Google's Project 10 to the 100th

So after a too-long bout of cyber-neglect, I thought I'd share an innovative new project I've been working on - my submission for Google's Project 10 to the 100th Contest. The Goog - which I'm currently doing unrelated project work for - is offering a $10 Million prize for "a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible." 

Check it out: http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html

I had to write a thousand word description of my idea, then shoot a YouTube video explaining it in 30 seconds, an impossibly short amount of time. The nauseatingly rushed, cheesebucket video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbs7wVt7gas

SO HERE'S THE IDEA in the 300-word summary they required:

In one single cathartic purchase, consumers will save polar bears, plant a tree, have products to refit their homes, access educational tools, donate to worthy causes, offset their past CO2 emissions and help fund future infrastructure. Everything they really want to do, which addresses air, water, plant life, animals, the ozone layer, CO2 emissions, and green energy. 

It’s simply aggregating existing eco-friendly products, services and organizations, selling them in a dummy proof, biodegradable retail box, then tying the after-purchase behavior to a global online destination that drives products, services, awareness, education and community. 

This requires bundling electricity saving (CFL’s), water saving (aerators), trash saving (grocery totes), fuel saving (tire gauge), energy saving (window draft insulation) and eco-awareness products (Live Earth book); along with carbon offset credits (COC’s) and renewable energy credits (REC’s); along with vetted Organizations such as Conservation International (rainforest protection), Oceana (ocean protection), The Nature Conservancy (climate change), and American Forests (reforestation). 

The boxes would be available at broad-market retail and major online ecommerce. Corporations could vie for co-branding on the box and gain exclusive distribution rights. At distribution points, collection bins for excess (free) CFL’s, aerators, showerheads and shopping totes inspires a “take a penny, leave a penny” sense of community. 

The retail price is $59.99. Retailers make 20% at $50 wholesale. The landed production cost is $33, leaving $17 profit per kit for reinvestment. The box contents provide an aggregated household cost savings benefit of $1,482.47. If 50% of US households and small businesses adopted the kit, $5 billion would enter the green economy. Eco-inclusion and conservation would skyrocket. 

Online registration captures user data, is a social eco-network, and leads to more eco products, service providers and suppliers. Children can upload photos to funded wind farm entrance LCD’s. Parents can find local, licensed insulated window installers.   

Feedback is always welcome. I'm in the early stages of designing the box, defining the contents, defining the portal, and presenting it to potential investors, Google being only one of them. 

Oh Erin Erin Erin

It happened. I found The One. Erin's smart, cool, calm, hilarious, outlandish, facetious, unapologetic, honest, assertive, vulnerable, childlike, stylish, poised, beautiful, accepting, nurturing, helpful, open-minded, capable, accountable, confident, sexy, down to earth, nice, health conscious, delicious and best of all, she's a rock star with pretty toes. And she's lived 50 yards away from me for the past year, and we'd never seen each other, never met. And now I can't get this sick whackjob or her bloated Maltese out of my house! It's OK, I don't want her to leave. Ever. Some sickening "we're so great" photos to follow. For now, Erin with a smile, Erin in repose, Erin in my pool.

Xuxa Smells Like Taire

When a beautiful woman owns a pampered little dog, the dog generally smells like it's beautiful owner. Sniff sniff. Taire was in Canada, so I snapped this shot and sent her a text.

Air Guitar

After hitting the beer truck (the 18 wheeler Bud rig with the 8 oozy taps sticking out the side), I decided it was time for a little air guitar during Back In Black at Jimbo's Birthday Party on Key Biscayne. Yes, beer ended up in my nose. No, I didn't see Jimbo.

Never Wake A Sleeping Giant

Ever woken up with a balding, slightly chubby, sunglassed guy hovering over you with a camera? Neither has Douglas.

Annabella Issues "All Clear" RE: Balcony

Following the scooter being stolen, we were all on edge. After something caught her eye on the balcony, followed by a thorough sniffing from drain to chair, Annabella issued an "all clear" today by heading over to the corner and falling asleep.

Soul Searching At Coachella

60,000 people squeezed into a 10,000 capacity tent, exiting, wondering what just happened to them, aimlessly trying to find their souls in acts of futility after Daft Punk positively destroyed the Sahara Tent. The best concert I've been to in years. See some footage. More footage. More footage.

Miami Beach Sun

In a certain light, like direct overhead 1000 degree Miami Beach sunlight, every other June, I look like a baked potato superstar. 

Negril is Heaven on Earth

Good times. Good times. Me, Snoop Doug (in Prada shades, of course), and Andrea at Rockhouse, the coolest clifftop hotel I've ever seen. What a great time.

Douglas Turns 75, Celebrates with Haagen Dazs

The blue windows, the yellow shirt, the "If you don't get that camera phone out of my face, I'm gonna shove this vanilla ice cream brownie up your ass" look on his face. Ice D is the coolest at 75.

Toys

When covering Travis' cover of Britney Spears' cover of Max Martin's "Hit Me Baby One More Time", as I do, one should use a 60th Anniversary Strat HSS with S-1 Switching and a mother of pearl pickguard. Sometimes, I actually practice.

Wabbit Season!

Annabella briefly considered licking the ducks, but the seawall proved too daunting. So she played with a palm fron, then wandered down to South Pointe and went swimming instead.