The Realist Idealist

“The current race is to see who will control renewable energy technologies, and we are in the race,” Algerian Energy Minister Chakib Khelil told reporters. “We have the human and financial resources, and we have the will.”
Minister Khelil’s statement was made in the recent announcement that Algeria is undertaking a massive initiative to generate enough [...]

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Why and how have banks made half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income?
In keeping with the recent Realist Idealist theme of sharing information that has been incredibly useful in my understanding of the world, its history, its processes, and how things have unfolded (so that we can do something about it [...]

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I just finished Walter Isaacson’s biography of Benjamin Franklin this weekend, and without knowing exactly how to say this, I’ll simply say that I was completely inspired.  “Inspired” is quite an understatement actually.  I found myself at times with chills running through my body as Isaacson described the various successes and challenges Franklin faced throughout [...]

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This six part series by Richard Behar of Fast Company entitled “China in Africa” is the single best piece of investigative journalism I’ve read in months. Maybe years. Maybe ever.

Behar breaks down and brilliantly weaves the geo-political, business, governmental, community, historical, and personality issues that plague a handful of resource-rich countries across the sub-Saharan [...]

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A few months ago before the BSR Conference in San Francisco I wrote a post titled “No More Business Bulls… Please,” and it was oddly one of the most popular things I’ve ever written.  People really don’t want to hear the bs that comes out of all-to-many business/nonprofit persons’ mouths.  (Mine included to be sure!)
Today [...]

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Seems so simple.
There are myriad psychological and sociological studies that more or less prove that smiling greatly increases the amount of time that someone wants to spend with you (or your brand) as well as how attractive they think you are (or your brand is). If someone is spending more time with you, [...]

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I’m a cyclist.
Stick with me here; this is relevant.
One of the things I’ve always loved about cycling is that if you care enough about the sport you can have access to the exact same equipment or tools that the best riders in the world use. That is to say, I can [...]

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On a blog aimed at “making good things (actually) happen,” it may be a bit perplexing to see the T.S.A. referenced. Not only are they maligned (or even hated) for the seemingly arbitrary inconveniences they put so many of us through, but it could be argued they don’t actually do that much good either. [...]

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