Win $10,000 in the Dummies – Pinterest contest
Wiley is running a special promotion on Pinterest. Before March 31, 2013, create a board on Pinterest with “For Dummies” in the title. Then, pin 5 or more articles or products from Dummies.com on the board. Follow the Dummies people on Pinterest, register, and be submitted for the drawing. Sure, it seems like work, but [...]
The Basics of Social Impact Bonds
There’s an interesting new development in the endless search for yield: the Social Impact Bond. The idea is that the bond will finance a charitable program, and the investors will be repaid if the program hits its goals. There’s a lot of talk about it, although very few of these bonds have actually been issued, [...]
Is 2013 the Year of Social Investing?
I’ve been receiving a lot of press releases from different socially responsible money managers and research firms, filled with lots of enthusiasm about the new year. And you know what? I think they are on to something, and here’s why: First, the stock market in general is up. That will bring in some investors who [...]
Listen to me on the Conscious Discussions radio show
Listen to internet radio with Lillian Brummet on Blog Talk Radio If you are so inclined, you can listen to my discussion with Lillian Brummet of Conscious Discussions Radio this week. Enjoy!
Dummies Business Book Promotion on the iTunes Store
Do you use Apple’s iBookstore to find new things to read? If so, Wiley has a deal for you! This month, there is a special promotion on Dummies business books, including great prices. Check it out! Don’t you feel smarter already?
Pussy Riot, Emerging Markets, and Social Investing
Punk’s not dead in Russia, although it will be going to prison for a while. Three members of the band Pussy Riot have been sentenced to two years in prison for a protest against both Vladimir Putin and the Russian Orthodox Church. Whether or not you agree with them, their protest would be legitimate in [...]
Made in China, the Environment, Our Budgets, and Other Thoughts
It turns out that the Team USA Olympic uniforms are made in China, and that is creating all kinds of outrage about offshoring of different U.S. industries. This is, of course, big news in China, where the story is that Americans should be grateful that our economy has evolved beyond garment work. Certainly, America’s strength [...]
Dummies in a Day Giveaway
My publisher, the wise people at Wiley, have a new e-book line called Dummies in a Day. To promote them, they are holding a $500 giveaway. I don’t have ebooks included, as I’m not sure I have any topics that could be learned in a day. But while you are over at Dummies.com, you could [...]
Cato’s Problems and Nonprofit Structure
The Washingtonian Magazine has a long story about management tensions at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think-tank. The most interesting part, to me, was this tidbit: the Cato Institute has shareholders because Kansas corporation law allows non-profits to have a corporate ownership structure. That’s really unusual. A typical non-profit organization is “owned” by its donors [...]
Fraud! Fraud! Fraud!
This Monday brought news of suspected bribery at Walmart and fraud charges against the former head of CalPERS. It’s a useful reminder about the limits of human frailty and of social investing. Walmart is one of the most environmentally conscious companies out there, and CalPERS runs a great shareholder activism program. But both play in [...]


