Thank-You How-To

So you like something I've done, and you want to know how to say thanks? Here are a few ideas.

for Me

• Send me a note. If I know people are getting something out of one of my projects, it gives me warm fuzzies and I'll be more encouraged to work on it. But I don't know any of this unless you tell me.
• Give me money. Money helps keep the hacker fueled with cookies so his brain does not go to sleep.^*
• Send material goods. Because, I admit it, I like stuff sometimes. Doesn't everybody?

for You

You want to do something for me? Great. Here's what you do:

• Do not be afraid of your computer.
• Vote.
• Try not to start wars.
• Familiarize yourself with practical applications of cryptography, such as GnuPG or other OpenPGP software for your e-mail. It could come in handy, should the preceeding two ideas become unpopular.

for the World

I don't do it all by myself. Some thanks should go to those who work to make the world a better place to live in.

FREE GEEK

They help keep toxic waste out of landfills. They give new homes to abandoned electronics. They help people get computers who may not otherwise be able to afford one. They provide education. They develop and distribute open source software. They would like you to help pay their rent (via contribute.com or PayPal) so they can get more classroom space.

(Disclosure: One of my housemates is on the payroll of this non-profit organization.)

Electronic Frontier Foundation

yay them

American Civil Liberties Union

yay them as well

No Ivy League

I like Portland, I like trees. I don't like things that kill trees. English ivy (Hedera helix) is overwhelming many trees in Portland. (Going down Barbur or Terwilliger makes me cry.) Help stop the invasion.

FSF, SPI, PSF, PDPC

The Free Software Foundation, Software in the Public Interest, Python Software Foundation, and the Peer Directed Projects Center are but a few of the organizations supporting the projects I've been making use of on a daily basis for many years, and I've given them precious little in the way of money in return. You can help me fix that.

Footnote

* Actually, as it turns out, most cookies are terrible for the health of my brains. I can find something else to eat. But cookies are tasty.