www.project10tothe100.com

“Why this Project? Never in history have so many people had so much information, so many tools at their disposal, so many ways of making good ideas come to life. Yet at the same time, so many people, of all walks of life, could use so much help, in both little ways and big.

In the midst of this, new studies are reinforcing the simple wisdom that beyond a certain very basic level of material wealth, the only thing that increases individual happiness over time is helping other people.

In other words, helping helps everybody, helper and helped alike.

The question is: what would help? And help most?

At Google, we don’t believe we have the answers, but we do believe the answers are out there. Maybe in a lab, or a company, or a university — but maybe not.

Maybe the answer that helps somebody is in your head, in something you’ve observed, some notion that you’ve been fiddling with, some small connection you’ve noticed, some old thing you have seen with new eyes.

If you have an idea that you believe would help somebody, we want to hear about it. We’re looking for ideas that help as many people as possible, in any way, and we’re committing the funding to launch them. You can submit your ideas and help vote on ideas from others. Final idea selections will be made by an advisory board.

Good luck, and may those who help the most win.“

Here at SceneryApparel, we love seeing Google use their visibility to attract more people to think of ideas to help the world. But for those of you interested, you better hurry SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE OCTOBER 20TH!  So get your ideas flowing and you just might receive part of the $10 million Google has committed to implement these projects.

http://wireandtwine.com/store/products/50ways.html 

Working with organizations like MeGoGreen, we appreciate the work people are doing to help the environment for all of us. That is why we are giving props to Wire & Twine this week for their green line dedicated to a commitment in making a better environment for today and tomorrow.

Included in the line is “50 ways to help the planet”, a great shirt for those who feel overwhelmed by the idea of being green. They have gathered a list of 50 ways to help the planet that are simple and easy changes that even the busiest of people can integrate into their lives and have posted them on their site. Each of the 50 ways is also illustrated on the shirt they have for sale, which we think makes a great conversation piece.

Not only would you be making a statement about going green, and wearing sweat-shop free American Apparel, who we also support, but Wire & Twine believes in giving back. Each person at Wire & Twine has selected an organization in which to donate a percentage of profits from each sale of their products. This particular shirt donates to Children & Nature Network, an organization that gives children a wide range of opportunities to experience nature directly, reconnecting them with nature’s joys and lessons, and its profound physical and mental bounty.

This is why we think their green line and efforts deserve recognition. Thank you Wire & Twine for the work you are doing.

One word says it all, Etsy (www.etsy.com). This website specializes in all things handmade. Whether you want to buy or sell, this is the place to go. From bags and purses, to beauty, to pets or woodworking, Etsy seems to carry that perfect one-of-a-kind gift for whatever occasion.

Etsy also has a great Community section where they include forums, virtual labs for live workshops and online classes, chat rooms, a teams link where you can unite by craft, location or interest, as well news and additions resources links. The site even has a section called Alchemy, where buyers can post requests for custom handmade items, and then sellers bid on the opportunity to make the goods.

One of my favorites finds while browsing Etsy was LucaTedde’s realistic pencil portraits (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13585981). His work is absolutely stunning to say the least. 

Twenty years ago, a man named Bruce Cleland trained with a group of friends and ran the New York City Marathon in honor of his baby daughter Georgia, who had leukemia. They referred to themselves as the “team in training,” and the name stuck.

Twenty years later, the Society’s Team In Training (TNT) is the world’s largest endurance sports training program, providing coaching and support for people to cross the finish line at marathons, half marathons, triathlons and 100-mile cycling events. Over 360,000 participants have raised more than $850 million for lifesaving cancer research and to help blood cancer patients live longer, better lives.

Become part of a team that has helped fight blood cancers in your area and meet like-minded friends interested in making a difference. By helping to raise funds for leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma research and patient services, you’ll receive:

*  Personalized fitness training by certified coaches for a period of four to five months.

*  Training clinics.

*  Your own personal Web site for online fundraising.

*  A supportive group of teammates.

*  Lodging and airfare to more than 60 accredited events in the United States and abroad.

To learn more 
contact Team In Training for events offered or attend an upcoming information meeting in your area.

In our effort to use SceneryApparel to draw attention to worthy topics, Meltdown has emerged.

The greenhouse effect is unquestionably real and helps to regulate the temperature of our planet. It is essential for life on Earth and is one of Earth’s natural processes. It is the result of heat absorption by certain gases in the atmosphere (called greenhouse gases because they effectively ‘trap’ heat in the lower atmosphere) and re-radiation downward of some of that heat. Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas, followed by carbon dioxide and other trace gases. Without a natural greenhouse effect, the temperature of the Earth would be about zero degrees F (-18°C) instead of its present 57°F (14°C). So, the concern is not with the fact that we have a greenhouse effect, but whether human activities are leading to an enhancement of the greenhouse effect by the emission of greenhouse gases through fossil fuel combustion and deforestation.

Human activity has been increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide from combustion of coal, oil, and gas; plus a few other trace gases. Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate carrying out global warming research have recently predicted that average global temperatures could increase between 1.4 and 5.8 °C by the year 2100. Changes resulting from global warming may include rising sea levels due to the melting of the polar ice caps, as well as an increase in occurrence and severity of storms and other severe weather events.

It is no exaggeration that the planet is warming and the earth is melting. Just days ago, almost eight square miles of ice broke off of the Canadian ice shelf.  It’s time for us to make a statement before the temperature climbs out of control. To find out more about what you can do to help, please visit one of the following sites:

http://environment.about.com/od/globalwarming/tp/globalwarmtips.htm

http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/gsteps.asp

http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Action-to-Reduce-Global-Warming

http://www.squidoo.com/HowToPreventGlobalWarming

Ever wanted to go shopping and be able to find our shirts in a store? Well good news, now you can! As of July 2008, select SceneryApparel shirts are now available to purchase at Wolfbait & B-girls in Chicago.

Shirts currently stocked at Wolfbait & B-girls include: Meltdown, No More, Tank, Sleeping Girl, Airplane and Cassette Tape.

Local clothing designers Jenny Stadler and Shirley Novak opened this roomy shop on April 1, 2006. It’s name is inspired by descriptions of local women in a 1950s-era Chicago tourist guide. “Wolfbait” is an old-timely term for young women who moved to the city looking for success; “B-girls” is what they became, presumably after a brush or two with the city’s underbelly. The name suits this Logan Square boutique and their wide-eyed, edgy apparel. Owners Shirley and Jenny spotlight not only their own fashion lines, but that of over 50 local labels as well, giving young artists a place to sell their stuff and shoppers an affordable place to go.

Wolfbait is located at 3131 West Logan Blvd in Chicago, IL.

SceneryApparel is showing its true color by teaming up with a new ecology champion– MeGoGreen. They help connect consumers with eco-minded businesses through a coupon book and their Web site, www.megogreen.com.

MeGoGreen asked us to design and print their t-shirts. The shirts will help raise awareness of MeGoGreen’s work, and also become prizes for students who help fundraise for their schools. From car sharing to healthy food, and from green cleaners to eco-friendly building supplies, these businesses need our support, and we need their services to keep our homes and communities eco-responsive.

You can be GREEN and support the ecology efforts of MeGoGreen at the same time. Not only can you be the first on your block to have this nifty t-shirt, in addition, 83% of your purchase of this shirt goes directly to MeGoGreen to help them bring their service to more people. So, get active and go GREEN.

As part of our mission to reflect culture, ideas and actions, we can’t overlook our response to the war in Iraq. In honor of the soldiers who have died in the Iraq war: over 3,600 soldiers killed, 25,000 wounded and nearly 75,00 Iraqi cizilians killed, it’s time to say, “NO MORE”.

The new tshirt is up on the site under “Special Edition” in the buy stuff area.