Deezil.us

The kindness of strangers.

Those who know me know my almost-zealotry for using Linux, especially the Ubuntu distribution.  Those who know me also know that I’m a caring, generous person that will support a cause that appeals to me.  I may not give much, but I give what’s affordable and proper.  Well, recently I sold a lot of cool stuff I had lying around on eBay, and I had a little cash to play around with.  Around the same time of all the sales, I read this post, as I’ve read dozens of others on this site.  The HeliOS foundation had done some excellent work at getting people around the Austin, TX area hooked up with a computer in their home.  They take donations of old machines and parts and make working machines out of it.  They then take a Linux distribution and install that as the operating system, in order not to have to pay for a copy of Windows, and to allow Linux and Free Software to enter these people’s lives.  I looked at what I had, looked at those who had not that the HeliOS guys service, and looked at the two cool laptops that they’ve had donated to raise money for those families and communities that can’t afford to have a computer of their own.  The decision was pretty obvious.  Even if I don’t get a stinkin thing from the raffle, I know that I’ve chipped in for at least one part for one machine so that another child, another working single mother, another family can have a computer to use and enjoy the wonders of the Internet.  And for me, that kindness is its own reward.  Shortly after I got my reciept from PayPal, I got an e-mail with the subject of ‘Thanks Daniel’ from some person I had no idea who it was.  Opened the e-mail, and there, in about three short sentences, a load of gratitude poured out.  It was from Ken who is one of the HeliOS guys, to me.  Simple, pure words giving thanks for what I had given.  And I want to thank you again, Ken, for doing what you all do.  Take care out there.