I am delighted to announce HuffPost's 2011 Game Changers -- our third annual celebration of 100 innovators, mavericks, visionaries, and leaders who are changing the way we look at the world and the way we live in it.
As usual, we're honoring Game Changers in 12 categories: Politics, Media, Entertainment, Culture, Style, Green, Business and Technology, Sports, World, Food and Travel, Education and Impact, and Healthy Living -- and are pleased to welcome Samsung, BMW, and Chase as this year's sponsors.
Once again, you have an essential role in the Game Changers process: voting to determine the Ultimate Game Changer in each category. To salute our honorees, and help you decide who to vote for, we've put together slideshows giving you the lowdown on who we picked, why we picked them, and how they are changing the game.
It's always fun to see who you vote for. Last year's Ultimate Game Changers included familiar names like Steve Jobs (Technology), Elizabeth Warren (Politics), and Paul Volcker (Business) -- but there were also more than a few surprises.
For instance, despite the presence of a number of superstar athletes in Sports, you voted in Amy Palmiero-Winters & Catherine Hughes, two below-the-knee amputees who showed that disabilities need not be an end to dreams of athletic triumph. And while our Style Game Changers included style and fashion icons such as Tom Ford and Paulina Porizkova, and red carpet regulars Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, you selected Joe Bozich, who runs a garment factory in the Dominican Republic that pays its workers a living wage.
We'll be rolling out three new categories each week, starting today with Green, Politics, and Media. Click on a category to see the slideshow and cast your vote. Then share your picks with your friends -- and see if they choose the same Game Changers as you.
We'll announce the 12 Ultimate Game Changers after the voting closes in mid-October, when we'll be hosting an event in New York to celebrate all our Game Changers. Last year's event included appearances and speeches by Sean Penn, Anderson Cooper, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Ted Olson, Biz and Livia Stone, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Nora Ephron.
This year, we're doubling down on user engagement by inviting you all to submit the story of the "Game Changer in your life" -- and get a shot at winning a trip to New York to join us at what promises to be a memorable event. Click here for more details.
So check out this week's Game Changers candidates in Green, Politics, and Media, and start voting. Make sure your favorite in each category becomes an Ultimate Game Changer... and maybe we'll see you in New York next month!
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Israeli scientist Inbar Friedrich Ben-Nun led a team which produced the first stem cells from endangered species, a breakthrough that could save animals in danger of extinction
I can also relate to the recent collaborations of Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson, who contribute much in the same manner that Tony does.
People much younger than Bennett in the music industry want to ally themselves with him, not out of some nostalgic sentiment for good ol' Tony, but because he's still relevant and still a moneymaker. (Say the same about Betty White in her field). Not many can remain at the very peak of their profession the way Bennett has, but he is a reminder that an octogenarian with some talent, energy, and a mind open to new ways of doing things can make a living.
One can't change the game much more dramatically than that.
[What's that, Rick? . . . . Oh. they want a positive game changer? Oh, well. I still like my idea.]
^ ^
Check out my post givng credit to Tony Bennett for his collaboration with other artists. And also Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson for their series of collaborative albums.
Despite their intense wealth, they keep very active doing good around the country and the world while not overtly seeking media attention.
Buffet's common sense approach to life keeps a level of sanity in the secretive, selfish and often greedy world of the super rich.
The many humanity benefiting programs Gates and his wife support day in and day out around the world reflect who they are as people.
So many of the filthy rich counterparts to Buffet and Gates wouldn't know generosity if it fell on them.
Peter Bright
We have heard reports of Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse for many, many years. Estimates for medicare range from $60+ billion/year to as high as 10% of $2 trillion. Estimates for Medicaid run about $30 billion/year. The prime beneficiaries of Medicare are seniors, most of whom are retired. They therefore have the most to lose if funding for Medicare is reduced and the most to gain if fraud and abuse is significantly reduced. Among all those retirees (including myself) who are frankly, a significant burden on our economy, there are doctors, nurses, lawyers (myself included), accountants, engineers, police officers etc. I believe many of those (as well as other professions and occupations) would gladly answer a call to service to be trained and participate in detecting and prosecuting Medicare/Medicaid fraud and abuse. Most I believe would contribute their time and talent because it's the right thing to do and it would be challenging, interesting and rewarding work and because it protects a program that they have an important stake in. If such a program would be shown to work in Medicare/medicaid programs it could be expanded to detect waste, fraud and abuse in other areas (read Tom Coburn's website on government waste and fraud if you want to see the extent of the problem we have!).
One does wonder why the fraud is allowed to continue. It's not that it's all of a sudden. It's been going on for many years, there have been exposes on TV, and articles written about it, yet it continues.
Someone in my family had a charge on her Medicare summary for a procedure that had not been performed. He says he called Medicare to question it and it went nowhere.
The problem is not Medicare, as the republicans want you to believe -- it's greed, corruption and waste.
But I mostly don't understand how everyone has bemoaned the enormous fraud, abuse and waste in these programs for literally decades and no one has prosecuted the perpetrators?! Is it a manpower shortage? If so, my suggestion would alleviate that. But if it's a corruption problem then nothing will be done to stop it.
For most of my life when I heard about "government corruption" I thought of countries of eastern Europe or Central and South America. No longer. Now I strongly believe that our own government is one of the most corrupt. Otherwise how could such thievery go on decade after decade and nothing is done? We are not a stupid people! It makes no sense.
is how to snitch.
There are no other jobs left.
Maybe they didn't revolutionize a network, but they did get AlGore to part with a bunch of cash on a losing bet.
And as far Amy and Kathrine, are they the real "game changers" or is it the people who developed the technology? They are the ones who should be getting the accolades.