Start An Online Store For Less Than $200

So many people I speak with have that great idea for an online store spinning around inside their head, but it never gets realised because of the perceived roadblocks to getting up and running. The tools for aspiring entrepreneurs that have evolved over the past few years have made it possible for anyone to start an online business with just a few hundred dollars in initial investment. The information below is based on my experience over the last four months taking the online store for men Details by Sven from an idea in my head to a profitable online business — via Lifehacker Australia

Dog tracks down ailing owner at hospital

Zander, a husky, was so upset when his owner was hospitalised that the pooch tracked him down and paid him a visit.

John Dolan was hospitalized with a skin condition last week. His wife says their dog Zander took it hard. She says the dog sulked and even cried.

Then Zander, seemingly decided he had to be by his owner’s bedside. Zander broke out of the Bay Shore home and made his way to the Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Centre more than 2 miles away.

The four-legged friend likely went under the Robert Moses Parkway and across a busy four-lane road to get there. A hospital employee found the dog on the street outside of building where Dolan was being treated — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Biodegradable electronics implanted in mice

Biodegradable electronic implants that can be reabsorbed by the body have been used to administer drugs in mice, a group of international researchers has announced.

In a paper published in US journal Science, the researchers describe how electronic circuits made from silicon, magnesium and silk can be used as medical implants to deliver treatments before degrading into the surrounding environment.

Many biomedical implants only need to operate for a certain period of time, after which they [could now] dissolve and disappear to eliminate unwanted, and unnecessary, device load on the body, explained paper co-author John Rogers, a bioengineer and mechanical scientist at the University of Illinois, USA — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Inishturk Beg Island House / Andrew Wright

Not just your own house, the Andrew Wright-designed Island House also comes with the entire island too, which is Inishturk Beg Island, Westport, Co. Mayo, just off the coast of Ireland.

Yes, you could set yourself up as a James Bond-style villain on an island with plenty of room to house some henchmen — Inishturk Beg covers 65 acres with as many as five island houses overall, a pier, a floating marina and of course, the main residence.

In terms of getting there, you’ll find the island in Clew bay, which is around 10km from the tourist towns and beauty spots of Westport and Newport and around 67km from Knock Airport. RyanAir fly there, but I suspect you’ll be going by other means if you can afford this.

You’ll need around £2,276,909 to secure it — via WowHaus

Specialty contact lenses may one day help halt the progression of nearsightedness in children

Nearsightedness, or myopia, affects more than 40 percent of people in the US and up to 90 percent of children in some parts of Asia. The problem begins in childhood and often progresses with age. Standard prescription lenses can correct the defocus but do not cure nearsightedness, and do not slow progression rates as children grow.

But recent experimental work by biomedical scientist David Troilo and colleagues at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry in New York City supports the development of a potential cure for myopia by using specialty contact lenses that coax the eye to grow in a way that can correct nearsighted vision while reducing myopia progression. Troilo will describe his findings at the Optical Society’s (OSA) Annual Meeting, Frontiers in Optics (FiO) 2012, taking place 14 October in Rochester, NY — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Oregon farmer eaten by pigs

Oregon authorities are investigating how a farmer was eaten by his pigs. Terry Vance Garner, 69, never returned after he set out to feed his animals last Wednesday on his farm near the Oregon coast, the Coos county district attorney said on Monday.

A family member found Garner’s dentures and pieces of his body in the pig enclosure several hours later, but most of his remains had been consumed, the district attorney, Paul Frasier, said. Several of the pigs weighed 320kg (700lb) or more.

It is possible Garner had a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, or was knocked over by the animals, then killed and eaten, Frasier said, adding that at least one pig had previously bitten Garner.

The possibility of foul play is being investigated as well. For all we know, it was a horrific accident, but it’s so doggone weird that we have to look at all possibilities, Frasier told the Register-Guard newspaper — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Italian bicycle sales surpass those of cars

Italians bought more bicycles than cars in 2011 for the first time in decades, according to local media reports.

Last year some 1.75 million bicycles were sold, about 2,000 more than the number of new cars registered, La Repubblica newspaper reported.

It attributed the change to a slump in car sales during the economic crisis and the rising price of petrol, as well as bikes coming back into fashion — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Japan introduces piracy penalties for illegal downloads

Japan-based internet users who download copyright infringing files face up to two years in prison or fines of up to two million yen ($25,700; £15,900) after a change to the law.

Such activity has been illegal since 2010, but until now had not invoked the penalties.

It follows a lobbying campaign by country’s music industry.

But critics said that efforts should have remained focused on stopping users making such material available.

In Japan illegal uploads of copyright infringing music and videos carry a maximum 10 year prison sentence and a 10 million yen fine.

Sales figures suggest the country is the world’s second-largest music market after the US — via redwolf.newsvine.com

Evangelist preaching ban heads to High Court

Two evangelists have become the unlikely standard bearers for free speech in Australia as they fight a council ban on their preaching.

The brothers’ fire and brimstone sermons had become a regular piece of street theatre on Friday evenings in Adelaide’s CBD.

Brothers Caleb and Samuel Corneloup used the popular shopping precinct of Rundle Mall as a pulpit, preaching their version of the gospel and attracting protests from those opposed to their views.

But what started as a passionate public debate over morality has found its way to the High Court, where it could become a judgement on freedom of speech.

It was retailers who first called for action against the street preachers, telling the Adelaide City Council that the weekly fracas was turning away shoppers.

We have had complaints, many complaints from traders and from passers-by who felt that they had been spoken to in an unreasonable manner, Adelaide City Council’s Peter Smith said — via redwolf.newsvine.com