"Build 'Em, Cowboy," pp. 25-28: Former NFL running back Emmitt Smith is moving his feet to a whole new rhythm. Having achieved super stardom both on the football field and the dance floor (as last season's winner on Dancing With the Stars), Smith is developing his next passion: real estate. He's teamed up with Roger Staubach, another Dallas Cowboys legend, to create Smith/Cypress Partners LP. Owning 51% of the venture, Smith/Cypress is developing underutilized properties in densely populated areas, not unlike a venture started by another sports great, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, whose company has built movie theatres, Starbucks, and restaurants in urban areas. Early in his football career, Smith was keenly aware of his eventual retirement, so he shadowed business contacts in the off-season to "watch and learn" how they conducted business. Having recently helped close a deal with Mervyn's department store in Phoenix, Smith has access to $55 million in capitol and appears poised to score big again.

This article explains how passion and purpose can create success for anyone with an entrepreneurial spirit.

1. What are some characteristics driving Smith's success? Is it purely star power or are other factors at play?



2. What are the essential elements of a successful entrepreneurial venture? Do you think you have what it takes? Why or why not?



3. What could be the pros and cons of hiring a famous entertainer or sports figure to run your business? Do the risks outweigh the rewards or vice-versa?

1. Describe some of the age-related ailments that resveratrol claims to combat. Do you think it's probable that such a wide-range and potentially life-altering drug will be developed, approved and released in your lifetime?



2. Aside from the obvious benefits, what might be the possible downsides to a pill that effectively wards off old age?



3. If you were a venture capitalist, would you choose to invest in biotech or homeopathic remedies instead? Explain your answer.

1. Do you agree with Gingrich's plan for a health-care revolution? Why or why not?



2. Based on information presented in the article, how does Gingrich's campaign for the Presidency mirror that of Abraham Lincoln?



3. How do you feel about Gingrich for President? Do you think this former Republican Speaker of the House has a chance with today's Democratic majority?

1. What are the environmental concerns surrounding oil and gas production on Sakhalin Island? Are they "run-of-the-mill," or is there a real crisis happening?



2. What do you think the future holds for the residents of Sakhalin Island, who have to pay $12 for a five-minute taxi ride and $70 to enter a nightclub? What would SEIC executives have to do to make amends with the local people without sacrificing profits?



3. Defend Royal Dutch Shell's original 1996 agreement with Russia. What arguments can you offer for how it has properly managed it Sakhalin project over the past decade? Is it reasonable that SEIC employees should earn $1,000 a day versus the $300 a month earned by the locals?