It’s week two of my computer fundraiser for a laptop and desktop computer to replace my quickly crashing and dying machines.
First, I’d like to thank the generous donors who kicked in $1,420 so far. Clearly the laptop is paid for (plus necessary software). Now I’m pressing onward for the desktop.
There simply isn’t enough money in print any more to justify drawing or writing. Welcome to neo-feudalism. Artists need patrons to survive…but the rich aren’t very interested in the kind of work I do. This is the brave new world of political writing—if you care about content, you have to pay for it directly. .
2012 found me in need for a pair of new computers—a laptop for travel and a sturdy desktop for day-to-day production of cartoons and columns. It’s also important to have two machines in case one suddenly decides to crash. Thanks to you, the laptop is taken care of. Even if that’s all I get, I am incredibly overjoyed and humbled by the response.
My existing machines are ancient—the desktop dates to 2002—so I’ve actually done pretty well by these guys.
The more you donate, the more you get back:
$50 – signed rough sketch
$100 – signed copy of The Anti-American Manifesto
$250 – original artwork for a syndicated cartoon
$1000 = artwork for five original cartoons, plus I’ll meet you for drinks in NYC
$5000 – artwork for ten original cartoons, plus I’ll fly anywhere in the continental US to meet you for drinks AND give a speech to a local group of your choice
To donate simply click the PayPal button in the right margin of this website and write “Computer Fundraiser” in the subject line. Make sure you include your email address and mailing address.
11 Comments.
In the interest of defraying your costs somewhat, can any of the software you need to purchase be replaced with Open Source alternatives? This also would help you avoid being beholden to the software companies if they decide you don’t fit their business model. I’d say the learning cost of switching tools is worth it in the long run.
As I’ve said before, you are my favourite comic by a long margin. But in ’97, my wife filed for divorce and said I’d viciously abused her, but there was no proof or evidence so the criminal justice system was helpless. The divorce judge said that, under the Clinton Law, he would set my support at 110% of my take-home pay, so I’d go to jail for life without parole.
So I went on the lam, without money, and unable to work at a ‘real’ job that requires an SSN.
Which means I cannot send you any money, which I deeply regret for several reasons.
@michaelwme: HOLLY CRAP that sucks. You have my sincerest sympathy. Will there ever be some sort of statue of limitations thing that will eventually come up to free you from you horrific burden?
I find new and scarier reasons to continue avoiding marriage every single day, even though I am not looking for them.
@anschelsc: Yah that is good advice.
There is a ton of such stuff for Linux, and thanks to OSX’s free BSD Linux kernel, OSX as well. It can get harry setting that stuff up, but if you are on OSX there are usually some precompiled and/or more helpful and simple instructions then for most other Linux flavors.
I know Open Office is a great free product that completely replaces Microsoft Office (uses all the same data files types like “.doc”, “.ppt”, ect…) Open Office is available for all major computer platforms including OSX. Find your open office download here if you are interested: http://www.openoffice.org/download/other.html
Ted also needs a freeware Photoshop replacement to continue to function. Sadly I don’t know of one but there are a tone of freeware graphics packages out there, so there should be one that can fill his needs, but I wouldn’t begin to know how to go about finding it.
Ted, I am trying to e-mail you about this(forgot to add my address to the PayPal message)
but I am getting it sent back with error message
Mailbox quota exceeded
and
user unknown
@Noelle:
Please use the contact box on the website…I have to do some web maintenance.
Perhaps move out of the city? It would be far cheaper to live almost anywhere else. Buffalo, Topeka?
@Lee, Cheaper expenses would be erased by lack of access to media clients. That’s why media types live in NY.
Ted, did you write me from an aol account? I just got it.
@Noelle:
Yes.
Looking forward to getting the book!