I saw two videos today that made me think we’re only beginning to see the raw potential that lies in the iPhone. When Apple decided to open the platform up to developers, it was such a brilliant idea! Building a platform and letting others take it and run is a very compelling business model.

This first video shows the Brushes app, and how it was used to create cover art for a recent issue of the New Yorker. Are you kidding me?! A $5 application being used in design for a major publication. That’s just unbelievable. You can read more about this here.

This second video shows a new iPhone game called “Seek n’ Spell”. Players of the game have to run all over a specific geographic area to collect letters, helping them make words to win the game. What really amazes me is how this game involves the physical world and software. The future will be very very interesting.

Here’s a great video I found that really speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit. I highly recommend it.

Even if you don’t work for yourself, you can think and act like an entrepreneur. How are you changing your company, your community, your world for the better?

Friends and Family,

I’d like to bring to your attention a fantastic charity opportunity that is being organized by two of my close friends, Allen Burt and Ryan Graves.  This week (beginning April 27, 2009) marks the beginning of their $5K in 5 Days campaign.  The goal is to raise money to buy books for school children in Laos by leveraging the power of the social web.  The goal and how you can help are described below.  If you’re able, please consider a donation.  I couldn’t speak more highly than I do of these two gentlemen.

The Goal
My good friend Allen Burt has been traveling through Southeast Asia over the last few months and has hooked up with an awesome organization called ‘Big Brother Mouse ‘. Their goal, and now ours, is to provide literacy opportunities for the children of Laos. Allen and I have organized a world wide campaign to raise funds for this organization!
Through LibraryForLaos.org & The $5K in 5 Days campaign, books will be purchased through the non-profit Big Brother Mouse, at an average cost of only $1.80 per book. With your help, we can provide thousands of books and fund reading programs for schools in rural Laos. Simply, contribute your lunch money or inspire 10 of your friends to contribute and share with 10 of their friends. This will take you only 3 minutes and YOU can help change the landscape of literacy in Laos!

When
During the final week in April we are going to launch a web wide effort to raise $5,000 US towards the children of Laos. Mark your calendars for this coming Monday, April 27 – Friday, May 1, 2009. We’ll be accepting donation starting that Monday at 12:00am and going until Friday at midnight.

How can I help?
Easy…just go to LibraryforLaos.org and either go to the donate page to contribute monetarily. Or, use these links to share LibraryforLaos.org with all your friends, listservs, Twitter followers, or even stalkers on the web! Again, this sharing will only take you a minute so please help us spread the awareness of this cause!

Email – Email Library for Laos to friends!
Twitter – Share Libary for Laos with Twitter followers!
Facebook – Update your status on Facebook to recruit friends to help!

Why Laos?
The country of Laos is in a devastating state of poverty and the children of rural villages are suffering. Of a population of roughly 6 million, over half are under the age of 21. Increasing opportunities for literacy NOW, will have a substantial impact on the Laos’ future. Just as China and India have experienced a boom in education and thus impact on the world, Southeast Asia is next in line. With such a large number of children the potential impact is enormous.
Thank you so much for helping us raise funds for LibraryforLaos.org and Big Brother Mouse! On Sunday May 3rd we’ll send out an email letting you all know what dollar amount we reached! Your help and support is very much appreciated!

Check out the wallpaper I just made on Flickr: