Wednesday Website of the Week: nuruInternational.org

(In keeping with the spirit of the holidays we're dedicating our weekly WWW to great sites/causes for the month of December.)

Imagine seeing the horrors of war in Iraq as a Marine, then deciding to help rid the world of violence by exterminating extreme poverty. That's what Jake Harriman did when he started Nuru. Last month Loop Insight had a great profile of Nuru, so I won't tell the whole story here again, especially when this video gives you the basic and noble goals behind the project:

How Nuru Works from Nuru International on Vimeo.

Wednesday Website of the Week: ChanceToGive.org

(In keeping with the spirit of the holidays we're dedicating our weekly WWW to great sites/causes for the month of December.)

During this time of year, we often think about the great organizations who are helping others and causes across the country. But it can be a little overwhelming to research just which groups are worthy of your donation, and/or how to ensure the most benefit comes from your kindness.

ChanceToGive.org , does just that. It organizes multiple non-profit organizations by area of interest (animals, environment, etc.), gives you a brief synopsis of what each group does simply by mousing over the name. Then you can select which groups you would like to help. This means you can quickly and easily make a donation of say $40, but split it between four groups that interest you the most. All from one site, with one donation. Heck, you don't even have to go their site if you have an iPhone: Yes, there's an app for that.

Wednesday Website of the Week: kiva.org

(In keeping with the spirit of the holidays we're dedicating our weekly WWW to great sites/causes for the month of December.)

Did you ever need to borrow 25 bucks? Now imagine that borrowing that money meant life or death for your business, or maybe even your way of life. Kiva.org is a microloan organization, that bundles small loans from multiple individuals into slightly larger loans for entrepreneurs in developing nations. This is a loan though, not a handout, so once the loan is repaid (generally 9-12 months) the money you contributed goes back into your kiva account where you can withdraw it, or fund another small business.

We've started a tradition of giving a kiva gift certificate to a family member at the holidays so they can participate and help others while enjoying everything we're thankful for.

Wednesday Website of the Week: Let's Talk Turkey

My fellow Americans, as we prepare for tomorrow's Thanksgiving holiday I know what many of you are thinking: How the heck do we prepare this turkey!? Well, don't say your government never does anything for you, because today we bring you the USDA turkey fact sheet. Whether it's how much meat to prepare for each person (who knew the government was figuring this out!?) or how long to cook that fully thawed bird, the fact sheet is here to help.

So as you prepare those basters, mix the filling, and decide what you're thankful for this year, don't forget to check those turkey facts. We'll leave you with this tip from the site:

Tuck wing tips under the shoulders of the bird for more even cooking. This is referred to as "akimbo."

Akimbo indeed. We'll be back on Friday, everyone!

Wednesday Website of the Week: GirlsinTech.net

Across the tech landscape, women are under-represented, including here at TDL (we're working on it.. stay tuned). One site does a great job of highlighting women in all kinds of roles, from CEO-ing tech firms, to the nitty-gritty of programming. GirlsinTech.net  The site also sponsors the Catalyst Conference: intended to "catalyze the career development of women working in tech."

Find out more about the women in tech at all levels at GirlsinTech.net.