| 'Social business' the next big idea
Muhammad Yunus won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for popularizing microcredit, loans as small as $5 that help people -- almost all women -- start businesses and escape poverty.
Now, Yunus, whose Grameen Bank has lent more than $6 billion to nearly 8 million people in his native Bangladesh alone, is putting forward a new idea: "social business." In his new book, "The End of Poverty," he argues that instead of measuring financial profits, social businesses would measure success by their positive social impact and, ultimately, help wipe out poverty.
In an interview with the Tribune, Yunus put forward his ideas. An edited transcript follows.
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Communication can stave off headaches on car repairs
When it comes to spending money, the expense that causes the most angst is cars. A review of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Colorado files found car dealers and repair shops were the most popular complaints in 2007, similar to the level they did the year before. Each month last year, they were among the top 10 complaints received. And according to BBBSC executive director Carol Odell, those complaints will remain a fact of life. "That will always be because that’s not a science," she said of car repair. "It’s hard to determine what’s really going wrong." Because cars are used daily, what’s fixed one day may break the next and not always be related to the last repair, she said. "When a consumer brings their vehicle in for one thing, there could be other problems," said Blair Reeves, director of operations with the BBBSC.
Copper Crooks Cost Businesses Billions
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Copper thieves struck several downtown businesses Tuesday night in Orlando. Police said one problem catching the thieves is that the stolen metal is untraceable, making it hard to accuse people who are trying to recycle it. In 2005, copper was worth about $1 per pound. Today it is worth around $3 per pound. The increase in value has caused hundreds of Central Florida homes and businesses to be stripped for copper wiring. .
Ask the Carey Brothers: Cleaning vinyl siding
Q. I have a small, portable one-room air conditioner that I've used for several years. Now, some of the grease has leaked from the rear of the unit onto the vinyl siding of my house. How do I clean it off?
A. Always try soap and water first or the cleaner that is recommended. Having said that, and because the grease you're describing is probably a petrochemical based material (not silicone), it can probably best be cleaned using something like gasoline or acetone.
First, make sure there are no flames or sparks nearby, and turn off and disconnect any nearby appliances that could spark while you're working. No smoking during this project.
Then, simply put a very small amount of gasoline onto the rag and wipe. The stain will disappear.
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Successful Breast-Feeding
Ask your doctor if your hospital has one. Or see a lactation consultant -- you can ask your doctor or the La Leche League for a referral. You should make these preparations before you'll be ready to breast-feed, Lebbing and Bonuck advised. Just a few sessions with a lactation consultant can pay off, Bonuck said. "You will understand the normal physiology of how the milk is produced," she said. The consultant, working with a doll, can help women practice the best positions to breast-feed and get comfortable with the concept. Be sure the hospital personnel know you want to breast-feed. "Make your wishes known," Bonuck said. "Some [hospitals] have cards that say, 'Breast-feed only.' " That reduces the risk of confusion and your baby mistakenly getting a bottle of formula, Bonuck said.
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