Tropophilia

I apologize for the posting hiatus. Things have been busy. I was traveling for work, getting engaged, yadda yadda here I am back in blogistan. These links will be quick, but I promise lots of good material later this week–including reflections on an alternative energy forum I’m attending today and Tuesday. So, without further excuses ado, your links:

• I can’t really summarize this post from a blog I’ve just started reading (LifeYears), but it’s an intriguing piece on “How problemsolvers can help save the world” by identifying leverage points for change and categorizing causes behind major problems. Like I said, hard to summarize but worth a read.

• Beyond Philanthropy takes a characteristically thoughtful look at Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), pointing out that voluntary CSR efforts might do more harm than good, and that for-profit entities will ultimately only act as responsibly as law/regulation, profitability, and/or customers demand.

• Add this to the list of topics I keep meaning to blog about: techPresident asks, “Is the Obama Campaign a Model for Online Politics?” Their assessment very much coincides with my view that truly effective online campaigning is as much about (ultimately, MORE about) simplifying and empowering offline mobilization as it is about Facebook groups and email lists. Great post, and a good time to check in on the state of the campaigns.

• Lifehacker continues to be one of the most useful sites on the web, this time cluing us in on how to best store onions: in pantyhose.

Sorry, that’s all for now. But keep checking back all week–Jarred and I will have plenty of new material to keep you busy. Happy Monday.