Make It Happen

Shhh, don't tell anybody: The World Isn't Doomed

The world is getting better, and capitalism is the reason, according to this piece in the WSJ.

Key Points quoted from the article:

• World-wide illiteracy rates have fallen by half since 1970 and now stand at an all-time low of 18%. More people live in free countries than ever before. The average human being today will live 50% longer in 2025 than one born in 1955.
• To what do we owe this improvement? Capitalism, according to the U.N. Free trade is rightly recognized as the engine of global prosperity in recent years. In 1981, 40% of the world's population lived on less than $1 a day. Now that percentage is only 25%, adjusted for inflation. And at current rates of growth, "world poverty will be cut in half between 2000 and 2015"--which is arguably one of the greatest triumphs in human history. Trade and technology are closing the global "digital divide"
• A new United Nations report called "State of the Future" concludes: "People around the world are becoming healthier, wealthier, better educated, more peaceful, more connected, and they are living longer.

I especially liked the headline:

Clear-Eyed Optimists
The world is getting better, though no one likes to hear it.

Drive Just Runs in the Family

My Big Sister Rocks again :)

She's the no-nonsense, take no prisoners, ever-so-polite and gracious Steel Magnolia in the picture on the left.

Since she's the Brand Manager for her company (multiple product lines, mind you!), this picture (and the accompanying article) made me proud on several levels:

1. She achieves great coverage for her company in the media
2. Damn, she looks good !!

My little sister is no stranger to achievement, either.  She runs her own financial services company , among a host of other things.

I used to frighten people by telling them that I was the meekest, mildest, shyest and most retiring person in my family.  I don't think I can truthfully say that anymore  - I've changed since those days - but the plain truth of the matter is that my sisters are Driven To Achieve as much as I am (albeit manifested differently)  - and I'm proud of the three of us. 

and you thought *I* was into projects

This is way too cool:

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/top-10-strangest-lego-creations