Prepare for Change

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/10/28/163823839/sweden-wants-your-trash "Move over Abba, Sweden has found new fame. The small Nordic country is breaking records — in waste. Sweden's program of generating energy from garbage is wildly successful, but recently its success has also generated a surprising issue: There is simply not enough trash. Only 4 percent of Swedish garbage ends up in a landfill, according to Swedish Waste Management . Due to its efficiency in converting waste to renewable energy, Sweden has recently begun importing around 800,000 tons of trash annually from other countries. Norway is now paying Sweden to take its garbage. Swedish sights are also set on Bulgaria, Romania and Italy as future trash exporters, as Catarina Ostlund, a senior advisor for the country's environmental protection agency, told PRI . Those countries rely heavily on landfills – a highly inefficient and environmentally degrading system."  ...

http://challenge.gov/ This is a nice idea. It adds to the brain pool of people working on these needs.

http://www.kenguru.com/ Technical specifications: Engine Rear wheel belt drive, with 2 Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors for each wheel Performance: 2Kw/150Nm per Motor Operating Voltage: 32V AC Vehicle Supply Voltage 48V DC Brushless internal Rotor Running Gear Independent double wishbone wheel suspensing in the front Twin single sided swingarms in the back Shock absorber with adjustable preload 4 hydraulic disc brakes Electro-mechanical parking brake Locking brake operating on the front wheels Rimsize: 12*2, 2 Wheelsize: 12x2.2 inches Tire size: 100/ 90-12 Chassis Fiberglass body on steel frame Doors: 1 Seats: Room for one driver with wheelchair Dimensions and Weight Wheelbase: 1550 mm Length: 2125 mm Width: 1620 mm Height: 1525 mm Empty weight without driver: 550Kg Empty weight without driver and batteries: 350Kg Allowed total weight: 660 Kg Driving Performance Maximum Speed: 45 Km/h Climbing Ability: 20% Range: 70-110 km Operation Steering v...

http://t.co/syP5v057 Haven't read this yet but it looks good. 

https://www.taskrabbit.com/ "TaskRabbit connects you with friendly, reliable people right in your neighborhood who can help you get the items on your To-Do list done. Currently Tasking in   Boston ,   SF Bay Area ,   San Antonio ,   Austin ,   Chicago ,   Seattle , Portland ,   LA & OC , and   New York City … more coming soon!" Task Rabbit somehow screens workers for skill and reliability before they're allowed a referral.  This seems like a great way to use the Internet for people to find part-time work, and for people who need smaller specific tasks done.  Here's a guy who was a task rabbit for a while, writing about his experience .

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/12/14393489-workers-find-they-like-taking-a-stand-at-their-desks?lite "Office workers who spent an hour or so a day at stand-up workstations felt more energized, productive and even happier, researchers reported on Thursday. And if they keep it up, they may help reduce the damage done by sitting at a desk all day. Study after study has shown that sitting all day long is bad for you . People risk developing lower back problems, kidney disease, heart disease and other ills – even if they exercise outside of work." Such a simple thing that could make a huge health difference for many people.  I hope it catches on.