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Where In The World....? |
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I don't know how you got to this page, but I'm glad you did. I am going to say something now that is completely out of context with the main thrust of my website, but I consider to be very important. When I released Glitch Doctor (for Studio400) in 1999, I was inundated with mail asking 'is it really free', 'where's the catch', and similar questions. Many people added that they felt 'uncomfortable' accepting the program as a gift, and would have been very happy to have paid a nominal sum for it. (I finally responded to this by charging the 'nominal sum' for a User Guide, as an optional download to ease their 'conscience'). I can sympathise with this because, whenever I have downloaded a shareware program that 'really works' for me, I get a 'buzz' out of saying 'thank you' to the author by registering it. Typical examples of this are CoolEdit2000, PhotocopyPro, ZipMagic, Terrapin FTP, and Letter Rack (excellent Scrabble game). On those occasions that a 'choice' program has been free (Virtual Dub, and SDVDelay, for example) I feel a little uneasy that I have not contributed anything towards its existence. If you feel this way about any of the free programs that I have produced then help is at hand, because I have a very simple solution that works every time for me, and is the sole reason for the existence of this page on my website --. Make a donation to a really worthwhile cause. There - I've finally made my point (why are some things so difficult to say?). Before I get a bunch of emails asking me to name one, let me just give you a few hints about what really, really moves me in this world of terrifying contrasts....... Anyone (everyone!) who is reading this must admit that life has dealt them a pretty fair 'hand'. OK, we all have what we like to think of as 'problems', and I would be dishonest if I tried to make out that I didn't fancy 'a little bit more' of everything that I already have. But there are millions of people in this world that suffer an existence that is unimaginably different. These are real people. If we were better educated to understand their language and culture, we would enjoy their company just as well as any of our closest friends. In times past, they too enjoyed life with families and friends, living in communities, just as we have and do, but have now become decimated by floods, famine, drought, disease, and terrifying acts of war and violence. and many other places on the web. They are really suffering, through absolutely no fault of their own. They would help themselves if they could, but they are surrounded by nothingness - miles and miles of it. These people need help, to feed themselves, rebuild their lives, re-establish their roots, and regain their dignity - if not for themselves, for the generations that will follow. There are many organisations, experts in this field, and thousands of voluntary workers doing what they can to relieve the problem of hunger, desolation, disease and despair, but this takes money. It's easy to think that the West, of which we are a part, have this all under control, but it still takes money, OUR money. Even the 'poorest' of us can afford to offer that. How much? Hmmm - The last time you bought a round of drinks, fed the family at McDonald's, bought a CD (and only played it twice), paid a cable subscription, spent a day in a theme park, bought a couple of magazines, a book, and a bar of chocolate, (I could go on.....) Did it hurt to part with the cash? Do you even remember how much you spent? well, that's the kind of regular money that can make such a difference to areas of the world ripped apart by tragedy. (most of my freeware programs have a value of about $15-$20, if that helps) Thanks for reading this. P.S. If you were one of the many Studio400 users that subscribed to the Glitch Doctor User Guide, you may like to know that some of your money went to help in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe. |
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