Monday Notes

• Silicon Valley brain-drain: In the last three years, profits at the seven largest companies in Silicon Valley by market value have increased by an average of more than 500 percent while Santa Clara County employment has declined to 767,600, from 787,200. During the previous economic recovery, between 1995 and 1997, the county, which is the heart of Silicon Valley, added more than 82,800 jobs.
  
  
• Michael Spencer is asking, "Are conservative churches growing for the reasons they claim? Or are some churches growing- and not growing- for the same reasons Muslims and Motorcycle Clubs are growing?" It's all about the rise of sub-cultures as survival tactic in an over-loaded society.
  
  
• Richard Kew reflects on the fact that Britain and Europe have become enamored with the idea that poverty -- particularly in Africa -- can be eliminated. I believe it can -- except I seriously doubt that the developed world has the emotional wherewithal and patience. If we don't eliminate poverty by next year or if some African despot derails the train again will we have the tenacity to stick with the issue or will it just become the fad of 2005? When it comes to human nature I'm not particularly optimistic. Yet, we can't use human nature as an excuse to sit on our manicured hands.