In the 18th century, coffee houses were known as Penny Universities. For a mere penny, people entered a communal space overflowing with ideas, literature, intellectual conversations and inspired debates. Here, men and women came to improve their minds, challenge their mindsets, and build a roadmap for change.

Inspired by the Penny Universities’ unique environments, Skillshare’s first education conference aims to create a space where curiosity, discovery, and collaboration are not only encouraged but rewarded. On the morning of the conference, we’ll kick off with curated Skillshare classes across NYC and conclude our day at The Times Center, where we’ll be inspired by some of the best minds and prominent personalities in the Education space. By the day’s end, we will have found that change in education is not only possible — but is happening all around us.

Be sure to put every letter of the alphabet in the URL. I want my site to come up on that address bar list no matter what they start typing in there.

skillshare:

Our team is really excited for what’s upcoming for us in 2012. As we close out our first year in 2011, we’d love to share some of our company updates below.

OUR TEAM IS GROWING!

We’ve added some new team members (now 14!) since our last update.

Abigail Besdin (@avigeee) joins…

“Curiosity” by Skillshare

The Darth Vader burger, available Jan 31 - Mar 1

The Darth Vader burger, available Jan 31 - Mar 1

6 Important Startup Trends that Defined 2011
Startups have an inherently predictive quality. As the innovation engines of the economy, what startups figured out in 2011 will likely appear on other sectors’ trend lists in 2012. And if it doesn’t, it will be replaced quickly. For instance, in 2011 group messaging both took off — with more…

Merry Xmas everyone! (courtesy of Skrillex and yz85zak)

Garage-on-a-boat.

Garage-on-a-boat.

(Source: whereisthecoool)

North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-il Dies
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Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader who realized his family’s dream of turning his starving country into a minor nuclear-weapons power even as the isolated nation sank further into despotism, died on Saturday of a heart attack, according to the country’s state-run media.

North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-il Dies

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Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader who realized his family’s dream of turning his starving country into a minor nuclear-weapons power even as the isolated nation sank further into despotism, died on Saturday of a heart attack, according to the country’s state-run media.

Galaxy Nexus: Calling All (by googlenexus)