And as Congo crumbles, it grows harder to plunder: operations at Ituri's vast Kilomoto gold mine, for example, have virtually ceased since local peasants started digging up its airstrip and panning the dirt for ore.

ECONOMIST: Congo's wars

On March 18th her company launched Mine, for example, a new concept that allows readers to go online and select articles from eight titles, for delivery in print or online as a free, personalised magazine.

ECONOMIST: Face value

For example, three talented friends of mine remain in their corporate jobs, despite feeling thwarted by supervisors, because they are afraid of losing the medical coverage that their spouses badly need.

FORBES: What Rewards Most Matter to You?

Reached by IM, Thomas, a former colleague of mine and a stickler for facts, points out yet another example: he joined Red Herring when it was just three years old.

FORBES: Billionaire-Baiting Media Startup Addict To Join Media Startup, Panic Ensues

Chief executive Ryan Howard plans to mine what he says is a database of 40 million patients by, for example, helping pharmaceutical companies enroll patients in clinical trials, or monitoring a drug following its release on the market.

FORBES: Free Electronic Health Record Provider Practice Fusion Raises Total $64 Million

LinkedIn Recruiter, for example, is a recruiting application that lets corporate recruiting teams mine the entire LinkedIn professional database to find and attract people.

FORBES: The Sleepy Little HR Software Market Is On Fire

The two set up a hospital for mine workers after raising money from the community - the Shaheed Hospital in Dallirajhara is still cited as an example of a pioneering health initiative in India for the poor.

BBC: Dr Binayak Sen: Tribal doctor