Glass, Sergey Brin, and Diane von Furstenberg

As Rupert Murdoch tweeted when he first saw the Google Glasses on the catwalk, “Genius! Sergey Brin showing revolutionary new glasses at DVF, can take photos, receive texts, give directions, and more.”

I want a pair, primarily for the audio visual function.  The ability to go to the zoo with my daughters and not having to carry a video camera or locate my phone quickly, works for me.

I do wonder that every day social wearing of Glass might be a bit unnerving.  If you have ever tried to have a conversation with someone over lunch while they text another person, you get the idea.  What will the social etiquette be for Glass?

Kudos to Google, and the ever gorgeous Diane von Furstenberg for the innovative pairing of tech and fashion introducing Glass to a creative crowd, otherwise in the dark about the potential of Glass.  Google CEO Sergey Brin and Diane von Furstenberg held hands walking the runway at the end of the show, symbolically marking the collaboration between fashion and tech.

GoGlass

Dustin Moskovitz and Peter Thiel Investing In Vicarious

Good Ventures LLC, a for-profit investment firm founded by Facebook and Asana co-founder Dustin Moskovitz that donates all its earnings to the Good Ventures Foundation today announced a $15M Series A round of financing for artificial intelligence research company Vicarious. Also participating in the round is veteran institutional investor Founders Fund and Open Field Capital, as well as Vicarious angel investors Steve Brown and Zarco Investment Group.

"Vicarious is bringing us closer to a future where computers perceive, imagine, and reason just like humans. We are proud to support Vicarious in its quest," said Peter Thiel, partner at Founders Fund.

Vicarious is developing machine learning software based on the computational principles of the human brain. Since its launch in February 2011, the company has developed a visual perception system that interprets the contents of photographs and videos in a manner similar to humans. Powering this technology is Vicarious' key innovation: a new computational paradigm called the Recursive Cortical Network™. The research at Vicarious is expected to have broad implications for robotics, medical image analysis, image and video search, and many other fields.

"The technology that Vicarious is developing has the potential to improve all lives and revolutionize every industry. Even the intermediate technologies Vicarious creates en route to artificial intelligence will be immensely impactful," said Mr. Moskovitz, who will be joining Vicarious's board of directors. "It's essential that the right people bring this technology into the world," added Cari Tuna, president of the Good Ventures Foundation and Mr. Moskovitz's fiancée. "Scott and Dileep share our mission to help humanity thrive, and we're deeply grateful for their efforts."

"Building machine intelligence is one of the most important and challenging problems humanity has ever faced. Advancements in neuroscience, probabilistic models, and computing power are enabling new strategies for AI research," said Vicarious co-founder Dr. Dileep George. "We are honored to pursue this long term goal with the support of investors who share our deepest values," added Vicarious co-founder D. Scott Phoenix.

www.vicarious.com.

www.goodventures.org

Reid Hoffman to Receive 2012 Difference Maker Award

The Stevie® Awards today announced that Reid Hoffman, Executive Chairman of LinkedIn Corporation and a Partner at Greylock Partners, will be honored with its 2012 Difference Maker award at The 10th Annual American Business Awards new product and tech awards banquet on September 17 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco. “Reid Hoffman embodies the entrepreneurial spirit in America,” said Stevie Awards President Michael Gallagher. “In addition to being an influential entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Reid devotes his energies to philanthropic and educational initiatives that work to inspire a new generation of startups in the U.S.A. and worldwide. We’re honored to be able to recognize his achievements with an honorary Stevie Award.”

In 2003, Hoffman co-founded LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional networking service, in his living room. LinkedIn has more than 175 million members in 200 countries and territories around the world. He led LinkedIn through its first four years and to profitability as CEO and Chairman.

Hoffman joined Greylock Partners in 2009 and currently serves on the boards of Airbnb, Edmodo, Mozilla (Firefox), Shopkick, Swipely, Wrapp, and Zynga and has co-led investments in Coupons.com, Groupon, and Viki. He also leads the Greylock Discovery Fund, which invests in seed stage entrepreneurs and companies.

He believes strongly in the ability for entrepreneurship and technology to improve the world. Hoffman serves on the boards of Kiva.org, Endeavor.org, DoSomething.org, and StartupAmericaPartnership.org. He also co-authored the best-selling book The Startup of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career.

Wildfire, Co-Founded by Ex-Pat New Zealander Victoria Ransom Bought By Google

Co-founders, Victoria Ransom and Alain Chuard, launched Wildfire just four years ago. Since then, they and their team have built a service that helps businesses like Virgin, Cirque du Soleil, Gilt Group and Spotify manage their social efforts across numerous social websites. Wildfire is a platform for brands to manage their pages, apps, tweets, videos, sponsorships, ads, promotions and more, all in one place with, according to Wildfire, the ultimate goal better and fresher content, and more meaningful interactions.

Baby Monitor Doesn’t Get More Posh

When our girls were born, we used movement monitors and sound monitors. We live in a building with our offices on the main floor, and living areas on second floor. We were unable to find a nanny that would not interrupt our work through the day (example- asking Donnell to sort and box too small clothes), after the first dismissed herself saying it was just too hard.  Donnell for a time moved her office upstairs. Using monitors helped us both get the most out of the twins sleep time, which was our work time, with less worry.

Recently Withings came out with another tool we would have certainly found pretty cool during the fantastic WOW wow early years.

The Smart Baby Monitor from Withings is truly a game changing device for new moms and dads as it enables you to be in the same room with you child without disturbing their schedule, any time you want to check in and make sure all is well.  Smart Baby Monitor is sleek in design and compact in size, packed with the latest technological features that will put any nervous parent at ease, offers additional peace of mind by offering parents a new way to stay informed about their child’s wellbeing and environment while in another room, from work, when traveling, or having a night out.

The Smart Baby Monitor is equipped with a two way microphone that allows parents to hear their child at all times and also interact and sooth their child even when they are not physically in the room. If the WithBaby application is closed, parents can still monitor and hear the child at all times while it runs in the background. Another feature allows parents to control the music (lullabies) that plays in the room through the monitor and can change songs right from the living room, the office or from anywhere in the world. Alarms may also be set to alert parents of baby sleep disruption.

Its design looks very "apple" the Smart Baby Monitor is now available from Withings.com for $299.  Looking like a cross between a music box and an iMac mini, the Smart Baby Monitor video capabilities include:

• A built in loudspeaker to play lullabies (you control the volume)
• Controllable LED colour changing light acts as a soothing night light
• Detects movement and noise
• Sensors to monitor the temperature and humidity in the room
• Can send you four different types of alerts
• 3 megapixel high definition video sensor (2048 x 1536 pixels)
• Intuitive camera angle adjustment and zoom x 4 via virtual PTZ
• Wide angle shot (90° horizontally, 120° diagonally)
• LED infrared night vision up to 5 metres with automatic activation system
• H264 encoding: resolution 512*384, adaptive bandwidth
• Rechargeable with an included USB cable

The Monitor comes with a free iOS application, WithBaby available from the App Store: with its touch screen interface and it can be used to monitor your baby wirelessly with your iPhone, iPad or iPad Touch via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or Bluetooth.  Three accounts can access the Smart Baby Monitor simultaneously, so both parents and a nanny can all be watching baby, if need be.  The WithBaby app includes:

• Watch over baby in exceptional conditions on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
• High-resolution video, motion free and intuitive Pan Tilt Zoom, night vision
• Crystal clear sound
• Ability to talk to baby, play lullabies or turn on the multicolor night light
• Monitor noises, motion, temperature and humidity in baby’s room
• Capacity to set alarms to designated parameters of noise level, motion, temperature and humidity
• Enjoy an unlimited range: watch over baby at home, on the road or from work
• Alert logs to monitor and improve baby’s room conditions
• Simple and intuitive connectivity: Wi-Fi hotspot in your home or via Ethernet cable (with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch connected to the internet using WiFi or 3G connection) or Bluetooth when not connected to the Internet.
• App Languages available: EN, FR, DE, ES & IT

Check out this Video . . .

Elon Musk Tech Innovator of the Year WSJ

Elon Musk , CEO and Co-founder of Tesla Motors and CEO and CTO of SpaceX, last night received the Innovator of the Year Award in Technology by WSJ. Magazine. WSJ. Magazine’s first annual Innovator of the Year Awards honors the most creative, disruptive, and influential individuals in the world today. Musk was recognized for revolutionizing three of the biggest industries in the world--automobiles, energy and space exploration. Artist Tom Sachs, whose recent work is based on the imagery of space, presented the award to Musk.

In conjunction with the November issue of WSJ., the winners were honored on Thursday, October 27, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The November issue of WSJ. will hit newsstands on Saturday, October 29, as part of WSJ Weekend.

“It is an honor to be recognized by WSJ. Magazine, and to join these other visionaries here tonight,” said Elon Musk. “It is urgently important to apply innovation to the areas that will most affect our future. I am committed to finding renewable energy solutions, accelerating the adoption of sustainable transportation, and revolutionizing space travel.”

The Innovator of the Year Awards were chosen by editors of WSJ. Magazine, with input from a select group of experts in each field.

Tesla In Milan

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors opened its first showroom in Italy with a spectacular gala that attracted more than 400 VIPs, including world-famous personalities in fashion, sports and music. Tesla's 17th worldwide store, at Via Cerva 31 (angolo Via Borgogna) in Milan, is steps from the Duomo, La Scala Opera House and the iconic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. The store, now open for business, serves Tesla owners throughout Italy and offers test drives to all prospective customers.

Football sensation Florent Malouda is one of the newest Roadster owners and accepted a donation to his charitable foundation from Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

"The Milan store captures the imagination and attention of Italy's sports car aficionados and the many trend setters and early adopters who set the pace for fashion and design," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who hosted the star-studded party last week.

In addition to Italian TV celebrities Nicola Savino, Daniele Bossari and Filippa Lagerback, a guest of honor was international football sensation Florent Malouda, one of the newest owners of the zero-emission Tesla Roadster. Malouda, who plays for Chelsea and the French national team, is European ambassador for the non-profit Haitian relief organization Yele Haiti, to which Tesla and Musk personally made charitable contributions.

In addition to its newest store, Tesla is a central attraction at the Milan showroom of Belgian fashion designer Dirk Bikkembergs, renowned for his unique role at the intersection of fashion and sport. Bikkembergs was the first fashion designer to hold a fashion show in a football stadium, and his couture displays - including the centerpiece Roadster in the flagship store -- set the agenda for cutting-edge fashion.

Tesla is also participating in events throughout Italy. Tesla will be hosting prospective customers all week at the Hotel Aregai Marina as part of the world-famous Sanremo Music Festival.

The Tesla Roadster does 0-100 kph in 3.7 seconds and gets an average of 340 kms per charge. Owners simply plug Roadsters into conventional outlets in their homes, offices or garages. Every single morning they wake to the equivalent of a "full tank," without ever visiting a dark, messy gas station.

Owners may also refuel at public charging points. Tesla's biggest corporate customer in Italy is Ancona-based Energy Resources, Italy's leading renewable energy provider. Energy Resources Green Mobility builds charge points - including those that run on pure solar energy. Italy aggressively promotes renewable energy development, ranking second to Germany for solar installations.

The community of Tesla owners in Italy stretches from Naples to the Lakes District. Roadster owners do not pay Milan's notorious congestion fees, and they can park and charge for free at hundreds of charging stations nationwide.

George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio are all said to own a Tesla.

Tesla In Paris

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors (NASDAQ:TSLA) will open its newest showroom Sept. 30 in the heart of Paris, just in time for the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Tesla’s 14th worldwide store, at 41 Avenue Kléber, is walking distance to the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The Paris store will serve Tesla owners throughout France, Belgium and the Netherlands – and offer test drives to prospective customers visiting the capital for work or pleasure.

“The Paris store provides an immediate, highly visible presence in one of Europe’s most important cities,” said George Blankenship, Tesla’s Vice President of Design and Store Development. “We want to create stylish, inviting places to buy cars and learn about 21st century vehicle technology.”

Blankenship, who joined Tesla earlier this year, is best known as the architect of Apple’s brand-building retail strategy. Blankenship and other executives will elaborate on Tesla’s exciting retail plans at an Oct. 1 news conference at the Paris Motor Show, including plans for Tokyo and Washington, DC.

Tesla is revolutionizing automobile ownership – starting at the point of purchase. Unlike traditional car dealerships, Tesla stores are designed to be welcoming destinations where people can buy cars and learn about Tesla’s industry-leading technology.

Tesla is also improving the ownership experience through its mobile service technicians, who provide “house calls” and can perform annual inspections, software upgrades and other services at owners’ homes and offices. The unique program gives customers peace of mind and unparalleled convenience – whether or not they live near a showroom.

France, one of Tesla’s top markets in Europe, has aggressively promoted renewable energy development, particularly wind and solar power. The government wants renewable to account for 20 percent of the country’s total energy consumption by 2020. Roadster owners get a waiver of €2.500 in traditional administrative fees and a €5.000 cash rebate.

Roadster owners can park and charge for free at hundreds of charging stations nationwide – one of the world’s most extensive charging networks. But Roadster owners typically just plug their cars into conventional outlets: The Roadster comes with an extension cord that plugs into any outlet, similar to laptops or mobile phones. No special infrastructure is needed.

The Roadster accelerates faster than other sports car in its price class yet has zero tailpipe emissions. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional sockets – at owners’ homes or office parking lots, hotels, resorts and shopping malls. The Roadster, which gets 340 kms per charge, is the only sports car that can be fully or partially recharged by renewable energy.

Tesla In Zurich

Tesla Motors will open its newest showroom June 10 in Switzerland’s largest city. The store – located at Pelikanstrasse 10, in the heart of Zurich -- will host a media preview with Roadster test drives and executive interviews June 10th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. An invitation-only VIP gala with celebrity guests and other surprises will follow, including the delivery of a one-of-a-kind car – an Arctic white 2010 Roadster that recently stole worldwide headlines as the record-setting winner of the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally, piloted by motorsport star Erik Comas.

Steps away from the city’s famous Bahnhofstrasse, the high-profile Zurich store will allow prospective customers to test drive the Roadster, the only all-electric car on sale and in production now. Tesla, which has already delivered more than 1,000 cars in at least 25 countries, sells its own vehicles and has forged strategic alliances with Daimler and Toyota to produce zero-emission cars.

Tesla has already delivered about 50 Roadsters throughout Switzerland, the company’s largest per-capita market. The Zurich store will serve as the epicenter for Tesla's fast-growing Swiss community, and it will be the base for more zero-emission Alpine road rallies, owner-appreciation parties and other exclusive events.

"Tesla’s remarkable success in Switzerland makes perfect sense – testimony not only to Swiss consumers' longstanding focus on innovative technology but also to the Roadster's all-weather durability," said Cristiano Carlutti, Vice President of Tesla’s European sales and operations. "We certainly share their passion for both the environment and high-performance sports cars, and we look forward to becoming even closer to our community of customers and fans when we open the new showroom."

The Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars yet produces no emissions. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional sockets – at owners' garages or offices, hotels, parking decks or at a growing number of charging stations throughout Switzerland – and several Swiss customers charge on 100 percent solar power from their photovoltaic panels.

Unlike petrol-powered vehicles, the single-speed Roadster does not require oxygen and therefore does not lose efficiency at altitude. Roadster drivers can drive with utmost confidence on Alpine passes, enjoying the car’s legendary torque without lag or downshifting. Regenerative braking allows the Roadster to recover energy on downhill stretches. Sophisticated power management software means the Roadster's revolutionary traction control is almost instantaneous.

The Roadster qualifies for numerous incentives in Switzerland, a hydroelectricity-dominated country with one of the cleanest grids in Europe. In some cantons, EVs get a 100 percent waiver of the annual road tax. Some cities, including Zermatt, ban internal combustion engine cars from the city center and only allow EVs to drive and park there.

Tesla Debuts In Madrid

Tesla Motors is making its first appearance this week at Spain’s premier auto show, and the company is hosting test drives all week. The Madrid Motor Show, a top venue highlighting fuel-efficient cars, is May 20-23. Among hundreds of prototypes and concept cars on display at la Feria de Madrid, the Tesla Roadster stands out as the only highway-capable electric car already on sale.

In fact, Tesla will have an additional Roadster outside the expo available for test drives with qualified prospective customers – including those who reserved the Tesla Model S and those eager to "go electric" as soon as possible.

"More and more people want to start accumulating zero-emission miles today, and the Roadster lets them do just that in one of the fastest and most stylish cars in the world,” said Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla Vice President of European Sales and Operations. "Why wait when you can be part of the green revolution today?"

¡Viva la energía solar!

The Madrid debut comes weeks after Tesla delivered its first car to a customer in Spain. The new owner charges his twilight blue Roadster exclusively with renewable energy and lives “off the grid” in a remote valley of the Sierra Nevada.

The Roadster accelerates faster than most sports cars, yet it produces no emissions. The Roadster, which consumes no oil whatsoever and plugs into conventional 220-volt sockets throughout Europe, can be charged with solar, hydro or wind energy.

Spain, a leader in the development of solar energy, expects to derive 12 percent of the nation’s primary energy from renewable resources by the end of this year. That means Roadster owners in Spain get to drive world's hottest sports car – and charge it from one of Europe’s cleanest energy grids.

The Roadster qualifies for a national rebate of at least €6,000 and a provincial rebates of €3,000 or more. Spanish owners get 75 percent off the yearly car tax. Roadsters get free metered parking and free use of the high-occupancy vehicle and bus lanes – a priceless advantage in the dense traffic of Madrid and Barcelona.

The Roadster can be recharged at millions of conventional power outlets throughout Europe. In addition, "Project Movele" is building free charging stations in Seville, Barcelona and Madrid.

Erik Comas and Tesla Sweep Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally

A Tesla Roadster has become the first electric vehicle to win the Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally and the first to win any FIA-sanctioned championship. Driven by Formula One driver Erik Comas, the Arctic White Roadster beat 96 competitors in range, efficiency and performance. The Roadster’s victory in the three-day, nearly 1,000-kilometer challenge also marks the first time an electric vehicle has dominated a Federation Internationale de l'Automobile competition worldwide. The Roadster scored definitive victories in two additional categories, including the Efficiency Cup and the Electric Vehicles Cup. The course, which ended Sunday, covers highways, two-lane back roads, mountain passes and sprints on the Monaco F1 track.

"This is the first time ever that a 1,000-kilometer rally required only €24 worth of fuel – proof that the electric Roadster is definitively revolutionizing the car industry," said Comas, who has participated in 63 Grands Prix and dozens of other top races. "The Roadster is just as fast as some other supercars I’ve piloted – and it’s astoundingly more efficient than any rival. This was truly a team effort over the past days, and continued efforts like this will be vital in conquering the challenges of the future of motorsport." Clean Sweep for World’s Greenest Carmaker

The victory comes a year after Tesla set a world EV range record while competing in last year's rally. In 2009, an electric blue Roadster traveled the full 387-kilometer Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally from Valence, France, through the mountains to Monaco, finishing with 61 kilometers of remaining range. Although a world range record at the time, Simon Hackett subsequently drove his Roadster 501 kilometers in Australia, setting a new record.

In this year’s rally, which is certified by the Automobile Club de Monaco, a second Tesla Roadster was driven by Rudi Tuisk, Tesla's Australia general manager and former chief European technician. Tuisk successfully completed the range segment on this year’s slightly longer course, driving 390 km on one charge – with 66 kilometers remaining.

Tuisk compared the Roadsters' victories this weekend with the 24 Hours of LeMans of 2005, when an Audi prototype became the first diesel-powered car to win that world-famous event.

"In a humble way, I felt like I had the privilege of witnessing history today," Tuisk said.

In all, Tesla took home three prizes in the following categories:

• FIA Cup – Overall Monte Carlo Alternative Energy Rally
• Efficiency Cup
• Electric Vehicles Cup (IIIA)

Tesla In St. Moritz, Switzerland

Tesla Motors is offering test drives this weekend in St. Moritz, the world's oldest and most prestigious winter resort. Prospective customers and media can test-drive the 2010 Tesla Roadster at the Carlton Hotel (Via J. Badrutt 11, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland) Saturday and Sunday, during the last weekend of the exclusive "White Turf" horse race on frozen Lake St. Moritz.

Tesla has delivered about 1,000 Roadsters to customers in 21 countries, including 30 cars in Switzerland. That makes Switzerland one of the company's top markets on a per capita basis, testimony to the Roadster's all-weather durability and its solid performance in the rugged Alps.

The Roadster accelerates faster than a Porsche yet has zero tailpipe emissions and is twice as energy efficient as leading hybrids. It consumes no petroleum and plugs into conventional 220-volt sockets throughout Europe. It can be fully or partially recharged by solar or wind power.

The Roadster is ideal for discerning drivers who refuse to give up sports car performance during winter weather or at high altitude. Thanks to sophisticated software and a patented power management system, the Roadster's revolutionary traction control is almost instantaneous.

Unlike petrol-powered cars, the single-speed Roadster does not require oxygen and therefore does not lose efficiency at altitude. That means Roadster drivers can confidently overtake slower cars on Alpine passes without any lag or downshifting. Additionally, regenerative braking allows the Roadster to recover energy on downhill stretches.

"Unlike conventional competitors, the Roadster is as much fun on a high Alpine road in February as on a sunny weekend in July," said Cristiano Carlutti, Tesla's Vice President for European Sales and Operations. "The Roadster gives you uncompromised, high-performance driving all year round -- without the hassle of conventional cars."

The Roadster qualifies for numerous incentives in Switzerland. In some Swiss cantons, electric vehicles get a 100 percent waiver of the annual road tax. Some cities, including Zermatt, ban internal combustion engine cars from the city center and only allow EVs to drive and park there.

LeapFrog, Michael Milken, Lowell Milken, and Larry Ellison, Sponsor Education.com

What new parent has not heard of Leap Frog? We have a Leap Frog Globe, Full set of Leap Frog DVD's, Leap frog Phonics thing that attaches to our magnetic kids pin board, Word Whammer, 3 readers with lots of books and cartridges in Spanish and English. We live in New Zealand. Why do the kids need Spanish? Donnell as anglo as she is, was born near the Mexican Border and with very strong SoCal links, thinks it is good for the kidlets to have an ear for the accent. LeapFrog Enterprises, is a leading developer of technology-based learning products and today announced its sponsorship of the new Learning to Read center on Education.com as part of LeapFrog's ongoing commitment to providing parents the best learn-to-read tools for their children. This new reading resource will provide easily accessible, high-quality educational and developmental reference and editorial content that address the critical and often challenging topic of learning to read.

The publicly traded company is majority owned by Knowledge Universe, Inc., a private company with worldwide interests in education-related businesses. Knowledge Universe was founded by financier Michael Milken, his brother Lowell, and Larry Ellison, founder of the software firm Oracle Corporation.

As a trusted leader in creating fun and engaging learning experiences for children, LeapFrog is uniquely positioned to team up with Education.com, a comprehensive, one-stop destination that allows parents to take an active role in their children's education from pre-school through grade 12.

"LeapFrog is excited about our work with Education.com on this important initiative that delivers on our core mission of making learning fun while helping children reach important educational milestones," said Zachary Fisher, vice president of corporate strategy and business development at LeapFrog.

The LeapFrog learning brand is trusted by parents, valued by teachers, and loved by children around the world. With almost 35 million educational platforms and almost 90 million interactive books and games in homes worldwide, and multi-sensory technology in over 100,000 U.S. classrooms, LeapFrog looks forward to sponsoring the new Learning to Read resource for parents who want to take an active role in their children's education.

"Every parent has questions concerning their children's education but is unsure where to find answers. Those who turn to the Web find that educational resources are fragmented and inconsistent," said Ron Fortune, CEO of Education.com. "The ultimate goal of Education.com is to empower parents to help their children. Education is not strictly limited to academic instruction, so whether it's helping parents choose a school or helping keep kids happy, healthy and motivated, our hope is to provide a resource that minimizes the time spent searching for answers and allows for more time to focus on a child's education."

According to a recent Education.com survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R), 74 percent of parents of children ages 18 and under said they wished they had a single resource they could turn to for information and answers about education and 96 percent of parents believe they need to take an active role in their children's education in order to fill in the gaps in public school education. LeapFrog looks forward to building on the relationship with Education.com to find unique and effective ways to assist parents with learning solutions for their children.

Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster ‘Signature One Hundred’ Series Sells Out

The limited-edition “Signature One Hundred” series Tesla Roadster, the first high-performance electric car manufactured by Tesla Motors, has sold out in three weeks, confirming that the sleek, stylish, zero-emissions Tesla Roadster is a hit. Unveiled last month before a throng of well-wishers and automotive enthusiasts in Santa Monica, Calif., the Tesla Roadster is transforming the auto industry, proving that it is possible to deliver sports car performance in a handsome, environmentally friendly vehicle.

“Our goal in designing the Tesla Roadster was to build a car with zero emissions that people would love to drive,” said Tesla Motors co-founder and CEO Martin Eberhard. “Each of our Signature One Hundred customers could drive any flashy, fast, gas-powered car they wanted. Instead they did the right thing, investing in an attractive car that uses no oil and is responsible for far fewer greenhouse gasses than the alternatives.”

Eberhard continued: “Getting a ‘Signature One Hundred’ Tesla Roadster provides entry into a very exclusive group. These early customers are pioneers, helping lay a foundation that will make electric cars possible for everyone — enabling Tesla Motors to develop future models at price points that eventually work for every budget.”

Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk agreed. “Customers of the Tesla Roadster are doing something really good that goes beyond just buying a sports car, because their purchase helps pay for development of our affordable, mass market electric vehicles,” said Musk. “Buying a Tesla Roadster is a vote against global warming and oil addiction.”

The electric-powered Tesla Roadster is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in about four seconds. It boasts the equivalent of 135 mpg and a range of 250 miles on a single charge, a combination heretofore unseen in a mass-produced electric vehicle*. Its extended range is due to its state-of-the-art lithium-ion Energy Storage System.

Each customer made a $100,000 deposit to join the Signature One Hundred Club and reserve their “Signature One Hundred” special edition Tesla Roadster. The “Signature One Hundred” edition includes a commemorative plaque in the cockpit personalized for the customer and signed by the company’s principals, a special Signature One Hundred trim package and all available options, including a state-of-the-art navigation system and a hard top. Deliveries of the Tesla Roadster are expected to begin mid-2007.

The Signature One Hundred Club has attracted a diverse group of members including performance sports car devotees, alternative energy advocates, technology enthusiasts, “Clean Tech” supporters, environmentalists and members of the financial community. Some of the initial members include Oscar® winner George Clooney, Dennis Haysbert (of “24” fame), Jim Marver of VantagePoint Venture Partners, Jeff Skoll, formerly of eBay, as well as Eberhard and Musk. Each has reserved their “Signature One Hundred” edition Tesla Roadster.