Elephant Paints Self-Portrait
Some of you may have seen this already - but here is one of the best videos I’ve seen youtube: Elephant Paints Self Portrait.
While you are at it, check out the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project website.
Worst Blogging Drought Yet
This has been the longest blogging drought that I’ve been in yet. I blame the coming wedding on August 2nd. I really had no idea so much time goes into planning a wedding.
Grant Grigorian @ July 9, 2008
J.K. Rowling on the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination
Speaking, Life, Language, Writing Comments (0)
I watched J.K Rowling deliver the Harvard commencement address last night (thank you Brad Feld for the inspiring post).
It was great! I loved the way she spoke - she has such a modest, almost shy voice - which she used to effectively to communicate so much passion.
Grant Grigorian @ June 12, 2008
MicroPlace.com
Development, International Comments (1)
For several years now, I’ve been an avid supporter of Kiva.org and the micro-lending community in general. So when I read about MicroPlace.com on the Private Sector Development Blog I immediately became a member. I don’t have a lot of money to “invest” here right now (what with the wedding coming up) but I am definitely going to keep in touch.
As some of you might know, Kiva.org has experienced explosive growth (they raise about $1million every 12 days) with their model of collecting small contributions from people on the internet and investing them into micro loans. When the microloan is paid back, you get your money back - but with no interest. It definitely feels much more productive and is more fun (you get to choose who you want to give money to) than donating. Check out my Kiva page here.
With MicroPlace.com, you get to truly invest your money with the a microlending organization and get some interest back (1.5% - 2% per year). Yes, the interest is small, and you can easily beat it by opening a CD at any US retail bank, but where is the fun in that?
Grant Grigorian @ April 13, 2008
Pretty Puppy All Dressed Up
I don’t think these pictures need explanation. Just a cute puppy in her new dress.
Grant Grigorian @ April 11, 2008
Colorado Senate Race 2008: Schaffer(R) vs Udall(D)
Data Visualization, Colorado, Politics Comments (0)
For the past few months I’ve been following the Colorado senate race between the Republican Bob Schaffer and the Democrat Mark Udall. Someone once told me that if I want to get into politics, I should seriously consider volunteering for a local race, like for senate. So, I’ve been reading up on Mr. Schaffer to see I can get excited about supporting his campaign. But everything I’ve read so far suggests that Mr. Schaffer is much more conservative than I am, so I am reduced to wrestling with the notion of supporting someone based solely on their party affiliation.
Regardless of how I feel about the candidates, I still think it’s fun to follow closely contested political races, even if only from a distance
Here is an interesting chart I found a few days ago from the Center for Reponsive Politics at OpenSecrets.org, comparing Mr. Schaeffer’s and Mr. Udall’s fund raising efforts.
Sources of Campaign Donations:
In-State vs. Out-of-State
A whopping 60% Mr. Udall’s money is coming from out of state, compared with only 30% for Mr. Schaffer!
I am not entirely sure what political implications this statistic has on Mr. Udall’s candidacy, or what percentage of funds should be amassed from within the state for the candidate to be able to claim true representation of his state; but I can’ imagine that this reflects well for Mr. Udall.
Grant Grigorian @ April 6, 2008