Cool Thing o' the Day

Saw this featured on PBS last night.  What a great and progressive geeky idea.  An excellent personalized and globalized (how does that work you ask) twist from the Grameen Bank model of micro loans.  100% payback rate so far.

Kiva.org - Loans That Change Lives

NPR: Young Donors Turn to Micro Loans

"A new kind of philanthropic giving -- particularly among the young and web-savvy -- is facilitated by a non-profit organization called Kiva. Donors are encouraged to give microloans to entrepreneurs in the developing world."

Cool Thing o' the Day

Saw this featured on PBS last night.  What a great and progressive geeky idea.  An excellent personalized and globalized (how does that work you ask) twist from the Grameen Bank model of micro loans.  100% payback rate so far.

Kiva.org - Loans That Change Lives

NPR: Young Donors Turn to Micro Loans

"A new kind of philanthropic giving -- particularly among the young and web-savvy -- is facilitated by a non-profit organization called Kiva. Donors are encouraged to give microloans to entrepreneurs in the developing world."

Iraq Index

Picked up a copy of the latest issue (March/April) of Mother Jones from a free bin at the local funky used bookstore.  The cover story is "The IRAQ Handbook for Dummies" with that cheery yellow and black signature layout that Mojo may get sued over ("Hey!  It's a parody!").

Two super articles for your consideration:

1. Sunni, Shiite?... Anyone? Anyone? which is a five part primer on Iraq and the war.  Think Harpers Index on steroids.

2. Are You There, George? It's Me, Ava which is the curious and slightly disconcerting story of a 16-year-old in Alabama who develops and posts small anti-war video clips that have got the eye of Kos and other high end liberal to left bloggers.  Ava's site is PeaceTakesCourage.com 

Being a peace activist in Alabama does take some courage.  Not exactly a peacenik friendly area according to this article.

Other good stuff in this issue too.  Recommended.

Iraq Index

Picked up a copy of the latest issue (March/April) of Mother Jones from a free bin at the local funky used bookstore.  The cover story is "The IRAQ Handbook for Dummies" with that cheery yellow and black signature layout that Mojo may get sued over ("Hey!  It's a parody!").

Two super articles for your consideration:

1. Sunni, Shiite?... Anyone? Anyone? which is a five part primer on Iraq and the war.  Think Harpers Index on steroids.

2. Are You There, George? It's Me, Ava which is the curious and slightly disconcerting story of a 16-year-old in Alabama who develops and posts small anti-war video clips that have got the eye of Kos and other high end liberal to left bloggers.  Ava's site is PeaceTakesCourage.com 

Being a peace activist in Alabama does take some courage.  Not exactly a peacenik friendly area according to this article.

Other good stuff in this issue too.  Recommended.