Back Sunday

  Off for the weekend again.  I’m going to my college fraternity reunion.

  We had so much fun last summer, we’ve decided to do it again.

 

 

 

Driving In Finland

Somebody needs a road sign…:

Off To Washington, D.C.

   I’m celebrating “Flag Day Weekend” by heading to D.C. for the weekend.  (Actually, I’m just going to visit my brother).

   Not sure what access to Internet I’ll have, so it is conceivable that blog posts will be sporadic, if any at all, prior to Sunday evening.

   Have a great weekend!

 

Blimp Picture Of 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Aftermath

Now this is an incredible picture.  I thought post-Katrina New Orleans looked bad…

(Your browser may resize this HUGE picture to fit your screen.  Make sure you expand to full size and scroll around.  I did this in Windows Explorer–sorry, Firefox Fanatics–by simply clicking on the picture and then clicking on the little expander icon at the lower right.  Worth seeing this picture correctly!)  

 

Taking Another Weekend Off…

  I’ll be gone and away from the computer for a couple of days again this weekend–planning my imminent retirement (October 1st!) with my tax accountant.

  Feel free to speak amongst yourselves.

 

Chicago Bound

  I will likely be offline most of the time until next Tuesday–heading to Chicago for a long Memorial Day weekend.

  If I get access to a computer, I may post an item or two–but, in the meantime, talk amongst yourselves…

  Have a nice weekend!

 

 

Social Entrepreneurship In Africa

I’ve written before about social entrepreneurship in Africa, and read several books this year about using capitalism to end poverty and change the world. PBS is airing a series of programs about this phenomenon starting Friday:

From their website:

“Can the quality of healthcare in developing nations be transformed by the same principle that makes fast food such a success here? On Friday, May 25 at 8:30 pm (check local listings), NOW travels to Kenya to investigate an enterprising idea: franchising not burger and donut shops, but health services and drugs in rural Africa. American businessmen are teaming with African entrepreneurs to spread for-profit clinics around the country in the hopes of providing quality, affordable medical care to even Kenya’s poorest people. But can they overcome obstacles like extreme poverty, corruption, fraudulent services, and long distances to establish a sustained solution to a chronic problem?

“If we had as many franchise outlets delivering health care in developing countries as Subway has sandwich shops, we’ve estimated that we could serve about 120 million people a year,” Businessman Scott Hillstrom, who conceived the idea, told NOW’s David Brancaccio.

“This episode is part of a new beat on NOW and NOW Online called “Enterprising Ideas” that focuses on innovative solutions to social problems around the world. For the next two years, NOW will devote time to examining how people are applying business skills toward a new kind of bottom line: Making the world a better place.”

Here’s the trailer for the upcoming show. Watch it!:

Sunset On Mars

Thank you, Mars Rover…:

 

The View of Earth From Saturn

   You know me and Saturn. 

  Actually, I’ve posted the top picture here before.  It’s the one on the bottom that shows a teeny, tiny Earth off in the distance.

  These are real photographs, folks.  If you want to see larger originals and learn how they were taken, go to the NASA site here.

 

 

 

 

 

How To Handle Those Nigerian Emails

 This is howlingly funny.

 This is an actual exchange between an email scammer and a member of the sketch comedy group Kasper Hauser:

 I have read the terrible things that have
happened with your financial situation in Nigeria, and
I would like to help–IF YOU CAN GUARANTEE that i
would make some money to cover my costs. I am retired
from the railroad business for 37 years, and I know a
scam when I see one; I also have been able to save a
large amount of money over the last 40 years. I must admit, I’m a little nervous doing business over the internet. I could also travel if need be to a neutral location or to Nigeria, if needed. What would be the
next step in helping you guys out?

Sincerely,
Jock Plenary, CEO
San Fertando Valley Agricultural Bank
California 98-0982

—————————————————
Attn: Jock Plenary,

I acknowledge the receipt of your mail and i am very happy that you are willing to help me in this transaction.

All that is needed from you is your trust and you have to treat this deal very confidential. You have to send to us your mailing address and your telephone and fax
number with your banking datas so that the accredited attorney attached with contract payment will use it to obtain all the valid documents that will back you up
as the true owner of the fund….[Rest of the exchange]