In reading an article on MIT's Technology Review website today (Harvesting Business Ideas from Inside and Out), I was reminded of Internet beginnings. I understand the development of the Internet as we know it is not crystal clear (in fact, didn't Al Gore take credit once?) but I do believe it was not conceived as a form of communication in any proposed history. Rather, the intent was to "create a way to share resources by interconnecting networks to improve processing power." (Ian Peters History of the Internet by way of explanation.) I still fancy this original intent which brings me to the two companies below. One is identified as an open innovation provider and the other is self-described as employing crowdsourcing to deliver a service and/or product. The terms crowdsourcing and open innovation are used so interchangably these days I won't attempt to articulate a difference. So, semantics aside, both companies seem to do an excellent job of actually bringing the ideas and talents of participating individuals to market as viable, valuable services and products for themselves and their clients. Both use a managed process for submitting and sharing ideas. Both rely on the services and knowledge of others to deliver the end result. And both monetize the value of an idea. But what truly makes them successful at this point? Is it that they supply a limitless pool of individual ideas and knowledge - or is it that they are able to successfully manage, package, buy and sell those ideas?

1) InnoCentive - If you know anything about Preserving Cell Viability at Positive Temperatures, become a Solver now. Other challenges abound from Seekers big and small.

2) Victor & Spoils - Set up as an ad agency with the distinct difference of relying on an unlimited number of creatives to execute the work. Recent clients include Harley Davidson & Gap.

Welcome to the 2011! We're pleased to officially launch our new website (9 months after it went live) and our new name (a year after we started using it), and introduce you to a couple of new Creative Outreach team members. Eric Rislove has joined the team as Vice President of Sales and Meg Alles has joined us as our new Logistics Manager. As a result, we hope to make more money and be more organized. And we hope the same holds true for you. In the meantime, Sweeney and Caleb would like to share how some of our "new" stuff came into being...

And/or read our NON-RELEASE PRESS RELEASE.

Tis the season to wish people well... such as the mass email I received today, which read "During this holy season, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Merry Festivus, Happy Kwaanza, and for all you atheists - have a nice weekend!"

Likewise, here's wishing you well for at least one of these, maybe even two:
December 1st - Hanukkah Begins, Eat A Red Apple Day, National Pie Day, Rosa Park's Day, World AIDS Day
December 2nd - National Fritters Day
December 3rd - International Day of the Disabled Person, National Roof-Over-Your-Head Day
December 4th - National Cookie Day, Wear Brown Shoes Day
December 6th - Mitten Tree Day, St. Nicholas Day
December 7th - National Cotton Candy Day, Pearl Harbor Day
December 8th - National Brownie Day
December 9th - National Pastry Day
December 10th - Human Rights Day, Nobel Peace Prize Awarded
December 11th - National Noodle Ring Day
December 12th - Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Poinsettia Day
December 13th - St. Lucia Day, National Cocoa Day
December 16th - Las Posadas, National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
December 17th - National Maple Syrup Day, Underdog Day, Wright Brother's Day
December 18th - Bake Cookies Day, National Roast Suckling Pig Day
December 19th - Oatmeal Muffin Day
December 20th - Games Day
December 21st - First Day of Winter, Humbug Day, Look at the Bright Side Day, National Flashlight Day
December 23rd - Festivus, Roots Day
December 24th - National Egg Nog Day, Christmas Eve
December 25th - Christmas, National Pumpkin Pie Day
December 26th - Boxing Day, Kwanzaa Begins, National Whiners Day
December 27th - Visit the Zoo Day, Make Cut Out Snowflakes Day, National Fruitcake Day
December 28th - Card Playing Day, Pepper Pot Day
December 30th - National Bicarbonate of Soda Day
December 31st - New Year's Eve, Omisoka

So, yes, by all means, we hope you enjoy the holidays!