To learn what changes are occurring in the business environment today and how those changes are affecting businesses.

1. Go to the National Taxpayers Union Web site (www.ntu.org) "Who Pays Income Taxes? See Who Pays What." Study the tables showing what percent of taxes the various income groups pay. Do you think that businesspeople pay their fair share? What percent of taxes does the top 1 percent of earners pay? What about the top 5 percent? The lowest 50 percent? How do such tax rates affect incentives to become a successful entrepreneur?

2. Go to the Census Bureau's Web site (www.census.gov) and learn what the population of the United States is at this moment. While at the site, you may want to look up the population in your town or city. Explore what other data are available at this site. What trends seem most important to you and to businesspeople in general?

3. Do a Google search for "business blogs" and check out some of the available results. Go to one of the blogs that seems interesting to you and write a brief paragraph about it—including such things as who sponsors it, who contributes the posts, and what other features it has—and how it may help a student in an introductory business course.