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Breakthrough Thinking, Education, Internet, Latest News

Get Paid to Teach Anything With New Online Education Platform

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Name: Learnable

Quick Pitch: Learnable allows anyone to create and charge for online courses.

Genius Idea: Many schools have started to take online education seriously. By 2006, 66% of postsecondary learning institutions included in federal financial aid programs were already reporting that they offered some form of Internet learning, and a 2009 report from the U.S. Department of education found that those students who studied in online learning environments performed modelstly better than peers who were receiving face-to-face instruction.

This is very much along the lines of what Futurist Thomas Frey predicted in his 2007 paper on the Future of Education.

It’s great news for people who are looking to work toward a college degree, but there are few affordable parallels for people who just want to pick up a skill. Where does one go for affordable online lessons on homepage design? Javascript programming? Guitar? the Irish Whistle?

Continue reading… “Get Paid to Teach Anything With New Online Education Platform”

Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Latest News, New Viewpoints, Science & Technology News, Space

In Lasers We Trust: NASA Researches 5kW Galactic Trash Disposal System

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Dealing with space junk.

Space junk is a growing problem — 200,000 pieces and counting — and as the amount of earth’s orbital debris increases, so does the chance some satellite will be involved in a cosmic collision. As this would cause much gnashing of teeth and woe for the affected terrestrial parties, some researchers from NASA’s Ames Research Center have pitched the idea of removing said junk with a laser — once again proving that everything’s better with lasers…

Continue reading… “In Lasers We Trust: NASA Researches 5kW Galactic Trash Disposal System”

Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Entertainment, Historical Perspectives, Latest News, Music

RIP Zune Player, 2006-2011

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May all your Zunes come true.

Microsoft is not planning on releasing any further Zune devices. Instead, the company plans to focus on Zune software for smartphones.

Microsoft declined to comment on the future of the Zune players, but in a statement to Bloomberg noted that it remains “committed to supporting our devices in North America.”

Zune launched in November 2006 to much fanfare and hopes that it could beat Apple’s iPod. But sales never came close to reaching the levels of Apple’s best-selling and market changing music and media player…

Continue reading… “RIP Zune Player, 2006-2011”

Historical Perspectives, Latest News, New Discoveries, Science & Technology News, Space

The Baikonur Cosmodrome – The World’s Oldest Spaceport

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A newly “rolled out” Proton-M, carrying the Inmarsat-4F3 spacecraft.


 There are, to be frank, not many spaceports on the planet as of 2011. Of the thirty or so only six of them have sent people in to space. Four of those are located in the US, another in China and the sixth and oldest is to be found in Kazakhstan…

Continue reading… “The Baikonur Cosmodrome – The World’s Oldest Spaceport”

Breakthrough Thinking, Culture, Current Events, Historical Perspectives, Hot Issues, Latest News

The Salton Sea: A ‘Dead’ Sea Ready to Rise?

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Half a century ago, the Salton Sea was called the “French Riviera of California” — and that claim really held water as celebrities and many others seeking a spectacular getaway escaped to the “mini-ocean” just past Palm Springs.

But today, the abandoned remains of this former tourist hot spot represent an eerie aftermath: a virtual ghost town where once the rich came to play.
Continue reading… “The Salton Sea: A ‘Dead’ Sea Ready to Rise?”

Analysis, Crazy Stuff, Globalism, Historical Perspectives, Latest News

Japan’s Earthquake Causes Day to Get a Tiny Bit Shorter

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The rotation has changed ever so slightly.

You won’t notice it, but the day just got a tiny bit shorter because of Friday’s giant earthquake off the coast of Japan.

NASA geophysicist Richard Gross calculated that Earth’s rotation sped up by 1.8 microseconds. That’s because of the shift in Earth’s mass caused by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second.

Continue reading… “Japan’s Earthquake Causes Day to Get a Tiny Bit Shorter”

Breakthrough Thinking, Business, Internet, Latest News, Latest Trend, New Discoveries, New Inventions, New Viewpoints

How Foursquare & AmEx Are Putting a Fresh Twist on Loyalty Marketing

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New technology means new marketing.

In the summer of 2010, Foursquare’s Head of Business Development Tristan Walker and American Express’s Vice President of Global Marketing Capabilities David Wolf started talking about ways to work together to redefine loyalty for local merchants.

The fruit of their conversations is now on display in the city Austin, Texas where 60 merchants — including Whole Foods, Starwood Hotels and Stubb’s BBQ — are offering Foursquare users “spend $5, save $5″ rewards when they load the special and swipe their AmEx cards.

The pilot program started Friday and will run through Tuesday, March 15. Participating merchants have posted “Austin Unlocked” window clings to highlight their participation, and Foursquare users need only register their American Express cards to unlock this new type of special — the Loyalty Special…

Continue reading… “How Foursquare & AmEx Are Putting a Fresh Twist on Loyalty Marketing”

Analysis, Breakthrough Thinking, Current Events, Historical Perspectives, Latest News, New Discoveries, Space

Is the Japanese Earthquake the Latest Natural Disaster to Have Been Caused by a ‘Supermoon’?

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Did a ‘Supermoon’ cause this?
The powerful tsunami that today slammed into Japan’s eastern coast comes just two days after warnings that the movement of the moon could trigger unpredictable events on Earth.
Astrologers predicted that on March 19 – a week tomorrow – the so-called ‘supermoon’ will be closer to Earth than at any time since 1992, just 221,567 miles away, and that its gravitational pull will bring chaos to Earth.
Others on the Internet have predicted it will cause further catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Coming just three weeks after the quake which devastated Christchurch in New Zealand killing hundreds, this latest disaster will only add fuel to their fire…

The powerful tsunami that today slammed into Japan’s eastern coast comes just two days after warnings that the movement of the moon could trigger unpredictable events on Earth.

Astrologers predicted that on March 19 – a week tomorrow – the so-called ‘supermoon’ will be closer to Earth than at any time since 1992, just 221,567 miles away, and that its gravitational pull will bring chaos to Earth.

Others on the Internet have predicted it will cause further catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

Coming just three weeks after the quake which devastated Christchurch in New Zealand killing hundreds, this latest disaster will only add fuel to their fire…

Continue reading… “Is the Japanese Earthquake the Latest Natural Disaster to Have Been Caused by a ‘Supermoon’?”

Breakthrough Thinking, Culture, Economy, Education, Historical Perspectives, Latest News

Is America a Nation in Decline?

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How does America still rank?

If you listen to the pundits on TV and radio (on both sides of the political spectrum), it seems like this country is going to hell in a handbasket with jets strapped to our backs. But are they actually right?

Fareed Zakaria of TIME magazine takes an in-depth look at whether America’s best days are behind it:

Despite the hyped talk of China’s rise, most Americans operate on the assumption that the U.S. is still No. 1.

But is it? Yes, the U.S. remains the world’s largest economy, and we have the largest military by far, the most dynamic technology companies and a highly entrepreneurial climate. But these are snapshots of where we are right now…

Continue reading… “Is America a Nation in Decline?”

Breakthrough Thinking, Great New Product, Health & Fitness, Historical Perspectives, Latest News

Toepener – Hands-Free Foot Door Opening Solution

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The Toepener

The Toepener is a simple device that attaches to doors, enabling users to open the door with their feet. It is the ideal solution for exiting a public restroom.

It provides a sanitary, hands-free alternative for users to open the door and avoid touching the handle…

Continue reading… “Toepener – Hands-Free Foot Door Opening Solution”

Discover the Hidden Patterns of Tomorrow with Futurist Thomas Frey
Unlock Your Potential, Ignite Your Success.

By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.

Learn More about this exciting program.