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This article presents information on the efforts of presidential candidates for the 2008 U.S. presidential election to tap the Web sites such as Facebook and MySpace to build networks of potential voters. It describes the online postings of candidates such as U.S. Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain and politicians such as Mitt Romney. It explains that the challenge for these candidates is to convert online support to actual votes.

The article reports that U.S. presidential candidates are trying to tap the power of social networks by signing up supporters on MySpace and Facebook. Senator Hillary Clinton [D-N.Y.] has Hillcasts on her Web site that address issues like children's health care and energy. Users can click on Mitt TV on Mitt Romney's site to watch highlights from the last Republican debate.

An interview with Jim Buckmaster, chief executive officer (CEO) of Craigslist.org, is presented. He states that they decided not to put text advertisements on their site because their users are not asking for such advertisements. He mentions that everything on the site is the result of user feedback. He comments on their victory in a lawsuit that has some implications for free speech on the Internet.

The article reports on the result of a March 22, 2007 McKinsey Global Survey, "How businesses are using Web 2.0.," that found that companies are putting their resources behind technologies that enable automation and networking. It says that although they may have been talking about embracing Web 2.0, they are slow to invest in blogs, wikis, and many of the other new collaborative technologies that are generating headlines.

The article provides information on a for-profit venture called the New Progressive Coalition (NPC). NPC bases its business model on the idea that the progressive movement has historically supported candidates, not organizations, donations rise and fall with political races, while between elections, ideas and issues lag. It hopes to use the Web to build a similar kind of infrastructure by connecting left-leaning organizations with investors who are keen to provide ongoing time and money.

The article offers information on the TED conference held on March 9, 2007 in California. The conference dealt with various issues such as the environment, Rwanda and war photos. Venture capitalist John Doerr gave a lecture at the conference. The TED Prize was given to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, naturalist E. O. Wilson and war photographer James Nachtwey. Brief history of the conference is provided.

The article highlights several successful collaborative communities in the field of crowdsourcing, mass Web collaboration in pursuit of economic reward. A Swarm of Angel British open source film project takes on the traditional business model of Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, aiming to create cult cinema for the digital age. CrowdSpirit plans to use crowds to develop and bring to market tangible, inexpensive, electronic devices.

The article provides information on an environmental protection initiative known as CleanGredients launched by the GreenBlue Institute. In 2004. Richard Cottrell, a non-food manager for Sysco, got involved with CleanGredients. Their work resulted in CleanGredients.org, an online database launched in October 2006. It includes all of the chemicals that have met standards for biodegradability, degree of harmfulness to aquatic life, and degree of harmfulness to human life.

The article explores the operations of the Acumen Fund in capital markets in 2006. Acumen is a leader in the fast-emerging hybrid sector that straddles private industry and nonprofits. It invests in enterprises in developing countries with the strategy and discipline of a venture-capital firm. Founded by Jacqueline Novogratz, the fund manages $20 million in investments that fall within three portfolios: health, water, and housing.

The article reports on the improvement of social networking pioneer Friendster to compete with rivals MySpace and Facebook. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Benchmark Capital provided funds to the company to pay its debt and improve its services. The company plans to focus on post-college users and young urban adults to increase its visitors. It will also file a series of patents for social networking.

This article reports on the comeback of Friendster into the online social networking market with its new funding led by venture capital firm DAG Ventures. Two of Friendster's original investors, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Benchmark Capital, took part in the deal. Friendster has also plans to redesign and improve its site. The site will also build its portfolio of patents. Friendster has received its first patent, for social networking.

The article looks at the fate of Aetna under the management of the new CEO, Ronald A. Williams. Williams has to build on a stunning track record and keep Aetna on the cutting edge of health care amid intense competition and consolidation that has narrowed the industry to three significant competitors. Some of Williams' initiatives that contributed to the growth of the company when he was still the president are discussed.

The article discusses the impact of social networking on youths in the U.S. Being online, being a Buzzer, is a way of life for youths, just as it is for millions of young Americans across the U.S. And increasingly, social networks are their medium. As the first cohort to grow up fully wired and technologically fluent, teenagers and those in their twenties are flocking to Web sites like Buzz-Oven as a way to establish their social identities.

The article presents tips for parents as their teenagers venture into social networks. Kids are blogging phone numbers, class schedules, and other personal information that makes them vulnerable to anyone who wants to track them down. The Parent Teacher Associations are sending students home with guides for parents and collaborating with school administrators to hold educational meetings.

Provides information on several public and private information resources in the U.S. for locating emergency aid in the wake of a disaster. Humane Society of the U.S.; Federal Emergency Management Agency; Social Security Administration.

Reports on the donations made by U.S. companies in the form of cash, products and services to the post-hurricane relief effort as of September 2005. Number of Thinkpad computers donated by IBM to Louisiana State University; Provision of diagnostic services by Abbott Laboratories; Comparison of the relief efforts of the government and U.S. companies; Worth of donations to the Gulf Coast since Hurricane Katrina struck the region.

Presents information on young philanthropists, including Danielle Durchslag, who inherited a seat on the board of the philanthropic group, the Nathan Cummings Foundation. Problems faced by the philanthropists; Causes which she supports; Information on the efforts of other young philanthropists.

Deals with the issue on whether Weblogers are considered journalists. Background on the court ruling of a California judge regarding the need for Weblogers to reveal their sources of information; Views of lawyer Kevin Bankston on the similarities of Weblogers with journalists; Factors which threaten the claim of Weblogers to the title of journalist.

Reports on an announcement by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation regarding a donation to make vaccination available to more children in developing countries, as of January 2005. Amount donated by the foundation; Importance of the fund to the work of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization; Significance of the move in the role of governments and private partners in providing aid funding; Comments by David Fleming, director of global health strategies at the Gates Foundation, on the assurance needed by vaccine manufacturers.

Reveals that socially responsible investment (SRI) funds have holdings in questionable companies. Details of a report by Paul Hawken, an executive at the Natural Capital Institute, on the investment of SRI funds in questionable companies; Advocacy for greater transparency in the SRI funds industry; Defense of Alisa Gravitz, a member of the Social Investment Forum, on the strategic investment of SRI funds in companies which carry socially or environmentally questionable operations.

Presents information on a party organized by Donald Trump to showcase a condominium in Manhattan, New York City on October 4, 2004. Condominium rates; Description of the penthouse; Achievements of Trump.

Reports on the plan of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to investigate into the finances of nonprofit organizations and foundations. Probe by the IRS into the pay packages and insider dealings of nonprofits' executives and insiders; Information on some charities and foundations included in the IRS watchlist; Possible revocation of the tax-exempt status of those charities and foundations that will be found with irregularities.

Focuses on the initiative of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service to investigate the salary and incentive excesses of nonprofit organizations in the U.S. Number of nonprofit organizations in the U.S.; Information on the candidates for investigation; Punishments to nonprofit organizations that are guilty of excessive pay packages and insider dealings.

Discusses the donations given by Joan Kroc of McDonald's to the Salvation Army and Bill Gates of Microsoft to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as of August 10, 2004. Value of the donation given by Bill Gates; Amount donated by Kroc; Stipulation given by Kroc concerning her donation to the Salvation Army.

Reports on efforts of the Girl Scouts to collect debts from delinquent cookie consumers in the U.S. Percentage of uncollected revenues from cookie sales; Statement from Girl Scouts of the USA's spokesperson Marion Swan about collecting unpaid debts; Costs of cookies sold by the organization.

Observes the Martha Stewart trial on February 19, 2004. Three things learned on the trial; Information on Marianna Pasternak, friend of Martha Stewart; Highlights of the testimony of Larry Stewart, forensic scientist of the U.S. Secret Service.

Analyzes the impact of cause marketing on businesses and charities. Benefits of cause marketing; Need for transparency in advertising; Connection of companies and charities in line with cause marketing; Value of direct charitable giving.