Daniel Lubetzky

Check out some of these incredibly creative bus ads that were sent to me by a friend!

"It’s impossible, that’s for sure. So let’s start working."

                                        -Phillip Petit from Man On Wire

By Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Check out this amazing JavaScript Animation sent to us by our friends at Madwell.  The Wilderness Downtown is a HTML 5/Canvas interactive JavaScript piece that displays a multimedia music video across various browser windows created by Chris Milk for Arcade Fire’s most recent single.  Click on the link to experience it for yourself.

Guy Deutscher wrote a fascinating article about the impact of our mother tongues on our alternating perceptions of life. He quotes Roman Jakobson’s maxim to summarize that “Languages differ essentially in what they must convey and not in what they may convey.”

But the insights go so well beyond what you might think. This article is a must read.

What it does not explicitly conclude (but I would like to infer) is that learning additional languages helps us expand our horizons in yet more ways than you’d ever had realized.

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Computational neuroscientist Sebastian Seung gave a fascinating talk at Poptech about “connectomics” – how our brain is wired and connected, and how our experiences shape our brains, and influence our personalities and behavior. Super interesting stuff.

by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

This fascinating article breaks down what goes on in your brain during exercise. According to studies, exercise increases Noggin, a protein that facilitates neurogenesis, the production of brain cells.   This proves again that there are manifold benefits to adopting healthy habits!

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

A new study conducted by Harvard University explains that moral actions can increase willpower and physical endurance. At the same time, the study observed increased physical strength following mean-spirited acts.  Researcher Kurt Gray claims that “By perceiving themselves as good or evil, people embody these perceptions, actually becoming more capable of physical endurance.”

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Olivia Judson’s articles are always so interesting.  Here is a fascinating – and disconcerting – look at how cuckoo birds plant their eggs in other birds’ nests and fool them into caring for their chicks – often in lieu of the actual offspring that are thrown out!

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by Adeena Schlussel on behalf of Daniel Lubetzky

Nick Kristof writes about Psychologist Jonathan Haidt of University of Virginia illustrates in his book, “The Happiness Hypothesis” that happiness is correlated with acts of kindness and that “altruism carries its own rewards”.  One study showed that when researched encouraged their subjects to imagine giving charity, the part of the brain associated with eating or sexual pleasure lit up.

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As we made our way from London to Madrid to escape the volcanic ash clouds and fly back to the US last month (see twitter journey report starting here, and see pictures here), and drawing from experiences when setting up PeaceWorks ventures and traveling through undeveloped parts of the globe, here are 10 tips for emergency travel:

1. Think Outside the Box: The irony of the volcanic eruption in Iceland is that while most of Europe was enveloped by the ashes – the one airport that continued working at full force was…in Iceland!

2. Research and Plan up front: Careful evaluation of options can save time down the road. Since getting a head start is of the essence during crises, try to parallel process – search on the web while on hold with airlines, ask family, friends or team members to research a particular leg of the trek or travel option. Paul and Allison researched ferries while Ian helped find car, and Adeena booked air reservations. Rely on network knowledge: Skoll entrepreneurs exchanged info via email. Search twitter, facebook, primary sources on web and news sites. Don’t assume one website is definitive. A lot of misinformation also abounds (see below).

3. Just Do It: don’t be paralyzed by options or by the possibility of a wrong decision. You lose much more from total inaction. Like in real life, you can be lucky, but you can also make your luck by just showing up. We feared the ferries and the trains would be so overbooked and we wouldn’t find a spot (because websites and news reports warned all were sold out). We showed up and they were 50% empty!

4. Prepare for Bad Scenarios: Write essential info like key contact #s or confirmations on paper – in case your pda or phone runs out of battery. Carry always essentials with you – such as a mini-first-aid-kit, even if just a couple of pills for each ailment. Carry emergency cash in some secret compartment. Some tissues or toilet paper in your back pocket…

5. Carry Alternative Electric/Web Connection Options: at a minimum this should mean a multi-purpose electric outlet converter; some car chargers can be life-savers and don’t add much space; an unlocked phone with refillable sim cards for the countries you visit can be very useful – not so much for outgoing calls because the rates are almost as exorbitant as if roaming from the US, but because they allow free incoming calls. A US phone with international service for back up is also critical. A wi-fi ready device is the minimum you need; an ethernet cable can be useful; a Verizon-type internet source from phone network can be handy.

6. Travel flexibly/lightly: A carry-on suitcase multiplies the flexibility for flight changes. Layers of clothes allow you to be comfortable in changing temperatures. A sweater for the plane can be very handy. Phone cos can change plan as you travel.

7. Nice to haves can make a difference: noise canceling headphones, extra pair of warm socks.  Take off your shoes on long rides. Pack an Eye mask always – make all the fun you want, but when you are stuck at 6am traveling on car and sleepy, it is an awesome savior.

8. Charge Up When You Can – maximize your staying power – Juice up your computer and phone/pda whenever possible – you never know when you’ll be stuck without electricity.  An extra battery is useful, and you should work on power-saving mode when traveling. Also rest your body well and sleep as much as possible before a long journey. Take a nice good shower and a healthy hearty meal before long travel.

9. Carry something to KIND others: Being able to give a little treat to strangers can make a big difference.  I bring KIND bars with me, not just to snack for myself but as a way to give out to people stranded also, or to people that can give you a hand – at the checkout counter of an airline, etc.

10. Deploy Alliances – Traveling with someone is not just more pleasant; pairing up can help you coordinate – one watches bags while other searches for option, or one buys food while other gets tickets, and is more likely to yield support from others who won’t think you are a stalker; while most people can’t control the passport they carry, not all passports are created equal – and the ones from nations with most pre-cleared no-visa-requirement access can be huge assets.  Develop a bond and loyalty with your preferred airline – loyalty programs come very handy in times of crisis – they set up emergency hotlines and will try to help their passengers find alt. routes. And get local tel #s from your airline so you are not calling long-distance (toll-free #s from abroad are treated as long-distance calls).

More ideas? Post them in comments…