to my destination.

It worked out great. I realized that combined with trains you can expand effectiveness of the bike to a great distance.

While this was a nice solution – I wonder if some people have any other ways of getting around – there has to be other neat solutions to the problem of getting from point A to Point B.