The Community Board

A Note From the Editors: Switching Off the Community Board

GOOD — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:55:00 PDT

Dear GOOD community,

Thank you for contributing to the creative discussions on our collective website.

We have some bittersweet news for you. For the time being, we're switching off the Community Board to update it and reassess how it works. Think of it as a much needed summer vacation. The good news is that we're hard at work trying to improve the way we all interact with each other here at GOOD.is, and soon, we'll come back with some new and revitalized ways of opening up GOOD to you. We'll keep you posted.

Don't worry, your profile will still exist, and you'll still be able to comment on posts, participate in Projects, and interact with us on Twitter and Facebook.

Sincerely,
GOOD

German Millionaires Criticize Gates's Giving Pledge

Zach Frechette — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:52:00 PDT

German millionaires say donations shouldn't replace duties that would be better carried out by the state. Der Spiegel

Secret Tips for Getting the Most Out of Tanning Booths

Veronica Davis — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 10:31:34 PDT

Getting a tan is what a lot of people do every summer. However, the amount of UV rays from the Sun nowadays can be unpredictable and may be harmful to the skin without proper protection. There are also times when the sun is not available to give you the tanned skin you desire. In times like these, artificial sources such as a tanning booth and tanning bed come in handy.

However, in these modern times, people are so busy that they want every services at its fastest and finest. This is the part where the tanning booth provides an advantage compared to the tanning beds. In a tanning booth, the person gets an entire body tan in lesser time compared to the person in a tanning bed because tanning booths are specifically designed to give a tan that covers your whole body with never having to change positions, roll from front to back, or change which side you’re laying on.

Now to get the most out of the tanning booths, you may consider the following tips...

Clean and exfoliate your skin prior to going inside the tanning booth. Exfoliation after the tanning process might result to uneven skin color.

Moisturize. It is best to use a skin moisturizer with Vitamin D for better skin absorbency.

Tanning lotions that are designed for this process must also be used to maximize the tanning session. They can increase your tanning by as much as 40%. Some tanning lotions are also created to increase the longevity of the tan.

Use goggles while you’re in tanning booths. It is important to use goggles to protect the retina of your eyes during the tanning session. Please be aware that you should never expose your eyes throughout the tanning process.

Maximize your time tanning by standing with your legs parted. This allows the skin between your legs to get some light, too. You should do the same thing with your arms – hold them up to get even coverage. Some tanning booths have handlebars available to hold on to for support.

Look for tanning booths that offer the lowest exposure time. The lower maximum exposure time means quicker tanning session. Some newer models offer lower maximum exposure times that means the customer spends lesser time inside the booth but gets the desired tan sooner.

Take good care of your skin. Getting your desired tan may be exciting but one should make sure that health is still on top of the priority list. Limit your trips to the tanning booth to three times per week. And give your skin a 48-hour passing time between tanning sessions to allow the melanin in the skin to fully-recover.

Please be aware that the desired tan does not appear right after you step out from the booth. You will have to give your skin at least 24 hours to show that great bronzed look. Therefore, please be patient and tan safely.

A Night In The Jungle - Nonlife Zoo's Residency (W/ DJ Daedelus) at Royal/T 8/6/10

charlene2 — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 10:24:23 PDT

On Friday August 6th, Royal/T presents A Night In the Jungle. To celebrate The Nonlife Zoo pop-up exhibition, everyone is welcome to dance the night away and raise awareness for endangered species. The night will begin at 8pm. DJ Daedalus will spin in the back space. Beer/wine/soju cocktails and new vegetarian items will be available for purchase. If any guest needs a break from dancing, Royal/T’s very own Susan Hancock will be reading animal energy cards and artist Kenny Scharf’s Cartz Royale will be zooming through!

ABOUT THE NONLIFE ZOO:
The Nonlife Zoo is an imaginary visual of our planet created to raise awareness of animal preservation in the hope to improve our social responsibility to the environment. The Nonlife Zoo series was inspired to reflect on our behavior and the impact on the intricate balance between nature and life on earth. All animals are designed with human-like standing forms and unified expressions to remind us of their coexistence on this planet. They all have cuddly and colorful appearances, yet with conflicting emotionless expressions, as if they are silently expressing their call for help. Designed by 28 biaugust and represented in the United States by MollaSpace, The Nonlife Zoo creates the backdrop for A Night In The Jungle.

ABOUT DJ DAEDELUS:
Alfred Darlington is your musical maestro hailing from the City of Angels. With an eye for early Victorian Dandyism, an ear towards handmade / played electronic music, his is a very individual ‘bespoke’ outlook. Having numerous international releases and tours to his credit he has shared the stage and albums with a diverse list of luminaries from Madlib to Daniel Johnston, from MF DOOM to Jean Jacques Perrey, from Diplo to … well this listing game could go on for quite a while. Daedelus has releases with labels Ninja Tune, Warp, Brainfeeder, Stones Throw, and many more.

Tickets are $10 and available online at the link below and possibly at the door for $15 (space permitting). A portion of the proceeds from store sales go to charity. No one under 21 years old will be admitted.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/122038

Use Web Design to Wrap Your Reader in the Emotions of Your Choosing

Veronica Davis — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 10:03:47 PDT

When it comes to having your own website, your top priority must be the web design because it has the capability of wrapping your reader up in the emotions you want them to have. With poor web design, you can just about be on it that your readers will be enticed by what you have to offer.

You have to always remember that web design can build the confidence of consumers on your website. It can also do the opposite. Since having a poorly-developed website can be detrimental to your website’s succes, you must see to it that you come up with a professional design suited for the kind of website you have.

Technically, layout is the term for the structure of your website. From spaces to images, every little detail serves a purpose and needs to be considered when you plan for the layout of your website. Once your web design is coming along nicely, the structure of your pages should also be tested among different web browsers. That way, you can be sure that visitors won’t have any problem accessing them (no matter what browser they may be using).

The rule of the thumb is just one word: balance. Keep your texts in equilibrium with your images. Never over-do one more than the other. But as always, there are exceptions to the rule. If you want to concentrate on either of the two, you can still do it provided that it fits your website. For instance, if you want to entice your customers with your products or services, make your images eye-catching.

Also, for you to widen your audience, you have make things easy for any visitor who comes to your website. While you may provide exceptional content, you must also provide the necessary navigational scheme that can be easily understood by any visitor. Menus, icons, sidebars, and other interactive items can be included for your website to be as user-friendly as you want it to be. At the end of the day, it is the online visitors who are your target on making a website.

Color also plays an enormous role. Consider your target audience. If you’re targeting teens then you could probably get by with crazy, contrasting colors that demand attention. If you’re targeting new moms, then pastels and a more subtle color scheme would probably be more appropriate. It’s been proven time and time again that certain colors elicit certain emotions, too.

Update Kitchen Cabinets to be Safe for your Toddler's Wandering Hands

Veronica Davis — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 10:01:27 PDT

Having a toddler in your life is a treasure. But then again, behind the joy that a toddler brings to the family, there can be dangerous circumstances for them. It’s important to update your home for wandering hands and your kitchen cabinets are no exception. When it comes to your kitchen, you have to make it a point that you update your kitchen cabinets to ensure the safety of your little one.

Kitchen cabinets are often where dangerous items are kept. Toxic substances and hazardous chemicals can be the content of one or many of your kitchen cabinets. This is why it is very important to baby proof your kitchen cabinets not only for the sake of your toddler, but also for you to keep your peace of mind whenever they are playing in the kitchen.

First of all, you must keep toxic materials and chemicals away from your kitchen cabinets that can be reached by your baby. Move them to a higher area that is out of your baby's reach since ingestion of these can cause serious poisoning.

Aside from chemicals and toxic materials, another thing that can bring your toddler to danger is breakable material like glass bottles. It is best to store breakables on a shelf that is higher from your toddler's reach. If you are keeping sharp items like knives and scissors in your kitchen cabinet, see to it that you also update your kitchen cabinet by means of placing locks on them.

Locking your kitchen cabinets is also a good way of preventing your child from playing around dangerous materials. Buy enough locks and latches for your kitchen cabinets. The installation of the locks and latches that you have bought depends on the instructions for the installation presented by whoever manufactured the products. You can find specific hardware in the baby section of your local supermarket or baby store that are made with your little one in mind. They’re usually plastic, very sturdy and safe.

Once you have installed the locks on your kitchen cabinets, test all of them to make sure if you have done it right.

Keep in mind that setting a safe environment for the safety of your toddler must be on your list of priorities. Besides updating kitchen cabinets, also teach your children necessary rules whenever they are in the kitchen for them to be aware of the importance of being out of harm.

Who gets your time and money?

Tom Englerth — Wed, 4 Aug 2010 04:18:48 PDT

Depending upon which study you read, between 70% and 90% of American families donate time, money or both to charitable and non profit organizations.

Who do you give to and why?

Hello all!

gardengroompro — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 22:19:09 PDT

This is my first day here and I thought I would post a quick hello.

In addition to technology, I love gardening and this community looks like a great place to share some insights into some of the tricks and tactics I have uncovered that enables us gardeners to have an easier time tending our gardens and maintaining our grounds.

Look forward to building some good relationships with some fellow techies and passionate gardeners!

Hello All!

Jaytronic Technologies — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 16:47:38 PDT

This is my first post on this blog. I just wanted to let everyone know that this blog will be kept up to date with articles, tips, and reviews of metal detectors. Hope to start posting soon.

Thanks,

Jay

The WorkRoom Wants To Give New Orleans Space

The WorkRoom — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 15:00:13 PDT

The WorkRoom is a not for profit artist studio in New Orleans, that seeks to give the people of our amazing city a place to congregate, create, and exhibit. We want to give them the tools and outlet so that anyone who needs to make their artistic mark can. With the help of our friends at GOOD, The WorkRoom can continue the rebuilding of New Orleans and the strengthening of it's people. Arts and education are more important than ever and we are excited to see that you are championing our cause. So, please vote for us at http://refresheverything.com/workroomnola and check us out on http://kickstarter.com/profiles/workroomnola .

Thank You and Stay Good,

Christy and Maria

The WorkRoom

facebook.com/workroomnola

Dart Shot Trick

Clara Morris — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 12:56:28 PDT

Ever wonder how the dart shot was done? Here is a post that gives you all the things that you ought to know in achieving a dart shot as show in the picture in this post. Check it out.

http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/how-i-took/76311-dart-shot.html

You Can Get Rid of Cellulite

Veronica Davis — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 11:40:49 PDT

A common fear that grips most women and men (though to a lesser extent) all over the world is cellulite. Cellulite forms in the subcutaneous fat cells beneath the dermis and epidermis of the skin. So, if you already have extra flab, and add cellulite on to it, your woes are understandable. Cellulite not only lends an unsightly, and sometimes grotesque appearance to the skin, it is also unhealthy for your body. So how do you get rid off these ugly cellulite formations on your body?

Well, it is rather difficult to get rid off cellulite quickly, but that does not mean that it is completely impossible. There are certain natural, surgical and non-surgical ways of treating cellulite. The extent of efficacy depends on the method you adopt. You should ideally aim at reducing fat from your body. But then, you also need to remember that reducing fat does not dissolve cellulite completely.

So, let us discuss a few effective ways, employing which you can combat cellulite:

Exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet

By doing so, you are basically curtailing the level of fat in your body. Fat control is important since it aggravates cellulite to a large extent. In fact, obese people suffer predominantly from cellulite compared to their skinnier counterparts. Eat less of foods that contain fat and include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet instead. Exercise regularly to burn fats accumulated in your body. This is an elementary way to start the process of cellulite extermination.

Have Cellulite massage

There are many cellulite massage therapies that can treat cellulite. You can have the massage administered on you at a good massage parlor or at home as well. The following procedure will tell you how to do it at home:

Ask your spouse to gently massage the areas affected by cellulite using a soft bristle brush, like your thighs if you're plagued by leg cellulite. Massage each of those areas for around 5-10 minutes. The brush massage will help in circulating the fat and spread it evenly underneath your skin, thus reducing cellulite.

Non-surgical cellulite removal

There is a non-surgical treatment involving bi-polar radio frequency, infrared rays and massage therapy to remove cellulite. The cost of this treatment is pretty steep and the effects may be short-lived. Some patients have even reported unsatisfactory results.

Surgical treatment- Liposuction

This is a surgical way of treating cellulite. A lot of celebrities adopt this method for its sheer efficacy. A general anesthesia is used, the skin is penetrated through small incisions in the skin and suction is used. The suction penetrates through layers of fat and cellulite. There is minimal loss of blood in this process. The process is known to produce quick and effective results.

However, surgery should be your last resort. It is invasive, costly and exposes you to some undesirable after-effects such as rippled and uneven skin, heavy scarring and in extreme cases, organ failure. So, try treating your cellulite naturally. If all natural methods fail, only then should you go for surgery.

CoFI Fellowship

FINO CoFI — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 11:07:44 PDT

Bringing transformation in the sphere of financial inclusion requires a thorough understanding of the grassroot realities along with the wisdom to grasp the hidden flaws as well as prospects presented by the situation. CoFI presents such an opportunity to research scholars, students and professionals - to gain first-hand experience and develop as a better leader. CoFI Fellowship is an unpaid volunteer program designed to connect FINO/ FINO Fintech Foundation (F^3) with enthusiastic individuals from the across the world to further innovative initiatives for financial inclusion. The core elements of the fellowship program include networking, field visits & reporting, and access to knowledge resources of the organisation. Fellows get the opportunity to conduct impact studies for the organisation, provide newer insights in the field of financial inclusion through blogging and reporting, and play an active role in CoFI knowledge co-creation and sharing. For more information, please visit www.fino-cofi.blogspot.com

Haitian Nurses and Doctors: The Next Generation

Project HOPE — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 09:56:33 PDT

In late May, Dr. Louis Sullivan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and current Project HOPE Board member, and Dr. Ruben Pamies, Dean for Graduate Studies at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, asked to meet with me in Washington. They expressed a deep concern for the next generation of Haitian physicians and nurses, in light of the damage suffered by the medical and nursing schools in Port-au-Prince.

They asked Project HOPE to join in assessing the current capacity of Haiti’s health professions education – in the context of the future need for health care in the country. Two days ago, we visited the medical school, Universite D'Etat D'Haiti, which has been largely reduced to rubble. Today, we went to the site of a former nursing school on the grounds of the teaching hospital, Hopital Universite D'Etat D'Haiti, also known as General Hospital. What we saw was breathtaking. The nursing school building had been leveled – now replaced by UNICEF tents. Hundreds of nursing students lost their lives, when the school collapsed.

General Hospital, which long served as the “safety net” hospital for the poor of Port-au-Prince, is a shadow of its former self. What was once an 800-bed facility was reduced to a 300-bed capacity. Major buildings (general surgery clinic, inpatient women’s internal medicine, outpatient clinics and pediatrics) are shuttered. In the face of this, the need for urgent care continues on.

Nick Lobel-Weiss, Executive Director of Global Emergency Relief based in New York City, and secunded to the General Hospital, gave a most compelling example. A twenty-nine year-old woman with active tuberculosis, now in her 29th week of pregnancy, was in the midst of being transferred from the teaching hospital to the Adventist Hospital in the Diquini neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, which had been spared from major earthquake damage.

We met Dr. Megan Coffee, an infectious disease fellow from the University of California, San Francisco. She arrived in Port-au-Prince in late January -- and has been involved in round-the-clock care of critically ill patients since then. She told us of the high prevalence of post-partum, dilated myocardiopathy, not often seen in the U.S. These patients can present with an admitting diagnosis of tuberculosis when, in fact, their chest X-ray findings are those of heart failure. Here at General Hospital, earlier today, a 22-year-old woman was found sitting bolt upright gasping for air, due to this underlying heart problem.

Later in our visit, the director of pharmacy shared her gratitude for the medicines and medical supplies, donated by HOPE. She cited IV fluids from B. Braun and lidocaine from Hospira. We were later joined by two of the Haitian biomedical engineers who helped prepare HOPE’s assessment of medical equipment, requested by the Minister of Health after the earthquake, at six of the largest hospitals in Port-au-Prince.

Dr. Sullivan and Pamies are right – health professions education is at risk here in Haiti. Its future supply of physicians and nurses, and hence the future of country’s health care, is in question. While the focus of recent months has been on the acute crisis (post-earthquake trauma) and more recently, the quiet crisis (tuberculosis and diabetes), the unseen crisis (health professions education) is now at hand. The right prescription for returning Haiti to an adequate supply of physicians and nurses needs to be written as soon as possible. The health of Haitians, now and in the future, will be the beneficiary.

Story and Photos by HOPE Volunteer PAO and Photojournalist Allison Shelley

Scholarships Awarded to Remote Pacific Islanders

njm — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 08:33:28 PDT

Twenty-one students from across Micronesia will enroll in prestigious private schools this fall with the help of scholarships from the Habele Outer Island Education Fund. The students, whose families come from isolated islands and atolls throughout Yap and Chuuk States, have been awarded tuition assistance covering 75 percent of the cost of their 2010-11 enrollment. They will be attending independent K-12 schools on the islands of Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei, where most will live with relatives or sponsors for the length of the school year. Habele is a US-based charity that awards scholarships to Micronesian students each fall. Since 2006 the organization has provided over $17,000 in tuition assistance, as well as hundreds of boxes of donated books for public school libraries. The group also published a comprehensive Ulithian-English Dictionary earlier this year for island educators. “Every child from every island deserves access to an effective and appropriate classroom,” explains Alex Sidles, a Habele board member. Sidles observed that scholarships for low-income and isolated students also had a broader impact. “We are working to change attitudes and expectations… when parents see that students from their community can excel academically they come to expect –even demand– more from all types schools.” Sildes and other former teachers established Habele to meet the strong local demand for greater educational access. This year’s scholarship winners come from the islands of Ulithi, Fais, Eauripik, Woleai and Satewal in Yap State and from Ta, Lekinoch and Kutu in Chuuk State. More than 50 students from throughout Micronesia applied for tuition support for the 2010 school year. “My parents and I really want to thank Habele for everything they’ve done for us,” writes Maia Lesarof, a fifth grade student from Falalop Woleai who attends Saint May’s School in Yap. Rising High School senior Parkey Mwarike of Kuttu in Chuuk echoes Maia’s enthusiasm: “Again, this year, without the help, I could not afford to attend Saramen Academy.” The “Outer” or “Neighboring” Islands are a loosely connected group of islands and atolls that stretch across the Central Pacific Ocean, slightly north of the Equator. The term “outer” derives from their location outside of the larger, more densely populated islands now serving as the state capitals of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). A strong traditional culture, focused on fishing, weaving and gardening still guides daily life in the Outer Islands of Micronesia. “These islands remain some of the most isolated and underdeveloped areas on the planet,” said Neil Mellen, another Habele board member. Nationwide, one-in-three Micronesians live below the basic needs poverty line, but the rate is much higher in the Outer Islands. “Families and island leaders keep telling us that education is the key for the lives of their children and the future of their communities.”

Detroit SERVATHON - September 23rd

Randy Speck — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 06:36:20 PDT

The Detroit SERVATHON creates impact and influence when community comes together.

A Southeastern Michigan annual event, that encourages, inspires and commits Christian school students to make a service investment in their communities at large.

Over 5,000 Christian school students and volunteers will come together representing Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. This year, the Detroit SERVATHON will be asking the business community to be involved and get connected. For more information, visit facebook.com/DetroitServathon.

It is good to learn something new

Mark van Diggelen — Tue, 3 Aug 2010 00:25:48 PDT

I am ging to attend my second day of the Internet show today. It is going to be glorious.

When first arriving there yesterday I was hoping to open up the door a little on the social networks so that I could get a peek of what it was all about.

I was however very pleasantly suprises by what I found. Noboby opened it a crack... they threw it open and pulled me in to join the party. As a matter of fact... that is what social networks are!

My biggest mistake is the classic one of going the stone age route in approaching it. It is never about "how can I sell my service/product to the consumer" but everything about how can I engage my consumer and find out what he/she likes.

There are no sales pitches, no veiled approach to getting someone dragged in. Just an honest straight forward approach to getting in touch with your customers and the potential ones. You now actually get a chance to be open and honest with them and help them to see that they are actually also talking with humans, not just a technological interface with automated responses.

Without it being a direct way to sell your product/service, you actually go one better in selling your company by getting in touch with people and really figuring out what THEY want. It doesn't matter if they just want to play pyramid solitaire or if they are hoping to find a gaming platform solution. It is all the same.

Now for the second day of the internet show... hopefully many more gems will be uncovered.

DIGNITY - Photo Auction and Benefit

anjelika — Mon, 2 Aug 2010 23:50:25 PDT

"Today, poor people the world over are seeking opportunity and choice to have a greater dignity in their lives - and they want to do it themselves, even if they need a little help. Today we have the tools and technologies to bring real opportunities to people all across the world."

~ Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder & CEO, Acumen Fund

DIGNITY - Photo Auction and Benefit

August 7, 2010, 6-10pm, Gallery 16, 501 Third Street, San Francisco

Tickets: http://bit.ly/Dignity SF

Questions: SFforAcumen@gmail.com; Twitter: @AcumenSF

This Saturday, August 7 from 6-10pm, SF for Acumen and Nuru Project present DIGNITY – a one night photography auction and exhibition benefiting Acumen Fund. Photographs for auction by renowned photographers, including Susan Meiselas (Magnum), Ami Vitale (National Geographic), and Palani Mohan (Reportage by Getty Images). Also showcasing a special exhibition of photographs by Acumen Fund Fellows. Refreshments, hors d’oeuvres, and music provided. Cocktail attire requested. Tickets are available at http://bit.ly/DignitySF

Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. Acumen Fund’s investments focus on delivering affordable, critical good and services – like health, water, housing and energy – through innovative, market-oriented approaches

Nuru Project leverages photography for social change in the developing world through its photography benefit auctions. Photographs are donated by participating artists, which enables Nuru to distribution 100% of auction proceeds to partnership organizations and charities.