Holding out the Hat
Posted by Jacques Chester on Friday, July 20, 2007
We deal with lots of serious things here at Club Troppo. National politics. Indigenous disadvantage. Donald Bradman. As you know all this heavy thinking is very hard on the notso hotso Virtual Private Server we relocated to recently, which is why in a recent post I sent out the call for help to find a new home for the site.
That call was largely successful: I have been approached by a senior member of the University Computer Club (UCC) at UWA, who thinks that they might be able to host a proper physical server in their own facilities. While modest, these facilities have the important advantage that they aren’t in my bedroom — the power is more reliable and the connection is much faster.
However, there is a snag. There’s no room for another server.
Actually, that’s not quite right. There’s no room for yet another tower computer of the sort seen on desks all over the world. What the UCC do have available is rackspace. If I can supply a rack-mountable server, then I can host Club Troppo with them.
Sadly I don’t have such a thing to hand in my own collection of gear, so I am holding out the hat to you, our beloved readership, for donations. It may seem silly but I have seen this done on smaller sites with considerable success.
I propose to spring for a modest el cheapo rackmounted server in the vicinity of $1200-1400. That should be more than Club Troppo needs for some time. If possible I’d also like to invest in a rackmounted UPS to ensure continuity if the power goes off, but this is both expensive (as in circa $2000 expensive) and probably something we can do without.
So here it is. I’m announcing the Club Troppo Should Not Suck Like a Vacuum Fund. We already have about $50 from Google ads, but I can’t add that to the total until it reaches $100 USD.
How to donate
| By Direct Deposit | BSB #: 805 050 Account #: 6303 8723 |
|---|---|
| By PayPal | jacques@chester.id.au |
| By Cheque or Money Order (this is least preferred) |
Cheque to Jacques Chester Club Troppo Server Fund PO Box 353 Guildford WA 6055 |
Once we’ve raised the money I’ll honour your donation on a special page established for that purpose. Make sure to post in this thread once you’ve donated so I can match donations to names.
So … here goes!
Update: James Andrewartha from the club writes to tell me that:
If you don’t get enough to buy a server for yourself, there has been talk of raising money buying a beefy multicore server to act as a Xen host to consolidate some of the various machines we run. You could put the donations towards this goal.
Would anyone object to this being an alternative way to use the donations raised?
This entry was posted on Friday, July 20th, 2007 at 7:29 PM and filed under Site News.
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Just left a small token of appreciation in your account with the ID of LOONYLEFT.
Great site – shows what a pathetic joke the Australian MSM has become.
Now back to planning the revolution…
Posted on 20-Jul-07 at 8:19 pm | PermalinkI’ve also transferred $20 in to the fund.
Posted on 20-Jul-07 at 8:36 pm | Permalink[...] Club Troppo So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.— Niccol
Posted on 20-Jul-07 at 9:46 pm | PermalinkA box, a box, your thoughts for a box…
a small contribution has been desposited.
cheers,
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 2:21 pm | PermalinkChristopher
I’ve transferred $100, partly because I like Club Troppo but mostly because I owe Jacques for rescuing my blog from Yahoo.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 2:23 pm | PermalinkI’ve donated, Jacques.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 6:20 pm | PermalinkHow do I transfer money into the account? I just tried to use electronic banking and it barfed on me.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 6:30 pm | PermalinkIt varies from bank to bank I’m afraid. Normally all you need is the BSB and Account number to do it.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 6:31 pm | PermalinkNope, it’s determined not to let me do it.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 6:37 pm | PermalinkWhat does it say by way of explanation?
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 6:46 pm | PermalinkApparently the account isn’t ‘authorized’. Do you have a paypal account tied to your email address? I can pop some dosh in there.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 7:36 pm | PermalinkI do have a paypal account, as it happens, under my email address: jacques@chester.id.au
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 7:50 pm | PermalinkDone. You’ll have to fish it out of your paypal account, though.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 7:57 pm | PermalinkLooks like it came through fine. I’ve updated the total.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 7:59 pm | PermalinkSmall amount sent through but you will not get it until Monday. It has gone from my account and is held by the banks in their transfer accounts. Just another example of the banks exploiting their unnecessarily privileged position.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 8:12 pm | PermalinkYes, not too bright of me to ask for money on a Friday!
I’ll hold off from transferring the PayPal money immediately as it’s free for amounts over $150. If anyone else would prefer to donate using PayPal, be my guest.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 8:20 pm | PermalinkIt seems to have worked. i used the name of Jacques Chester. Cheers
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 8:26 pm | PermalinkThe money total’s gone down – is this because you’re waiting for the paypal to reach $150?
C’mon people, donate!
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 8:41 pm | PermalinkNo, I adjusted it for the fee which PayPal deducts.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 8:44 pm | PermalinkI’m in for 20.20…. it’s the vision thing.
Posted on 21-Jul-07 at 9:31 pm | PermalinkJunior’s downloading Bit-Torrent stuff on project deadline on MY computer. A vested interest in domestic harmony dictates that the fat would best be transferred tomorrow morning.
$25 from me.
Posted on 23-Jul-07 at 1:59 pm | PermalinkWe already have people taking the piss! :)
http://aftergrogblog.blogs.com/agb/2007/07/gimme-dat-kerch.html
Posted on 23-Jul-07 at 6:59 pm | Permalink$14.33 from me, it’s what I’ve got lying around. On a totally unrelated note, you should check out this absolutely brilliant profile of Michael Towke that Bec has written. :-D
Posted on 23-Jul-07 at 7:42 pm | PermalinkI’ve sent $50 by BSB transfer, it’s gone from my a/c but have you had it yet?
Posted on 24-Jul-07 at 4:17 pm | PermalinkNot yet – direct deposit takes a variable amount of time because the banks take the opportunity to pop the money in the short term money market for a day or two. Sometimes it’s same day, sometimes up to 3 days.
Posted on 24-Jul-07 at 5:28 pm | PermalinkJacques, Ive sent $25 by BSB transfer (ID Ingolf Eide).
Posted on 24-Jul-07 at 7:07 pm | PermalinkFair enough.
I read it. Disagree with most of it. Get angry when I see Keynes is mentioned as some sort of super hero.
But he’s what I’m thinking: If I’m reading a site and the owner asks for a contribution, it’s only fair I reach in the pocket. Sent it by bank account. 100 smackers.
Posted on 25-Jul-07 at 2:13 am | PermalinkI will send in my contribution of $30. Good luck.
Posted on 25-Jul-07 at 8:23 am | Permalink$25 from me via transfer. It’s gone from my account and thus should hit your account tomorrow I guess.
Posted on 25-Jul-07 at 8:54 am | Permalink$50 if the system works!
Posted on 25-Jul-07 at 9:59 am | PermalinkI’m good for $50 if someone can tell me how to do it. Why can’t I just click on something, fill in the credit card stuff and it’s done, like with Michael J Totten (to whom give, give, give).
Posted on 25-Jul-07 at 9:07 pm | PermalinkJacques – what does a tick against a name mean?
cheers,
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 9:58 am | PermalinkChristopher (the tickless)
I have sent $50.00 to your account. Thankyou.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 12:40 pm | PermalinkChristopher;
The tick indicates that I have received payment. It’s not a perfect record as many donations are coming in under real names rather than the better-known pseudonyms.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 3:14 pm | PermalinkJacques,
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 4:30 pm | PermalinkMy $50, sent on 22nd bounced back to me on 24th. Contacted my Credit Union which said the details BSB 805 050, a/c 6303 8723 are wrong!
I’ll try again but failing that what …?
I’m a bit stumped about that one, amphibious. Those details are certainly correct.
You could try using PayPal, if you’re comfortable with that service. They do charge a percentage but they’re quick and easy.
Otherwise, send a cheque and I’ll cash it locally.
Posted on 26-Jul-07 at 7:45 pm | PermalinkIncidentally, I didn’t use my name when transferring money, I just called it “Donation to CT”.
Cheers
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 9:00 am | PermalinkSorry – you will need to update the total again.
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 11:23 am | PermalinkJacques,
Like amphibious – my $50 was bounced back to my account (sent on 23rd, returned on the 24th) with the message ‘DE NO ACCOUNT’ (less a fee…banks can’t do anything without charging!)
yet the transfer was sent to: 805-050 63038723
which lines up with the information provided above.
Wonder if it was a weekend effect? I’ll try again.
cheers,
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 4:15 pm | PermalinkChristopher
Sorry jacques, same thing happened again. The money bounced back less than 48 hours later.
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 9:30 pm | PermalinkI’ve sent other money using this system so there’s nothing wrong at this end.
Again, the ‘explanation’ was that the details were invalid.
I’d rather send $50 in a letter than let banks on both ends rip out $5 each.
This is all very annoying as I do see other payments coming through fine. Useless bloody banks the lot of them. Perhaps we could do a name-and-shame.
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 9:41 pm | PermalinkI’ll name and shame Westpac. It has bounced twice now. I double and triple checked the account details. But at least they don’t seem to be charging at this point. I will take a look a PayPal tomorrow.
Posted on 27-Jul-07 at 10:06 pm | PermalinkPaypal is very efficient, and now Jacques has more than $150.00, there will be no fees, or at most only a dollar or two. It’s actually a better system than the bank. Oh, and I’ll name and shame the NAB, which caused my irritation aways up the thread.
Posted on 28-Jul-07 at 9:34 am | PermalinkI’ve chucked in twenty bucks via Paypal. Sorry it’s not more – because I only get paid by Griffith during semester (and there’s a bit of a lag between the start of semester and when we actually get paid!) I’m broke at the moment.
Posted on 28-Jul-07 at 2:22 pm | PermalinkAndrew (Norton),
Mine went through Westpac on line banking- no problem (and no fee).
For all those who it failed, I would suggest sending the bank a letter detailing the problem, insisting the details were correct (give every detail you have including dates, receipt number etc.). Mention the banking ombudsman and the fees should be reimbursed quick smart. You may even get an apology.
Posted on 28-Jul-07 at 2:53 pm | PermalinkThe worst thing that could happen is that they actually have to earn the fee they have already charged you.
I should add – make the letter as polite and to the point as possible if you actually want the money back. If the letter is abusive in any way they are allowed to ignore it or just send a standard form letter back.
Posted on 28-Jul-07 at 2:55 pm | PermalinkYes, PayPal seem to be streets ahead of the banks in the convenience stakes. We really do have a sickeningly backwards system here in Australia vis-a-vis transfers.
Posted on 29-Jul-07 at 5:25 pm | PermalinkMy useless & apparently shameless gouger is NAB.
Posted on 29-Jul-07 at 8:25 pm | PermalinkSent please confirm receipt.
Posted on 31-Jul-07 at 4:14 pm | PermalinkHarry, it came through, thanks. If you scroll down to the bottom of the front page you can see which list your name is on.
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 1:01 pm | PermalinkJacques,
sorry – been tied up (and couldn’t quickly figure out paypal..so I’m a luddite)
First christopher#1 and christopher#2 are one and the same.
Just tried again – using your name for account rather than ‘club troppo’ (noted as ‘cheers christopher’ on your account)
if it fails again, we’ll have to add CBA to Westpac, NAB as the last of the big 3 that won’t play with your financier.
cheers,
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 1:02 pm | PermalinkChristopher
Gee, that’s annoying. Perhaps you could try Paypal or send a cheque?
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 8:20 pm | PermalinkAnd I was sure there were two Christophers – I’ve got a “Chris” here on a cheque!
Posted on 03-Aug-07 at 8:21 pm | PermalinkUpdate: it came through on the account just fine.
Posted on 04-Aug-07 at 2:02 pm | PermalinkGreat – apologies for the confusion.
cheers,
Posted on 04-Aug-07 at 8:53 pm | PermalinkChristopher
Jacques, just got your email indicating my EFT hadn’t gone through. Tried to reply by email but don’t have the appropriate security code (or something!).
Anyway, went back and checked my account and after confirming the transfer and debiting it to my account on the 24th, two days later the bank (CBA) unwound it and charged me $2.50 for the privilege. Gawd.
I suspect from Christopher’s comment it has to do with the account name (I too used Troppo). I’ll try again now with Jacques Chester.
Let me know if that doesn’t work.
Posted on 06-Aug-07 at 10:11 pm | PermalinkJacques,
Posted on 06-Aug-07 at 11:16 pm | PermalinkFollowing your chivvy-up, I’ve tried again, 3rd or 4th time?. The BSB pops upas Central Credit Union so at least thus far is OK.
Let me know, one way or tuther, asap.
Two payments have come through – ingolf and JC. Just a few left to go!
Posted on 07-Aug-07 at 10:34 pm | Permalink[...] Club Troppo was recently forced to upgrade it’s hosting, they turned to their readers. Their donation drive aimed for $1200, it was exceeded. Shortly afterwoulds they abandoned advertising: It never really [...]
Posted on 26-Mar-08 at 8:48 pm | Permalink