Swimming in the Pensieve

The situation which has prompted this entry is tragic and, for your reference, I’m going to bracket the antecedent interval of concern with a couple of links to pages that I urge you to read fully; then give serious consideration to the matter of helping a member of the Linux Community, Ken Starks (aka: Helios).

First link: http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/2005/09.html

Second link: http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/2006/08.html

…and now, for those who are loathe to read the linked pages, I’ll give you a bit of a thumbnail sketch of what is going on with Ken.

On 28 July, 2005, Ken was given an official diagnosis of lung cancer. If you read the first linked page, you’ll easily see that life has been nothing short of punishing for him and his family. They’ve been through the proverbial wringer.

He has been the altruistic soul, and of great help to many people in the Austin, TX locality–and beyond. I have never met him in person, nor corresponded with him to any great degree (if at all, now that I think about it); however, I have been watching his words and his work–quite closely. He is a fellow father, and Linux advocate. For some of you, he is a fellow Texan (somewhat meaningful to me, as our family hails from the South–Texas included).
To keep it short, read the second linked page, and you’ll discover that the financial and physical strain has taken its toll on Ken and his family. They are in danger of losing their home.

As I rarely do this, I’ll just put it to you straight-out, without mincing words: They desperately need your financial assistance.

Please visit the following page: http://www.lobby4linux.com/modules/donations/index.php to Donate to the assistance of Ken Starks and his Family.

From my understanding, the need is dire, and time is of the essence. Please help them in any way you can.

UPDATE: Evidently, a donate button has been added to the upper right-hand side of the Lobby4Linux pages. It looks like this:

Please consider that it would not take very many of us, all giving a small amount, to make a world of difference to a family which finds themselves–through no fault of their own–in genuine need. These people happen to be your fellow humans. They are real. And, after helping so many others, it’s their turn to need help.

For those who cannot help financially, please point people to http://www.lobby4linux.com/modules/donations/index.php so they may have the opportunity to help somebody who can be called “one of our own”.