Omidyar Network, Founded By eBay Billionaire, Creates ...

On the day Pierre Omidyar became a billionaire, he knew he wanted to put his money to good use.

In September 1998, the eBay founder watched his stake in the company rise to over $1 billion on the first day of public trading. Having written the original software for the site only three years prior, Omidyar didn't feel an overwhelming sense of entitlement to the wealth and made it his mission to make sure the money was employed effectively, he wrote in the Harvard Business Review. To do so, he created the Omidyar Network (ON), an organization that invests in promising social enterprises, some of which serve the world's poorest populations.

After initially starting a nonprofit family foundation, Omidyar decided to create a new organization that would use the power of business to address global poverty, he wrote. Omidyar had watched eBay became a powerful influence in online commerce -- empowering many people to become entrepreneurs -- and wanted to help other underserved populations in a similar way.

"The vast majority of entrepreneurs who set up shop [because of eBay] were people who might not have been entrepreneurs in other capacities," said Paula Goldman, Omidyar Network director. "There were a large number of single moms who couldn't afford to work out of the house, people with developmental disabilities, and a large number of disabled military veterans who were able to set up shop working from home."

The site's effect on underserved populations inspired the creation of the Omidyar Network, which uses impact investments to facilitate efforts around the globe to assist those at the base of the economic pyramid. A report by JP Morgan, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Global Impact Investing Network describes impact investments as "investments intended to create positive impact alongside financial return." According to the report, the impact investing market offers the potential for invested capital of between $400 billion and $1 trillion over the next 10 years.

To date, the Omidyar Network has made over $550 million in impact investments. Roughly half of those investments were grants, while the other half consisted of for-profit tools like loans or equity, according to Goldman. All of the money went to early-stage entrepreneurs who were perceived as too risky by commercial investors or because "investors might not be willing to come in until the concept is more proven," Goldman said.

As a hybrid for-profit/nonprofit organization, the Omidyar Network effectively "operates with two checkbooks," Goldman said. The blend of nonprofit and for-profit enables the company to invest in social entrepreneurs in whichever way will be most effective.

One of the companies that has received funding from the Omidyar Network is d.light. As a for-profit social enterprise that produces affordable solar lanterns, d.light aims to bring light to 100 million people by 2020 who currently do not have access to reliable electricity.

Omidyar Network also works with companies that seek to create greater governmental transparency. Janaagraha, a nonprofit based in India, created the website IPaidABribe.com to bring attention to widespread corruption. Because of the site, the local government in Bangalore stepped in and cleaned up two departments, Goldman said. The service has already expanded to Kenya, Greece, Zimbabwe and Pakistan and has been requested in many more nations, she added.

Goldman said the example set by Pierre Omidyar and the Omidyar Network can help move the impact investing industry forward. Investors need to keep two main things in mind when considering potential investments, she said. "Investors need to make a commitment to provide early-stage risk capital to kick-start new sectors," she said. "And they need to truly commit to knowing the local markets so they can pick out the next d.light or Janaagraha."

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/omidyar-network-ebay-founder-impact-investing_n_2017815.html

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The Facebook Demetricator Removes the Numbers from Facebook, Leaves You No Excuse for Not Working

Chrome/Firefox: Part useful tool and part social experiment, Ben Grosser's Facebook Demetricator removes all of the numbers that keep our eyes glued to Facebook?likes, new messages, comments, notifications, all of them are gone. With them removed, you can scan the site for the information you want, read without worrying about killing too much time interacting, and get back to work.

Facebook is distracting enough, but the little hooks that are designed to keep us there all do their part to pull in our attention. The Facebook Demetricator erases those numbers as though they were never even there. Ben describes the extension this way:

Facebook Demetricator is a web browser addon that hides these metrics. No longer is the focus on how many friends you have or on how much they like your status, but on who they are and what they said. Friend counts disappear. '16 people like this' becomes ?people like this'. Through changes like these, Demetricator invites Facebook's users to try the system without the numbers, to see how their experience is changed by their absence. With this work I aim to disrupt the prescribed sociality these metrics produce, enabling a network society that isn't dependent on quantification.

Of course, if you already have AdBlock Plus installed, the AntiSocial plugin can do much of this for you too, and we've shown you how to use SocialFixer to improve your Facebook experience as well. Either way, if the idea piques your interest, or you think it'll make you more productive on or off Facebook, it's available for Chrome and Firefox at the link below.

Facebook Demetricator | benjamin grosser via Hack a Day

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/QO33YqKKcqo/the-facebook-demetricator-removes-the-numbers-from-facebook-leaves-you-no-excuse-for-not-working

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Warren on her race against Brown and 2016?

Spinners and Winners

The marquee Senate race this year is in Massachusetts, where Democrat Elizabeth Warren is challenging incumbent Republican Sen. Scott Brown.

"I never thought I'd run for public office, but I feel the urgency of this moment," says Warren. "If we don't make some important changes and make them soon, this country is going to change fundamentally, and it's not for the better."

Democrats took notice of the former Harvard professor late last year, when a?video of Warren speaking on fair taxation and debt surfaced online.

"There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody," Warren says in the video. "You built a factory out there, good for you, but I want to be clear, you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you all were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for."

Warren's popularity among Democrats has only increased since then; there are already people talking, tweeting, and posting about Elizabeth Warren running for president in 2016.

"I have 5 words for that: No, no, no, no, no," says Warren, with a laugh. Though the woman who established the Consumer Protection Bureau is keen to get back to Washington, and says she is willing to work across the aisle and even with a -- unlikely, she says -- Romney administration.

"I want to go to Washington to fight for working families," says Warren "And that is true regardless of who is president and regardless of who else is in the United States Senate."

For more on Elizabeth Warren, including the candidate's views on the Supreme Court and which Republican senators she sees herself working with, check out today's Spinners and Winners. And head to yesterday's episode for our interview with incumbent GOP Sen. Scott Brown.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/elizabeth-warren-2016-111200552.html

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Student Debt Debacles

Most federal student loans have rates of 6.8 percent (or less) and offer broad consumer protections that allow people who lose their jobs to make lower, affordable payments or to defer payment until they recover financially.

Private student loans ? from banks and other private institutions ? typically come with variable interest rates and fewer consumer protections, which means that borrowers who get into trouble have few options other than default. Many borrowers did not learn about the differences between private and federal loans until after they became deeply indebted. And because of confusion about variable rates, they are sometimes shocked to learn what they owe when that first bill arrives.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2012/10/25/student_debt_debacles_294204.html

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The secrets of Buffett's success: Beating the Market with Beta

I?d like to call everyone?s attention to an Economist article entitled ?The secrets of Buffett?s success: Beating the Market with Beta?.? Basically, this article is an executive summary of two academic working papers; 1)?Betting against beta, by A Frazzini and LH Pedersen, and?2) Buffett?s Alpha, by A Frazzini, D Kabiller, and LH Pedersen.

In a nutshell, the Economist article explains that two factors: 1) the low-beta nature of Warren Buffett?s portfolio, and 2) Buffett?s leveraging of his portfolio by a factor of 60% using low cost AAA-rated debt and debt-like financing from his insurance and reinsurance operations, pretty much explain all off Warren Buffett?s superior returns over the course of the last 35 years (tip of the hat to Dr. JT Rose and Dr.?Don Cunningham for bringing the Economist article to my attention).

Source: http://risk.garven.com/2012/10/25/the-secrets-of-buffetts-success-beating-the-market-with-beta/

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Introducing AppyMall: A New Educational App Marketplace

[prMac.com] San Francisco, California - AppyMall, a new marketplace for educational apps, has been launched by Technology in Education, a popular review site, to help teachers and parents find quality children's apps.

AppyMall allows users to search for educational apps by grade level and learning skill, such as math, language arts, or reading. AppyMall divides apps into anchor stores that organize book, game and educational apps into categories such as preschool, elementary school, middle school, speech and language, special needs and apps with lesson plans.

Within each anchor store, apps are sub-categorized by subject and price so that consumers can find relevant learning content quickly. There also is an option for the user to click on the app description to put it on a wish list, or to mark that they own it.

"The AppyMall educational categories are helpful for consumers to pinpoint different areas of educational content. Instead of browsing huge app stores under the blanket terms of 'education' or 'kids,' with AppyMall you can specifically target apps by subject area and grade level," said Lorraine Akemann of Moms With Apps. "This service should be helpful for parents and teachers alike in finding apps."

AppyMall is an offshoot of Technology in Education, a popular review site for educational apps with a Facebook community of more than 15,000.

The need for AppyMall, which categorizes apps by grade level and learning skill, became evident as the Technology in Education team witnessed the frustration of teachers looking for specific types of apps for their classroom, and parents seeking apps to foster learning at home. It also has become an important resource for apps that help special needs children, such as those on the Autism Spectrum.

"AppyMall is a fantastic resource for parents looking for special needs apps. There are so many apps on iTunes now that it is difficult to find apps that target a specific skill or deficit," said Kyle Tomson, president of the Mobile Education Store. "AppyMall not only narrows the search, but it only includes the best apps, ones that you can feel confident will help your child. I use it myself for my children."

The site also has become an important ally for educational app developers.

"Folks at AppyMall go beyond merely reviewing your app. They not only critique, but even suggest critical improvements," said Joy Deep Nath, co-founder of StudyPad. "But what really sets AppyMall apart is its focus on curriculum and the core education value of the app. This helps them create very fine-tuned, but extremely useful categories in education, like apps with lesson plans, apps for special education, etc. It's simply the best place for app discovery."

AppyMall was founded in 2012 to help parents and teachers cut through the clutter of the app marketplace to find quality educational apps for children.

AppyMall, an online educational app marketplace, was founded in 2012 by the Technology in Education team to make it easier for parents and teachers to find quality educational apps. Copyright (C) 2012 AppyMall. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

###

Source: http://prmac.com/release-id-49718.htm

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stock market news: Sure Fire Badminton Drills, Sports & Recreation

NHL 13 ?Hercules Check? What Really Happened Video

CGRtrailers, from Classic Game Room?, presents a video explaining what has been dubbed the ?Hercules Check? of Sidney Crosby by Zdeno Chara in NHL 13 from EA Sports. NHL 13 was released back on September 11, 2012 for the PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360 video game consoles. Enjoy! Be sure to check out more video game clips, previews and trailers from Classic Game Room's CGRtrailers at http://www.metacafe.com/CGRtrailers And connect with us at: http://www.ClassicGameRoom.com http://www.facebook.com/ClassicGameRoom http://www.gplus.to/ClassicGameRoom http://www.twitter.com/ClassicGameRoom http://www.twitter.com/CGRundertow
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Classic Game Room - MADDEN NFL 13 Review

Madden 13 review. http://www.ClassicGameRoom.com Classic Game Room reviews MADDEN NFL 13 from EA Sports for the PlayStation 3 (also available for Xbox 360). It's the new Madden football game now with the Infinity engine that delivers amazing visuals and lots of new animations and details that are sure to impress.
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Brooklyn Decker Sports Bikini Bod in Australia

Brooklyn Decker's in Australia promoting her new movie Battleship, and we're pretty sure she's found a good way to help it become a direct hit.
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Kelly Kelly's Hot Rod Bod

We're still not sure which body is better: WWE diva Kelly Kelly's perfect 10 or the brand new ZL1 Camero's. Judge for yourself. Check out the photos!
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Scuba Diving: Necessary Gear

In Part 3 of our series on Scuba Diving, http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about the gear we will need to pick up in order to undertake this hobby, and we will find out how to make sure we?ve got the proper equipment.
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NCAA Final Four MetaMinute

Quick recap of this years tourney leading into this weekends Final Four match ups. UCONN vs. Kentucky and Butler vs. VCU are sure to make it a weekend to remember. Check out the latest from the NCAA tourney with Metacafe Sports
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Videogame Trailers - "Kinect Sports" Party Pack DLC Trailer

Videogame Trailers Rare is offering free DLC for "Kinect Sports" called Party Pack. Check out the new minigames and characters that are sure to kick-start any get-together!
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FOX Sports Flash: Weekend Preview

Get ready for your sports weekend with the FOX Sports Flash. Be sure to watch weekdays from 9:00a - 8:00p ET for hourly sports updates.
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FOX Sports Flash: Weekend Preview

Get ready for your sports weekend with the FOX Sports Flash. Be sure to watch weekdays from 9:00a - 8:00p ET for hourly sports updates.
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FOX Sports Flash: Weekend Preview

Get ready for your sports weekend with the FOX Sports Flash. Be sure to watch weekdays from 9:00a - 8:00p ET for hourly sports updates.
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FOX Sports Flash: Weekend Preview

Get ready for your sports weekend with the FOX Sports Flash. Be sure to watch weekdays from 9:00a - 8:00p ET for hourly sports updates.
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Best of the Rest - Tripping On Salvia Video Drug Craze

Best of the Rest YouTube videos of people tripping on the hallucinogenic herb Salvia divinorum are helping fuel a wave of legislation to ban it.
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Best of the Rest - Yoga for Singles

Best of the Rest In places like Los Angeles, Yoga has given rise to a whole new "scene," a dating scene that is
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Best of the Rest - A Hot DJ Named Loli

Best of the Rest DJ Loli is one of LA's hottest DJs, literally. This former TV personality turned DJ shows how she keeps the club pumping and the dance floor jumping.
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Best of the Rest - Emma Stone & Jesse Eisenberg Take Over Current

Best of the Rest Emma Stone (Superbad, The Rocker) and Jesse Eisenberg (Squid & the Whale, Adventureland) take over Current for a half hour of Zombieland-goodness, zombie history & trivia, quizzes & interviews.
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Best of the Rest - Making Cocaine

Best of the Rest Learn how Colombia's rural farmers make and sell cocaine.
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Best of the Rest - Adult ADHD

Best of the Rest VCC Producer Adam Cole went out to make a pod about adult ADHD. After months of struggling to actually finish the pod, he realized he might have it.
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Best of the Rest - Club Bounce: Big Sexy

Best of the Rest Who says you need to be thin to be sexy? Club Bounce is the progressive LA nightclub that caters to women who are fun, sexy and BIG! VC2 producer Carlos Aguilar profiles this club, its promoters and its patrons.
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Best of the Rest - Von Hottie: Modern Pinup

Best of the Rest Who is she? An artist? A model? Part pin up, part human graffiti, von Hottie is a New York moment incarnate.
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Woodsmen Competition: A Primer

Woodsmen competitions are sure to feature chainsaws, axes and teamwork. http://www.WatchMojo.com learns more about this outdoor sport.
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Source: http://invest.5ver.com/lists/297-sports-recreation/28247-sure-fire-badminton-drills-sports-recreation.html

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Source: http://andrea-heidemarie.blogspot.com/2012/10/stock-market-news-sure-fire-badminton.html

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