Is anyone unique?

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 6 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

A fun break in the middle of your day.

Probably the best idea ever

Microfinance projects have been getting a decent amount of press lately- since the Grameen Bank founder Muhammed Yunis won the Nobel Peace Prize in '06- but this project brings microlending into the average westerner's living room. Kiva has transformed microlending into a process where anyone can sign up to assist an aspiring business person in a developing nation to meet their financial needs in order to start their business and generate income for themselves.

This project is amazing for a few reasons:

1. Western donors love to know exactly to whom their funds go and this project gives plenty of detail on each entrepreneur in the developing world- how much money they need- what they plan to do with it- and photos.
2. It is easy. With an internet connection you can suddenly (from your office on K street) be helping a mother or group of women in Latin America, or Africa, or Asia achieve economic freedom and be given a chance to fulfill their dreams.
3. transparency/ accountability. The site clearly posts delinquency and default rates on each individual's page. Also Kiva takes no cut from the loan amount and instead asks for a small donation for their operating costs.
   
4. It is fun- With its social networking site set-up you instantly feel like you are helping achieve a goal- you can see other lenders who are on your project "team" if you will- and see how your small amount of money can add up with people from across the world to help change lives.
5. There are probably more things I haven't thought about that should go here-- but I'll let you comment and tell me what you think is cool about Kiva.
   

I just made my first loan of $25 to complete the funds needed for a women's group project in Senegal. I can't wait to see updates on how they do-- once the loan is repaid, I can then transfer the money over to another project. I can't say I've been this excited about a $25 purchase in a long time.

Is the wide blue yonder shutting down the Space Coast?

Caption: A rendering of a Taurus II rocket at Wallops Island, Va. Florida suffered a blow in February, when Orbital Sciences Corp. announced that it would launch a Taurus II rocket from Wallops Island, bypassing Kennedy Space Center. [Rendering: Orbital Sciences]


Growing up on Florida's East coast gives you an interesting life view. A trip to the ocean is never far off and the sun sizzles year round- but more importantly there is a connection to something beyond-- and it's not just the horizon line over that sparkling ocean.

Being a part of the Space Coast brings you closer to the amazement of wonder of the space outside our sheltered blue home. At least for me, I know I make a point to watch every launch and hold my breath- keeping track of their journey through space, and even watching the NASA channel (which if you haven't before it is horribly boring) but just to watch the shuttle image slowly blip across the globe and here random radio feedback between the station and maybe even some words from the astronauts. (So cool!- serious dork alert I know).

With private enterprises (literally) launching into space and the imminent need for a new space craft (the shuttle has been around ohhh 30 years)surely NASA and KSC would be ahead of the curve and ensuring the stability of the Space Coast's continued launch site and expertise in the whole space exploration line o' work.

Not so. Like any government contract, it seems KSC may soon lose it's princely hold the space industry with the next U.S. issued fleet. How about the private sector? It seems that other sites around the world are less expensive and have less red tape guarding launch procedures. A list of other launch sites are found in the article.

This is worrisome for my home county because of how it can impact the economy. This month's Florida Trend has a feature addressing the future of the Space Coast in the space industry. "The state’s most immediate concern is the 3,600 jobs along Florida’s Space Coast that will be lost when NASA retires the shuttle fleet in a little over two years. NASA estimates its economic impact in Florida topped $3.6 billion in 2006; the average Kennedy Space Center salary is $72,000."

Florida has a chance to jump at the private business of space flight. The shuttle will stop flying in 2010 and the next craft won't be ready for launch until 2015. There is too much talent, dependency, and history on the Central Florida coastline dedicated to this industry to simply close shop.

Fun to do!

Check out the Webby awards, where you "the people" can vote on the web's best (as well as categories in film, mobile, and ads). I saw some familiar sites on the list but definitely learned some new helpful databases for everything from travel, to social networking, to news.

Too easy to get away!

Between work and personal travel I have spent just as many days out of the district as residing here! (a point to which my d.c. friends love to point out and grumble).

With Bolt Bus though, a whole new world, aka the Big Apple is open to me after just 4 hours on a luxury bus. 4 hours? Why not take the train you ask. Well that is a whole lot more money. Using Bolt bus the trips are about $20 or under and you ride in style and comfort on a luxury bus. I use the time to read and zone out- which in itself is a mini-vacation! Depending on your bus driver, you may stop half way for a potty break and snacks-- the bus does have facilities, but let's be honest- you loathe anyone who actually uses it. Oh- and they have free wifi on board!

So yes I'm going to NYC via the Bolt Bus for a second time this weekend.

addicting, inspiring, and entertaining all in one!

You HAVE to check out Obama in 30 seconds. You can rate 30 second video clips created with barack's words and ideas as the inspiration. I got chills from a few- and hey- it's only 30 seconds at a time. So Easy!

Makes me want to change careers...

For as long as I can remember (ok, since the fall of 2002) I have wanted to work in the global health field, and specifically in improving maternal and child health in developing countries.

I was inspired by the Millennium Development Goals and that a goal existed for both child and maternal health. The goals were stated in 2000 and here we are eight years later, and beyond the half way point to achieve these ambitious, yet necessary and long overdue goals to create a safer, healthier world.

Three-quarters of the 68 countries most in need of improving mother and child mortality rates have made little, if any, progress in meeting internationally set goals over the past three years, according to a series of new reports.

From the U.S. News & World Report article:
# Tanzania is one of the few African nations on track to meet the goal of reducing child mortality, showing a 24 percent decline from 2000 to 2004. The report credits good program funding and several initiatives such as insecticide-treated nets to prevent malaria, vitamin A supplementation, immunization and exclusive breast-feeding.
# South Africa is suffering major setbacks in meeting its goals because of pregnancy and childbirth complications, newborn illness, childhood illness, HIV and AIDS, and malnutrition. It is one of just 12 countries globally where the child mortality rate has risen since 1990.

Having traveled, studied, and worked (briefly) in health clinics in both South Africa and Tanzania- I feel a tug at my heart to jump back in this world.

Poverty, inequity, and sub standard health systems are such huge problems that will take decades to fix- I feel like I can go back any time. Is there a moment now to bring home the MDGs? Am I better suited to work in policy state side? I know when I go back to maternal and child health clinics and creches internationally I will not want to leave Africa again.

I scream, you scream...

Yes, we all scream for ice cream, though during the Cherry Blossom Festival it was still a little too cold to be lining up in droves. Even the saleslady is bundled up.

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All Tapped Out

Did you know that 40% of bottled water is actually from the tap? Corporate Accountability International is running a campaign to help move people away from the environmentally damaging habit of bottled water and letting people in on the facts. Take the pledge today:

Let's pick up King's last crusade...

We are still struggling today with a growing divide of rich and poor, a further separation between the haves and have nots.

Why is this a problem? Because it is unjust.

In a society that pays out tens, even hundreds of millions to ex-CEOs who caused economic crises, why are there children without health insurance? How is it justifiable that there are people starving, homeless, scraping by when the scummiest among our nation are living in mansions without a fear of hunger, shelter, or livelihood? It isn't. It's the status quo- but don't get too comfortable- people are fighting for change, change along the lines of the Poor People's Campaign.

On the eve of the anniversary of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, read: King's final crusade: The radical push for a new America from CNN here: