Japan's rabbit island might be the cutest place on Earth

Video screen capture Vitaly Petrukhin

Okunoshima is a Japanese island with a circumference of about two and a half miles and is home to a hotel, a camping ground and a golf course. There's also a small museum that stands as a reminder of the chemical weapons production that happened on Okunoshima during World War II. None of these things are what attracted a recent spike in tourism.

The island has become a travel destination thanks to its population of semi-wild rabbits, who face no natural predators. There are an estimated 300 bunnies bounding about, with all the associated adorableness.

Ikumi C/CC BY 2.0

Laura Moss writes for our sister site, MNN, that the rabbits may have been brought to Okunoshima as test subjects for poison gas development. "Other sources say that a group of schoolchildren on a field trip released eight of the animals in 1971," she writes.

One might argue that the bunnies are a kind of invasive species, but it doesn't seem like the rabbits have become a problem as they did on the Scottish island of Canna.

Ran Zwigenberg. Rabbits meander in front of a WWII chemicals facility. /CC BY 2.0

Sebastian Murdock over at HuffPo found the recent video below, which apparently shows a tourist being chased by a stampede of bunnies. Yes, a stampede of bunnies. 

Video screen capture Vitaly Petrukhin

Okunoshima is a Japanese island with a circumference of about two and a half miles and is home to a hotel, a camping ground and a golf course. There's also a small museum that stands as a reminder of the chemical weapons production that happened on Okunoshima during World War II. None of these things are what attracted a recent spike in tourism.

The island has become a travel destination thanks to its population of semi-wild rabbits, who face no natural predators. There are an estimated 300 bunnies bounding about, with all the associated adorableness.

Ikumi C/CC BY 2.0

Laura Moss writes for our sister site, MNN, that the rabbits may have been brought to Okunoshima as test subjects for poison gas development. "Other sources say that a group of schoolchildren on a field trip released eight of the animals in 1971," she writes.

One might argue that the bunnies are a kind of invasive species, but it doesn't seem like the rabbits have become a problem as they did on the Scottish island of Canna.

Ran Zwigenberg. Rabbits meander in front of a WWII chemicals facility. /CC BY 2.0

Sebastian Murdock over at HuffPo found the recent video below, which apparently shows a tourist being chased by a stampede of bunnies. Yes, a stampede of bunnies. 

Video screen capture Vitaly Petrukhin

Okunoshima is a Japanese island with a circumference of about two and a half miles and is home to a hotel, a camping ground and a golf course. There's also a small museum that stands as a reminder of the chemical weapons production that happened on Okunoshima during World War II. None of these things are what attracted a recent spike in tourism.

The island has become a travel destination thanks to its population of semi-wild rabbits, who face no natural predators. There are an estimated 300 bunnies bounding about, with all the associated adorableness.

Ikumi C/CC BY 2.0

Laura Moss writes for our sister site, MNN, that the rabbits may have been brought to Okunoshima as test subjects for poison gas development. "Other sources say that a group of schoolchildren on a field trip released eight of the animals in 1971," she writes.

One might argue that the bunnies are a kind of invasive species, but it doesn't seem like the rabbits have become a problem as they did on the Scottish island of Canna.

Ran Zwigenberg. Rabbits meander in front of a WWII chemicals facility. /CC BY 2.0

Sebastian Murdock over at HuffPo found the recent video below, which apparently shows a tourist being chased by a stampede of bunnies. Yes, a stampede of bunnies. 

Since first publishing this post, I've been informed that the young woman who created and appears in the video is Yu Yu Lam.

It's not surprising that the rabbits have come to expect visitors to bring them food. 

This electric-assist cargo bike is powered with a built-in solar panel

© NTS

Bicycles built specifically to carry cargo, instead of just one person and what they can fit on an aftermarket bike rack or panniers, can open up a lot of options for wider use of bicycling for transportation for more people. And when you combine the load-carrying ability of a cargo bike with the option for electric pedal-assist, it not only allows for more flexibility for daily use, but also makes getting around with a full load of gear much easier on the body. Integrate a solar panel for charging, and you've got a potential game changer in green transportation.

As a family guy and former bike commuter, I can attest to the fact that getting the weekly groceries home on a bike was pretty challenging, and only after getting a bike cargo trailer (mine is a BOB Trailer) was I able to manage it without feeling like I wasone of the Joads, but with a bicycle instead of a truck. During that time, I also knew many people that wouldn't use their bicycles for running errands because they not only had no space for it on their bikes, but also felt like they didn't have the energy or weren't fit enough to haul their stuff, even with a trailer. But if they had an electric cargo bike that would enable them to ride farther and faster, while carrying their gear with them, then those types of excuses wouldn't carry any water.

Electric cargo bikes aren't new, but the most recent release from NTS Works, the SunCycle, adds a twist, by integrating a renewable energy aspect to the bike with a 60W solar panel and charging system. The SunCycle is based on the company's LockerCycle, which has a locking cargo area and electric assist from its front hub motor, but with the solar panel, it's possible to also get a charge without plugging in.

"The NTS SunCycle integrates an incredibly small, lightweight and powerful solar panel. It weights about two pounds and is rated for 60 watts of power. We also make our own solar charge regulator that protects the battery from overcharging.

The noncrystalline solar cells used on our panels are over 19 percent efficient. Our panel is approximately 4 square feet." - NTS

According to company tests on the SunCycle's performance, the solar panel exceeded its rating of 60 W, which is more power than used on the low power setting for the electric assist, and could translate to being able to fully power the SunCycle with solar alone on sunny days.

© NTS
The bike is powered by a 36v Li-ion battery (14.3Ah 517Wh), which is said to give the SunCycle about a 25 mile range (assuming no solar input), and the batteries from NTS come with a Lifetime Rebuild Warranty, so they can be repaired and rebuilt when needed for about half the price of a new battery.

The SunCycle will be available this spring, and is available for pre-order right now for about $4000.

For $3000, you can own one of the world's smallest cafés

© Nordic Invention

Move over, Starbucks. The future of hip coffee might come from baristas on bikes, and Wheely's wants to get you turning the wheels of an ecological café bike.

The trend of upscale coffee shops such as Starbucks has been crowding small independent café owners out of business over the last couple of years, at least in places where real estate costs are high and the demographics of café customers seem to prefer a premium experience.

But these coffee giants' reliance on brick-and-mortar locations has a distinct disadvantage in the mobile market, and a Swedish design firm thinks they have an answer to the question of how an independent coffee shop could compete with them, especially for potential eco-entrepreneurs with minimal startup funds.

The Nordic Society For Invention and Discovery (NSID) has developed one possible solution for a low-cost and low-impact competitor in the crowded coffee market, and it can be yours for just $3000. The Wheely's concept is a mini coffee shop on a cargo bike, complete with a solar powered battery pack for brewing java, a cold sink for ice, gas burners, a speaker system for music, and a parasol to keep the sun or rain off the tiny café.

Along with the Wheely's café cargo bike, those who buy in to the concept will also be a part of the Wheely's franchise network, which will give your new coffee business a "branded" appeal, as well as the support of the network's social media accounts and access to legal and business advice.

© Nordic Invention
If you're already sold on becoming a bike barista eco-entrepreur, there's an early-bird pricing on the campaign's Indiegogo page, and the first five people to pony up $1800 will get their own bike-powered micro-café. After those spots are taken, the next ten people who commit to a $2500 contribution will be the owners of a Wheely's bike and franchise.

U Did not Know that

Sales Tips for Introverts

Meet me at a party and I won't have a lot to say. Sit next to me on a cross-country flight and I may not say a word to you the entire trip.

I am an introvert.

It has never been easy for me to start a conversation with people I don't know. But you wouldn't know it if you saw me on a Google Hangout, in a TV interview or at one of my sales seminars. When I got out of college I was terrified to go on a job interview until I realized employers weren't going to come to my house and hire me. At 23, I sold cars for seven years and never got comfortable saying hello to a customer. Yet I still figured out how to reach the top 1 percent of all the salespeople in the auto industry.

We can all be introverts or extroverts, depending on the situation. I know people who would be viewed as extroverts at a party they host, but when they are guests at a party where they know no one, they appear to be introverts. As a professional speaker and educator, I become extroverted in order to deliver information, but when I attend seminars I am much more introverted.

So, how do you become extroverted in a sales situation when you are not naturally comfortable with it?

This is what I do to step out of my comfort zone:

Get passionate. I become so excited about what I'm selling that I have to share it with the world. Becoming passionate about your product or service makes you less interested in how you are perceived and more concerned about showing excitement about what you have to offer.

Do one thing a day that you fear. It’s very important for me do the things that make me most uncomfortable. You need to be courageous and make a point of facing your fears, no matter how big or small. The single scariest thing for me was visiting my customers or prospects in person. So that is exactly what I did first thing every day to get over my fear. It instilled courage in me, belief in myself and changed my focus from limitations to possibilities.

Related: 5 Ways to Succeed in Any Economy

Be so persistent you get criticized for it. In life and in business, especially sales, you won’t become successful if you never get criticized. Follow up on customers so much that they actually complain about it, and once they do, keep following up until they admire you for your persistence. If you believe in your product, company and yourself, then you will be willing to insist—and risk being criticized for it.

Say hello to everyone you pass. I refuse to walk past any person without acknowledging him or her. I force myself to look everyone in the eyes and say hello. This builds a muscle enabling me to decide at will when I want to be extroverted, whether in a sales call or other situation.

Observe people for their differences. After a series of failed sales calls, you may start to see all prospects as likely rejections. What you need to do is take a moment and observe how people are different from one another. This will stop you from thinking that everyone is going to respond the same way your last few prospects did.

Related: How to Stop Offering Free Advice and Make the Sale

Force yourself to be in public. Step out of your home and office often so you can socialize with people. When I move to a new city, I will go to the same place over and over until I am comfortable and know everyone there. I have done this same thing with my children, bringing them to the same grocery store every morning until they could talk to the people working there as family.

Deliver public speaking engagements. The only way to become comfortable speaking to people is to get in front of audiences. Join a supportive group such as Toastmasters International where everyone is learning how to speak in front of others.

Stay busy. When you're constantly on the go, you don't have time to be uncomfortable. You have to ask for help, get help and talk to people because you are running from one sales meeting or event to the next. So, get moving.

Help other people make sales. Anytime I go a few days without making a sale for myself, I immediately offer my help to other salespeople because it’s a great way to get outside yourself. After several failures to close, a salesperson can become introverted and anxious. But by working with someone else's prospective customers and having nothing to lose yourself, you will feel more relaxed and regain your confidence. Once you score a sale for someone else, it’s back to your own prospects again.

5 Ways to Get PR for Your Startup Without Spending a Pretty Penny

Getting exposure for a project you’ve sacrificed sleep, money and social time for may seem like the highest priority right before launch. The problem is most startup budgets won’t bank a clever publicity campaign or a high-end PR firm.

Luckily there are low-cost ways to generate interest in your business before sales start percolating.

1. Communicate your higher purpose. In today’s startup culture, the reality is you’re probably not the first to market with a product or service that solves the problem you’re fixing in your space. Trying to hook the media’s attention about the merits of your business or service alone is unlikely to land you much traction.

Instead, get clear on what your company stands for. What is your philosophy or unique approach to tackling the problem in your market? Offer the press a fresh perspective. Be consistent and vocal about relevant issues in your space that are open for debate. Draw a line between your past experiences and why you’re in a special position to comment on these problems. This can open you up to many thought leadership opportunities in the press that can benefit your brand.

Related: 5 Secrets to Talking to the Media (And Not Sounding Like a Fool)

2. Find like minds with influence. Twitter, LinkedIn, industry publications and blogs -- there is no shortage of resources to research and communicate with influencers in your space. Before reaching out, take the time to understand the opinions and audiences of the influencers you wish to connect with and brainstorm creative ways to introduce both yourself and your product or service to them.

A couple years ago, an online eyewear brand I was working with studied the style of all the fashion editors, reporters and bloggers who wore glasses in their target region. Once aware of each influencer’s style, the company’s head designer recorded a simple but personalized video message for each personality suggesting a style of eyeglasses that would look good on them and offering a virtual consultation. Approximately 70 percent of the influencers took advantage of the offer and 65 percent wrote, blogged or shared the experience with their social networks in a positive light. The cost was minimal, but the reach was substantial and effective.

3. Don’t under estimate direct-to-public opportunities. It’s rare for a business to consult with a public-relations practitioner in the early stages of conception. It’s in this stage, however, when your brand is being architected that often dictates how attracted the public will be to your company.

Companies that are brand aware are in a much better position to capitalize on direct-to-public opportunities such as social media, networking and speaking events.

Designing a hip culture, with interesting spokespeople, sticky language and relatable values, can better position your startup to gain evangelists quickly and organically.

Related: 5 Steps to Conquering Public-Speaking Anxiety

4. Develop valuable content. Like most industries, media outlets are in need of engaging content that is relevant to the demographic they are trying to reach. The trouble is most companies create infographics, blogs or articles with the sole purpose of selling their own product or service. While this may work for select, special-interest press, it won’t likely get you published by mainstream outlets.

The press exists to inform the public of facts and to offer well-balanced viewpoints. By creating content that gives a well-rounded look into an issue, you can establish a shared voice in the press amongst other industry leaders, including larger competitors in your space.

5. Apply for recognition. Just because you’re new to market, doesn’t mean it’s too early for recognition. In any industry there are numerous awards and accolades that can be applied for. Often there is no fee or a nominal charge for applying.

Don’t limit yourself to company awards. Look for opportunities to celebrate your people through honors such as “30 Under 30” or “Women to Watch.” Likewise, there are many prestigious accolades that look for “Best New Business Concept” or “Startups to Watch.”

Media outlets also publish annual lists that can be found in previous issues or in online editorial calendars. Research and apply for them. If selected, these honors can be a valuable way to nab attention from investors, analysts and the public. 

11 Things That Should Be Illegal Along With Homosexuality

In a surprising and very disappointing judgement, the Supreme Court of India has upheld Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code and criminalized homosexuality in India. Understandably, a lot of people from the LGBT community are less than excited to have their human rights thrown under the bus.

But the true test of optimism is to see opportunity where others see despair. Now that the Supreme Court is on a roll, we should quickly file a bunch of PILs and get some, if not all of these things termed illegal.

1.  Peeing in the open.

What if another male sees the offender&rsquos leak machine?  He’ll start having homosexual thoughts!

2. Farting in public transport.

Along with being a public health hazard, the act has been known to attract homosexuals.

3. Chewing with your mouth open.

It is a very perverted thing to do, as it shows the contents of your mouth to prying eyes. Of homosexuals.

4. Cutting in lines.

This habit is very annoying. It can also be misconstrued as a homosexual gesture, which could land you in jail.

5. Picking your nose.

A famous mating signal for homosexuals, this is also very &ldquoicky.&rdquo This should definitely be illegal.

6. Honking like a maniac in traffic.

This is very annoying. And so are homosexuals.

7. Any product with more than 3 colours in its packaging.

Homosexuals have a very high affinity for multi-coloured objects. These have to be banned.

8. Selfies.

The act of photographing oneself using one&rsquos own camera while making a face similar to a duck is a sure-fire way to attract preying homosexuals on the internet. 

9. Talking loudly on the phone.

Talking loudly on the phone disturbs people around you and renders you unaware of potential homosexual attacks.

10. Being rude to waiters.

Even waiters are human beings. They deserve respect, unlike homosexuals.

11. Being a bigot.

Source 

Because if in a society plagued by corruption, murder and horrific crimes against women, the thing that enrages you the most is a person&rsquos choice in love, then you DESERVE to be in jail.