Patrick Balthrop was the winner of a Stevie Award for Best Executive in the 2008 American Business Awards.

What book are you currently reading?
I typically read a few books simultaneously. At the moment I am rereading two books that I find very provocative: Just Six Numbers: The Deep Forces That Shape The Universe by Martin Rees, about six mathematical constants that govern the size, shape, and very existence of our universe; and The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins.  I also read crime suspense novels when I need some time to relax.

What was the last movie you saw, and would you recommend it?
The last movie I saw was Milk, and I highly recommend it. Sean Penn plays the lead of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected politician in America, who, along with Mayor Richard Moscone, was murdered by another San Francisco city councilman. The movie and cast—especially Sean Penn­—were very, very good.

What is your favorite sport or hobby?
My favorite hobby is sport fishing (tag and release only for me). Last fall, my two brothers and I fished in a big-game-fishing tournament in Cabo San Lucas and finished second in the tournament. My favorite sport is football, which I played a lot when I was young. I believe it is the ultimate team sport, where the only way to win is by playing together as unit.

Who is your favorite historical figure?
I have always admired Thomas Jefferson for his vision, intellect, and versatility. I also admire Charles Darwin and Martin Luther King, Jr., for seeing what was obvious to the rest of humankind, realizing that a new and better explanation was possible, and then bringing it to life.

		Read the entire interview

Fireman's Fund Insurance Company of Novato, California, won a Stevie Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in the 2008 American Business Awards.

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company (FFIC) was founded in 1863 with a mission to support the fire service. Over the course of some 140 years, that commitment has evolved as the needs of the fire service have changed. In the past five years, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company has donated more than $21 million to over 1,100 different fire departments across the country. The equipment purchased through those donations has saved an untold number of lives. Thousands of firefighters are better equipped to respond to emergencies, and a number of local communities are safer because of it.

"We are honored to receive this award," said Mike LaRocco, president and CEO of Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, on receiving the Stevie Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program. "Our entire organization, from employees to agents, is committed to helping make local communities safer, and this program does just that."

Fireman's Fund Heritage Program
America’s firefighters are asked to do more with less. Budgets are shrinking while equipment costs continue to rise. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, an estimated 65 percent of fire departments across the United States do not have enough portable radios to equip all emergency responders. Roughly 60 percent do not have enough air tanks. And the list goes on.

The Fireman’s Fund Heritage Program was launched in 2004. It is a nationwide program designed by FFIC to support firefighters and to make communities safer. It provides grants to fire departments for new equipment and creates initiatives that raise attention to the needs of the fire service.

During 2007-8, the period covered by the award, FFIC awarded grants totaling $7,016,662 to 468 fire departments across the country. This money helped purchase new thermal imaging cameras, “Jaws of Life” auto extrication sets, fire hoses, fire engines, personal protective gear, air tanks, fire safety houses to educate local youth, and much more.

		Read the entire article

Blogs, or web logs, are all the rage these days. Each month in this space we'll point you to several blogs and web sites that we think might be of interest to you.

The Mediavore : A site that aims to search public media to "discover interesting and thoughtful content for you to explore."
Planet Money : NPR's useful blog covering the global economy.
Global Neighborhoods : A blog that follows social media wherever it leads.
Mavericks at Work : Author Bill Taylor's blog.