Today, Tuesday, April 22, 2008, is Earth Day.  There appears to be more hype than ever for Earth Day this year.  And while it is often used as a corporate-friendly PR spin in these times of corporate skepticism, it is also simply a thoughtful way of living.  Caring for the Earth means caring for one another and the future of those who will be here after we are gone.

211(me) is happy to offer a paper-free way of sharing information.  It’s a small change that can have a big impact… and easier than changing a light-bulb.  What have you done to change to make a change? (No pressure… honest). One I can offer is changing to reusable bags when grocery shopping.  Not only does it keep your closet free from plastic bag infestation (those things can attack) but they are honestly easier to use.  You can put down the bag to unlock the front door and cans won’t roll down the steps. Plus, you generally end up with less bags, so it is easier to get from your car (or bike) to your kitchen counter without flailing bags (and crushed bread).  Have I run off on a tangent…?

My point is, sometimes the changes are not only simple, but better, and even cheaper.  Strange but true. Every little bit helps.  So help jump on the green bandwagon with us today and all the days that follow, spread the word and do what you can.  A little bit of caring for one another can go a long way…

US Government’s Earth Day page

World Wildlife Federation’s Earth Day page

Oprah’s Going Green 101

What You Can Do

I am traveling to CTIA so I thought I would send out the article “PAPER IS OUT, CELLPHONES ARE IN” from The New York Times, March 18, 2008 regarding cellphones and travel. The article talks about the “pilot” program going on now with paperless boarding pass and scanning from mobile phones.
Don’t just leave your paper boarding pass at home, leave your paper business card because you have created a paperless 211me green business card.
I will update from CTIA along with our coming release regarding new customers. We also found the review of the 211me green at http://lifeafterajob.com/blog/?p=15

 http://lifeafterajob.com/blog/?p=15

www.ctia.org

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093748/

The New York Times, Paper Is Out, Cellphones Are In

                            (Created using 211me)

I guess I deserved it; I have not put up a post since freaking November. The good news is we have been busy. The biggest two things being that we:
        1) Closed Series B round of financing
        2) Signed up several new customers

We closed our B round ($1.425 million) in late December, so it was nice Christmas celebration for everyone at 211me!  We had a term sheet from a VC but decided to go with another private investor round and we are very happy about. We are not anti-VC or anything, but the individuals that invested are top notch (including our new Board member Seth Kaufman and the former CEO of a Fortune 50 company).
We will be doing a press release at CTIA coming up next week regarding our new customers and new features we are adding next week. I  will be attending, so if you see me throw a drink in my fat face. We signed up several new customers to our premium service and are very happy with their use of the 211me green cards.
That’s it for now, but it won’t be as long between posts, or I will get chiefed again.
Rd

R2D2 and Roy Batty, both created as androids but with wildly divergent results. One a trusted side-kick, with all the answers. The other the intelligent psycho android played by Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner, who kills his maker. Which one will Google’s Android be?After speaking with some folks, lets clear up some confusion, the G-Phone is not a phone like iPhone, but rather an operating system. Google at this point will not be making the phone, they are partnering with manufacturers to use their operating system. It appears that Google has and continues to benefit from this confusion which it helped create.

Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer called the Android platform “a mere press release,” which is correct. Understanding the impact on the mobile industry, be it a benevolent “open” platform that helps the consumer or not, is not possible at this point.

Only time will tell. But the new $10 million Android developer competition should help Google’s cause.

Quick Links:

Android

Roy Batty

Blade Runner

Star Wars

R2D2

Google’s Android

Steve Ballmer comments

Gartner’s lastest Top 10 list calls out Green IT as one of the “technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organizations.” Gartner defines a strategic technology as “one with the potential for significant impact on the enterprise in the next three years.” uh? Maybe they should just change the list to THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT, OR MAYBE THEY WON’T.

Quick Links:

Gartner Identifies the Top 10 Strategic Technologies for 2008

Gartner

211(me) will be presenting at the Hollywood Goes Green event December 11-12 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. I will be there discussing our service 211(me) Green, the eco-friendly business card that reduces paper and helps people make the best first impression.

From the website, www.hollywoodgoesgreen.com “iHollywood Forum makes history with the first conference to specifically address environmental issues in entertainment and related industries.

Hollywood Goes Green will offer industry insiders a forum to collaborate and develop partnerships for a sustainable future. Be part of this historic gathering for an in-depth exchange of ideas and make deals with influencers who share your passion for protecting the environment.

In recent years, Hollywood has significantly stepped-up its efforts and introduced eco-friendly business practices to preserve the environment and eliminate global warming. Changes in the music industry, broadcast development, film, TV and cable programming and everyday business operations now focus on saving green – Mother Earth and money: Going Green 2.0.”
Quick Links:

Hollywood Goes Green

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

iHollywood Forum