What is Kiva?

If you have any interest in why I chose KivaFriend for the name of my blog, I thought I'd explain. A kiva is an "underground or partly underground chamber in a Pueblo village, used by the men especially for ceremonies or councils." But Kiva (www.kiva.org) is a micro-lending website where anyone can make a loan of $25 to an entrepreneur in an impoverished community. Several lenders can contribute to provide the amount needed for the total loan. Once the loan is repaid, you can use that money to re-lend to someone else in need, or get your money back. I learned about Kiva by reading Bill Clinton's book Giving: how each of us can change the world, which I would recommend to anyone. And I would also recommend Kiva - for just $25 you can make a difference! Ok, enough about the name of my blog!

Taking the Time for Lifelong Learning

Going through the 7 & 1/2 habits tutorial has made me realize that, when it comes to learning about new technology in particular, the hardest habit for me is accepting responsibility for my own learning (as much as I hate to admit it). This is mainly because I'm just not as adept at picking up new technology as some people seem to be. The other reason is that any kind of lifelong learning takes time - it's something I need to make a conscious effort to fit into a busy day - and have fun with it! 27 Things is a good way to focus my attention on absorbing new information and being introduced to new technology.