Helping vs Accountability

This tweet

makes me think of this line from VEEP

...which makes me sad about the state of personal responsibility in this country and confused by my conflicting desire to hold people accountable and help.

Get it together people. Put down the pizza. Stop drinking Big Gulp Coca-Colas. I think we can all agree that there are better ways to spend the $190 billion we are currently spending annually on obesity related healthcare.

Seeing Africa From A Different Perspective

"I didn't have a goal to change Africa. I just wanted to marinate in it,"

Fying in a motorized paraglider over Africa, George Steinmetz has captured the diversity and dichotomous struggle between modernity and tradition.

I tend to be a bit of a supporter of the romanticized concept of globalization. I like the idea of a democratization of information, resources and increased connectivity. But, as i watched this video, I struggled with the idea of giving up what you have for the rush of the new.

Does development have to look the same everywhere? Is the African dream a white picket fence? Should we take the established path to development worldwide? And, if not, how patient are we willing to be while we figure out the best method for each respective community?

I guess the challenge will always be making people see the longterm benefit of conservation and their willingness to continually reinvent the wheel.

Watch video here

Bill Gates on Malaria

Malaria is a disease of poverty. A lack of education, awareness, and means to buy live-saving nets allows malaria to continue to plague the poor. As Bill Gates points out, "More funds are put into baldness drugs than Malaria. Now baldness is a terrible thing, and rich men are afflicted, so that's why that priority has been set."

Today is World Malaria Day. Join me in supporting Nothing But Nets.

Best Tweets: Santorum Concession

Women I Admire: Christine Lagarde

When asked at the Women in the World Summit whether women can "have it all", Christine Largarde frankly replied, "No". Managing director of the IMF, twice married and divorced has two sons and is known for her ambition, success, and fashion sense.

A Vogue profile described her as "a planet with a powerful field of gravity, orbiting through the skies of global high finance, the first woman to be in charge of the world’s economy". Her confidence and charm command attention and respect. Her no-nonsense manner is indicative of someone who has risen to power through merit and hard work.

She approaches her roles with respect, but isn't afraid to rethink the status quo and think bigger or different. Her new position has her working in Washington, thousands of miles from her current boyfriend in Marsaille. When asked about the arrangement she replied that he comes to visit one week a month and "frankly, that’s fine with me. I’ll be so busy, it’ll be easier not to have to worry about someone else or argue about dinner or who’s going to take out the rubbish.”

I love her nonsense attitude. You can't have it all, at least not all at the same time. You have to do your best and be perfectly clear about what you want and what you can give. I admire Madame Lagarde because I have a tendency to over think what other people want or expect and don't place a high enough value on just saying and doing what I want. She inspires me to think deeply about what I want and to be unapologetic in my pursuit.

photos courtesy of pure people, Foreign Policy blog