Trade in that Hummer for a Kiva portfolio

[Guest]

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[quizzoid]

Over the past couple of weeks, I've seen this story mentioned several times - that women would rather talk to a guy about his eco-friendly hybrid as opposed to his sports car:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Women_give_thumbs_up_to_green_men/articleshow/3108112.cms

In combination with several recent threads here on KivaFriends (i.e., Kiva car decal, favorite lender photos), this got me thinking that perhaps we need to start a new rumor - that women are attracted to men with large Kiva portfolios.  How exactly does one go about planting a new Internet meme?

Or how about a co-marketing campaign with the car companies - buy a hybrid car, get a Kiva gift certificate?

I haven't had a personalized license plate in a long time, but the Kiva lender in Virginia got me thinking - "kiva.org" would be a good one.  I'll probably have to paint in the "dot", though.

-Q

[Soriak]

In combination with several recent threads here on KivaFriends (i.e., Kiva car decal, favorite lender photos), this got me thinking that perhaps we need to start a new rumor - that women are attracted to men with large Kiva portfolios.

I don't think that's far off - charitable giving shows a few desirable things... not least that disposable income for charity is available.

What I think we need is a way to show off

I can think of two ways:

1. A widget for Facebook and/or MySpace. Though I don't have a profile on either site, they both have managed to attract tens of millions of users - what better way to reach new people? It could show the last loan the user contributed to, encouraging others to join in.

2. Printable certificates for reaching certain landmarks. See the folding@home certificates for an example. You could have one for the number of loans and one for a dollar amount.

[fredr1c]

I haven't had a personalized license plate in a long time, but the Kiva lender in Virginia got me thinking - "kiva.org" would be a good one.  I'll probably have to paint in the "dot", though.

...or cut out a small square of duct tape, stick that on the plate in the space where the dot should go, and use a black Sharpie to color it in.

That could work.

In Virginia, you're not allowed to add extra markings to a plate.  This technique would allow you to mark the plate, and yet still have a quick and easy way to take the "dot" off, if someone in authority made such a request.

[Soriak]

Here's the example from Folding@Home - this could work for Kiva as well.

[Peter S]

[...]
this got me thinking that perhaps we need to start a new rumor - that women are attracted to men with large Kiva portfolios.  How exactly does one go about planting a new Internet meme?
[...]

at least one Kiva lender has already accepted the notion of there being a relationship between a man's possession of a Kiva portfolio (regardless of size) and his attractiveness to women -- I think he was noticed here on KF a good while back

Kiva Lender: Caleb

"I loan because:     I want to impress women with my kiva portfolio."

[Jan & John]

1. A widget for Facebook and/or MySpace.

for those on Facebook - this is available now...
I am always given the option to post to my facebook profile each time I lend...
it shows as one line in the newsfeed like this...
(pretty green Kiva logo) Jan supported Florencia Augusto Buque with Kiva.org. 4:34pm

and it has active links to the loan and also to kiva.org
jan
p.s. I've asked John to get me the vanity plates for my car but they are expensive - around 4 to 6 Kiva loans worth...
We only are required to have legal plates on the back of the car here in Alberta - so we could put Kiva plates on the front if I could find some   .

[QueenOfHearts]

Hey Jan....there are lots of places online you can order "vanity" plates that are not that expensive...here's just one:

http://www.signsbyyou.com/gifts/products_14_5512.htm

Queen

[Sherri]

I don't think that's far off - charitable giving shows a few desirable things... not least that disposable income for charity is available.

That's least in my book. I wonder about women who actually judge men based on income... ridiculous. Generosity and selflessness are two traits that would come to my mind about a big Kiva lender. 

If and when Kiva releases/implements a public API (programming term for an interface) to a lender's portfolio data, I imagine many developers (me included) would be all over the idea of creating a Facebook application, along with lots of other fun stuff.

[Jan & John]

Hey Jan....there are lots of places online you can order "vanity" plates that are not that expensive...here's just one:
http://www.signsbyyou.com/gifts/products_14_5512.htm
Queen

thanx, Queen - I have Scouts Canada plates right now on the front of my car - pretty old - need replacing

I looked up our 'vanity' plates - official registered license plates with an up front charge of $194 for the plate followed by the regular annual fee. 

still on my gift list tho...
jan

[KivanSteven]

Hey to Kivastore Chris...not sure how many people would be interested but maybe a Kiva.org license plate border would be a nice merchandise addition.  Maybe break with tradition and even make them available in different colors in order to better match a vehicle and entice more buyers, which = more publicity.