I subscribed to Mat Weddle’s “Elihu Project” (the ongoing story of his first studio album).
The following is an extract of an interview which you can read here.
“The project is all about what it’s like for an independent artist to make his first studio album. I’m posting lyrics as soon as I write them, recording initial song ideas, video taping the demo recording process and eventually taking the video camera to Nashville with us to document the experience of being in the studio. The project also gives fans the opportunity to provide feedback and opinions every step of the way and even be a part of some decision making processes down the road. So far, one of the most exciting things has been to hear the fans react to the songs in their infant stages and be able to have pretty raw and open dialogue about the record, the process and my life in general.”
Originally broadcast on the show “Øystein og jeg” on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK)in 2001. With Øystein Backe (helper) and Rune Gokstad (desperate monk). Written by Knut Nærum.
I just made a loan to someone in the developing world using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).
You can go to Kiva’s website and lend to someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business – like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks. Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent – and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.
The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you get your money back – and Kiva’s loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.
I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Mohammad Ashraf Gulam Jan in Afghanistan to help him build his house. He still needs another $1,000.00 to complete his loan request of $1,075.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!). Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Mohammad Ashraf Gulam Jan too:
It’s finally easy to actually do something about poverty – using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for.
Join me in changing the world – one loan at a time.
Thanks!
———————————————————
What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:
‘Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.’
– BBC
‘If you’ve got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you’ve now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.’
– CNN Money
‘Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.’
– The Wall Street Journal
‘An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity…All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.’
– Entrepreneur Magazine
Another Look at the New York City School Voucher Experiment
An examination of the New York City school choice program, the largest and best implemented private school scholarship experiment yet conducted. Low-income public school students in grades K-4 were eligible to participate in a series of lotteries for a private school scholarship.
Here are some results:-
