tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-338019942024-03-15T20:11:54.570-05:00The Blog of HeliosLinux is to computing what freedom is to mankind...and then there's MicrosoftAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-54460191360878329422017-08-23T11:42:00.001-05:002017-09-06T08:51:20.456-05:00Just. Get. Up<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>This isn't a "normal" posting for Blog of helios. Sometimes, there are important things to share with you, and in this case, I think this side trip is merited. I would feel negligent for not posting this. This could potentially be important to many.</i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpUT9V0VNFdOaSDEfdS9PoD5QMdebhEVHZeRgVs_jD-Ynkdi3gX51CzRyBgHI881iAzCp4YiPDh8gCkfNeqYSExHea0o3iyaH7nqwKyaQ8V5J_min5NGnsohiAPJcFuYW6PMi/s1600/swirling_clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="1000" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpUT9V0VNFdOaSDEfdS9PoD5QMdebhEVHZeRgVs_jD-Ynkdi3gX51CzRyBgHI881iAzCp4YiPDh8gCkfNeqYSExHea0o3iyaH7nqwKyaQ8V5J_min5NGnsohiAPJcFuYW6PMi/s400/swirling_clock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was looking forward to it. Going home that was. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<b id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0b92-2fe6-5a48-4142c61642a9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was stationed at Fort Polk Louisiana as an assistant squad leader with 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">nd</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> platoon. 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">st</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> squad of Bravo Company, 5</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre-wrap;">th</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Engineer Battalion. My job? I blew stuff up and I did it with maths and C4 explosives. There were worse places for a soldier to be stationed in 1976 than Fort Polk, but I can’t bring any to mind...ever.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having received orders for my 1st overseas deployment to Europe, I was due a 30 day leave. While I was looking forward to the Land of Beer and Bratwurst, I had a longing for home, and specifically, seeing my mom. Two weeks prior to leaving for Phoenix, I got a letter from my kid brother, and in part it was a warning:</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Bro, I need to tell you, mama isn’t well. She’s been in a severe depression for months and none of us know what to do. I hope seeing you brings her out of it.” </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Depression? I knew about it in the abstract, something I had been trained to recognize. As a non commissioned officer, recognizing and acting upon depression within your command has become a topic talked about more and more with emphasis. We were only a few years out of Vietnam, and the senior non commissioned officer corps were said to be ate up with it. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he on base NCO clubs had never seen such early-in-the-week traffic.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Copious amounts of alcohol seemed to be the most popular means of self-medication</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. B</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ut personally, I had never encountered depression in real life and I had no idea of just how devastating this condition was, and still is.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0b92-ecfa-6e85-61af18051534" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That would change in a couple of weeks.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At first, I didn’t see anything other than what I had known of my mom for decades. A quiet demeanor with a slashing wit and a mind prone to thought before she spoke. She had worked her way up to the civilian rank of G-12 within the IRS within 16 years. She was Senior Corporate Auditing Agent for the Phoenix office but she took early retirement. She could no longer justify working for, what she considered, a soul-less renegade organization. Even with that, initially she had seemed fine when I got home. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But as I settled into the second week of my stay, it was obvious that she was all but detached from everything around her. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I spent a few days with an old girlfriend and when I came home, she sat at her dining room table, wearing the same clothes she had worn prior to me leaving. Her ashtrays over flowed and there were over a dozen Miller Lite beer cans strewn across the table. She was immersed in one of the hundreds of romance novels that lay around the house. I finally put my hand gently on her shoulder and she jumped as if I had set off a cherry bomb.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You OK Mama?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She looked at me through pale, watery blue eyes and smiled softly.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m fine honey. There’s a ham in the fridge if you’re hungry.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that she poured the remainder of her beer into her glass, lit a cigarette and returned to her book. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the last week of my leave approached, I decided I would take a more active roll in at least getting her to talk to me. She slept on the couch down stairs and rarely, if ever; changed her clothes. My brother Mark told me that he didn’t think she had showered in weeks. I spoke with her throughout the day, mentioning that we might take a drive out to South Mountain or go out for lunch and maybe a shopping trip. At best, she would look up at me and nod absently. By the end of the day, I had lost my patience and I sat down next to her at 6 that evening.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When’s the last time you were out of the house mom?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She glanced up at me and then back to her book without an answer.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0b93-51aa-b111-48fc9d099693" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Do you want me to fix you something to eat? Can I get you a bath ready? Have you talked to Grandma lately?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With that, she carefully dog-eared her page and closed her book.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I’m going to bed early tonight honey. You and Mark go out for a while. There's some money in the box on the shelf over the microwave. Take my car and have a good time.”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She re-opened her book and thus, excused herself from all other conversation. I took the book out of her hands and sat it across the table, and in a manner that I regret to this very moment, I said to her.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><b>“Mama...Just. Get. Up."</b></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She looked up at me as I stood over her offering my hand and she didn’t say a word, but in the way that some women can, she began crying. Silently...without gulps of air or attempts to speak. Without one sound. She kept eye contact the whole time. Tears flowed down her face, onto her chin and then onto her lap. They didn’t stop. She looked at me as if tying to ask me…</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0b93-cc05-884b-b3a8bc68f1ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Don’t you understand? Can’t you understand?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I pulled a chair in front of her and held her close, She smelled of stale cigarettes, beer, and the musk of dry, unwashed skin, </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and complete dispair. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then she wept, in great, sobbing, gulps of air. Wailing and rocking with the pain of a woman too long in her own head and without the ability to ask for help, or to even understand why she needed it. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I held her for over 15 minutes, rocking her from time to time. She talked of losing her husband at the age of 57, of a job that sucked the very soul from her, she thought often of her youngest daughter, lost in a crack cocaine nightmare, and mostly she spoke of just not wanting to wake up the next morning. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When her tears subsided, I got her some water and one of the “tranks” I got for flying the long miles to come. I washed her face with a cool cloth and I kissed her on the forehead. She slept for 11 hours that night. About 9 hours longer than my brother told me she ever slept. He thanked me for whatever I had done. Something he could never figure out how to do and something I had no idea what I had done.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even before she had her coffee that next morning, she had showered and fixed both of us boys poached eggs and fresh orange juice. She then announced she was going to the store, “for some things” and arrived back two hours later. It took us 20 minutes to shuttle those "things" into the house. She was humming.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I took the credit for something I neither understood nor felt comfortable claiming. It ate at me for the rest of my time at home, that I would have to leave her again. For three years. She eventually fell back into her disease and it took hospitalization to bring her back to half of the person she was. But even that...that was a win,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Will The Circle Be Unbroken...</b></span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0b95-0e96-5a10-d59140cced9d" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The light switch snapped on, and when I squinted toward the door; Diane was standing in the doorway of our bedroom. She stared at me for an uncomfortable moment before she spoke.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Is there something we need to talk about?” She looked around the room, taking into account the half full glasses of stale grapefruit juice, cereal bowls, pop tart wrappers and the dirty clothes strewn throughout the room. From her expression, I assumed it didn’t smell pleasant at all.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“You’ve been in here for days Kenny. What did I do to make you angry with me?”</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Again I shrugged and returned my attention to my monitor and the best extinct friend a guy could ever have. To my mind, the Triceratops should still be roaming the plains with the bison and wild mustangs and I opened my mouth to tell her so. She moved sharply to turn the monitor off and sat next to me on the bed. The clock radio face told me it was 11:09 but I had no idea whether it was AM or PM. The blackout blinds I installed did a good job of blocking all evidence of life outside that 12x12 room.</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc"></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc"><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With obvious impatience, she looked me in the eye. “Now, tell me. What’s going on with you?”</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc">
</span>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc"><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not that I didn’t want to talk to Diane. I simply didn’t know what to say, where to start. So many things had arrived at a central point of focus at the same time. Another thing that wore on me deeply...wore on me when I didn't even realize it. This freak show chunk of plastic that jutted from my throat. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The monstrosity that made both kids and adults stare muvh longer than what could be considered slightly impolite.. I was under the impression that things like this were accepted, even common in our not-so-polite society. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Wrong. I began ripping the damned thing out of my throat and just leaving the raw hole covered by an bandanna. It's taken me a while to make those adjustments but to this day, I still get the urge to ditch the prosthetic and pretend that I am normal, well, at least until I key the mic to speak. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But with Diane, I didn’t know where to begin, basically because I didn’t know when to begin. Over the next 2 days, I did my best to tell her how I felt, and more importantly, how I didn’t feel. The most important thing in my life, the project that had fueled my energy and sense of purpose for 12 years….it just seemed like a burden now. I felt like a fraud for even thinking that I had done one bit of good for anyone... Ever.</span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc">
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc"><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Had it not been for great friends and </span><span style="font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">director Pete Salas, <a href="http://www.reglue.org/">Reglue</a> would have suffered. Pete, single handedly; took the reigns of Reglue every few days, days that I could not be there; and only contacted me when he needed money, parts or to check in on me. </span></span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-8e413f7b-0ba0-61cd-582a-4b0018f37ecc">
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It started exactly a year ago this month. In a relatively short amount of time, it became increasingly difficult to turn the key to open our shop. Every little task seemed insurmountable. I became exceedingly uncomfortable talking to people with my Darth Vader device and went out of my way to answer emails only when they demanded it. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the major tasks we face is the maintenance or replacement of machines already deployed with our Reglue Kids. In a 4 month period, maintenance or replacement of just over 200 machines became necessary. Remember the thing we say we live by?</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Once a Reglue Kid, always a Reglue Kid.” Yeah, that ain’t happenin’ any more.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That promise was in turn, depleting our bank account at an alarming rate, year after year. A video card replacement here, a blown power supply there...stuff we did not have on the shelves, we had to buy and in 2016 alone, $4200.00 of our budget was keeping student-deployed computers up and running. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first half of 2017 alone promised to eclipse that figure by 26%. Aside from and with eternal gratitude for those donors who supported us with steady donations over a year’s time, other donations dwindled and they have almost come to a complete stop. Money was no longer an issue, but the lack of it, became the focal point of my life, and as frankly as I can be, It became easier to hide from the fact rather than attack it. Donations for Reglue have dropped from a comfortable 10k a year, to less than 2.5K and it troubled me to the point where I just didn’t want to turn the key in the Reglue door any longer. You can love something completely, but if you cannot nourish it, </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It Will Die.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Diane’s love and constant support, I began to seek help with, what I should have long ago recognized, as clinical depression. Doctors were quick to evaluate and agree with my self-diagnosis and were more than happy to treat me. The fact that it was in my family history fairly well firmed up treatment plans and medications and their focus never left that diagnosis.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So began the twisting, winding and sometimes circular quest to find the correct pharmaceutical combination that would set the ship right again, as it were. It was a series of glee and hopefulness...almost giddiness, followed by bitter disappointment that the meds that seemingly “fixed” me, would ultimately fail. I would drop as hard as a 1958 straight eight Pontiac. </span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lather.</span><span style="font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rinse,</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Repeat, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">repeat, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">repeat.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a hard way to live your life, over the period of a year, knowing that on any given morning, you would awaken, only to close your bedroom door and hide from the world. </span><span style="font-size: 20px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For days at a time. All the while knowing that people were counting on you to, without hyperbole, to change the course of their lives for the better.</span><span style="font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The wonder drug that had you on top of the world suddenly became a boat anchor around your soul.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hard-edged insomnia, whip-like mood swings and hermit-like behavior was having a devastating affect on our relationship, but Diane didn’t give up on me. She prodded me to change General Practitioners, and made an appointment for me to see her doctor. She swore by him, as opposed to at him, which she practiced with abandon with her previous providers.</span></div>
<br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I sat in the office of this new doctor, telling him to cancel lunch because this was going to take a while. Which to my surprise, he did. We talked for 45 minutes and at the end, he ordered a head to toe physical exam and a number of blood panels that would almost necessitate the hiring of new personnel. I arrived the next morning to fill that requirement, and that evening I collapsed on the floor at home, I was transported to the Emergency room for treatment of arrhythmia. For those keeping score at home, this was a couple of months ago.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So when both blood tests came back, the panels from my doctor and those taken from the ER, one thing stood out. One thing that was so dire and so in need of correction, it was amazing that this had not been discovered before. I was terribly ill. My doctors had been so focused on treating me for depression, that they failed to look for physiological reasons for it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It wasn't just the past year. Even before depression, I had zero energy. I was lucky to put in 4 hours at work and then slept the next four just to recuperate. This had been going on for years. It was explained that chemo and radiation treatments often leave individuals much less active than they had been prior. I simply accepted it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Except that wasn't the problem. It wasn't even close.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now some may feel the need to snigger because it's become a steady presence on every television, radio and magazine for a number of years. It's become somewhat of a joke. Unfortunately, this "joke" came close to killing me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My blood work came back with a testosterone level of 83. A man my age should have a baseline testosterone level of 245. It was clear from the tests that this had been the case, and probably even lower for a number of years. My doctor began me immediately, in his office that day, on testosterone replacement therapy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's taken a couple of months, but for the first time in 5 years, I am able to get out of bed at 6:30, stay awake and functional for 12-14 hours and I have not felt this good in a long, long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not that I am not grateful, but I am angry that I spent 5 years incapacitated by "depression", when it was a hormonal imbalance in my body. This is for life, and if I have to jab a 2.5 inch needle into my thigh weekly, for the rest of my life, so be it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I loaded the car today with 9 computers that will become an after school center for latchkey kids. I'll complete that tomorrow and Friday I will be making a salvage run with a friend's pickup truck. That Friday afternoon, I'll start cleaning and organizing the shop. Again. Saturday I will be hosting a "Welcome to Linux" talk with over a dozen computer science students from the local high school.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, in all....this isn't about me. It's not. This is about every man over 50 that thinks he's just getting older and it's just part of the game to ache over every little thing and spend more time sleeping than being productive. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">this is about every woman that is completely grounded by inertia and it brings her to tears, the inability to do the simplest things </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It isn't about me at all. It's about a generation of men who might be facing this same problem. A problem that can be relatively cheap to fix. And it's no shame to meet this condition head on. Now yeah, some of you will warn me of the possible dire circumstances of TRT. I've carefully weighed the risks. I will in return in warning you of spending days and sometimes weeks, frozen by fear and not knowing what day it is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So this depression thing...?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes, it's not all in your head. At all.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">All-Righty Then.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfufkQ85uYj2VebUPUhl4GUg-SdKXp1w5_ScgvFsPTStHyJc229y9fBajeBLYJ_F1YlGvnTl_EBfMxabdbtzNXgt1IMSsPWNTNHmxGnll1SG-XGQJjVD7up7kyw6qHsrlMArWv/s1600/infinity_trans.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="960" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfufkQ85uYj2VebUPUhl4GUg-SdKXp1w5_ScgvFsPTStHyJc229y9fBajeBLYJ_F1YlGvnTl_EBfMxabdbtzNXgt1IMSsPWNTNHmxGnll1SG-XGQJjVD7up7kyw6qHsrlMArWv/s400/infinity_trans.png" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "georgia"; font-size: 15pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 15pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-67748027176951121012017-06-05T01:06:00.002-05:002017-06-06T08:09:49.259-05:00Just so you know.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Some of you know that I've not felt well in the past few months. No energy, no motivation...just didn't want to do anything. I sleep for 15 hours straight and my appetite is all but gone. That being said, the loss of my larynx caused some major changes in the way I swallow and eat. It takes me 4 times as long to finish eating as it does anyone else at the table, so this wasn't really a big deal, to me at least.<br />
<br />
During my bi-annual CAT scan and checkup last week, my oncologist found "some potentially serious concerns" on the left side of my chest. Really Fate...? Really? Frickin' breast cancer? Like I have the emotional strength to deal with the snide jokes. You gotta be kidding me. <br />
<br />
She wasn't. Go figure.<br />
<br />
I'll be taking the day off this coming Tuesday to undergo a series of tests and a <s>mammogram</s> <i>manogram</i> to discern what this mass is. It's not large, but it is painful so there's that. I'll let you know when I know something more substantial. Could be just a fat nodule. I'm counting on that being the case.<br />
<br />
Regardless...<br />
<br />
Life, at least for the present; does go on and we have stuff to do.<br />
<br />
When Time Warner sold out to Spectrum, I wasn't expecting much in the way of changes, institutionally that is. ISPs suck. It's their nature to suck and I write it off to being the nature of the beast. Oops.<br />
<br />
Spectrum has agreed with us that low income people should get at least some sort of help in getting them into the information age. I approached them in February, asking them to assist Reglue in getting some reduced pricing for the folks here in Taylor that sincerely needed it. It's pretty much the same deal that Time Warner agreed to and then backed out on. I wasn't expecting any kind of response.<br />
<br />
Surprise. <br />
<br />
We can get them hooked up for 40.00, all charges included and they'll receive 20Mbps down and 5Mbps up. We'll pay for their first 40.00 fee and Spectrum will write their second month off. As in gratis.<br />
<br />
I've got 11 families that we've deemed to be in honest need of Internet service and all have agreed to do whatever they need to do, to assure they keep their 40.00 monthly charge paid up. They understand that there will be no further assistance from us. These 11 families all have kids in school and would benefit greatly from having a computer and Internet service in the home.<br />
<br />
We have the the computers covered, of course. However we could use some assistance in getting their first month's fees paid. Should you want to get these kids up and running, you can donate by clicking the button at the top of this page, on the left hand side.<br />
<br />
I'm not much for chat these days, so if you email me, I will do my best to answer you in a timely manner...<br />
<br />
All Righty then.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-77921660507441467082017-02-22T16:15:00.000-05:002017-02-23T14:13:34.814-05:00And the hits just keep on comin'.....Great news in the mail box last week.<br />
<br />
The city of Taylor has decided that they can no longer pay the utilities for the Reglue shop, so effective this month, we have an additional $260.00 to tack onto the monthly outgoing ledger.<br />
<br />
That comes on the tail of the abysmal response to our annual fund raiser. We started it a month and a half ago, thinking that 60 days would be plenty of time to raise the money we need for the next year.<br />
<br />
That's what I get for thinking when I ain't used to it.<br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong. We absolutely love the folks that have supported us. I can never tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for us. <br />
<br />
So here's where we stand. Grants that offer cash to use for day to day operational costs just do not exist any longer. Not in the amounts that are needed to keep Reglue afloat. $100.00 here, $300.00 there...and even those come with some substantially thick strings, such as money not to be used to reimburse volunteer's gasoline costs. So, except for the first couple of years, when I ran my organization from an injury claim, The Linux and Greater Free Software communities have supported us, and to this point, you folks have carried us through and allowed us to do the work we set out to do. And to this point, we have given you huge returns on your investments, having placed well over 1600 computers to disadvantaged kids in the past decade.<br />
<br />
I've always been driven by the philosophy to find what I love to do and do it to the best of my ability and nothing but my very best is acceptable. I've lived up to that philosophy for 40 years, but now, this love affair with Reglue has hit rocky shores. So much that I've begun the mechanisms to close our non profit down. It will happen in stages over the next 16 months, but it will happen and I cannot justify putting my heart and soul into something that looks as if it might be on life support. Obviously there are more important things than providing computers to financially-disadvantaged kids. Obviously.<br />
<br />
With this new monthly addition in outgoing funds, I don't see us lasting for more than 24 months as of now. <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-victim-of-our-own-success-kids#/">Our Indiegogo campaign </a>has 11 days to go and we've only reached just over 20% of the money we'll need, so to my mind, things are looking bleak. And as a reminder, we still have $400.00 left that will be matched by a generous donor. So the next $400.00 in donations will be matched. <br />
<br />
For those who wish to donate with means other than Indiegogo, you can click on <a href="http://paypal.me/reglue">paypal.me/reglue.</a> That will open a tab so you can make a donation directly to our paypal account.<br />
<br />
You folks have been a great support system and it hurts me that we have to exit in this manner, but as one of my most hated phrases go, "It is what it is".<br />
<br />
Indeed.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-11308316035332574502017-02-20T11:14:00.002-05:002017-02-22T15:53:46.585-05:00It's 1AM Bub, We're Three In A Tub...I heard it from somewhere deep. That place where Sleep begins to demand just who in the Hell is important enough to interrupt it at this hour. As the fog cleared, I recognized the imminent dangerous weather alarm on my phone and it was persistent. Normally, for a thunderstorm warning or the such, it goes off once or twice and you can pretty much ignore it.<br />
<br />
But this wasn't going to be ignored.<br />
<br />
I fumbled for the phone in its cradle by the bed and smashed into dressers and end tables until I cleared the doorway from the bedroom into the hallway. That's where I met Diane and Malachi. I pushed Diane back toward the living room and sat on the couch, trying to clear the fog from my eyes and see the phone screen in front of me.<br />
<br />
Tornado <b>WARNING</b> in your area.<br />
<a href="http://kxan.com/2017/02/20/fast-moving-storm-rips-through-central-texas-some-damage-reported/">Take Cover <b>IMMEDIATELY</b></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE4R_RD17ji19PdkGAFTcJU5rQnHUt6abjn-1B3xM62kr1bYuV-n9adyhTNNvtKcvKJtoPeF6sHH7JiS1jPqPHGFSUrrn4E4srBudSQdDiCpTGCApW0p5SM7pZwugVT4rlzDO/s1600/Rockdale-storm-damage-02.20.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCE4R_RD17ji19PdkGAFTcJU5rQnHUt6abjn-1B3xM62kr1bYuV-n9adyhTNNvtKcvKJtoPeF6sHH7JiS1jPqPHGFSUrrn4E4srBudSQdDiCpTGCApW0p5SM7pZwugVT4rlzDO/s640/Rockdale-storm-damage-02.20.17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I found the remote and turned it to the weather channel and sure enough, there was the tell tale hook echo, signifying that a tornado is forming or it is in progress. I got back to the bedroom and ripped the blankets and sheets from our bed then went back out to the living room and jerked my head toward the main bath. Diane understood immediately. She took Malachi and I let her go in front of me until I could get her settled. Once she was in the enclosure, I got the queen-sized mattress and drug it into the bathroom and over the top of us. Diane hugged a shivering Malachi close and quietly told him everything was going to be alright. <br />
<br />
In less than 30 seconds it was as if someone had viciously cuffed my ears. The barometric pressure dropped so quickly that my eyes and ears did more than pop, they felt as if they had ruptured. Later, I would find blood had ran as droplets and streaked down my cheeks where tears would normally form. Diane grabbed me preparing for the world to tumble out of control.<br />
<br />
And then it didn't. That whole Tumble Out Of Control thing.<br />
<br />
In a way that can only be described as violent, the atmospheric pressure slammed us back into normalcy and the three of us gagged as if we were going to vomit, fortunately that didn't happen in such close quarters; or in any quarters for that matter.<br />
<br />
The power had been knocked out momentarily so I reset the cable box. There wasn't much left to see. Nasty rain was slamming us but the storm that would indeed produce at least one tornado was now toward our East. As pictured above, the F1 or F-2 tornado laid into Thrall and Rockdale at about 1:20. That puts it over our house at 1AM. Just about the time we felt the air pressure drop like a bomb. What was that? That was the rapid circulation overhead announcing its presence. From there, it stuck East into Thrall and Rockdale...about 8 miles East of us.<br />
<br />
So, as far as the storm goes, the shop has a broken window and some shingles have been ripped from the roof, but other than that, we are good. At least physically. Otherwise, we have some real problems. I'll get to that as soon as I can get the window replaced. The guy from Floyd's Glass should be here shortly. We'll talk then.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-11963437598158984932017-01-31T16:58:00.000-05:002017-01-31T18:27:45.175-05:00The Clock Ticks...Even The Silence Has An Echo.....The good news, and there's been a shortage of that lately around Reglue; is that a good friend of ours has pledged to match the next $1000.00 donated to us via our annual <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-victim-of-our-own-success-kids/x/729034#/">Indiegogo fund raiser</a>. We ran the campaign for the extended period of 60 days instead of 30, in order to give our annual donors the chance to donate, without a pressing timeline.<br />
<br />
Not sure what's happened...in the past, when we've reached this point in our annual effort, we're well on our way to our goal. I suppose what makes us all uncomfortable around our organization is that we've got the chance to help a whole new level of folks within the next 3 months, and we don't have the means to do it.<br />
<br />
Sleep comes at a premium lately.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCCg8NXMRrNc1zq1qyg1BBYuUDrBplMKtMDRcie4RwwfE0ffszgCO8I9-s8yvOfS0tW6DIM8r0nvi7ORjWmDDm_QWGSdgxFsqdDHY59qSZQVXg-nM0WGCdwPpaCDPiai8Z1aZ/s1600/battery.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNCCg8NXMRrNc1zq1qyg1BBYuUDrBplMKtMDRcie4RwwfE0ffszgCO8I9-s8yvOfS0tW6DIM8r0nvi7ORjWmDDm_QWGSdgxFsqdDHY59qSZQVXg-nM0WGCdwPpaCDPiai8Z1aZ/s320/battery.png" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
So, I am preparing to place a number of lower priced perks for the campaign, to see if that brings in any support. It's difficult to get some of the mid-range items up, like a System76 Lemur3 laptop. Sure it's got some age on it but it's in perfect working order. We were going to offer it up at Indiegogo as soon as we ordered a battery for it. That's not gonna happen it turns out.<br />
<br />
<br />
They did get back to me fairly fast and I was looking forward to getting this machine up on the campaign. For the price I was going to list it, there's not much chance that it would last long as a perk. That was until I clicked the link provided to me so I could order the battery.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi3EEfVXF4WelwjhW23KVCwVHRudTDSTcYeO9JtuNILmKvr4oyidZZ3RKMvC0WQ309OYQYGQkhERSa5hOth7FjqP5XVx9IAHULkmVI5I-ZZAaFlTPex0LGvELBM0_VpPCvn7I/s1600/response.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbi3EEfVXF4WelwjhW23KVCwVHRudTDSTcYeO9JtuNILmKvr4oyidZZ3RKMvC0WQ309OYQYGQkhERSa5hOth7FjqP5XVx9IAHULkmVI5I-ZZAaFlTPex0LGvELBM0_VpPCvn7I/s320/response.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Uh, really folks...? You're going to charge me $125.00 to get a laptop up and running when said laptop wouldn't even bring that amount on the Ebay market?<br />
<br />
I suppose System76 has to make money on their addons, but holy frickin' cow. I'm not posting this to rage against System76, although they make it extremely easy to do so. I'm just showing you one of the many hangups we've had in getting enough money to operate for the next year.<br />
<br />
So listen. I would sure be more than thankful if you would take some time and drop by the <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-victim-of-our-own-success-kids/x/729034#/">indiegogo site</a> and donate what you can. There's not much reason to stay open and operating if we can't get through this next year. While I'll probably be accused of soliciting sympathy, I assure you the last thing I need is sympathy.<br />
<br />
That's just the way it is.<br />
<br />
All Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWhaOeKgP7CmRjSbrk0OpSNFf85maewgjKdxDWenMZWVURBwrHjAwFAOc3KqZ4M5hKZCHKMyNyQOq_k0h1jg_KGY0Sy57Ql2E7f3h7b-s6OpHYuqjynUzRUpiHDovjappiHlc/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWhaOeKgP7CmRjSbrk0OpSNFf85maewgjKdxDWenMZWVURBwrHjAwFAOc3KqZ4M5hKZCHKMyNyQOq_k0h1jg_KGY0Sy57Ql2E7f3h7b-s6OpHYuqjynUzRUpiHDovjappiHlc/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-50776427279368055212017-01-19T14:14:00.002-05:002017-01-19T20:47:49.116-05:00When You See A Chance....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqqcJMN1zksQ-DJqaK1WGK_5hxQAGg4u3izjkvoZEIDqel0j_wunlvgsccCjxOnpx3HC8ayWlgu3lNLZU7gsSOlBkuxZcd3o4lNRU1J1Do7m4drB1tXpPDI-tZaeaIZnTqluO/s1600/stumble.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqqcJMN1zksQ-DJqaK1WGK_5hxQAGg4u3izjkvoZEIDqel0j_wunlvgsccCjxOnpx3HC8ayWlgu3lNLZU7gsSOlBkuxZcd3o4lNRU1J1Do7m4drB1tXpPDI-tZaeaIZnTqluO/s320/stumble.png" width="320" /></a></div>
It's been a tough ride for us the past 18 months. All of which has been mentioned here previously, so I won't take up your time repeating it. Suffice it to say I've decided to pull-start the machine that will begin winding us down as an organization. As unpleasant health issues approach with the surety of time itself, it's the only responsible thing for me to do. I need to pass the torch, so to speak, while I still can remember which end to hold as I do so. I don't want to talk about those issues in detail. Not now. As medical tests continue come in, I may share those here. And I might not, depending on how they it all shakes out. I don't want to cause any unnecessary worry when it all might be just fine.<br />
<br />
We'll see.<br />
<br />
But even with our passing the Reglue mission and banner to a group of like-minded men and women in the next two to three years, we've literally stumbled over an opportunity to do some extremely good things. Extraordinarily Great things.<br />
<br />
And for this one possibly last and grand opportunity, I'm going to ask you to come along for the ride. Come on. It'll be fun. Pinky promise.<br />
<br />
Most of you know that Reglue serves a financially-depressed segment of Eastern Williamson County here in Texas. That's why we came to Taylor. While the "Dellionaires" in and around the Dell International Headquarters in Round Rock buoy the overall financial numbers for the people within said county, the truth is, there is a glaringly under-served segment of this area and many of them are falling by the wayside. Even worse, they're not being seen at all. Or no one is looking hard enough. Imagine that. Seems there isn't enough money at the end of the rope to tie off those that need rescued the most.<br />
<br />
Like that's never happened. Politics at it's worst.<br />
<br />
Every year in Texas, thousands of foster kids "age out" of their foster homes and families. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRPpIRInfxK978w8qyMIz0dqKs8bVV26i2faZt7My90ZRo1D7uz47DpwvT2Wt780zVT5ZpmGc5o1gX59Ah1u7dx3FeOi0v0RXQqbgawZoiS9jyghNs293R11uOF9s1VLP7dX8/s1600/bench.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzRPpIRInfxK978w8qyMIz0dqKs8bVV26i2faZt7My90ZRo1D7uz47DpwvT2Wt780zVT5ZpmGc5o1gX59Ah1u7dx3FeOi0v0RXQqbgawZoiS9jyghNs293R11uOF9s1VLP7dX8/s400/bench.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Once they turn 18 years of age, they can either submit paperwork to the foster care system, proving they will be enrolled full time in an accredited college or trade school, which extends their eligibility for foster care; or they are handed a box with bedding, toiletries and a check for 250.00 and shown the door and wished the best of luck.<br />
<br />
Two of those latter young men ended up at our door a 3 weeks ago, seeking assistance.<br />
<br />
Some might remember that we were highlighted in a few of the larger city newspapers in 2010 and 2011, as we took on the challenge of helping some of these kids get the computers and training they will need to enter college or a trade school. We were able to build these guys extremely nice machines. Back then, we had the resources to do this. Well, <u><i>you</i></u> had the resources. You made those efforts come to fruition. Unfortunately, at this time, we just cannot pull it off. That is, we don't have the equipment on hand, nor the money to build the machines these young adults will need for their academic challenges ahead. With grant funding for cash completely dried up, we've had to come back to this community to ask your help. The Linux and Open Source Communities.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-victim-of-our-own-success-kids/x/729034#/">Our Indiegogo campaign</a> is off to a slow start, but we listed this year's effort to run a full 60 days. We did so, banking that it might allow our donors the chance to get this next year funded. That's the plan anyway.<br />
<br />
As well, you can always do a one-time donation or set up a recurring donation via paypal via your online Paypal account. Email or message me and I can show you how to get it done. My thanks to Anita for showing me how to do it.<br />
<br />
We'll be following up this post with another, showing people how they can donate hardware to help us along as well. That is almost as important as money itself, so watch here for that article. I'll post it on Google + and Facebook when I get it posted.<br />
<br />
And as always...thanks for helping us do what we do. You've been the only reason we've done as well as we have for the past 11 years.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiLIi0qi5qivqnBuRAtEJU0jAeHSlX-NO2Oyn6t9XPNYxruu4HZHjub09y6XSmHysIB2zT7BqN-lIaWsF5lEfTp4-EzE5t2KEs1Zff3fNc4YTm5w9rZhr0nafknTAfGikphbW/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtiLIi0qi5qivqnBuRAtEJU0jAeHSlX-NO2Oyn6t9XPNYxruu4HZHjub09y6XSmHysIB2zT7BqN-lIaWsF5lEfTp4-EzE5t2KEs1Zff3fNc4YTm5w9rZhr0nafknTAfGikphbW/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-4022562113850793932017-01-09T15:11:00.001-05:002017-01-09T15:11:38.890-05:00Maybe It's Time For Some Change.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD_7rJaRCGhyphenhyphenIIDrONPAcsTxm-h8JByArGQUykVkf59X6eoXcEG2lW7cyFPCpWwBfSmOlwcTUWC6MECVAu4DyEt94A4J_RMpW8gCw72UhubZDYkMKIiOjg_vaiels4yy4OWTq/s1600/change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD_7rJaRCGhyphenhyphenIIDrONPAcsTxm-h8JByArGQUykVkf59X6eoXcEG2lW7cyFPCpWwBfSmOlwcTUWC6MECVAu4DyEt94A4J_RMpW8gCw72UhubZDYkMKIiOjg_vaiels4yy4OWTq/s320/change.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
It was a small box. You know, one of those USPS send anywhere for X amount of money...? The kind that you could fit a sandwich in it if you were so inclined? Yeah, that's the kind of box that I fished out of our mail box this morning. It was sent from St. Charles Louisiana. It was packed tight because it didn't even leave 1/4 of an inch in space of which to tattle anything by shaking it.<br />
<br />
Hmmmmm. I tossed it on the front seat and slammed the mail box door shut then continued on to get Diane's Rx stuff.<br />
<br />
So I got my errands done and when I walked into the house, I fished out my handy dandy Kershaw cut-rebar-in-half pocket knife and slit the tape away from the creases. I stuck my thumb into the space and slid it down to open it.<br />
<br />
Bubble wrap. Something fairly heavy, wrapped in some overly-sufficient bubble wrap. Man after my own heart. When I got down to the bottom of the bubble wrap, I extracted a large ziplock bag.<br />
<br />
It was full of money.<br />
<br />
Not like 20's and 100's but in change. A lot of change. Along with the note.<br />
<br />
"My family has a Reglue jar and when it's full, now and from now on, we are sending it to Reglue". He seemed to be reading my mind as I read his note. "And no", he said. "I have no idea how much money is in here".<br />
<br />
I smiled broadly. What a great idea. So what if.....?<br />
<br />
So what if I asked our supporters to do the same. And yeah, it's a pain in the butt. And yeah, it takes time and someone's gotta tend to it. But maybe, just maybe; if I asked a bunch of people (You are about 20K strong at this time) to help Reglue out by doing this, just maybe people will help.<br />
<br />
Maybe. So I just thought I'd through it out there.<br />
<br />
̶A̶l̶l̶ ̶R̶i̶g̶h̶t̶y̶ ̶T̶h̶e̶n̶<br />
<br />
Oh wait...That's right.<br />
<br />
The box? It held $71.00<br />
<br />
All Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRvIAFOMSruian-Q8dznXsb0VCak_IIfkX7vJnwnsEG_VCzk7KvapGo_c1v2s55TvgrhBJl_5477BHEHq97ZcGl4KS7qORMmf8untSG_dj7NBiNg36iWDQtDy53o6ssMIFcL1/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRvIAFOMSruian-Q8dznXsb0VCak_IIfkX7vJnwnsEG_VCzk7KvapGo_c1v2s55TvgrhBJl_5477BHEHq97ZcGl4KS7qORMmf8untSG_dj7NBiNg36iWDQtDy53o6ssMIFcL1/s400/infinity_tux.png" width="365" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-56033761328616663032017-01-05T15:53:00.000-05:002017-01-05T15:53:49.797-05:00Well, It's One For The Money, Two For The Show....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4jm_SiCveozpMoWpmSGNXzX4FK4LF-512H0vnXsARcs0WA_loGIeyLsuVWVYS2Yh3_1W2jdTkdthZDgdNxP3Hxvg6IsYJu7JUEWnKwEG25QqxdolnUmpY-LLSZM9N28BshvF/s1600/starting_gun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4jm_SiCveozpMoWpmSGNXzX4FK4LF-512H0vnXsARcs0WA_loGIeyLsuVWVYS2Yh3_1W2jdTkdthZDgdNxP3Hxvg6IsYJu7JUEWnKwEG25QqxdolnUmpY-LLSZM9N28BshvF/s400/starting_gun.jpg" width="236" /></a>After over a dozen email exchanges with those that work with or for Indiegogo.com and the people at Firstgiving.com, we've finally managed to get our annual Reglue fund raiser out of the blocks. Not to seem ungrateful, but those folks can make it damned near tear-inducing, hair-pulling madness to get a fund raiser off the ground. But, despite their dreadful inability to communicate with one another, we are up and we are live.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/a-victim-of-our-own-success-kids/x/729034#/">Our campaign is up and running.</a><br />
<br />
So let me tell you a bit about what we will be doing for the coming year and just a bit about our background.<br />
<br />
Here's how your contributions will be used.<br />
<br />
First and always foremost, we will attempt to insure that every financially-disadvantaged student in our sphere of influence will have a Linux-based computer in their home. Some have come to question the whole Linux-only thing for our organization and the computers that go into Reglue Kid's homes.<br />
<br />
Oh, it wasn't like that at first. We did begin our efforts back in 2005, by placing Windows on our outgoing machines. One of our first supporters donated 15 legitimate Windows XP licensed installation disks. We had those first 15 computers in the hands that needed them in less than a month.<br />
<br />
Within weeks, our lives became waking nightmares. Being the only person to handle support for these computers, I traveled from computer to computer, cleaning out malware and viruses. Not from just one or a few, I am talking every fracking one of them.<br />
<br />
From stacked-up toolbar extravaganzas and home page hijacking, to complete remote control of some computers, I worked the average of 59 hours a week, attempting to fix these problems. It seemed that my decision to use the Microsoft Windows on these first computers, or any subsequent computers was ill-advised. As well, <a href="http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2480487,00.asp">so was depending upon</a> Windows Defender as the primary antivirus/malware tool.<br />
<br />
OK, sidebar...gather around and I'll fill in the blanks and try to head off questions for now.<br />
<br />
I was already a Linux user. My business and my home computers were both running Linux. So why did I bother to deploy these 15 XP machines? I did so on the advice of someone I respect greatly, and still do. His argument was, since the world ran on Microsoft Windows, I would be doing these kids a great disservice by putting Linux on their computers. They would have to fight with teachers and other students because the various formats and applications within Linux would not meld in with the Windows World.<br />
<br />
While some of that was indeed true back in the early aughts, it's almost laughable to believe so now. With Microsoft's Office's "cloud" product being hyped and people being herded away from the on-board software version, Using the current Libre-Office and Open Source formats is a no-brainer. And, as it has been for quite some time, <a href="https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/2028380">Microsoft is having fits</a> trying to make their cloud product compatible with their own formats for on-board Office products. But that's old news.<br />
<br />
However, we are aware that a computer with Microsoft Windows can, in some cases, be necessary for a few of our kids. For those who do need Windows, we install a Windows system via VirtualBox. Should a problem present itself, it's easily fixed by deleting the old image and dropping in the backup.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDICP6tMPggdACK35pyQ-fA-1Y-xlPFCA7PImpSMHLA3_MKB4jb_hXhf2xfjt1I3PMVPl-t9PoO6eu6HV3GJRKHuCud6py1HDYE3zIhhyphenhyphen2lkWdwKjkD9xoR2atGqAXfMBkdqB/s1600/workingmars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDICP6tMPggdACK35pyQ-fA-1Y-xlPFCA7PImpSMHLA3_MKB4jb_hXhf2xfjt1I3PMVPl-t9PoO6eu6HV3GJRKHuCud6py1HDYE3zIhhyphenhyphen2lkWdwKjkD9xoR2atGqAXfMBkdqB/s400/workingmars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
What is important to know is that the computers which are being given to Reglue Kids today are powered by the sheer will of a Global Community. The Linux and Open Source Communities drive these machines. The machines that will guide today's kids into tomorrow's Chemical, nuclear and aerospace engineering and physics positions. These kids will bring back the Thorium-based nuclear power plants. They will not only fuel our nation's energy needs at a fraction of today's cost, they will push us farther out into space, and at speeds that seem almost impossible today.<br />
<br />
The kids that are in middle and high schools right now will be those that change the history of mankind for the better. Either on Earth or off-world, either in the classrooms or laboratories, they will make unimaginable progress in both protecting and propelling mankind into a better world. These are the kids that Reglue targets. Those that will make a better word for all of mankind.<br />
<br />
That is how your donation money will be spent. As well, we will bring back the summer programs that invite kids to learn about computers, inside and out. We will reinstate our girl's technology mentoring program as well as reconnecting seniors with their families who live far away. We have already helped over a dozen grandparents talk and laugh with their grandkids using Google Hangouts.<br />
<br />
But all of this takes money and it's money we need to make this new year possible. Along with our Indiegogo campaign, we also offer the alternative of donating via PayPal. Many of you have asked if they can make monthly automatic payments via PayPal. Well, yes you can but not with the ease I would hope.<br />
<br />
PayPal has removed the ability to sign up for monthly automatic payments from the Donate buttons like found on this page, top left. However, if you have a PayPal account, you can go to your PayPal page and do it from there. Our PayPal email addy is ken at reglue dott organism. Of course you will have to be a PayPal account holder to do so. Those who sign up for a $10.00 monthly contribution or more will receive one of our Reglue CinaMint 16 gig thumb drives. These are made to be persistent up to 4gb. Just make sure that the address on your PayPal account is current or I'll be sending your drives to the wrong address.<br />
<br />
For reasons that I may make clear later, this fund raiser is probably the most important one we've ever held. We have assigned 90 days to raise $9200.00 and given that amount of time, we should be able to make that easily, and possibly more. If you have any questions, you can email me, ken at reglue dott org. I look forward to hearing from you, and please, your help is needed this year more than most.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd3agx9CQ568R2JYn1iqKOkqthMUehTE3oiNq4X-rf6_YOzNH0Fd3KY1w9JDBMB4qCQUJKZHsahDf1H5VQ8mIXFfhm-COUXuW7IaJ8iKmO1a-HaZJK0mIoQa8o5W3hH4-bynv/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd3agx9CQ568R2JYn1iqKOkqthMUehTE3oiNq4X-rf6_YOzNH0Fd3KY1w9JDBMB4qCQUJKZHsahDf1H5VQ8mIXFfhm-COUXuW7IaJ8iKmO1a-HaZJK0mIoQa8o5W3hH4-bynv/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-35425985898069406362016-12-20T14:17:00.000-05:002016-12-25T13:54:00.837-05:00Our Annual Reglue Fundraiser - Some Things You Need To Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduzdEnat-euW8O0ULmT5Sokz4txCAygHJQtaj5M-yeXgUNGWCP1d4fFiJ3h4xeW2Wr0aGc4DDjFTMZ7xoyQU9z2OjwPdq7L6AVXQDzjb8TbITvzRxbTThIDYeRnxEbnRuF1jc/s1600/money_flow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduzdEnat-euW8O0ULmT5Sokz4txCAygHJQtaj5M-yeXgUNGWCP1d4fFiJ3h4xeW2Wr0aGc4DDjFTMZ7xoyQU9z2OjwPdq7L6AVXQDzjb8TbITvzRxbTThIDYeRnxEbnRuF1jc/s400/money_flow.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Well, here we are again. Gee. it seems like it was only a year ago. Oh wait...it was (about) a year ago. While we are posting our fund raiser a bit late this year, we think that This might be a good time of year to do it. We've had a tough couple of years, physically and financially, so this fund raiser is important to us.<br />
<br />
More important than any in our past. We are (I) may be closing in on the finish line.<br />
<br />
Taylor was sandwiched between two nasty floods. The Memorial Day Flood of 2015 killed 12 people in and around Taylor and the Eastern Williamson County area. 19.6 inches of rain fell in less than 24 hours. While still rebuilding from that disaster in February of 2016, another round of heavy rain slapped those rebuilding efforts back, and some had to start all over. Again. We helped a dozen people with replacing lost computers.<br />
<br />
Floods. A nasty bit of business that.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, our entire neighborhood was spared the heaviest damages from the rains. We're built on high ground and with a huge retention area and a paralleling railroad easement, those build-ups and gullies were responsible for saving our backsides here at home. Others were not so lucky.<br />
<br />
It was ugly...trust me. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgabxmft3afhyphenhyphenf5V8gXo6RFqBjJqIVtsqtsn-SghbLu7h217EwnafX3yzhiQuseTsFeij_HvGchsbawWLEGN_PfbMjk3FkzG3WJD47-4q-TUc4Vrj6i2U7siFdgWMwhtcj7tG-/s1600/hit_jaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgabxmft3afhyphenhyphenf5V8gXo6RFqBjJqIVtsqtsn-SghbLu7h217EwnafX3yzhiQuseTsFeij_HvGchsbawWLEGN_PfbMjk3FkzG3WJD47-4q-TUc4Vrj6i2U7siFdgWMwhtcj7tG-/s400/hit_jaw.jpg" width="400" /></a>We got hammered with requests from those who lost almost everything. Hook that up with a severe hardware shortage and we found ourselves in an untenable position. <br />
<br />
We're out of stuff and money. Or money and stuff. It's all the same.<br />
<br />
We've done good work in the past couple of years here in Taylor. The city has graciously repaired our roof and will repair the ceiling in good time so we are dry and safe. Now we need to get back to work.<br />
<br />
We need to raise $9200.00 to get us through the next 12 months. And from there, I will begin training the people that state they are interested in resuming Reglue's day to day activity. Here's the truth of the matter. We've had a wonderful relationship with the greater Linux and Free and Open Source Software community for almost a decade. 90% of our funding has come from you folks and for that I am grateful beyond expression.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y566wyXKJ50vEWo2suJVRc6hnj563QTDnToGZptD9Zq2PFd4DT2J_iNm702jY-4cIri4pOdYkhNyIAc9SL19p2rWPsCtVfpa6JocYM_nZRuMgGV3_AyF_b756lDWUb_tidpV/s1600/large_old_clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y566wyXKJ50vEWo2suJVRc6hnj563QTDnToGZptD9Zq2PFd4DT2J_iNm702jY-4cIri4pOdYkhNyIAc9SL19p2rWPsCtVfpa6JocYM_nZRuMgGV3_AyF_b756lDWUb_tidpV/s400/large_old_clock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
However as the years go by, it is getting harder and harder to raise the money we need, and to be more honest with you than I should be, it's taken a toll on my health. I've rolled over two battles with cancer, deepening depression and problems with Diane's worsening health. Constant stress caused by money worries and my already reduced immune system are killing me and I cannot allow that to happen. Regardless of how much I dearly love this project I've built, it's time to take close stock of what is most important. I have grand daughters to help grow, I have my youngest daughter getting married in a year and I would give away everything to see my grandchild from her. Even Reglue.<br />
<br />
After that, I'm ready to go any time The Universe says it's time to go.<br />
<br />
So here's the deal. Get me through the next year and we'll see how things are then. That $9200.00 mark is high, but with 60 days to do it, it should be an easy amount to reach.<br />
<br />
"It Should Be."<br />
<br />
Famous last words.<br />
<br />
Let's hope not. Now help me get 125 computers set into the homes that need them most. We will be offering some pretty nice perks with the Indiegogo fund raiser, bit we are waiting for our bank to get us some information needed. BUT... we also have a donate button on top left of this page. Here's the deal. Those who set up a persistent 10.00 or 20.00 monthly donation will receive a 32GB Cinaglue Linux Mint based flash drive. In the mail the next day. <br />
<br />
But that's not all. At the 6 month mark of your 12 month pledge, you will have your choice of a number of goodies. Stuff like 1GB USB3 portable drives (think Passport). Or, a number of things, depending on our current inventory. Nothing less than 200.00 dollar value and it's all computer-related stuff.<br />
<br />
I cannot mention this on our Indiegogo drive so pass it around and let's see how much we can get pledged annually. I don't know if you know it or not, but you folks are the heart and soul of Reglue and Reglue is the reason I get out of bed every morning. The reason I told cancer to go PUAR. The reason I turn the key in that door every day.<br />
<br />
We could use your help. <br />
<br />
<br />
All Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6mmntH4Ncc_nF0LRrI7PcgkSFt3D4Bl4b24Lhj0i-OC19iiGNlMWrNEayMoh0zbXlmDw027I0760XjL03irQffJloqtwzWD8Hfg4fiNa9zRoC3cZVVZlfh4opy_daXitWA_H/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI6mmntH4Ncc_nF0LRrI7PcgkSFt3D4Bl4b24Lhj0i-OC19iiGNlMWrNEayMoh0zbXlmDw027I0760XjL03irQffJloqtwzWD8Hfg4fiNa9zRoC3cZVVZlfh4opy_daXitWA_H/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-7741917785466413662016-11-28T16:56:00.000-05:002016-11-30T09:28:36.926-05:00What Time Do You Have?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznfpBnaSMOYR3SESsVrr7XUVCfCK08O_sU-SnQnsCoQ1j-vbWTtNpdhmqbma_nmjB6Q-2I8fzQah-mD7LXv0JEGk4z-z-W5iBxUvmIYxycENrxFVjvGsAeb7AbrjI4UlKaini/s1600/broken-stopwatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznfpBnaSMOYR3SESsVrr7XUVCfCK08O_sU-SnQnsCoQ1j-vbWTtNpdhmqbma_nmjB6Q-2I8fzQah-mD7LXv0JEGk4z-z-W5iBxUvmIYxycENrxFVjvGsAeb7AbrjI4UlKaini/s1600/broken-stopwatch.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
<i>This is something I wrote over a year ago and I am going to re-publish a segment of it. Being the holiday season, it's a good time for self-reflection and remembering what is really important to all of us.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> Someone asked me what it was like to be diagnosed as terminal and told that only months separated me from The Thin, Dark Veil. So this is what was on my mind and I want to share it with you. Maybe it helps someone else facing the same thing. Maybe.</i><br />
<br />
Let me tell you what being diagnosed with terminal cancer taught me. it's deceptively simple.<br />
<br />
There is not an asset or physical object in the universe that is more valuable than time. You cannot purchase it. You cannot steal it. You cannot manufacture it.<br />
<br />
When you can see the finish line rushing to meet you...There's nothing you can do to stop it. That boring conversation with my baby brother that seemed to go on forever?<br />
<br />
Let me have those moments again and let me really hear him instead of contriving a way to get away. His death strikes the very center of my being and at times, I anguish over the things that should have been. Let me put my hand upon his shoulder and meet his gaze. Let him know that I am listening. Let me laugh with him at his terrible jokes. Let me put my arm around him and pull him close when he tells me that he just lost his job. Let me weep with him. Tears are powerful if they join and flow with others. Together they form resolve. This is what I considered to be important, seconds after being told I had 8 months to live. <br />
<br />
My failings came in a rush. Things that I had an opportunity to do but chose not to...things I did do that hurt others terribly, deeply....things that I cannot believe The Universe could forgive, or would. It was those things that battered my psyche almost to the point of screaming out in agony. So many things...<br />
<br />
So. Many. Things.<br />
<br />
Just one more hour to finish my childhood scrapbook I was working on to give my daughters. Just 15 more minutes to help my wife find her glasses. Just 10 more minutes to give my friend a ride after I made the excuse that <i>I</i> was "too busy". Just 9 more seconds to backtrack and duck my head back into the kitchen and say "I love you too honey", as I made my way to work. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEHSRK5zezaFxCUlq_FFhTUPYlJ9BB8JZ4Yb5PehfwfWYouJPPfTZps19maSddUwS-SuS7P4Dy1vEFhDyTKWRA3X7vp57Tm_MaP8ba7z0o858ADV0XcBkEMhFSI1K85h_GD8n/s1600/sleeping_astro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQEHSRK5zezaFxCUlq_FFhTUPYlJ9BB8JZ4Yb5PehfwfWYouJPPfTZps19maSddUwS-SuS7P4Dy1vEFhDyTKWRA3X7vp57Tm_MaP8ba7z0o858ADV0XcBkEMhFSI1K85h_GD8n/s400/sleeping_astro.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
I wish I had lowered my fat backside down and sat on the floor to spend more time with my best friend.<br />
<br />
I want time to be with him on his level. To let him know how much I love him. He was painfully bonded to me and even me going on a trip to the store sent him into anxiety and then depression. Diane said he would go to his bed and pout. But then, he's at the door to greet me, his hearing is tuned to the sound of my car door closing. For the next 45 seconds he is a puppy again. He crouches with his hind end up in the air, as if ready to pounce. He loses his little mind as I come through the door. I kneel to hold his head and massage his ears. And I kiss his cold, wet nose. I needed to hold him and love him more. He was an old sick guy like me and he had a bad heart. He wasn't with me near as long as I needed him to be. It was my duty to do these things and I wish I had done it more. When you can see the end <i>taking dead aim at you</i>, it becomes clear that you get none of this back.<br />
<br />
Not one hour... <br />
<br />
Not one minute... <br />
<br />
Not<br />
<br />
one<br />
<br />
second.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeG4s4XhjbIVBjLmBP2z_220nmu9ZBC5e8objopA1LZuXudxg4nBE0xV8qqEpYCb98NHN3UicAMHslOtvOzxTSZYPNMZreidQ5y1e4alCpfQOfGGs4Z_m2bfA8kjGg25-bKX5/s1600/starting_block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeG4s4XhjbIVBjLmBP2z_220nmu9ZBC5e8objopA1LZuXudxg4nBE0xV8qqEpYCb98NHN3UicAMHslOtvOzxTSZYPNMZreidQ5y1e4alCpfQOfGGs4Z_m2bfA8kjGg25-bKX5/s1600/starting_block.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The Universe is an inexorable time keeper. Your life's race ends for you when The Universe says your life's race ends for you. This is what being diagnosed with terminal cancer taught me.<br />
<br />
Through my despair I was reminded that it's <i>never too late</i> to search for and regain hope. Being diagnosed as "terminal" by one doctor prompted a 70/30 survival prognosis by another. The brutal treatment regimen I chose saved me but made me horribly ill for months. It forced me to question my choice for this particular treatment and I thought of quitting. It reduced me to a pile of skin and bone...a lump of nausea, fear and disconsolation within my sweat-stained bed sheets. It took me just over 19 months to struggle up the sidewalk and turn the key in the Reglue shop door.<br />
<br />
But through it all, here I am.<br />
<br />
Here I am, telling you what is important. Not to me precisely, but to you...to a generation of kids who will go through the most important years of school without a computer. Or a Mom. Or a place (s)he can lay their heads without fear of dying by a stray bullet of a drive-by shooting. Here I am, telling you that the life which promised a coughing, gasping, bulging-eyed choking end, was revived by hope. By people who care enough to look past your bank account. By those who told me that hope would keep me alive, if I allowed it do do so.<br />
<br />
Make no mistake here. Not many people with late stage cancer survive this level of treatment. And if they do opt for it, most often they quit 30% through the regimen. It can and often does cause cancer in the same parts of your body a scant few years later. It comes back, enraged that you chose to stand up to it then. Doubling its efforts to wipe you from the living face of the earth. But it kills the cancer for <b>Now</b>.<br />
<br />
So it's <b>Now</b>, in which I live. It's <b>Now</b> that I share this with you.<br />
<br />
Take stock of all around you allow yourself to see things through my eyes, or the clear, bright eyes of any cancer survivor. Then and only then may you think about the unknown time ahead of you. Use it wisely and to the love and understanding of others. Because you'll never get that opportunity again.<br />
<br />
Ever.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then...<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfvNCrwNHxL91rqyByZS-NXZM3SRrTomXjZuxNXqqw_yqbWlc8m0qnZKPfOq8z9X06XmyDkQTD2PWwyliLCMGFJyUFM9cVaU0C1I2gclt1VnX7K_3yhWOHVKR7yP8mJiBuW9n/s1600/blueinfinityshadow_small.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrfvNCrwNHxL91rqyByZS-NXZM3SRrTomXjZuxNXqqw_yqbWlc8m0qnZKPfOq8z9X06XmyDkQTD2PWwyliLCMGFJyUFM9cVaU0C1I2gclt1VnX7K_3yhWOHVKR7yP8mJiBuW9n/s400/blueinfinityshadow_small.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-77671505902049156172016-11-28T02:40:00.001-05:002016-11-28T02:40:28.993-05:00This Holiday Season, Don't Recycle....Reglue.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBVu1GV-CJoiIBCOTDKTChogILLcqMMKtwqVGE72jo5sO9JPIQtmVu5Tzva3MO_VmzwC1k1CnZoxP7jNewxXHaiUpJZ42Q1GbkOA4YoZxQPHumVp_bGATFsv9ibuwiuLlycEv/s1600/thats_all_folks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBVu1GV-CJoiIBCOTDKTChogILLcqMMKtwqVGE72jo5sO9JPIQtmVu5Tzva3MO_VmzwC1k1CnZoxP7jNewxXHaiUpJZ42Q1GbkOA4YoZxQPHumVp_bGATFsv9ibuwiuLlycEv/s400/thats_all_folks.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
As we begin to enter the different stages of our annual fund raiser, at this point, we don't want your money. Not now at least.<br />
<br />
The past 19 months have been brutal for us, equipment-wise. Between 2 floods-of-the-century less than a year apart, and an unprecedented demand for computers, our inventory has dipped lower than it has ever been. For the first time in our history, we are out of machines while 17 Taylor Texas kids are still in need of computers. Diane and I dug into our savings and donated Reglue 2K in order to get on track, but the more kids we helped, the more requests came in. We are both living on extremely limited incomes. We cannot do that again.<br />
<br />
And it wasn't anywhere near the holiday season when this happened. But it is now and all we have is a handful of woefully under-powered computers left in our make-ready shelves. Unfortunately, about half of those just are not up to the demands of today's high school students. And while many will suggest that we simply use a lighter distro, that's not going to help. Sure I can make a computer work, but in cases like this, even a light distro cannot make it useful. You can go as "light" as you want but when you find the need to use LibreOffice or The Gimp, all of those miserly intentions crash around your feet.<br />
<br />
So here's the deal. We're asking for those computers that are sitting in your closets and under your company's tech support benches. Ideally, we are asking for machines that are six years old, maybe seven. It's not only computers we need. The last flood completely filled a plastic bin with 2 dozen laptops that were ready to go. Your hard drives, speakers, mice and keyboards can be put to work immediately...<br />
<br />
If not sooner.<br />
<br />
And while it seems that we were taking right hooks to the side of the head, both left and right; we recently received a donation of 49 extremely useable flat screen monitors, of the 17, 19 and 21 inch variety. We're good on monitors, for now anyway. And that donation came from one of you. Holy frickin' cow. I'm afraid to ask what the shipping costs were. They came in via the back of a Yellow Freight truck on pallets, so it was probably less than the everyday carriers, but not by much.<br />
<br />
Should you have any of the things we need, we will try to scrape up the money to help you with shipping. We'll do our best to offset those costs the best we can. If you are in Travis or Williamson county, I can arrange to come to you. I'll buy us lunch while we're at it.<br />
<br />
We want to get this campaign underway before we start the main fund raiser. This way, we'll know a bit more about how we are going to address the 17 student's needs from a hardware point of view.<br />
<br />
The greater Linux community has been the driving force behind our efforts. From our beginning, you people are directly responsible for over 1600 computers being placed into the homes of kids that needed our help the most, and we never forget the people who help us.<br />
<br />
Ever.<br />
<br />
You can contact me personally ken at reglue dott orggg or go to reglue.org and click the "contact us" button. That will go to my or Pete's inbox. As I try to do as often as I can, I want to personally thank you for helping us do what we do. We could have never done it without you.<br />
<br />
All Righty Then...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRW982kXcG2w_bMUnqxYViSkChGokW0vB-pp6fOOTsLWUwr9Z-g1mkemJ7UhrZzkjWRt4xGtBHD0KQ-MEX9enFKhn3DM2uPqgBCh5U-93PODVkjNvQ2nFR_f0JoDSMaj5pI1y/s1600/IMG_5293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRW982kXcG2w_bMUnqxYViSkChGokW0vB-pp6fOOTsLWUwr9Z-g1mkemJ7UhrZzkjWRt4xGtBHD0KQ-MEX9enFKhn3DM2uPqgBCh5U-93PODVkjNvQ2nFR_f0JoDSMaj5pI1y/s320/IMG_5293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-33249713156969726332016-11-15T15:54:00.000-05:002016-11-15T18:59:04.328-05:00Being The Holidays and All...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1pb0VPnhtPDLYbjU8jSfr50jWJ6PQYVtFMGx8C3NuWh2dt3RaBk0oHVdJ17dHHRHVN8V7bekBuYtv46Ewf0cyri5aY0jvH2CqVADUfDNX8-xuFL7n2RcOBqrTTEqmA1d6a7/s1600/wreath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSz1pb0VPnhtPDLYbjU8jSfr50jWJ6PQYVtFMGx8C3NuWh2dt3RaBk0oHVdJ17dHHRHVN8V7bekBuYtv46Ewf0cyri5aY0jvH2CqVADUfDNX8-xuFL7n2RcOBqrTTEqmA1d6a7/s400/wreath.jpg" width="370" /></a></div>
For over 2 decades, Diane has made holiday wreaths for friends and family. There are never two made the same. She works with what the wreath tells her. Yeah, I know...I thought it was a bit odd as well, but the end result is gorgeous.<br />
<br />
Diane works with color sets. The one pictured here is a red and gold color set. But just because it's the same color set, doesn't mean it will be identical to other red and gold color sets made later on. She's pretty fussy about the materials she uses and flammable stuff won't make the cut with her wreaths. When possible, she uses only made in the USA materials, although that is getting harder to do these days. She does blue and silver, turquoise and silver, red and silver, and gold and silver. If the colors are available, she will do special orders.<br />
<br />
She ducked her head in the office a while ago and asked me when the fund raiser would begin. I've put it off due to medical reasons but it should be ready to publish in the next couple of days. She wants to extend her talents in helping <a href="http://www.reglue.org/">Reglue</a> raise a bit of money with her work. Now that's a good idea, but she will only be making 6 of them this year and they will all go to the Reglue cause.<br />
<br />
Folks, we've had a harsh couple of years and we're going to need a lot of help in getting operating funds for the next year. Diane has been generous with her offer and I agree, six of them should be all she does. Her arthritic hands won't let her do more than that.<br />
<br />
So the bottom line? 75.00 packaged and shipped. And yeah, you can probably buy holiday wreaths a lot cheaper elsewhere, but you know the person, at least by proxy; that made your wreath and you are guaranteed there will never be another one like it. This is a donation item but paypal can get crappy about items selling as donations. You'll probably be better off by marking it a donation item and that will keep us all out of trouble.<br />
<br />
It don't take much for Paypal to pull the rug out from under you. They are truly evil incarnate, but their the only real game in town, so there's that. Ken@reglue.org is our paypal address. For those who rather deal with check or money order, let me know and I'll send you the shipping address.<br />
<br />
We didn't use these as holiday perks on Indiegogo because we rather work with you folks face to face, as it were. You have made Reglue a known entity in the Linux World and without you, there would be no "Us".<br />
<br />
Regardless of your religious or political beliefs, you can always purchase one and give it to another family that might enjoy it. Diane wanted me to tell you that she enjoys making them for our community.<br />
<br />
And if you know Diane, that's saying a lot.<br />
<br />
All-Righty then...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcHUtN4b6nOoY3pDEr42pqo7W_VCXtlauCxyIdr3LJsOcBny2pAOjV2X63bW-PRFBIOFEX7EjNkYsyLzLXbfONmIVlv6OsW6bdIBNOVD0wxBExis5adKPzGZWuYyEibrHA1fg/s1600/yule_log.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcHUtN4b6nOoY3pDEr42pqo7W_VCXtlauCxyIdr3LJsOcBny2pAOjV2X63bW-PRFBIOFEX7EjNkYsyLzLXbfONmIVlv6OsW6bdIBNOVD0wxBExis5adKPzGZWuYyEibrHA1fg/s400/yule_log.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-36292336405913446932016-11-04T16:24:00.000-05:002016-11-04T16:25:29.196-05:00A Victim of Our Own Success.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv7wUcsDCnvh0IYFGSWLU4fyaf32FyKLlv6io1yDvb2vvo_0oC7HZzFJPCWyV6qfI0aME4Gp5njrjBs944ItBd2NkTRfhx9Ev6VgDP-TbJuRE_2B-JxTIducj8mg-lllwiF5C/s1600/crying_man_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv7wUcsDCnvh0IYFGSWLU4fyaf32FyKLlv6io1yDvb2vvo_0oC7HZzFJPCWyV6qfI0aME4Gp5njrjBs944ItBd2NkTRfhx9Ev6VgDP-TbJuRE_2B-JxTIducj8mg-lllwiF5C/s320/crying_man_art.jpg" width="309" /></a></div>
I've told the story before and I'll tell it again, I'll just leave out the dialog between us. It goes much quicker.<br />
<br />
Trust me.<br />
<br />
A guy who works as the technical support company for a communications firm contacts me from time to time. He usually has a decent amount of fairly good machines for us. Not too long ago, I received one of those communications. He told me he was glad that he looked at the year these laptops were made because he had come close to shoveling a bunch of junk at Reglue. A recycle company picked them up a few days ago.<br />
<br />
That "junk" was a partial pallet of Dell Latitude 6410's<br />
<br />
Those laptops are solid gold here at Reglue. They for the most part, were i7 quad core laptops with 8-12 gigs of RAM. They also provided the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E6510-Notebook-Professional/dp/B003VN2Q5A">Latitude E6520s</a> we readied in 2013. For those going on to college or graduate studies, as a rule, we'll max them out at 16gb of RAM and send them along their way. We have grad students at this moment, still using those computers.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYeagdM8SdV5bovowz7i31mpougC6CkoOaOTJ1qcsijCLwhRwkS9xB5msZJ8dDTR4Ngns6jQVXy0ycaOBIOi5ZB7IfQqJupiph80ykgViQH3AZa9440W9NNufFNd6AkQ_yU77/s1600/gold-bars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpYeagdM8SdV5bovowz7i31mpougC6CkoOaOTJ1qcsijCLwhRwkS9xB5msZJ8dDTR4Ngns6jQVXy0ycaOBIOi5ZB7IfQqJupiph80ykgViQH3AZa9440W9NNufFNd6AkQ_yU77/s320/gold-bars.jpg" width="320" /></a>Earlier in the year, Reglue took on a project for the Taylor Housing Authority. They asked us if we could provide computers for the kids living in these housing projects.<br />
<br />
Well, I guess we could, it's kinda the reason we're here. Systems Engineer Director Pete Salas and 2013 Reglue volunteer of the year, James Lantch dove into our inventory and were readying those machines as quickly as I could install them. When the dust settled and we had a chance to catch our breath, there was a collective "uh-oh" from the inside of our Reglue facility.<br />
<br />
As of October 29th, we have less than 2 dozen serviceable machines on hand, and many of them are going to need hard drives and/or RAM upgrades. That's not to mention the RAM, Monitors, hard drives and speakers that will be needed after those are gone.<br />
<br />
So that being the case, we want to ask folks to help us get some of these items. If you are in IT for your company or know who that might be, please put in a good word for this 501(3)(c). We are not going to be able to even consider the Christmas rush this year, and this will be the first year we have to turn these kids away. Ever. Our paypal account is also open for your consideration - ken@reglue.org. That is our Paypal donation address...should you feel you would rather just give us the money to buy the stuff we need. There are 3 local monthly or bi-weekly auctions that have some killer hardware for next to nothing. That is how we've been handling current needs but Diane and I have used 3K of our savings to do so, and we cannot do that again.<br />
<br />
For those of you who donate to us monthly, you are just fine. You have seen yourself clear to give us the monthly donations that keep the lights on and fuel in the delivery truck. We cannot or will not ask more of you. You are just fine.<br />
<br />
For others, I would ask you to consider a monthly donation of 10 or 20 dollars. Your monthly donations will allow us to meet our current overhead, allowing us to use the rest of our money to do the job we're suppose to be doing.<br />
<br />
Our Indiegogo fund raiser will start on Monday, and I will repost this on Monday as well. So if you have hardware 6 years old or newer, we would deeply appreciate you donating it to Reglue. You have no idea how much your help is appreciated.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobxmLjKFxKRh0soDfD-TsBxkWdspDMbvEYjZlkYlQxnZKrO7lrJG07mSVMTv1PxIRohyEbmmaqBubaM2g84xF6t2OTXwyJzg7t5hrP9RtSkRWEIQhS7Jjw03vYyaMyOTTDFhh/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgobxmLjKFxKRh0soDfD-TsBxkWdspDMbvEYjZlkYlQxnZKrO7lrJG07mSVMTv1PxIRohyEbmmaqBubaM2g84xF6t2OTXwyJzg7t5hrP9RtSkRWEIQhS7Jjw03vYyaMyOTTDFhh/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-47845266569195952212016-10-22T15:07:00.000-05:002016-10-22T16:55:49.000-05:00Of Life, Linux and Karma Angels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyTf2Z5NrGkVUvZ1UN0W76_jDS34Noyh6v8Yw1sGzMRITb1Tl3Hm0qMHpLRDdWMflVig-Lg3wM489m4ESqEONDq5Jm-fAjW-kW72WwUGH358tqBZJiI6vnnDwragGa29HcyTR/s1600/karma_angel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVyTf2Z5NrGkVUvZ1UN0W76_jDS34Noyh6v8Yw1sGzMRITb1Tl3Hm0qMHpLRDdWMflVig-Lg3wM489m4ESqEONDq5Jm-fAjW-kW72WwUGH358tqBZJiI6vnnDwragGa29HcyTR/s320/karma_angel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Despite what I've written in the past couple of months, all is not doom, gloom and stink pickles.<br />
<br />
Fact is, something happened to Diane and me 2 months ago that can be described as no less than an "Oprah Moment"...a number of circumstances that accumulated into nothing less than a True Magic Moment. Stick around...Linux is a part of this, albeit just a small part. But in all, it has acted to remind both of us, that good things truly happen. Sometimes way ahead of the Karma Curve, if such a thing exists. <br />
<br />
Let's talk about the good.<br />
<br />
After being injured on the job and no longer able to do that job, I took a position for an in-state truck route. Same thing every day, varying little at best. It got to the point that I could have driven it by braille. During that time, I became good friends with the dispatcher for the trucking company and we became friends off the job as well. We would visit each other often, she would come to my house and I would visit her. We're going to call her Angel. Obvious reasons for that choice will become clear in time.<br />
<br />
Angel had been working in that position with the trucking firm for several years, so it was no surprise that a lot of locker room talk would bounce from those walls from time to time. Angel was considered one of the guys so there were no limits to how rowdy or off-color the banter would be traded on any given day. It was during one of those times when Angel said something that could only be construed as an admission that she was gay. Everyone laughed and business carried on until quitting time, then Angel was called into the manager's office at 5PM.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EFPB52F1vN8c_sFupXBQ58dmo5qny2g-giwAPjQ-p580WmPuepfXpdBTAbvJxZKkRSgxNwAREJjH4VYPSwpBKo4CqpJOsw-TUXKldXAitFuY9m0-SVRDXD8PZPY_nEaRpcQp/s1600/donald-trump-youre-fired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EFPB52F1vN8c_sFupXBQ58dmo5qny2g-giwAPjQ-p580WmPuepfXpdBTAbvJxZKkRSgxNwAREJjH4VYPSwpBKo4CqpJOsw-TUXKldXAitFuY9m0-SVRDXD8PZPY_nEaRpcQp/s320/donald-trump-youre-fired.jpg" width="320" /></a>She was summarily "terminated for cause" and escorted off the property.<br />
<br />
Angel filed appeal after appeal only to be denied on every attempt. Texas is an "at will" employment state so being terminated for cause can mean anything. Over the next few weeks, Angel became more and more fearful of losing her house, as she had just purchased it a year before. On top of that, her HP desktop had taken a nose dive into severe brokeness and that made it extra difficult for her to look for work. I put together a decent desktop for her and installed it that day, and yes...it was a Linux computer.<br />
<br />
Angel didn't have even the slightest problem with the new machine, and she wasn't particularly good at using one. So, let's put another slash in the falsehood that Linux is too hard for the everyday user. Most of them anyway. YMMV.<br />
<br />
To her glee, the OS picked up and configured her Epson all in one without her lifting a finger to do so. She almost clapped for happiness, stating that in Windows, installing that printer had been a nightmare, even with the included driver CD. And just to pinpoint the time frame for you, it was the summer of 2006.<br />
<br />
Angel had several job interviews over the months but none of them resulted in employment for her. She began applying for just about any job that she could reasonably do, even to the point of applying for an animal control officer. Her job was euthanasia officer. Fortunately she turned that job down, on principle alone. Ironically, that was the only offer she got in all that time.<br />
<br />
The beginning of her 4th month of unemployment, she called me just to vent and have someone to listen to her. She was despondent to the core of her being and for the first time, she wept as she told me of her experiences in an unsuccessful job hunt. She also said her savings were running out and she would be $400.00 short of her mortgage. She was in fear of losing her house. Angel wasn't asking me for money. She knew that I was behind on my bills too, being off work for so long. It was just a statement of fact. I promised to come and visit her the following weekend and we hung up.<br />
<br />
I pulled up my paypal account to check my balance and sent Angel the $400.00 dollars she so badly needed. That was "incidental money" as far as I was concerned anyway. I wrote a note telling her the money was a gift and not a loan. I told her that if she ever tried to pay it back, I would use it for lewd and lascivious past times.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, at the halfway point of her 5th month of unemployment, she got a decent paying job and we celebrated by ordering pizza and drinking beer at her house. I passed out on the couch and she just let me sleep.<br />
<br />
Time passed into years and Diane and I had been together for almost 7 years. Angel had been promoted at work to a supervisor's position and the pay was fantastic. She had already gone on a 7 day cruise with her current significant and hiked the Grand Canyon. She wanted to know if she could come over for lunch the next Saturday and not to worry about fixing anything, she would bring it with her. Diane and I told her that she was more than welcome.<br />
<br />
Angel arrived at our door precisely on time and carrying a bucket of chicken under one arm and a six pack of Shiner under the other. I took the beer and she came in and closed the door behind her. We hugged each other and gathered around the TV, watching a DVD movie she had brought along. She joked that the beer was to offset how terrible the old Robert Mitchum movie was. Soon enough, Diane suggested that we take a seat in the dining room and eat. I didn't have to be asked twice.<br />
<br />
So the beer flowed along with the KFC cole slaw and chicken. She stood up and offered a toast to the announcement she was about to make. We figured it was concerning her recent raise so we all stood and toasted to our friendship. No sooner had we taken our seats, Angel made her announcement.<br />
<br />
"I'm giving you guys ten thousand dollars".<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VIYzVMqrAxAsLI_UmL1QjdzYNyeo8lkoHc9DpvcWeF5RTb0Fmt3RQttpiy5yOYJbrTWzHkngT7JsF8pnqg-RmN0U5bmj2xfwq-u6dI-c_5QKzrL90My4nFaJsF406u0TXFZg/s1600/f12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VIYzVMqrAxAsLI_UmL1QjdzYNyeo8lkoHc9DpvcWeF5RTb0Fmt3RQttpiy5yOYJbrTWzHkngT7JsF8pnqg-RmN0U5bmj2xfwq-u6dI-c_5QKzrL90My4nFaJsF406u0TXFZg/s400/f12.jpg" width="400" /></a>The room went completely quiet. Robert Mitchum eventually broke the silence by starting a fist fight in the living room. I cleared my throat to assure I could speak. "What did you say?"<br />
<br />
I knew perfectly well what she had said. It just seemed like the thing to do, asking her to repeat the fact that she was giving us ten thousand dollars. Tears welled and streaked down Diane's face as Angel went further with her explanation.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Kenny, you gave me money when I was days away from losing my home and you saved my ass. You were just as broke as I was. Look, I know you guys struggle and that old Explorer is on her last legs. Let me give you enough money to at least buy something that will last you a few years.<br />
<br />
As it turned out, Angel had filed a lawsuit against the trucking company that fired her for being gay. The first thing she did with her settlement money was pay off her house. The second thing she did was give us ten grand.<br />
<br />
Diane's quiet tears erupted into a full force hurricane of sobs, gulps and intermittent nose-snuffling, and all the while trying to talk. And a piece of advice to the ladies. If you are immersed into a full scale sobbing jag, please don't try to talk. You sound like Laura Petrie right after she says, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_t6GSfInrQ">Oh Rob</a>..."<br />
<br />
Just sayin.<br />
<br />
Angel hugged Diane and told her everything was fine. She told Diane her bladder was way too close to her eyes and even I laughed at that. When we were all able to sit down with at least some semblance of normalcy, Angel suggested that we begin car shopping immediately. THAT dried up Diane's tears immediately. If there is anything Diane loves dearly. it's shopping. She is infected with the the SSG. short for Super Shopping Gene. But let me use this time to warn anyone who may ever consider purchasing a vehicle from a private party, with cash...tread carefully.<br />
<br />
So the "reported limit" that can supposedly be withdrawn without the government stepping in, and from a personal bank account is $9999.00. However, the US Government has been busy arm-twisting said banks and credit unions to fill out a form, reporting anyone drawing large amounts of dollars that seem suspicious. What deems someone as suspicious? Who knows. <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2015/05/29/when-it-can-be-illegal-to-withdraw-your-own-money.html">You can read up</a> on this further government intrusion if you like, but be prepared, the lengths our government will go to, in making an innocent withdrawal from your bank to buy a car will piss you off to the nth.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SlgUt7Q7D8v2PEtNlWSxspbf1H_78Qo1ZQGha3JrDy0gmuxaJ2cHrVyWTUK6oK1Hkt6wv6oU0ykTLU4y0M6nPpwBt7XpGsH-ZlvYTxTg8MyUbf6Yes7PzLvI3M7C9bOgUpfq/s1600/Go-See-Cal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0SlgUt7Q7D8v2PEtNlWSxspbf1H_78Qo1ZQGha3JrDy0gmuxaJ2cHrVyWTUK6oK1Hkt6wv6oU0ykTLU4y0M6nPpwBt7XpGsH-ZlvYTxTg8MyUbf6Yes7PzLvI3M7C9bOgUpfq/s400/Go-See-Cal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Buying a used car is like navigating through a minefield. There are so many things you have to know and to look out for. I seesawed back and forth between using a dealership or a private individual. There are pros and cons to either. In the fifth week of our search, we decided to stay on the safe side and purchase our car at a Chevy dealership. Our choice was a Kia Sorento. It was a one owner car with only 76K for original miles. Not bad for a 2007 model. In fact, that was a super find, given Kia longevity. Unfortunately, our used car guy went to get the keys only to find out it had sold yesterday, they just didn't pull the ad.<br />
<br />
We looked around and around for two hours, taking notes on the different cars we might be interested in. Our guy Mac ran us down and invited us to the main used car office complex. When we turned the corner, there it was. A 2009 Chevy HHR. dark gloss mercury in color, the body was flawless and the certified mileage was 58,500 roughly Several years before I worked an Avis car rental kiosk located in the Austin Lexus dealership. When they ran out of Lexus loaner cars for customers in for lengthy repairs, they sent the customer over to us and we would fix them up. I ended up falling in love with the funky HHR and told myself if I ever bought another car, it would be the Chevy HHR. There was an almost surreal aura around the entire experience and I wondered if the universe had arranged this, silly me for thinking so.<br />
<br />
Mac knew that we could only spend $8.5K on a vehicle so when I asked him the price, he told us it was ten grand out the door. I wasn't able to fully stem my anger when I asked him why the hell he was showing us this fantastic car when he knew we couldn't afford it.<br />
<br />
He held up his hand and grinned sheepishly, motioning with his head toward the door. We followed him inside and to his office.<br />
<br />
"My manager has authorized me to get you into this vehicle for $8300.00 out the door". The Sales Manager had looked up our reglue website provided on our info sheet and knocked the price down to almost the price they paid for it. It was later told to me that they tried to work out a donation to our non profit but they had already donated their dollar amount for the year. The way it was, there was just enough on it to compensate Mac for his work. Less than an hour later, I was handed the keys, temporary registation tags and wished the best.<br />
<br />
Diane and I gave Angel big hugs and we parted ways for the day. Diane and I sat in our new car and neither said a word for 3 minutes...fooling around with the radio, fiddling around with our courtesy 90 day free trial from SiriusXM, playing with the device that would give us wall to wall internet hotspots. We basically flipped, twisted and turned every button or switch we could reach. I started the car and we drove off the lot, beginning our hour-long journey home. I was surprised at how quiet the engine was.<br />
<br />
When we pulled into our drive, it was hard not to notice our old Explorer parked there, ready for the next Reglue mission. There were six on the calendar already for the coming week. A stroke of luck had befallen us earlier in the year and we had the transmission rebuilt for pennies on the dollar. That way, we didn't need to purchase a vehicle for Reglue. The Explorer was rock solid for a car with over 300K on it. Yet, going from the HHR into the Ford was a bit of a shock. The poor old girl had given us everything she had and was ready to give us more.<br />
<br />
So looking back on the entire sequence of events, it's difficult to track all the little things that had to come together in order to make this happen. Diane and I went into the house and she fixed dinner. We sat in the living room for an hour, fidgeting, and trying to concentrate on the show in front of us. Neither wanted to be the one to say it. I finally broke week and broke the silence.<br />
<br />
"You want to take a drive this evening?"<br />
<br />
Diane smiled widely.<br />
<br />
" I thought you would never ask. Let me get some shoes on".<br />
<br />
All Righty Then...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPHAYdARX7a7Hs8ULAfRYAzv3JZj51IFTV1777sVtv5zsdJkojiGFRuvmKOw6Rsebw5YVFPcVfsy29N0qfiFa0YeAAFCpPDkhTPanQyLcqA-Ag88ri2MN2tO2PSvj0AwIeqhc/s1600/hhr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPHAYdARX7a7Hs8ULAfRYAzv3JZj51IFTV1777sVtv5zsdJkojiGFRuvmKOw6Rsebw5YVFPcVfsy29N0qfiFa0YeAAFCpPDkhTPanQyLcqA-Ag88ri2MN2tO2PSvj0AwIeqhc/s640/hhr.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-72007643751108528262016-10-19T00:26:00.000-05:002016-10-19T23:48:06.325-05:00It's that time of year...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, and all who reside within the Linuxsphere.....<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgBN-KXBwXw8Rh6xpw5I2UfN3h5m78xkVp3koVVXK0VjjB3LHwru-woOD0xyPx_h2Gw5MxDv_dPhZZjnD0zoMcgEHGdKSJqxb8PS02QDfZdsJacbtJmkH2qvJJBcBiUVjUkTk/s1600/regluetincup.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgBN-KXBwXw8Rh6xpw5I2UfN3h5m78xkVp3koVVXK0VjjB3LHwru-woOD0xyPx_h2Gw5MxDv_dPhZZjnD0zoMcgEHGdKSJqxb8PS02QDfZdsJacbtJmkH2qvJJBcBiUVjUkTk/s320/regluetincup.png" width="320" /></a>We gather here this Autumn to kick off our Annual Reglue Fund Raiser, or more commonly referred to as, The Reglue Tin Cup Challenge. As many of you know, it's been a rough 17 months for Reglue. We suffered two "storms of the century" within a 21 month period. During the first horrible flooding Taylor suffered in May of 2015, we lost 85 neighbors in our small county. Over two times that number lost their homes or farms. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This little town was physically and psychologically decimated...shaken to our 140 year old core. We were hammered with 19.5 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. The thought of losing this much life and property still hangs over our collective heads.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then came the 2016 flood and many of us had to relive the nightmare all over again, although it wasn't near as bad. Be that as it is, many people just couldn't live with the threat of a third "flood of the century" and a lot of our residents moved to higher ground. The majority of them moved closer to relatives so they had a secure place to rebuild their lives. In a small town, that's a significant number of residents to lose, especially when 17 of them were teachers, law enforcement or first responder families. And the FEMA response? Don't get me started. I tend to deploy my potty-mouth when I get white-hot angry. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/zf3qqkf">I've linked to</a> some of the horror experienced first hand. NSFW at present volume. headphones or mute. Visual is fine if others pass by your cube.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsvuNuyg-Ij2d20IXU6e7CGii2pHa19r28A405wtB0rO0wvzKJWIMYcUlzXmXjJyi2uspulUnQGd9BXSbuK8Ey4JUEIJbipGJq53Ioe6aWWXA2dWl5EsxBlapsCAa3dSYLSc6/s1600/workshop_flood_damage.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsvuNuyg-Ij2d20IXU6e7CGii2pHa19r28A405wtB0rO0wvzKJWIMYcUlzXmXjJyi2uspulUnQGd9BXSbuK8Ey4JUEIJbipGJq53Ioe6aWWXA2dWl5EsxBlapsCAa3dSYLSc6/s400/workshop_flood_damage.jpeg" width="400" /></a>Fortunately the Army Corps of Engineers had built flood water redirection systems between the two storms and that spared most of the town from the worst of Round Two. But still, the pounding rain flooded our Reglue facility once again via failed roof. The workshop ceiling gave way after hundreds of pounds of water accumulated in and on top of the insulation. It all crashed down into the shop, washing stuff from shelves onto the floor and flooding large containers full of laptops, motherboards, some especially expensive power supplies and a large box of new speakers. At this time we do have the soaked insulation replaced one the inside. Unfortunately, our portable air compressor failed impressively the first time we plugged it in to use it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Thankfully, that roof is now fixed. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm sure it will come up so I'll head it off here and folks won't waste their time bringing it up. We will not bother the city of Taylor about this damage. They have graciously given us that building, rent and utility free since 2012. We're not going to bring this forward to Taylor. Diane and I want as far as to replace a small number of destroyed hardware pieces out of our collective pocket. We did that just to get through until now...in time for our annual fund raiser.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then came the flood in 2016 and we got our collective teeth kicked in.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg608_oFEbFk009uLpwWGZmDfkYy3UhymH1AeAkcLoDyVju3Af04Q_v4MEOildV9uUzK9ofe6vQe8ZykVfvYI6KLyioHtZeUhyFzb8QwaGXXhto_w0tKAwB7SxBXoulx4phX2S3/s1600/scraping_bottom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg608_oFEbFk009uLpwWGZmDfkYy3UhymH1AeAkcLoDyVju3Af04Q_v4MEOildV9uUzK9ofe6vQe8ZykVfvYI6KLyioHtZeUhyFzb8QwaGXXhto_w0tKAwB7SxBXoulx4phX2S3/s400/scraping_bottom.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
So needless to say, this year's fund raiser is more important than the last five years combined. What you see to the right is from scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel, as far as desktop hardware goes. We are down to equipment numbers seen to the right. It's been a tooth and nail battle, trying to meet the needs of this community and we've done the best we can with what we have. Our project to provide computers to the kids within the Taylor Housing Project placed 72 computers into those homes in the past 100 days. But at this time, we are finding ourselves rebuilding and providing circa Windows XP single core computers. You know as well as I do, that isn't going to work. Most of these old desktops max out at 2 gb of RAM. DDR PC2700. Really? You can make a computer work, but that doesn't mean that you can make it useful. That being said...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PPf1LDlQUmN-T0PQCXfss7XcwtkWTRg_wBeeSkPw4WRk3www-WGf5J4fbu_NUZeglMKKINVpTSD1bqnN59eKnvGr7iXHODQTq_7oxv3hYO9Zh9XeZtE5A9laeo4ah2aSiGxv/s1600/scraptops.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PPf1LDlQUmN-T0PQCXfss7XcwtkWTRg_wBeeSkPw4WRk3www-WGf5J4fbu_NUZeglMKKINVpTSD1bqnN59eKnvGr7iXHODQTq_7oxv3hYO9Zh9XeZtE5A9laeo4ah2aSiGxv/s640/scraptops.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
I want to pass along an incident between one of our hardware donors and me a few months ago. And no worries, we've discussed publishing about the incident and as long as we do not divulge their company name, it's fine to pass along and they now see the value such hardware brings to our efforts.<br />
<br />
I received an email from the tech guru of one of our most generous hardware donors and he talked about this and that, then told me that he almost <b><i>dumped</i></b> a bunch of junk laptops on us. He went on to say that during an inventory, he discovered 23 "old" laptops at the back of the pile. He stated that he was glad he did not encumber us with that <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dell-Latitude-E6510-Notebook-Professional/dp/B003VN2Q5A">kind of garbage</a>. They were early win7 Dell Inspiron 6510 "dinosaurs" and when he got enough "decent" laptops to donate, he would forward me the time and date to pick them up from the trucking terminal where they were delivered.<br />
<br />
At first, I thought he was kidding. This grade of laptop is considered to be solid 24K gold to us. When or in what world is an i7 core dual or quad laptop considered "junk"? I responded (as civilly as possible) that in the future he could feel free to ship us that kind of "junk". Honestly, I felt that I could just sit and cry about such a loss. Especially given our current circumstance. </div>
<div>
<br />
So this is what we would like to happen. If you cannot donate to our organization at this time, take a look around on your closet shelves or under various desks and see if you might have the mentioned "junk" hanging around. We can use it for either Reglue needs at present or we might offer a decent laptop as one of our perks for the upcoming Indiegogo campaign. And don't fret the overall condition. We can refurbish or use your donation for badly-needed parts Feel free to specify if you want your hardware donation to go to either one of those places.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We want to do a "pre-fund raiser" in the next two weeks. We will revive the Tux Donation-O-Meter at the top left of the page for that period. We want to kick off the first two week segment of a six week event as a PayPal/check/money order extravaganza. Then we will begin our Indiegogo effort after that. Let me tell you what would work the very best for us and as sure as I am sitting here typing this,<i> this model of donation could literally save our Reglued backsides.</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Currently, we have a few supporters who donate to us on a monthly basis. Most of them have it set up so it happens automatically, without the donor having to remember to do it each month and other send checks like clockwork. We have come to count on those who do so. I know how many people read this blog, and I thank you from the bottom of my being for reading about what we do and supporting us. I've done the simple maths. If 20 people donated 20 dollars a month on a monthly basis, that would pretty much wipe out our overhead and let us channel that normally-taken money into stuff that is mission-important. Of course, those who wish to can donate any monthly figure they choose. You have no idea how much stress this would take off of me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And yes, I've had some, uh....health issues but we'll talk about that later, along with a miraculous story of K I R T. Oh, that stands for Karma In Real Time (relatively). I've been returned to "light duty" from my doctor. Right now, it's my job to see to the needs of Reglue and those we serve. I'm not sure what exactly constitutes "light duty" but I guess I'll know what it is soon enough. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the mean time, let me share something with you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I watched a documentary on Youtube a few weeks ago, that told the story about a non profit which travels to Africa every year and administers highland and lowland gorillas a serum that boosts their chances of having healthy offspring and mothers alike. They also have a small contingent of people that rotates every year. Those people slash through triple canopy jungle to administer medical services to those gorillas as needed. They are set up to do on the spot surgery as it is needed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0hKI4JMtjgpeteLtTw6dPZEi_A55yElvY20XwMIJjNeGrhg2-kmrZSllPVZ3bzjMBsMH0ksUKrA0XPL_nufMwvOeOXxX8UxZxQfyjVqe0w80Lh92bv9EIAkhdcR-tucxDVnL/s1600/gorillas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0hKI4JMtjgpeteLtTw6dPZEi_A55yElvY20XwMIJjNeGrhg2-kmrZSllPVZ3bzjMBsMH0ksUKrA0XPL_nufMwvOeOXxX8UxZxQfyjVqe0w80Lh92bv9EIAkhdcR-tucxDVnL/s400/gorillas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
It was surprising to watch these fabulous beasts figure out how to find their way to the veterinarian clinic by themselves. Maybe to have cuts stitched or thorns pulled from their feet. One huge male Silverback had his eyeball knocked out from a blow to the side of his head by another Silverback. It was hanging by the tendrils that fed the eyeball from the brain. They preformed that procedure right on the front veranda. Others have even signaled that they have tooth aches. A few of them have even had dental implants when they were necessary in keeping the gorilla alive and healthy. Freakin' wow. Every now and then, male gorillas will travel together to the vet's door to have injuries treated after whipping each other's asses in a territorial/mating grounds dispute.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, I am sure that this is important to others...Mostly to the gorillas I'm guessing, but they seem to never run into funding issues. The organization receives millions of dollars in personal donations a year. They do not receive grant money of any significance since the donors are too strict on how the money can be spent. We have experienced the same restrictions when applying for most any cash grants.<br />
<br />
All I am trying to do is keep an organization afloat, an effort to help insure that every child within 50 miles has a fair chance at accessing technology via Linux computers. And yeah, the welfare of gorillas might be important to some...but I am doing my best, cheating Peter to pay Paul and working 60 hour weeks to get computers into the hands of tomorrow. unfortunately, the Silverbacks won't be in our sphere of influence. Unfortunately. We'd surly receive funding then, or so I'm thinkin'.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTGhEUqEum3ovW9655xMIcJTWjGvbZv4GkkROI9dnJ87yTHpdiqouIeuSoeXcXt7eR07MhIylPJeRCJGlTKgMMa50F5DyfoFz7mGEDUjmFBMtPTCSqGXWq_8kHq3hRsfgVLth/s1600/oh_crap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTGhEUqEum3ovW9655xMIcJTWjGvbZv4GkkROI9dnJ87yTHpdiqouIeuSoeXcXt7eR07MhIylPJeRCJGlTKgMMa50F5DyfoFz7mGEDUjmFBMtPTCSqGXWq_8kHq3hRsfgVLth/s400/oh_crap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
Those gorillas will not cure diabetes or put the first foot prints on Mars. They won't cure heart diseases. They won't make cancer a nuisance instead of a death sentence. They won't save the future of earth and the human race by creating the means to deflect the next extinction-event asteroid. We could operate Reglue for the next four years on the interest the money "Gorillas-r-Us" folks receive in six months.<br />
<br />
<br />
And that, being the fact, it has me second-guess myself. Is it overflowing ego on my part? Is my organization and mission really that important in the scheme of things? Maybe not.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So ya'll within the Linuxsphere talk amongst yourselves. I'll be out and about, trying to get stuff done. My stint into madness and hospitalization put me way behind. You can support us via our paypal address: ken@reglue.org. You can always make a one time monthly donation by clicking the yellow paypal donation button on the top left of this page.</div>
<div>
<br />
And I cannot express it enough, just how important a $10.00 or $20.00 monthly donation is to our efforts.<br />
<br />
Please don't post this to LXer. They refuse to post any stories that are fund raising in nature. That's fine, Linux Today is a great vehicle for this story. And I don't bear any ill will toward LXer. That's how they operate and I respect that. If you need additional information or have questions, you can email me at the above address as well.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And you will not lose out by donating before our Indiegogo campaign. All of you who donate to the 12 month Paypal section of the campaign will receive the entire Blog of helios in book form. Those will ship 2 weeks after the campaign is finished. And the cool part? Only those signing up for reoccurring monthly donations will receive this perk. I have stripped out many of the most popular posts so those of you who donate monthly will receive the entire book.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
And I want to close by saying thank you to people that have presently chosen to support reglue silently, on a monthly basis. My thanks goes out to - Gene, Shawn, Dr. Ed, Richard, Charles, J.D., My Favorite Unicorn, Samuel, Walt, Thomas and others I am not able to bring to mind at the moment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So with decisions of great importance to Reglue pending 90 days away, I want to ask you a personal favor and support the work my volunteers and directors do. My team busts their bums so that the kids in this area receive a computer if they cannot afford one. I don't want to see Reglue go down until her duty is done. I will put everything I have into doing the job you entrust me to do. I simply need the funding to do so.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A child's exposure to technology should never be predicated on the ability to afford it.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div>
Period.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
All Righty Then</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRW982kXcG2w_bMUnqxYViSkChGokW0vB-pp6fOOTsLWUwr9Z-g1mkemJ7UhrZzkjWRt4xGtBHD0KQ-MEX9enFKhn3DM2uPqgBCh5U-93PODVkjNvQ2nFR_f0JoDSMaj5pI1y/s1600/IMG_5293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjRW982kXcG2w_bMUnqxYViSkChGokW0vB-pp6fOOTsLWUwr9Z-g1mkemJ7UhrZzkjWRt4xGtBHD0KQ-MEX9enFKhn3DM2uPqgBCh5U-93PODVkjNvQ2nFR_f0JoDSMaj5pI1y/s400/IMG_5293.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-36690033491862226132016-08-03T15:52:00.002-05:002016-08-04T16:11:05.854-05:00The blackness within.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGrRalNR-KoerGmgJ6gukVH95El1JbgfqS3Cv7FiXkIXd-8eVu6CUsXi6zOu2S7grkipbm7TbNVZub-y-vncEVJgoIvxO6YoLlzibsHT_JDOw7HK_ShLs3H2MDXFI0wqvqho/s1600/Dark-Creepy-Background4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisDGrRalNR-KoerGmgJ6gukVH95El1JbgfqS3Cv7FiXkIXd-8eVu6CUsXi6zOu2S7grkipbm7TbNVZub-y-vncEVJgoIvxO6YoLlzibsHT_JDOw7HK_ShLs3H2MDXFI0wqvqho/s400/Dark-Creepy-Background4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's the most unsettling memory of my childhood.<br />
<br />
Watching my father physically drag my mom out of bed, her body thumping onto the floor, and him throwing clothes at her while screaming. Every few words, he would hurl an item of clothing at her.<br />
<br />
For <i><b>Christ</b>'<b>s</b></i> sake <i>Lois</i>, get <i><b>out of</b></i> the *** ****** <b>bed</b> and <b><i>take</i></b> <b><i>care</i></b> of <b>this *******</b> <b><i>house</i></b>. He stood over her, glaring while my mother curled into a fetal position and sobbed. He turned around and saw me in my doorway across from their bedroom. Fear raced to the pit of my stomach and ballooned out from there. I quickly pulled my arms around myself in a protective posture and dropped my gaze to the floor. The hard slap to the side of my head never came.<br />
<br />
He didn't say a word to me. He left the bedroom, slamming the door behind him and stomped down the stairs and out the kitchen door. The glass in that outer kitchen door shattered violently as he slammed it for punctuation. I waited to even move an inch until I heard the engine of his old truck fire to life. I slowly lowered my cramped arms when I heard the sound of tires on gravel as he left our driveway onto the main road.<br />
<br />
Only when I turned to go back into my bedroom, did I realize I had urinated in my pajamas.<br />
<br />
This memory played and replayed over and over and over...while I laid in my bed for the 6th day in a row...only leaving it for the 10 steps or so it took to get to the toilet. I had thought about bringing in a plastic milk jug to urinate into so I would not have to leave the bedroom. I would cringe and pull the comforter over my head if someone rang the door bell or knocked at the door. Many years later, my mom explained it to me as being lost in desolation and never having even one tiny hope of getting out. Diane knew not to bother me, unless she needed help doing anything, but when she truly needed me, I was there...she knew not to bother me with anything trivial. I just wouldn't respond.<br />
<br />
I had long since turned my phone off. I had not set myself at my computer for over a week. And then it was only to answer the most important of friends and family. It had been over a week since I had properly bathed. My beard had gone wild in the two weeks before this. I know what what the problem was. And I knew it was something that wouldn't get better until I decided to do something about it. Diane made an appointment with my GP. The psychologist who had diagnosed me as bipolar was full of crap. My reluctance to see him again was substantiated by my medications not really doing anything to help me. Come to find out, they had probably <a href="http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/major-depression">heightened my condition</a>.<br />
<br />
I washed the most likely parts of me liable to offend any surrounding olfactory<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1i9-hNMjcrlmwxbiFLkldfXloJrNc1N39aMi4Dggtox7CVQagfJeShtH6RxMQeRs_9cZfnqcHXlAlfjFRIaKVyBkkRTnPKesI5BeUS-sZtwBrozphHYMASfh5A3CZx9gJ6VS/s1600/skunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1i9-hNMjcrlmwxbiFLkldfXloJrNc1N39aMi4Dggtox7CVQagfJeShtH6RxMQeRs_9cZfnqcHXlAlfjFRIaKVyBkkRTnPKesI5BeUS-sZtwBrozphHYMASfh5A3CZx9gJ6VS/s320/skunk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
senses and I sat on the edge of my bed rocking back and forth...terrified of the idea of leaving my home. The act of even navigating my way to Georgetown seemed insurmountable. With Diane's coaxing and support, I opened the door with car keys in hand and I set myself on autopilot, not wanting to think about the stack of things I would have to do, in order to make this trip. That included the most terrifying thing.<br />
<br />
Talking to people.<br />
<br />
<br />
My hands trembled on the steering wheel as I backed our car out of the garage, taking much more time than necessary to insure the roadway behind me was clear. It felt like I had never drove in my life. After three hours and four doctors, I set off on my trip home. Armed with a hand full of doctor's prescriptions, I made my way to the pharmacy on the way. Every doctor who examined me that day, assured me that the chemical cocktail of pills would have me back to normal in no time.<br />
<br />
Well, it's no time and what in the hell did they know about "normal"? And while I <b><i>am</i></b> beginning to feel better, I know the task ahead of me will be worse than anything I will have to face otherwise. I have to tell you that I'm sorry for just dropping out of sight. There are some of you that I've failed in the past few weeks. I've failed you greatly, friends and family both; and while telling you how sorry I am to have failed you, it doesn't seem like nearly the amount of recompense due to you. Some of you counted on me heavily and many of you will say that just an email explaining my circumstance would have been nice.<br />
<br />
I'm sure it would have. It's due to one of those emails that I am writing this. You have no idea of how much your words hurt me.<br />
<br />
If I had not been frightened out of my own wits to even answer the door or answer the phone. If it didn't frighten me to go creeping out of the bedroom at 3 in the morning to take a bowl of cereal back with me. Or just by the act of turning on my computer. Never in any of my day's past would I have thought a day would come when I would be frightened by the act of turning on my computer. My computer is the Third Hemisphere of my brain...and I've only turned it one twice in a week.<br />
<br />
So while my doctors figure out the right ratios of the right medications it will take to make me "better", I will ask of you some tolerance. Especially from my family. Just as my father couldn't understand why my mom could not bring herself to get out of bed for days, I get the feeling that some of the closest of my family might fail to understand what is happening to me. I didn't do this to myself. And while I may <i>deserve</i> the cancer that attacked my body...this mental aberration was a sucker punch to the side of my head. The only thing I can say is to be aware. It appears that someone pee'd in our gene pool kids, so forewarned is forearmed.<br />
<br />
My most sincere thanks go out to Pete Salas and our great volunteer James Lantzch for keeping the fires burning and and the wolf from the door. I would be facing insurmountable tasks without these two guys keeping the Good Ship Reglue afloat.<br />
<br />
Of course, my deepest thanks goes to my partner Diane. For her understanding. For her love. For her care. <br />
<br />
I'm back to work tomorrow. There are over 300 emails I have to answer and over a dozen phone messages, and I've lost count of the text messages that have yet to be answered.<br />
<br />
So for those I've failed in the past few weeks, I'm sorry. Some of you will understand, but many of you won't. You won't understand the total fear that clutches at your guts when someone rings the doorbell...or calls your phone. The best way I can address those people is to wish this black blanket of terror upon you. But I cannot do that. Anymore than I can wish upon you the plague or leprosy.<br />
<br />
And if I don't answer your email for the next few days, all I can do is to ask you to understand. Hopefully, those most important to me will be able to do so.<br />
<br />
Hopefully.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqg1J1rRwIV_vvceG6Gr5nrxTAquN7eaKj2wrb3lub8muv_0rMhLFdwS_nwTqC1_dSd0D9LnetM05ucgGVmIvcnPdLC0hyphenhyphen7T9oGwM2wTYUZhRJ9VnWWtTTB11_rcpnaXAnoSd/s1600/blueinfinityshadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYqg1J1rRwIV_vvceG6Gr5nrxTAquN7eaKj2wrb3lub8muv_0rMhLFdwS_nwTqC1_dSd0D9LnetM05ucgGVmIvcnPdLC0hyphenhyphen7T9oGwM2wTYUZhRJ9VnWWtTTB11_rcpnaXAnoSd/s320/blueinfinityshadow.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-52948394682905912022016-06-17T19:20:00.001-05:002016-06-17T19:20:42.057-05:00Misogyny Didn't disappear, It Evolved.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThbpCMGbEHFluHH3ImOrlZlN4k99xXdlSGbMwd1Qr7Q9O_s_IDOYW_iPmSwhgQM9WJOLbUo5t4whRFSiTMC24t_B8sOt_QUOlsZrWesTVSTtH1vwrhdCo4hvxW6KTknfKqKH6/s1600/gettinready.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThbpCMGbEHFluHH3ImOrlZlN4k99xXdlSGbMwd1Qr7Q9O_s_IDOYW_iPmSwhgQM9WJOLbUo5t4whRFSiTMC24t_B8sOt_QUOlsZrWesTVSTtH1vwrhdCo4hvxW6KTknfKqKH6/s400/gettinready.png" width="295" /></a></div>
There's not a lot that gets to me these days. I let most stuff just roll over me and I go about my business. That's not always easy to do. I lost my Astro boy a week or so ago. I mean, I know he was old. He was 12 when I rescued him and the vet that examined him prior to intake at the shelter said he had a bad heart and wouldn't last another six months. We bonded inside his shelter cage and I decided I wasn't going to allow him to die alone on a cold concrete floor. That was 4 years ago. Love keeps your dog alive, sometimes long after it should. But it does.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Truth be told, he adopted me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But all at once, bad things happened to Astro. He became afflicted with the equivalent of canine Alzheimer's. He would walk in tight circles for hours, oblivious to anything around him. He insisted on wanting to go in or out the wrong side of the door and he would walk around the house all evening, panting and not responding to verbal commands or cues. If that wasn't enough, his kidneys began to fail and I did not want to risk him being in pain, we took that last ride to the vet. I brought his bed with us. The vet had given me a strong sleeping medication for me to give him 30 minutes before we arrived.<br />
<br />
The last thing he remembered was me laying on the floor next to his bed, holding him close and whispering and stroking his silky ears. He fell into a deep, deep sleep. He never felt the needle that sent him home.<br />
<br />
My heart is terribly, terribly broken this time, I'm not sure I can do it again. Twice in 6 years, I've had to make the same horrible decision for two little guys I loved deeply. Astro was so bonded to me, it was heartbreaking. I can't even talk or think of him without tears rolling. As much as I fight them back, they won't be held.<br />
<br />
So yeah, it's been a tough week or so. I've went through the motions of my life, getting the important things done, and pushing the other stuff to the back, until they become important stuff. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.<br />
<br />
I'm not in the best frame of mind at this time, but that doesn't stop bad stuff from happening. Bad Things don't take a break just because my emotional stability may not be able to cope. My friend and the creator of <a href="http://www.fossforce.com/">Foss Force</a>, Christine Hall; emailed me and told me she had cut her stay short at the SouthEast LinuxFest better known as SELF. And while she did not say so, I get the impression that she did so because she felt threatened. I would have felt threatened too.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M6xcxB-ucVjRdvEZRsMKwtZMgSooX7cxn9nak1_Y6msQ4HDTvEoLCxH1Q0mQfo6TSwlncfrw3zJELTJ24hfh5IhdhXgVKUGAPFYRPsyc-wbU5RryLwHfRz2BcP5udBOBvJMs/s1600/bmw1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4M6xcxB-ucVjRdvEZRsMKwtZMgSooX7cxn9nak1_Y6msQ4HDTvEoLCxH1Q0mQfo6TSwlncfrw3zJELTJ24hfh5IhdhXgVKUGAPFYRPsyc-wbU5RryLwHfRz2BcP5udBOBvJMs/s320/bmw1.jpg" width="320" /></a>Some passive-aggressive-mama's-boy, Some dweeb, feeling threatened or insulted by a strong, <br />
confident woman chunked a brick through the back window of Christine's car while parked in the parking lot of her lodging choice.<br />
<br />
"Well Ken", you might say, "What's with all the name-calling, especially when you don't know anything about what happened?"<br />
<br />
Well pal, I'm going to tell you. It's been talked about ad nauseam, the problem many women face within our world. The Free Open Source Software world and in the BSD/Linux Communities. From Caitlyn Martin, to Deb Nicholson, my friend Beth Lynn Eicher and many more. They have all suffered psychological, emotional and physical assault from men who are not balanced or mature enough to accept women as their peer, and God forbid, their superior. This has been going on for almost from the beginning.<br />
<br />
Christine Hall is one of those women. She learned early in life, how to work and succeed in male-dominated workplaces. She has worked as a Journalist and within and around the tech field for much of her adult life, and to quote a current television commercial, <i>she knows a thing or two because she's seen a thing or two</i>. And she isn't shy about letting that be known. Not in a brash or offensive way, but in a way that says, "If you can't get that done, step aside and let me do it". Christine may have one fault many confident and assertive people have. They don't suffer fools gladly.<br />
<br />
The rock throwing thing...can I prove this happened the way I believe it happened? No. Can I for sure say that someone did this fueled by misogynistic rage?<br />
<br />
I'd wager about 80 percentage points that it was. There were a number of vehicles in that parking lot and given the place her car was parked, someone went out of their way in choosing to damage Christine's car. They risked being seen or heard throwing that brick in that location. Right next to the main entrance. Many suitable targets were parked much farther away if the purpose was just mindless vandalism. Her car wasn't randomly vandalized.<br />
<br />
This was a direct and pointed attack.<br />
<br />
So, when it comes to women being accepted in The Tech World, sure it's gotten better. A lot better. But that strong dislike for women in our field exists just under the skin of some men. They know they can no longer gain the support and the 'at-a-boy' slaps on the back for approaching and demeaning a woman in public. In fact, they know they well be rejected and punished for doing so. The only difference between then and now? They do it in the wee hours of the morning with bricks, knowing that they would be rebuked by their peers for assaulting a woman in public...like in The Old Days.<br />
<br />
And to me, that is more frightening than it ever has been. I now understand why Christine left SELF early. Her fear was real. She did the only thing she could do to protect herself. I hope the little maladjusted twerp feels good. I am sure he does. I hope he slips up and brags about it.<br />
<br />
I can only hope.<br />
<br />
Christine lives on Social Security retirement and she cannot afford to replace a back window or pay for the treatment needed to kill the bedbugs she picked up at the flea-bag motel in which she stayed. Oh and just sayin'...You might want to bypass the Econo Lodge and Suites in Charlotte North Carolina.<br />
<br />
If you can help her in some way to get these things behind her, email her christine@fossforce.com. I would consider it a favor. That could come in handy some day. Just sayin'.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then,<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAp423JWVNPwrwJD79JeDQjOIR3qh4_NnvzszAJA2qDnIiPYvkkrnHwLN9XlgXoR8pt-WA0SUFM3UMcqtQnR738I4degCztbg6TsYSZXkSNDyyRAIKjSShb4nYUVAijWFe0RpX/s1600/blueinfinityshadow.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAp423JWVNPwrwJD79JeDQjOIR3qh4_NnvzszAJA2qDnIiPYvkkrnHwLN9XlgXoR8pt-WA0SUFM3UMcqtQnR738I4degCztbg6TsYSZXkSNDyyRAIKjSShb4nYUVAijWFe0RpX/s320/blueinfinityshadow.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-8610855685861691252016-03-14T13:02:00.001-05:002016-03-20T13:07:27.833-05:00Be Careful of What You Wish For...No, Seriously.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOw9Txy41hSgibRateT3FrvADt5S8BJF9vB7p8wRlc3GffYKo9CGIph-ElGK3t55PTsFXhxDqL31m833GiamcITIJrlJpoHra3cdrwX_kJKfHYVJ1psZgYMKoEkn1qpbYr34o/s1600/tha1-e1412641459579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOw9Txy41hSgibRateT3FrvADt5S8BJF9vB7p8wRlc3GffYKo9CGIph-ElGK3t55PTsFXhxDqL31m833GiamcITIJrlJpoHra3cdrwX_kJKfHYVJ1psZgYMKoEkn1qpbYr34o/s400/tha1-e1412641459579.jpg" width="400" /></a>It was a month ago, give or take a sol or two, since the Taylor Housing Authority contacted us at Reglue to ask for our help. Seems that there are a lot of school-age kids living in that government housing tract and as we might imagine, a computer isn't one of the things you might find in that household.<br />
<br />
Now this is where I had to just shake my head. In 2013, someone from that neighborhood contacted me and asked if I might be able to assist them in providing a computer for their kids.<br />
<br />
"Well sure, that's the job Reglue came to Taylor to do" <br />
<br />
We went on to make an appointment for the first of the week and parted ways until then. When I showed up at the door, I was invited in but told that the housing authority had to ok all major appliances before installation and that included computers.<br />
<br />
Really? Appliance inspections for a computer? That was the last I heard from her or anyone at the housing authority. Until about a month ago.<br />
<br />
It was then that we were asked to provide computers for the kids in that exact same tract. At first, we were informed that we could plan on doing about 40 in a year's time. Yeah, we can do that. But after The Taylor Housing Authority did a door to door inventory on those with families that need a computer, we're now looking in the neighborhood of 125 machines.<br />
<br />
"Houston, we have a problem."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPilW1BO2c6gAnnoiDUHwgaC-JEkYlOzh_eZCNa11eR6mOiqul2x7o4ZWhd0yiup_HnslDamr_5KS8FNJUkuA2I2P31XJgrbhsAnAmq1R4hBL89OCFbup0Z5H67g_4qnK-08_V/s1600/large_panic-button.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPilW1BO2c6gAnnoiDUHwgaC-JEkYlOzh_eZCNa11eR6mOiqul2x7o4ZWhd0yiup_HnslDamr_5KS8FNJUkuA2I2P31XJgrbhsAnAmq1R4hBL89OCFbup0Z5H67g_4qnK-08_V/s320/large_panic-button.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Oh we have the machines. We've stockpiled about 170 for the 2016 year. We also have enough flat panel monitors, mice and keyboards. We have all of that. What we don't have are speakers and wireless usb receivers. In fact, I did my 9th install in 4 days today and I set the last pair of speakers we had. But that's the problem we face and the help we need. The wireless adapters we use, and use because they work first time, every time can be seen below. they are without a doubt the best we've ever used.<br />
<br />
Time Warner has agreed to provide these housing units with "adequate" wireless connections and from what I am seeing, these folks are getting a bit over 20Mbps down and 1Mbps up. And that's being provided as a service to the community. Just about the time I'm ready to declare war on Time Warner, they go and do something nice like this. And that's not all. They tripled the speed for Reglue and set us up a hotspot for our neighbors...and they did this to retain our contract without us paying a dime extra. Did I mention that they tripled our speeds?<br />
<br />
So with Time Warner providing these folks free wireless service, it's up to Reglue to get them hooked up. Without the adapters, we can't do that. So if you can help and send us a couple, we would more than appreciate it. the wireless adapters we use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MTTJOY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s02">can be found here.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005LW42MY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00">The speakers we use</a> are pretty good, given their size and cheap price, but<a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Power-Wired-Computer-Speakers-Stereo-3-5mm-Jack-for-Desktop-PC-Laptop-New-US-/361330211875?hash=item5420f57c23:g:ljAAAOSwv0tVbuF2"> these found on Ebay</a> are excellent as well...for the price anyway. So either Ebay or Amazon have the speakers we need<br />
<br />
Our shipping address, should you want to purchase from Amazon or Ebay and send them directly, is:<br />
<br />
Ken Starks<br />
C/O Reglue<br />
319 Sloan #110b<br />
Taylor, Tx 76574<br />
<br />
If you would rather just leave a donation, you can do so via the Donate button under our thermometer at the top left of this page. Or, just paypal us via ken@reglue.org. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. <br />
<br />
So, finally...after a tough couple of years with health issues, it feels good to be back to work on a daily basis, even with jarring surprises like this. I attribute my high spirits and outlook to you folks. You've helped me when you didn't have to and I appreciate that more than you know. So yeah, stuff just got real for us in Taylor Texas. This is the way it's supposed to be. I'll show you in dead-tree print in the coming days.<br />
<br />
For now, thanks for all that you do for us. These kids wouldn't have computers without you. I don't think many of you realize just how important your contributions are.<br />
<br />
Stand by for NEWS!<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_1wy-Qh_mt0UnXWEBS2Mjx7o13Wke-LWLUb653i3bQWvpLcjygOVvvokYtoegg5GqFimDaNC0aPSYG6AAILFN7MhEVVysEtaWBfYn85KFWRDCSBFiOioZ0pHjdwEthngGlbc/s1600/blueinfinityshadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_1wy-Qh_mt0UnXWEBS2Mjx7o13Wke-LWLUb653i3bQWvpLcjygOVvvokYtoegg5GqFimDaNC0aPSYG6AAILFN7MhEVVysEtaWBfYn85KFWRDCSBFiOioZ0pHjdwEthngGlbc/s320/blueinfinityshadow.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-42096684675608469322016-01-26T13:18:00.001-05:002016-01-26T13:18:26.300-05:00Free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBKBbS3ETlOv9XWs2GopBsrxBuxkc4xT5HqC-x4Re4eBuGE9CcmQUKOWMkmer6F231F0ayD4PD6BT6kx61PKAoUz_yG6NKmzkl9slLYT_sKyeXPsxrQ-cQfZ6jEhDPyNjd4lU/s1600/old_cash_register_keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBKBbS3ETlOv9XWs2GopBsrxBuxkc4xT5HqC-x4Re4eBuGE9CcmQUKOWMkmer6F231F0ayD4PD6BT6kx61PKAoUz_yG6NKmzkl9slLYT_sKyeXPsxrQ-cQfZ6jEhDPyNjd4lU/s320/old_cash_register_keys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br />
Free. From an
early age we all know what it means. It means that you can obtain something at no cost to you.
Mostly anyway. In the past few years, some businesses and people have tried
to tempt us with a "free offer", only to demand a credit card number in
order to qualify. Then you have to jump through a bazillion hoops to
cancel the "free" offering, before the small print and the automatic
bank drafts kick in. Free credit report anyone?</div>
<br />
But in a
simpler day and much simpler time, free was a good thing. We all want
something for free. And me, being no exception, discovered in 2002 that
there was indeed free software. However, I discovered that in the free
software world, the term "free" has multiple meanings. How so? Let's
see, channeling W.C. Fields as the carny barker.<br />
<br />
"Step right up
folks. We got'cher Open Source software… free as in beer <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO1MPIsgq7PdL4KlazMftqu16r5uCPB1iX5OjFohuXRNXyJ7Hxm3ZJtZISkD581TUilnmZttLDyqIX4arEffYTkImr4dYGJl33NdRy0IaVlhVJNBWw4Td0VociuwNFVAw-Sd4/s1600/wc-fields.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfO1MPIsgq7PdL4KlazMftqu16r5uCPB1iX5OjFohuXRNXyJ7Hxm3ZJtZISkD581TUilnmZttLDyqIX4arEffYTkImr4dYGJl33NdRy0IaVlhVJNBWw4Td0VociuwNFVAw-Sd4/s320/wc-fields.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
and
free as in free. Step into the tent and see the software that'll set you
free. Free yourself from greedy corporate interests and vendor lock-in. <i>No sonny the beer's not really free but the software is</i>. It's all
here folks, step right up…you won't believe your eyes.
<i>That's right Sonny, I said free. Now go away kid, ya bother me."</i><br />
<br />
<div>
Wait…did
he say free as in beer? What the heck does than mean? That phrase has
always irritated me, and for reasons I cannot readily explain. Is beer
the ultimate thing we all want to be free? Apparently so. How about free
as in mortgage payments? How about free as in a <b>brand</b> <b>new</b> <b>car</b>? (Tell the folks what they've won Bob). No, those
don't really work in the end either. It turns out that maybe the analogy
of free as in beer is the best choice. Go figure.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
However,
the deeper meaning of free is what is important here. It always has
been the most important thing. Getting the everyday computer user to
understand the whole GPL thing can be a challenge. In my experience, if
we get one out of ten to understand the concept and become interested, we are doing good. The whole "free as
in freedom" thing? Most people don't know how their software works.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
"Computer code? Universal access? Sure. Great. Now can I go back to my
leased copy of Windows solitaire?" </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
Sigh. Another day, another dollar,
right? When I finally did grasp the immensity of Free Open Source
Software, I wanted to announce it from the mountain tops. The revelation
hit me deep, and it dawned on me just how important this whole FOSS
thing is. <br />
<br />
And that's when it all started <a href="https://www.englishforums.com/English/PhraseItIsGoingSouthOnMe/xxggm/post.htm" target="_blank">going south</a> on me. </div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySZesoXsW7HVRIXKS4icj2ZQFJrP3bLJwPN9mh0VQZMrIVzxeZFk0W-tAiL9kJvzkYG8PlMTBgSNSBMRC9efAf0JojV6IiYkBGkyaVykSzOVgNPvGxt1Ejqp6L2J5YixLAvBn/s1600/going_south.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySZesoXsW7HVRIXKS4icj2ZQFJrP3bLJwPN9mh0VQZMrIVzxeZFk0W-tAiL9kJvzkYG8PlMTBgSNSBMRC9efAf0JojV6IiYkBGkyaVykSzOVgNPvGxt1Ejqp6L2J5YixLAvBn/s400/going_south.jpg" width="400" /></a> From
there, I got the free fever. If it came to Linux or anything
even nibbling around the edges of Linux, it had to be free or I was
walking away. Some of the best software I have ever used didn't cost me a
dime. it literally changed my life. And at that time, I couldn't code a lick. Well…I still can't but that's not important now… </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
There was a huge disconnect within me regarding all the hard work the
FOSS community or individuals put into a FOSS project and and that overall effect it had on the community. That didn't come close to entering my awareness. All I
knew was that FOSS was indeed free and screw paying for anything when
it came to software. Or anything within the FOSS community or Linuxsphere at large. If it was in the
Linux Community or within the community purview, it had to be free. As
in beer. Yeah, as in beer. It had to be free as in beer.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
This is a good time to pay
attention. This particular span of time can be the moment for many of us
when the FOSS well becomes poisoned.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
I try to stay active
in the Google Plus community. You know…that huge fail that
was supposed to compete with f̶a̶c̶e̶p̶l̶a̶n̶t̶ Facebook? That "ghost
town" that shows 5 million page views in my profile? Yeah, that "ghost
town". There isn't a day goes by, that I am not spending time with
astrophysicists, engineers, professors, artists, actors, scientists, political leaders or friends that
span the globe. The one thing that many of the people in my circles
share, is our involvement and use of FOSS. It has indeed a global reach
and impact. </div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
In the beginning, at least for me, it was these protracted
spans of time when I grew aggravated at the amount of advertising that
actively found a way to get in between my line of sight and the things I
was trying to read or see. I mean, like some 300 pound drunk that
crashes in between you and another person at a party having a
discussion, just to tell you that his car is for sale and would you like
to come outside to look at it?</div>
<div>
<br />
Uh, no. I would not
like to come outside and "look at it". I'm not in the market for a car,
and even if I was, I sure as shipping ain't gonna buy one from you, the
rude, unaware <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66nSZzBNkTU">jerk that you are</a>. </div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqPYFKwETERimObuBbE8msiTV9KTFx0EZZcGY1K1bHrWqY143H0JPIEYbdAMG7qfUSd-tcvO5cAs2vymquSCuup-xjEtNbw82YEYSHcHNVjzyHitUlE0HhDYpblKkkpL2TZGn/s1600/bestbuy_ad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqPYFKwETERimObuBbE8msiTV9KTFx0EZZcGY1K1bHrWqY143H0JPIEYbdAMG7qfUSd-tcvO5cAs2vymquSCuup-xjEtNbw82YEYSHcHNVjzyHitUlE0HhDYpblKkkpL2TZGn/s400/bestbuy_ad.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
However, in the realm of ones and zeros, I can do something about the rude,
line-of-sight-blocking advertisements that pop up on many pages when I
am trying to read something. You know…those ads that follow
the track of your mouse? The ads that defeat every attempt you make in
pushing it out of the way or closing it. Some of those ads open anyway
when you click the x mark on the top right. But let me tell you something that you may know, or may not. That ad that opens does not have the decency to open another tab. It over-writes the page you are on and no amount of clicking the back button or machine-gun clicking the X at the top of the browser does a bit of good. Finally, you go all nuclear on it and drop to terminal with the command killall firefox. That's how competitive
things have become, vying for eyes on web pages, multiple click-throughs
that rack up stats to impress firms to advertise on your website.</div>
<div>
<br />
I
put up with it long past the point of being a good netizen. Adblock
Plus became my best online friend and from then on out…it
didn't matter what advertising it was or how little real estate it took
up on an unobtrusive part of the web page. If it was an ad, it was gone. That's how angry I was when it came to internet ads in my line of sight.
Even on my blog site, I included a link on the side to allow visitors
to temporarily turn off their ad blocking software. It would turn itself
back on once you left my domain. My offer went largely ignored. over 80
percent of my visitors utilized ad blocking software of one sort or
another.<br />
<br />
Those checks from Google came fewer and far in between, not like they amounted to much but I donated any income from my blog to Reglue. But it
was a recent event that prompted me to re-evaluate my iron-clad stance
against advertising.</div>
<div>
<br />
One of the good guys I associate
with on Google Plus is Jake Weisz. Jake's a good enough sort. He's
extremely good at what he does in the fields of technology and he's not
shy about sharing his opinion. I posted an article that Forbes.com
featured in their technology section. It asked a question.<br />
<br />
"Should people
who use ad blocking software be blocked from using that website"? That
infuriated me. How dare they even suggest such a draconian measure. By
Deity, <b>it's my right</b> to be able to visit any website I wish to
visit and they can stuff their ad blocking policy into uncomfortably close
quarters to their mid-bottom.</div>
<div>
<br />
Jake took me to task on
this stance fast. If I am offering interesting or important data and I
choose to ask for a few cents to access that data, that is my right. As a
producer of said data, if I plan my production carefully, I can at
least impede the spread of that data to other web sites. I spent my time
and my money in order to bring you this information. I should be able
to gain a few cents from each person who accesses that data, even if
it's in the form of allowed advertising. </div>
<div>
<br />
As a
culture, we've become all too accustomed to "free as in beer".
Information flows in every direction and for the most part, that
information can be accessed at no cost, but there is some data that took
a lot of work to bring up and into the public awareness.<br />
<br />
I spend my
time and talent in investigating, writing and presenting this data to
the world. Is disabling your ad blocking software for just a few minutes
too much to ask? I thought so, screw advertising. It's a blight on the internet. Uh, no…it's not. Jake Weisz took me to
school on this issue and he was right in doing so. Here. Let me show
you. You see the web page presented a few paragraphs above?<br />
<br />
Those are ads that the
publisher of that site decided to make you look at. They purposely
block your vision and impeded your ability to close that ad. That way,
it extended the time that ad was active and in front of you, regardless
of whether you read it or not. The obstacles the web master threw in
front of you took just long enough for the statistics to show that you
actually read the ad. Is that back-handed? Well sure it is, but keeping any website open costs money, and when the cost of maintaining the
website becomes more than any incoming revenue, well…the
website disappears into digital history. Now you see it, now you don't.</div>
<div>
<br />
Now
let's look at another picture. My friend and associate, Christine Hall
is the publisher and maintainer of the excellent website <a href="http://fossforce.com/" target="_blank">fossforce.com</a>. In the interest of disclosure, I contribute to FOSS Force on a weekly basis.
Christine has spent years building her website from the ground up and she works 16
hour days to cover the news and do the interviews that are important in
our world of FOSS. She is tireless in her pursuit of getting it right
and getting it to you first. The only income Christine receives is via
ad-based income. So, if the advertising on a website sits to the side or between the paragraphs of the text, it really does not stop me from reading the content that interests me.<br />
<br />
Does it cause you not to be able to
read the content? No, it does not. And sure, some will argue that
having to jump over an ad in the middle of the page might be
distracting, but for Pete's sake, it's not blocking your view. Fact is,
an ad recently led me to purchase a particular stick of RAM that I had
been looking for. So at times, it might be useful. Most
times…? Probably not, but every now and then it can provide a
service to you. Every now and then.</div>
<div>
<br />
It's been an
interesting few months, getting used to this whole
advertising-among-the-stories thing. But in the end, I have come to
realize that everything being free might be good, but there are times
when all of that free stuff can bring an end to things we've come to
count on. It was mentioned to me just a day ago, that if a news website
like FOSS Force goes under, then there are a lot more to fill that
space. I asked him what sites he was speaking of and he pointed out two
of the biggest, those being LXer and LinuxToday.com. I then asked him
just where he thought <i>those</i> two website <b>got</b> their news. He's
probably standing just where I left him. The same deer-in-the-headlights
look. Like I had explained quantum mechanics to him.</div>
<br />
I
might want to stop by there later today to make sure he at least has
water when he comes around. All that confusion can be dehydrating.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fZ80LaIEdBqOJzFOsk8qKYTGyPdZNJCr1SD9JkWLQpnh9Bwg0RbTj-8Bxln3MgCjl4L0EBBZzqhctEo06ndgJmR6K9FDrFKxEqoundygSlYYj8RrorvR87KbjP9dYJMwndEJ/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fZ80LaIEdBqOJzFOsk8qKYTGyPdZNJCr1SD9JkWLQpnh9Bwg0RbTj-8Bxln3MgCjl4L0EBBZzqhctEo06ndgJmR6K9FDrFKxEqoundygSlYYj8RrorvR87KbjP9dYJMwndEJ/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-52178839649203309932015-11-09T11:31:00.000-05:002015-11-09T11:31:05.732-05:00Boy Howdy, This Got Stupid In A Hurry...Yep, this just went from zero-to-holy-frickin'-cow-stupid in a hurry. Why?<br />
<br />
Perks. <br />
<br />
Perks offered in our fund raiser to get a decent delivery vehicle for Reglue and our Reglue kids. Y'ever see one of those bench-clearing brawls where both teams come out of the dugout and there's a melee that encompasses the whole infield?<br />
<br />
No?<br />
<br />
Then how about that cartoon where it involves a number of fist fighters inside a dust cloud, with just a fist or a leg or other appendage showing every few seconds? Y'ever see that one?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea40yTLDnVSx93uWT69Ndlhmd9P-l9NkVKqVAIdE98Cfj1EcwAfAGGP4psK3grpvhrjJYlcHLuqvvRvc2yYegiVwluepLCmrfTKx-1o3kYZSlD5cEt4KDW1uEp32fE19cqc5m/s1600/fight_cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea40yTLDnVSx93uWT69Ndlhmd9P-l9NkVKqVAIdE98Cfj1EcwAfAGGP4psK3grpvhrjJYlcHLuqvvRvc2yYegiVwluepLCmrfTKx-1o3kYZSlD5cEt4KDW1uEp32fE19cqc5m/s400/fight_cartoon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yeah, thought so. That's what my email inbox resembled in the past few days. It's slowing down now, but for a while, I thought I'd need to strap on my kevlar and drop my face shield just to answer my emails.<br />
<br />
Here's how it started.<br />
<br />
We are offering some sweetheart deals for donating to <a href="http://igg.me/at/shes-dead-jim/x/729034">our vehicle fund raiser</a>. We are using an online fund raising site that makes it fairly simple to raise money. We use Indiegogo.com because we are not offering a tangible product. Kickstarter is for production of solid, material items to be manufactured and sold. We aren't making or creating any product, so we don't qualify for a Kickstarter fund raiser. And to emphasize, we've used Indiegogo to raise decent amounts of money for Reglue in the past. So we opened our fund raiser there in order to gain enough money to buy a decent vehicle for Reglue.<br />
<br />
It's not going as well as I hoped it would but we've got just under three weeks to go. We want to raise a minimum of $5,000.00. At the time of this posting, we have just broken the 3K mark. My thanks to all of you, regardless of donated amount. Thank you for helping us when we really need it. It looks like it's gonna take a hail Mary pass to pull this off.<br />
<br />
But to the point...<br />
<br />
I began getting the emails after the first week of our campaign. Messages asking if Windows was on the computers we offer as perks. If you have not seen the offerings, you might want to take a look. These laptops are nice and some are touch screens. The 15.4" Samsung is especially nice. I don't have the need for that much horsepower but many of you do. That computer is in refurbished condition and is a luxury laptop in my eyes. Of course, I'm used to my old IBM/Lenovo X60s and T-500 ThinkPads, so imagine my surprise when I opened that monster Samsung for the first time. Luxury laptop indeed.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98R7Foelp9JDIvZAVQytkQOkvdp7LcZxpeacYABXqEayUaqKImNxY2vuRqZo46aOGmLVy2ANeTurH-inw2zuB_5d3ALpRMnCxodH1OxuRit8o3CpPFnpK48IiMgj17i9pitbN/s1600/ativ6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98R7Foelp9JDIvZAVQytkQOkvdp7LcZxpeacYABXqEayUaqKImNxY2vuRqZo46aOGmLVy2ANeTurH-inw2zuB_5d3ALpRMnCxodH1OxuRit8o3CpPFnpK48IiMgj17i9pitbN/s400/ativ6.jpg" width="400" /></a>And the price? We just dropped it to $500.00. That's embarrassingly low for a laptop of this quality. <br />
<br />
I was emailed in the second and third weeks and asked if I was going to put Windows on these laptops. I answered promptly that no, we would be using Linux on these offerings. About the forth email I received that first week, asking about Windows installs, I rang up our Chief Hardware Engineer, Pete Salas, and asked him if we could put Windows 10 on some of these Samsung machines. He answered yes and two days later, four of those extremely nice Samsungs were sporting brand new Windows 10 operating systems. If people want Linux on them, we will include a bootable flash drive with the distro of their choice at no cost to them and they can do with it as they wish. The motivation behind such a seemingly drastic move is success. A few people walked away from these perks, when they believed there would be no Windows option for their donations. That would have been $1,100.00 in donations.<br />
<br />
Mentioning that we had taken this route on my G+ page drew criticism from some and sharp criticism via my email. A couple of those emails were from people I have associated with for a number of years and one of those decided that it was the time to label me as a "sellout".<br />
<br />
A Sellout. Really?<br />
<br />
Seems the harder I try, the more I alienate some people. See, here's how it goes boys and girls...<br />
<br />
I am the Executive Director and Founder of a non profit. I started this effort with abouit 300 dollars in the bank and an idea of what I wanted to accomplish. We exist for one reason. One single mind set. We exist to help every disadvantaged kid we can. We want to make sure they have a computer and an internet connection so they can compete with their peers. It is my job to insure that we have the means to do all the things mentioned above. I have to raise funds to do all of that. I despise fund raising but it's what I have to do. We are perilously close to scaling back by 75%, our operation because we do not have a vehicle in which to do our job.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to let that happen. I will sell my blood for Pete's sake, in order to keep our doors open. If the market is asking for a certain configuration and system, then we meet those market demands when necessary. So if you want to criticize me for putting Windows on some of the computers we are offering, You go right ahead, but remember...it's not you that has to answer to your community when you cut back on production. It's not you that has to look that kid in the eye and explain that (s)he may not be getting that computer that was promised.<br />
<br />
It's not you that has to stand by and watch a decade of work dwindle to nothing. I've divorced since taking the helm of Reglue. I've seen every one of my siblings die. My doctors have fought off stage 4 cancer and all the while, nursing my life partner back to health after two strokes. Through it all, the doorway to my organization remains open and we remain an active and vibrant part of this community and the Global Linux Community at Large. So, if putting the Windows operating system on a few computers in order to raise money we need prompts you to cut ties and leave...well, you just go right ahead. I suppose we'll see you sometime down the TimeLine, But take heed...That door closes abruptly so mind your backside as you exit.<br />
<br />
And for those of you who have helped us toward making our goal, I cannot thank you enough. And yeah, I've had a couple of rows that were tough to hoe, but no worse than many of you have experienced. The Global Linux Community. We all struggle at times to do the things we love to do. Things we have to do.<br />
<br />
You people rock and I make sure every recipient of a Reglue computer knows that. Every one of them. It is I who is humbled to be in your midst and to do your bidding.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAEEgsVDiL0pxEOBtqA8j1BKxiM1Yq085IaxrLhUWdnGFWAXL7Z2UH08Dmp3yQ7mW_BJ1qjnasocR4EwUpJy7eWbs2kSxCANc6zhC3lZKwfN82o1hQSN_bTUuvOcFmS8EDUYcI/s1600/fight_cartoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5Aqwa5Rs9B-Y-nrjCD2NFi-XtDUN8rtGLiANW69eBL79DxsiWAXgVU7QKKQiJgNp4kc7NNpN9hNEa0VVwsb1bsO7h9Uxw7kStZ7oNfNuyS226PhMTTTm7_G_B1A3bmcYWOzn/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5Aqwa5Rs9B-Y-nrjCD2NFi-XtDUN8rtGLiANW69eBL79DxsiWAXgVU7QKKQiJgNp4kc7NNpN9hNEa0VVwsb1bsO7h9Uxw7kStZ7oNfNuyS226PhMTTTm7_G_B1A3bmcYWOzn/s400/infinity_tux.png" width="364" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-3000566393497784112015-11-02T11:16:00.000-05:002015-11-02T11:20:38.118-05:00We're past The Halfway Point - We Could Use Your Help<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr46vbzbL5mexcUbED8YxWRRRfse45MlLZ9C7_dCxCgEVmnIC1eaXo5vrrGizgfyYzjxP-Z9B0i_sttyfpJx80AhMSa60Qh2QkaS5f_TLs1rrG5xZVjIrI56MfIJ7ivqBfRzQj/s1600/running_from_storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr46vbzbL5mexcUbED8YxWRRRfse45MlLZ9C7_dCxCgEVmnIC1eaXo5vrrGizgfyYzjxP-Z9B0i_sttyfpJx80AhMSa60Qh2QkaS5f_TLs1rrG5xZVjIrI56MfIJ7ivqBfRzQj/s400/running_from_storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Well, darn.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we plan to do things based upon forecasts such as the weather. Being a stats guy, I banged all the numbers together and came out with a favorable time to begin our vehicle fund raiser.<br />
<br />
<br />
Reglue was counting on being farther along than we currently are... the halfway point of our effort. I crunched the numbers from our last three fund raisers and being a stats guy, I thought the timing and amount we need to raise was do-able given the variables. I must have forgotten something...left something out.<br />
<br />
We need a vehicle. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OULqDlm5DcBGIEm9DdIg4SacE1YxVQMrBpkW179aEYJguvkpCRojAY6fkssYTLJk1wowRQ477ZQ78Ex-MX6vdZ3_mcvZkkSXzaE5TxRy8GbMSFilnfmMnKca4oAj8JCiAH7T/s1600/a_full_headliner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OULqDlm5DcBGIEm9DdIg4SacE1YxVQMrBpkW179aEYJguvkpCRojAY6fkssYTLJk1wowRQ477ZQ78Ex-MX6vdZ3_mcvZkkSXzaE5TxRy8GbMSFilnfmMnKca4oAj8JCiAH7T/s400/a_full_headliner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The Ford Explorer we've been using since 2010 to deliver computers to disadvantaged kids is now a rolling public enemy number one hazard. It has over 300K miles on it. With the transmission next to scrap metal and an interior raining down powdered, and possibly toxic dust upon our passengers, we can no longer use it for Reglue service. This workhorse has too many miles to dump $3,000.00+ into expensive repairs. My luck dictates that upon paying for the transmission and headliner work, the engine would throw a rod through the engine block.<br />
<br />
A month ago, I announced <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/delivering-technology-to-those-that-need-it-most/x/729034#/">our Indiegogo fund raiser</a>, in hope of raising at least $5,000.00 going toward a serviceable vehicle for Reglue. At the moment of writing, we are just under $2,000.00 from Indiegogo. With Paypal donations included, that number grows to just under $2,600.00.<br />
<br />
The first 19 days of a 45 day fund raiser produces the most productive block of donation time. I'm beginning to get a bit nervous. So I want to clarify some things and maybe make this happen, one way or another.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxwFjC5gLTkZMJWsEZthM7rST-waLXKYdKj7QWWXnb5Q0Tg7XvWQjyM1j7-ei0jppN8n0al9Cl73un20SaeQQh6w7kfXjNafD2vIHQGuJa6ywzsjOM1_L27_tUlhKSPg4M4If/s1600/a_driver_side.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxwFjC5gLTkZMJWsEZthM7rST-waLXKYdKj7QWWXnb5Q0Tg7XvWQjyM1j7-ei0jppN8n0al9Cl73un20SaeQQh6w7kfXjNafD2vIHQGuJa6ywzsjOM1_L27_tUlhKSPg4M4If/s400/a_driver_side.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There are thousands of people that read Blog of helios. I'm not sure if we've worn out our welcome or I just haven't tried hard enough, but clearly, I need to figure this out quickly. Maybe I am talking to the wrong people. A 16 dollar donation from 1/4 of our readers would put us well over our stated goal and we can get back to business. The business of supplying financially disadvantaged kids with the computer they need for school.<br />
<br />
Some of you may know or have contact with someone who is capable of donating a vehicle. I would most certainly fly to any reasonable destination, complete the transaction, pick the vehicle up and drive back. And of course, we are a verified non profit so any donation, be it a vehicle or cash, is tax deductible. Our EIN and letter of IRS 501(c)(3) award is available upon legitimate request.<br />
<br />
We are already beginning to get trickles of "computer for Christmas" requests. In past holiday seasons, we have averaged 6 installs a week. I don't even have a reliable way of going to see these people and qualify them. So yeah...As of now, Reglue is pretty much at a standstill.<br />
<br />
And just so you know...out of the past 7 years, there has only been 1 year that I did not deliver and set up a computer on Christmas Day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIqH5HkzvpnuXF664ejmcqwIVyupyzMk9brpP8JlphHzESef2TBO73VWVJpmE-Vgx5jvNAUfMw5uHID7Ace8eHHyeRnbgR07USVDlZCewzGCZVvCWBykZAIOW683qdPi6UyVt/s1600/transit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIqH5HkzvpnuXF664ejmcqwIVyupyzMk9brpP8JlphHzESef2TBO73VWVJpmE-Vgx5jvNAUfMw5uHID7Ace8eHHyeRnbgR07USVDlZCewzGCZVvCWBykZAIOW683qdPi6UyVt/s320/transit.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And about buying a vehicle with credit. No, we can't. Our bylaws strictly state that we cannot incur any debt not fully paid within 60 days of the loan. Since we primarily rely upon your donations to operate, we are at the mercy of the calendar and strong vs. weak donation periods.<br />
<br />
But speaking of holidays. With the holiday season approaching, we have some excellently priced "perks" offered in return for your donation dollars. <i><b>Some of these are $200.00 to $500.00 under market average for the release year of these laptops.</b></i> Most of these would make a fantastic present for the holiday season. You can see <a href="http://igg.me/at/shes-dead-jim/x/729034">what we offer here</a>. If you are a Mac or Samsung fan, you have most certainly come to the right place.<br />
<br />
As far as the vehicle goes, we're not looking for anything luxurious. What we need is something along the build and size of a small Ford Transit van. Even a good-sized minivan would suit our needs. Something that is decent on gas mileage and will last us at least the next 3 years. I always felt bad while driving that Explorer all over Texas doing our work. The best mileage we ever got was around 17MPG. That bothered me. But hey...we work with what we have and deal with it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYTHLNUTrsuFOxdwJ7xaMt7fl9HVJzLL6oDDwxPOS6PkIBzuU5yo9bfxrbwiJzRN9redYSvkexhMmGE2n4f8zpSvDMyjR0dtMjz0v_QwoQIO89DV0IqJ044reBLcR9gcPT5CF/s1600/kidsatwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZYTHLNUTrsuFOxdwJ7xaMt7fl9HVJzLL6oDDwxPOS6PkIBzuU5yo9bfxrbwiJzRN9redYSvkexhMmGE2n4f8zpSvDMyjR0dtMjz0v_QwoQIO89DV0IqJ044reBLcR9gcPT5CF/s400/kidsatwork.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
And no...if we don't get enough money for a vehicle, it will not trigger <a href="http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/11-ways-the-world-as-we-know-it-could-end/the-big-rip">the Big Rip</a> sequence, shredding the universe <br />
from the sub-atomic level. The Universe will continue to accelerate at unimaginable speeds. Stocks will be traded, we will go to work, come home, we'll watch the world burn from our living room easy chairs on the 6 O'clock news, and create even more ways to stay sane, working from day to day. We will raise our kids, mow our lawns and watch the calendar days go by. <br />
<br />
Reglue will do its best to do the job we promised you we would do. For a decade we put your money to work for those who had been passed by. Via your dollars, we put computers into these kid's homes. With your backing, Reglue built this computer and technology learning center In the <a href="http://linuxlock.blogspot.com/2010/02/bruno-knaaplen-technology-learning.html">memory of Bruno Knaapen</a>. Reglue has established 11 of these computer centers in Central Texas. Several of them right here in Taylor. These Reglue Kids to your right are the generation that will set foot upon other worlds. They will drill through miles of ice on other planets and moons, searching for life under those frozen crusts. Life that may dwell deep in the seas of those worlds. They will find a cure for diabetes and make cancer an inconvenience instead of a death sentence. Maybe, just maybe, on their way to terraforming Mars; they will find a way to make RealPlayer not suck.<br />
<br />
So...Here we are. We have 20-some days to get an additional 3K raised. Hopefully more. The more we raise, the better vehicle we can purchase. But that's in your hands now. And for those who have already helped us or will help us...thank you. Some of you have been jaw-droppingly generous and we appreciate you recognizing the importance of our efforts. And as always... <br />
<br />
Thanks for helping us do what we do. <br />
<br />
All-Righty Then..<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3avhkwhST8PoiArst0jDO6O-_ktTE4FeTv-TO5mCbI6fzCKvEHkHJ9tr47F6skJLoiwbnfobx-fUYPkIlsBdgWL9UP6BUkCHOvaavpreKjl4Zq2-XVfV6QN-Ckw-Il_tAs1Jd/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3avhkwhST8PoiArst0jDO6O-_ktTE4FeTv-TO5mCbI6fzCKvEHkHJ9tr47F6skJLoiwbnfobx-fUYPkIlsBdgWL9UP6BUkCHOvaavpreKjl4Zq2-XVfV6QN-Ckw-Il_tAs1Jd/s200/infinity_tux.png" width="182" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-72282243130204034132015-10-14T12:58:00.000-05:002015-11-02T10:30:59.600-05:00Who Are You?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8cOsBFrHmR6Kg74s3grIzBdsjXRYx1-eyrmFh5orYP7vWklO_tddmuIDSlC_Rszs68GpWIzceOSezXKCeXfz0ozo07AL6qIv2EYVNPRhuRcQYja4Br4XQz8vblmxz1daofFJ/s1600/technology_cables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8cOsBFrHmR6Kg74s3grIzBdsjXRYx1-eyrmFh5orYP7vWklO_tddmuIDSlC_Rszs68GpWIzceOSezXKCeXfz0ozo07AL6qIv2EYVNPRhuRcQYja4Br4XQz8vblmxz1daofFJ/s400/technology_cables.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Have you ever wondered about the organization you donate to? Do they even know who you are? What you do? At Reglue, we not only know who you are, unless you post your donation as anonymous, we tell our Reglue Kids about the great people that help us do our work. We tell them about you. Here's how that happens.<br />
<br />
The internet has changed the world in ways we don't realize. Not yet anyway. The obvious things are, well; uh...obvious. But what isn't so obvious is the immediate impact it has on any number of demographics. For low income school kids anywhere from the 3rd grade and upward, Reglue has worked for a decade, trying to bridge the gap between those that have and those who have not.<br />
<br />
A computer that is. <br />
<br />
I'm extremely wary these days, about using <span class="_Tgc">clichés. </span>It's getting harder by the day to find a phrase or a way to replace the <span class="_Tgc">cliché</span> "The Digital Divide".<br />
<br />
But <span class="_Tgc">cliché or not, that is our only mission in life. We give computers to kids that normally, could not afford a computer in their home. But you know that already don't you? Many of you anyway. <u><i><b>You</b></i></u> are the people that make what we do possible. Whether it's just operating costs or <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/delivering-technology-to-those-that-need-it-most/x/729034#/">emergencies like we are facing</a> now, Reglue knows who you are...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">But what you don't know is<b> </b>just how important you become when we walk into a child's home. I think it's time that you did know. When you support what we do, you are no longer a nameless, faceless donor. Unless you ask to remain anonymous.</span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>
<span class="_Tgc">You are the person holding the key to that child's future in your fingers. And that child now knows who you are. Not by name if you so wish, but in deed and in occupation, in accomplishments and within the open source world...this child knows someone specifically took control and made this computer possible for them.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">Personally. </span><br />
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span>
<span class="_Tgc">This is what we tell the parents and the kids, while we are getting their computer set up. We tell them who <i>you</i> are. What <i>you</i> do, and most importantly; why you do it. You are the one that make sure this kid has every opportunity to learn and strive for the highest achievements possible. We give them a computer that You provide. We give them the tools they need to succeed and tell them who is responsible for making that possible.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><u><b>Who Are You?</b></u></span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><b>You are a successful, award-winning author and You are a server/system technician</b>. You go to work every day and when you get home, you gather your family around you and share the evening's meal. Then you spend 4 hours, writing the next book...one of several you've already written, but the drive to write the next book isn't something you can ignore. It won't let you sleep. It won't let you concentrate on anything but fulfilling that discipline to write. Once you put your kids to bed, that's when you do your writing. 18 hour days are nothing new to you. They are the norm.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK-0y1-1nNr-jDUt0a4kfCNd8PCvfeP0DOawYnWYBemfLD-uzXwLkkXBejfcLS53R2J3Csfmp9ZgZ7rcFaKHhy4Q7vuLmI4DIlzxT_CkMF10dQxsRWgRkd8sl9GFYmpfkw7p_/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEK-0y1-1nNr-jDUt0a4kfCNd8PCvfeP0DOawYnWYBemfLD-uzXwLkkXBejfcLS53R2J3Csfmp9ZgZ7rcFaKHhy4Q7vuLmI4DIlzxT_CkMF10dQxsRWgRkd8sl9GFYmpfkw7p_/s400/snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="_Tgc"><b>You are a truck driver, you are a server administrator, and you are someone deeply concerned about this next generation coming in behind you.</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><u><b>You</b></u> are a dad, a grand father and a husband. You do whatever it takes to care for your family. You've found work in your field and it makes you happy to be back among the smells and the quiet hum and the vibrations you feel at your very core. But the whole job thing...it can get complicated.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">If your contract doesn't get renewed, you may well see billows of exhaust swirling in the air. Next year you may find yourself pulled over, a state trooper watching over your shoulder. And you audibly cursing the horribly bitter cold on I-84, backing onto your snow chains in order to run the Cabbage in January. But what ever it takes, you do it.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><b><u>You</u> are a consultant.</b> You are someone who has already done the hard stuff, the technologically dangerous stuff and you did it well. You've written books about it. People want to pay you so they don't have to go through what you have endured in your profession. You are a partner, two of you feeding the horses and livestock before it gets too dark. You keep an eye to the weather...to watch for rain that may flood your pens. Those furry and feathered things are safe. You are the one person that makes them so. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"><b>You are a retired professor</b>, retired by years, not by decision. You are the geek </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM0Zu5VS8iiS0wzsQ8r_CTKg-aiHot8F8kE6WIJb9wE13eBxTVLQGWCxdg-xkHPoLGz6UU2AmlXAarrLVn4Ut96FQ_jIXLbJnw4O7BXDBWR2lc-5xstfTIpg89HtzoOhsMV9i/s1600/tux-teacher.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGM0Zu5VS8iiS0wzsQ8r_CTKg-aiHot8F8kE6WIJb9wE13eBxTVLQGWCxdg-xkHPoLGz6UU2AmlXAarrLVn4Ut96FQ_jIXLbJnw4O7BXDBWR2lc-5xstfTIpg89HtzoOhsMV9i/s320/tux-teacher.png" width="320" /></a></div>
of your family, a family that's spread all over the country but still...you are the guy they call or come to when your knowledge is needed. Sometimes at 2AM. But mostly not. You are the husband who puts his wife's maladies first, and God knows you have plenty of your own. You are a friend...an important fixture in many lives. Some you may not even know. But you are. You are more important to those than you will probably ever know.<br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">You are so many more than this, but even if I don't take the time to talk about all of you here, I make sure I take the time to talk about you out there. The place where I am plugging in all the things that connect to make a computer. While showing them how to use the word processor, I tell these kids about the men and women who helped make this computer possible for them. Whether you are a Server Technician or a Pharmacist's Assistant, I tell them your name and what you do. I tell them how their contribution to Reglue makes all of this possible. Some of these kids will set foot on other worlds. The computer that came to be in their lives could may well have been the spark that set their course for Mars, Europa and beyond. You will never know how much your contribution channelled that intelligence and drive in the Right Direction. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">In 80% of the cases, I never report back to you personally truck driver, professor, geek, healer, author...so I am doing so now. I want you to know this. The child who receives a computer from Reglue knows at least one of your names...most often, they know several. Some of your faces are on the screen when they first boot their computer. Every time, in every case. A Reglue Kid knows your names. And they thank you.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeoOJ7l2JqjvKzkTVpjJz5Msab45E4VMnXIPVgttllaWd7IteaXkqIj1WgNWxYyIIMNXt7Eo_Y05lxscJQ2yxdOyFcoocdHz4C_gin2P5GJqdd6GMMETxln435Ji1S8n7TIrX/s1600/children_work_planet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSeoOJ7l2JqjvKzkTVpjJz5Msab45E4VMnXIPVgttllaWd7IteaXkqIj1WgNWxYyIIMNXt7Eo_Y05lxscJQ2yxdOyFcoocdHz4C_gin2P5GJqdd6GMMETxln435Ji1S8n7TIrX/s400/children_work_planet.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="_Tgc">Because it's important. These kids need to know what it means to pass it along, to pay it forward, to stop and help someone opening a door. However it happens, we teach our Reglue Kids the importance of community. Without a certain community, this kid would not be getting this computer. So from hundreds of these kids over the years, regardless of your name or what you do, I am supposed to say:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">Thank you. For giving us the means to navigate the stars. To begin our life's journey.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc">All-Righty Then... </span><br />
<br />
<span class="_Tgc"> </span> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v8zN9cXvhpi5BTZgNtyWYm6Dr7G3yg92YdGKMW7A4Lm1xwSb4fP6NATzC4DpskuiZ9bupKOgCtHqDJa6L7nxxa2bHXQRNIbeXROIo8ZWrwpkRx8P0VT9FCOXWHeqNL-cmEzQ/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9v8zN9cXvhpi5BTZgNtyWYm6Dr7G3yg92YdGKMW7A4Lm1xwSb4fP6NATzC4DpskuiZ9bupKOgCtHqDJa6L7nxxa2bHXQRNIbeXROIo8ZWrwpkRx8P0VT9FCOXWHeqNL-cmEzQ/s200/infinity_tux.png" width="182" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-91768208809255785062015-10-02T00:34:00.000-05:002015-10-02T00:34:26.491-05:00It All Comes Down To This<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Edit - Carpal Tunnel has rendered my right arm and hand useless. It will be a while before I can again type so bear with me while I heal. Going in tomorrow for further tests and treatment options. As an organization, here's where we are at the moment. Check in with my cronies and cohorts on G+ for updates.</i></b></span><br />
<br />
It started out innocently enough...taking the Reglue Explorer in to get the oil changed. I told them to check the transmission too. The old Ford had been hesitating a bit when accelerating on an incline or when put into reverse. Not a big deal. I check the fluids regularly. Besides, the transmission had been serviced less than 5000 miles ago.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHissMwbd3nTEJMiO3BJhRCJI83Mnf-FMFuxrPm-Aipg3wssubQty3wBQkWQClQK71JnRD-QN4tibFDOoIxs6whlDWo8yIBNEyPRR0srjc5b8Wg9OJQasqTkeczve_ro8A8Gn/s1600/broke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHissMwbd3nTEJMiO3BJhRCJI83Mnf-FMFuxrPm-Aipg3wssubQty3wBQkWQClQK71JnRD-QN4tibFDOoIxs6whlDWo8yIBNEyPRR0srjc5b8Wg9OJQasqTkeczve_ro8A8Gn/s400/broke.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Turns out it is a big deal. It is a big, big deal. The transmission is failing. With<br />
copious amounts of metal chunks and junk laying in the bottom of the pan, it turns out that some of the transmission bands have failed. This is going to take more than a transmission service. It's going to take a transmission rebuild or replacement.<br />
<br />
At a starting price of $3,000.00, that's out of the question. And yeah, we have that much money, but spending that much for a vehicle repair for a truck over 300K isn't simply ill advised, it's irresponsible. I can't ask you to tolerate Reglue spending over three thousand of your donated dollars to repair a vehicle that may blow a piston rod right through the engine block the next day. We're talking metal stress and fatigue here. Ugly business that.<br />
<br />
A vehicle this old and with the original motor is destined for a long list of possible engine failures to come. My mechanic, a Ford certified technician; said he was impressed that engine failure hasn't yet occurred. It still has the original timing chain. That is most certainly the Sword of Damocles. One of many it turns out.<br />
<br />
It's simple. We are dead in the water until we can get another vehicle. I rented a car to deliver and set up the computers to be installed last week but sustaining that plan is untenable. We cannot afford to rent a car or van to do our work. This Ford served us way past her duty to do so, but we need to buy another car. We have no other options.<br />
<br />
Our funding goal is simple and it's not an amount of money that should be too hard to raise. When a poor lady bus monitor <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/lets-give-karen-the-bus-monitor-h-klein-a-vacation--6/x/729034#/">gets hassled and mocked</a> on a school bus and a fund raiser nets her almost three quarters of a million dollars...well, that's pretty amazing. Bless her heart. When we, as a vetted, proven and transparent non profit cannot raise mid 4 figures to buy a vehicle...well, maybe we will have to consider other options. We need to raise a minimum of five thousand dollars in the next 58 days. Of course, that's not going to buy us a lot of vehicle but I can and will personally finance the rest if need be. Diane has offered to donate 75.00 a month toward that payment as well if that is necessary. Why?<br />
<br />
The Reglue bylaws state without any room for ambiguity, that the Reglue non profit will not, under any circumstance; incur debt of any type that is not repayable in full within 60 days.<br />
<br />
That's plain language and there are only two outcomes. We are able to purchase a vehicle to continue the work we've been doing for a decade, or we file with the IRS for an intent to dismantle the non profit Reglue and/or choose another non profit with like missions to acquire our physical and financial assets. Then we walk away.<br />
<br />
There are no other options and we need your support. We have an indiegogo campaign and you can find it at:<br />
<br />
http://igg.me/at/shes-dead-jim/x/729034<br />
<br />
And the truth of it? I fought off stage 4 cancer to continue my work, so far anyway. I would feel like a complete idiot if the lack of a relatively small amount of money was all that hindered Reglue's efforts. <br />
<br />
There are some extremely nice perks available and even more are added every Friday at 12PM, that is as soon as I can double check that the hardware is in good shape. This is not hyperbole...you folks are not gonna believe the good stuff we have to place this Friday, and every other Friday until the campaign ends. We'll announce those additions here as well as my Google Plus page. <br />
<br />
Or if you prefer to donate via paypal, you can click the yellow donate button on the top left side of this page. Should you have any questions or comments, you can place them here or email me ken att reglue dott org.<br />
<br />
All-Righty Then... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxCrohNhU9_xCa1OGbyzm2QIZthu6bXhbocCxtALkFf4DV9AGTFFQvjhxCkrlyOBBJkrj9XjVtFIG7W2IxPp8fs-IrvDuLQaYy5GQ9-CvhC5tG1ow-ziiydb6X1D53Xu0twSQ/s1600/infinity_tux.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxCrohNhU9_xCa1OGbyzm2QIZthu6bXhbocCxtALkFf4DV9AGTFFQvjhxCkrlyOBBJkrj9XjVtFIG7W2IxPp8fs-IrvDuLQaYy5GQ9-CvhC5tG1ow-ziiydb6X1D53Xu0twSQ/s320/infinity_tux.png" width="292" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-31022926800518962102015-08-31T23:09:00.000-05:002015-10-18T14:57:44.051-05:00"It will not always be summer; build barns". - Hesiod<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14Qrj3TmquyfCFWetYEBmdPbux65zzYGurWnoC_4BVWj6_XhaRjZSotICU3Y7xF-RDYwVotuSJhMcr57RvUzUXxYJMvNfXzZj4fapEWAKHMo3-qd98wujBmjlxW4N8fRZTS90/s1600/dog_day_summer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg14Qrj3TmquyfCFWetYEBmdPbux65zzYGurWnoC_4BVWj6_XhaRjZSotICU3Y7xF-RDYwVotuSJhMcr57RvUzUXxYJMvNfXzZj4fapEWAKHMo3-qd98wujBmjlxW4N8fRZTS90/s400/dog_day_summer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfe3hgpDUhSuGHOnz2sj0wTxh-sgNN0GUa0n5fyvjicBZTNdf41BAt_AZ6hACO-656KAFzM7EDN4HP0OCUzyGqjH_WrPJHtSirMqelqTufsO1x2iE0cmlqMPDfpiAdDSDEEYki/s1600/fishing_lure_beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
Summer is a quiet time for Reglue. Usually. Kids are out of school and they have other things to think about. Things other than what they might be needing for the next year's school year.<br />
<br />
Like computers.<br />
<br />
But this summer was different, much different. Last year during the month of May, local activities included little league baseball, camping and hiking. A lot of Taylor kids sign up for the annual home improvement campaign, funded by private business, along with Taylor and Williamson county. This event allows Taylor youth to team up and improve the homes of our elderly or disabled. These are good kids, <a href="http://www.taylorisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=305030&type=d&pREC_ID=765329">these Taylor Ducks.</a> They take pride in their community and driving around for just a short time on a summer's day will bear that out.<br />
<br />
But not this summer.<br />
<br />
Instead of seeing kids running through sprinklers in their front yards, you saw those same kids, along with their parents and family, digging through tons of snake, spider and disease-infested debris...trying to salvage anything from their destroyed lives. <span class="st">Highly venomous and aggressive water moccasin</span>s were a constant threat during flood clean up and recovery all over Central Texas.<br />
<br />
My buddy Ray, volunteered a lot this summer, helping people regain some sense of order and familiarity in their lives. He carried a 41 magnum pistol on his hip while doing it. But instead of the standard hollow point round he preferred, he bought rat shot for his 41 mag. Pistol-shooting a disturbed and pissed off snake when your adrenalin is flowing at light speed can be tricky business. Using your pistol as a mini shotgun equalizes that.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/governor-says-deadly-flooding-worst-ever-seen-texas-013252232.html">Central Texas Flood of the Century</a> brutally ripped and tore entire homes from their foundations, cars from the roads and, in more than one horrible nightmare; infant children were torn from their mother's arms. Two of those children have not yet been found.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4QnDUtq4HQ3gzBs_4IJaKGy4CV7f2VlEbmeHb_LH6px-7Up_Za2CZsM4drMAdPhLRDE6KYZADHmwZBrKh15MTwt0VAS0iVtXRKpWgPSS4tJcdeWL7dJi5nht_siqBPodRYlp/s1600/taylor_flood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4QnDUtq4HQ3gzBs_4IJaKGy4CV7f2VlEbmeHb_LH6px-7Up_Za2CZsM4drMAdPhLRDE6KYZADHmwZBrKh15MTwt0VAS0iVtXRKpWgPSS4tJcdeWL7dJi5nht_siqBPodRYlp/s400/taylor_flood.jpg" width="400" /></a>Like so many other Texas towns, Taylor was just trying to survive the aftermath <br />
of this flood. But like so many American communities, they wiped their tears, salvaged what they could, and set their jaw to helping their neighbors rebuild their lives. But unlike other natural disasters, FEMA was rarely seen during this disaster, at least by me and I was often on site, helping and talking to people displaced by the flood. Many of the people I spoke with said that they gave out a stack of $1300.00 checks to those who "qualified" and then left town without another word. Families that thought they would receive help with food and temporary shelter found themselves clutching $1,300,00 check and nothing else. That may have been untrue elsewhere but it is what people from Taylor reported to me. That relief money was mostly used for microwave meals eaten during a couple of weeks in a motel and an unsure future. To their credit, the local Walmart and HEB supermarket went out of their way to put together food, clothing and other merchandise to help their community. <br />
<br />
Reglue did what we could this summer, to seek out and find people stuck in this limbo. We didn't have to look far. The city of Taylor and Williamson County sprung into action as well and found the money to begin rebuilding these people's lives. <br />
<br />
Reglue gathered clothes, appliances and what ever else we could collect to help some of these folks in need. We used our facility as a gathering point for those donations of food, clothing and appliances. Some of our volunteers manned the office for 12 hour days, in order to insure folks had every opportunity to benefit from our resource. However, to put it into perspective, Reglue's efforts didn't amount to even 2% of the overall resources available for these displaced people.<br />
Once the waters receded, so to speak; we were able to find school kids who had lost everything, to include their computers.<br />
<br />
I spent an entire Saturday, standing outside of our local supermarket (HEB) and handed out business cards, explaining what we do. The results of that Saturday yielded way more inquiries than I had expected. Fortunately, we were able to find an extraordinary deal on some Dell Latitude E5500 laptops and readied them for deployment. We paid $200.00 for all 9 of them. They already had 3-4 gigs of RAM so all we had to do was install our version of Mint KDE and they were ready to go.<br />
<br />
We did much of this in a borrowed vehicle because our old Ford Explorer has a slipping transmission. I'll get the old girl into the shop next week and see what we can do. <br />
<br />
Special thanks to Ed Tittel for the donation of a fantastic Acer quad core with 8GB or RAM. That laptop went to a young lady who entered her graduate studies at Texas State University this school year. It was exactly the system and specs she needed for her coursework. We had been holding back that machine and three others with similar specifications just for accelerated study needs such as Stephanie's.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cibWcU2_BSJdbMo4aHs4htLpq2ZpOoVjGbNQLuUNf1o4Fb-h_mXR4N4EjTJhdQcLBYUEVPNDsOwYQ-pH4_BHzoVg6GyTUZlH4TUVoVYZ1-Qbr6sNyi1M2SURQLVXIiBciXHP/s1600/reed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-cibWcU2_BSJdbMo4aHs4htLpq2ZpOoVjGbNQLuUNf1o4Fb-h_mXR4N4EjTJhdQcLBYUEVPNDsOwYQ-pH4_BHzoVg6GyTUZlH4TUVoVYZ1-Qbr6sNyi1M2SURQLVXIiBciXHP/s400/reed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Eric and Deanne Anderson with their son Eric Reed, were one of the families devastated by this flooding. Once they had solid ground under their feet, they began putting their financial lives back together. Eric Sr. is a self employed auto mechanic and while he was able to save tens of thousands of dollars of tools and diagnostic equipment, his laptop dedicated to his business was completely ruined, as was the family computer. Reglue was more than happy to not only give Eric Jr. one of these great laptops, we were also able to help Dad set up his Dell so he could get back to work. Once they find permanent housing, we will set them up with a nicely rebuilt dual core Acer desktop. While Eric's automotive software did not work in Linux, we were able to obtain a Windows 7 license and install his mechanics software via VirtualBox. It worked great.<br />
<br />
This is, without a doubt; one of the most satisfying installations we've done in a while. It was an honor to help these folks. But that was only the beginning of a two week run that resulted in 7 more computers being placed.<br />
<br />
Diane and I live in an extremely nice 55 and older community. Before we moved here, I used to brag that I could get to the shop in three minutes. One of the downsides of moving here is the loss of that bragging right. Now it takes me an entire 7 minutes. Oh, the sacrifices we make.....<br />
<br />
One of the reasons I like it here is because Diane isn't so isolated from other women of her age and interests. One of Diane's favorite visitors is Betty Hargrove. Diane and Betty are continuously swapping recipes, war stories and comfortable hours together.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoFR3XwQabHd2kUvH5gtBSsA_T_9HcuDILWHFo-qgEJC8rXJX8nleqknm41JpW2TMVyo66A_1l6QYRIqwAC3BEmHJRt9Hp6fQU18_QsfRQjqCj8NsLe84i66kNYZVFGEiNPR1/s1600/Isaiah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfoFR3XwQabHd2kUvH5gtBSsA_T_9HcuDILWHFo-qgEJC8rXJX8nleqknm41JpW2TMVyo66A_1l6QYRIqwAC3BEmHJRt9Hp6fQU18_QsfRQjqCj8NsLe84i66kNYZVFGEiNPR1/s400/Isaiah.jpg" width="400" /></a> After one such visit, Diane made it a point to mention that one of Betty's <br />
grandsons would be entering his freshman year of college at Stephen F. Austin on a track and field scholarship this fall. While Isaiah's scholarship was just at 80%, he still needed things. One of those things was a laptop. Betty didn't know what I did within Reglue, up until then anyway. Diane insured her friend that she could scratch a new laptop from her worry list.<br />
<br />
I pulled down one of those Dell Latitude E5500 laptops, opened it up, cleaned it, replaced the <strike>worthless</strike> Broadcom wireless radio with something more open source friendly, replaced the backlight inverter and screen, re-seated the processor with new paste and bumped it to 8 gigs of RAM. I got an email from him yesterday, thanking us for the <i>great new laptop</i> he now had.<br />
<br />
I can't verbalize the feeling I get when we are able to help kids like Eric and Isaiah. Simply saying "It's what we do" sounds trite and to some, that may ring as false humility, but I can't think of a better way to express or phrase it. A lot of you thank us for doing this work but really..? It's you folks that keep us going financially and personally. Without you, well...without you none of this would have happened, nor would it happen in the future.<br />
<br />
Thank you for helping us do what we do.<br />
<br />
Alllll-righty then.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45c4Jplq08VutvCNhOp5e4wUYtcchkaiAJQX6LC2Kh3jOmxvepAgj07mHWWDUU87fO1-aMR7Qsv8qFKoOD5td7OchNWeLhOUIvFdax9XqiUmRO14Jewu8J1PgsKfNYUXniGHn/s1600/blueinfinityshadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45c4Jplq08VutvCNhOp5e4wUYtcchkaiAJQX6LC2Kh3jOmxvepAgj07mHWWDUU87fO1-aMR7Qsv8qFKoOD5td7OchNWeLhOUIvFdax9XqiUmRO14Jewu8J1PgsKfNYUXniGHn/s320/blueinfinityshadow.png" width="320" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33801994.post-57579882123658898232015-07-29T15:45:00.000-05:002015-08-01T11:32:06.381-05:00And so it goes...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNufkoxLaavxtd6_cYYOBMci4_yHJ3yg0IA0W3Q_nleuAMFvl-WVb_AU649u8nlDrfBBaQf7oAnJTSHmYuurAt1h4ZRJRiGMnb6b3tirIu7AxJ9GTyCbcrMrY0-ZXYsY2y4d/s1600/smiley_gloss.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMNufkoxLaavxtd6_cYYOBMci4_yHJ3yg0IA0W3Q_nleuAMFvl-WVb_AU649u8nlDrfBBaQf7oAnJTSHmYuurAt1h4ZRJRiGMnb6b3tirIu7AxJ9GTyCbcrMrY0-ZXYsY2y4d/s1600/smiley_gloss.png" /></a></div>
Well, hey there. I was emailed the other day, and asked if I still wrote the Blog of helios. Well, obviously I do. Just not as often these days. See...the actions and accomplishments of my non profit "<a href="http://www.reglue.org/">Reglue</a>", are mostly reported here. But you know...? There is just so many times that I can report a success story before it becomes a template of sorts. Reglue gives disadvantaged kid a computer, parent(s) happy, kid ecstatic, we move on to the next one. Yeah...that's pretty much the reaction we get when we install a computer, but you have heard that over and over again. However I have accumulated a bit of news outside of that subject matter, so I want to share it with you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6emHGlVk_RonpyiP9J_Vta0G534KGK3NQL76Klqrz0aB2-X21XD9CF0qH3RuhWZVDMmzaAlAtbj5JLq1p2HogtxAXDzT7csBwIBwjFGCqUv0lzjOHpQgFFFqk2AUi8CKSQWy/s1600/broken_speaker.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6emHGlVk_RonpyiP9J_Vta0G534KGK3NQL76Klqrz0aB2-X21XD9CF0qH3RuhWZVDMmzaAlAtbj5JLq1p2HogtxAXDzT7csBwIBwjFGCqUv0lzjOHpQgFFFqk2AUi8CKSQWy/s400/broken_speaker.png" width="277" /></a></div>
I have been a critic of the horrible state of text to speech software in the Linuxsphere, and not just recently. That dissatisfaction has existed for a number of years...not just since the loss of my voice to cancer. My articles concerning that said state have been met with a good deal of positive feedback. One of the top FOSS authors, and a guy I greatly admire; provided some of that feedback.<a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/+MarcelGagne/posts"> Marcel Gagne</a> stated that he had written about this exact same topic ten years ago, and he was dismayed that a decade had passed without any real improvement.<br />
<br />
Hopefully, we are going to fix that. In fact, a number of people <a href="http://fossforce.com/2015/06/teaching-linux-to-speak/">answered my appeal</a> for help in building a much-needed front end for a good TTS application. There are a lot of decent TTS apps out there for Linux, but what they are missing is an intuitive, simple front end. As well, the installation of some real life-like sounding voices into these TTS applications is nothing less than an frickin' ordeal. The fact that these programs are so hard to use just extends and substantiates the opinion that Linux is a hobbyist operating system. The front end we are building is for <a href="http://mary.dfki.de/">MaryTTS</a>. Why MaryTTS? First, it's open source. Second. I am told that the programming used to develop MaryTTS borders on elegance. Thirdly...wait, is "thirdly" a word? It is now. Thirdly, it's open source. Oh, wait...I mentioned that.<br />
<br />
And so it goes.<br />
<br />
We currently have a team of three people working on this project. One of those people is Isaac Carter. <a href="http://fossforce.com/2015/07/profile-of-an-everyday-foss-developer/">We interviewed Isaac</a> over at FOSS Force a few days ago and it gives you an idea of the mindset of many FOSS software developers across the globe. All some people want to do is find a place where they can help, where their work will matter. And while the other two developers choose to remain anonymous, we are happy to announce an alpha release of Voice4MaryTTS.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGgpcys7-QKBa3sxjJZnn0n9CkxuVhptzGWa4hIPMjT0klZ1GPY0AFYdj8_Ps7dI1MkEhyHKivMGhqWIm1GVEKa7oy4GudI1iYn8judjE1knajCF2I-XnMXa7u4Gi46DsXULl/s1600/marys_lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGgpcys7-QKBa3sxjJZnn0n9CkxuVhptzGWa4hIPMjT0klZ1GPY0AFYdj8_Ps7dI1MkEhyHKivMGhqWIm1GVEKa7oy4GudI1iYn8judjE1knajCF2I-XnMXa7u4Gi46DsXULl/s320/marys_lamb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This development has been surprisingly fast, given that all of the developers have real jobs, families and lives. What started out as pretty much a "hello world" sketch, has evolved in a usable tool, even at the alpha stage of development. Some of the features baked into the app are impressive. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bdSLJMw_v1MjBqellwc3dqNlU/view?usp=sharing">Download the jar file</a>, then run this command in the directory in which you saved the file: java -<span class="il">jar</span> SpeechLess.one-<span class="il">jar</span>.<span class="il">jar.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="il">It is currently developed against Oracle Java 8, but once we have a steady and sturdy application, we'll get to work on the open versions of the same application and present that for consumption. Let us know what you think and how it may be improved. And remember before you comment...this project is evolving from the heart and soul of FOSS developers from around the globe. They will greatly appreciate your feedback. There are a number of features that will be added, some amended and possibly some cut away. We simply wanted to give you a status report on this project. But don't criticise out of hand. You may not think this project is necessary, but I have a decade of research that proves you wrong. Many of you who read Blog of helios are Java developers yourselves. Let us know what you think. And please, your help is needed to pick a permanent name for this project.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="il">And upon further review...</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3XqM1ew7MT8yd13KXHw_DFowb9HCOsKwzT-yEHGxgU3VRUAjeDRPjfIkQiloDJzT0nA0cu0DI4W5KJzETa3gQjtPBiClCJuD53PkFeKD9WP5bksx7UIsI5Qs3sm5XcYcrJsQ/s1600/rockingchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3XqM1ew7MT8yd13KXHw_DFowb9HCOsKwzT-yEHGxgU3VRUAjeDRPjfIkQiloDJzT0nA0cu0DI4W5KJzETa3gQjtPBiClCJuD53PkFeKD9WP5bksx7UIsI5Qs3sm5XcYcrJsQ/s320/rockingchair.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="il">It is time that I do this. I am announcing my plan to retire. Upon my 65th birthday or a bit before, I will be handing over the reins of Reglue to a couple of guys out of Dallas Texas, or possibly a long-time supporter in Round Rock. That means the program will remain alive but possibly not operating in the greater Austin area. And to be sure, this is a complex transition. The IRS has seen to that. This is all contingent upon my health maintaining the status quo. Hopefully, there will be no need for this to happen sooner. As we go forward with these preparations, we will reveal the folks who will take over Reglue operations. Things change...situations change...but for now, we will go with the above-mentioned plans and those people within.</span><br />
<span class="il"><br /></span>
<span class="il">That being said, the Directors of Reglue have decided that we need to change the way we fund Reglue. Our fund raiser last autumn fell a good deal short of our goal but through sales of non-</span><span class="il"><span class="st">pertinent</span> hardware donations, we were able to completely fund our year. Those non-pertinent items were a small refrigerator, and number of non-computer appliances and tools. But we cannot count on similar donations to offer for sale. So this is our plan.</span><br />
<span class="il"><br /></span>
<span class="il">Instead of having an annual fund raiser, we've put into place a monthly donation goal. This way, those of you who donate annually do not have to offer that donation all at one time. And for those that haven't been able to donate a larger amount, we can break that down to a much smaller donation for each month. Not everyone can afford to donate a one-time $600.00, but most everyone can afford to donate 10.00 a month over the course of the year.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTBNC9J_HjFm2KjNt9CsnSclPj8OTGPzpIBfjTOz9Yfdg5n09iSvvavxURhbdP8lMiBoMhAd8I5dDNU1Ac0PF2-JcXaIt_fg9D2bs_S_bMs6izPNpqBs88OIVQFOf2OZmKl9K/s1600/600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTBNC9J_HjFm2KjNt9CsnSclPj8OTGPzpIBfjTOz9Yfdg5n09iSvvavxURhbdP8lMiBoMhAd8I5dDNU1Ac0PF2-JcXaIt_fg9D2bs_S_bMs6izPNpqBs88OIVQFOf2OZmKl9K/s320/600.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="il">And that is what we are asking. Our monthly goal is $500.00 to $600.00 per month. That amounts to 60 people who read the Blog of helios to donate $10.00 each month. I mean, I see the traffic stats for this blog...60 readers is an almost minuscule percentage of our readership. So that's why our graphic artist of choice, <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/1/+MikeDaymon/posts">Mike Daymon</a>; has created our donation gauge for our monthly campaign. There is always a $50.00 buffer and that's because I donate the first $50.00 out of my own pocket. Some of you have donated Recently but did not see the graphic move up. That's because we put the graphic in place a bit too early. I meant to make this announcement a while back. The campaign goes live as soon as I hit the button to publish this. You can watch the total climb for each day at 10PM CST.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="il">$10.00 a month is a paltry sum for most of us. For most people, it boils down to just taking the time to do it. I would be greatly appreciative of you making that donation, or as recent donors have done, just make a 10 dollar repeating donation. It is simple to do. Great things are planned for Reglue in the coming school year. I would be thrilled for you to be a part of that. You can donate by clicking the donate graphic at the top left of this page, or simply paypal your donation to ken@reglue.org.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="il">And as always...thanks for helping us do what we do.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="il">All-Righty Then... </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYetsRvUUs_WLET6X66Xs0XpZy9TEg2dKKb2KkNGAAB38U0sksfSzuKGv1J_1BlhyphenhyphenMa8I6JeUdZtRpoEFo_imCBxnbyIOnQ_sf89aEc3Qeq6NxbktqQq2_a9lkZQffdAv_yl7/s1600/blueinfinityshadow.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGYetsRvUUs_WLET6X66Xs0XpZy9TEg2dKKb2KkNGAAB38U0sksfSzuKGv1J_1BlhyphenhyphenMa8I6JeUdZtRpoEFo_imCBxnbyIOnQ_sf89aEc3Qeq6NxbktqQq2_a9lkZQffdAv_yl7/s320/blueinfinityshadow.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13978117986484281976noreply@blogger.com2