The bright spot in all this is that local businesspeople have found creative ways to come up with jobs, support for education -- and a fresh outlook on economic opportunity: n As head of the Littleton Industrial Development Corp.

FORBES: Local heroes

According to Gene Nichol, the chairman of the Center on Poverty, Work, and Opportunity, at the U.N.

NEWYORKER: State for Sale

Founded in 1945 in San Francisco, the U.N. was once a magnificent opportunity to advance freedom in the world.

FORBES: League of Human Rights Defenders

On December 9, International Anti-Corruption Day, Myanmar missed a timely opportunity to counter its recent ranking when it failed to ratify the U.N.

CNN: Long way to go in Myanmar's battle to reform

But with this Darfur Peace Agreement, we really have an opportunity to move the process much more rapidly forward, so that we can get that U.N. force up and operating.

NPR: After Peace Deal, Next Steps in Darfur

Lavrov said a briefing by chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix to the Security Council on Thursday would offer a good opportunity for the United States and Britain to present their latest findings.

CNN: Iraq WMD search stepped up