Monday, August 22, 2005

Offtopic: Lisa running for Leukemia

All of the material I publish here on my weblog is provided with no obligation of any kind.  However, I'm not saying that my articles are "free".  I'm just saying that there is "no obligation".  There's a difference.

We've all heard the old saying, "There is no such thing as a free lunch".  Most of us know from experience that this maxim is essentially always true.  Many things can be obtained without direct financial cost, but in most cases, there is some kind of a "price" to be paid, even if that price is indirect or non-financial.

My weblog is not a free lunch.  There is a price associated with the articles I publish here.  First of all, you have to suffer through my absurdly low editorial standards, as evidenced by more-than-occasional digressions on topics which range from luggage to cats to cookies to pool cover pumps.

More importantly, the price you pay for the articles I publish here is the fact that I sprinkle them with subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) mentions of SourceGear's products.  In this respect, it is reasonable to compare my weblog to broadcast television, where the shows are sprinkled with commercials.  There is no obligation to actually buy the products being advertised during those commercials.  Similarly, there is no obligation here to actually buy any of SourceGear's products.  In fact, I routinely get email from people who appreciate my articles and who are not SourceGear customers.  I don't mind at all.  Increased awareness of SourceGear is a part of my motivation for writing, and I don't apologize for that, but it's only one part.  Whether you buy our stuff or not, I am always delighted when I hear that my writings are helpful to someone.

Anyway, enough of that.  I just thought it would be best to insert a bunch of "no obligation" rhetoric before I bluntly ask you for money.  :-)

My wife Lisa is currently training to run the Walt Disney World Marathon in January.  In conjunction with this event, she has signed up with a program called Team in Training to help raise money to fight leukemia.  I am asking my readers to consider making a donation. 

If you personally know a family who has been affected by leukemia (as Lisa does), you understand what a terrible and heart-breaking disease it is.  Team in Training is a program run by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, a fine organization whose mission is to raise funds for research and patient services for leukemia and related disorders.

Two details worth mentioning:

1. Team in Training usually provides airfare and hotel to the athletes who raise funds.  In this case, Lisa has waived this benefit, thus allowing me to make the following statement:  I have absolutely no conflict of interest in making this appeal.  Neither I nor Lisa nor SourceGear will derive any financial benefit from your donation.  The only benefit Lisa is receiving from Team in Training is the support of having a group of people with whom she can train for her first marathon.
   
   
2. I am not asking anyone to do something that I would not.  Lisa and I will be making a substantial donation to Team in Training, in addition to our travel expenses.

If you would like to join us in supporting this worthy cause, you can make a donation on the web with your credit card by clicking here. 

Thanks for your consideration.