Polymath's Guide to News and Ideas
Foreclosures, falling economies and the future of philanthropy
PHILANTHROPY 2173 :Since the Foundation Center began collecting data on all grantmaking private and community foundations in 1975, the country has weathered several recessions. During each of these recessionary periods — 1980, 1981-82, 1990-91, and 2001 — U.S... READ MORE
Rural users yet to take a call on mobile banking
WWW.BUSINESS-STANDARD.COM : Mobile banking (m-banking) in India, viewed by the government as a potent tool for financial inclusion, is yet to clear many hurdles before it can fulfil its objective of reaching the unbanked masses. Primarily so, say analysts... READ MORE
Williamson versus the Washington consensus?
GROWTH COMMISSION BLOG - -EXCHANGING VIEWS ON GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT : It seems that the deliberations of the Spence Commission once again involved discussion of the merits of my child (her illegitimate brother, according to my daughter) the Washington consensus. It seems also that my intellectual position on three crucial policy issues put me at odds with a common conception of the Washington Consensus... READ MORE
Sharing in the USA
USA TODAY : A charity that provides water to African villages posts locations of new wells using Google Earth, and a 13-year-old contributor in Manhattan tracks the progress... READ MORE
Chevy Volt now $7500.00 Cheaper, Thanks To Tax Credit Via Bailout Bill
GAS 2.0 : The 700 Billion dollar bailout bill just passed the house, and automakers got $25 billion in low interest government loans, and plug-in tax credits have now been passed by both the House and the Senate, making the Chevy Volt $7500.00 ... READ MORE
Secret's out: Businesses hang on because of diverse culture
NY DAILY NEWS : The City's economy is tanking, but the Brooklyn job market is staying afloat - and that's because of the borough's diverse businesses, a new study has found... READ MORE
Sharp to Introduce New Solar-Powered LED Street Lights
SHARP-WORLD.COM : Sharp Corporation will introduce into the Japanese market two models of solar-powered LED street lights that combine Sharp’s proprietary solar... READ MORE
Can wheat straw replace trees as a source of paper?
ECO-LIBRIS : Today I read a very interesting article at WorldChanging by Rod Edwards ("Paper from Wheat, not Wood")... READ MORE
Open source and free online textbooks - is this the future of textbooks?
ECO-LIBRIS : MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE READING! : Last week we wrote here about our partner Chegg and their renting textbooks' model. This is a great model and it's an example of the innovative thinking that tries to find an alternative to the current expensive (average of USD 1,000 per year in the US), not environmental friendly and irritating textbook system. And this search has generated another great idea which has a good chance to influence the future of the textbook industry: open source free online textbooks... READ MORE
It's time to rent some textbooks
ECO-LIBRIS : MOVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE READING! : Living nearby a university (UD in my case) has pros and cons. But one fact is that you know exactly when the academic year is about to begin (hint: flocks of students can be seen again on Main Street). And if you're also getting ready to go back or for the first time to college, it's the time to remind you about our partners Chegg, especially when tomorrow is "Textbbook Tuesday... READ MORE