How many parts do you figure go into a car? A couple hundred at least right. Now how many parts would you guess go into a bike? Maybe 10.  Well why can’t we pull the 10 parts we need to make a bike from an old junk car? No reason, and that is the theory behind Bicycled.

Bicycled is a project from the Spanish creative agency, Lola Madrid, and is dedicated to hand-crafted bicycles made entirely of recycled car parts.   You have transmission belts for chains, upholstery for seat covers, turn-signals for reflectors, and frames made of various car metal. Each bike is produced using materials from entirely different cars to ensure your bike is incredibly unique, and they are all handcrafted by bicycle shop owners to guarantee quality.

Want to be one of the first people you know with a totally unique, 100% recycled bike? (let’s not kid ourselves, the hipster in us definitely wants to be the first with a handcrafted, unique, recycled bike) Well take a look at the video below and head over to their site to add yourself to their mailing list that will keep you up-to-date on all things Bicycled!

The pop-up trend has been taking the nation by storm. All across America, small spaces in large cities are giving way to temporary installations: restaurants, gallery exhibitions and cocktail parties ‘pop up’ for a couple of hours, or a couple of days. It gives people with an idea a space to show it off; it gives the public a chance to try something a little new.

But the idea hasn’t really seen too much action in the way of retail. It seems like a logical first step–empty space, put stuff inside of it that people will like, and keep it running for a week. But it’s taken the age of Etsy–where normal folks with good ideas can sell their goods–to bring the notion of retail into the pop-up sphere.

The company giving independent sellers their temporary brick-and-mortar is called Storefront. Based out of San Francisco, Storefront connects hot, local e-commerce brands with space owners who are renting commercial spaces on the short-term. In short, creative people have a place to sell their stuff, and real estate gets rented when it otherwise wouldn’t have been. Storefront acts as the broker.

Right now, the service is free, and operates out of San Francisco and New York City–not too bad for a startup that’s a little less than a year old. Keep your eyes peeled in your city to see how ‘personal’ personal retail can be.

We have made it through another week! What better way to celebrate than with some Friday fashion finds at one of our favorite retailers, J Crew.  Don’t be intimidated by the white on white outfit, especially when it is flanked by these gorgeous gold accessories, and the best part, everything your favorite causes receive 3% of everything you spend! Its certainly the best way to do good, look good and feel good.

1. Triangle String Halter Top & Side Tie Bikini - $90 = $2.70 to your cause

2. Structured Cotton Pleated Short – $59.50 = $1.79 to your cause

3. Kira Metallic Sandals – $138 = $4.14 to your cause

4. Eyelet Top – $118 = $3.54 to your cause

5. Sperry Top-Sider 2-eye Metallic Boat Shoes – $98 = $2.94 to your cause

6. Classic Link Necklace – $165 = $4.95 to your cause

7. Twisted Stitch Sweater – $85 = $2.55 to your cause

8. Cargo Scout Chino – $79.50 = $2.39 to your cause

9. Daisy Lace Mini-Skirt – $98 = $2.94 to your cause

10. Havana Clutch – $88 = $2.64 to your cause

Total of $30.58 to your favorite cause!

In a time when it’s featured so prominently in popular culture and on the news, the dialogue surrounding bullying is a welcome one. Sometimes, we so easily accept bulling as a part of the “growing up experience,” that we forget it can have terrifying consequences for some.

When he was a kid, Shane Koyczan was bullied incessantly. He was fat, he was awkward, he was picked on. He’s doing OK these days–as an internationally renowned author and spoken-word poet, he’s been receiving accolades by the truckload, including mentions of some of the biggest “Book of the Year” lists. But not too long ago, he and others he grew up with were marginalized and terrorized by their peers. The scars still run deep.

As is so often the case with good poetry, it comes from a place of pain, and tells a complex emotion simply and poignantly. Recently, Koyczan gave a TED Talk (you know how we love TED), which is part humorous introduction part harrowing spoken word that sheds a new, very personal light on the subject of bullying.

Called “To This Day,” his most well know poem is 12 minutes long, but just try to resist joining the audience in a standing ovation for a difficult subject, presented creatively.

To find out what you can do about bullying, PACER. They do great work, and are a wealth of information.

What is Autism? 

Autism is a general term for a group of complex brain disorders that carry the following traits:

1 in every 88 children in the US are diagnosed with autism.

Autism roughly strikes boys 4 times more often than girls.

Autism is a life-long disability for many individuals.

Autism is now more common that Down Syndrome, Mental Retardation, and Cystic Fibrosis combined.

And the most important fact is that autism affects each individual in a different way, making it very hard to detect in some people.

It is not, in fact, the ability to ‘beat’ Vegas, win Jeopardy, memorize baseball statistics (and everything else) while possessing almost zero social skills like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man. In reality autism is a spectrum (hence Autism Spectrum Disorder) where individuals come in a wide variety (you can find a lengthy list of common traits here), which makes everyone with autism atypical and impossible to portray in a single film’s depiction (although Hoffman’s performance is applauded by many in the autism field with being a great performance).

Thankfully, it’s a problem that is not completely ignored—a handful of autism support organizations are working dutifully in the hopes of curing and preventing this condition while at the same time supporting those individuals and families who need it. Today is World Autism Awareness Day, so take a moment to pay attention to those trying to cure the disorder and help those that have it.

Talk About Curing Autism

Founded in 2000 by Lisa Ackerman, Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) started as a parent support group for families raising autistic children in Southern California.  It has now grown to a giant support system of over 30,000 families with chapters in 18 states.  With programs featuring a hotline for parents, live chat sessions, Parent Mentor programs, and several autism educational events TACA is a leading resource for families caring for autistic individuals. They also have created an informative video to help families (or friends of families) who have recently had a child diagnosed with autism that can be viewed on this page. Interested in sending some of your Socialvest dollars to TACA? You can do it here.

Autism Society of America

As the founders of National Autism Awareness Month (April), the Autism Society of America is the respected veteran in the autistic organization world. In addition to large awareness campaigns like the aforementioned Autism Awareness Month, and the Autism Puzzle Ribbon, The Autism Society of America is one of the largest supporters of autism research.  They have also spearheaded numerous state and federal legislation supporting individuals with autism.  Their hotline, 1-800-3Autism, serves as one of the most comprehensive referral and information channels in the nation.  Want to help The Autism Society of America with some of your Socialvest bucks? Click here and give, give away.

Autism Speaks

Popping on the scene in 2005, Autism Speaks is a relatively new comer on the autistic support scene, but they have arrived in a big way.  They are currently the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism.  In addition to the large research support they also have launched several very successful awareness campaigns.  The most recognizable being their Light It Up Blue campaign which was able to light everything from the Empire State Building to the Sydney Opera House in their signature blue. They have also created a 100 Day Kit, that is made specifically for newly diagnosed families to make the best possible use of the 100 days following their child’s diagnosis of autism.  You can receive the 100 Day Kit here.  Another awesome cause that you can donate your Socialvest funds to by clicking right here.