“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”  ― Pablo Picasso

While not as essential as food and shelter, art fulfills an important purpose in our lives. Art, especially the visual kind, is a manifestation of emotion, beauty, and the creative dreams that linger inside each of us, just waiting to be let out.

When Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, we knew it was going to be bad. Few anticipated the full extent of the damage that Sandy's fury would create for almost a dozen mid-Atlantic states. 

More than 12,000 flights were canceled due to the hurricane and the three main airports which serve New York City were shut down for two days. Subway tunnels flooded and public transportation also ground to a halt. Homes, apartments, businesses, and vehicles were destroyed, either by the 13-foot storm surges or tree limbs and other debris torn loose by the violent winds.

A new study out of the University of Michigan found that allowing people inside your bubble can actually help you be more productive and creative--a paradox that those participating in the sharing economy have embraced for years.

Today is World Food Day, part of a global movement to create awareness around hunger and malnutrition.

According to a report [PDF] recently released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, 40 percent of U.S. food goes uneaten, the equivalent of $165 billion wasted each year. The report estimates that if food waste was reduced by 15% it would be enough to feed 15 million Americans yearly.