Hunt and Gather

Check this out!

Youth CITIES is a program designed to empower high school students to use the principles of entrepreneurship to drive change in their communities. Youth CITIES moves beyond the academics of building businesses, framing real-life problems, real-life constraints, and real-life criteria as the launch pad for students to create a value-driven, sustainable solution to a real-life market opportunity. $1500 in seed grant funding and the benefit of a hand-selected Advisory Board will be awarded to winning team to help launch a prototype/pilot.

Get it at Snorg.

I love this free tool so much I could do cartwheels. In fact, I did recently have a dream that I was on the BBG roller derby team and did a round off in roller skates. That dream may have in fact be spurred by the excitement of discovering this very tool. I doubt it, but for for fun lets just say it was. So your probably thinking yeah, yeah alright, spit it out already whats so exciting? Well here it is in big bold caps-"STICKY BITS" tada! What I am taking about is digital markers and tags. Whoa! Hold the telephone I've lost you haven't I?

Let me explain. have you seen things like the above picture on billboards or in magazines. If not you really should get out more often, JK. These little do hickeys are called markers or tags. When you see one you can "snap" it with an app on your smart phone and it will link you to a website, a message, video or a coupon.

You are probably thinking, Shut the front door! I know, its crazy isn't it? Now, this could be used for all sorts of cool things. My idea is to create a marker to put on the back of my freelance business cards so people can scan it and go to my online design portfolio. Pure awesomeness. Oh and the best part- its free ninty nine!

I love how Tech Crunch talks about it as the secret lives of objects


What would you use it for?

Everyday I try to find something to be inspired by. Whether it is a pattern, a color, a new invention, a technology breakthrough or a new food I have never tried. I do this most when I have writers block or am trying to work through a problem. I call this brain stretching, outside of the box inspiration that excersises the creative mind. Whew! Here are some of my favorite spots to check out what's going on!

TED Blog
niblettes
Readymade
Core77 / design magazine + resource
PSFK : Ideas, Trends & Inspiration
Not Cot

Chris' cousin Nick (Far left) just returned from the 2010 Mongol Rally. Check this out!

A third of the way around the earth, from Europe to Mongolia via a plethora of countries most people haven't heard of in a car that has an engine with no bigger than 1 litre. Starting from England, Spain and Italy, the rally finishes in the Mongolian capital Ulaan Baatar around four weeks and a whole heap of adventure later. It's between about 8 and 10,000 miles depending on the route you choose to throw your trusty steed at. We don't believe in telling you what to do or where to go as this is supposed to be an adventure not a cosy guided driving tour, so the world is pretty much your oyster.

The Mongol Rally isn't just about adventure, it's also about raising huge sacks of cash for some great charities. In 2009 the Mongol Rally topped £325,000, 2010 donations are still coming in and have nearly hit the £400,000 mark and we hope the 2011 Rally will smash that this year. 

Hundreds of volunteers painted six blocks along 12th street in OTR as part of the Cincinnati Fine Arts Fund launch of its new name, ArtsWave, and it's new mission.

If you get a chance look at the Over The Rhine facebook page. Tons of innovative folks and great business and community projects.