Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

Pilgrimage to Free Geek [2016-08-27]

Once again Free Geek in Portland has made a generous grant of used computer equipment to Reneal!  We are so thrilled to have an additional 80 monitors, 10 desktops, 30 keyboards, and 100 mice to deploy in 2017 in the Philippines!  Combined with the laptop grant from Polycom in June, we have a very exciting year ahead in the works.

This visit was very similar to the last one (described here).  We were on a 6 a.m. flight from Oakland to Portland on Wednesday, and we went directly to the truck rental facility when we arrived in Portland.  Unfortunately there were no 12’ trucks available, so we got a 16’ truck.  It was definitely easier to load with all of the extra space, but I felt like I was piloting a yacht the whole way back to the Bay Area.  We did split the drive into two chunks, overnighting in Grants Pass, OR, but we were both still pretty tired when we got home Thursday about 2:30 p.m. 

It’s always a joy to feel the buzz at Free Geek (www.freegeek.org).  I had a chance to chat with Dani, our original point of contact there.  She noted they had about 2000 volunteers (!) who had supported Free Geek to some degree in the last year.  There was a steady stream of cars pulling up to drop off equipment – what a wonderful option, to be able to repurpose old equipment OR know that it gets recycled in an environmentally friendly way.  Free Geek really offers a wonderful service for those in the Portland area! 

We’ll get some of this new equipment packed up before we go, but much of it will be waiting for us when we get back from Cebu in November.  Once we get home, we’ll try to get it underway as quickly as possible so it will be there when we return to Cebu in late January.  It is truly wonderful to be so hardware-rich as we plan our 2017 work!  We’re holding about 36 of the Polycom units (the small form-factor laptops) for deployment in Tanzania in 2017, but the rest will be prepositioned in Cebu for 2017.  Part of our work in the coming two months will be scouting for good candidates for those IT labs.

Now that we’re a week out from leaving for Cebu, it’s time to get serious about packing for that trip!  I’ve been going through the list to pick up any needed items.  We’ll definitely be making a trip to Fry’s Electronics to get some RJ45 connectors, for example!  There are a number of piles forming here and there, and I’m hopeful that it will come together quickly this time given how much practice we’ve had over the last several years.  We are counting down the days to see colleagues and friends in Cebu, and having a happy homecoming in Compostela!

[L to R: Emily Wong – Free Geek Hardware Grants, yours truly, and Amber Schmidt – Free Geek Reuse Supervisor]