Johnny Lee: Creating tech marvels out of a $40 Wii Remote

"Building sophisticated educational tools out of cheap parts, Johnny Lee demos his cool Wii Remote hacks, which turn the $40 video game controller into a digital whiteboard, a touchscreen and a head-mounted 3-D viewer." - TED.com

Gasoline Is Cheap: Four dollars a gallon is outrageous! We should be paying much more.

By Robert Bryce
Posted Thursday, May 15, 2008, at 3:24 PM ET

The next time you have to take out a loan just to fill up your tank, remember this: Four-dollar-per-gallon gasoline is cheap.

There's no doubt that high fuel prices are hurting low-income consumers, and high energy costs are placing a tax on the economy that is slowing investment while sending billions of dollars overseas. It's unsurprising that presidential candidates and members of Congress issue new proposals practically every day to lower gas prices: Stop filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve! Suspend the federal gas tax! Open ANWR to oil drilling!

These proposals are delusions, and Americans are living in a fantasy land when it comes to energy and energy prices. Over the past few years, consumers have been inundated with news stories about the soaring price of gasoline. Invariably, these stories include comments from a motorist who is outraged at the evils of a) Saudi Arabia, b) OPEC, c) Big Oil, d) all of the above.

But by almost any measure, gasoline is still cheap. In fact, it has probably been far too cheap for far too long. The recent price increases are only beginning to reflect its real value.

When measured on an inflation-adjusted basis, the current price of gasoline is only slightly higher than it was in 1922. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 1922, gasoline cost the current-day equivalent of $3.11. Today, according to the EIA, gasoline is selling for about $3.77 per gallon, only about 20 percent more than 86 years ago.

Given the ever-increasing global demand for oil products—during the first quarter of this year, China's oil consumption jumped by 16.5 percent—and the increasing costs associated with finding, producing, and refining crude oil, it makes sense that today's motorists are paying more for their motor fuel than their grandparents and great-grandparents did.

Gasoline is also a fairly minor expense when you consider the overall cost of car ownership. In 1975, gasoline made up 33.4 percent of the total cost of owning and operating a car. By 2006, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, gasoline costs had declined to just 17.1 percent of the total cost of car ownership. Of course, fuel costs have risen by about $1 per gallon since 2006, but even with those increases, fuel continues to be a relatively small part of the cost of car ownership. By contrast, the fixed costs of ownership—insurance, licensing, taxes, and financing—have increased nearly fivefold since 1975. Maintenance costs have also quintupled over the same time period. Given those increases and the relatively low price of fuel, it's not surprising that Americans are opting for big vehicles with powerful engines. Considering the overall cost of owning a vehicle, fuel expenses just aren't a very big deal.

History shows that significant declines in U.S. oil consumption occur only after prolonged periods of high prices. Over the last two decades, U.S. consumers have been spoiled by low fuel prices. And those lower prices led to a buying binge that put millions of giant SUVs, pickups, and other gas guzzlers on our roads. Today's higher prices are forcing consumers to adapt. The EIA now expects U.S. gasoline consumption to decline this year—the first drop in demand in 17 years. In April, sales of small cars in the United States were up by 17 percent over the same period a year earlier while sales of SUVs, trucks, and large cars all fell by about 30 percent.

On the environmental front, people concerned about greenhouse-gas emissions should be cheering today's oil prices. Expensive motor fuel is the only thing that will lead consumers to use less oil and make the switch to hybrid vehicles, smaller cars, and public transit. Higher oil prices are convincing automakers to change their fleets. Earlier this week, Nissan Motor Company announced that it will begin selling an electric car in the United States and Japan by 2010. Carlos Ghosn, the chief executive of Nissan, made it clear that fuel prices were a factor in the company's decision to build electric cars, telling the New York Times that "the shifts coming from the markets are more powerful than what regulators are doing."

American gasoline is also dirt-cheap compared with gas in other countries. British motorists are currently paying about $8.38 per gallon for gasoline. In Norway, a major oil exporter, drivers are paying $8.73. In 2007, out of the 32 industrialized countries surveyed by the International Energy Agency, only one (Mexico) had cheaper gasoline than the United States. Last year, drivers in Turkey were paying three times as much for their gasoline as Americans were. The IEA data also show that in India—where the per capita gross domestic product is about $2,700 (about 6 percent of the per capita GDP in the United States)—drivers have been paying more for their diesel fuel and gasoline than their American counterparts.

(Gasoline is also cheap compared with other essential fuels. A Starbucks venti latte costs the equivalent of $23 per gallon, while Budweiser beer runs $11 per gallon.)

The simple truth is that Americans are going to have to get used to more expensive gasoline. And while they may continue grumbling at the pump, they need to accept the fact that even at $3.50 or $4 per gallon, the fuel they are buying is still a bargain.

Make Room for The Kings of the Internet...In Mobile

Apple plans to release its new 3g iphone in June. I'm sure so many people are excited that their 500 dollar iphone is outdated, but what I'm more interested in is the anticipation of Google's android operating system. While many have been anticipated Google to release an actual phone - which could very well happen - what is for sure is that they have developed an operating system known as "Android".

The goal here is to create a world-class platform that becomes a benchmark in the mobile industry. Right now every phone manufacturer, from Sony to LG has different operating software. Because of this innovation is particularly slow. Another way to think of this is to look back and remember facebook when they opened up their platform to third party developers. Now there are thousands of application that users can choose from and innovation has increased drastically.

This all comes down to expansion. Google is looking to open up the mobile market and continue to expand search volume and advertising revenues. Can they do it? It seems quite possible. Many carriers seem to be receptive. The software would come standard on phones and would be "Free". I quoted free because there's always a price, and in this case it could be more mobile marketing campaigns, and not the ones I talked about in my "Could Mobile Marketing be Good" post.

What everyone wants to know, but doesn't, is whether Google will rival Apple in the mobile market. If they are able to transcend their PC application into a smooth mobile package, I will be the first one to tote around my cool new Android Phone. More information about the Google Phone is listed Below:

My Stock Picks for CNBC Portfolio Challenge 2008

Here are my picks for my 2008 CNBC $1 Million Dollar Portfolio Challenge. I'm hoping to win big...

1) Andersons Inc (ANDE)
2) Caterpillar (CAT)
3) Herbalife (HLF)
4) Yahoo (YHOO)
5) CME Group (CME)
6) FTI Consulting (FCN)

If you want to to see more about the contest visit milliondollar.cnbc.com

I'll post up my earning or losses at the end of the week...

Bruce Lee's Five Rules of Productivity

By: CC Holland

Famed martial artist and actor Bruce Lee was undoubtedly an icon and a trailblazer. But did you know he was also a personal productivity guru? Well, maybe not exactly. But The Positivity Blog notes that several of his fundamental beliefs for life can translate pretty well into guidelines for personal productivity.

1. “As you think, so shall you become.” Keep yourself and your thoughts on the right track to reach your goals.
2. “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” Don’t overthink, don’t procrastinate, and just do it.
3. “To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.” How people respond to you says a lot — and what you see, hear and feel in other people may be a reflection of you.
4. “Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.” Bragging is an attempt to gain validation from others, but it alienates those around you and makes you look needy. Instead, practice inner validation by setting and achieving goals.
5. “To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” Be proactive instead of reactive; don’t blindly go with the flow. Be willing to take the lead to get what you want.

Track Back: http://blogs.bnet.com/teamwork/?p=226&tag=homeCar

You Can't Just Be an Entreprenuer

Someone told me that. She had asked me what it was I really wanted to do. "An entrepreneur," I responded "You can't just be an entrepreneur. You don't have the experience or have the capital," she said. I didn't know whether to take it as advice, criticism, or an insult. I will say that yes it's harder for young people to run out and borrow millions. Today though technology is cheap, resources are plentiful, and the best start up capital is "know how".

Here is a reaffirming article from BusinessWeek about the "Start-up Itch" and how today's entrepreneurs are becoming younger and younger.

The Startup Bug Strikes Earlier

Slide Show >>

By Stacy Perman

As the entrepreneurial career path becomes more accepted, its appeal to the young is rapidly growing, as are the resources to make them successful

There was a time, not so long ago, when a person choosing the entrepreneurial career path wasn't exactly greeted with rampant enthusiasm. Among the notable exceptions: Michael Dell famously started his eponymous computer company (DELL ) out of his University of Texas, Austin, dorm room. And what would eventually become software behemoth Microsoft (MSFT ) began life when Bill Gates was still a Harvard undergrad.

Both men eventually dropped out of college to pursue their wildly successful ventures, but their paths to fame and fortune were decidedly not the norm. For the most part, and for the rest of us, conventional wisdom held that to be successful, one got a degree or two and then worked for an established company. Tinkering and dreaming was left to -- ahem -- entrepreneurs, not serious businesspeople.

That was then. Nowadays, "Entrepreneur is no longer a dirty word," says Gerald Hills, an entrepreneurship professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago and executive director of the Collegiate Entrepreneur's Organization, a network of student groups on 500 college campuses. "It's nearly what everyone thinks of when they think about opportunities. They think of entrepreneurs now." Shorn of its stigma, the once-risky career route is now viewed as a positive calling, particularly given the wobbly economy and the no-longer-sacrosanct benefits of corporate life -- pensions and job security are fast becoming relics of a bygone era.

OUT OF THE CRADLE. The short-lived dot-com epoch that launched countless ideas into startup ventures before imploding also helped make the entrepreneurial route a viable alternative to the traditional job path. While a more sober reality has replaced the heady New Economy days, entrepreneurs are finding an expansive array of sophisticated resources, tools, and options for helping them start and operate a new business. More simply, the trail has already been blazed.

And while more and more young entrepreneurs may be embarking on the same general path, their destinations couldn't be more varied. Take surfer Matt Rivers, who five years ago used money he had earned dishwashing to buy the Pump House Surf Shop in Orleans, Mass. -- at the age of 17.

Then there's Alasdair McLean-Foreman, who started HDO Sport, a high-tech sporting-goods company in Cambridge, Mass., when he was a Harvard freshman and a member of the track team. And in 1997, Paula Yakubik, then 25, quit her job as a newspaper reporter and founded public-relations firm MassMedia in a rented cubicle in Las Vegas. Today, she has two offices in Nevada and over 30 clients.

DORM LABS. Instead of flying blind, fledgling entrepreneurs of all ages can turn to a number of organizations and resources for help in nurturing a diverse set of ideas. Business-plan competitions with juicy cash purses have sprouted up all over the country. In September, the Small Business Administration announced a partnership with Junior Achievement Worldwide to launch a small-business portal for teen entrepreneurs, mindyourownbiz.org.

A number of networking associations are also targeted to particular communities of likeminded businesspeople and their specific issues. For instance, YoungEntrepreneur.com, based in Blaine, Wa., is an member-based Web site that offers advice, strategies, information sharing, and help in securing funding.

In fact, colleges and universities that once emphasized academics in recent years have established a number of entrepreneurial programs and incubators to help polish, educate, mentor, and develop those dorm-room eurekas into full-fledged businesses. No longer the exclusive purview of MBAs, many entrepreneurial programs are now geared toward undergraduate students (see BW Online, 10/25/05, "Teaching the Startup Mentality").

"I've been in education for 30 years," says the University of Illinois' Hills, "and I've seen a real shift as more and more students want to start a business. They don't necessarily want to wait to give it a go."

VIRGIN VENTURE. Five years ago, the University of Maryland in College Park, launched the Hinman Campus Entrepreneurship Opportunities (CEO) Program. The two-year course was established with a $2.5 million grant from alumnus Brian Hinman, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. It takes 35 students at a time, who must apply for admission. The program and its students are housed in a special high-tech dorm that's designed to give participants a residential learning environment where they experience an entire business lifecycle, from concept to execution to operation.

According to Karen Thornton, the program's director, while 75% of the students take part as a learning opportunity, 25% have actually gone on to create businesses from the ideas they hatched at Hinman. In recent years, Iowa State and Oregon State have launched similar programs based on Hinman's model.

Being an entrepreneur means making your own opportunities, and there's no telling where a good idea can lead you. After all, Virgin Group got its start when 15-year-old Richard Branson dreamed up a magazine called Student in his native London. Virgin Group is now an $8 billion global empire comprising some 200 companies in 30 countries, and in 1999, the celebrated founder became Sir Richard Branson when Queen Elizabeth II knighted him -- for "services to entrepreneurship."

Big Ideas Need To Be Nutured

This is a really cool commercial I found while watching some videos on TED. Autodesk was the official sponsor and I thought I would post the commercial up for everyone to see. Now, go innovate.

Electronic Job Fairs Innovate Industry and Create New Opportunities

If you’re like me, you’ve been reading the news over the past months about the economic slowdown and how college grads are facing lower salaries and tighter job markets. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more students are heading to college than ever before. The number of college graduates is rising and that means fiercer competition in a tougher labor market. If you want a great job in your field with a good starting salary, you better work at it smarter than everyone else. One of the newest and innovative ways to do this is through electronic job fairs.

I spoke with Jason Vrane, Chief Marketing Officer of EJobFairs.net last week and had the chance to see first hand how E-Job Fairs can be a valuable source for solid employment opportunities. Ejobfairs.net minimizes the hassle of traditional career fairs by allowing employers to search and reach out to specific candidates and speak with them. “It’s a great time saver because you are engaged primarily with people who see potential value in you as an employee for their firm,” Vrane said. The site, which is currently working on a second round of funding, plans to add many more tools for both job seekers and employers to maximize the experience and create even more productivity. You can visit their site at www.ejobfairs.net to see a demo and view upcoming e-fairs.

There’s an old adage that sales is a contact sport - the more people you contact, the better your sales will be. Translated for jobs, the more exposure and networking you do will ultimately increase your odds of finding the right career move for you. What I like about Ejobfairs is that it leverages the technology to create more effective exposure for everyone.

Forget about the economic statistics and make it happen. You are now one step ahead of the rest. Whether you’re a recent graduate looking for a great starting job or a seasoned professional looking to make a switch, electronic career fairs are a great way to get started.

Mobile Marketing - Could it be Cool?

The second I heard the words "Mobile Marketing" I thought of the spam box on my email, full of offers for free Ipods and get-a-way trips. My initial reaction to the concept of mobile marketing was quite negative and the future was looking bleak.

At last though, I thought, could there be a way to make mobile marketing valuable for consumers? I brain stormed a few examples and want to see what people think about using SMS in marketing strategies.

1) Airline Companies - This was the first example I thought of: Airliners. Southwest paved the way for paperless E-ticketing. Using text messages to notify customers that they can check in or perhaps sending a text about cheap rates in their area could boost revenues for the airliners and at the same save consumers money.

2) Ticketmaster.com - Receive a text message when tickets go on sale for that band you've been dying to see. I can't tell you how many times Rush has been to Jacksonville and I missed out on the show because I forgot! If I had been reminded to get those tickets I could have seen Neal Pert rock a ten minute drum solo!

3) CNBC - Text me the opening numbers of the NYSE, DOW, and NASDAQ. Be the wise guy at work who knows everything before everyone else. Sound smart and look good for clients and bosses and be the king of the water cooler. Oh yeah, CNBC can throw a few ads up - Not to mention grow their branding efforts.

Maybe mobile marketing isn't all bad? Maybe it's just change that I was afraid of. I hope that ad executives and marketing officers will stay creative and remember that the best way to gain and keep consumers under their guise is to keep providing them will good value. If I start getting spammed I'm going to take the high road - I'll sue somebody.

A Complete Guide to Internships

Internships are becoming more and more important in obtaining a great job right out of college. I found this article and thought it would be helpful for anyone looking to do an internship over the summer or in the upcoming year.

By Derrick Dortch
Special to washingtonpost.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2003; 4:00 PM

If you want a great job after college you must do more than earn good grades and get involved in extracurricular activities. Good grades and extracurricular activities are looked upon favorably by employers but they are not enough. According to the 2001 Job Outlook Survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers say that the perfect candidate is a graduate who brings relevant work experience to the table. This experience is mostly gained through internships.

The purpose of this article is to provide you with information on internships and give you a starting strategy to get one.

What Is an Internship?

An internship is a structured learning experience in a work setting that gives a student the opportunity to learn about a career interest and gain valuable knowledge and experience in a particular field. In an internship, you work just like an employee but your purpose is to receive mentorship, supervision, and training. Internships are designed to assist students in the career exploration process to determine if that career matches their interests and skills.

Are Internships Important?

Internships are very important to a college student preparing for the world of work. It should be seen as an integral part of your academics. To get this relevant experience, students should intern with employers who are doing the kind of work they are interested in pursuing after college. Here are a few reasons why internships are so important.

Internships:
•Test your skills and interests.
• Provide insight into prerequisites needed for employment.
• Develop a network of professional contacts for future opportunities and references.
• Increase your awareness of the skills you need to develop.
• Provide valuable work experience such as workplace communication skills.
• Build a strong resume.

How Early Should I Begin Planning for an Internship?

Plan your internship as soon as possible. If you are able to intern your freshman year that is great but it should be a priority for your sophomore and junior years. Take your first semester in college and get acclimated but after you are settled, consider talking to your career center about internships and how to develop an internship search strategy. Even if you are not sure what you want to do, exploring various fields will help you decide on what career match your interests, passions, and goals.

When Are Internships Available?

The majority of internships take place in the summer but many are available year around. In Washington D.C. and other major cities, companies, government agencies and non-profit organizations will have interns working during the fall, spring, and summer semester.

How Early Should I Begin Applying?

Application deadlines vary from organization to organization. Summer internship positions in large organizations or very competitive internship programs sometimes have deadlines as early as October, November, or December. Others will have deadlines in February, March, or April. It all depends on the organization and their hiring process. During the beginning of the fall semester or even at the end of the summer begin planning where you want to intern in the summer. Check with the organization(s) about the application procedure and deadline. Remember proper planning and preparation are key to getting the internship you want.

How Many Hours Should I Work at an Internship?

Summer internships can be full or part-time positions depending on the organization. If you decide to intern during the fall and spring semesters, it is recommended that you work 10 - 15 hours a week maximum. Remember that your academic studies are a priority. Exceeding 15 hours at an internship during the semester/quarter is not recommended unless your class load is light and flexible.

Are Internships Paid or Unpaid?

Summer internships can be paid or unpaid depending on the organization and career field. The majority of summer internships are paid. If a summer internship is unpaid they may only require you to work part-time so that you will be able to get another job. Internships during the academic semester/quarter many times are unpaid but there are a few organizations where interns are paid. Some organizations will pay for travel to and from work so make sure you discuss this with the internship provider before accepting a position.

Do I Need to Do Anything Before Looking for an Internship?

Whether you are just beginning your career exploration process or if you're a veteran, there are some steps that are always helpful to follow. This process should begin with a self-assessment. Evaluate your interests, skills, and passions. Select the career fields that match you the best.

Where Do I Find Internships?

Your career center. The staff and resources of your college/university career center are available to help you find an internship. There are private career consultations and workshops. Most career centers also have a library and Web site with a number of books and online resources to help you find an internship. Career centers usually maintain internship opportunity listings online or in their resource area.

The Internet. Use the search engines on the Web and see what you discover.

Company Web sites. Most companies will list internships, summer opportunities and special programs in the employment or career opportunities section of their Web site. Look for Career Employment/Opportunities on the home page. This link is sometimes on the home page but if it cannot be found look in the site index, contact us, about us or search sections of the Web site.

Online internship listing services. There are a number of online internship search engines available for you to conduct your search.

Career books. There are a number of books published on internship opportunities. Two of the most popular are "The Internship Bible" published by The Princeton Review and "Peterson's Yearly Internship Book" published by Thomson Learning. Libraries and bookstores usually have a good selection of books on internships. Also online bookstores like Amazon.com are good resources as well.

Newspapers. Look in the employment section of newspapers. If you see a full time listing that interests you, contact that company and see if there are any internships available. Every spring, The Washington Post runs a section in the employment guide of internship listings.

Career fairs. Each university will usually have an annual career fair with companies, organizations and agencies looking for interns. Talk to your career center and find out when the career fair will be held and how to prepare it.

Alumni. Alumni can be a great resource for information on internship opportunities in their career field or place of employment. Contact Alumni Affairs/Relations office for alumni contacts in your field(s) of interest.

Network contacts. Networking is very important in your career development. Joining associations and attending professional events and job fairs will help you build your network. Use contacts to learn about opportunities that are available in your field of interest. Each career area has at least one association and newspaper or journal. Associations for various industry sectors and career fields (i.e. American Management Association, American Medical Association, etc.) may have internship listings in their publications or Web sites. Check out AssociationCentral.org for a directory of associations listed by industry or career field.

Professors/Professional staff. Many professors or professional staff will have contacts outside the university in organizations of interest. At many colleges and universities, a good number of professors are adjunct and maintain a professional job outside of teaching. They may have internships at their place of employment or know of organizations in need of interns. Talking with them about your interests may yield great contacts and opportunities.

Parents, family, and friends. Share your career interests with your parents, family member and friends. They may know of a contact who can help you get an internship in that area of interest.

Develop your own internship. You may know of a contact in a career field of interest. Talk with them about an internship in their place of employment.

Explore each of these options carefully and you will find that there are a number of internships available. Although there may be many opportunities remember there are many college students like you working to get the internship. Make sure you waste no time in sending out your sales package to assure your candidacy. Now you know where you want to intern, go for it!