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July 06, 2007

Africa Through Orange-Colored Glasses?

"The real Africa needs increased trade from the West more than it needs more aid handouts."
What Bono doesn't say about Africa

"If you make Africans rich, they'll be less poor," said Idriss Mohammed, a financier who wants to raise a private equity fund for Sub-Saharan Africa. "Forget making poverty history. I want to make Africans rich."
Africans to Bono: 'For God's sake please stop!'

"Private capital is taking notice. Foreign direct investment in Africa was $32 billion in 2005 (the most recent year available), double the 2004 figure. While Africa still represents less than 2% of world trade, the continent is growing at a 6% clip. Just raising Africa's share of global trade a few percentage points would bring in billions more than any government-funded development aid program ever could. It would also free African governments from dependence on aid."
Investing in Africa

"Eliminating billions of dollars in federal subsidies to American cotton growers each year would reduce American cotton production and exports, raise world prices by about 10 percent and modestly improve the incomes of millions of poor cotton farmers in Africa, according to a new study by Oxfam, the aid group."
If U.S. cuts cotton subsidies, benefits in Africa

Don't buy Red, iPhones or bracelets, buy African!


June 07, 2007

Mr. Netscape Defines Web 2.0

Marc Andreessen gives his definition of Web 2.0 in his blog: There's no such thing as Web 2.0

If you're considering adding some "web 2.0" stuff to your website, I encourage you to read his post, especially if you're not certain what all the 2.0 hoopla is about.

June 05, 2007

Addicted to my Geni

Geni Who knew? I'm a closet genealogy nut... My wife thinks its funny, but hey, at least I have a new hobby now, thanks to Geni.

Its just too easy to start building out your family tree with this website. In many ways, its like LinkedIn, but with a nice visual navigation screen you can just drag around, zoom, click, edit and add people on the fly.

Check out this interview video with Geni's CEO:

Geni also lets you add pictures to your profiles so its great for sharing. And finally I have all the birthdays and anniversary dates in one spot. I've been a little slack in keeping up my ties with my German relatives (can't remember all my cousins' names), but this should really come in handy come holiday time.