Bitcoin 100: Developed Specifically for Non-Profits

[edd]

Wait, does that count as three pledges, or as one?

Just one, please!

I don't want to come across as trying to use this to promote my sites, I just wanted to clarify how I'll be determining the amount I donate.

(Don't forget to buy some coffee!  )

[RaggedMonk]

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=53986.0;topicseen
Email correspondence indicates they will soon be accepting bitcoin.  No address on their page yet, but could be soon.

It's not suppose to work this way! Notice all the arm twisting by Chris before brewster reluctantly agrees to trying. Perhaps, if Chris wouldn't have been so wordy with his question, brewster may have been more receptive with his answer. Let's work together and rewrite this question so that it only contains three, four max, words.

Chris says: December 7, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Do you accept bitcoin donations?

Reply

brewster says: December 7, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Absolutely. Not sure how, but lets try. pls write to june@archive.org.

-brewster

Seriously, this is great news. In fact, I just used the wayback machine prior to coming back to this thread to do the bi-daily housecleaning. It's amazing the shit you'll find on that site once you start searching. Case in point, I found... (may continue on some other thread).

Thank you, Chris, for getting the ball rollin' over at the Wayback Machine. But do consider using less words on your next target.  

~Bruno~

I am confused.  Who is Chris?

You think that "What is your bitcoin address for donations?" (from the blog comment section) is "so wordy"?
But, "Do you accept bitcoin donations?" (presumably your own revision) is "three, four max, words."

The first one is 7 words, the second is 5.  

I must be misunderstanding you, because it looks like you think 2 words is going to make a significant difference.

I like your humor! Almost similar to my tongue-in-cheek post you're quoting--the one with the smiley wink. You'll find Chris here: http://blog.archive.org/2011/12/07/please-donate-to-the-internet-archive/ This link was provided from here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=53986.0;topicseen BTW, I did quote it correctly, and not a revision.

Hope this clears up the misunderstanding.

~Bruno~

Oooh, that comment was further down in the thread than the one I thought you were talking about.  Should have scrolled down, it would have been much clearer. 

Don't mind me! I'll just show myself out.
PS: I'm in for the pledge.  1BTC per charity for me

[blobbie]

me too. I pledge 1BTC.

[sadpandatech]

I apologize for taking so long to come overe here, Bruno.

  I pledge atleast 1 BTC for now.

Also, does anyone know if UNICEF is an upstanding charity? I.E., the majority of their funds actually going to the cause? I'd like to see them on the list but have not done any DD on them.


cheers

[AgoraMutual]

I wasn't planning on joining only because there are several popular "charities" that I will not support because I feel they do more harm than good and I didn't want to have to choose between going back on my word or acting against my principles.

I'm sort of in the same boat except I do take issue with a couple of the charities listed. I know first hand that one of the charities HAS been shady to people in it's family of companies. Though, it wasn't the actual the charity's decision to do so. At least one company under it have recently been forcing employees to attend fundraisers and have been deducting a percentage if their check against their will. Another of the charities has recently been promoting an agenda that few people here or the even general population supports. Another charity I just don't get along with their philosophical views.

Either way, I'm setting all that aside for now and don't intend to rock the boat. Just for the sake of helping out some people and continuing the bitcoin experiment.

[teukon]

FYI, no word from Regretsy. Should I try again, or leave it be, and focus our attention on another charity?

I'm leaning towards letting it rest a tad longer, but, others, please chime in with your opinions.

~Bruno~

I agree.  I'd feel much better about working on a good quality e-mail and sending it to various small charities that really could benefit from this offer than in pestering one charity.  The e-mail that Rassah sent was great but if they didn't even reply then a second message, especially so soon, will come of as spammy.

[k]

Sent 1BTC to the 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac address.

[GoWest]

1 BTC sent.  http://blockexplorer.com/tx/0308130193e5f400c4053e4069270c2147fa4f30fe85b12bbfaf602e1b46684c

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Once again, it's time for a little house cleaning by addressing posts and thanking supporters. I apologize for being a tad behind for, along with my day gig, reclaiming old musty smelling barn wood (and now in the process of deconstructing a barn and moving it to Florida where it'll be turned into a home), I've been engrossed in another issue here on this board.

When I first came across this thread, I wasn't planning on joining only because there are several popular "charities" that I will not support because I feel they do more harm than good and I didn't want to have to choose between going back on my word or acting against my principles in the event that one of them was chosen as the Bitcoin100's first recipient.

I see now that I needn't have worried.

Not only do I feel comfortable donating to the charities mentioned by Phinnaeus (at least the ones that I've seen - I'll confess that I haven't read every reply in this thread), the Bitcoin100 seems likely to gravitate toward the most worthwhile of causes.

That being said, I've sent 3 BTC to the vanity donation address - one for each of my for-profit bitcoin ventures (at the moment, that's BitBrew, The Bitcoin List, and Unofficial BTC). I also pledge to send 1 additional BTC from each active, for-profit bitcoin venture I'm personally responsible for to each charity that gets my vote.

Thank you kindly, edd, for your more than generous pledge, then donation, thereof. I've updated the supporter list in the OP reflecting your contribution. Thanks to BitcoinPorn wanting to be #69 (he's weird that way), and me listing the supporters in order according to their pledge request time frame, I felt I was playing the board game Hex, because in the wanting to keep your three linked business together, I opt to pen in 'edd' for #68. You'll see what I mean once you view it, and don't worry about having to honor #68's pledge, for the other three more than make up for it. In retrospect, if you have an issue with what I've done, remember it's BitcoinPorn and your fault.  

Since you've stated you haven't read the entire thread, I need to stress, once again, that the charity list in the OP was just that--a list. A list I generated during the brainstorming of Bitcoin100 to act as a starting and discussion point. But you're overall assessment of us gravitating towards the most worthwhile of causes, is on point.

Wait, does that count as three pledges, or as one?

Just one, please!

I don't want to come across as trying to use this to promote my sites, I just wanted to clarify how I'll be determining the amount I donate.

(Don't forget to buy some coffee!   )

Gulp! Did I mention that I'm good at math? Not great. Simply good. I've got four. Since I'm the keeper of the list, a fridge benefit to having stating this train, I plan on keeping it that way unless Lt. Galloway strenuously objects. As far as the promotional aspect goes, I'd already starting linking supporter's names to their respective websites, of which if I have left any out, please let me know. At the moment, I'm aware of a couple of which I'll soon be linking, but keep me apprised.

"snipped"

Oooh, that comment was further down in the thread than the one I thought you were talking about.  Should have scrolled down, it would have been much clearer.  

Don't mind me! I'll just show myself out.
PS: I'm in for the pledge.  1BTC per charity for me

Thank you, RaggedMonk, for you kind support. Noted and updated.

me too. I pledge 1BTC.

Thank you kindly, blobbie, for your pledge.

i will pledge a bitcoin, PM when/where to send them:)

Your pledge has been noted, Goat. I will PM you. At the moment, the honoring of pledges are being deposit in this wallet address 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac of which is not currently allocated towards any name charitable organization.

I apologize for taking so long to come overe here, Bruno.

  I pledge atleast 1 BTC for now.

Also, does anyone know if UNICEF is an upstanding charity? I.E., the majority of their funds actually going to the cause? I'd like to see them on the list but have not done any DD on them.

cheers

No apology is warranted, sadpandatech. Your pledge has now been registered in the OP. I'm sure somebody here will research UNICEF for us. As time passes, I'm sure all the major charities will have a good hard look into their worthiness.

I wasn't planning on joining only because there are several popular "charities" that I will not support because I feel they do more harm than good and I didn't want to have to choose between going back on my word or acting against my principles.

I'm sort of in the same boat except I do take issue with a couple of the charities listed. I know first hand that one of the charities HAS been shady to people in it's family of companies. Though, it wasn't the actual the charity's decision to do so. At least one company under it have recently been forcing employees to attend fundraisers and have been deducting a percentage if their check against their will. Another of the charities has recently been promoting an agenda that few people here or the even general population supports. Another charity I just don't get along with their philosophical views.

Either way, I'm setting all that aside for now and don't intend to rock the boat. Just for the sake of helping out some people and continuing the bitcoin experiment.

Thank you kindly for your enlightening post. Please understand you don't have to be a supporter of Bitcoin100 to be part of the discussion. We'll always treasure your input either way. As far as the list of charities in the OP are concerned, I simply put together that list during the brainstorming process of all this. It's quite possible that no charity on that list will be considered due to whatever. Feel free to offer up a charity close to your heart, and I'm sure it'll be duly considered whether you've pledged or not. I hope I've addressed your post to your liking, AgoraMutual.

FYI, no word from Regretsy. Should I try again, or leave it be, and focus our attention on another charity?

I'm leaning towards letting it rest a tad longer, but, others, please chime in with your opinions.

~Bruno~

I agree.  I'd feel much better about working on a good quality e-mail and sending it to various small charities that really could benefit from this offer than in pestering one charity.  The e-mail that Rassah sent was great but if they didn't even reply then a second message, especially so soon, will come of as spammy.

+1

Sent 1BTC to the 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac address.

k, I hope I spelled your named correctly, and thank you kindly for honoring your pledge. It's deeply appreciated.

i will pledge a bitcoin, PM when/where to send them:)

Sent 1 to 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac   Thanks

Goat, you'll do anything to get mentioned twice in one thread! Thank you, again, now for honoring your pledge. The OP has been updated reflecting your kind contribution.

1 BTC sent.  http://blockexplorer.com/tx/0308130193e5f400c4053e4069270c2147fa4f30fe85b12bbfaf602e1b46684c

And finally, thank you, GoWest for starting to honor your very generous pledge. The supporter's list in the OP has been duly noted.

Once again, that concludes the housecleaning for today. Stay tuned, for tomorrow another round of thank yous may be in order.

~Bruno~

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Holy Shit! Take a look! http://blockexplorer.com/address/1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac

50 BTC in the wallet and currently we have a support base of 81 pledgers. Not too shabby, if I may say so myself.

Thank you, folks, for kindly supporting Bitcoin100: Making a Difference 1 BTC at a Time.

~Bruno~

[johnb210]

I'd like to pledge 1 BTC, and I've sent it to the address.  Because I don't always check on here often, I wanted to pre-donate for at least the first charity.

My address that the coin is coming from should be 1EXk4cffT2Pr3D1TC7ZL5Xe5aJQgip9SJn

(but since it's the first time I've ever actually sent coins, I'm a little confused since now the bitcoin client is showing a new address for me. Is that just because it generates a new address every time you send coins?  Makes it a little confusing to know what address to tell people to expect the coins from, eh?  Ah, it's probably just me with cobwebs in the brain...)

[Phinnaeus Gage]

I'd like to pledge 1 BTC, and I've sent it to the address.  Because I don't always check on here often, I wanted to pre-donate for at least the first charity.

My address that the coin is coming from should be 1EXk4cffT2Pr3D1TC7ZL5Xe5aJQgip9SJn

(but since it's the first time I've ever actually sent coins, I'm a little confused since now the bitcoin client is showing a new address for me. Is that just because it generates a new address every time you send coins?  Makes it a little confusing to know what address to tell people to expect the coins from, eh?  Ah, it's probably just me with cobwebs in the brain...)

(but since it's the first time I've ever actually sent coins, I'm a little confused since now the bitcoin client is showing a new address for me. Is that just because it generates a new address every time you send coins?  Makes it a little confusing to know what address to tell people to expect the coins from, eh?  Ah, it's probably just me with cobwebs in the brain...)

It does that, and it's normal. But for the life of me I, too, don't understand it. Perhaps some member will take the time and explain it to both of us, hopefully in a way we can understand it, because we're slow. Slow, but good. (That's what she said!)

Thank you, johnb210, for your kind pledge and honoring it at the same time. The OP has been updated currently showing your contribution.

~Bruno~

EDIT: Since you were lucky enough to obtain the #77 spot (though there are other more than 77 supporters), I matched your pledge and have already donated it to the current pool. I'm calling it a mystery pledge, for I, nor anybody else, will know when or why I do it. Aren't we all lucky?

I think somebody broke the blockexplorer, for it's hasn't updated in the last few minutes. At any rate, when it fixes itself, it'll now show 52 BTC, a full deck, if you will.

[Transisto]

I find the OP overly complicated, I see a more addendum than information and it's very hard to read, I don't yet understand the basic.

How will I be notified it's time to donate bitcoins ?

 I'm not going to give to NPR, or some other huge money pit,

Please remove my name from this list. I am now only willing to subscribe to a mailing list that show new charities I can donate bitcoin to.

 I fear that any big charity you'll decide to give to is not worth my time if they are too lazy and require a 100 BTC pledge for adding a single string of text to their website.

Here, I'll try to explain why I think the first post is so hard to understand as it is... :  THIS = parts I don't care

EDIT: I brought the Bitocin100 list that was originally at the bottom of this post to top. All other edits (except spelling and grammar) will also be duly noted when warranted. A backup of this OP can be viewed here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=52543.msg639141#msg639141 preserve for posterity, due to the fact that this OP may be modified for clarity purposes. Remember, it was first written during the brainstorming stage, but since its inception, Bitcoin100 has evolved into a formidable (OK, maybe fledgling, or fledged) capacity building program.

The vanity donation address is 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac which was kindly hashed by Rassah, and can also be seen in my signature at the bottom of my posts as well as in several posts in this thread and possible elsewhere on this forum or other websites. Use the following link to view the balance at any time:

http://blockexplorer.com/address/1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac

?As each member states on this thread that they want to be part of the Bitcoin100, I will add their name below.?
What about : I will add the name of members that states they want to be part of the Bitcoin100. ?

Original post starts below the HL??. A backup of this OP?? can be viewed here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=52543.msg639141#msg639141

Most recently, there was a thread (or two) here on BT (Who/What is BT ? , why does it matter?) addressing Wikipedia accepting Bitcoin as a donation option. It turned out to be futile. Their response was thanks, but no thanks. But it doesn't have to be that way. I believe I may have a solution to get Bitcoin as a donation option on the following list: https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give/en  WHAT IS IT ?   ...  What is this list, Where is this list taken from ?


And, for that matter, any one of the following might include a Bitcoin donate option/button on their respected (respective ?) sites with the right leverage:

Finally ! at 3/4 of the post I can read : "The Bitcoin100 is nothing more than at least 100 members of this forum pledging 1 BTC ..."

Also why is the whole thing posted as "quote" ? The text is smaller and on a white background.

If I understand correctly, The point is not really to be able to donate but to profit from the visibility of having a Bitcoin logo on a big corporation website giving us some credibility. I am all for this and have donated 1.1010102 BTC to the addresses.  Suggestion : Trim the first post to convey the essential and keep the details for some FAQ.

Note: The budget for most of the suggested charities is ~10 time higher than all 7m bitcoins a 3$.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

I find the OP overly complicated, I see a more addendum than information and it's very hard to read, I don't yet understand the basic.

How will I be notified it's time to donate bitcoins ?

 I'm not going to give to NPR, or some other huge money pit,

Please remove my name from this list. I am now only willing to subscribe to a mailing list that show new charities I can donate bitcoin to.

 I fear that any big charity you'll decide to give to is not worth my time if they are too lazy and require a 100 BTC pledge for adding a single string of text to their website.

Here, I'll try to explain why I think the first post is so hard to understand as it is... :  THIS = parts I don't care

EDIT: I brought the Bitocin100 list that was originally at the bottom of this post to top. All other edits (except spelling and grammar) will also be duly noted when warranted. A backup of this OP can be viewed here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=52543.msg639141#msg639141 preserve for posterity, due to the fact that this OP may be modified for clarity purposes. Remember, it was first written during the brainstorming stage, but since its inception, Bitcoin100 has evolved into a formidable (OK, maybe fledgling, or fledged) capacity building program.

The vanity donation address is 1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac which was kindly hashed by Rassah, and can also be seen in my signature at the bottom of my posts as well as in several posts in this thread and possible elsewhere on this forum or other websites. Use the following link to view the balance at any time:

http://blockexplorer.com/address/1BTC1oo1J3MEt5SFj74ZBcF2Mk97Aah4ac

?As each member states on this thread that they want to be part of the Bitcoin100, I will add their name below.?
What about : I will add the name of members that states they want to be part of the Bitcoin100. ?

Original post starts below the HL??. A backup of this OP?? can be viewed here: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=52543.msg639141#msg639141

Most recently, there was a thread (or two) here on BT (Who/What is BT ? , why does it matter?) addressing Wikipedia accepting Bitcoin as a donation option. It turned out to be futile. Their response was thanks, but no thanks. But it doesn't have to be that way. I believe I may have a solution to get Bitcoin as a donation option on the following list: https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Ways_to_Give/en  WHAT IS IT ?   ...  What is this list, Where is this list taken from ?


And, for that matter, any one of the following might include a Bitcoin donate option/button on their respected (respective ?) sites with the right leverage:

Finally ! at 3/4 of the post I can read : "The Bitcoin100 is nothing more than at least 100 members of this forum pledging 1 BTC ..."

Also why is the whole thing posted as "quote" ? The text is smaller and on a white background.

If I understand correctly, The point is not really to be able to donate but to profit from the visibility of having a Bitcoin logo on a big corporation website giving us some credibility. I am all for this and have donated 1.1010102 BTC to the addresses.  Suggestion : Trim the first post to convey the essential and keep the details for some FAQ.

Note: The budget for most of the suggested charities is ~10 time higher than all 7m bitcoins a 3$.

Virtually, your entire post is valid. Please allow me to address your post without you fearing I'm poking holes in your post or making excuses.

First, the OP was in quotes, but only briefly. I did that in error during the updating of the list of supporters. I believed I discovered it shortly after you penned, than posted your post. I corrected it prior to getting around to reading your post for the first time. As you see, it's fixed now.

Secondly, as I've stated several times, the OP is all effed up because I penned the main body of it during the initial brainstorming process. My intent was to have it already amended. It served its purpose well, up to this point, but you, among others, have found themselves lost as to what the hell exactly is going on here. That said, I'm going to use as much of your edited version, and suggestions, to create a better read.

The notification process has not been worked out yet. In due time, this minor issue will have a solution.

NPR, I've learned, is a bad example because it's the local stations that conduct the fund drives, not the parent company. I generated that list where NPR is listed as #1, again, during the brainstorming process. I simply put together a list of big named charities to get this ball rolling. Most, one can easily refer to as being huge money pits. No real disagreement there.

Finally ! at 3/4 of the post I can read : "The Bitcoin100 is nothing more than at least 100 members of this forum pledging 1 BTC ..."

Again, this ended up where its at because of the way I worded the OP during the brainstorming process. It was closer to the top, like about half way down, prior to the growth of the list of supporters, each passing day move further down.

Note: The budget for most of the suggested charities is ~10 time higher than all 7m bitcoins a 3$.

Some sure are money pits, aren't they? It cements your argument to forego approaching the larger charitable organizations. A sentiment echoed more than once within this thread. More likely than not, they're not interested. That's one reason why the other day I started another thread requesting names of charitable organizations that may be more receptive to our cause: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=53684.0

If I understand correctly, The point is not really to be able to donate but to profit from the visibility of having a Bitcoin logo on a big corporation website giving us some credibility. I am all for this and have donated 1.1010102 BTC to the addresses.

Bitcoin100 simply consist of Bitcoiners, each donating small amounts of Bitcoin toward a common cause: Help spread Bitcoin awareness via offering a carrot to preselected charitable organization's in exchange for providing a Bitcoin donation option to their readers on their respective websites, thereby offering Bitcoin greater legitimacy and credibility.

Finally, this:

Please remove my name from this list. I am now only willing to subscribe to a mailing list that show new charities I can donate bitcoin to.

I fear that any big charity you'll decide to give to is not worth my time if they are too lazy and require a 100 BTC pledge for adding a single string of text to their website.

Please advise me if you still desire your name removed from the list, for I will happily abide to your wishes. The list only consists of the names of people who have pledged. It also provides a means of knowing who to contact when relative information, e.g. a new charity, needs relaying. In your case, you've already pledged x, and donated y, and on the list of supporters it currently looks like such:

51. Transisto (3 ~ 1 Per Charitable Organization) (Honored 1.1010102, to date)

I hope I've addressed your post to your satisfaction. Please let me know, Transisto, if any further issues need addressing.

Sincerely, Bruno

PS: Will work on the rewriting of the OP later today. It's 3:45 AM here, and I'm just now going to bed.

[AgoraMutual]

I'm sort of in the same boat except I do take issue with a couple of the charities listed. I know first hand that one of the charities HAS been shady to people in it's family of companies. Though, it wasn't the actual charity's decision to do so. At least one company under it has recently been forcing employees to attend fundraisers and have been deducting a percentage if their check against their will. Another of the charities has recently been promoting an agenda that few people here or the even general population supports. Another charity I just don't get along with their philosophical views.

Either way, I'm setting all that aside for now and don't intend to rock the boat. Just for the sake of helping out some people and continuing the bitcoin experiment.

Thank you kindly for your enlightening post. Please understand you don't have to be a supporter of Bitcoin100 to be part of the discussion. We'll always treasure your input either way. As far as the list of charities in the OP are concerned, I simply put together that list during the brainstorming process of all this. It's quite possible that no charity on that list will be considered due to whatever. Feel free to offer up a charity close to your heart, and I'm sure it'll be duly considered whether you've pledged or not. I hope I've addressed your post to your liking, AgoraMutual.

Oh no, I support Bitcoin100 100%. I was replying to edd and others were talking about not participating because of what their BTC may end up funding. I wasn't complaining about the selections. My point was that: No one will support all of the charities all of the time but that's no to reason back out. The goal, for me, right now isn't to actually support these charities. Just open the door for everyone to donate bitcoins, at will, in the future. That's why I didn't call them out by name. If I support one charity more than another then I will send in more than one bitcoin to that particular call for funds but still pledge at least 1BTC to any and all charities you decide to contact.

[Phinnaeus Gage]

I'm sort of in the same boat except I do take issue with a couple of the charities listed. I know first hand that one of the charities HAS been shady to people in it's family of companies. Though, it wasn't the actual charity's decision to do so. At least one company under it has recently been forcing employees to attend fundraisers and have been deducting a percentage if their check against their will. Another of the charities has recently been promoting an agenda that few people here or the even general population supports. Another charity I just don't get along with their philosophical views.

Either way, I'm setting all that aside for now and don't intend to rock the boat. Just for the sake of helping out some people and continuing the bitcoin experiment.

Thank you kindly for your enlightening post. Please understand you don't have to be a supporter of Bitcoin100 to be part of the discussion. We'll always treasure your input either way. As far as the list of charities in the OP are concerned, I simply put together that list during the brainstorming process of all this. It's quite possible that no charity on that list will be considered due to whatever. Feel free to offer up a charity close to your heart, and I'm sure it'll be duly considered whether you've pledged or not. I hope I've addressed your post to your liking, AgoraMutual.

Oh no, I support Bitcoin100 100%. I was replying to edd and others were talking about not participating because of what their BTC may end up funding. I wasn't complaining about the selections. My point was that: No one will support all of the charities all of the time but that's no to reason back out. The goal, for me, right now isn't to actually support these charities. Just open the door for everyone to donate bitcoins, at will, in the future. That's why I didn't call them out by name. If I support one charity more than another then I will send in more than one bitcoin to that particular call for funds but still pledge at least 1BTC to any and all charities you decide to contact.

This probably was my misunderstanding. Reflecting back, I think I had other stuff on my mind at the time, although I do remembering reading your post at least twice prior to replying. No problem, AgoraMutual, then.

~Bruno~

[paraipan]

Hey Bruno can you get us a spokesman ? We need one yesterday so he can start contacting proposed charities on our behalf, by phone or in person. We already seem to have talented email writers around 

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Hey Bruno can you get us a spokesman ? We need one yesterday so he can start contacting proposed charities on our behalf, by phone or in person. We already seem to have talented email writers around  

The best I can do is considering your post, along with this reply, a formal request for a spokesman to step forward or, at the very least, someone here suggesting one. Drafting someone proved futile, i.e., Gavin or Roger, because of the simple fact they're busy folks (plate's full). I don't think we necessarily needed one yesterday, but we strongly need to start hunting one today, therefore we'll be loaded for bear, tomorrow.

[BadBear]

Did somebody say bear?

[Phinnaeus Gage]

Did somebody say bear?

You using the same Google alerts as Matthew?

Here's a pic of Mr. Rogers hugging a bear: