Good Lending News

After all the recent bad news financial news and the oft-reported shortage of funds available for lending, I was a bit surprised to come across a situation on Kiva.org that's the exact opposite.

Kiva is a person-to-person microfinance website that connects lenders with entrepreneurs (generally in 3rd world countries). Their mission is to "connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty." Most lenders put in $25, which is consolidated with funds from other lenders to make loans ranging from $25 to $5,000.  

I got a gift certificate to Kiva for Christmas, and when I went over there to find a loan to contribue to, there were only 3 to chose from. There was also a link to the following explanation:

Why are there so few fundraising loans?
Kiva is constantly receiving new loans for funding from our microfinance Field Partners all around the world. Due to press, new features, or outreach efforts, at times we have more lenders visiting Kiva than we have fundraising loans. At these times there may be only a small number of fundraising loans on this page. However, this is always a temporary situation, as our Field Partners post new fundraising loans on an hourly basis. So, if there are only a few fundraising loans available, please check back soon! Kiva's volunteers are working hard to translate new loan requests as fast as possible, and our Field Partners are always excited to see loans funded so quickly!

Looks like the supply is more than adequate to the demand. Nice! 

In fact, as I poked around the site, a new loan request popped up, while other requests got filled - completely! In fact, as I surveyed the list, each time I clicked on a loan that said "75% raised" or "50% raised," I'd get to the actual loan page only to find it was 100% raised already... in just minutes. Man, if you find a loan that looks interesting, you've got to jump on it right away, or it'll be fulfilled before you have a chance to contribute.

 Kiva made loans to over 3,000 entrepreneurs this week alone. I'm convinced person-to-person microfinance works (for example, the default rate is a remarkably low 2.6%). It's distributist. It's FISTy (that's Fast, Inexpensive, Simple & Tiny for those who don't know). It's a beautiful thing. I'm still looking for a loan to contribut to, but I'll keep everyone posted here as things develop.

Anyone out there have a story about microfinance, either with Kiva or any of the other similar organizations?

Sleds on Coolers!

I came across this sign in a local drug store and it just made me laugh. I had to take a picture. Unfortunately, I didn't have my handy-dandy fuzzy cell phone camera with me, so I borrowed my beautiful wife's camera phone (note: much clearer picture!)

I wonder, is this an Ohio thing, or are "sleds on top of coolers" sweeping the whole nation? I've always wanted a sled on top of a cooler. Haven't you?

Pow! - The Book

The always surprising, ever fascinating Andy Nulman has a new book out. It's titled Pow! Right Between The Eyes, and I can't wait to read it.

My own copy is on its way here (I won it in this contest). And if you want to get your very own copy, just watch this video to find out how.

I won't say any more than that. Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

Sisyphus on DNI Blog

Over at the Defense and the National Interest (DNI) blog, Chet Richards had some very nice things to say about my latest article. I'm deeply touched that my crazy little article would merit mention on his blog. 

Welcome to the White House, Mr. Obama

I continue to be amazed and impressed at the huge outpouring of enthusiasm and excitement surrounding Mr. Obama's imminent presidency. After 8 years of a rather unpopular president (and before that, 8 years of a rather polarizing president), the idea of a president that gets this kind of wide-spread, positive emotional reaction from so many people takes some getting used to.

I like it.

Welcome to the White House, Mr. Obama. I hope your time in office goes well.

Huh?

Ok, what am I supposed to do when I see a street sign that says this? 

For some reason, Plattsburgh NY has decided to install several signs like this (some say "End 40 MPH Limit"). Wouldn't it have been easier to go with a normal "Speed Limit X" sign? I mean, why the extra words and decreased clarity? 

Just one more example of the inverse relationship between complexity and goodness, ala my Simplicity Cycle (which apparently can be applied to everything in the world)

Call Me Sisyphus

OK, the latest issue of Defense AT&L is online now, and I am so excited! The article I wrote for this issue is titled "Call Me Sisyphus," and I'm so happy with how it came out. 

I haven't been this excited about having an article in print since we wrote "Everything We Need To Know About Program Management We Learned From Punk Rock." 

Anyway, I hope you'll check it out and then pass it along to a friend!

Quirky

One of the strange little quirks of my handy-dandy, fuzzy little camera phone is the way it stores the photos. It doesn't always put them in chronological order - usually that's the case, but every once in a while it puts one photo w-a-y far away from the other photos I took that same day.

I can't explain it.

Anyway, I thought I'd lost this photo of a stop sign in Yellow Springs OH, but as I sorted through the files stored on the phone's memory, there it was, stashed among other non-related photos that had been taken on some other day.

I'm pretty happy, because I really like this stop sign. And I really like Yellow Springs.

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I'm kinda late to the party on this one, but I just watched part of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and all I can say is holy-cow-that's-funny!

Also, who has 42 minutes and 26 seconds to sit at a computer and watch the whole thing? I mean, it's really funny, but I'm thinking 5-minute increments would have made a lot more sense.

But if you've got some time (even if it's only in 5-minute increments), don't miss it.