Slashdot Mirror
Update on Jason Haas Car Accident
kTag sent us a page of daily updates from the wife of Jason Haas, LinuxPPC developer. For those who hadn't heard, Jason was in a bad car accident a bit over a week ago. Keep Jason in your thoughts. Any e-mail addressed to him will be forwarded.
I am glad this was posted. I was always under the impression that Slashdot was a community that may bicker and argue, but was still a community with a common good. After reading a bunch of the "why should I care" and "so what" comments along with the other negative crap, I am starting to doubt that. You all know if your beloved Linus had a misfortune like this, everyone would be acting a bit different. This is a person, and if you can't say something supportive, do your self and everyone else a favor and neglect posting.
I don't know Jason, but I have always respected his hard work. I wish him and his family a speedy recovery and good fortune.
Who is the master of foxhounds, and who says the hunt has begun? -Pink Floyd
My girlfriend's sister went through a similar accident several years ago. Similar situation, drunk driver in a pick-up ran a light and hit her broadside. A few months before her high-school graduation, her life nearly ended.
She survived, and in time she got better. There is a scar on her thigh that she keeps as a reminder, and there are slight traces of the head trauma she suffered - a little slur when she speaks too quickly.
She graduated HS on schedule, thanks to aggressive rehab and the help and support of friends, family and classmates. She went on to college and finished on schedule, with a dual BS in Education and Spanish.
Things may hurt a lot now, and there is a lot of fear now. But, it WILL get better.
Jason, I have never seen your work and I do not know the person you are. But I know that you make a difference. Not only to your immediate circle and loving wife, but to a community spread the world over. I hope that the people whose lives you've touched let you know this, over and again.
As for those out there that have ever driven drunk... Fuck You! You may think you're in control enough to drive, but that sort of arrogance just shows how out of control you are. Think twice, then think again. The cost of a cab or a phone-call to a friend (or a cop; it's not a crime to be drunk, only to drive drunk; they will help you get home) is much less than that of a life (yours or that of someone else).
-- What you do today will cost you a day of your life.
Though I don't know Jason (actually I've never heard of him before (I've never dabbled with Linux PPC)), I wish him well and hope he recovers fully.
...
...
What strikes me about the articles are 3 things:
1) Cassie seems to holding up very well under the circumstances. Congratulations on handling what must be a very difficult situation remarkably well. I was amazed that Cassie still has the power to have some humor as she descibes her/Jason's situation.
2) Things like this should remind all of us how fragile our existance is. One second you're busy building cool software (or whatever else it is you're doing), caring for your familily, enjoying the good things in life, and the next you're in the hospital, your body and mind rearranged in very unpleasant ways. I think it's good to step back from time to time and realize how empty life would be without the people you care about (and how care about/for you). I'm as much as a computer geek as the next guy (maybe even more so), but it's things like this which from time to time makes me step back and look at my life, trying to figure out what's essential and what's not. Most the time it seems my software/technical side is essential and define who/what I am, but events like this one have a remarkable ability to make me doubt that. I guess what I'm trying to say is that no matter how fascinated with technology you are, don't loose sight of the fact that it's just one part of your existance. In the end, life is about (sharing it) with (other) people (and even animals).
3) I can't help but feel a dark fascination with the fact that such an accident can leave you seemingly lucid (ie: intact speech and vocabulary) but yet somehow detachted from reality. I think this in one way or another says something (interesting) about our cognitive processes.
Finally, this servers as an example what drunk driving can lead to. Just don't do it. Get on a bike or bus instead
Good luck, Jason; get well
Drunk driving is preventable. Jason's accident could have been avoided.
Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) accepts tax-deductable web-donations starting at $10. While I don't completely agree with everything they do, I support their primary mission of education and responsibility. I made my donation in honor of Jason Haas, LinuxPPC and Slashdot.org. There didn't seem to be a way of just tagging the donation with a name, so I sent an acknowledgement to:
(The MADD form requires something in all fields, so put something in the last name)MADD's donation page: http://www.madd.org/donations/
1998 Factoids: (from MADD's site)
I want to dedicate this small piece to his wife Cassie.
I did not know Jason very well, I saw his name a couple of time, but that's all.
What touch me in this story, is you (Cassie)... You seem to be a very strong person. It must be a really difficult time that you are going through. In one of youre e-mail you said that you need support. I'm sure that the community will do it's best to support you.
I know that it will be difficult for many month to come. I hope that the rehab will go well and that Jason will recover quickly.
When youre mood will be really down, don't forget that you have familly, friends and an entire community that is willing to help you.
Things will never be the same for you, I just hope that however different things are now, that they will increase in joy and happiness. You deserve this!
Hi. This is Jason's wife. Jeff Carr told me that Jason had been slashdotted (a fact that would have him bursting with pride, if he understood what it meant right now) and I've been reading everybody's comments. I just wanted to thank *everyone* who has posted their good wishes for Jason's speedy recovery. And for everyone who has complimented me on my fortitude and humor, thanks also. ;-) The fact is, I'm stubborn and prideful and I'd rather laugh than cry. For the person who made a donation to MADD in Jason's name, thank you for putting your principles in motion. I've considered sending them photos of the Civic for a promotional campaign, if they'd want to use them. I'll pass everyone's good wishes on to Jason. I fully expect him to recover, but it will take a long time and a lot of patience from the both of us. But I *did* promise him "in sickness and in health" and I meant it. -- cassie
Married to a Linux geek. Not Linux. Per res adversas firmitas.