BOINC@AUSTRALIA FORUM

KIVA make micro-loans directly to people the world over. I have participated for a bit now and I must admit it gives me great satisfaction. Unlike crunching which gives one hope for the future, KIVA allows you to change the life of an individual with the click of a mouse. You can participate for a little as $25 and when it is repayed, you can re-lend it over and over. I am a member of team USA but team Australia has a huge presence there too. I urge you to check out:

http://www.kiva.org/about

If this is something that appeals to you, I urge you to join.  :thumbsup:

You can see my account at:


http://www.kiva.org/lender/dataman1658

You can click on my pic to see Dataman (and my companion).  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

EDIT: BTW as to the pic ... I'm the one on the right.  biggrin :jester: biggrin

EDIT:   TEAM PAGE http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/boinc_at_australia/by/giles2664 (http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/boinc_at_australia/by/giles2664)
:thanks1:

Fantastic concept dataman - thanks for the link and Congratulations for your lending efforts thus far  :congrats
I'm keen to get on board and get my kids involved.

Thank you. It is very well managed and their repayment rate is amazing at over 98%. If enough people are interested we could form our own BOINC@AUSTRALIA  team and promote BOINC as well as KIVA and Australia.  :wiggle:

:aus1:

If we start a BOINC@AUSTRALIA team I am in.
And congrats on your efforts mate.  :congrats
Dennis.

Ok, wow, I can do that. Give me a day or two to set it up. My usually peaceful life got a wee bit complicated at the moment but I will sort it. I will set up the team and post the link and stuff here. I want to make it perfectly clear that if Dingo wants to join I will turn the role of captain over to him. B@A and all its rights are his.  :worship I think this is a good thing to do though.  :thumbsup:

I'm up too late ... time for bed.  :cheers:

:aus1:

Kiva is a great concept. I am already a lender for an Aussie IT team (http://www.kiva.org/lender/shipw) but would join a B&A team too. For those interested there is also an Australian organisation doing micro lending, but their name escapes me.

One tip is to check the interest charged by field partners because some are unrealistically high. You might also notice that your loan doesn't always go to the person/group you choose due to the way Kiva pre-funds. I don't mind since it's all doing good.

Excellent work, I'll be in.  :thumbsup:

Like those sunnies too.   biggrin

Viva Kiva!

Me too.    Is that a 4 wheel drive behind the good looking one?

Quote from: Dataman on August 18, 2010, 11:48:57 AM
You can click on my pic to see Dataman (and my companion).  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

EDIT: BTW as to the pic ... I'm the one on the right.  biggrin :jester: biggrin

If that's really your companion, you've done really, really well - my first thought was, "Hmm, your daughter's nice".  biggrin

edit: I've got say I like the Pilot Glasses too.

will definitely have a look at that... it is a good idea to help out when/ if you can.
thanks Dataman.

Quote from: Mike Mitchell on August 18, 2010, 09:24:27 PM

Quote from: Dataman on August 18, 2010, 11:48:57 AM
You can click on my pic to see Dataman (and my companion).  :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

EDIT: BTW as to the pic ... I'm the one on the right.  biggrin :jester: biggrin

If that's really your companion, you've done really, really well - my first thought was, "Hmm, your daughter's nice".  biggrin

edit: I've got say I like the Pilot Glasses too.

:rofl: My daughter! Karen will get A BIG laugh at that and I will NEVER hear the end of it. She is almost 9 years younger than I. I like that pic because the sun is in my face so you can't see the wrinkles on my forehead, I'm smiling so you can't see the wrinkles on my face and that old leather vest holds in my belly.  :rofl: The 4x4  is a friend's truck (Dodge). What you can't see is the snow bank behind us ... we were at 7,000 feet and it was friggin' cold that day.

Thanks for the great response. I will set up the KIVA account.

My daughter ... I will never live this down.  biggrin

:aus1:

OK mates, I set up a team Here:

http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia

I hit a couple of snags. KIVA will not let me use @ in the team name and I could not find a B@A logo to use. If someone could point me to a .jpg logo less than a meg I will replace the BOINC logo with ours. If you want to make changes in Why We Lend or Who We Are, just let me know. I am sure it could be better.

All you have to do is join KIVA and then join our team. Thanks

Quote from: WikiWill on August 18, 2010, 06:50:30 PM
Kiva is a great concept. I am already a lender for an Aussie IT team (http://www.kiva.org/lender/shipw) but would join a B&A team too. For those interested there is also an Australian organisation doing micro lending, but their name escapes me.

One tip is to check the interest charged by field partners because some are unrealistically high. You might also notice that your loan doesn't always go to the person/group you choose due to the way Kiva pre-funds. I don't mind since it's all doing good.

I could not open that link. ??? Yes the field partner is important. I especially like Asociación Arariwa in South America as their ROI is only 6.6%. Some Field partners are in the 12% range ...not exactly charitable.

Well done. I'll join up later today.

How about this one?
(http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc1/object2/1728/111/n7742313626_2029.jpg)

http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/profile-ak-snc1/object2/1728/111/n7742313626_2029.jpg

Outstanding! I made the change and KIVA likes that one. Thanks Kashi.

:greet

I'm in faster than a rat up a drainpipe.  :jester:

Do a bit more later.

 :thumbsup: Kashi

Some notes on KIVA for the others. Individual statitistics are updated immediately but team stat's are only updated once each day. If you make a loan you will see it in your account but may not see it in the team stats for a few hours. Also, about this time of the month Field Partners are crediting funds back to the lenders. This can result in a "feeding frenzy" where everyone rushes to reinvest their funds. This can result fewer loans to choose from and sloooow servers. If you wait a day or two there is a much greater group of loans from which to choose. You can either make a loan and it will take you to Paypal to pay for it or you can preload your account and lend it out over time. You do not have to have a Paypal account. You can make the payment from your credit card. You can be a member of multiple teams. If you want to leave KIVA whatever is in your cash account can be refunded to you via Paypal.

Thanks for the support and enjoy.

:oz:

And then there was four!
Am in.

Dennis.

In like Flynn... for five !   :rocks


(hmm, wonder if I can borrow money from Kiva to build a super-boinc-machine ....  :coolgleam:  )

I'll look into it more closely on the weekend. Just wasted $200 on a flash new 23 inch LED monitor that I don't need, so need to ease my guilt at the needless spending of money in some way  ;D

I answered you PM VeeBee. I also got enought payback to make my first loan under B@A.  :crazy

:aus1:

EDIT: Very impressive. We are one day old and have already lent $125.00.  :congrats

I received some questions on KIVA so I thought I would post this. Near as I can tell KIVA works like this:
Kiva gives the money to the field partner (a local bank or bank-like entity) who in turn lends it to the borrower (via one of their agents). The agent does charge a small interest/fee (that's how he gets paid). "We" (the lenders) then backfill (in effect cover) the loan. When a payment is due from the borrower, the agent collects it and gives the principle back to the field partner who holds on to it for approx two months (that's how they make their money on interest income). Finally the money is returned to the lender (us). We don't get any interest or fee.

The whole idea is to make small, inexpensive loans to people who could not otherwise get a loan from a proper Bank.

KIVA Donations:
When you make a loan, KIVA will attempt to collect a 15% donation. You do not have to do it. If you click on "edit" you can select $0.0. As a rule of thumb, I donate once about every 4-5 loans.

KIVA Loans:
Read what is on the borrower's page as it varies and is important to making a decision.
1. Most loans are protected from currency fluctuations. Some are not so it is wise to check. Currencies in some of these countries fluctuate greatly. If you have protection your get the funds back at the same rate as when you lent it.
2. A tiny few of the loans have default protection. You are guaranteed a return of your loan. They are few and far between and funded fast.
3. Look at the field partner information. KIVA rates them from one to five stars. I stick to 4-5 star ratings.
4. I am still trying to research this but a large ROI by the field partner may NOT indicate large rates/fees to the borrower. It may indicate that the field partner is very good at investing the funds during the two months they are "a holder in due course". The real "black hole" is what happens between the field agent and the borrower and between the field agent and the field partner. I think that is largely undocumented to us.
5. As a side note, I tend to stay away from loans for "Personal Living Expenses". I tend to loan for the purchase of materials that can be transformed into something that can be sold at a profit. This is just my opinion though.

If you have any questions, just ask in this thread.
:greet

Thanks for the info.

I noticed currently if you click on "Edit" for the donation to Kiva, the amount you donate will be matched by the Omidyar Network.
The first loan I made I didn't click on edit and there was no matching donation. I gave them the 15% for my first one, the later ones I gave 5% which is only $1.25 but Kiva receives $2.50.

So what I'm trying to say is if you decide to give a donation to Kiva click on edit even if you wish to stay with the default 15% and Kiva will receive double whatever you donate.

That's great to know and I did not know that Kashi.  :thumbsup:

I'm in and lending  :cheer1:
Way to go team!

Welcome to the club Diablo.   :wavey2:

Now that's what I call a hat.  :thumbsup:

One of the Bolivian women has a corker too.  :worship

We are catching the other Australian team, they have only loaned $752,775.00 to date!   :rofl:

Dennis.

We're gaining on those other Aussie teams ...  :jester: Thay had to start at $0 in the beginning too.  :thanks1:

Cool hat Dennis.  :coolgleam:

$250.00 lent in two days!  :congrats

We're headed to the coast for the weekend. Maybe she will let me check in with her blackberry dohickey.  :rofl: :rofl: Keep those crunchers a-crunching.  :wavey2:

:aus1:

EDIT: They got the hat thing down good in Bolivia too.  biggrin Did anyone notice we are listed in the Top Ten Teams section on three of our loans. The logo looks good.  :thumbsup:

Need to get out and find more gold to finance more loans lol, thats what I am doing in my profile pic, (at KIVA) running my sluice at a lovely place called Eldorado in VIC.
For some reason it was the only picture I could bring over from my old XP lappy to my new windows 7 64 bit lappy.

Dennis.

Thar's gold in them thar hills.  ;D

Hope you get some of it.

I couldn't find a photo of myself, so I have used Shintaro checking out some star knives. Hmm, perhaps I should put an avatar here again too.

OK, I'm in now  ;D.

Welcome Rob.

Up to 8 members now.  :thumbsup:

Glad to have you onboard Rob. :)

Dennis.

Welcome Rob!!! Now we are 8.  :congrats :congrats
I can see right now that if I am to be a member of this team, I have to get me a REALLY COOL hat!!!!  biggrin

:thanks1:

hmmm, sounds like an idea... we should all wear a "special" hat for our profile pic there... (will have to go see whats going on to make you say that Dataman...)

Damn the hats, tell me about the GOLD Dennis

Want anymore information just message me. :)

Been prospecting gold as a hobby for around 15 years now, used to be one of the managers of the biggest MSN group on gold prospecting until MSN groups folded.
We used to have group outings in which we would train newbies on how to find gold, and how to build and use the gear.
I am not into using a detector, might get a detector one day but find walking in circles waiting for a "beep" so boring, I use sluices, banjos/highbanker etc, which means digging the gravels.
How I find gold?
I research old maps (some hand drawn) of the old goldfields (have around 6Gb of old maps on the computer), amazing how much those old timers left behind!  Then try and transcribe the old maps over current maps.
Go to the area, read the river, creek etc  and pan a small area, grid pan it, am looking for more than 11 specks in the pan, once I start getting decent specks I take note of what other rocks are in the pan as well, these are called indicators.
Look for indicators in the area that I am going to work and do test pans to see if there is decent gold in the area, if their is set up my banjo (what I am using in my profile pic) and pump and get to work.
I have a tray in the top of the banjo (before the sluices) which will catch 90% of the gold, after working the area for around 15 minutes will pan out the tray, this tells me if what I am running through the banjo is worth digging.
I also shut down a few times after around half an hour to do a clean up of the sluice area of the banjo, this is to "tune" the gear into the area, if I am showing gold in the sluice, it has gone past the tray and I need to work out by trial and error what I need to do to change the water movement through the banjo, might be change the angle of the sluice (the fall, up or down) or maybe throttle the pump back.
The pumps we use are little 1 inch pumps, everything is kept small so it all fits into a backpack - pump, hoses, fuel, banjo, tent etc, this is to get into those areas where you might be bushwalking for up to 10 kilometres.

My main regret after years of doing this is not learning the gemstones, in the raw they look nothing like the finished polished item that you see in the jewelers , at Eldorado in VIC they even run to black diamonds, and quite a few different gemstones, would hate to think of what has gone through my sluice there, my loss!

You really have to have a interest in basic geology, bushcraft, bushwalking, camping, the mateship of like minded people etc.

And are you going to get rich overnight, you could find the big one, but highly unlikely, but then again look at the price of gold these days.

What it boils down to is research, you might research an area for months before even going there to work it, and if I find a really good area and don't have the time to work it right out it goes into the GPS (marked as "retirement 1" "retirement 2" etc), I then make the area look like I have not been there, have left a couple of good areas before only to come back the next weekend and they have been cleaned out.

Another thing we do, and all fossickers should do, is before we leave an area that we have worked our holes are backfilled and we make the area look as much as possible, like it was before we got there, is also amazing the amount of rubbish I have brought out of some areas, and very little of it was mine!

At the moment the gold fossicking is on hold, I have been on long service leave/annual leave/family leave for around the last 4 months and am carer for my terminal ill father, as of November my 36 year career in the Fire Service will come to an end, I run out of leave so will be leaving work and will be a full time carer.
Watching dad go downhill quite quickly is an eye opener, this could happen to any of us in our old age!

My other hobby is genealogy and family history, do we have any members from Mount Gambier, SA lol?

Dennis.

Thanks Dennis I do appreciate all that info.   I did the gemfields in Queensland way way way way back.  I teamed up with an old fellow who worked on the cattle station.  He knew everything and passed it on as long as I didn't "forget him" when I hit colour.  Did OK but in the end it got too crowded and I got too lazy to dig anymore.  Good fun though.

Mate you have my deepest respect for being the carer for your dad.  I did it for two years with my mum.  More power to you Dennis.

Cool Dennis. I live about 15 kilometers from Sutter's Mill where gold was discovered in California that set off the California gold rush. The area I live in is known as the Gold Country or the Motherload. We still have two small working mines in the area; the largest being The Gold Bug Mine. Before 1900, entire mountains were washed away with high-pressure placer mining and huge floating dredges destroyed whole river systems. Now dredges are limited to a 4" hose and placer mining is illegal. Mostly people use metal detectors and small dredges in the rivers. What amazes me is after 160 years of intense mining is they still find gold. Mostly gold dust but some nuggets too. About 10 years ago, a dog ran off after a deer about 5 kilometers from my house. The kids came back with with the dog and a nugget weighing over two pounds (1 kilogram). The dog  (and kids) got their picture in the paper.  biggrin

Three days of heat. The forecast is for 108F (42C) Wednesday.  :cry2: That kind of heat is really hard on my Great Dane. It is hard to cool a 130 pound mass with only a wet tounge. I use frozen two-liter water bottle to keep them cool. I use beer to keep me cool.  :rofl:

Cheers!

Dataman, if you moved the airconditioner off the computer and onto the dog might help! :rofl:

With the Californian goldfields they are very similiar to the goldfields around Bathurst in NSW over here, I actually have a very good area near Bathurst I prospect at now and again.

Dennis.

Quote from: Dataman on August 24, 2010, 12:32:33 AM
That kind of heat is really hard on my Great Dane. It is hard to cool a 130 pound mass with only a wet tounge. I use frozen two-liter water bottle to keep them cool. I use beer to keep me cool.  :rofl:

Dataman, using a "cold brick" is a good way to keep animals cool, but whatever you do, don't give a dog, ESPECIALLY when it is really hot (both dog and weather) iced/ icy cold water.

Apart from the fact it doesn't help them cool down any faster, it can start muscular spasms in their stomach and gut, leading to gastric torsion (aka "bloat") - a horrible thing to watch a dog go through.

Just water at tap or ambient temperature works fine... you are more interested in maintaining hydration as opposed to trying (in vain) to reduce their core temp.

Quote from: veebee on August 24, 2010, 09:07:26 AM

Quote from: Dataman on August 24, 2010, 12:32:33 AM
That kind of heat is really hard on my Great Dane. It is hard to cool a 130 pound mass with only a wet tounge. I use frozen two-liter water bottle to keep them cool. I use beer to keep me cool.  :rofl:

Dataman, using a "cold brick" is a good way to keep animals cool, but whatever you do, don't give a dog, ESPECIALLY when it is really hot (both dog and weather) iced/ icy cold water.

Apart from the fact it doesn't help them cool down any faster, it can start muscular spasms in their stomach and gut, leading to gastric torsion (aka "bloat") - a horrible thing to watch a dog go through.

Just water at tap or ambient temperature works fine... you are more interested in maintaining hydration as opposed to trying (in vain) to reduce their core temp.

Yes that is very true.Their water is ambent. I have had Great Danes for 30 years. They do the same thing with a pile of frozen water bottles as they do with the wood stove in the winter. They compete for the "perfect" distance from the stove in the winter and the "perfect" distance from the bottles in the summer. They know what makes them feel best.  :thumbsup:
Its going to be HOT for three days and then rapid cooling.

At the dog shows here in Summer, many exhibitors have lots of fans, around 20 - 24" diameter, blowing onto the dogs... dont know how effective they are, but I suppose they MIGHT help with cooling the blood in tongue and ears.

Dogs only sweat on nose and pads of feet so there isn't much area for evaporative cooling.

My two have a plastic kids wading pool each.  When they get hot they dunk themselves and then get under a tree or the nearest aircon duct.  Concur heartily with beer for human cooling.

In the old days, our cattle dogs would disobey every order to "get back round" and cringe off to one of the cattle's water troughs. Jump in, splash around a bit, drink a bit, then run off after the cattle again.

Damn kelpie's, so damn cute you could never be angry at them for long. Ours were jet black with slightly long hair, not altogether great at rounding up the cattle and not altogether pets. Definitely not show dogs.  :wink Looked like this (http://www.tiptopglobe.com/images2.php?fotka=australian-kelpie-dog-standard_1&dd=1637).

OK I am in and I made two loans of $25 and took the donated $2.50 to the fund that was matched by some organisation.

This is me  http://www.kiva.org/lender/giles2664

Great to have you aboard Dingo.

Welcome

B@A now has $475 on loan!!   :congrats :congrats Well done.

:aus1:

One more new member and one new loan and we will have nice round numbers ... 10/$500.  biggrin Hopefully soon I will have enough payback to make a new loan.  :wiggle:

Cheers.

OK I made another loan. 

 :worship :worship :worship :worship :worship Dingo, you are just about to reach 100 million credits.  :worship :worship :worship :worship :worship

That is my long-term goal but I have a long way to go.

:worship :aus1: :worship

PS: Thanks for putting us at $500.  :congrats

Welcome to DidierT.  :wavey2:

And that makes 10 members.  :thumbsup:

Thanks kashi.  Just wanted to be part of this noble cause and helping people who help themselves

 :welcome1: DidierT

I am simply amazed.  :shock When I opened this thread I just wanted B@A to be aware of KIVA. I never dreamed this would happen.  :faint: I am proud to be a part of this team.  :cheers:

:thanks1:

We have now reached $850.00 in loans.  :faint:

:thanks1:

Hey, 3 of my loans have started paying back already. 1 from Cambodia and 2 from Bolivia, they really are the good hats there.  ;D

A few more and I'll be able to loan it out again to someone else. Great to see this recycling concept actually start working.  :thumbsup:

That's great. I need $4 in payback to make another loan.

EDIT: I spoke too soon. I looked again and had enough to make 2 new loans.  :dance2:

Our total loans are now at $875.00  :cheer1:

Actually, $900, I've made another loan

Quote from: DidierT on September 16, 2010, 08:18:33 AM
Actually, $900, I've made another loan

:congrats :congrats :congrats

hmmmm, a bit annoyed.

I haven't gotten a cent back from my first loan yet - in fact I dont think she has paid ANYthing back to ANyone !


EDIT:

Have made another loan .. hopefully this guy will be quicker with repaying..

Hi John.
If you are talking about Miguel, his first paymnet is not due until Dec 1. If you go to the bottom of his page you can see his payment schedule and if you click on "show advanced" you can see more detail. You should get his first repaymnet in mid to late November.

If you are talking about Kokovi, her first repayment is not due until Jan1, 2011. You should see a repayment in December

It took two months before I saw my first repayment (boring) then you get repayments every month. Hang in there.

Thanks for the new loan!

:aus1:

EDIT: I did a little more digging. The risk with Kokovi's loan is with the field partner "Microfund Togo". Their staus is "paused" and were reduced to one star. However their delinquency rate is only 2% and their default rate is 0%. I'm not sure what is going on there. Her first payment to the field partner is Nov 22 and you should see it in late December.

Yes the repayment schedules differ, depending on the kind of loan. Most of mine are instalment types and start repaying in November or January. One is a single repayment type due next March. I only have $7 credit so far, won't have enough to reloan until November.

Loans to farmers may need to wait until the growing season is concluded, so that the farmer can harvest and sell their crop to derive income from it and start repaying the loan. Raising livestock may take longer than a single season before it is able to be marketed, so sometimes those loan types are for a longer duration or have the first repayment later than other loan types such as loans to enable purchase of goods to sell in a shop or stall.

Spot on kashi.

One of my first loans was to a woman in Peru who was to make 2 payments/month to the field partner. She missed both payments the first month and was marked as delinquent. I had a sinking feeling. The next month she made the equvalent of 5 payments and now is actually ahead of schedule. So far I have not lost anything. I am amazed as to how many borrowers actually pay the field partner early (you can se that in the advanced view). However, I have never seen the field partner pay KIVA early.

I only have $18 left so I will have to wait for the next round to make more loans.

Thanks again to all on our KIVA team.  :crazy

:aus1:

KIVA is now making student loans if anyone is so inclined. I think it is under the education category. Cheers!

:greet

 :hapbirth: KIVA!!!

To celebrate, If you invite 5 friends that lend you will receive a $25 credit that you can lend.

:thanks1:

:aus1:

You may want to check KIVA today. It was payback day for me. I have enough to make two new loans and I had my first loan that is paid in full.  :crazy

:aus1:

EDIT: We have now reached $1,000.

Checked my account and I had some money paid back as well.  Made another load as well.

Took a crowbar and pryed open my wallet ... made a couple of more loans.  :rofl:

I encourge all of the BOINC@AUSTRALIA crunchers who frequent our fourm to consider participating in KIVA. Where else can you ge a good feeling for only $25?  biggrin :rofl: biggrin (Pleasde don't answer that question.)  :jester:

Thanks to all!!

Crunch on mates.........

:thanks1:

Got an email from Kiva that I had some money in credit from repayments, it was enough for another 3 loans.  :thumbsup:

Guillermo (http://www.kiva.org/lend/238831) is growing some juicy lemons and cuzco corn in Peru and Nancy Wanjiku Njagi (http://www.kiva.org/lend/239367) is selling some groovy threads in Kenya.   ;D

KIVA payback day for me.  :dance: I got enough for two more loans.  :cheers:

I only have $10 in the account and not having much success at being repaid so I will have to wait till I have enough loan back out.

I had enough for another one. Used autopick for the first time and it chose a couple growing lotus in Cambodia.  :thumbsup:

@Dingo: Yes the first couple of months nothing much happens. I have loans paying off now from another team I was at and can reinvest at B@A.

@kashi: Lotus growers ... now you cannot get better Karma than that!!!  :thumbsup:

56 loans for $1,525.00 ...  :crazy

:greet

60 loans for $1,625 ...  :faint:

You must have a heart of gold Dataman.  Well done.

BTW, I received my first payment.  I am now have 02 cents in the kitty.  "Small cows" take a while to grow I guess.

That's the whole team's golden hearts. Amazing how fast it grows once reinvesting begins.  :congrats

The monthly KIVA payback has started. I should be able to make two more loans. :dance:

Still only have $15 paid back, need to wait a bit longer.

Thanks for the heads up, had enough for another 2. Chose one myself and used autopick for the other.   ;D

2 of the loans I made previously have now been repaid in full.

Wow ... you guys are "lucky" (or [obviously] I picked "bad" people to lend to !) ....

I have gotten a whopping $3.29 back from $50 loaned !

Nah, I just picked a few with the shortest repayment term. If the loan has been actually allocated a month or more before you choose it, then one with a 6 month repayment term can end up being fully repaid in under 5 months.

Doesn't really matter, short term or long term, I just wanted a few to be turning over. Actually for people in the poorest countries or where the loan is for seasonal agriculture or stock raising a longer term loan may actually be more helpful. Depends on the circumstances and your viewpoint, at first I believed that shorter term loans were a better idea as they minimised the total interest being charged to borrowers but then I realised that a longer loan term meant that a larger amount could be borrowed or each monthly repayment could be less. Now I alternate between picking one myself which is usually shorter term and using autopick which often chooses a longer term one for me.

I have over $24 back from my $100 loaned so will be able to loan again on the next repayment.  Taken a long time to get there though.

Please welcome Jave to B@A's Kiva team. Jave is a long-time Kiva member since '07 with 127 loans.

:welcome1:

We now have 12 members with 85 loans of $2,225. Good job mates!

:aus1:

Welcome Jave.  :wavey2:

The monthly repayment process has started. I can make 4 new loans.  :dance:

:aus1:

Woot, 2 new loans made.  :thumbsup:

My autopick this time is for cows and a horse in Kyrgyzstan.  ;D

I am still having dreadful luck with (out) repayments .... but made another nonetheless ..

have also posted a note to all my friends on facebook about Kiva, and suggested that they look at joining a team if they are interested in loaning - OUR team of course !

3 new loans for me  :crazy

Quote from: veebee on January 16, 2011, 08:33:43 AM
I am still having dreadful luck with (out) repayments .... but made another nonetheless ..

have also posted a note to all my friends on facebook about Kiva, and suggested that they look at joining a team if they are interested in loaning - OUR team of course !

Good on you veebee, I've got a delinquent loan from Togo too and another from Vietnam. I'm not concerned, they are both very poor countries, the fact that some money went there will do some good, even if the Field Partners there are having problems. With both of mine and yours too it's the Field Partners who are delinquent not the persons who received the loans.

It's a balancing act with some of these Field Partners, too much interest and it's not as good for the people getting loans, but too little interest can result in the Field Partners not being able to cover costs and going broke.

I've had a couple of delinquencies but no defaults. Both times they recovered the next month. For what KIVA is trying to do, I am surprised how low the defalt rate is. It's a bit like crunching; one hopes it will do some good in the future.
Cloudy but unusually warm day here today for winter. :cool:
Cheers!

:aus1:

(http://myonlineteam.org/images/smilies/bloodshot.gif)
Be on the lookput for KIVA payback day this week.
We now have 100 loans.  :wiggle: for $2,650  :yahoo:
There seem to be a few new KIVA features now (at least I just noticed them). There is a Team "goals" feature that I have not checked out. There is an "estimated repayments" on your personal info that graphs your estimated repayments by month.
I think most of my loans with other teams will payback this month and I can reinvest the funds in B@A.
Great job team.  :thanks1:
:aus1:

Payback time.
I made one loan to a woman who runs a liquor store. The purpose of the loan is to buy mass quanties of beer. Now there is a woman I could learn to like.  :rofl:

:rocks

Haha, I've just gone to the heart of the matter. Mateo has a restaurant "where he serves skewered hearts and beef that are cooked over charcoal."   That would go well with a beer. :drink::cheers: 
Two of my loans that were delinquent have caught up, so I received a little more repayment than I expected. Enough for 3 new loans.  :thumbsup:

YAY !

got my first "fully re-payed" loan, enough to re-loan one now but the others are still slow.

Sadly, I have not received a cent back on my first loan yet ...  ???

Skewered hearts and beer sounds like a Valentines Day meal.  :wink

I just had my delinquent Togo loan refunded in full. Never had a loan refund before. A month ago a quarter of my loans had become delinquent but now all have caught up or been refunded.:thumbsup:

So I was able to make another loan. Seeing as Kiva refunded me it was only fair to let their autopick choose a farmer in Tajikistan.;D

@ Kashi... same here (re the refund from a loan in Togo...)

shall use the "Auto pick" feature again myself, as I did with the last one. Things are starting to look better !

Kiva repayment day.  :yahoo:

The site has a new format.  :furious:

:aus1:

Repayments plus a little top up was enough for another 2 loans.  :thumbsup:
Felt fuzzy today and couldn't decide, so went with some hats again and of course as everyone knows, "Blessed are the cheesemakers".  :crazy

Repayment time. Had enough for 2 new loans, chose a Bolivian taxi driver and a Cambodian cattleman.  :thumbsup:

Just checked my account and had enough to make a loan to María Victorina of El Salvador. :thumbsup:

Had enough for another two loans, have loaned to a George Okoth Opondo Quarrying, Kenya and Narciso Jose Farm Supplies, Bolivia, this is my 26th loan.
Team is going great, 135 loans from 12 members, great going!  :congrats

Den.

I had enough to reloan without even REALISING it !

Have done so - I find that "select a loan" (and then re-doing it until I fond one I like) works best.... no "failures" so far this way !

ok i am. i like it. lets see what good i can do.

Welcome to the B@A Kiva team DskRbt.  :thumbsup:

Yes veebee I am also using autopick more recently.

Had a bit of cash left, so I made few loans.

The team is certainly doing extremely well.     :congrats :congrats :congrats

Ah you just reminded me that I have cash sitting in a paypal account not really doing anything. I will open a loan or two when I get time.

As boring as online surveys may be - I have found (through my eldest son ) a "site" that pays points which can be redeemed for a variety of things - including "cash" in your paypal account.

I have been payed about $40 or $45 so far , but hadn't thought of using it on KIVA... good idea Sean !

They surveys are lifestyle, food etc etc, and I do NOT get any spam or ads etc coming through my email.

You need 575 points for $5 paypal credit and you get approx 250 credits for a 20 minute survey. (about to start one with my 14 year old boy paying 320 for 15 minute survey).

I know it's not big bucks but it's an easy way to make money for "nothing" , especially when I can give it out at KIVA !


EDIT: forgot to add: anyne interested in joining in, let me know (will have to ask my eldest son how he "invited" me...)

Kiva day today. Don't let those funds get stale.  :jester: Reinvest today. Special thanks to Saenger from SETI Germany for helping us out!!  :worship

:aus1:

Just joined KIVA and the Boinc Aust team  :rocks and made my first loan too.

Quote from: veebee on May 24, 2011, 12:29:02 PM
As boring as online surveys may be - I have found (through my eldest son ) a "site" that pays points which can be redeemed for a variety of things - including "cash" in your paypal account.

This http://www.internetpaidsurveys.com/australia/survey1.htm (http://www.internetpaidsurveys.com/australia/survey1.htm) has a few survey sites that claim to pay into your paypal account

 :welcome1: to Kiva Latoof.  I had enough to re loan one loan and need another $5 and I can re loan another one.

Quote from: Latoof on July 16, 2011, 10:02:35 AM
This http://www.internetpaidsurveys.com/australia/survey1.htm (http://www.internetpaidsurveys.com/australia/survey1.htm) has a few survey sites that claim to pay into your paypal account

Or you could be using the Australian duo Rewards Central (http://www.rewardscentral.com.au/) and My Opinions (http://myopinions.com.au/) and even try for an Australian micro-loan organisation too.  :wink

Quote from: Mike Mitchell on July 16, 2011, 04:11:17 PM

Or you could be using the Australian duo Rewards Central (http://www.rewardscentral.com.au/) and My Opinions (http://myopinions.com.au/) and even try for an Australian micro-loan organisation too.  :wink

Thanks for the links - IS there an Aussie micro loans organisation?  If so I'd be very interested.  I Note that there were NO East Timor clients on the Kiva site which would have been my first preference TBH

Latoof, you could try:
http://www.microloanfoundation.org.au/
Another was mentioned earlier in this thread I think.
Rotary Australia and various Christian and other denominational groups (among others) do this too but I'm not sure how it is organised.

These are a worthwhile read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcredit
http://knowledge.asb.unsw.edu.au/article.cfm?articleid=1323

My Kiva loans are still repaying so I'll need to wait for the next opportunity.  Keep it up everyone!

Quote from: Latoof on July 16, 2011, 04:21:45 PM
Thanks for the links - IS there an Aussie micro loans organisation?  If so I'd be very interested.  I Note that there were NO East Timor clients on the Kiva site which would have been my first preference TBH

Yep, there is Good Returns (http://goodreturn.org/home.aspx), and it tends to concentrate on East Timor and more regional nations in need.

Thanks for the other links WikiWill. I should add them all to my email signature. Plus one for the help.

I used to do a fair few surveys, but now I don't have as much time with uni. The best group is ORU (Online Research Unit) they sometimes pay a $5 coles gift card for a ~15 min survey. There is no option to join on their website but you could try this link.

http://www.freestuff.com.au/free-online-surveys/austrlian-online-research-unit-oru (http://www.freestuff.com.au/free-online-surveys/austrlian-online-research-unit-oru)

EDIT: I should point out that most surveys offer cash competitions incentives, I get the $5 gift card ones only about once every 3 weeks.

Welcome Latoof. +1
Only enough for two more for me. Next month should be much more payback.
Your co-captain (me  biggrin ) has been asleep at the wheel and missed welcoming some new members.  :cry2:
:welcome1:
We are 18 strong now and approaching $5,000 in loans. Outstanding!!!

:oz:   :aus1:   :oz:

Welcome to the B@A Kiva team Latoof. :wavey2:

Two for me this month. I picked wood for a carpenter and autopick selected cattle for Azerbaijan. :thumbsup:

Just checked out my account and had enough $ to make another loan.

just checked mine - it is at arpund $21 so I will top it up.

I do those "pesky" surveys through a cpl of well chosen sites and they all have the ability to convert points into dollars on your Paypal account...

A handy way to make maoney to lend to others !

Had a few repayments later than the others, so had enough today for another loan. Haha, I just noticed I picked the same one as you veebee.;D  Go Paraguay!

Just checked and I have $24.40 available  :-\

I think I might top that up to $25 so I can make another loan. Out of interest does anyone pay the voluntary Kiva fees when making loans?

Quote from: Sean on September 03, 2011, 09:22:27 PM
Out of interest does anyone pay the voluntary Kiva fees when making loans?

Is that the $3 something ???

I thought that was something that HAD to be paid... if nt, I will start making a couple more loans !

Sean, I saw your loan to Ericka, good one. :thumbsup:
I wonder what chicha de jora tastes like, I could do with a less potent brew, too many Coopers just about knocks me out now. Hmm, maybe I could make a shandy by adding a little Coka Sek to my chicha de jora, haha. Anyway sounds like fun dripping some of the head on the ground and saying "Pachamama, santa tierra".

For my first few loans I gave the full $3.75 donation per loan. Then I cut it down a bit and gave $2.50 or $1.25 per loan. Since the start of this year I donate $1.25 for only one or 2 loans depending on how much I have left over from my repayments after making new loans, so $1.25 or $2.50 in total per month. My total donations so far are $32.50, $20 of that was matched by a Kiva sponsor.

"to buy more corn flour to make chicha de jora and to buy barnyard fowl."

I wrongly assumed chicha de jora was a type of food. :rofl:

I wasn't being critical, just thought chicha de jora sounded interesting and was sharing my interest. If you are concerned, she raises chickens too so you can just consider your loan is supporting the chicken component of her income. A lot of the loans I have contributed to are related to food production, but Kiva autopick or I have also chosen traditional brewers/small "taverns" on occasion. We don't often think about it here, but corn and any food or beverage made from it would probably be almost sacred in Peru as it has been cultivated there for so long and is such a staple.

Not everyone can be farmers or fishermen, in some countries a lot of people earn a living running small shops and stalls, some of which sell manufactured foods and other products. Sure we'd all be healthier eating only fresh foods but people still need to earn enough to live. So although I concentrate on agricultural loans, if a shopkeeper, stallholder, builder, taxi driver, mechanic, etc. needs help then I also choose them at times and so does Kiva autopick. I generally don't support loans that are not income producing as I feel it may have a greater possibility of contributing to a debt cycle.

But everyone is free to choose any loan according to their own preferences, that's the beauty of Kiva. If people need help, we are fortunate to be able to give it and should not become overly concerned with who, what or where.

Quote from: kashi on September 04, 2011, 04:03:43 PM
I wasn't being critical, just thought chicha de jora sounded interesting and was sharing my interest. If you are concerned, she raises chickens too so you can just consider your loan is supporting the chicken component of her income.

I know, I was just surprised to find that it was an alcoholic drink, that will teach me not to read the loan description.  ;D

Honestly though I'm concerned about the welfare of animals oversea, but I guess we can't really help that (and people do have to eat). Although the welfare of animals probably becomes a greater priority once the community/country is out of poverty, so maybe we are helping.  :thumbsup:

I just made my 50th loan.  :crazy
Check out the hat.  :shock
http://www.kiva.org/lend/336807
Thanks to everyone!
:aus1:

 Now that's a real hat! Good going on the 50 loans.:thumbsup:

Thanks for sharing your most excellent adventures too. Your writing is excellent and painted a vivid picture but a video of you all howling would win awards. biggrin

Wow !! must have been a cpl of repayments wwhile I wasn't watching !!! have almost enough for two loans.... think I'll top it up (again ...) and see where I can send it.

I made 3 new loans at KIVA ... did everyone do theirs?  :jester:

Not enough in the account to make a loan, need to wait for a few more re payments.

Had a poke around a couple of days ago, prompted by the 6th birthday email. Didn't expect to have had much repaid yet but there was s a small amount kicking around in the Paypal account from survey sites. Waited for the dollar to get above parity with the American peso and then topped up the kitty.

Hardly finished the conversion and re-allotted funds when an email arrived - I suppose it's a monthly occurrence, tied to the 15th-of-the-month + weekend cycle that seems de force.

I was very surprised to find that my very first loan, made on September 4th, allotted in late July (yeah - backfilling - you're picking up a loan that's actually already been allotted if I read the system correctly) which was supposed to have run for 14 months had already been repaid in full. Very puzzling - not sure whether it was only actually needed for 3 months or whether there was some other problem. Anyhow - hope I was of help, Mr Sam.

So - what's the go with Handles? Just change first name? Not sure I'm quite prepared to be "Mysteron347 Jones..."

I've turned Auto mode on - just in case of an unexpected early-repayment. Don't want the funds to lay there unallotted.

Welcome to the BOINC@AUSTRALIA Kiva team Mysteron347.

I had that with a loan from Cambodia also, it was a $1,200 loan and was repaid in full one month after listing. I thought something was incorrect so I emailed Kiva about it and they replied that everything was fine. It seems to happen more often with loans to Cambodia, don't know why.

I've turned Auto mode on too, with a 3 month delay, if I don't reinvest by then I have either lost my marbles or left this body.;D

QuoteAmerican peso

:rofl:
True.  biggrin

Few days late this month, forgot all about it as I had a guest from overseas.

Have now made 50 loans.:dance:

Team is going great with oodles of new loans, well done everyone.   :congrats    :congrats

I like this game.

I had another look today but I must have picked people that pay back very slow as I still do not have enough for another loan.  Bashhead

Kiva Day. I made two more. Our team has now lent over $7,000 ... way to go team!

:oz:

Thanks for the reminder.:thumbsup: Made 2 loans. Arrgh, Facebook popup attack, the horror, the horror.;D

Haha, great hats again Dataman.:coolgleam:

Women in hats always pay their loans on time.  biggrin

There is even a team for Women in Hats.
http://www.kiva.org/team/women_in_hats

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Good payers indeed. A whole team for Women in Hats, yeeha, looks like those hats are popular with many lenders. :jester:

Autopick chose my first loan and I realised I had been neglecting Africa somewhat, so chose another from an African country. Loans to Africa occasionally repay a bit late and may have higher risk but I have decided to spread my yellow areas around a bit more on the map.;D

I had just enough to make another load so $25 was paid to Tuavao Tagi, Letogo, Samoa Agriculture | Farming.  Now to wait another 6 months to get enough back to re loan out again.

I'm only on $19.48, one of my loans has been delinquent for the last four repayments. Will have to wait and see...  :-\

As I have suggested a cpl times before (maybe I HAVEN'Y here, though I feel certan I would have - DEFINITELY sprouted about it on Facebook).. there are a number of those "Survey" mobs, that are not as pesky as most, in fact, there are a cpl of good ones which pay reasonably well... I have funded at least 4 of my loans through the monies paid to my paypal account by these survey companies.

Anyone interested, PM me and I will send a link to the 2 or 3 "good" companies. I am not sure If i get a kick back from friends joining up, but if I do, it will go straight to Kiva.

Cheers,

veebee

3 for me this month.
I chose growing corn and rice in Ecuador, selling bananas in Rwanda and autopick chose a fellow with one of the biggest tie knots I've ever seen raising sheep in Palestine. ;D

Quote from: kashi on January 16, 2012, 02:21:57 AM
... and autopick chose a fellow with one of the biggest tie knots I've ever seen raising sheep in Palestine. ;D

A quadruple Windsor perhaps ??  :wink


EDIT: spelling..... windsoR

The Mythical Quadruple-Windsor Tie Knot (http://nodnarbonline.blogspot.com/2009/08/mythical-quadruple-windsor-tie-knot.html)
In an amusing tie related anecdote I just remembered...

...when I was 19, I was at university, in Auckland... and I was flatting with my girlfriend. Money was tight, and I saw an advert in the paper that looked good. It was a sales job, no experience necessary, full training provided over 3 days, with lunches and morning and afternoon teas provided blah blah blah.

Well.

It turned out to be Encyclopaedia Britannica..., but, surprisingly, that's not the worst of it. The guy training us was a very short man, of Scottish decent. The first time I saw him I laughed out loud... which was very very embarrassing, but it couldn't be helped. He was wearing a tartan tie - and I don't mean it had tartan patterning, it was made of full blown kilt tartan material, and he had tied what remains to this day the most MASSIVE tie knot I have ever seen. In retrospect it could well have just been a full Windsor made to look gargantuan by the carpet thick material, but I actually thought he had gone for the mythical quadruple Windsor due to his very very small neck and short stature. This tie knot was, I believe around 8 or 9 cm across.

And, that was not even the most amusing part of the whole experience.

This guy was maybe 5'1" at a stretch, 50 odd, with silver hair. A veteran Britannica salesman. With steel capped shoes (seriously - he showed us them) to protect his feet when he literally put his foot in the door to stop it being slammed shut on him. But even that was not the highlight... He also had strongly nicotine stained fore and index fingers on his right hand from chain smoking. And a raspy (I wonder why) thick Scottish accent.

And then he told us about how the first 7 seconds when you meet someone is crucial to forming their impression of you. I immediately thought of how the first thing I saw was his comical tie knot... but anyway. We went on to eulogise about how as a door to door encyclopaedia salesman how you introduced yourself was crucial. With that he leapt up (to his full height), and said:

"I'll demonstrate how I do it.."

He left the room and shut the door behind him, and we all looked at each other in wonderment, amusement and fear as to what was to come next. He then knocked on the door.

Nothing.

He knocked again and we worked out that we were supposed to answer the door.

His foot immediately thrust forward into the door frame and he smiled, exposing his nicotine stained 'pearly whites' and thrust his hand out, shook the guy's hand firmly and said:

"McCook. Hugh McCook!"

and then turned to the room with this "Howzat!?" expression, paused...

...and said:

"Do you see?"

...silence...

"The way I introduced myself... did you notice anything about it?"

I was thinking "Yes, you look like a berk.", but luckily I didn't volunteer that idea.

He said:

"The way I said my surname, then repeated my name first name then surname...?" Does that remind you of anyone?"

...silence...

"Who else introduces themselves like that?"

Someone said "James Bond?"

A look of unbridled pleasure and pride swept across Hugh McCook's face, and he stood up to his full 5'1 1/2"s on elevated heels and tip toes, puffed out his chest and said:

"That's right! And that's what the customer will think too! If you introduce yourself like that they will think they are talking to James Bond!"

I was not the only person who could not contain myself. I literally dissolved in laughter...

Oh dear, oh dear. If I have ever met anyone who reminded me less of James Bond, than Hugh McCook, then I don't remember them.

Quote from: kashi on January 16, 2012, 02:21:57 AM
3 for me this month.
I chose growing corn and rice in Ecuador, selling bananas in Rwanda and autopick chose a fellow with one of the biggest tie knots I've ever seen raising sheep in Palestine. ;D

Ahh - growing corn and rice in Ecuador :wink (http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2011/12/15/all-loans-lead-to-home-when-an-agricultural-loan-is-also-a-housing-or-student-loan/) -

Quote from: veebee on December 25, 2011, 09:34:50 PM
... there are a number of those "Survey" mobs, that are not as pesky as most, in fact, there are a cpl of good ones which pay reasonably well... I have funded at least 4 of my loans through the monies paid to my paypal account by these survey companies.

I've been doing survey for years - it's something to do while waiting for "Job Network" agencies to call  :rofl:

I asked for a payout from GlobalTestMarket - $US60, so I figured I'd still have most of two loans after the bank's bite - if it turned up.

Well, 'tis Kiva day, and appropriately what should turn up but a cheque in the post - on a Brisbane bank for 56.47 bananas :faint: Add that to the Kiva dividend  :wink and I'll see what extra countries I can add to my score... :mwalk:

A great number of countries and current loans you have already.:thumbsup:
I've been trying to add some more yellow patches to my Africa map recently.

I didn't realise that about loans to Ecuador, I had thought it was sometimes the case with agricultural loans in other countries that I have contributed to. No matter, looks like they still benefit from the help. I just noticed that Pablo in Ecuador looks like he has aged at least 10 years in the last 6 months judging by the photo from his previous loan.

I made 3 loans too including a funny hat.  biggrin

I saw that hat, almost chose it myself, what a corker. :thumbsup:

One of my loans has been re-payed and another is going strong at 28%. However my third lone has been delinquent for the last four payments with no more scheduled. Will have to wait and see I guess...   :-\

Hmm. Kiva seems to have some strange definitions - shared by American companies generally, I gather.

For instance, whereas the due date for a payment may be the end of the month, I've found they (Americans) seem to mark the payment 'past due' if the payment hasn't been received by the 15th...?

I have a loan that's marked as having the next two payments 'already received' yet the funds are scheduled to be made available on Feb/Mar 1st. ???  On the other hand, I had one repaid in very short order that was due to run for 14 months. Beats me how that works... different contracts with different field representatives, I suppose.

As for Sean's errant borrower - intriguingly now made 'anonymous' to protect the 'rights' of someone who on the surface isn't treating others with the same respect. To state the obvious, any number of things may have happened - grab the money and run being the worst outcome, hurting others by discouraging the lender. But then we all have unexpected expenses and (one hopes) temporary financial embarrassment from time to time. I can imagine that it would be very frightening for someone not used to dealing with banking. The second of the four missed payments was partially paid so I don't thing all is yet lost.

 :congrats Thanks to Robert's recent loan we have now loaned $7,900 and are just 4 loans short of 300 loans.  :congrats

Hey! Well done team.

My second loan has now gone delinquent, so now I have 2 delinquent loans. Maybe I should pick them more carefully next time...     ::)



edit: The outstanding amount on the second loan has been paid, so now its back to one delinquent loan. Just like old times...  ;D

It's KIVA day ... time to reinvest. I have not not looked at mine yet. Karen has that "it's time for bed" look in her eyes. I'll find a "funny hat"  reinvestment tomorrow.  :rofl: :jester: :rofl:

Night, night me mates.

:aus1:

I had a look at my Kiva account and not enough to make a loan.  I guess I do not pick very well as my payback seems to be really sloooooooow. 

I was able to make 3 more loans including one "funny hat" loan.  :yahoo: I also made a loan to Burkina Faso. I am very ashamed to admit that I never knew Berkina Faso was a country and had to look it up. I took a risk on this one ... obviously these gals didn't hear the photographer say, "smile".  biggrin
http://www.kiva.org/lend/392904

Our little team has now made 306 loans for a total of $8,150.  :dance2:

:aus1:

Just one for me this month.

At least Mamounata is giving a wave. I don't like anyone taking my photo either, with a bellyful of Coopers ale I don't mind though. :crazy

Yes the African loans often have a higher level of risk but I've made a few loans there anyway as the average annual income of many African countries is so low it must be hard to survive.

None for me this month as I'm still waiting for a couple of very slow repayments.  It's time to put a few more bits of junk on eBay so I can divert the payments from Paypal to Kiva without the GLW taking an intermediary cut!   :rofl:

BOINC AT AUSTRALIA
20 members have lent $8,175 in 307 loans

:congrats

Quote from: WikiWill on February 19, 2012, 08:25:40 PM
None for me this month as I'm still waiting for a couple of very slow repayments.  It's time to put a few more bits of junk on eBay so I can divert the payments from Paypal to Kiva without the GLW taking an intermediary cut!   :rofl:

I have some of my Harley Davidson 100Th Anniversary stuff on ebay.com.au.  Sold one piece so far first time for me to sell.  I used that to buy my new modem/router.... :cheer1:

Quote from a good friends Facebook Status...:

"Sold on ebay: Charlie Chuckles badge of the 1970's newspaper comics - cost me 70c in 1971 worth a packet at $740 Sold ! "


Seems even the slightest thing could be worth a fortune in years to come... time to buy lots of crappy little things and stow them away.

(actually, my ex-wife's mum had this toy robot she bought when pregnant, hoping it was a boy.. the chest opens.. he spins around and then these "machine gun" type things fire "lasers..".. saw a ratty one go on "antique roadshow " for 200 GBP.. and this one is in it's original box.. both robot and box are in mint condition !
might have to try to see if I can "select a couple of memories" of the ex-mother-in-law ! )

I have about 20 boxes of 8 inch floppy disks, if you want to try your luck with one of those.  Although, from past experience, they are almost not worth the effort.  Maybe in 30 years' time? :D

I completely forgot about KIVA this month. I was able to make 3 more loans.

Yikes, I forgot too, thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:
2 loans for me this month, should have been 3, but Kimsour hasn't sold his cows yet.

Quote from: kashi on March 17, 2012, 04:12:28 AM
Yikes, I forgot too, thanks for the reminder. :thumbsup:
2 loans for me this month, should have been 3, but Kimsour hasn't sold his cows yet.

biggrin Tell Kimsour I'll take one cow as I have been eating boiled shimp and deep-fried hushpuppies for the last couple of months. I got another funny hat woman holding a baby. :dance:

You must have been ravenous to eat Hushpuppies, I've only ever worn them. Hmm, deep-fried I suppose the laces go crunchy like Mee Krob.:rofl:

Two hats in one, the baby's hat's a beauty too. :thumbsup:

YES!!!!   :dance2:

My long delinquent loan has been completely repaid, I had given up on it. Nearly enough to make two loans now.

Quote from: kashi on March 17, 2012, 10:53:01 AM
You must have been ravenous to eat Hushpuppies, I've only ever worn them. Hmm, deep-fried I suppose the laces go crunchy like Mee Krob.:rofl:

Two hats in one, the baby's hat's a beauty too. :thumbsup:

You can use the laces as dental floss.  :jester:

Quote from: Sean on March 17, 2012, 11:53:45 AM
YES!!!!   :dance2:

My long delinquent loan has been completely repaid, I had given up on it. Nearly enough to make two loans now.

Oh, brilliant! Better late than never. Much easier to make the next loan when there's no potential default around.

I finally had enough paid back to re-loan out again.  I loaned $25 to a group of teachers in Sierra Leone which is my 10th loan.

I got an early repayment today and made a loan. I could not find any funny hat women. Three more days to KIVA day. We are over $9,000 now.  :dance:

:aus1:

I'm partial to a good hat myself now and again.;D Not only do they look stylish but the wearers are usually very reliable with repayments.:thumbsup:

Saidu will appreciate the loan anyway. She grows quinoa, anyone tried it? Quinoa, buckwheat and oats are grains that are supposed to be a healthier choice because they can increase glucose tolerance. It would want to be to good because it's $7.80 for 500g in Coles. I suppose the Peruvians would be surprised at the quinoa price in Australia. I've never tried ceviche either, although I ate oodles of raw fish when I was eating only raw food for a few years.

Kiva day and I made two more loans. Well done Kashi with a new cool hat.

http://www.kiva.org/lend/411892

Makes me dizzy. Vertigo.  :jester:

Soon we will pass $10,000. Good job by 20 crunchers.  :worship

:aus1:

We just hit 350 loans.  BWD B@A lenders.
Just made another loan to Cambodia, hopefully to help a young family improve their lot.
:aus1: :US

Combined a dizzy making hat with another African country.;D
Plus a rice grower from the Philippines.

Just helped out some Vegetable sellers in Pakistan... lovely looking bunch of ladies too!

Haha, they do look a bit fierce don't they.;D

Kiva day today. Had enough for three new loans. The team is now at $10,200.  v:

EDIT: I made my 75th loan.  :cheers:

Just one for me today, half my repayments for this month aren't there yet. Should have enough for another in a few days.

Congrats on your 75 loans Dataman, :thumbsup: lot of hats in that lot.;D

Here's an interesting KIVA loan that's causing a bit of a stir (http://www.kiva.org/lend/426323)

Like - it's huge. Here's the connexion to Australia... (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2947240.htm)

Quote from: Mysteron347 on May 17, 2012, 12:00:35 AM
Here's an interesting KIVA loan that's causing a bit of a stir (http://www.kiva.org/lend/426323)

Like - it's huge. Here's the connexion to Australia... (http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/txt/s2947240.htm)

Outstanding! Wish I saw that before I ran out of money.

Kinda hadta support this one (http://www.kiva.org/lend/433694)

But I think I'll pass googling the product... :blush1:

KIVA day tomorrow. Keep those loans flowing. I'll be looking for the funny hat women.  :bloodshot

:aus1: :US

Hello all.  :wave:   I just joined up to Kiva yesterday & did my 1st small loan to a Chillian group.  I hadn't found the :oz: group yet but my next loan will be connected to the team.

Very groovy system this Kiva I think. :) 

I had almost enough for another loan so added a few $ and made a loan to Teresa in Peru (http://www.kiva.org/lend/437477)

Very groovy indeed. Plus one karma for your first post. :thumbsup:  :welbor:

I've only had 2 repayments so far today, so not enough for another loan yet. Due for 16 repayments this month so there should be more available to loan again in the next few days.

Nice one Dingo, first hat of the month. biggrin

Drat, I only received $10 in repayment and not enough for a loan. Maybe I am just early and money will start pouring in later today. Welcome Rob!
:welcome1:

Beauty, I received a few more repayments. Enough for a loan in Senegal to buy dried fish and oil. Not quite South American hats but colourful headdress and clothes. :jester:

Should have enough for another loan in a few days, will use Kiva autopick button and it will choose one for me.

The money came in in the afternoon and I did two funny hats and a woman with cleavage.  :rofl:
We now have 23 members  :cheer1:
447 loans  :worship
$11,775 dollars  :faint:
Outstand effort mates.
:aus1: :US

I had a late payment come in and made a farming loan. He's got a cool hat.
http://www.kiva.org/lend/435852
We are now ar 12,350.  :dance:
:aus1:

KIVA Day! Only 2 loans for me. We are at $13,000.
:aus1: :US

Yes.. a nice Kiva day... almost eough for two loans... may well add the balance fo rthe second one...

dont forget to invite as mant friends as you can with the free $25 loans.. they're still available.

KIVA Day  :crazy
Darn ... I was $2 short of making 4 loans. Maybe some more will trickle in. We are getting very close to $15K in loans made.  :rocks
Good job mates.
:aus1: :cheers: :US

Had some mony repaid and maid another loan.  The Team now has loaned $14,300.   Great job Team  :congrats :congrats

A big welcome to JugNut to Kiva and the Team.   :wave: :wave:

I was able to make another loan in Kiva today as JugNut used my link to get a free $25 loan and I got one as well.  Good deal at the moment.

The team stats are looking good as well.  Good going Team  :congrats :congrats


                  
Number of Team Members      25
Number of Loans                     554
Number of Loans per Member   22.2
Total Amount Loaned           $14,525

Able to make 2 new loads today.

KIVA Day! I could only do two this month but found some funny hat women.  :jester:
:AUS: :USA1

Not enough for me to make another loan.  maybe next time but I see that a couple of other members have.  Lots of hats in that loan Dataman    :jester:

Yep, a classy assortment of hats there Dataman. :thumbsup:

2 for me this month. Hadn't chosen a hat for a while but couldn't resist Juliana's corker almost as high as Paul Bocuse's.  :crazy

KIVA Day! I was able to make 3 new loans.
:AUS: :USA1

Yay! Kiva day. 3 loans for me as well. I just noticed all 3 have something to do with meat. Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't go loan shopping when I'm hungry. ;D

Go, go Kiva. :thumbsup:

Sorry, none from me as the lendees have more money than me (this month).  Besides I couldn't find anyone who wants to buy "baby cows"

I did notice the Aussie Government has a request for a loan to consolidate our national debt.

They'll need to speak to Gina Rinehart about that. I wonder if Julia can bring herself to be civil in a face-to-face?!  :rofl: :rofl:

Quote from: LawryB on October 16, 2012, 11:57:50 AM
I did notice the Aussie Government has a request for a loan to consolidate our national debt.

We here in the US were hoping you blokes would co-sign our National Debt.  :jester:
:AUS: :USA1

I mucked around with making some graphs at http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia/graphs (http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia/graphs) and came up with this one...

(http://www.postimg.com/88000/boinc_graph-87247.jpg)

I wonder why Peru is so prominent in loans for Boinc Australia?  Not having a go at anyone - just curious. :-)

The hats, always the hats they wear.   Strange but true.

Quote from: LawryB on October 17, 2012, 01:14:14 PM

The hats, always the hats they wear.   Strange but true.

So their hats draw people in??  Hmmm... interesting. LOL

Although I'm keen on those hats too, it's not only the hats that influence my choice of a loan from Peru. I often choose at least one loan per month with a shorter repayment term. These have often been from Peru, in particular from Asociación Arariwa field partner. I also use Autopick for others and these are often for longer terms. So it kind of balances out the terms of the loans I make.

They also have short loans (6-8 months) and an excellent payyback history. You can't go wrong with a South American woman with a funny hat.  biggrin

I had enough to make another loan today in Kiva  :dance2:

'tis that time again... :wink

Great concept. Must have been lost in space for a while, never heard of it before. Thanks, I'll follow it up. ;D

Something I came across a few months ago which doesn't seem to have gone viral, though you lot may very well have seen it. I not, please enjoy: http://htwins.net/scale2/index.html (http://htwins.net/scale2/index.html)
If its old-hat then... oh well. Thanks anyway.

Good one WTD, never seen that one before.   :thumbsup: +1 karma for an informative post.

You may find this section of the board of interest also if you haven't seen it already?  http://forum.boinc-australia.net/index.php?board=135.0 (http://forum.boinc-australia.net/index.php?board=135.0)

Quote from: JugNut on November 16, 2012, 05:42:49 PM
Good one WTD, never seen that one before.   :thumbsup: +1 karma for an informative post.

You may find this section of the board of interest also if you haven't seen it already?  http://forum.boinc-australia.net/index.php?board=135.0 (http://forum.boinc-australia.net/index.php?board=135.0)

Thanks much for reminding us Wally. I totally forgot. +1
I was a bit distracted. During my 2nd eye surgery my blood pressure blew up the machine.  :jester: Do you think 223 over 109 is a bit high with a pluse of 110?  :boom: They even brough in the crash cart ... but it was not needed as they pumped in some "stuff" that brought it down. No worries though, the surgery went fine and I now have 20/20 vision in both eyes and only need reading glasses. My Dr. doubled my BP med's and yesterday I got the "pleasure" of having blood work done. Hell they took enough blood that it would have lowered my BP by itself..  :rofl: Just sorry that it scared Karen so much.
I'll go out to KIVA and look for some funny hat women.
:bloodshot

I only made two loans but one was for $50. GREAT HATS!  :rofl:

http://www.kiva.org/lend/490821
:AUS: :USA1 :uk

Glad that helped, Dataman, and good to see the person inside that body of yours is still firing on all... processors. :congrats

Quote from: Dataman on November 17, 2012, 04:35:11 AM
I only made two loans but one was for $50. GREAT HATS!  :rofl:

http://www.kiva.org/lend/490821

Gotta love those hats!! :-)  Good to hear you're okay after your operation as well.  I also have some spare moola in my Kiva account so I'll be making another loan soon as well. Just want to reach $50 so that I can make two loans.

Speaking of which, does anyone donate extra to help Kiva? (ie $1.25 or more) or do you just leave it at zero?

I give them some $'s about every 5 loans,

I donate to Kiva but usually the lowest amount, I don't have much money so anything is a lot for me  It is not very much and they do need the money I guess to do what they do.

Quote from: Dataman on November 17, 2012, 11:41:17 AM
I give them some $'s about every 5 loans,

I guess I'm the same.  I donate about $2.50-$5 every few loans.

I had enough repaid to make another loan and a small contribution to Kiva.  There are a few new loans by the Team members  :congrats :congrats  :rocks

KIVA Day! Our 26 members have now made 683 loans for $17,800. Always room for new members.  :wavey2:

:rocks

New loan today.  Nice hats on some of  the Concentidas Group.  http://www.kiva.org/lend/502358 (http://www.kiva.org/lend/502358)

KIVA Day. Only two loans this time for me. Maybe some more funds will trickle in.
Have a good day everyone!
:oz:

I had enough paid back to make one loan this month.  The Team is going well and getting closer to $20,000 loaned.   http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/boinc_at_australia/by/giles2664 (http://www.kiva.org/invitedto/boinc_at_australia/by/giles2664)

I just now joined KIVA and made my 1st loan for $25. I joined the team as well but I joined after I done the loan so I'm not sure if it counted towards the team total.

Quote from: Screaming Eagle on January 18, 2013, 07:13:43 PM
I just now joined KIVA and made my 1st loan for $25. I joined the team as well but I joined after I done the loan so I'm not sure if it counted towards the team total.

Well done! If you joined after making the loan, you're probably right and it didn't count for the team though. I suppose you could try another loan - just to see whether it works, of course  >:D

Your name doesn't apparently appear on the Team members list (http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia/members) so I suppose you're the "Anonymous" entry. If you want to assign a handle and possibly an icon, you need to sign on to Kiva and go to your lender page (https://www.kiva.org/community/lender/edit-profile).

Here's some wedgies (http://beta.photobucket.com/images/Wedge+Tailed+Eagle/) I found....

Well done Screaming Eagle and welcome.  Karma for caring.

@Mysteron347.  Oh that kind of wedgie.   Used to be thousands of those magnificent birds when I was a kid, sadly not anymore.

Quote from: LawryB on January 23, 2013, 09:03:05 AM
Well done Screaming Eagle and welcome.  Karma for caring.

Thank You

Quote from: Mysteron347 on January 23, 2013, 03:24:48 AM

Quote from: Screaming Eagle on January 18, 2013, 07:13:43 PM
I just now joined KIVA and made my 1st loan for $25. I joined the team as well but I joined after I done the loan so I'm not sure if it counted towards the team total.

Well done! If you joined after making the loan, you're probably right and it didn't count for the team though. I suppose you could try another loan - just to see whether it works, of course  >:D

Your name doesn't apparently appear on the Team members list (http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia/members) so I suppose you're the "Anonymous" entry. If you want to assign a handle and possibly an icon, you need to sign on to Kiva and go to your lender page (https://www.kiva.org/community/lender/edit-profile).

Here's some wedgies (http://beta.photobucket.com/images/Wedge+Tailed+Eagle/) I found....

Thank You
I updated my profile so I am not the anonymous entry any more. I also used one of the pictures you linked for me. +1

KIVA Day! I made three new loans.  :yahoo:
We are now 28 members, 771 loans for $20,025.
v:

Well done folks, making a difference where it counts.   :congrats :congrats :congrats :congrats

Sweet,  20k in loans,  great news.  :thumbsup:

One for me this month. Plenty of different rices, Ngoc Nu, No Mem, Thai Deo, 64 Thom.

Nice big hats again Jave and Dataman.:thumbsup:

Haha, "Blessed are the cheesemakers".biggrin

Edit: Just got a later repayment which gave me enough for another. Autopick chose Pela in Samoa. Never made a loan to Samoa before.:thumbsup:

It's a pity you can't search for Kiva loans by hat size.  biggrin

KIVA Day! Only one for me.  :cry2:

Edit: Enough for two more came in.  :dance:

One for me too, mmm mangoes. :thumbsup:

I had enough for one loan as well.  :yahoo: The Team stats are quite impressive for loans.  http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia (http://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia)


28
TEAM MEMBERS

$20,950
AMOUNT LOANED

807
LOANS

28.8
LOANS PER MEMBER

Familiar kind of story...looks like some people could do with a hand... (http://blog.kiva.org/2013/03/22/burundi-disaster-recovery-lending-to-people-who-have-lost-everything)

Burundi is one of the five poorest countries in the world, one to Kaze Group for me.

Great idea guy's, I just loaned there as well.

:rocks

Quote from: kashi on March 24, 2013, 03:30:40 PM
Burundi is one of the five poorest countries in the world, one to Kaze Group for me.

Thanks! I will take a look (the next time I  have funds  biggrin).
:cheers:

Just found out I have another $50 back in my account..will head online and have a look..

in the email they sent TELLING me I was up to $50, I saw somethiong about.." send a student to school, promote clean energy, or support borrowers living in conflict zones and more than 60 countries around the world"....

I wonder if the "loans" are repayed with the "sending kids to school" side of it.. I feel that getting an education for some of these poor kids would be very worthwhile...

Quote from: veebee on March 28, 2013, 09:41:40 PM
I wonder if the "loans" are repayed with the "sending kids to school" side of it.. I feel that getting an education for some of these poor kids would be very worthwhile...

Likely having someone in the family who can read could be of advantage to illiterate parents - better job opportunities later when the parents need financial support themselves. Long-term investment though - but the school has to pay the teachers' salaries NOW.

Not sure such a scheme would work in this county though. Much easier for the politicians to change the law to suit the stupid and the idle, isn't it?

KIVA Day!
Alas, no repayments yet and no new loans for me.
:greet

Quote from: Dataman on April 17, 2013, 01:23:31 AM
KIVA Day!
Alas, no repayments yet and no new loans for me.
:greet

:panic:

I'd look to your Estimated Repayments page.

Estimated Repayments due by May 1, 2013
(Typically repaid by the "Settlement Date," which is the 17th of the month prior to the "Due Date")

...been in the wind for a couple of months, I read on Kivafriends..... (http://www.kivafriends.org/)

1 loan for me today.  Only 1 decent hat though. http://www.kiva.org/lend/544910 (http://www.kiva.org/lend/544910)

Thanks for the info Mysteron347.:thumbsup:

Settlement date change, April 2013 (http://na3.salesforce.com/_ui/selfservice/pkb/PublicKnowledgeSolution/d?orgId=00D500000006svl&lang=1&id=50150000000SpxO&retURL=/sol/public/solutionbrowser.jsp%3Fsearch%3Dsettlement%26cid%3D02n50000000DUOS%26orgId%3D00D500000006svl%26lang%3D1%26t%3D4&ps=1)

Thanks for the information Mysteron347. +1
Had to laugh ... three paragraphs to say they changed the payout two days. Still no money but it is still the 16th here.
Happy lending mates.
:cheers:

I'll call your hat, Kashi and raise you one hat.  :rofl:
http://www.kiva.org/lend/543993

Those Bolivin Hats really are special arent they...

got myself enough for another loan, time for a hat-hunt..!

Not enough for a loan I will check again next month.  :blush1:

Haha another great one Dataman, 1 loan but no hat for me this time, it was LawryB.:thumbsup:

Had enough in the bank for a $25 loan. Team is doing well with over $22,000 loaned so far.  :thumbsup:

W00T! I had enough for 6 loans. This month's theme for me is bright colors in clothing. These people are stylin'.  biggrin
:oz:

I had enough for one loan as well, the Team is going very well.   :rocks

2 for me this time. I chose Burundi, autopick chose Vietnam.

KIVA Day! Three for me.
:greet

I can't believe I missed this thread before. This is a great concept, although I don't know much about microfinance.

I just signed up under the team referral link and lent the outstanding for one borrower (http://www.kiva.org/lend/570806) that I saw Dataman had contributed ;D. I feel good about lending money to help someone that I probably would have spent on unnecessary computer gear.

This super computer (http://www.flynntechnology.com/wp-content/uploads/titan.jpg) I have on order for my room is just going to have to wait a little longer biggrin.

:rocks

1 for me this month. Should have enough for another later in the month if a few outstanding repayments arrive.

Good kiva-ing Daniel.:thumbsup:

Myself I don't really need a Titan, a modest Tianhe-2 (http://geekslop.com/main/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/image_thumb18.png) should warm the house nicely. ;D

Also 1 more for me this month.  Another to Bolivia and those hats.

I had enough for 1 loan as well.  The Team is going well and has the following:

Impact   Updated Daily

29
TEAM MEMBERS

$23,800
AMOUNT LOANED

919
LOANS

31.7
LOANS PER MEMBER

Well done Team, it is good to make a small difference in someones life.

Yeah, another loan for me too... might be time to do another few hundred surveys to generate some more loan money..would like to have them turning over a little faster  I think...!

KIVA day! Two new loans for me.  :wave:

I only had enough for one loan but better than no loan.  :AUS: :USA1

1 for me this month too. Haven't chosen any decent hats for a while so it was time. ;D

I had one more loan this month for me

KIVA Day. Four new ones for me. I swear every time I log on to KIVA they have changed something to confuse me.  :hbang:

:oz:

2 for me this time.:thumbsup:

Watch out for that smoke in your eyes. :bloodshot

1 for me this month.   More hats from Bolivia

Not enough for a loan this month

Only enough for 1 loan this month.

Also, the B@A team has hit the $25k mark in loans for Kiva. That's pretty good for only 29 members!!  ;D  (Average of $862 per person.)

KIVA Day! Only one loan for me.
:oz:

I'm skint this month so no new loans.  :angry:

Yo, Kiva time! 2 for me this month.

I joined!
Made the free trial loan, plus one more of my own.
(Apparently I've put the team total up to 999 - someone should take #1000 for us!)

Not enough in the kitty for a loan and not any extra cash in the pocket so have to wait till next month. :wave:

Quote from: Telnaior on September 19, 2013, 03:23:10 AM
I joined!
Made the free trial loan, plus one more of my own.
(Apparently I've put the team total up to 999 - someone should take #1000 for us!)

Welcome aboard!

But despite ten more loans since yours, the team total seems stuck at 999...
:rocks

Sent you a welcome message a few days ago via Kiva message system but welcome here too, Telnaior.  :wavey2:

Yes appears stuck at 999 loans on the About main team page. Although the Team Loans page says 996 loans and the Impact page says 1,009 total loans. ???

Hey Telnaior, great to have you onboard  :welcome1:

Made another loan today, the Team has made a difference to a lot of people and you all should be congratulated.   :congrats :congrats
If you haven't joined the Team on Kiva have a look here  http://www.kiva.org/ (http://www.kiva.org/)

One new loan to Peru today.

Just 1 to Kenya for me this time.

:oz:

I'm a little late this month.

Autopick chose 1 from Mexico and 1 from Benin for me.

Good month for me. Four loans but no funny hats. Our team is awesome!
:oz:

One more off to the Philippines today.

1 loan for me so far this month. Greenhouses in Ukraine. biggrin

None for me this month  :faint:

None for me either this month  :shock

I managed to have enough to make another 2 loans for this month.

None for me either..  I'm skint this month.   Mmmm come to think of it i'm always skint.  But I have become quite adept at robbing peter to pay paul.(so to speak)  Mmm maybe i'll just rob Paul & skip the middle man this time. :wink

Four more loans this month; each with a cool hat.  biggrin

Well, I sorta hadta. (http://www.kiva.org/lend/526284?_te=j&utm_content=526284&utm_campaign=journal_entry&utm_source=system&utm_medium=email) Couldn't pass that one up.

Repaid on time - but maybe that's why the piccy's rotated on the update tab and the site reference is mis-spelled (and reported as such...)

1 for me this month.

Bit late again, repayments a little later than usual.

The one thing I get better at as I get old is the ability to forget.  biggrin Better late than never. Five loans this month.  :yahoo:
:cheers:

Another 1 hat inspired Bolivian loan this month

1 this month to help buy a horse.

I'm a  bit like dataman's last post, but for me if forgetting was an olympic sport i'd win gold every time. *LOL*
So just one loan for for me this month, nothing as grand as a horse like kashi's loan,  just some poop in a cart. (Loan for fertilizer & wheel borrow) :wink

Another 1 hat inspired Bolivian loan this month  (dejavu methinks)

So sad to report this.

I reported this loan :Eric in Uganda (http://www.kiva.org/lend/662714) to Kiva via contactus. The issue here is that the proposed activity is not only illegal in Uganda (regulations here (http://www.acode-u.org/documents/oildocs/waste_management_regulations.pdf)) but it's also a health hazard to not only the borrower but his entire community.

Regrettably, Kiva invoked their "cultural neutrality" mantra and refused to reject the loan.

I have no alternative as I see it than to cease my support of Kiva. Of course, unfortunately it's the other borrowers that I could have supported that bear the cost.

The idea of dumping asbestos on rented land did my head in.

I made another loan today to ladies with wrapped and hats, to buy cows. 

Quote from: Mysteron347 on February 25, 2014, 05:28:07 AM
So sad to report this.

I reported this loan :Eric in Uganda (http://www.kiva.org/lend/662714) to Kiva via contactus. The issue here is that the proposed activity is not only illegal in Uganda (regulations here (http://www.acode-u.org/documents/oildocs/waste_management_regulations.pdf)) but it's also a health hazard to not only the borrower but his entire community.

Regrettably, Kiva invoked their "cultural neutrality" mantra and refused to reject the loan.

I have no alternative as I see it than to cease my support of Kiva. Of course, unfortunately it's the other borrowers that I could have supported that bear the cost.

Yeah that's pretty shocking... also I wonder how much of that Asbestos originated in Uganda? Or if it has been shipped there?  :hbang:


edit: I made a post on their facebook page, hopefully now the right people take notice?

You have probably got this email as well but for those that haven't I received and email saying that for today only some loans will be matched by an anonymous donor so a $25 loan will become a $50 loan.

The email says today only. I'm not sure what time zone they mean but I received the email at 8:14pm on the 12/03/2014.

1 loan this month to help buy a car. Hey, everyone needs transport...  ;D

Just climbed aboard the KIVA bandwagon this week. Can't let you guys have all the fun. Moneys been abit tight but its alot tighter for those in need of these loans so I'll do what I can. Great job so far team.  :AUS:

Oh shucks, the secrets out.   Welcome here (too) turbo0.

2 new loans for me this month.  Bolivia again

Unfortunately I only have $8 credit at the moment so no loans this month.   But the Team (BOINC AT AUSTRALIA)is going really well.

Impact   Updated Hourly

32
TEAM MEMBERS

$32,125
AMOUNT LOANED

1,245
LOANS

38.9
LOANS PER MEMBER

Just one this month - watermelons. biggrin

Geez, I forgot again.  :shock The only thing I am getting better at in my old age is forgetting stuff. I'll go over to KIVA this afternoon and see how much I have to lend.
:cheers:

One this month. Fish in Vietnam. ;D

Three this month including hats. Some day I am going to research the history of those Bolivian hats!  :rofl:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_people (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_people)

Quote from: LawryB on June 21, 2014, 10:36:50 AM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_people (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aymara_people)

Way cool ... thanks much LawryB. I did not know what to search on. That was interesting!
" Both Quechua and Aymara women in Peru and Bolivia took up the style of wearing bowler hats since the 1920s. According to legend, a shipment of bowler hats was sent from Europe to Bolivia via Peru for use by Europeans working on railroad construction. When the hats were found to be too small, they were given to the indigenous peoples."
Who would have guessed that?
-Steve-

Aha, so that's where those hats came from. Amazing. Thanks Lawry.:thumbsup:

I was intending to look it up after Dataman mentioned it but got sidetracked looking at an Onda 975i tablet and downloading Niresh Mavericks. Now got Mavericks crunching POGS nicely without ReportCrash hogging some CPU like it did on Mountain Lion. ;D

3 Loans this month for me. Had bonus credit and  some repayments. 2 Farmer after more supplies and a guy in Tanzania expanding his food business.  :AUS:   

Three loans this month.  B@A has now loaned almost $34K USD.
:cheers:

1 for me this month. Dried sardines. ;D

1 for me as well  :cheer1:

Five loans this month for me including some funny hats!
v:

Three for me this month.

And two for me.

Only two this month ... both with funny hats.  biggrin

Nearly $38,000 loaned.  Well done team.   :rocks

A lot came due this month and I made 9 new loans.
\ :wave:

I made a loan on KIVA tonight....    We have had a Team called BOINC AT AUSTRALIA (https://www.kiva.org/team/boinc_at_australia) in Kiva since 18 Aug 2010. There are 33 members and we have made 1721 loans. I have to admit that I have not been active in Kiva for a long time and even though I am monetarily deficient there is always someone worse off than me.  :rocks

Good on you Dingo, thanks for the Kiva reminder. :thumbsup:

I'd put off choosing a loan last month and then forgotten about it. Added a little extra and made 2 loans.

Any of you using these guy's?  http://www.kivalens.org/#/search (http://www.kivalens.org/#/search)  If your looking for a bit more flexability in picking your loans these guy's might be the ticket.  Worked well for me at least.

Yep, I had forgotten about mine too. Will check this afternoon. Thanks Dingo.

Hi all,

I was just wondering if any of you guys are still active on Kiva?
As I have a friend who may become a borrower in the near future and it would mean a lot to me if you would be able to help her out?

I have been having a lot of trouble with my machine, I recently updated my windows and now BOINC does not recognise my 750TI and gives an error of "(GPU missing). Not sure how to solve this but once I do I'll be back crunching again.

Thanks a lot, I'll be joining the Kiva team shortly

Quote from: zsalter on July 27, 2017, 12:17:11 PM
I was just wondering if any of you guys are still active on Kiva?

Yeah, I still lend money now and then through Kiva.  Nothing astronomical, just $25 every two-three months.

Greetings zsalter

Which Windows are you running, if its WIN 10, try reinstalling the NVIDIA drivers by using the installer from the NVIDIA website.  Been a few cases where peoples computers have been automatically updated and the gpu drivers have been updated with a MS version.

I just wish MS would mind their own business with regards to GPU drivers.

Cheers

Thanks for the reminder guys. Just made two "funny hat" loans and one to a farmer.
:greet

Thanks Tazzduke,

I just recently looked at my Nvidia control panel and found an update for my driver. It replaced the Win10 driver which you thought was the problem with the updated "game ready driver" from Nvidia. Now I can get crunching again with at least... some speed.
I'm going to look more into Kiva this week to hopefully get some loans out.
Keep Crunching :D
Looking forward to the next AA

Thanks again,
Zach

I received an email this morning with the subject

Hurry UP! For A Limited Time Buy 25$ Kiva Card for only 5$

It seems to be a scam to me!

:panic:

Greetings zsalter.

No worries.

Regards

Well - I'm about tapped-out this month but a couple of late repayments came in and I'm close to affording just one more loan.

If anyone's looking, this one https://www.kiva.org/lend/1344500 (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1344500) seems to be unaccountably in trouble. Maybe I'm worrying over nothing - progressing very slowly but only 40 hours to go, and it seems to have everything going for it. Pro Mujer, 6th loan cycle, funny hats - everything you'd need. So if anyone's looking for something to spend their tax return on...

:smilefriday :fingers

 :mee-too Thanks for reminding me Mysteron I had just enough come back for one more loan and that hat was screaming for one.
LOL they really get some corkers don't they?
All hat jokes aside there's something about that part of the world I find fascinating,  not sure why? Add Pro Mujer to the mix and it's a no brainer for a loan  :thumbsup:  Sure hope it gets fully funded.

:oz:

Yep, I'm in. Added some funds. Been a while since I supported a great hat. Plus I remembered that "Blessed are the cheesemakers". :jester:

Fully funded with time to spare.

Good work, guys!  :bravo

After some money again...

https://www.kiva.org/lend/1381273 (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1381273) - Pro Mujer, TENTH cycle, no hats and only 18% raised with 24 hrs to go... :faint:

It's the absence of hats, isn't it?

I don't mind no hats, I'm in.  :wavey2:

Thanks, was a good reminder as I had enough for 3 loans this month and had forgotten to check balance on the 18th.  :thumbsup:

Yep I put in what little I had as well,  but it's still a long way from being fully funded.  :fingers

Sadly, failed by a measly $950.

I thought it might have a chance when someone put in $4K with about 10 minutes to go.

Ah, well - just have to find some other loans, then.

Thanks for the support.

Just got a phishing email pretending to be from Kiva turn up in my spam folder. Here's what it said:

   Loans that change lives


Dear Kiva member.

We regret to inform you that we're initiating the closure of your Kiva account because of certain activity that took place relating to your account. This measure is necessary to protect us from potential financial losses.
Your right to appeal:
We always perform a thorough investigation before deciding to initiate the closure of an account. However, we appreciate that from time to time misunderstandings can happen. If you wish, you can appeal our decision. Just update your account know. You can do so by clicking here.

Food for thought...
"Knowing that someone out there wishes the best for you is enough to give you drive to achieve your dream." - Sammy, a Kiva borrower in Kenya         Visit your portfolio
Contact us
Adjust your email preferences    
   
Kiva is a U.S. 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located at
875 Howard St. Suite #340, San Francisco, CA 94103
© 2005 - 2017 Kiva. All rights reserved.    Follow Us

You hopefully all know not to click on phishing emails like this, but just thought I'd mention it because I've never seen a Kiva phishing attempt before. Looked reasonably fair dinkum until I got to the misspelling of now as know. Apparently if you clicked the link you would end up on the original of this page posted to PhishTank: https://www.phishtank.com/phish_detail.php?phish_id=5371058

As usual I had forgotten about this for months. Logged in and found all my loans had been paid back. Loaned it all out again to Brazil. I did notice there were much fewer loans available and even fewer with short payback times. No funny hats this time.  :rofl:

https://www.kiva.org/lend/1594173

:rocks

Yea same here DM.  I usually get a reminder when I find my email mailbox full to overflowing. Then during the proceeding junkmail purge I inevitably find an email or two from kiva.  After doing my best homer impression I then check the loan situation.

PS: If your looking for short term loans you can use this site.. http://www.kivalens.org (http://www.kivalens.org). I mentioned this some time ago but i'm not sure if anyone ever seen it.

There you can then do custom kiva search's by the length of loan pay back time or add  other custom search parameters like the type of sector or activity you'd like to loan too plus many others, then with just a few clicks  get the loan that's right for you.  After you finish making your selection your then transferred back to kiva for check out. It works great. 

I'm not sure but I think it's run by kiva too?  Either way it's all done with kiva's permission.  If you click the sites "about" link it's has all the their info and features. 

That said it still doesn't help me remember any better but hey you can't have everything right? LOL

Yes it has been a while for me as well.  I had all loans paid back except for one that defaulted.  I loaned out my limit again and will probably forget untill someone puts a post here in the future.

Yes, me too, err three, four. Just about everything's been slip slidin' away here for the last month. 2 loans from me, better late than never.

My mum fell over and broke her hip and arm and has been in hospital for the last 4 weeks. So no time or mental vigour left to configure Wow! Event  or FormulaBOINC Sprints. Just left everything connected to DHEP the whole time, seeing as we are currently Numero Uno in that project. Missed 4-5 days work when the DHEP server went AWOL a few times and have now switched to half NFS and half Rakesearch now it has been down completely for a few days.

Great work team on WOW! and excellent effort on the MilkyWay Sprint.
Very well done. On the podium in 3rd, who'd have thunk it? Brilliant! v:


Hope to be back on board for the next Sprint, event or any project anyone nominates that would benefit from some extra help.

Quote from: kashi on September 03, 2018, 05:41:49 PM
Yes, me too, err three, four. Just about everything's been slip slidin' away here for the last month. 2 loans from me, better late than never.

My mum fell over and broke her hip and arm and has been in hospital for the last 4 weeks. So no time or mental vigour left to configure Wow! Event  or FormulaBOINC Sprints. Just left everything connected to DHEP the whole time, seeing as we are currently Numero Uno in that project. Missed 4-5 days work when the DHEP server went AWOL a few times and have now switched to half NFS and half Rakesearch now it has been down completely for a few days.

Great work team on WOW! and excellent effort on the MilkyWay Sprint.
Very well done. On the podium in 3rd, who'd have thunk it? Brilliant! v:


Hope to be back on board for the next Sprint, event or any project anyone nominates that would benefit from some extra help.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your Mom, kashi.

Quote from: kashi on September 03, 2018, 05:41:49 PM

My mum fell over and broke her hip and arm and has been in hospital for the last 4 weeks. So no time or mental vigour left to configure Wow! Event  or FormulaBOINC Sprints. Just left everything connected to DHEP the whole time, seeing as we are currently Numero Uno in that project. Missed 4-5 days work when the DHEP server went AWOL a few times and have now switched to half NFS and half Rakesearch now it has been down completely for a few days.

Hope you Mum recovers as a broken hip is not a fun thing to have.  Please send my best wishes.

Thanks for the best wishes.

She had extra trouble because of the large daily dose of oxycodone pills and the buprenorphine patch she was already on. Emergency doctor was surprised at her high tolerance and said he ended up giving her her 3 times the morphine dose that he or I could withstand. So although 91 and frail, her appetite for Endone remains hearty.

The nurses put her in a chair a week ago and asked her what she wanted to do. Her reply of "Go fishing" had them laughing. Should be going to a different rehabilitation hospital soon.

Think I could do with some opium myself lately, my short term memory is shot. Go to the frig and forget what I wanted after I open the door. My brother's the same though, so it's not just me.

On a positive note all the walking I've been doing around the hospital and Gosford every day has resulted in another 2kg drop in weight. So that's 18kg down since last year. Another 20kg and I'll be as svelte as Daenerys Targaryen. :)

I'm really sorry to hear about your mum kashi. I can really relate to your situation. We had a similar experience with my dad before he passed so I know how you must be feeling. My dad broke one hip and then 2 years later broke the other. Then after coming out of rehab for the second time and getting him well and on his feet again he fell again a few months later and re-broke one of his hips.  They were hard years but i'd give anything to have him back.

Please look after yourself kashi and enjoy the good times with you mum to the fullest. When you can pop in to see the team because as far as i'm concerned your the heart & sole of this team & I miss not having you around to help figure things out. As i've mentioned before i'm sure I wouldn't be crunching today without your advice and patience. So don't be a stranger..

So good luck and all the best to you & your mum. PM me if need anything or would just like to chat.

Cheers Greg

Thanks for your kind words JugNut. That must have been a very stressful time with your father.

I passed on all the best wishes. My mum has been transferred to a much less hectic and better staffed smaller hospital at Woy Woy. She's even begun to eat a bit more. So next will be rehabilitation, hopefully in a few more weeks.

Once again I forgot about KIVA and was able to make 9 new loans. Our team is doing quite well with loans. No funny hats though.  :wink
Had to laugh at at one in Bolivia. A guy wanted $6k to buy beer wholesale. Sounds like a good idea.  :rofl:
:cheers:

I have forgotten as well had enough for two loans and a small contribution.

It's that day again!
:rocks

GOT HIM! :BigGrin

This turkey : Jouko (https://www.kiva.org/lender/jouko1940?pageID=1)

Page after page after page of expired loans. Waits until the very last second and then offers a nominal $25 to add to his trophy-list, but only ever for loans with a substantial amount left to go - never if it's down to the last $50 or so. Not in the spirit.

I lay in wait - still had a decent amount left from this month's repayments. All I had to do was press the confirm button when he made his nominal contribution and  POUNCE!

Decent loan, too. Repeat borrower.

 :thumbsup:

Quote from: Mysteron347 on May 27, 2019, 04:48:05 AM
GOT HIM! :BigGrin

This turkey : Jouko (https://www.kiva.org/lender/jouko1940?pageID=1)

Page after page after page of expired loans. Waits until the very last second and then offers a nominal $25 to add to his trophy-list, but only ever for loans with a substantial amount left to go - never if it's down to the last $50 or so. Not in the spirit.

I lay in wait - still had a decent amount left from this month's repayments. All I had to do was press the confirm button when he made his nominal contribution and  POUNCE!

Decent loan, too. Repeat borrower.

He's playing Kiva like some kind of online game. In the end he lends nothing and helps nobody, what a schill. :thumbdown:.
Well done Mysteron you did well :congrats  + karma

Just gave two $25 loans today. Tis the season for giving so.....

There's something about this Colombian loan https://www.kiva.org/lend/1945498 (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1945498) ...

I donated $50 to Henri in the Congo (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1955329) today.

Quote from: Mysteron347 on April 15, 2020, 09:03:43 PM
There's something about this Colombian loan https://www.kiva.org/lend/1945498 (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1945498) ...

What the?! How'd that get to Columbia? Maybe left behind by a backpacker?

4 more loans this week. Just saw our Team is up to $72,000 pretty impressive  :rocks

Time for another Kiva loan. Money is tight, but I'm still able to help. This time two $25 loans - two women - one in Vietnam and the other in Philippines.

Kiva tme again!  One $25 loan to Uganda and another $25 to Tajikstan.

 Here's a loan approaching expiry (https://www.kiva.org/lend/2121205) - Repeat borrower, Burkina Faso.

I've never had a default on a Burkina Faso loan - minor exchange-rate losses, but no defaults.

Having said that however, lookee here (https://www.kiva.org/lend/2025290?minimal=false)  and here (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1966270?minimal=false).

The first "buy 500 male chicks" and the second "buy 900 cockerels". Now why would anyone raise vast quantities of MALE chickens? My conclusion is "to be used for cockfighting" but the FP "YIKRI" denied this when I raised the matter through KIVA - and KIVA allowed the loan to be funded.

I'm not convinced - YIKRI to my no-support list.

Similarly, but extremely more serious Asbestos dumping (http://www.kiva.org/lend/662714?minimal=false).

Really? Funding a loan to someone who proposes to dump asbestos? Picture shows "Eric" (or perhaps "Julius" if you read the story) standing in front of piles of dumped asbestos. Transported how? By his motorcycle? Transporting unwrapped asbestos through the streets on a motorcycle, fibres flying everywhere; dumping the asbestos on the surface, where kids will inevitably play with it? Rent the land until the dumping is complete and leave the landowner with a clean-up issue, probably removing the asbestos again or doing who-knows-what with the stuff?

Well, Kudos to Eric for his enterprise. The FP, HOFOKAM responded to Kiva's query that all appropriate licences were in force, despite this being clearly illegal under Ugandan law (I'd sent a link to Kiva). No more HOFOKAM loans for me.

All right - that was in 2014. I've tried (belatedly) telephoning the Fort Portal hospital (they have 3) hoping that their top doctor may take an interest in locating and neutralising this dump. Need to talk to the engine-driver who has enough education and contacts to deal with the matter without causing panic. Sadly, my ISP has taken to blocking all of my overseas access, so I can't even get on to our Ambassador to see whether he could lend a discreet hand. Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are no fun at all. They're a death sentence even with the best of medical care, never mind in a backwater in a third-world country.

Quote from: Mysteron347 on April 02, 2021, 05:53:31 AM
Here's a loan approaching expiry (https://www.kiva.org/lend/2121205) - Repeat borrower, Burkina Faso.

I've never had a default on a Burkina Faso loan - minor exchange-rate losses, but no defaults.

Having said that however, lookee here (https://www.kiva.org/lend/2025290?minimal=false)  and here (https://www.kiva.org/lend/1966270?minimal=false).

The first "buy 500 male chicks" and the second "buy 900 cockerels". Now why would anyone raise vast quantities of MALE chickens? My conclusion is "to be used for cockfighting" but the FP "YIKRI" denied this when I raised the matter through KIVA - and KIVA allowed the loan to be funded.

I'm not convinced - YIKRI to my no-support list.

Similarly, but extremely more serious Asbestos dumping (http://www.kiva.org/lend/662714?minimal=false).

Really? Funding a loan to someone who proposes to dump asbestos? Picture shows "Eric" (or perhaps "Julius" if you read the story) standing in front of piles of dumped asbestos. Transported how? By his motorcycle? Transporting unwrapped asbestos through the streets on a motorcycle, fibres flying everywhere; dumping the asbestos on the surface, where kids will inevitably play with it? Rent the land until the dumping is complete and leave the landowner with a clean-up issue, probably removing the asbestos again or doing who-knows-what with the stuff?

Well, Kudos to Eric for his enterprise. The FP, HOFOKAM responded to Kiva's query that all appropriate licences were in force, despite this being clearly illegal under Ugandan law (I'd sent a link to Kiva). No more HOFOKAM loans for me.

All right - that was in 2014. I've tried (belatedly) telephoning the Fort Portal hospital (they have 3) hoping that their top doctor may take an interest in locating and neutralising this dump. Need to talk to the engine-driver who has enough education and contacts to deal with the matter without causing panic. Sadly, my ISP has taken to blocking all of my overseas access, so I can't even get on to our Ambassador to see whether he could lend a discreet hand. Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are no fun at all. They're a death sentence even with the best of medical care, never mind in a backwater in a third-world country.

Wow, just wow. I go for loans that help people with the basics - food, clothing and shelter. But dumping asbestos??? No, not with my money!

Quote"buy 500 male chicks" and the second "buy 900 cockerels"

The 500 might be for eating and the 900 to sell as breeders. Not sure, but there is probably big demand for foul in those farming communities.


As for the asbestos, it has to go somewhere. It's "dumped" here too. Wrapped up and buried. Hopefully, their government has decent laws.


I hope it is all on the up and up, at least

Started a new Job and have some extra cash so making a few new loans on the teams behalf. :oz:

Had $32 in the Kiva bank so funded an agricultural loan.

Well, In April, I wrote to Kiva about the appearance of odd amounts as "remaining" on some loans. Here's part of the reply:

QuoteRecently, in an effort to ensure the continuous flow of funds to Kiva's borrowers, we've introduced a new $5 funding option to lenders. Due to this change, you might have noticed that some loans show a less-than $25 'funding to go' value. To ensure such loans don't go unfunded, we are testing a process that allows some lenders to now have the ability to complete that loan in an increment below $25.

All fine and good. The number of such loans has grown. Only problem is that, try as I might, there appears to be no way to apply anything other than $25 increments.

Anyone found an incantation that works?

Had $79 in the Kiva bank so funded 3 loans. All up I've lent over $6.6k

Quote from: jave808 on February 17, 2023, 09:35:57 AMHad $79 in the Kiva bank so funded 3 loans. All up I've lent over $6.6k

$6.6k is very impressive!   :congrats :congrats :congrats

Sounds like a worthy cause to get behind, Helping those in need. Joined and funded some school supplies. Thanks for sharing.

Just discovered this threat, a tad embarrassed it took me so long to read it. The energy and generosity of this team is amazing. What an amazing concept. Will make to time to join if it is still active. Well done to all involved.
 :congrats  :worship  :thumbsup:

I gave up on Kiva about a year ago I suppose.  It is a good cause but I was unable to pick someone that would pay me back.  I just logged in and I have $55 to lend out so will try again.

Your lending insights

$800 = Total amount lent

My loans = 30

21 = Countries supported

85th = Lending percentile


The Team has outstanding stats:

68% Female (2,428)
31% Male (1,121)
1% Unspecified (31)
BORROWER GENDER
$93,795
TOTAL AMOUNT LENT