AgriTalk Podcast

This looks like a great resource for US agricultural related news. The January 29th one actually has a WLI alumni member from the Florida Strawberry Growers Association: Sue Harrell of Class IV!

http://www.agritalk.com/podcast/

Exploring Hong Kong's Nature

Nice video of Hong Kong's Nature

Cities of the World: Beijing

Nice Photo Show of Beijing.

Rural land reform in China

Rural Land Reform is Everywhere

The First Ever In The World

Is this on the agenda?

Chinese Wind Farm

A-Power opens <http://www.cleantech.com/news/forward/emailref/node/4093>
1GW wind turbine plant in China
by Emma Ritch
Liaoning, China-based A-Power
<http://cleantech.com/news/companies/a-power-energy-generation-systems>
Energy Generation Systems (Nasdaq: APWR
<http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ%3AAPWR> ) said today it has
opened its first wind turbine production facility in Shenyang.
The plant has the capacity to produce 1,125 megawatts of turbines annually.
A-Power licenses its technology from German Fuhrlander Wind Generation.
A-Power said in July that the 310,000 square foot facility is the largest
wind turbine production facility in China (see A-Power
<http://cleantech.com/news/3074/a-power-completes-first-phase-of-wind-turbin
e-facility> completes first phase of wind turbine facility).
Click here to <http://www.cleantech.com/news/forward/emailref/node/4093>
read more on our site

$45.2 Billion Profit for Exxon in 2008

While the rest of the nation struggles, Exxon is making out great!

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090130/NEWS/901300271/1410?Title=Exxon_Mobil_Beats_Its_Own_Profit_Record

Florida Gets a C-Minus in Keeping Good Teachers

See how Florida is ranked nationally when it comes to keeping good teachers:

http://www.theledger.com/article/20090129/NEWS/901290379/1003/NEWS00?Title=Study__Fla__Gets_C_Minus_in_Keeping_Good_Teachers__Removing_Bad_Ones

Best Companies of Florida 2009

An interesting way to get some publicity and feedback about your company/organization and it's FREE! There is even a small business section that only requires 15 employees to be eligible.

http://www.bestcompaniesfl.com/

Rise To The Challenge

Our lovely journalist has an article in the American Vegetable Grower (Jan 2009).

http://www.growingproduce.com/americanvegetablegrower/?storyid=881

Challenge to Class VII

During my research for my lovely dissertation, I came across the Kansas Agricultural and Rural Leadership programs jingle. Check it out and then I challenge Class VII to develop one for WLI. I know we have some singers in the group...

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/karl/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=19

Rochelle

Making Business Connections in China

A recent article on some basic steps to making business connections in China. Some of them may be helpful during our travels even though we won't be doing business.

http://blogs.harvardbusiness.org/cs/2009/01/how_to_make_business_connectio.html

ABC Video and Audio Podcasts

Here are a few audio and video podcasts for the ABC watchers. There are multiple titles to choose from including: Nightline, President Obama's Weekly Radio Address, Politics Live, and many, many more. The link will take you to the ABC podcast site. Here you can choose to watch them on your computer or go to them on iTunes. If you choose the iTunes link, it will automatically take you to the videos. However, you can listen to just the audio podcasts by searching for them on iTunes directly.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Podcasting/#

Budgets put on hold for land conservation

The Florida Forever conservation land buying is be put on hold in Lake County for at least 6 months:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-promiseranch2109jan21,0,6359619.story

Agriculture a creative, profitable pursuit, young farmers say 'We have to set a positive example and make it sexy'

I just came across this story and thought it would be fun to share.
http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2009/01/19/young-farmers.html
Hannah

Taking Control of Your Career and Your Life

Marcus Buckingham has a history of inspiring individuals. Here is an eight-step series of podcasts you might find interesting. You can also subscribe to them on iTunes by searching either Marcus Buckingham or "Take Control of Your Career and Your Life." I'm not trying to promote the fact that Oprah is part of this, but he does have some great thoughts and it just happens to be connected to her this time.

http://www.oprah.com/article/money/career/pkgmarcus/20080401_orig_marcusbuckingham_course

Social & Professional Networking Online

Another reason to join Facebook...

Here is an article on Adults and Social Networking Websites. Pretty amazing how many adults are jumping on board. The WLIANR group now has 39 members and growing.

http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/272/report_display.asp

Florida Trend Article

In case you haven't already seen the most recent article in Florida Trend, check out this article. Jorge Abreu and TKM Farms are both pictured in the article.

http://www.floridatrend.com/industry_article.asp?page=1&cName=Agriculture&cID=1&aID2=50301&aID=07239344.5457072.654030.4028376.16000402.882

Class 13 of the Indiana Ag Leadership Program has begun to create their own podcasts! Here's a quick note from Beth Archer, Executive Director, and what the class is doing:

"With each of our seminars, a team of class members are recording an audio podcast of a particular portion of our seminar. Theyare responsible for planning and conducting the podcast. This one small way that we are attempting to push our folks into greater use of electronic technology and to expand their comfort with accessing web based information sources. In addition, we hope that it will add a different layer of awareness regarding the Indiana Ag Leadership Program, hopefully help to expand our recruitment and promotion efforts and to gain additional value for our financial supporters. We are learning a lot."

You can access the podcast here:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=300080518

To visit the Indiana Leadership Program website:
http://www.agriinstitute.org/

Happy listening!