Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crowdsourcing

Crowdsourcing is a neologism for the act of taking a task traditionally performed by an employee or contractor, and outsourcing it to an undefined, generally large group of people or community in the form of an open call. For example, the public may be invited to develop a new technology, carry out a design task (also known as community-based design[1] and distributed participatory design), refine or carry out the steps of an algorithm (see Human-based computation), or help capture, systematize or analyze large amounts of data (see also citizen science).
The term has become popular with business authors and journalists as shorthand for the trend of leveraging the mass collaboration enabled by Web 2.0 technologies to achieve business goals. However, both the term and its underlying business models have attracted controversy and criticism.

History
The word was coined by Jeff Howe in a June 2006 Wired magazine article.[2] Though the term is new there are examples of projects being run on similar models for some time. Recently, the Internet has been used to publicize and manage crowdsourcing projects.

Wikipedia®

Plastic Bags: What's the AltUse 411!

According to some sources (link to http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=2), more than one billion single use plastic bags are given out each day. The majority of these bags most probably end up in landfills or in our oceans, taking years to degrade and also causing irreparable harm to marine life. Manufacturing and transportation costs also should be factored in the calculus to measure the negative impact on the environment.

Some retailers have heard the alarm bells and have decided to act. IKEA (link to http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/01/whole_foods_ban.php) and Whole Foods recently announced bans on plastic bags. Municipalities such as San Francisco, Malibu, and Manhattan Beach have not been slow to act, passing laws banning the use of plastic bags.

However, this movement still has a long way to go. Why not recycle or find an alternative use for plastic bags as opposed to chucking them in the trash. Visit www.altuse.com to view plastic bag alternative use content, to vote, and to upload some content as well.

Mike

Life for an Old Cell Phone

In the market for a new cell phone? Have you made plans to recycle or properly dispose of your old cell phone? Remember, if it’s rechargeable, it’s recyclable.

A couple of sites where cell phone recycling is discussed

• CollectiveGood takes cell phone recycling to another level by allowing you to donate your phone to the charity of your choice. Your cell phone can be used to facilitate a variety of causes, from needy children to domestic violence to environmental or international aid. And it’s easy! All you have to do is visit collectivegood.com, pick your charity, enter your information (for tax credit) and send in your phone.
• Greenphone.com, CollectiveGood’s sister company, pays you to recycle your phone. Simply enter the manufacturer, model and condition of your phone in Greenphone’s easy-to-use quote calculator. If you’re happy with the number, you simply send in your phone and wait for your check.
• Call2Recycle.com provides drop boxes for cell phones and rechargeable batteries (from cell phones, laptops, PDAs and the like) at more than 50,000 locations across the country. A quick search using my Brooklyn ZIP code brought up 420 options — many less than a mile from my front door. Organizations like Call2Recycle help those of us who are eco-minded but unmotivated break through our inertia and do the right thing.
  

A great article on proper cell phone disposal.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30942190/

Recycle Runway - Education and AltUse for Couture Fashion

MISSION

Recycle Runway strives to change the way the world thinks about the environment through innovative educational programs and couture fashions made from trash. Elegant garments created from recycled materials are exhibited in high-traffic airports to grab travelers’ attention and inspire personal action. Community-based presentations and workshops launch young peoples' imaginations while providing information on how to conserve resources on a grassroots level. Recycle Runway partners with businesses, non-profits, governmental agencies, foundations and individuals who actively support environmental conservation.

Nancy Judd's Recycle Runway features dazzling outfits that are the culmination of ingenious re-use...a faux fur jacket made with endless loops of cassette and video tape, a dress train made of origami junk mail fans sewn together like fish scales, or an evening gown glittering with thousands of pieces of crushed recycled glass. The show travels with the designer, who in each community organizes and inspires people to respond to our environmental crises with creativity.

Ms. Judd has received commissions to create numerous recycled garments and accessories from Toyota®, Coca-Cola®, Novelis Recycling, the Glass Packaging Institute and Starbucks®.

Youth education through presentations and workshops is a central component of Recycle Runway's environmental education mission. Click here to see photos and learn more about youth activities. Environmental educator, artist and recycling consultant, Nancy Judd started Recycled Runway seven years ago. While working as the Recycling Coordinator for the City of Santa Fe and then as the Executive Director of the New Mexico Recycling Coalition, Ms. Judd recognized that art and fashion could be used to raise the environmental consciousness of the public in a fun and engaging way. Her project began with the Recycle Santa Fe Art Market and Fashion show, but soon grew into a collection of glamorous recycled fashions that now travel throughout the United States.


Recycle Runway: The Airport Project

In 2007 Ms. Judd began to exhibit the Recycle Runway Collection in Airports across the US. This new venue has large audiences of millions of people with time to spare-- a perfect place for sharing the environmental stewardship message of Recycle Runway!

Current Exhibit:
Pittsburgh International Airport, August - December 2008
Recycle Runway is on display in two cases located on Concourses C and D. See photos here.

Next Stops:
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, 2009
Orlando International Airport, Summer 2010
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, summer 2011

Contact Recycle Runway for information on how to be part of these engaging installations!

Albuquerque Sunport Exhibit, 2007Recycle Runway: The Airport Project's Inaugural Exhibit opened at the Albuquerque International Sunport in October 2007. Read more here.

Five Plants that Repel Mosquitoes
There are attractive garden plants that repel mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are horrible creatures that swarm around you and suck your blood. They cause itchy rashes and can carry disease.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/312561/five_plants_that_repel_mosquitoes.html

Hair Lightener / Natural Highlights

Hair Lightener / Natural Highlights

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2009 California Strawberry Festival

2009 California Strawberry Festival

Saturday and Sunday, May 16, 17, 2009

10:00am to 6:30pm
Strawberry Meadows of College Park
3250 South Rose Avenue in Oxnard

It’s FREE, go green, take the Strawberry Express Shuttle Service from key “Park ‘N’ Ride” locations. On site parking is $5

Proud winner of the WasteWatch Award for responsible “green” policies that began in 2004.

http://strawberry-fest.org/

Strawberry Altuse - http://tinyurl.com/rchazs

Toll free info: 888-288-9242

Vintage-furniture scavengers turn trash into treasure online - Los Angeles Times

Vintage-furniture scavengers turn trash into treasure online - Los Angeles Times

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Spring Gardening at The White House

Even The Whitehouse is starting a Spring Garden. See more at:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/20/spring-gardening/


Spring Gardening

"This is a big day. We've been talking it since the day we moved in," said the First Lady as she and two dozen local students broke ground on the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn of the White House. Those students will be involved in the garden as it develops and grows, producing delicious, healthy vegetables to be cooked in the White House Kitchen and given to Miriam's Kitchen, which serves the homeless in Washington, DC.


First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Horticulturist Dale Haney work with kids from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School to break ground for a White House garden. The White House / Joyce N. Boghosian)(First Lady Michelle Obama works with kids from Washington's Bancroft Elementary School to break ground for a White House garden. The White House / Joyce N. Boghosian)

http://www.AltUse.com

AltUse Ideas for Toothpaste

Alternative Uses Toothpaste
http://tinyurl.com/q2apo9

· Mosquito
Stop a Mosquito Itch Read
http://tinyurl.com/c2xsnq

· Fill holes in walls.
Use toothpaste to fill holes in walls
http://tinyurl.com/os4aak

· Clean Clothes Iron
Clean your iron with Toothpaste Read
http://tinyurl.com/oum6jr

· Bruise Healing
Toothpaste Read
http://tinyurl.com/of4pxs

· Silver Cleaner
Toothpaste as silver polish
http://tinyurl.com/qett6o

AltUse, Inc. and UCLA Anderson Career Fair

Career Fair

AltUse, Inc. will participate in the UCLA Anderson Career Fair on Thursday, May 7th from 9:30am-4:00pm.

The Career Fair will allot AltUse, Inc. access to top MBA talent to fill entry level MBA full-time positions, summer internships or project work opportunities.