Shooting at Mexico bar leaves many dead |
- Shooting at Mexico bar leaves many dead
- 'Space Architecture' Comes Of Age: View Condos From Low Earth Orbit Or Beyond
- Here's North Korea's official declaration of 'war'
- How to Use Temptation to Strengthen Your Willpower
- In Mexico, A Dartmouth Grad Fights Poverty Through Capitalism
- How Astronauts Got From Kazakhstan To The Space Station In Six Hours
- Stunning Photos Of The International Space Station
- U.S. B-2 bombers sent to Korea on rare mission: diplomacy not destruction
- Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar's biggest city
- Argentina offers to pay debts with cash & bonds
- Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar's biggest city
- Argentina Files Payment Plan
- Central African Republic coup leader says will review resource deals
- VIDEO: Rebel leader to review mining deals
- Facebook's Next Big Step: Its Own Phone
- Taxes From A To Z (2013): P Is For Passive Activity Rules
- NKorea says it's in state of war with SKorea
- Inside Obama's Syria Debate
- Kenyans await ruling in disputed presidential race
- VIDEO: Pope Francis leads Good Friday rite
| Shooting at Mexico bar leaves many dead Posted: 29 Mar 2013 10:58 PM PDT At least seven killed after gunman opens fire in Chihuahua state in north, which has seen uptick in violence. |
| 'Space Architecture' Comes Of Age: View Condos From Low Earth Orbit Or Beyond Posted: 29 Mar 2013 10:29 PM PDT The virtual tin cans that took us to the moon and back, and have kept us in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) ever since, will eventually be replaced with real space architecture of the sort that will turn mere low gravity modular habitats into full-scale space cities. |
| Here's North Korea's official declaration of 'war' Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:51 PM PDT A few notes about this document just released by North Korean state media. First, North and South Korea have technically been at a state of war since the Korean War began six decades ago. So, while this "declaration of war" certainly sounds scary, the rhetoric alone does not change anything substantial. Read full article >>   |
| How to Use Temptation to Strengthen Your Willpower Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:51 PM PDT I was running a leadership offsite at The Allison Inn and Spa in Oregon — one of my favorite hotels — and the food, as always, was exquisite. The carrot cake at lunch was so delicious that I ate two pieces. And when the staff brought out big, thick, gooey, homemade cookies during a break, I was already so far outside my circle of guilt that I ate three of them. |
| In Mexico, A Dartmouth Grad Fights Poverty Through Capitalism Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:31 PM PDT Fernando Orta had remarkable drive and ingenuity even when I first met him as a freshman at Dartmouth. It's no surprise that five years after graduation, he is making things happen. Upon receiving degrees in both Economics and Electronic Engineering, he returned to his hometown of Mexico City and in 2010 founded a financial services company called Podemos Progresar. Its name means "We can move forward," its symbol is a seedling, and its philosophy is one of growth and empowerment. In an effort to solve the multi-dimensional problem of poverty in Mexico, Podemos has a mission to create products and services that change people's lives. Orta is trying a different approach with his business, one which measures success by the level of impact in a community. He hopes to be a model for other corporations and for young people who are frustrated by the lack of job opportunities. "There is a big disconnect," Orta says. "Young people are not finding the jobs they want. We can challenge what's being offered to us, reject the paths being given to us, and start our own with new philosophies of how business should be done." His experience sets an example. When he started the company, Orta admits he had a naïve view of poverty and that it has been a journey in understanding what life is like for the poorest segments of society. There are an estimated 45 million Mexicans living on less than four dollars a day. Microfinancing has grown in the last few years to reach many of these people, but Orta believes it can be expanded further. "As the company has evolved, the idea has evolved because of the needs we see in the community. Microcredit is not enough," he explains. Orta's vision is to create an organization that betters people's lives across the board. By establishing an economic and social center for the most marginalized classes, Podemos makes a connection with its clients that goes beyond microfinancing. The goal is to liberate people from the cycle of poverty. To do this, Podemos aims to increase interaction between businesses and what Orta calls "the bottom of the pyramid" and to provide the poor with access to what they most need. Through its community centers and coordinators, Podemos offers social services, such as assistance navigating Mexico's healthcare system. On the economic side, in addition to solidarity loans, the company has set up a microfranchise program that allows members to buy wholesale products to distribute in their communities. Orta explains, "Microcredit is not just about giving people money. It's about giving people a chance to pursue opportunities. We want to become the platform that provides the products and services that allow people to make rewarding transactions." When people are thus brought into the formal economy, they are free to be much more productive. To help others achieve this, the company itself has to reflect the value of purposeful employment. When Orta founded Podemos it was with the question in mind: "Why do you do the work you do?" He says, "Work is your identity. You are what you do. I want my work to help me become a better person. It's fundamental to my existence that my job means something. I want to create a place where people can feel the sense of empowerment I feel." Orta has faced frustrating challenges in managing the development of his business, but his enthusiasm for it is infectious. He is ambitiously hopeful and hopefully ambitious and to talk with him is to be enlivened and enlightened. He is truly passionate in his desire to free people from poverty in his country, yet shrewd and realistic as the young CEO of a young company. He admits that Podemos is small. Alone it can't do everything he envisions. Yet by providing a platform for change that is meant to inspire not only his company's clients, but other businesses, he is trying to make the most of their limited resources. Once people see what can be done, they will want to join. The seedling of Podemos will grow. There is a message in that for other members of our generation. Orta notes, "People are coming out of college and realizing, they told me I could get a job if I studied something and it's not true. But in this new economy, you're free. You can offer a service through new ways, you don't need big corporations to be useful." Businesses today are not changing fast enough, yet young people have the opportunity to satisfy needs that aren't being met by existing institutions. With technology, we have extraordinary tools for sharing our talents if we can adapt them to our advantage. By thinking and acting creatively, we may employ our skills not only for our own fulfillment, but for the benefit of others. For more about Podemos Progresar and their work in Mexico, visit their website. |
| How Astronauts Got From Kazakhstan To The Space Station In Six Hours Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:16 PM PDT On Thursday, March 28, a Russian Soyuz carrying two Russian cosmonauts and an American astronaut launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:43 p.m. EDT. Six hours later, the Soyuz was docked with the International Space Station. That trip usually takes about two days, but after tests with three previous cargo vessels, the trip was made for the first time with a manned flight and set a new record. |
| Stunning Photos Of The International Space Station Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:16 PM PDT |
| U.S. B-2 bombers sent to Korea on rare mission: diplomacy not destruction Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:40 PM PDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The stealthy, nuclear-capable U.S. B-2 bomber is a veteran of wars in Iraq and Libya, but it isn't usually a tool of Washington's statecraft.      |
| Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar's biggest city Posted: 29 Mar 2013 08:48 PM PDT
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| Argentina offers to pay debts with cash & bonds Posted: 29 Mar 2013 10:17 PM PDT
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| Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar's biggest city Posted: 29 Mar 2013 08:48 PM PDT SIT KWIN, Myanmar (Reuters) - The Muslims of Sit Kwin were always a small group who numbered no more than 100 of the village's 2,000 people. But as sectarian violence led by Buddhist mobs spreads across central Myanmar, they and many other Muslims are disappearing.     |
| Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:23 PM PDT Argentina is prepared to offer a mix of par or discount bonds to a group of holdout creditors who have been battling for years to force the South American country to repay money on bonds it defaulted on more than decade ago. |
| Central African Republic coup leader says will review resource deals Posted: 29 Mar 2013 08:15 PM PDT BANGUI (Reuters) - Central African Republic's new President Michel Djotodia, who seized power last week, said on Friday he would review resource deals signed by the previous government and promised to step down at elections in 2016.     |
| VIDEO: Rebel leader to review mining deals Posted: 29 Mar 2013 08:14 PM PDT The rebel in charge of the Central African Republic, Michel Djotodia , says his government will look into mining contracts signed with South African and Chinese companies by the ousted leader. |
| Facebook's Next Big Step: Its Own Phone Posted: 29 Mar 2013 07:42 PM PDT After years of denying it would, Facebook now plans to introduce a smartphone designed for its social network. The Android-based device will be made by HTC, according to the New York Times and it will be unveiled on Thursday. |
| Taxes From A To Z (2013): P Is For Passive Activity Rules Posted: 29 Mar 2013 07:22 PM PDT P is for Passive Activity Rules. The Internal Revenue Service likes to match up income with deductions. And in most cases, when in comes to individuals, if deductions (or losses) exceed income, those deductions are either lost or limited. |
| NKorea says it's in state of war with SKorea Posted: 29 Mar 2013 10:04 PM PDT
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| Posted: 29 Mar 2013 09:15 PM PDT With the death toll mounting in the Syrian rebellion, the Obama administration has stepped up calls for Assad to give up power. |
| Kenyans await ruling in disputed presidential race Posted: 29 Mar 2013 07:20 PM PDT
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| VIDEO: Pope Francis leads Good Friday rite Posted: 29 Mar 2013 07:15 PM PDT Pope Francis is presiding over Easter services for the first time as the head of the Catholic Church. |
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