The Up Beat: Recent Episodes
BurlesqueZoo
Jason and Mike take a more positive look at news and events by finding stories that have been pushed out of the way to the back pages of news sites in favor of fear and uncertainty and doubt. The good stuff does exist, and in great amounts, but you wouldn't know it from what hits the front pages and what people share through social media. Each week, our hosts wade through all of that negativity to highlight someone or something doing good.
The robots are coming! We aren't talking about industrial manufacturing robots or little vacuum cleaners menacing your cats. We're looking at robot vehicles: Tesla's recent update that brought automated driving mode to its Model S cars; self-driving minibuses in the Netherlands; robot construction trucks in Florida; and self-driving super trucks in Nevada.
Thank you for listening! Share our podcast with your friends so they can enjoy news of people and companies and technologies and more doing good in the world!
Tesla Autopilot
https://www.teslamotors.com/blog/your-autopilot-has-arrived
Tesla Autopilot, which is mainly an assisted driving mode, was recently released to owner's of the Model S Tesla car via an over-the-air update. It uses radar, ultrasonic sensors, and electrically-connected systems to keep the car on the road and prevent collisions or driving off the road. You can read more at Wired.Com: "Tesla's Cars Now Drive Themselves, Kinda"
http://www.wired.com/2015/10/tesla-self-driving-over-air-update-live/
WEpod
http://wepods.nl (Dutch language)
Fully automated electric shuttles are now running in between a couple of towns and around a campus in the Netherlands. They run on regular roads, which makes them a step up from other automated public transportation which use dedicated roads and rails. More is in the Telegraph: "First driverless pods to travel public roads arrive in the Netherlands"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11879182/First-driverless-pods-to-travel-public-roads-arrive-in-the-Netherlands.html
Royal Truck and Equipment: Autonomous TMA Truck
http://www.royaltruckandequipment.com/atma
This truck is designed to be completely driverless. It can be controlled remotely, but is mainly designed to follow a lead truck. It's main purpose is to make work safer for road construction crews. More of the story can be found at Engadget: "Self-driving trucks to be used for highway construction in Florida"
http://www.engadget.com/2015/08/26/self-driving-truck-highway-construction-florida/
Daimler Freightliner Inspiration
http://www.freightlinerinspiration.com
The first robot freight truck is now operating in the United States: Freightliner Inspiration. Authorized in Nevada, the trucks onboard computer and sensors maintain legal speeds, keep the truck in its lane, ensure safe distances from other vehicles, and even moves aside for approaching emergency vehicles. Engadget featured this truck: "The first self-driving big rig licensed to operate in the US"
http://www.engadget.com/2015/05/05/daimler-autonomous-truck-nevada/
This episode of The Up Beat covers companies that are doing good things in the world today: one converting plastics back into oil, another gearing up to provide free/inexpensive internet for the entire world, and a third: a beauty company addressing women's mental health. We provide an overview of them, then get more of the story via the links below.
Thank you for listening, and share our podcast with your friends so they can enjoy news of people and companies and technologies and more doing good in the world!
PK Clean
http://www.pkclean.com
Priyanka Bakaya founded this company at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and in 2012 took it private in Salt Lake City, Utah. It converts plastic waste into usable oil and sees about a 60% return on costs. Check out more via MIT News: "Solving the world’s plastic problem"
http://news.mit.edu/2014/pk-clean-solving-worlds-plastic-problem-0620
SpaceX Internet Satellite Initiative
http://www.spacex.com
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has many ongoing projects, and one aims to launch 4000 satellites to blanket the whole world in speedy internet coverage. Catch more of the story via TechInsider: "SpaceX is working on a 'pizza box' that should scare your internet company"
http://www.techinsider.io/spacex-satellite-program-brings-global-internet-access-2015-9
philosophy
http://www.philosophy.com
Coty's well-being beauty brand, philosophy, strives to provide inspiration with its products. Part of that is charity works, including a Hope & Grace Initiative designed to give 1% of all product sales to mental health programs for women. More can be found at the company's website:
http://www.philosophy.com/hope-and-grace/hope-and-grace,en_US,pg.html
This episode of The Up Beat looks at philanthropists featured in short documentaries. These aren't just wealthy people, but also happy people or people with a wealth of knowledge who give something to others. We have three documentaries: an artist making life a little brighter for people in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; a billionaire giving away 99% of his wealth to build up impoverished areas and thereby improve people's lives and opportunities; and the John Feather Maps Collection in the Los Angeles Central Library. We provide an overview of them, then you can get more of the stories via the links below.
Thank you for listening! Share our podcast with your friends so they can enjoy news of people and companies and technologies and more doing good in the world!
Painter of Jalouzi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eyr9NwyszNY
Take five and a half minutes to watch the story of Duval Pierre, a painter who took over after government funds for a beautification ran out. He uses his own money to buy paints and brushes and rollers and with the help of the neighborhood children has been bringing a touch of much-needed color to the lives of people living in this poor neighborhood.
Billions in Change
http://billionsinchange.com
Documentary covers the CEO of 5-Hour Energy, Manoj Bhargava. He has created a company to fund development of water, energy, and health projects for impoverished areas. His plan is to build up the basic needs so the people living in the areas can improve themselves and their lives. He will be giving away 99% of his wealth to this end.
Living History: The John Feathers Map collection
https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/living-history-john-feathers
When John Feathers passed away, a real estate agent sent into the home to clear it out and prepare it for sale found a treasure trove of historical maps. Rather than do the quick thing and throw everything away, he contacted the Los angeles Central Library. This 10 minute documentary tells the story a collection that doubled the map holding of the LA library system thanks to a real estate agent putting knowledge over immediate profit.