Gavin after me:

> > I will see your $37 and raise you $63 for starters;  i.e: Go for
> > the round number:  $100...

> I kind of like the idea that if we were to actually run such
> an add that it would be supported by a lot of little contributions
> rather than one or two large vendors.

Oh;  absolutely;  I didn't mean that I wanted or expected a few
vendors to kick in $5K or something like that;  not at all....

> I would suggest a contribution limit of $500-$1000 or so.

That sounds about right to me....  and I agree the "ideal" funding
model would be just what I threw out:  500 or more individuals /
companies each contribute $100 to get to the $50K level....   but
since getting 500 on short notice might be a stretch, that is why
I threw out my "option" to allow (what I meant to be) "somewhat
larger" increments....


> Ideally the "letter" would be signed by as many real end-user
> customers as possible, though the legal ramifications of
> putting your company's name on such a thing probably
> preclude this.

Don't even think about "company name" for me;  it would require
review by I don't know how many people;  and the lawyers would
have to bless it....   But my name ??....  yeah:  That's still mine...
And that is what is in the HP Support Contract database, so they
can find me if they want to.....    ;-)

> If we really want to do this, then I can pledge up to $1000
> towards an ad to run in the national media (Infoworld doesn't
> cut it).

OUTSTANDING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (used a whole month's quota)

> Wall Street Journal, National Edition, Full Page B/W:
> $154,813.92

oops.....

> Hmmm, maybe we need to consider a higher contribution limit.

hmmm.....  well.....   how about we stay with your $1000 max
contrib for now, and see how it goes....  If it appears we have
a snowball's chance of reaching the WSJ stratosphere, I might
be able to squeeze out a little more (but don't count on my
personal pocket being near as generous as Gavin's:  I'm trying
to build a house on the pay-cash-as-you-go basis....   :-)  )....

....  I'll admit there's no doubt doing the WSJ thing would be
the ultimate "attention getter":  Ad in INFOWORLD:   Get the
attention of some in the IT community.  Ad in WSJ:  Get the
*world's* attention..  but if WSJ is not doable and INFOWORLD
is, I would still go for INFOWORLD over nothing....    :-)

LATE NEWS FLASH:

Mark Klein joins the millennium club:

> Speaking for myself here, I'd match Gavin's offer. 2 down,
> 152 to go. :-)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (borrowing next month's quota).

...  but hey:  note that is $2,137....      ;-)

If this snowball keeps rolling, somebody will have to tell Carly to
start working on a response to questions from INFOWORLD &
etc.....

Ken Sletten