Cryptofishist!

[PurpleKoosh]

(((((((((((Calling Illuminaughty))))))))))))

It was at the recommendation of the Illuminaughty that I posted this here. We're still working on establishing who the point person is for this project, but as soon as I have that info, I'll let y'all know where to send the money. (And again, this is bigger than just the 'naughties. If one of y'all want to herd cats, by all means sing out.)

[Isotopia]

Consider....

That if you wanna raise monies for a laptop which she'll be using in and out of Europe that there might be subtle but important differences in wireless considerations as well as other technical considerations that I'm not familiar with. Oh yeah, power converter will be a must as well.

[technopatra]

Hey everyone. I'm sorry to return here for such a sad reason. I got all my ranting out on my Tribe blog, so I'll just say that My heart is with her and I'm ready to help.

I'll see what it takes to set up my PayPal for the Fishy Fund. I have to go into an afternoon's worth of meetings, will be home again around 8pm and will jump on it then unless I hear otherwise.

Does Burners Without Borders extend to personal crises in the community?

By the very nature of what we are doing here, we all all Burners Without Borders. If we can identity a specific task, I can see if they can help us. Butreally, they have little infrastructure - BWB is effectively a loose association of Burners who are out there working on their own projects for the benefit of others.

[PurpleKoosh]

if you wanna raise monies for a laptop which she'll be using in and out of Europe

The idea was to have it here for her when she returns Stateside, whenever that may be. Even if we did manage to acquire something that would work both here and abroad (which, given the pool of geeks available to us here on the board, is probably doable), the thought of trying to ship it to her is giving me agita.

[PurpleKoosh]

I'll see what it takes to set up my PayPal for the Fishy Fund. I have to go into an afternoon's worth of meetings, will be home again around 8pm and will jump on it then unless I hear otherwise.

You remain a rockstar, darling.

[Lassen Forge]

Cost to ship a laptop to the EU is F***ing prohibitively expensive, you have to pay VAT and Duty and then to ship it insured and protected and track it so it don't end up in Albania (happens)... Did I mention it has to clear customs on both sides *and* she won't get it for weeks at least?

It's like buying one for the price of 2, and then it's a wager (albiet a good one, but still) that it makes it to it's intended recipient.

I *think* she prolly still has hers (unless it got f***ed up in the accident, still no word on 'zactly what happened either)... She *may* also have avenues open up thru the Euroburner contingent for access to one if she needs it. Ya know, them burners...

I love the idea (and count me in, ya knew that already) but shipping it to the EU is a fools errand unless we know she'll be in Österreich for a while... like a month or 2.

On another note - and if I can put in a bit of input - having dealt with cheap laptops (UG!!) Whatever we get I would only ask it's a good one with a good track record. Just my 2 cents from having a $750 laptop fry on day 62 of it's 60 day warranty. I'll even kick in more to help that happen... not even a biggie...

Oops - bourbon empty - need a refill - back later...

bb

[PurpleKoosh]

Cost to ship a laptop to the EU is F***ing prohibitively expensive, you have to pay VAT and Duty and then to ship it insured and protected and track it so it don't end up in Albania (happens)... Did I mention it has to clear customs on both sides *and* she won't get it for weeks at least?

It's like buying one for the price of 2, and then it's a wager (albiet a good one, but still) that it makes it to it's intended recipient.

Yeah, that's about what I figured.

I *think* she prolly still has hers

It was my understanding that the updates we were getting from her were all from internet cafes in her various ports of call - hence why her Ys and Zs suddenly switched places midway through the trip, etc. So I don't believe she had a machine with her.

[Zane5100]

I just found out.

First Scott and now this? Shit.

Fuck, this is bad.

All I can think of is this:

O Fortuna,
velut Luna
statu variabilis,
semper crescis
aut decrescis;
vita detestabilis
nunc obdurat
et tunc curat
ludo mentis aciem;
egestatem,
potestatem,
dissolvit ut glaciem.

Sors immanis
et inanis,
rota tu volubilis,
status malus,
vana salus
semper dissolubilis;
obumbrata
et velata
mihi quoque niteris;
nunc per ludum
dorsum nudum
fero tui sceleris.

Sors salutis
et virtutis
mihi nunc contraria;
est affectus
et defectus
semper in angaria.
hac in hora
sine mora
cordae pulsum tangite!
quod per sortem
sternit fortem,
mecum omnes plangite!

"O Fortuna", Carmina Burana
--Carl Orff


I am so, so sorry Fishy.

[The CO]

This sucks. Fishy rocks. Please keep us informed on the donation front, Oregon Red & I will help any way we can.

<Loads up the 105mm Good Thoughts howitzer & aims for Austria>

[MoisturePup]

Ladies, gentlemen, and the rest of you...we have a project.

Most of you know Fishy had been able to access Tribe and ePlaya less and less from work; one of her stated plans after she got back from Europe was to start looking into a computer for home. I think it should be waiting for her when she gets here.

I'm in for more than $20. Contact me privately and we discuss amounts.

[MoisturePup]

On another note - and if I can put in a bit of input - having dealt with cheap laptops (UG!!) Whatever we get I would only ask it's a good one with a good track record. Just my 2 cents from having a $750 laptop fry on day 62 of it's 60 day warranty. I'll even kick in more to help that happen... not even a biggie...

bb

I'm going to suggest that we go with a cheap used/refurbished laptop. I'd buy one for myself. We can attach an expanded warranty on it if you are worried about it.

[Chai Guy]

Hey Everyone,

My friend Da Bomb has offered to send fishy and audio message to her via the Burncast Podcast. Please call this number and leave a voicemail message for fishy and we'll make sure that she hears it, we'll burn a cd and mail it to her.

206-350-1416

I just sent her a card and left a voice mail. It might be a while before she can get online to read all of our well wishes, so these are two good ways to reach out NOW!

[diane o'thirst]

I'm in, Koosh.
I'll give you the money when I see you at BayCon.

Edit: Check out Ebay for laptops. I got my current machine there for around $500 w/UPS from Wisconsin to Oregon.

[lothos 1162]

if trying to get Fishy a laptop,and dealing with customs is a nightmare,so it doesn't get held up or lost,who ever is putting this together,why not try the Autrian or US embassies. She damn well will get better she has to see the Terminal City Village,and if need be I'll drive her to the playa.Lothos

[lothos 1162]

spelling mishap.... I meant Austrian Embassy. Lothos

[lothos 1162]

It seems that their is a fundraiser for everything,so lets do one for Fishy,I do not know the first thing about doing this......so any takers?any idea's?any rants?I know about the account,but it seems a fundraiser so we all can get together is more appropiate.Lothos(going apeshit)

[Box Burner]

Packard bell Europe is still operational and they do (or did) sell computers in Canada. So it may be possible to have one of their systems purchased in Austria and she would be able to bring it back as personal property. But keep in mind that that would mean that warranty issues may be difficult or excessively costly should they come up. Perhaps a loaner or purchase one overseas and then resell it?

[PurpleKoosh]

Perhaps a loaner or purchase one overseas and then resell it?

I'm thinking we're gonna need someone on the ground there to make this happen, but it's almost certainly our best bet.

And you couldn't get me to buy another Packard Hell with a gun to my head, but that's just me.

[Zulegoona]

there are a couple of “ Acer “ dealers in Innsbruck


KURZMANN BUEROTECHNIK KEG
6020 Innsbruck Tirol Eduard - Bodem - Gasse
telefon 8 0512/ 39 50 50
[email protected]



abapoint Andreas Bauer Systemberatung-Schulung-Handel
6020 Innsbruck Tirol Eduard - Bodem - Gasse
telefon 5-7 0512/ 36 16 48 - 0
[email protected]

[technopatra]

before I start collecting $$ for a laptop, I want to check in with a friend who used to live there and speaks German. She may be able to arrange the sale/delivery from an Austrian retail website

Unless any of you guys speak German and could handle the actual transaction? Or know someone in Austria thst could find a loaner, then we can buy her one for here?

[Toolmaker]

If anyone is thinking of building her a PC I have a sound blaster audigy card to donate. I think a PC would be better in the long run so she could get a few more years of use out of it. I will wind up at a local computer show in late May, if anyone here in S FL is involved drop me a line and I might be able to help out with more. I have 2x256 meg memory chips here as well for a P4 if needed. I also have a SATA drive that MIGHT work sitting around to put in it. Money is tight for me since my own injury so if everyone is set on the laptop idea I can only kick in 20 bucks.

I have software sitting around too, mostly video games and some older graphics apps from adobe and macromedia.

Additionally I can assist in brainstorming and design of any mobility project we decide to undertake. I'm not that mobile myself but I can write the CNC program for someone with the mill to make some of the parts. I use MasterCAM so I can handle almost anything someone thinks up.

LeC or anyone else in on a mobility project please get in touch and let me know if there's anything I can do.

[Box Burner]

I can usually pick up a pentium 4 for about $80 to $180 so getting one of those is not a problem. They are minus a Hard drive but I always have spare ones lying around anyway. Might need a little help with more ram as the systems that I find typically have between 256mb and 512mb of ram. I can load it with Ubuntu, which is what I am using right now, or Kubuntu, which I also have. Or if someone has a licensed copy of XP that would be great. I have a licensed copy of ms word 97 that will work fine under xp that I can donate as well. Ubuntu and Kubunto are both Free Linux-based operating systems and have a full suite of software. the (firefox web browser is a linux based browser). With the Lead time available I should be able to put together a nice desktop to send to her house. I will go out Monday and start looking for the main system.

Kubunto and Ubuntu both have fairly good graphics programs included in them although I have not had time to play with them yet, and I am not really familiar with photoshop they seem to be comparable to photoshop. If we go with XP it would be nice to get a copy of photoshop. DVD Burner might be able to tell us more about the Ubuntu graphics programs. .

If you would like to build a better system I will price out the needed components and advise of cost. I advise staying away from vista as an operating system. personally I think it sucks.

At any rate if it is ok with you-all, I will build a desktop system.

sometimes the systems I find are originally from major manufactures and the install disk with an operating system and other software is fairly cheap. Somewhere between $30 to $40 if they are still available.

boxB

[pinemom]

Hey Everyone,

My friend Da Bomb has offered to send fishy and audio message to her via the Burncast Podcast. Please call this number and leave a voicemail message for fishy and we'll make sure that she hears it, we'll burn a cd and mail it to her.

206-350-1416

I just sent her a card and left a voice mail. It might be a while before she can get online to read all of our well wishes, so these are two good ways to reach out NOW!

This sounded like a wonderful idea Da Bomb...then as Titwi and I picked up the phone the tears started rolling, and it couldnt be done. I dont want her to hear that in my message...so till I find where I left my valium, Ill wait, but I would love to do this!!!

[pinemom]

sorry...above...chai guy...woops!

I agree with Box burner on the Vista thing...I hate vista...xp better!

[stargeezer]

I agree with Box Burner about going with a desktop rather than a laptop. While a laptop is more portable, a desktop is more versatile and much less fragile. I believe that muscle control is going to be an issue for a while as it takes the brain time to adjust. It would be a lot easier to recover from a muscle spasm dropping a keyboard than dropping a laptop.

I am a bit more concerned about the operating system issue. While either a LINUX or Windows system would work, what is she most familiar with? Learning a totally different operating system can be a bit intimidating and potentially very frustrating. Does anybody know what she was using at work? I just don't want to see good intentions create more frustration.

If it is decided that a laptop is the way to go, either purchase it over there, or send it over with someone that is traveling. Since laptops are common among travellers, this will not concern customs and should pass without question. Shipping through customs, well as others have mentioned, you don't want to go there.

[unjonharley]

Just checked with FEDEX.. They can hand deliver in three days for under $150°°.. I said 5lb and insur @800

It woiuld be good to know what Fishies mom will need to stay.. You just know she dropped every thing and went..

[PurpleKoosh]

I agree with Box Burner about going with a desktop rather than a laptop. While a laptop is more portable, a desktop is more versatile and much less fragile.

While I do see your point, I was thinking laptop because I suspect it will be some weeks (if not months) before Fishy is actually back in her home, and I don't know that a convalescent facility would have the space in which to set up a desktop system.

I am a bit more concerned about the operating system issue. While either a LINUX or Windows system would work, what is she most familiar with? Learning a totally different operating system can be a bit intimidating and potentially very frustrating. Does anybody know what she was using at work? I just don't want to see good intentions create more frustration.

Agreed, wholeheartedly. She's a federal employee, so I'd say the odds of her being a Windows user at work are pretty good. Since most Linux distros are free, though, any reason not to dual-boot the system?

[PurpleKoosh]

She will remain in ICU another one or two weeks. It's my impression she will then be discharged to be brought (medevac) to the US. Not sure how that will be paid for, but my current impression is that it will be covered....

So DON'T send anything big or slow, it might not get there, and even if it does, it will be hard for Sally to bring back.

I'd think this is our deciding vote on whether or not to try and get a computer for her while she's still in Austria. It's going to take a couple of days (possibly more) for us to get the money together; between that and trying to arrange the logistics of purchasing the laptop, we're coming up against the early end of that time frame.

[robbidobbs]

When I heard about Scott, I didn't know what to say.
When Fishy offered me his truck I didn't know what to say.
When I heard about her accident, I didn't know what to say.

This is so big, and so horrible, I know I need to say something. Fishy's such a good person, and the Commander is right, it's about quantity of love-messages, so I'll say this...I hope she recovers well. She's a strong person, and a lot of people love her.
Thank you sis for the blog and keeping us, Fishy's community, informed.
The laptop idea sounds good, I hope it happens. What a wonderful get-well gift--contact with the rest of the world.
And thank you Chai for the ph#. I'll try to compose something to say.

[MozyBonz]

I think a computer would be great for fishy. But my mind tends to think more on how this changes her basic life I know most have never been to or in her home. So it would not be in your fore thoughts. Fishy lives in a multilevel home that has 6 to 8 feet of stairs just to get to the front door then a 2nd floor. So there are some things at home she is going to need just to move in and out of the house. She has started a glass shop that will need to be made so she get to and use it. She will need to move about in and out of the house. May be as simple as ramps and bathroom upgrades.

Before my mother passed handicap access in the home was very important in her care.


Mobility is what I would like to give her and her family.