A new standard in customer service.

As Thanksgiving passes, and we move our attention towards the commercial focus of the Winter holiday season, this infographic encourages you to look at the economic and ecological impact of "buying local."  See what you think.

“I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.”

—Elbert Hubbard

Great profile at CNN on veteran and entrepreneur Randy Hetrick, who is responsible for the suspension-based workout equipment you've likely seen at the gym.

The contraption consisted of an old jiu-jitsu belt he mistakenly brought in his bag and some extra parachute webbing. He tied a knot and threw the straps over the door, using it to do weight training exercises like pull-ups and curls. The gear kept him and his team members in shape and ready for duty while deployed for weeks in remote areas across the world.

About four years later, after 14 years of service, Hetrick returned home, got an MBA from Stanford, and launched TRX. The prototype created in Asia wasn't too far from the suspension training gear that you see hanging from the ceiling at your local gym. In its eighth year, the company now brings in more than $50 million in annual revenue.

Head over to CNN Money for the full profile.

"Starting Jan. 1, the U.S Small Business Administration will waive the upfront fee for veteran loans issued through its Express program, to make borrowing more affordable for entrepreneurs who have served in the military," the Orange County Register reports.  This could result in veterans saving as much as $5,250 depending on the amount which they are borrowing.

Also reporting on the story is the Washington Post, who remarked that VA "Officials recently announced that the department supported around $30 billion in loans for the third straight year in fiscal year 2013, even as small-business lending nationwide continued to decline in the wake of the recession."