The Family Jewels
You may have read about this innovative and controversial company in the news. LifeGem is a company that creates certified, high quality diamonds from the carbon of your loved one "as a memorial to their unique life." This means you can literally wear jewelry made from the cremated remains of a friend or relative -- an idea that some people love and others can't imagine. If you can't get your head around wearing a dead parent as a ring, they offer the same process for pets who have passed on, which is a pretty cool way to keep a beloved dog near your heart forever. LifeGem can also now create diamonds from a simple lock of hair, which means the donor can be living or deceased. This opens the market way up -- if you're going to buy a diamond wedding ring, why not buy a one-of-a-kind version that literally sprang from the essence of your betrothed? Check out the website for info about the process and some touching tributes and testimonials.
Follow the Yes Ride
The Yes Ride, a 2-month Seattle to Boston fundraising bike ride, has finally got their blog up and running. Check in with these student riders as they trek across the country raising money to support the Millennium Development Goals. CThings sends the riders our support and congratulations. Click here to read the blog.
Innovative Matchmaking
Here's an interesting new "mashup" - a dating/networking website based on your airline seat reservation. Whether you're looking for a date in Los Angeles, a business networking partner in Tokyo, or just someone to share a cab from Kennedy to Midtown, check out AirTroductions. Here's how it works: Travelers join AirTroductions for free and post personal and/or business profiles. Before taking a flight, they enter their itineraries and are notified of other members booked on the same flight. They're given the option of sending anonymous e-mail through the site (by paying a $5 fee) to determine whether they want to meet at the airport, and, if mutually acceptable, get reassigned to adjoining seats. If you've got a 12-14 hour flight, it makes sense to sit next to someone with a shared personal or professional interest.
Free Screening - An Inconvenient Truth
If you're in LA this coming Saturday (June 24), you can see An Inconvenient Truth for free at the LA Film Festival. Al Gore is supposed to make an appearance at the screening. For details check out the LA Film Festival or the film's website, ClimateCrisis.net.
Social Marketing University
How do you help people adopt behaviors that will make them healthier and better off? How can you create positive social change? At Social Marketing University, you will move beyond the usual educational approach to changing health and social behaviors. Using social marketing, you will learn how to persuade individuals to take action for change by addressing the values, needs and desires that motivate them. It's about understanding and connecting with your audience by applying the same effective marketing tools that companies like Nike and Apple use. Join Nedra Kline Weinreich for this two-day training at UCLA on Sept. 18-19. You will leave with an effective social marketing strategy for your own program and the skills to implement it immediately.
iPod Workout
Several new audio workout sites have launched this year, but PodFitness is a cut above. The site delivers a completely customized workout download for your MP3 player based on your goals (lose weight, build muscle, core training, etc.). You can select from over 50 trainers, including celebrity trainers like Kathy Smith and Bobby Strom -- whoever you think motivates you the most. The site even lets you choose your preferred genre of music to workout to OR you can select a workout playlist from your own collection. Once your selections have been made, you'll receive a custom workout every day based on the workout you design. Membership is $19.95/month and they offer a free 10-day trial.
