President Obama asks "every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be a community college or a four-year school, vocational training or an apprenticeship."

Good morning Rainmakers! Hopefully you've been keeping up with the news...did you catch the President's State of the Nation address last night? If not, CNN.com has posted the SparkNotes version of the speech here. It was an eloquent speech that addresses a lot of important issues.

Something that I hope all of our Rainmakers came away with is that "Education is a prerequisite to opportunity." By education, we don't just mean your university degree -- it means being proactive in your learning and staying on top of trends and skill sets that will be necessary in the future. It means committing to internships and volunteer work that will help you gain the necessary skills and prepare you for a career.

Fortunately for you The Rainmaker Network helps university students find internship and career opportunities. Dig deep into our Web site and find a wealth of information that will help you prepare for your big break. It's coming sooner than you think!

Photo credit: http://www.voanews.com

www.thefuelfilm.com
Hello Rainmakers! There's been a lot of buzz going around about FUEL and I strongly urge you to run to the nearest theater that's playing it. It's a very informative documentary that sheds light on the truth behind the world's energy crisis.

Los Angeles Times Review Friday, February 13

"Fuel is a vital, superbly assembled documentary…doesn't dwell on muckraking, however; it's more focused on broadly inspiring viewers than preaching to the converted….Smartly animated interstitials, memorable archival material and a lively soundtrack round out the fast-paced proceedings.”

'Fuel' to the fire of oil addiction

"Fuel" is a vital, superbly assembled documentary that presents an insightful overview of America's troubled relationship with oil and how alternative and sustainable energies can reduce our country's -- and the world's -- addictive dependence on fossil fuels.

The film's structure is built around director-narrator Josh Tickell's personal journey of enlightenment, which started in childhood after moving with his family from idyllic Australia to murkier Louisiana, where he came to realize the oil-rich environment was being ravaged by the omnipotent petrochemical industry. Later, as a young adult, he spent 11 years crossing the country in his vegetable oil-powered "Veggie Van," promoting biofuels and compiling footage for what would become this impressively comprehensive film.

The events of Sept. 11 and Hurricane Katrina factor in both visually and thematically, providing provocative anchors for the movie's indictment of what Tickell believes is the Big Oil-cozy, ecologically indifferent Bush administration. Johnny O'Hara's WGA Award-nominated script doesn't dwell on muckraking, however; it's more focused on broadly inspiring viewers than preaching to the converted.

Interviews with a wide range of environmentalists, policy makers and educators, along with such "green" celebrities as Woody Harrelson, Sheryl Crow and Larry Hagman offer serious fuel for thought -- as well as for action. Smartly animated interstitials, memorable archival material and a lively soundtrack round out the fast-paced proceedings.

-- Gary Goldstein

Direct Marketing is doing its part for the U.S. economy!

It...
-Accounts for 52.1% of total ad expenditures in the U.S.
-Generates about $2.057 trillion in total incremental sales
-Accounts for 10% of the total U.S. gross domestic product
-Directly employs 1.6 million people & supports another 9.3 million other jobs


Source: Direct Marketing Association

With so many organizations on board, our Rainmakers can't afford not to be in on the conversation.


The New York Times City Room Blog reports...

By David W. Dunlap


After years of denying accusations that it's given to frittering, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation acknowledged on Monday that it has begun twittering. The agency invited the public to follow it on Twitter, the microblogging service.

The first tweet alerted readers to a new implementation plan and emergency health and safety plans for the deconstruction of the former Deutsche Bank building at 130 Liberty Street. The second noted the agency's assistance plan for small businesses.

Mike Murphy, the press secretary, said Twitter would also be used for notices like those last week about excess readings of manganese at 130 Liberty Street, presumably because of welding in the basement, truck traffic and other work nearby. (Welding was suspended as a result, the agency said.)

"It will be everything," Mr. Murphy said about future uses of Twitter. "Not just 130 Liberty, but that will play an important role. I think we are the first agency to do this."