Designed by Inesa Malafej and Arunas Sukarevicius from Lithuania, the Dancepants converts kinetic energy from running or dancing into electricity for your MP3 player.

More info here.

The Social Impact Business Plan Competition “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.” Open to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with a focus in education, youth development, health, poverty alleviation or community economic development. Go here for more information.

I would love to see a community library like this in Los Angeles!

“What began as an assemblage of 1,000 empty beer cartons pulled together by residents in East Germany has now evolved into an incredible open air public library. Designed by Karo Architekten in collaboration with local residents, the grassroots project revitalizes a post-industrial district in Magdeburg, Germany by creating a cultural center and pop-up library where books are free to take and leave 24…

“The EyeWriter project is an ongoing collaborative research effort to empower people, who are suffering from ALS, with creative technologies. It is a low-cost eye-tracking apparatus & custom software that allows graffiti writers and artists with paralysis resulting from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to draw using only their eyes.”

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

via swissmiss

Designed by Inesa Malafej and Arunas Sukarevicius from Lithuania, the Dancepants converts kinetic energy from running or dancing into electricity for your MP3 player.

More info here.

The Social Impact Business Plan Competition “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.” Open to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with a focus in education, youth development, health, poverty alleviation or community economic development. Go here for more information.

I would love to see a community library like this in Los Angeles!

“What began as an assemblage of 1,000 empty beer cartons pulled together by residents in East Germany has now evolved into an incredible open air public library. Designed by Karo Architekten in collaboration with local residents, the grassroots project revitalizes a post-industrial district in Magdeburg, Germany by creating a cultural center and pop-up library where books are free to take and leave 24…

“The EyeWriter project is an ongoing collaborative research effort to empower people, who are suffering from ALS, with creative technologies. It is a low-cost eye-tracking apparatus & custom software that allows graffiti writers and artists with paralysis resulting from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to draw using only their eyes.”

The Eyewriter from Evan Roth on Vimeo.

via swissmiss

“Here’s one indicator that’s looking pretty recession-proof: New York City bike commuting shot up 26 percent in 2009, according to data released today by the Department of Transportation. The increase marks the second straight year of robust cycling growth in the city. Last year bike commuting rose 35 percent.”

Original article: Streetsblog New York City » Count on It: NYC Bike Commuting Climbs 26 Percent

In John Kerry’s words:

“I know the difference a generation of young Americans in motion can make.

I was in college at a time of great political ferment and fundamental changes to our social fabric: the Civil Rights Act, the beginning of the counterculture and the passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that set us on a disastrous path of deepening involvement in Vietnam.

When I came home from war disillusioned, I joined with millions of young…

Let’s be honest here for a minute. We’ve all got some things in our closets that we haven’t worn in years. Maybe it’s that pair of jeans that we’re hoping to one day fit back into. Maybe it’s a top that’s great in theory but just doesn’t seem to go with anything. Rather than trashing those unworn items or sending them to the Goodwill, the folks at thredUP want to help you swap them out…

How often do you buy a new computer? After two years? Four? For such complex products, we go through them pretty quick, and that adds up to a lot of ultra harmful e-waste.

It’s something computer companies are already striving for, but designer Je Sung Park is taking the idea of a recyclable computer to its furthest limits. His Recyclable Paper Laptop is made from pulp and reprocessed materials, and would be broken down into the…

The Pentagon has unveiled a new robot that looks like a blob of goo. Called the “chemical robot,” or ChemBot, it moves by changing its shape, by inflating and deflating different areas. Researchers say the research could lead to robots that can seep through cracks, and help rescue people trapped in collapsed buildings.

Shoes

Not long ago a trip to the local cobbler was a routine errand. Although it may seem anachronistic, there are actually quite a few shoe repair shops still in business. A friend of mine recently took his beloved sneakers to one in New York City. For $10 he walked out with brand new soles and refurnished inners, so his kicks seem practically new! Sure beats dropping $100+ for comparable replacements.

Favorite hiking, cowboy or snow boots…