European Union needs a President – says German Finance Minister

The European Union needs to become more integrated with a common finance policy and a central government, German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Wednesday (16 May). “I would be for the further development of the European Commission into a government. I am for the election of a European president, he said at an event in …

Etsy raises $40 million funding – giving craftrepreneurs an international marketplace

Etsy has closed $40 million of funding from a roster of investors who have been believers in Etsy for a long time. I couldn’t be happier to have such a committed set of partners who “get it” along for the next stage. What do we plan to do with the money we’ve raised? Two simple …

The Crevasse – Making of 3D Street Art

In Dun Laoghaire the “Festival of World Culture” took place from 21. to 24. of August 2008. Edgar Müller has followed the invitation and continued his series of large-sized 3D Street Art there. For this year’s festival Müller transformed a huge slice of the East Pier into a dramatic ice age scene. This project was …

Soon cars will be ultra-light-weight and made out of carbon-fibre composites

The race is on to replace steel cars with carbon-fibre cars. All of the major automakers have inked deals to make the switch. The reason being that carbon-fibre is: “10 times stronger than regular-grade steel and one-quarter of steel’s weight.” “Using carbon fiber in lieu of conventional steel can lower the weight of a vehicle …

21st century modern art – graffiti – 26 beloved pieces

I particularly like the paintings on the ground that give depth, like you’re falling into a mouth or a bowl of soup.

Berlin cracks the startup code

“We looked at each other and knew in that moment that we’d be crazy not to move here,” says Ciarán O’Leary, a partner at the German venture capital firm Earlybird. “There was just so much happening—founders everywhere, in every bar, cafe, every corner.” Berlin…has become a global tech hub, one which foreign money discovered years ago. …

World record for the tightest parallel parking – 10 inches (video)

The tightest parallel parking measured 26 cm (10.24 in) and was achieved by Ronny Wechselberger a.k.a. “Ronny C-Rock” (Germany) on the set of Guinness World Records – Wir holen den Rekord nach Deutschland in Berlin, Germany on 2 April 2011. Neuer Weltrekord!!   Here is an older record, a 33 centimeter parallel park.

Incredible video of the Hindenburg in 1937 going up in flames

This footage from the British Pathe archive shows the Hindenburg flying peacefully around and then cuts to the mighty airship in flames as it hits the ground. via Kottke   The incredible shot shows the airship exploding and disintegrating in less than half a minute in New Jersey, 1937. It had departed from Frankfurt, Germany, …

Around the world social network usage is rising, especially in Egypt and Russia

From the Pew Global Attitudes Project: In 15 of 21 countries, at least 25% of those polled use social networking sites. Israel (53%) and the U.S. (50%) top the list. About four-in-ten of all adults in Britain (43%), Russia (43%), Spain (42%), Lithuania (39%) and Poland (39%). Among this group, Russia is the only country …