Too much trash? send it to Sweden!

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."

   I saw barges from New York heading out to the ocean to dump their garbage. It would be nice to make use of that rather than just pollute our waters.

Government offers prizes for making cool things!

http://challenge.gov/

This is a nice idea. It adds to the brain pool of people working on these needs.

car for wheelchair-bound

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 via Motorcycle handlebar (via Joystick from 2012)
LED display on dashboard
Electrical door opening system controlled via remote control

Technology and Citizen Participation in the Construction of Democracy

http://t.co/syP5v057

Haven't read this yet but it looks good. 

Urban aquaponics; grow your own food

a new way to find work and/or help - Task Rabbit!

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.

Simple things that make a big difference

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.