The internet has afforded us the great opportunity to take advantage of a great network of internet users and their knowledge.  This “wiki” revolution has led to many innovations including the revolutionary site Wikipedia as well as operating systems such as Linux.

To further take advantage of this revolution in sharing knowledge for free, a blog called the Open Source Revolution focuses on being an open forum for people to share new software and ideas with the world.  It covers everything from how-to’s, freeware downloads, to reviews, linux, and Open CV.  Check it out.

1. Cancun: Cancun is pure craziness during spring break. It has thousands of college students ready to party 24-7. With gorgeous beaches and a plethora of fun late night clubs, there is never a dull moment. If you are looking for snorkeling and sightseeing, Cancun has Cozumel, Xel-Ha, and Tulum to offer. Mexico is also very cheap right now due to safety issues they have been having. While there are certain parts of Mexico I would be worried about, Cancun is not one of them. So take advantage of the good price, beautiful beaches, and constant partying!
2. Panama City, Florida: Panama City is America’s number one spring break destination. With great weather, beautiful beaches, and plenty of partying, this is everything and more you want in a spring break experience. MTV U still has not been able to top the 2009 Panama City spring break coverage.
3. Miami: South Beach is a killer time for any spring break enthusiast. Like all of my top choice, the beaches, weather, and party life are phenomenal. Miami can be a little bit more expressive, but if you have the money it will be worth your while. The South Beach club scene is one of the best in the world but again very expensive.
4. Europe: Who doesn’t want to go to Europe? This time of year, most college students visit Amsterdam, London and Paris, which are all known for their great party scenes. The only downfalls to these cities are they will still be cold, so partying will be inside and price. Exchange rates are not as bad as they were last year but still not great. Some other good locations are Rome, Florence, Madrid, and Berlin. This is also a great time to go sightsee, since there won’t be summer crowds to wrestle with.
5. Jamaica: Beaches, sun, partying, and Bob Marley, need I say anything more. Jamaica is very cheap and a lot of fun but be careful, some parts of the island can be a little wild and dangerous.

99designs

This concept is crowdsourcing at its best. Logo design is something every new startup faces. However, most entrepreneurs have no idea how to create a logo that looks sharp and conveys their image properly. That’s where 99designs steps in. This site solves the entrepreneur’s problem by connecting them to a number of designers to create a relevant logo to the business.

Easy as 1-2-3

There are three simple steps to getting your logo. First, the customer launches a design contest outlining the general concept and guidelines that need to be followed. This gives the designers something to follow. Second, collaborate with the designers. As the logos roll in, keep in contact with the artists and give them feedback so they can make the logo even more customized to you. Third, you choose the winner. Along with the finished logo, you receive the copyright to the original work. Now, you can go on your way with an awesome logo!

In less than 15 seconds, cheap-textbooks.com can generate a list of over 30 prices at different sites for students to select from.

My first year in college I think I spent close to $900 on textbooks. As I am advancing in my field of study, the prices of textbooks only rise. But my net expenses are much, much lower. The reason is that I am willing to spend a fair amount of time searching for textbooks online. Often, I find books for less than half the price of what the college bookstore charges.

The most efficient site I have found to use when shopping for textbooks is http://www.cheap-textbooks.com/. This site allows the user to type in the ISBN number or author of the book and then generates a list of prices from over 30 online sources. The list includes rentals, used, and new books. While rentals were appealing to me because of the low cost, I decided I would prefer to own my books and not be liable for any destruction or markings. But I soon found another reason why I prefer to own the book…After I am finished with the class, I can sell many of the books and make a profit. It sounds ridiculous, but it sadly is true. I have been able to sell some of my textbooks to students for much more than I paid for.

So this summer, when your professors send out their syllabus and required reading, take some time to look up your textbooks online. At the very minimum, check out cheap-textbooks.com. If not, the bookstore or someone like myself will likely rip you off.

Pepsi Max and Doritos  branched out with their Crash the Superbowl challenge. The brands challenged America to make their own commercials for either one or both of the brands to be aired in during the Super Bowl. The top 10 finalists received $25,000 with those voted top 6 were aired in the Super Bowl. But it didn’t stop their! The brands offered $1 million, $600,000, and $400,000 to a finalist if their commercial rated 1st, 2nd, or 3rd (respectively) in the USA Today Ad Meter.

This was a brilliant marketing campaign for Pepsi and Doritos. It not only brought them a lot of attention by those trying to win but they benefited from the creative minds of America

this was my personal favorite: