Comment: 9 out of 10 mice agree... (Score 1) 148
Comment: Tweed or Herringbone... (Score 1) 432
Comment: Re:Copyright infringement? (Score 1) 183
Comment: Beam me up Scotty! (Score 1) 185
Comment: Bad dreams have a purpose... (Score 1) 114
Maybe it would be a better idea to leverage the bad dreams...which are, among other things, ways that we cope with the real world or things in it that we're "afraid" of. I would think that simply denying/blocking someone's ability to have the bad dreams could be worse. We need to learn how to work with how things work, rather than assume they're wrong and try to change them.
Sometimes we're able to process the bad dreams and move forward, sometimes that's not as easy as it sounds...especially for those with PTSD. Forcing someone to have good dreams sounds like giving them a kind-of Advil...it blocks the pain receptors (as I understand it) rather than fixing the actual problem.
Advil is OK for some things, but it won't fix a broken leg.
Comment: Re:Sure, but... (Score 1) 481
I now refer you to Murphy.
I don't want to come off as a chicken-little, just want to voice an additional note of caution...no matter how unlikely it might be.
Comment: Sure, but... (Score 1) 481
I guess there's lots of things they could do...but all of them have risks...does the reward out-weigh the risk (and the effort)?
Comment: Fractured Atlas? maybe not... (Score 1) 87
Comment: A stack of books... (Score 2) 170
Comment: Re:This is why I don't like online (Score 1) 321
Comment: Re:Here's what I'd do (Score 1) 396
- "there are serious problems with Kiva"...do you have any actual substantiated facts that would hold up to scrutinization?
- 'local "loan enforcement" agents harassing people who received these loans'...Kiva doesn't actually loan money to people, it gives money to MFIs that make the loans. Kiva does try to vet and rate the MFIs on a number of levels, but I can't imagine it's perfect. Kiva gives lower, and lower ratings to MFIs that aren't performing up to the standards, and has disassociated itself with MFIs in the past.
- "the interest being charged to the people you're lending to is often effectively much higher once everything is considered"...many of the interest rates of Kiva MFIs do seem high, however, once the rate of inflation in the given country is taken into account, and what the current bank loan rates are, the numbers come into perspective. No, they're not perfect, but they're better than a loan-shark, and it's still their choice whether or not to take out a loan.
- It's not a perfect system, India (where Micro-loaning was pioneered) is definitely having lots of problems, but Kiva doesn't operate in India.
- There are going to be MFIs (or their employees) that might be crossing the line regarding getting a loan repaid...however, that could be exacerbated by the fact that maybe the person shouldn't have been approved for the loan in the first place, and/or that the person misrepresented their ability to repay the loan.
Should the few "bad eggs" put the whole idea out to pasture? Do you have another site/company that you recommend, or are you just against the whole idea?
Comment: Re:Here's what I'd do (Score 1) 396
You might also be interested in joining a Kiva Team. My favorite is Atheists, Agnostics, Skeptics, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and the Non-Religious at http://www.kiva.org/team/atheists. It helps promote healthy competition, and helps other people at the same time.
Comment: Re:Here's what I'd do (Score 2) 396
It definitely "pays" to review the loanee (how they're going to use and payback the money...loaning to groups generally helps guarantee more of a return), and review the MFI, it's default rate and current rating etc..
A 30% loss is significant...and can't be written off as a donation. So loan carefully if you'd rather get your money back.