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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:08pm PT
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One of the best damn lies I have ever read.
you must have missed the Enron offering.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:11pm PT
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Krakauer is quoted as saying "It’s a beautiful story. And it’s a lie."
I'd consider that quote with more concern...if it wasn't attributed to a writer who has made a lucrative career casting aspersions at people
And been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for the quality of his writing........
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:11pm PT
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kwit,
pulling in $60M makes him more than a minor player.
I just spoke to a climber in the middle of this and he was very sad about the impact this will have on our community.
It appears that GM was seduced by the dark side of doing good, of being a hero.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:13pm PT
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Lynn said:
I know in some cases they have paid teacher (s) salaries while others built the school.
Ok, since we are hearing testimonials.......Lynn, with your right hand on a bible, how do you know, of your own personal knowledge, that was the case? do you have receipts? a 1099?
Or do you mean that you heard about that?
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:16pm PT
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My take...
He is passionate, but not super wise about how to deal with the mad rush forward. He sounds like he doesn't know how to delegate, so lots of things get screwed up.
Krakauer did admit that he was doing a whole lot of good.
The bozeman article sort of sounded like he had a a lot of the money coming in and he was going to create some sort of endowment with it, so that this project can continue on indefinitely. He hints at this in some of his books, about being advised to make hay while he can. That people are more willing to send money to build schools, then they are to send money yearly to keep them going.
I think that he is also dealing with serious messes in the countries he is working in. But like Krakauer said.. why lie about building 11 schools in a very rough place when you only built 3. 3 is still pretty damn good when its an area that no one else has reached because of the violence there.
Strange story.. I hope he can work things out because this story is going to hurt his cause if he doesn't.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:19pm PT
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It's unlikely that anybody could survive a 60 Minutes expose like that intact.
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Port
Trad climber
San Diego
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 17, 2011 - 10:25pm PT
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It's unlikely that anybody could survive a 60 Minutes expose like that intact
Unless he comes out strong and defends himself in front of cameras. But we didn't see that. We saw the 60 mins. film crew confront him at a book signing and him refusing to speak. And then cancel the day's lecture. Not exactly a good move from any standpoint.
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John Moosie
climber
Beautiful California
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:27pm PT
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When you read his books you see that he is awkward in public situations. He likes one on one or very small groups. It doesn't even remotely surprise me that he mishandled that.
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Hardshell
Trad climber
Ketchum Idaho
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:31pm PT
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So now one of the truly good guys is being attacked by the drive-by media and the "half-empty cup of tea" crowd---people with ulterior motives or way too much free time on their hands. I've known greg and his initial backer since the start of CAI and believe that what-ever small transgressions may have accumulated over the many years of difficult work, they are far overshadowed by his efforts to bring some light to a remote and troubled corner of the world which has been beset by illiteracy and intolerance for millenia---all the while at significant personal risk and sacrifice. Greg has faced far greater threats than Krakauer or 60 Minutes and I'm sure he will recognize he has deep support which will remain long after his small minded attackers soon move on to their next victim.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:39pm PT
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mortenson, however dubiously, brought to light tremendous regional problems, poverty, and thus potential for international aid. his mismanagement and sketchy ethics should not go unresolved, but what damage to we do by vilifying him so publicly and sensationally?
And WHO says that in the 60 minutes program? Jon Krakauer. He also donated $75,000, and was doing so until warned off by members of Greg's board.
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Toker Villain
Big Wall climber
Toquerville, Utah
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:40pm PT
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all the while at significant personal risk and sacrifice. Greg has faced far greater threats than Krakauer or 60 Minutes
You mean like when his "kidnappers" let him hold the AK47 in the photo?
Please explain that to my small mind if you would, Hardshell, in your sixth post on ST.
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jogill
climber
Colorado
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:50pm PT
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Oh my! It's shocking, just shocking to think that a climber might exaggerate or fabricate his actions! What's the world coming to?
First, kudos to Greg for doing good deeds. However . . .
Let's see: one audit in how many years? Has the IRS been sleeping at the controls, or has that agency been warned off investigating The CAI? By some one or some agency high up. Greg's efforts have produced comforting illusions about the US involvements in the middle east . . . we're only there to help you, folks! Is the CIA lurking in the background?
Nice shot of him grinning and holding an AK47 after being kidnapped. Must have been photoshopped by the Taliban. Or perhaps simply a case of instantaneous Stockholm Syndrome.
So much to ponder as he flies off in his private jet . . .
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mike m
Trad climber
black hills
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Apr 17, 2011 - 10:55pm PT
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I for one hope the best for him, but when you are talking about that amount of money that everyones kids are hustling to raise I think it is legit to expect his books to be straight and expect that he is open about what he is doing. Maybe people make mistakes. Maybe they can be more affective.
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Ken M
Mountain climber
Los Angeles, Ca
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:00pm PT
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Hardshell wrote:
I've known greg and his initial backer since the start of CAI and believe that what-ever small transgressions may have accumulated over the many years of difficult work
small transgressions? Stealing money from children? Apparently millions?
How many lectures a year does he give, at $30,000 a pop? 100?
You do the math.
$3 million. a year. Into his pocket.(none to the charity)
From the book?
Who knows? Millions. Into his pocket (none to the charity)
collected by the Charity? 60 million.
spent by the Charity on schools? UP TO 1 million a year.*
started 1996, so in operation for 14 years, so spent on
schools, UP TO 14 Million dollars.
WHERE IS THE OTHER 46 million out of 60 million?
Follow the money.................
*http://www2.guidestar.org/PartnerReport.aspx?partner=justgivews&ein=51-0376237
see Financial Comments from the Organization
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tomtom
Social climber
Seattle, Wa
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:15pm PT
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Although some put weight in that Krakauer was a Pulitzer Prize nominee, a number of Prize winning stories have turned out to be frauds as well.
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graniteclimber
Trad climber
The Illuminati -- S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Division
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:15pm PT
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From the Bozeman article.
He also responded to questions "60 Minutes" raised about his finances in a letter, dated Wednesday. Kroft's letter said that a number of people have raised concerns that there is "inadequate separation" between the charity's finances and Mortenson's personal financial interests. CAI provided the "60 Minutes" letter to the Chronicle Friday.
The letter cited a warning from CAI's own attorneys last December and January that if audited by the IRS, Mortenson would likely be found in violation of rules against gaining "excess benefits" from the charity.
Kroft's letter pointed to CAI's 2009 nonprofit tax statement to the IRS, and asked why only 41 percent of the money it raised actually went to pay for schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The letter also questioned whether CAI is spending millions to advertise Mortenson's best-selling books and to hire charter jets to take him to $30,000 speaking engagements around the country, yet it received almost none of the money from his speeches and books.
Mortenson responded that he gets a royalty of about 40 or 50 cents per book, and that he has contributed more than $100,000 of his own money to CAI, which has more than offset the book royalties. The $30,000 fee for speaking is average, he said, adding he does some events for free.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:21pm PT
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Didn't Caldwell and gang "befriend" their kidnappers too (before they killed them)? I too have been in situations where you didn't really know if you were about to be offed, or invited for tea. Friendliness in such a situation is often a wise strategy. And of couse the Taliban is going to admit it to the news agency?
Anyway, my suspicion is "yes and no", the guy is genuine but lost control of the situation, took some advantage of the ambiguous relationship between his org and himself, and didn't realize envious people and profiteering news orgs where waiting in the wings to ambush him.
But tell me this, if you are running a really good non-profit, and you find you can bring in a ton of money through various types of expensive marketing, are you doing good or bad by spending tons of money on that marketing? Maybe 50% of your donations are being re-cycled into more marketing, but you are growing and doing evermore good? Not a clear call to me, but there are plenty of huge non-profits that have very low service to overhead ratios. I wouldn't want to give them my money, but at least they are not selling junk CMOs.
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Tom Johnson
Trad climber
Guerneville, Cal
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:24pm PT
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I just saw the show. There's something about about 60 Minutes selective journalism that makes my skin crawl. They go after Mortenson at a book signing after he won't reply.
Next story: Three college basketball players who raped a female basketball player. 60 Minutes tells us the players "chose not to reply" to their inquiris.
Why didn't 60 Minutes go to those guys' colleges where they now blissfully shoot hoops and get in their faces? The rapists get cut slack unlike Mortenson, who no matter what the circumstances, has done some good in life.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:27pm PT
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The truth will come out in the near future, speculation by uniformed supertopians does no good,but, if you're having fun, keep it coming.
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deuce4
climber
Hobart, Australia
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Apr 17, 2011 - 11:36pm PT
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I've been skeptical about all this, having read both his books, recommended them to many friends and family, and seen him speak during one of his original debuts at the AAC in 1998 (and in awe of the story he told), but it does appear after seeing the recent reports that the man is a pathological liar. Many of the tales I personally have repeated to friends now seem to be completely fabricated. It's like Krakauer says--why doesn't he just tell the truth?
Maybe (more) good will come of this in the end.
(edit) in the interview in Outside, he seems to indicate that the stories in the book were a result of co-authoring. But the fact remains that he also spoke those stories in public speaking engagements. And frankly, his view of what he's entitled to in terms of personal financial benefit seems a bit odd and in contrast to the selfless persona he has created in his talks and books. http://outsideonline.com/adventure/travel-ga-greg-mortenson-interview-sidwcmdev_155690.html
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