It's funny...almost comical...that out of 5 replies I get 1-2 generous suggestions...and lots of well-meant (but mis-targeted) moralisms...
I wonder if it's because you didn't know the whole story...
1) This man - at 40 years of age - just had a stroke 8 weeks ago that left him nearly dead. In ICU and in danger for his life.
2) This man has 5 children - whom he loves dearly and in whom he invests himself intensely - so that he has for five years been unable to upgrade a
lagging PC. Children come first - and they always need something! There's not enough left for luxuries - let alone "playthings."
3) This man fully believes in giving the tithe, in fact well over 10%...and has done so even when he "couldn't afford it."
4) He also makes an income that is officially well under the state poverty level. In fact, his insurance recently refused to pay for his stroke because his new insurance - was approved in early February to start on March 1 when his stroke unexpectedly caught him on February 29...LEAP YEAR!!
Each day in Intensive Care costs $40,000. No insurance.
5) As a national award winner (in music), he gives extraordinarily of his time to others...both fortunate and less fortunate...giving freely of his award-winning knowledge. (What he can't afford in money he gives in knowledge.)
6) He needs no pity nor moralisms - though if they're sincere they're appreciated! - what I need is a suggestion for a tech "pick-me-up" 7 weeks after a truly life and death stroke.
If you have no imagination, fine. If you have no care to help, that's fine. If you want to try again, your contribution is appreciatet.
Again, I'm no objector to charity - I give it. However, what I need now is a delightful toy - something I can love and treasure that's unusual without judgment. Something in the tech sector!
Here's a guy who wants to celebrate that he's alive. He chooses to do that with a computer that he hasn't upgraded for 5 years. He carefully chooses a price-performance setup - not a gratuitous machine. He wants just ONE thing to LOVE.
(BTW, I had my stroke while I was on the most relaxing, joy-filled family trip to the outdoors - a botanical garden - a jaunt away from Tech and with nature. Trust me - a stroke can be more complicated than most think! One thing that is for sure - something for yourself - something that makes you laugh with sheer Tech Joy - something you'd ordinarilly never get yourself - can lower blood pressure!!)
Yours, thankful for what you and can Give,
Barry
P.S. If you'd like to know about the miraculous recovery which my therapists (at Providence in Seattle) have found unbelievable, please ask me! I shouldn't even be able to speak, let alone write competently!