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Hemos is Homeless

So just as proof that life doens't stop when you go to a conference, Hemos got email this morning from nate informing him that his house burned down [?] last night. Now some rooms are missing and there is extensive smoke and water damage. Now the geek compound is 25% smaller. On the plus side, both Nate and hemos are safe and insured. Update: 10/16 11:05 by H : And to make matters worse, Chris DiBona threw my cell phone in a bucket of water. On accident. But it's pretty ironic.

216 comments

  1. Re:Muah hah hah hah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck. If that's what using NT does to you, I'll keep well away...

  2. Re:There is no God... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Read them all. It's still very obvious to me that in the entire universe there just isnt a place for a god.

    The only indication believers repeatedly point to, are things science doesn't explain yet. 'Science can't explain this, so that proves there must be a god'. Besides stupid, this is also illogical. Introduce a 'god' in the universe, and suddenly nothing makes sense anymore. You have to think of kludges, make leaps of faith all the time, every time something previously unexplained by science is explained, and every time your holy book is refuted.

    Every time a christian tells me 'if there is no god, then why doesn't science explain THIS?' I can only respond in one way:
    Who created god? Who created whatever created god? How did it create the universe? Why are all factual errors in the bible to be interpreted as 'metaphorical', and all 'thruths' (unproven errors) to be interpreted as literal truth and word of god? How many dinosaurs will fit on an ark? Why are you so sure that of the thousands of religions the world has seen, yours is the true one?

  3. Re:Ye Olde Lighting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ye art in thee 19th century.

  4. Re:q by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Oh hell!"?

  5. Re:You forgot some by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We had a really nice Halogen based systems at one of the Hospitals that I worked in. Yessiree, nothing better at putting out a fire than a Halogen Life Extingusher!

  6. Re:There is no God... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually his whole point is that we won't see...

  7. Re:cell phone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Hear, hear!

    *AC shoots his cellphone with a Railgun(TM).

  8. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What I find more amusing is how the atheist /. community blindly believes evolution, when only, if that 1% has taken a college level biology class (or has the equivalent knowledge of said person). Blindly following science you don't understand isn't really better than blindly following religion. I think Orwell once said that people the orthodoxy or religion is just going to be replaced by the orthodoxy of science.

  9. Re:You forgot some by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's called Halon.

  10. Obvious Flamebait. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But I will reply anyway. You missed the point of this article. CmdrTaco posted this story so that there may be a public forum in which geeks may express their condolences and similiar experiences. Insulting somebody else's way of expressing simpathy will not help anybody here. Perhaps if Hemos is an zealous athiest like you, you could nudge Christians to not express their beliefs in such a christian manner (making any references to God, etc), because they did, they would hurt hemos more than they help. But I know I and I doubt you know anything about Hemos beliefs. (And I should hope he is not such a religuous bigot as you appear to be!)

    A man lost most of his possessions. Religious arguments have no place here. Show some respect.

  11. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Whereas blindly mouthing pious platitudes would make Hemos feel soooo much better

  12. I have by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Halon isn't toxic.. It's heavier then air, but better then breathing CO2.

    I gulped some of it (someone knocked me over as they were foolishly running out like their ass was on fire)

    So did some of my less clueful coworkers, who tried to continue working as the halon fell. Only one was knocked out and had to be dragged.

    Fire went out fast though.

  13. Safety by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Glad to know everyone is OK..If there is a way we can help please let us know..I sympathize my house burned to the ground 4 years ago..I can still see it...i was able to watch it go :(

  14. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good to see an atheist carrying on the formerly theist tradition of obnoxious street corner preaching in inappropriate places.

  15. Re:q by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about "Oh no! The church is on fire!" ?

  16. Another collection of experiences by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My whole life has been an ongoing attempt to get my act together, and sometimes it looked rather good, for a while. However, I've moved as much as a military brat, although my father wasn't in the military. I've lost lots of stuff I really didn't want to for various reasons, although not from fire, thank God. I know painfully well what it's like to lose things. // Doesn't help that I'm a pack rat who doesn't sort! // At age 63, I'm not giving up, though. Best of luck to Jeff!

  17. Re:Let's give him some space by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Dude - I know it's hard for you. I haven't had anything like that happen to me. Bear the following in mind though - you should be familiar with it having come through the holland christian school:

    Luke 12

    15 Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
    16 And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.
    17 He thought to himself, `What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.'
    18 "Then he said, `This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
    19 And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."'
    20 "But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
    21 "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
    22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
    23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."

    Flame away, ye unbelievers! But seriously, if you harbour any belief of God's existence, then earthly things pale into insignificance.

    ac.uk

  18. Re:Donations? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hey Hemos. don't be a square and keep repeating who u r. we no who u r.

    have you ever stopped and wonder how stupid your readers are, suggesting donations?

    Xah
    xah@best.com
    http://www.best.com/~xah/PageTwo_dir/more.html

  19. Bummer Dude! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please allow me to express my heartfelt sympathy. I can only imagine how it must feel. Hopefully the insurance company will treat you right man. They aren't always known to do so.

  20. Re:Rebuilding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A lot of places won't let you use Halon any more, because of the asphyxiation danger.

    I'd say a good dry-pipe sprinkler system would be best -- along with a cutoff relay for any power lines or UPSes installed in the space, so you don't get electrocuted by your SmartUPS on the way out the door...

  21. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Yes, and I'm all for it! Actually, I think we need more of this sort of thing to raise the cyncism of the sheeple, so that humanity can throw off the self-imposed shackles of religion.

    Religion's one big group delusion that is only around because it makes people feel better by giving them false hope.

    www.infidels.org
    www.lucifer.com

  22. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Religion's one big group delusion that is only around because it makes people feel better by giving them false hope.

    Many people need that false hope. Who are you to take that from them?

  23. Drowning cellphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Drowning seems to be a surpisingly common fate for cellphones. It is not at all uncommon for people to drop them in lakes and suchlike. But that can be done in style too, like my sister's friend who drowned hers in champagne..

  24. Then, you forgot to backup your house? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then, you forgot to do a tape backup of your house?

  25. Hemos by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hemos if you need a cell phone or any other equimpment i would be willing to donate a page and or a cell phone that i have not used in a few a years that would be at your disposal. As well if worse comes to worse i could even probably scrounge up a decent computer for you to use. I know the hardship that a person goes through when their home burns down. I have had two friends that went through the same thing in their lives and it pretty much ruined them. But if would learn that in times of need it never hurts to ask for help ! Justin C. jcron@uswest.net

  26. Re:cell phone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Cell phones are an evil invention and a bucket of water is a good place for them.

  27. Poor CmdrTaco by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Best wishes go out to CmdrTaco for his loss of his cell phone. I know what he's going through: shock, anger, worry, acceptance. Even if he has a warranty on his phone, it's never easy letting go of any tool used for communication.

    As for Hemos's situation, he'll get over it.

  28. Re:There is no God... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We'll see, won't we?

  29. Rebuilding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you going to rebuild that section of the house? If so I'd suggest planning it carefully (like one would plan a good network) and lay out new cabling and X10 capable devices etc. As well as maybe do some cool stuff with your home design and future computer placement. As well as halon or sprinkler system (ok halon's a bit much but very cool) if its all lost you can start from scratch and while losing your stuff sucks sometimes starting from scratch is a great oppurtunity. good luck

    1. Re:Rebuilding by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now *theres* a smart idea, using a halon system in a habitated space. A residence no less! Have you ever taken a breath of halon? I'm guessing not since you're still alive to post. :)

  30. Re:Muah hah hah hah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wow! this AC is deep.

    Xah
    xah@best.com
    http://www.best.com/~xah/PageTwo_dir/more.html

  31. The geek compound? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sounds like an ATF incident to me. Better investigate. You know how bad they are about starting fires in compounds. I bet they wanted to know why you never left your room. :) Seriously though, if you aren't insured, I don't mind pitching in a couple of bucks. Heck, if everyone pitched in...

  32. droped your crak pipe/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    see above

  33. Re:Ditto by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please... These guys are worth millions over and over even before IPO. Just read Andover.net documents and you'll see that.

  34. SOMEBODY has to get the first post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's a very simple matter of logistics.

    BTW, you're doing much better about putting subjects on your messages lately.

  35. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Actually, Darwin had nothing to say about "learn[ing] to adapt and avoid such catastrophes". The Darwinian view would be that naturally-stupid people are more likely to die in natural disasters, and won't pass along their stupidity genes, so future generations are going to be smarter. By the way, sorry about the fire. (Which reminds me: I still haven't got insurance for my new apartment.)

  36. Re:That sucks, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *cough* The quote is "It's better when free".

  37. Oxford explains it, after reading alot of crap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Jesus Christ, it is a waste of time to
    read all this meta-discussion crap in here.
    I think being a moderator on Slashdot must
    sometimes border to torture.

    Besides, that whole damn article is OFFTOPIC
    so THANKS for moderating ME to -1 OFFTOPIC.

    Slashdot is filling with bigots and Laberbacken.

  38. There is no God... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Uhhhh.... there is no such concept as God. I am an atheist and don't trust belief systems of yours. We all live and die. It's about survival of the fittest.

    1. Re:There is no God... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go read some of the philosophical ramblings of Pascal. You might change your mind.

    2. Re:There is no God... by Athos · · Score: 1
      True Believers of any stripe are highly annoying. (Religious, political, OS-nal includeded).

      --

      --

      --
      The Internet is the Suppository of All Knowledge. You get it in the end.

    3. Re:There is no God... by timster · · Score: 1

      Usually you get that sort of thing from the people who are atheist to "get back" at some vague (society, god) or specific (their parents) target. The people who are atheist because it makes the most sense to them usually don't, because they know that they have no material in particular to argue _with_, other than that other religions don't have any material either. So no, I don't respect rambling atheists ;)

      --
      I have seen the future, and it is inconvenient.
    4. Re:There is no God... by generic-man · · Score: 1

      I am sick and tired of atheists ranking on religion whenever a tragic news story is posted to slashdot.

      User: "I pray for the victims of that terrible accident."
      Atheist: "Nope! No prayer for me! No God for me! You must be a fool with that prayer stuff -- I don't believe in God! Don't pray; it's stupid!"

      I have no problem with you being an atheist, but for our collective sake please don't be an anti-theist (sp?). Religious flame wars like this are the worst of all.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    5. Re:There is no God... by moeller · · Score: 1

      I believe what we see with that is similar with some of the more derogatory ramblings of theists. Though I am an atheist, it is not my duty to convert others, and therefore I rarely have debates about it (and when I do they are calm and constructive, not angery). Indeed, religious discourse is a truly evil thing, and some atheists get it into their head that because they aren't religious then their form of antireligionism is not an evil thing.

      There are people on both sides that are unable/unwilling to think very deeply.

    6. Re:There is no God... by General+Wesc · · Score: 1

      "...there is no such concept as God."
      There may be no proof of his existence (none that I know of) but there is no evidence that She doesn't exist. No need to flame his religion.

      Disclaimer: I said there MAY (Might) be no evidence. I don't know of any. No need to flame me for being uninformed.

  39. sense & sensibility & stupidity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    look at this bunch of stupid /.ers. having large mouth is not enough, but must meta mouth about large mouths.

    if you really feel genuine sorry, you can find ways to contact hemos in a non-instrusive way and offer real help, such as send in money or gifts or cards or a gazillian other ways to express warmth.

    stop fucking being stupid. and look at the bunch of followers, each one dumber than the other.

    oh, and didn't rob install the karma system that generated huge farting competition here? looks like it didn't help a whole lot. meanful or stupid replies one follows the other.

    That, is the /. spirit, and is why I love it and wallow with the rest of u.

    Xah
    xah@best.com
    http://www.best.com/~xah/PageTwo_dir/more.html

  40. Re:Hackers are prone to their houses burning down by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    I never heard of vegetable waste catching fire.

    Be advised to read up on compost heaps, you'd be surprised how hot it gets inside those baby's.

  41. I'm gonna burn my house down too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm gonna burn my house down too, when I move. Just to get back at my downstairs neighbours.
    For four consecutive summers I put up with their loud R'n'B music, yet they have had the nerve to complain about the noise when I dragged a table from one end of my flat to the other (5 minutes of noise... it was heavy), and call the police because they could hear my keyboard tapping in the middle of the night.

    1. Re:I'm gonna burn my house down too by TeChYMaN · · Score: 1

      Haha dont burn yer house down but we got neighbors like that and they got no mufflers on their cars. 1AM down the road and they say they can hear my mp3s.

  42. Condolences & ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry dude, but look on the brite side, there's that much less to worry about having to clean :)

  43. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    NO, NO, NO.

    God created us all in 7 days, a mere 5 000
    years ago! And the earth is flat!
    Sex will make you go blind!
    Trust priests, they're better than you!
    You don't need reason, just mindless
    unquestioning faith!

    www.infidels.org
    www.lucifer.com


    N.B. Sarcasm (well duh...)


  44. Re:How it could have been prevented by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    >2) Cases of Mountain Dew. Good for refreshment and dosing fires. Heh.. you're not kidding either. Had a call for a car fire a couple of weeks ago - seems a high schooler driving his mom's new Blaser, was having a cookout for homecoming. When he left to go to the game, he figured he didn't want his grill stolen so he placed the (still hot) grill in the back of the truck. A few minutes and some melted plastic and smoulering interior later, some passers by put it out w/ soda and called us. One of the funniest calls I've ever been to :-) Trazom28

  45. Re:Oxford explains it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    A pre schooler (well, my little brother, back when he was 4, anyway) can understand evolution, and see that it is the best explanation so far of the observed phenomena, certainly far better than christianity/islam religion. The same pre-schooler promptly assigned God the same status as the tooth fairy and santa claus - i.e. humour your parents by pretending to believe, but not give a crap really.

    Science does not have irrefutable truths - if verifiable scientific proof appeared tomorrow that evolution (or quantum mechanics, or paint-drying theory), was wrong, then the theories would have to be amended. That's what science is, a progression. Religion just offers arbitrary satatements that are taken on faith.

  46. Re:Ye-ouch! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    reminds me that I've been wanting to set a fire safe to put backup tapes in

    A fire safe will not protect your tapes, it simply gets too hot in there, tapes give up way before paper does, and those safes are only ment to protect your paper for a short while.

    On the bright side, you will have a stack of blank tapes to use afterwards ;-)

  47. actually, by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    cheese is okay too.

  48. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    cause he posted as an Anonymous Coward. They start at 0. No sane moderator would mark that down, but are they all sane...? ;-)

  49. Re:Ow. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    actually, according to the post, it was a quarter... On the serious side, please tell us if we can do anything to help out. I know I need my daily injection of /. and like it a lot. If there is anything we can do, just tell us. ;)

  50. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Jeff+Knox · · Score: 0

    Score 0? Excuse me, that seems very supporting to me. I think at least it deserves a 2. Why was it marked down?

    --
    Jeff Knox
  51. Re:first post! by Signal+11 · · Score: 0

    YOU BASTARD! Can't you stop for just a minute with the #$@! first posts?! Somebody's house just burned down, and you're posting first posts?! You heartless bastard!

    --

  52. Ha ha by Assistant+Madman · · Score: 0

    "Ha ha!"

    "Um, I think he's really hurt."

    "I said 'Ha ha'".

  53. Re: by rahuljain · · Score: 0

    ditto

  54. Re:Ye Olde Lighting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Yeah, I used to code by candlelight, too. I used
    to have a massive candelbra on the top of my
    monitor. Had to give it up, though. Hot, dripping
    wax and CRT's don't mix too well.

    So much for ye olde romantic age. (When
    men were men, women were women and penguins
    just ate herring).

  55. Fire safes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you're going to get a fire safe instead of using an offsite safe-deposit box, be sure you don't cheap out. Most of the ones in the department stores and home centers are rated for one-half hour -- in a lot of places, it'll take that long just for the fire department to show up. One- and two-hour fire safes are expensive and a little more difficult to find -- try the larger home improvement warehouses like Lowe's and Home Depot.

    Besides, safes with a longer time rating will keep things cooler inside the safe for a short time -- after 45 minutes, a two-hour safe will be a lot cooler inside than a one-hour safe.

    I wonder what would be more survivable, CD-Rs or tape media?

  56. Meanwhile... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    30,000 people lost their lives in Turkey after massive earthquakes there, 3,000 people lost their lives in Taiwan... Sure a house fire sucks, but please excuse me if I don't exactly feel sorry for you...

  57. How Tom Petty dealt with his house burning down .. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Tom Petty's house burned down around 10 years ago -- taking his music collection, a lot of guitars, his studio, all sorts of tools of the trade. Yea he was insured, and yea he was rich, but it still really sucked.

    So, his first gig after the fire, in LA, the lights go down, he comes out on the stage, the spotlight is on him, and he says:

    They burned down my house. (holds up guitar) But they didn't get this. And then the band starts into an incredible set of deliverance.

    In your case, your house is burned down, but slashdot.org is acccepting connections -- may it be your own deliverance.

  58. This Mortal Coil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If this incident doesn't convice everybody of the dangers inherent in fru-fru scented candles and bath beads, I don't know what will.

    Don't even get me started on the dangers that lie beneath the plush exterior of every stuffed animal. They are killing machines!

    Seriously though, glad no one was hurt. Things can always be replaced...

  59. It's MS's fault by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Yes it has to be. Damn you Bill Gates!

    1. Re:It's MS's fault by rahuljain · · Score: 1

      Why would it be bill gates fault? Bill gates would not risk his 50 million dollar investment going down the drain because all the users of slashdot went over there on a random tuesday night at 3 in the morn to design a computer run fire deploying system...randomly of course. j/k

  60. Re:Moderators! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1
    If he wants, they have insurance on the phones as part of their business contract. But I told hemos I'd cover any costs. No biggie there.

    Chris logging in from the slashdot booth at als

  61. Donations? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    i feel really bad for him and all, but donations? isn't he pretty well off with /. and all? iw ould rather donate my money to a homeless shelter where people have no place to live, rather than someone who does have a house with a few burned up rooms...

    1. Re:Donations? by Darchmare · · Score: 1

      Seems to me that would be kindness, not stupidity.

      Stupidity would be the use of the letters 'u' and 'r' as if they were actual words. Do me a favor, will you? Next time you see someone do that, pay them a couple bucks to play in traffic.


      - Darchmare
      - Axis Mutatis, http://www.axismutatis.net

      --

      - Jeff
    2. Re:Donations? by Hemos · · Score: 2

      Thanks - I'll take good words, but you are right - I've got stuff under control. Now, if it's irreplacable data - I'll ask.

      --
      Yeah, I'm that guy.
    3. Re:Donations? by PollyJean · · Score: 2
      The only reason why I suggested donations is because regardless of one's financial staus, (unless one is in a significantly higher tax bracket) it can be incredibly difficult to start over after losing most if not all of your stuff. I do donate money to shelters, Habitat for Humanity, etc. I even worked at a shelter when I was in college. That's not the point. There's enough money to donate to both strangers and to friends. And though I don't know Hemos, the nice thing about communities like /., at least in theory, is that there can be friendships developed. If he didn't have insurance, he'd be screwed, and even with insurance, it'll take awhile for an assessor to come by & for the insurance company to issue a check. Alot of people who end up in homeless shelters do so because of things like having a house burn down & not having insurance. A lot of people don't get any help because people assume they don't need any, and that's not cool.

      --
      Think like a person of action, act like a person of thought. --H. Bergson
    4. Re:Donations? by Hemos · · Score: 3

      Red Cross is also amazing - I highly recommend Habit as well. Please - everyone take the time to check your fire safety, and make sure you know how to get it. Buy a fire-proof safe. And contribute to causes around you - tithing is a good idea, regardless of religion/creed.

      --
      Yeah, I'm that guy.
  62. THE MICROSOFT MATCH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Check out who made the match. "Thank you for choosing Microsoft for your fire needs. We hope you will find our product to be one of the finest available. WARNING! This match is incompatible with users of non-microsoft software! If used such a person, their house may burn down. Also exercise etreem caution around Java based matches."

  63. Re:Zounds. by Hemos · · Score: 1

    They will be up later on.

    --
    Yeah, I'm that guy.
  64. Re:The most important question by Hemos · · Score: 1

    Nope - all of the computers are in the office *whew*.

    --
    Yeah, I'm that guy.
  65. I have heard some bad things about Red Cross by Jonathan+Hamilton · · Score: 1

    I don't know what experinces you have had with the
    red cross but everything I've heard about them
    (except for their TV Commercials), says that
    their a money grubbing instution that takes advantage of Natural Disators.

    First Off I have been told by many people in the
    medical profession that when you donate blood
    to the red cross they sell it and make quite a
    large profit off of it.

    Another thing which I have been told many time
    is that when you are a Volunteer like my grandad was and they show you reciving drinks, food etc as a volunteer they charge you high prices for them. Of course they don't show that on T.V.

    It isn't like the red cross needs to rasie that much money. Everything the recive are donation and they don't pay volunteers for their time. I will be the first to admit that the money they make
    probably dosen't go into the pockets of the heads of the companys but would some one please explain to me where it does go then?

    I don't really know if the other stuff I have heard about them is true so I won't bothering posting it. But I beleive that those two things
    among themselves are bad enough.

    1. Re:I have heard some bad things about Red Cross by DeathB · · Score: 2

      Sigh... Another uninformed post on /. You donate blood, but it costs quite a bit to get that blood to a point where it can be used. I don't know the exact breakdown, but I'd guess that most of the cost comes from testing. You really want blood with HIV in it? On top of that, there are costs from transportation, separation of blood into plasma/solids, repackaging, etc. They do in fact charge the hospitals more for the blood, than it cost to get it there, but they use blood to fund other efforts which they do not charge for.

      If they're recooping their costs/making profits on blood, where does your donation go? Most of the money donated to the Red Cross goes towards disaster relief. Of the $1.964 billion spent by the Red Cross in fiscal 1997-1998, $1.791 billion or 91 percent, was spent on programs designed to meet the needs of people, leaving $174 million, or 9 percent for overall administration and fundraising.

      I've worked with the Red Cross quite a few times in the past, and I have no clue what you are talking about with them charging high prices for food/drinks while working for them.

      Next time consider some research. All of their audited financial reports are available off of their site, www.redcross.org

      -Adam

      --
      Would you do it for some scoobie crack?
  66. NO!! THE CODE!! by Shaheen · · Score: 1

    (Before I say what I wanted to, my condolences to Hemos and Nate... may you find shelter with a computer running linux with a relatively fast internet connection soon.)

    Nate: I burnt half the geek compound down.

    Hemos: Oh my God! All my source code - it's GONE! Burned up with my Harddrive!

    Oh wait, all my stuff is Open Source (tm)! It's quite a possibility others have downloaded a recent version of my source code from my computer!

    Ahhh... thank god for Open Source (tm)!

    * Hemos smiles at the screen with a thumbs-up.

    --
    You should never take life too seriously - You'll never get out of it alive.
  67. A heartfelt "Good Luck!" by farrellj · · Score: 1

    Good luck rebuilding! Every home is filled with memories, knick-nacks and "stuff" that make it unique. These are the things that are hardest to replace in a disastor like a fire. No money will recover them.

    So please accept the Blessings of Oak and Maple; Oak for strength, and Maple for renewal, and it's side benefit, something sweet.

    ttyl
    Farrell McGovern,
    Druid, The McGoverns.

    --
    CAN-CON 2019 - Ottawa's only book oriented Science Fiction Convention! October 18-20, Sheraton Hotel, Ottawa, Canada h
  68. Re:You apparently.. by MassacrE · · Score: 1

    Yes, there are some people who have no real humanity. IT is best to learn to determine the 'worthwhile' people and hang around them. Luckily (at least in this part of the country) there are a lot more worthwhile people than heartless bozos.

  69. Re:Ow. by AshNazg · · Score: 1

    I think you are wrong.
    Part of the appeal of /. over other sites is the sense of belonging to a community it transmits to the readers.
    One of the best ways of achieving this is make the readers feel that CmdrTaco, Hemos, ... are people they know personally.
    Therefore a few articles about their personal lives only adds to that atmosphere, and is quite usefull in that sense.

  70. This is a groaner, folks. by Lee+Cremeans · · Score: 1

    "holy smoke!"

    -lee

  71. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by V. · · Score: 1

    I had something similar happen about two years ago. Good to hear that no one was hurt.

    Some advice: a lot of hotels will let you stay
    for a week or two at a reduced rate. I lived
    in a hotel for about two weeks while we cleaned up
    the mess. It's still no fun, but at least you
    don't have to crash on someone's couch until the
    place is liveable again. And insurance will
    usually cover at least part of the hotel costs.

  72. Why not put that digital camera to work? by heroine · · Score: 1

    Every geek compound must have a digital camera because it's cool. Surely with the flat panel displays and gadgetry in the geek compound you've got a digital cam. Why not use it to show us the damage?

  73. None of our business!! by ikluft · · Score: 1
    > And now the real question. Is your insurance policy...

    You're obviously well-meaning but a question like that is probably too personal and none of our business to be asking of our Slashdot hosts at a time like this. I can only imagine what a hassle it must be for Jeff... and I hope I never have to go through something like that. Let's stick to wishing him well but not trying to pry too deep, OK?

    1. Re:None of our business!! by Raptor+CK · · Score: 1

      Dude, calm down! If you read the rest of the message and interpreted it as I did, you'd see it like this:

      "I hope, for your sake, that your insurance policy is 'Replacement Value' and not 'Actual Cash Value'"

      He not only mentioned something potentially useful to Jeff, but also news to me. No need to rip him a new one if you're misinterpreting what was meant.

      Or maybe I'm going overboard here, as well. Who knows...


      Christopher Kalos

      --
      Raptor
      "Procrastination is great. It gives me a lot more time to do things that I'm never going to do."
  74. Psychotic Much? by chrisd · · Score: 1
    Kay. I was doing svlug way before I was working at VA, but whatever,dude. You should know that I am also responsible for JFK's murder.

    , Past that If Larry would like to change my job description to read like that, I'd be totally cool with that. Larry?

    Chris
    --
    Grant Chair, Linux Int.
    VP, SVLUG

    --
    Co-Editor, Open Sources
    Open Source Program Manager, Google, Inc.
  75. Re:Hey dumbass by dilger · · Score: 1

    Who's the dumbass? Both the comments you referred to were posted BEFORE Hemos let us know he was insured. Flamebait stinks. bradley

  76. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Rational · · Score: 1

    Does it? I'm buying meself a sack of onions and a bunch of Thomas Hardy novels extra quick, then... :)

    --
    "Be nice, veer left, and never stop thinking" Iain Banks - Walking On Glass
  77. Re:Hay silo? by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 1


    Hay (alfalfa and grass) and mulched grains are put into the 'cigar tube' silos.

    More typically stored in bunkers of a sort- three tall walls filled with a mound covered with a plastic type tarp, a loader drives in, scoops what it needs and goes to feed the critters (animals).

    Of course, this is possible region specific, to Michigan.

    Also, grain dust explosions is due to the fact that flamable materials are made into tiny particles, increasing the burn surface area.

    Moist hay can heat up and spontaneously combust if it isn't ventilated, due to decomposition. Two different phenomena.

  78. Condolences. by Robert+Bowles · · Score: 1

    No need to wrap this up in fluff. Subject says it all.

    --
    /* MAGIC THEATRE
    ENTRANCE NOT FOR EVERYBODY
    MADMEN ONLY */
  79. Zounds. by ploeg · · Score: 1

    Do you have pictures available so we Nosey Parkers can see how bad it is?

    Good luck. Hope that the insurance adjustor gods are kind to you.

    1. Re:Zounds. by rahuljain · · Score: 1

      yea yea..pictures...hopefully of when it was actually going on..j/k..

  80. Halon's not cool either... by Stormbringer · · Score: 1

    I've seen Halon installations (at one wire-pulling job, a very large PBX switch with battery pile had a hard-piped Halon setup: "no smoking in here, gents, unless you want to walk out through an oxygen-free cloud.."), but it's less appropriate than you'd think for computer equipment. Quite aside from any effect on the ozone layer, the stuff can delaminate circuit boards. Computers don't run so good that way.

    And, Nate, now you know why even nonsmokers should carry lighters.

  81. This is News? by smkndrkn · · Score: 1

    Ok Mark this post down if you want. #1 It sux to lose your stuff like that....sorry to hear about it #2 It shouldn't be posted here for sympathy? If that wasn't the motivation what was?

    --
    ======== In the future, everything will be artificial. ========
    1. Re:This is News? by Darchmare · · Score: 1

      Take your pick:

      A. To prompt insensitive types such as yourself to respond.

      B. To let people know that there might be erratic updates for a while.

      C. For sympathy (it's deserved).

      D. Because it's Hemos/Taco's site, not yours.

      E. All of the above.

      My vote: E.


      - Darchmare
      - Axis Mutatis, http://www.axismutatis.net

      --

      - Jeff
  82. No offense meant... by Otter · · Score: 1

    There is no reason to ridicule them for being unable to do anything when they're not even there.

    To clarify, I didn't intend to ridicule or suggest that they were posting instead of calling the fire department. I did find it striking that one of their immediate after-disaster priorities was adding the datum to Everything.

  83. Re:Ow. by Otter · · Score: 1

    People, please leave the residents of the geek compound alone for awhile. half their house just burned down! And don't complain if in the next few days submissions get processed alittle slower.

    Gee, I don't know about that. It looks like they posted to Everything while waiting for the fire trucks to arrive.

  84. Really Bad by suitcase · · Score: 1

    This is a really bad thing. I think its completely retarded how half of the posts on any serious topic here on Slashdot, even VERY serious ones like this, try to be witty and clever. Quit trying to get those Funny points and quit posting for the hell of it.

    1. Re:Really Bad by SEE · · Score: 1

      Although the post I'm referencing was made in reply to one of my posts, I think it's an appropriate answer to your objection. Read it here.

      Humor is almost always about a "wrongness" (to reference Stranger in a Strange Land). To reference psychology, it's a coping mechanism. While I don't condone humor at the expense of Hemos himself, humorous posts that do not target him are not, IMHO, inappropriate here.

  85. Re:That's very sad by Leapfrog · · Score: 1
    For all the cleanup afterwards, he could probably use a pair of good work boots.. Or is that not your style?

    Nothing like a big pair of black steel-toed size thirteen stompers, I think.

    But anyway, I hereby add my voice to the sympathetic crowd. Sorry bad stuff happens to good people. If ya need 'em, Hemos, I'l loan you a pair of my boots. (never underestimate the importance of proper footware!) And my copy of Micromachines 2 to run on all the 386's people are offering you.

    Leapfrog (who's bored, at work, in the middle of nowhere Iowa, at 18:30 on a Saturday.)

  86. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by madprof · · Score: 1

    It's just one of those things. Everyone takes less care than they should at some stage. Hope you didn't lose too many personal items.

  87. My condolences, Hemos by squarooticus · · Score: 1

    That sucks. At least no one was hurt. Now, let's hope you had replacement insurance instead of normal insurance, because then you'll get almost nothing for your trinkets (e.g., CD's). Yet another advantage to using MP3's: just back up your collection in someone else's house. =)
    --
    Kyle R. Rose, MIT LCS

    --
    [ home ]
  88. video of MAE East by TheSync · · Score: 1
    You can watch video of the MAE East from the first episode of /etc.

    Anyone who lives next to the MAE East and has a 9 to 5 job is a nut. Rush hour begins at 6AM, is impassible until 10AM, lunch hour makes the area impassible from 11AM-2PM, then impassible again from 4PM-7PM. That whole part of Northern Virginia is one large traffic jam.

    I encourage Northern Virginians to move to Laurel, MD, the "Silicon Trailer Park."

  89. Heh by Darchmare · · Score: 1

    Looked around, I somehow managed to find Hemos' web page.

    http://hemos.net

    ...click on the 'write' stuff at the bottom. Nifty.

    Hemos - don't let it get you down. If you need donations, I'm sure we can /. your bank account...

    - Darchmare
    - Axis Mutatis, http://www.axismutatis.net

    --

    - Jeff
  90. Yeah... by Darchmare · · Score: 1

    ...But sometimes it's easy to get worked up - these people are soiling the rest of our gene pool.

    I can definately see where fire might be of use in some cases, though. ;>

    - Darchmare
    - Axis Mutatis, http://www.axismutatis.net

    --

    - Jeff
  91. Housfires suck... by KodaK · · Score: 1

    We had a fire on Christmas one year. Faulty electrical wiring behind the stove lit it up, the house was totaly destroyed. We were off at relatives at the time. I can't believe it but the firemen risked their lives to throw presents outside trying to save our Christmas. I can tell you though that nothing in my life has been more heartbreaking than sorting through all of those presents and trying to clean them up so my four year old neice could have something. Yes, they are life changing experiences -- if you think you're paranoid about security on your Linux box then well, you've got nothing on those of us who have had fires in our homes. We all seem to turn into Fire Marshal Bill.

    Hemos & Nate: I don't have much, but I've got some boards, ram, duplicate Floyd CD's, books, etc. It's a bitch starting over, but you get there, I'm sure the community would respond if you have any specific requests, especially for those things that insurance can't replace (I lost my PDP/11 programming manual (among other things), just try to find one of those :/)

    --
    --J(K) DOS is like Unix in exactly the same way that a pinto is like an aircraft carrier.
  92. Re:The most important question by Thrakkerzog · · Score: 1

    You know, I think most people know who you are by now. You can change your sig now. ;-)

  93. Re:hemos, by Evan+Vetere · · Score: 1

    What do you mean, 'Grow as a person?' If you asked Hemos, he would probably tell you that he would much rather his house had not burned down, and he would gladly trade his newfound 'growth' for the possessions he just lost.

    I could be wrong, and I don't speak for him. Just a hunch.

  94. Re:hemos, by Evan+Vetere · · Score: 1
    what does not kill you makes you stronger

    *cuts off your legs, arms, other extremities* - Let's see you lift that rock now, eh? Or anything at all for that matter...

    Beware Bromides. Getting your house burned down sucks, plain and simple - there's no positive side to it. Insurance skyrockets, valuables are lost, effort has to be wasted rebuilding.

  95. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Lord+of+the+Files · · Score: 1

    It wasn't marked down - it was posted by an AC and hasn't been moderated at all (at least not as of when I'm typing this)

    --

    God does not play dice - Einstein

    Not only does God play dice, he sometimes throws them where they

  96. Ye Olde Lighting by mattc · · Score: 1

    A candle? Do you code by candlelight? What century is this again? :)

    1. Re:Ye Olde Lighting by delmoi · · Score: 1

      montors generaly emit there own light.
      "Subtle mind control? Why do all these HTML buttons say 'Submit' ?"

      --

      ReadThe ReflectionEngine, a cyberpunk style n
  97. Free Housing! by MikeFM · · Score: 1

    Any geeks, male or female, feeling homeless or just traveling through the midwest lemme know and you can sleep on the sofa bed in my living room. I love having visitors from all over. :)

    --
    At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
  98. I feel sorry for your loss.... by sboss · · Score: 1

    Leaders of the Geek News....

    I feel sorry for your loss. I have had relatives and friends in the same postion and it is not a good one. The only saving grace is that you had insurance. Not that it will get your stuff back (and all the memories they had) but you will not be homeless.

    Good Luck,
    Scott


    Scott
    C{E,F,O,T}O
    sboss dot net
    email: scott@sboss.net

    --
    Scott
    janitor
    sdn website family
    email: scott at sboss dot net
  99. Donations by dark3r · · Score: 1

    Yeah..how about donating to me? My house hasnt burnt down due to stupidity and the company that bought my "simple-in-concept" web site isnt about to put out an IPO nor did they pay me oodles of cash just to keep misspelling common words or post stories that dozens of other web sites have already posted.

    Hemos, get a new roommate. A smarter one.

  100. Re:That'll teach you to trust Dibona with your stu by Mark+Gordon · · Score: 1

    It's not that hard. There were several people at work who have "accidentally" flushed their pagers down the toilet. I can't imagine how that could happen. ;-)

  101. What was the cause of the fire? by PotatoNO · · Score: 1

    TSIA.

  102. The Saga of Wires Centra [related story] by Felinoid · · Score: 1

    Wires Central is the name of my workshop. In 1992 my workshop burned to the ground and my home was damaged. The city condemed it and the people who were dealing with the insurence didn't folow through :(
    The short version of the story is 4 months later I got an appartment. Thankfully my friends helpped me through it all.

    Anyway thats sad to hear...
    Everybody lets comfort Hemos and help him through this....
    Hugs and best wishes to Hemos from Das evil Felinoid type person :)

    --
    I don't actually exist.
  103. Hmmm... by telematx · · Score: 1

    As a 5th-year architecture student , I hereby offer my design services free of charge. Of course, you'd need to pay my way from VA to MI, and I can't actually get licensed for another 3 1/2 years, but that's beside the point. ;)

    Seriously though, I'm sorry to hear about your house. Good luck getting things sorted out.

  104. Re:Got insurance? by Tadghe · · Score: 1

    Man I hope you truly have insurance, but at least everyone's ok.

    Maybe someone has an extra PC you could curl up with :).


    Tadghe

    --
    Bugs Bunny was right.
  105. if you need anything by TraCer00t · · Score: 1

    just post and let us know. We can donate hardware and corn chips :)

  106. Wow...and to think... by Surak · · Score: 1

    Only yesterday they had a fire safety prevention at our "All People Meeting". Among the tips: "Watch what you throw in the trash."

    No, I'm not trying to be funny. I think its just a little ironic, with October being "Fire Safety Month" and all...

    BTW--I agree with what some other folks have posted. Stuff like this doesn't seem to belong on Slashdot...it seems a little, well...personal. But I guess what you decide to post is your choice...

  107. sorry things didn't exactly turn out Hemos by Mina · · Score: 1

    if you need anything, let me know.. or any of the /. crowd for that matter.

    my thoughts are with you,

    ~mina

    --
    I'm out of my mind, leave a message.
  108. Ninja suits. by wbraunoh · · Score: 1

    But remember, Hemos:

    Only a ninja can kill another ninja.

  109. That sucks, but... by Dr.+Sp0ng · · Score: 1

    That really sucks, Hemos... but the same thing happened to my girlfriend 2 summers ago, and while it was really tough on her family (especially since she has an autistic brother), once the insurance money came in they got everything back and more... now their house is much nicer than it was before, and everything in it is brand new... including the 2 home theatre systems with Dolby 5.1 surround :-)

    The only problem with it was that they had to live in a trailer that the insurance company put up in their front yard for 6 months.

    "Software is like sex- the best is for free"

  110. Ironic by Dr.+Sp0ng · · Score: 1

    Damn, this is ironic. Look at this post from Hemos last night:

    gampid writes "The BBC has a story about the Casino-21 project which is running a SETI@home type program for climate prediction. " I'm a booster of Distributed.net, but this looks pretty cool as well. I dunno global warming just gives me the creeps anyway and I'd like to know if my house will be underwater.

    Sorry 'bout that, I just thought it was ironic that he would post that last night.

    "Software is like sex- the best is for free"

  111. Sorry, dude! by RawkettPenguiN · · Score: 1

    Hemos-- very sorry to hear of the damage to the Geek Complex. Perhaps you can attempt a Beowulf cluster out of all the old stuff people want to give you. It might not be worth it, but it's a heck of a lot better than doing nothing while waiting for rebuilding. ;]

    Slightly offtopic...What goes into a Geek Complex, exactly? My friends and I have a half-baked idea to make one. We're not sure why. We never are. We can't afford it anyway. What's it like living with three or four geeks? How much do you spend on junk food a week? Do your cars cost less than half what your computers do? ;]

    If any efforts are organized to help out, I'd be glad to pitch in any way I can.

    --
    Can't sleep, the clowns will eat me...
  112. Re:Hackers are prone to their houses burning down by mihalis · · Score: 1

    Not to mention some of you losers overloading the
    poor elderly power circuits in your apartment building with four computers, five monitors, an air-conditioner, scanner, hub, modem, powered speakers, toaster oven all from one wall outlet near the phone socket ... oh no, wait, that's me, sorry.

    Chris

  113. importance of backup, offline storage by uncleFester · · Score: 1

    This situation makes me wonder (as an admin in job-life) about the importance of things like off-site storage multiple redundant backups and the like for home data. It seems to drive the point home that we may have just as much important information on our home pc's as at our jobs.

    Of course, having not scrolled through the complete list of responses, some four people probably already mentioned this. So I guess I should just go stuff my head up my $ORIFICE.

    Oh, and sorry to hear it guys.. but I must admit i laughed damn near to urination reading the blurb in blockstackers. nice to see a sense of humor in such a situation.

    -fester(ing)

    --
    -'fester
  114. Re:Hay silo? by zuvembi · · Score: 1

    Ah okay, I was not aware of that. I knew why grain silos explode (the same reason taco bell creamer will give you seven foot flames). I just had never heard of hay spontaneously combusting, wierd.
    The whole hay thing might be region specific , no clue. I'd just never seen heard of hay silos.

  115. Hay silo? by zuvembi · · Score: 1

    I thought it was dust that caused explosions et. all? Or is that just grain silos? Hmm.....

    Of course Hay silo sounds kinda silly, Maybe hay barn? Or grain silo?

  116. Donations by thales · · Score: 1

    Hemos is Homeless, His house Burned Down. (Point at him and laugh)- Sign By a collection plate at the /. Booth at ALS.

    --
    Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est
  117. That's really lame by Damned · · Score: 1

    I'm glad that no one was hurt. I can't say I know how it feels, but hopefully nothing irreplaceable was lost (pictures, keepsakes, etc.).

    Hope everything works out as well as it can for you Hemos.

    --
    "I swear I won't break you if you let me take you where the willows never weep" -- Switchblade Symphony
  118. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by miahrogers · · Score: 1

    i don't know about you but no house i've lived in has had sprinklers. maybe apartments do though?

  119. Re:Actually it was a champagne bucket. by -stax · · Score: 1

    I took it apart, and left each of the boards on a vent for a few hours. Didnt help any..
    -stax
    /. poster #104543567

  120. Re:Actually it was a champagne bucket. by -stax · · Score: 1

    I dropped my nokia in the toilet once. Sent it back to nokia and they replaced it for free. didnt tell em about the toilet part though. (no, there was not anything but water in the toilet, thanks for wondering though)


    -stax
    /. poster #104543567

  121. Re:holy housfires batman! by niteq · · Score: 1

    are there any pics of mae-east? i'd just love to put one up on my dorm room next to the TWO crashed seagate harddrives(brand recognition folks!!!) and my other amusing stuff :)

    --
    -niteq
  122. Clean up? by niteq · · Score: 1

    Hey, if you would like some help with cleaning up i'm stuck over at gvsu with absolutely NOTHING to do. Drop me a line if you want.

    --
    -niteq
  123. Re:Actually it was a champagne bucket. by Kilzall · · Score: 1

    If I had a nickel for every time I dropped something electronic (phone, gameboy, portable cd player, etc.) into water and then was able to fix it with a hairdryer I would have...well at least $.25 or so. Before coughing up the dough for a new phone, see what you can do with it. Most electronics are waterproof, as long as there isn't any water-soluble glue or structural cardboard in it chances are pretty good that it will work again.
    --

    --
    Win98 sux without these 1337 toolz !!
  124. bad luck dude :o( by eey0re · · Score: 1

    Does nate smoke grass :)
    Does he have any pets?

    My old flat saw the wrath of a wild candle, I had to make the choice the pet or the laptop.

    The chinchilla lived (he is sleeping right now, hes sooo cute) and I (*thankfully*) dried-out a wet IBM HDD which also lived its saved life, in a replaced laptop :)
    The old XPi-CD survied from a slight rear melting and still lives to this day!

    ells
    (who knows what the insides of a crispy DELL CPi looks like)

  125. No FUD thank you very much by arthurs_sidekick · · Score: 1

    Err, that's FUD about vegetarianism, I think you should know. Carl Lewis (e.g.) is a vegetarian, and he's one of the greatest athletes of all time.

    --
    "Oh, I hope he doesn't give us halyatchkies," said Heinrich.
  126. Re:Wires by thogard · · Score: 1

    Old houses tend to have problems with wires inside the walls where theres lots of dry wood. The only
    way to prevent that is to make sure the fuses and circut breakers are correct and are in good working order. Houses in the late 1940s with the seperate wires wrapped in cloth need about 5 or 8 map fuses. The slightly newer wiring with is rated at 10 amps and most places with grounded outlets orignaly installed (1970?) use mostly 15 amp circuts. (ok these numbers are for the US 120V system, not the Euro 220 or the Oz "fry'em 240 +/- 20%")

    There is a good book called "The National Electrial Code" in libraries for thouse hackers that want to play with more than 3.3v.

    A few years ago on one of the news groups there was an off toptic posting from someone whos washing machine started a fire. He tired to put the fire out with a gardent hose but as soon as the hoses to the washer got too hot, they burst giving him no pressure where he needed it. He recomneded putting a shutoff valve where you can get to it if you need it. Hopefuly no one will ever make use of his advice but there are a few houses now that have this little feature.

  127. Flamed? by EasyTarget · · Score: 1

    If you write for slashdot I guess getting Flamed is par for the course ;)

    --
    "Oops, I always forget the purpose of competition is to divide people into winners and losers." - Hobbes
  128. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  129. Ditto by PollyJean · · Score: 1
    I do hope you have insurance. If not, do you need money to replace your things (basic stuff like clothes, etc.)? If so, post an address for donations. I'm sure most of us would send $5 to a help Hemos fund, and $5 per /.er would add up fast. It's really easy to have a loss like this. Just as I was typing this, I noticed a cigarette burn in my rug that could have easily been the start of a fire. There but by the grace of God, I guess. Take care.

    --
    Think like a person of action, act like a person of thought. --H. Bergson
  130. This sounds like "Fight Club"!! by Enoch+Root · · Score: 1
    Hemos, check out Fight Club... The timing is spooky.

    (Quick explanation: the kicker of the movie takes place when the main character's apartment blows up and he ends up homeless. But there's more spookiness, which I won't spoil here.)

    "There is no surer way to ruin a good discussion than to contaminate it with the facts."

  131. The most important question by anonymous+loser · · Score: 1

    Hemos, did you lose any computer equipment or gadgets? If so, my condolences.

    If not, look on the bright side: it could have been your COMPUTER man!

  132. Thank God we didn't loose him too... by ScottBrady · · Score: 1

    My thoughts will be with you, Hemos, as you recover from this very sad event. Godspeed in putting this terrible event behind you and moving on with your life. Once again, I wish you the best of luck.

    --
    Scott Brady

    --

    --
    Scott Brady

  133. My House by ffatTony · · Score: 1

    Hemos, you're welcome to come live in my dorm room. Your choice of the bathtub or curled up under my desk. Either way I'll think we're gonna have a great time.

  134. Sorry Hemos by CormacJ · · Score: 1

    Sorry to hear about the house and the phone Hemos. I hope you can get things sorted out pretty quick.

    You didn't insult any strange voodoo women lately?

  135. Re:Ahhh ... by cdlu · · Score: 1

    Which reminds me - many a hay silo has been known to spontaneously combust due to the high temperatures of rotting with nothing to check their increase. Now that's vegetable danger. :)

    I eat vegetarians.

  136. Re:Ow. by cdlu · · Score: 1

    Ok I won't complain. :)

    I'll just note that the five topic icons at the top are for articles 7,8,9,10 and 11. :)

  137. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by cdlu · · Score: 1

    Sorry dude. That's a loss I never want to have to face (part of house). But don't you have a regulation sprinkler system? :)

  138. Re:Hackers are prone to their houses burning down by cdlu · · Score: 1

    You've obviously never heard of a forest fire :P

  139. Wellllll by TheGeek · · Score: 1
    I'm sorry that Hemos burned down his place, that sucks.

    But you gotta be not-too-smart to throw matches in the garbage before they cool properly. I learned that one pretty early.

    TheGeek
    Geekrights.org

    --

    TheGeek
    http://www.geekrights.org
    Kill the monkey
  140. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Scurrilous+Knave · · Score: 1

    Condolences. Glad no one was hurt. Here's hoping whatever you get into next is five times as cool. You could stay with us until then if you need to--just say the word.

  141. That's very sad by Nitrozac · · Score: 1


    Sorry about the fire, Hemos. This is very sad news, and thankfully no one was hurt. Wish I could help.

    Nitrozac

    --
    Nitrozac
  142. Don't keep us in suspense ! by UnknownSoldier · · Score: 1

    Well, what's the punch line ??!!

  143. q by Squirtle · · Score: 1

    What did the priest say when he saw the church was on fire?

  144. Damn, damn, and double-damn! by IdJit · · Score: 1

    Sorry to hear about the house, Hemos. Glad you guys are okay, though. I'll gladly donate a partition of my Linux box if you guys need anything mirrored or served.

    --Idjit

  145. That really sucks. by Target+Practice · · Score: 1

    I've never had it happen to me before, but one of the kids in our band did. He would just go to sleep where his room used to be, looking up at the stars...
    Good luck with this one. If you need any help, I can't give much, mebbey an old 486dx processor is all :)

    Target

    --
    There's a 68.71% chance you're right.
  146. Fire Again? by Houseman · · Score: 1

    dude, hasn't this happened to hemos before?
    is he just a walking fire attracting geek or what?

    --
    ERROR: Keyboard not attached. Press F-1 to continue.
  147. Re:Hackers are prone to their houses burning down by dufke · · Score: 1

    And me too. And guess what, the socket has no ground... and the computer is networked to the whole house. Fatalities so far: One Matrox G200, destroyed by being zapped by the VGA cable. I also get zapped myself everytime I connect the stereo to the soundcard - its a wonder that both are still un-fried.

    (i know, rant ;-)
    -

    --
    __
    Comment submitted. There will be a delay before you understand what you posted.
  148. Re:hemos, by skepticphilosopher · · Score: 1

    yes but since hemos is not dead (thank the prime cause) he now has the opportunity to grow as a person, thats the bright side of this. and a much more important one than any amount of stuff.

    --
    Pound for pound, the amoeba is the most vicious animal on earth.
  149. Re:hemos, by skepticphilosopher · · Score: 1

    his house burned, thats a fact. now because his house has burned hemos is better capable of mentaly dealing with any other loss that comes later in life. (and they will, life sucks, its not my fault) to understand the original statement you need to learn to think beyond your stuff, all one needs to live a happy and full life are some beans, a lantern, a cup, and a large peice of pottery to sleep in ( a barrell will work as well) the important things are friends and loved ones. and hemos didnt loose any of these ( thank the prime cause).

    --
    Pound for pound, the amoeba is the most vicious animal on earth.
  150. hemos, by skepticphilosopher · · Score: 1

    what does not kill you makes you stronger,


    (god i wish i know this in german)

    --
    Pound for pound, the amoeba is the most vicious animal on earth.
  151. the roof...the roof..the roof is on fire by Money__ · · Score: 1
    Rob,

    If there's anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm just glad nobody got hurt.

  152. donate your bell bottoms by Money__ · · Score: 1
    Here's an idea from everything about the homeless. Think about it... ok so it doesn't make sense but if you got some really big ass bell-bottoms you could fit a few bums under them and shelter them from the elements for a little while. Well that's what I get for trying to help my fellow man.

    So /.ers...who has an old pair of bell bottoms to donate? :)

  153. Moderators! by Bryan_Crowl · · Score: 1

    haha this is just a thought, wouldnt it had been funny if the moderators decided to get to this story because they simply didnt believe you !

    Fair enough it was an accident, i think we all accept it but we all want to know this ! are you going to buy him a new phone ?

    --
    Someday, we'll look back on this, laugh nervously and change the subject.
  154. You apparently.. by Kitsune+Sushi · · Score: 1

    ..have too much faith in humanity (with regards to both compassion and intelligence). Don't get so worked up about it. Not quite worth it. Most sane people likely won't give a damn about such emotionless whelps, anyway..

    --

    ~ Kish

  155. House Burned Up by KimmBadd · · Score: 1

    I feel for you. My house burned down and the only possessions that survived were the shorts and t-shirt that I was wearing. What sucks the most is all the stuff you can't replace, let alone put a dollar amount on. Hopefully your insurance agent is as good as mine. He helped make the pain go away with a check that blew my mind.

    --
    I have a big bag full of two cents and I'm coming your way.
  156. Compaq and Windows? by Ice · · Score: 1

    I hope Hemos didn't have a Compaq running some sort of Windows because I've seen those things spontaneously combust. No joke... one of my friend's network cards blew up while his machine was on... could've burned down the place if no one was home. =)

  157. Related tale of woe by tigycho · · Score: 1

    So, there I was, flood waters rising on the Red River, Dyke about to burst. Even though my apartment building was yards away from the dyke, I was on the third floor, so, i figured, ok...I'll load up my computer and a few choice belingings, just in case, and hop in my car and drive on out to my parents place where there is no danger and wait it out. Well, sure enough, the dyke busts and floods the downtown (Grand Forks, ND, remember the floods back in 97?), but it doesn't reach the third floor, of course. Whew, thought I, safe! And then the fire starts, burning my building to the waterline! True story, and a cautionary tale: renter's insurance is a Good Thing (tm), even if "It can never happen to me."

  158. Re:Stupid by Apocalypse+Coward · · Score: 1

    Excepting of course he was in a different state and his friend, Nate, burned his house down. Or are you too busy to read for comprehension?

  159. cell phone by rahuljain · · Score: 1

    Doesn't anyone have anything to say about the poor cell phone? Wireless data? The poor thing..

  160. Re:Hemos Now Seeking... by rahuljain · · Score: 1

    Someone mentioned that pictures of the house be added - why not add the choices of the females?

  161. Re:Ye-ouch! by Schnedt · · Score: 1

    I have five boxen plugged into one outlet, but monitors? Why would I need monitors on my basement server farm? (all 3 BSDs and Slackware represented in the pile-o-boxes)

    And the extension cord they're hooked through is 8 gage.

  162. Re:This sounds like "Fight Club"!!(mild spoilers) by pvthudson · · Score: 1

    I thought the same thing. Instead of "Fight" Club, it would be more like "Geek" Club. He's already got tens of thousands of followers in Slashdot, now all he does is need to give us all homework assignments. Where's he going to find a Bob though???

    --


    Its karma, Kramer.

  163. Hey dumbass by JimmyJ · · Score: 1

    It says right in the news that he's insured

  164. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by ninaf · · Score: 1

    Sorry about your loss. Nothing like the smell of burning computers to make a person start to cry. Just remember.. It's ok to cry! Crying picks up chicks anyway... Nina

    --
    All big things in this world are done by people who are naive and have an idea that is obviously impossible. --Dr. F
  165. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2
    Hemos,

    I don't know you, except that you're one of /.'s founders. (BTW Thanks for that) Since I have experienced a home fire too, I empathize with your situation. I hope I can lend a supportive voice. I didn't lose my whole house, so I am not in any way trying to say "I know how you feel".

    The carport outside my apt. was torched by an arsonist in 1990. The place went up really quick. I was all too tempted to run back in and grab the 386/25 (a killer system back in the day), which was on loan from a good client.

    Thanks to the firemen, the apt. didn't burn down. I lost my car, and my high-school teachers' Altair 8800 that was in the storage locker. The car seriously needed to be burned down anyway. =) Then there were the items of sentimental value, geez, I don't really remember what they were any more. Maybe I'm not such a sentimental guy after all.

    The Altair was, practically speaking, irreplacable. I always wanted to restore it till it could boot again, just like when it was originally loaned to me. Something my parents hardwired in me - return what you borrow in good condition. Because of the fire (and my unwillingness to kick down serious $$$), I have been unable to do that.

    I moved away from that apt. the following month. I guess my point is that there was loss, and it was life altering, and I didn't like it one bit. Overall, the whole experience made me a stronger person, and I am glad for that. Today it is OK, and I am writing code on a much faster box in a much bigger house. Some good came out of it, like the new car, although it was very humiliating having to tell Mr. Geekteach that I didn't have his Altair 8800 to return to him. I guess I still have a few centimeters to go on getting over that one.

    I dunno what else to say. I guess there isn't anything else - sorry for your loss (or is it just a change?).

  166. Re:Wow, sorry.... by Hemos · · Score: 2

    Thanks - I've got my parents close by, so I might crash there. Until I wanna by on my own.

    --
    Yeah, I'm that guy.
  167. Good lord son what are you trying to do? by Jonathan+Hamilton · · Score: 2

    Most geeks are already pale, skinny and malnurished as it is. If we all become vegetarins we will look like the people in Somlia. Besides I don't want to live with any one that has to eat
    beans to stay alive.

  168. Damn. by drwiii · · Score: 2
    Heard about it from Pater last night on Slashnet.. That's gotta suck. Didn't Hemos' house burn down once before? I think I remember reading about in in Taco Hell a few months back..

    Found it odd last night that Hemos' most recent post ended with "I'd like to know if my house will be underwater."

    Well, anyway, best of luck to Hemos in rebuilding.

    --

  169. Wow, sorry.... by V. · · Score: 2

    I had something similar happen about two years ago.
    Good to hear that no one was hurt.

    Some advice: a lot of hotels will let you stay
    for a week or two at a reduced rate. I lived
    in a hotel for about two weeks while we cleaned up
    the mess. It's still no fun, but at least you
    don't have to crash on someone's couch until the
    place is liveable again.

  170. Got insurance? by dilger · · Score: 2
    Whenever we go out of town I'm always glad to see my house is still there when we get back... old house, old wiring, you know.

    Hemos, I hope you're insured and backed up. Let us slashdotters know if there's anything we can do to help you out.

    bradley

  171. Re:yes by citmanual · · Score: 2

    Yes it did. Sometime during college. If memory serves me, it was the summer of 97.

    He lost a hell of a lot in that one. Several computers and things.

  172. Re:Let's give him some space by ainsoph · · Score: 2

    I agree with you there. I lost everything in a fire about 6 years back: All of my artwork written words, films I hade made, music I created. It was such a big deal, that it sent my life into a tailspin for a long time (while I figured out why all the work that I spent my life thus far doing was destroyed).

    During the fire, I spent my time risking my life trying to keep it under control while the fire dept got there.

    A few months later a friend died while trying to rescue the people in his house when it burned down.

    But I recovered, things are even better than before. Fire is the great cleanser, but it still rocks one deep to your core: for example you will never smell things burning the same way again.

    The point is: lets try to have some compassion towards others. I know that in the 90's it is hip to be snide and cynical, but I just think (from experience) that it is a way to deal with what we are afraid of.

    my 1/4 cent. thanks for listening.

  173. Lack of a house might be a Good Thing by dattaway · · Score: 2

    Its nice having a home webcam to check on whenever out of town to know at least if the important connection is still up...

    So, if his house is toast, he oughta travel the world in style and put on these conventions. The ALS once again had excellent accomodations... marble floors, grand pianos, limo service, free tshirts, and did I mention free stuff?

    The people here at the ALS always do an outstanding job setting us up. Here's my thanks!

  174. Re:Open-source the rebuilding of your house by Pascal+Q.+Porcupine · · Score: 2

    That's actually somewhat how Habitat for Humanities (I might have the plural backwards on that) works. People volunteer their time and a bit of money to all pool together and build a house for someone who desparately needs it. I think they tend towards helping people who have suddenly hit on hard times, such as, well, their houses burning down and their insurance not being able to get them back in a home again. Hopefully Hemos's insurance will cover the partial damage which occured, though.
    ---
    "'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

    --
    "'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
    Quine "quine?
  175. Oh, just a house... by SurfsUp · · Score: 2

    Homeless... I thought his shell account got cancelled...

    /me shivers at the thought

    --
    Life's a bitch but somebody's gotta do it.
  176. How ironic! by xneilj · · Score: 2

    Isn't it ironic that only a few stories ago Hemos was saying about the global warming distributed computing effort "global warming just gives me the creeps anyway and I'd like to know if my house will be underwater" ! (Unless he knew about at the time!)

    --
    rm -rf / is the evil of all root
  177. holy housfires batman! by earlytime · · Score: 2

    it's not often that you hear about somebody's house burning down. Sorry hemos, nate. If you're looking for a place, there's a real nice apartment building here in VA next to mae-east. I figure you can put on your ninja clothes, and run some fibre in the dark of night. At least gigabit inernet will make you feel better.
    -earl

    --

  178. Don't worry.... by Zaph · · Score: 2

    After the Andover.net IPO, Hemos can afford a huge mansion.... perhaps like the one Bill Gates has. Just make sure the bathroom is Y2K compliant .

    Seriously.... I hope everything turns out ok for you, Hemos.

    --
    Quoth the Penguin, "pipe grep more!"
  179. Re:Hackers are prone to their houses burning down by Fideaux! · · Score: 2

    >>I never heard of vegetable waste catching fire.

    Obviously, you weren't quite the twisted pyromaniac I was in yougnger days.

    The oil in orange peels burns like the bejesus.

  180. Re:Open-source the rebuilding of your house by pete_p · · Score: 2

    Anal Correction Mode on.

    Habitat for Humanity is not plural.

    Anal Correction Mode off.

    I have volunteered for Habitat near where I live, and they tend to build housing for those who cannot afford it, I'm not sure if they do repair work (although they do buy abandoned buildings from the gov't and fix them). I believe there is some income restriction to be elegible to buy it, but if you can it is a good deal. (If you call a required 400 hours of working on Habitat jobs good... I do.) Low cost housing, with no interest.

    I would encurage everybody to volunteer to help out. Quit banging on a keyboard for a few hours, bang on nails instead.

    --
    Insert wit here.
  181. Re: by Money__ · · Score: 2
    Jeff,

    If there's anything we can do to help, all you have to do is ask.

  182. Dangers of Closed Source Housing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3

    This is just yet another example showing the dangers of closed source house construction.

    If this house had been constructed using open source development under the GPL, NONE of this would have happened.

    After, NOTHING ever developed by the open source community has ever crashed and burned. Of course, you have to twist bare electric wires to turn your lights on and off, but think of the STABILITY and SECURITY of a home built using open source ideology!!!

    (Yes, I'm being a sarcastic troll.

    Sorry to hear that your house burned, Hemos. I've had it happen twice when I was growing up and lost my first computer and a ton of good books from the second fire. We lived in a VERY old house with bad wiring...

    Just couldn't resist poking some fun at the OSS nazis after reading the response to the Loki contest.)

  183. Actually it was a champagne bucket. by chrisd · · Score: 3
    Thought I'd just clear that up. I feel really bad about it. We were messing around with it (it was new, tragically), and there was this random champagne cooler in the corner of the restaurant. (the restaurant had just opened, so I expected it to be empty). So I felt totally bad about it when I heard the telltale "ploop" noise. I felt really bad. Still do. So public apology and such.

    Past that the whole house thing -sucks- those pictures are heartbreaking.

    Chris
    --
    Grant Chair, Linux Int.
    VP, SVLUG

    --
    Co-Editor, Open Sources
    Open Source Program Manager, Google, Inc.
  184. You forgot some by jd · · Score: 3
    6) Install automatic halogen systems. NOTE: Requires Genetically Enhanced Lungs.

    7) Port a Quake II client to a mobile robot platform, and network it to your PC.

    8) Put 1 Kg high explosives in each room. Fires are put out by explosions. Deprives them of fuel and oxygen.

    9) Build the house underground. Underground fires are much rarer. :)

    10) Buy up some SDI lasers, and target them at fire hazards. If any show thermic activity, vapourise.

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
  185. Ahhh ... by Morgaine · · Score: 3

    Good point!

    On the other hand, the last time I looked, there weren't any trees in the rubbish bin. :-)

    Although this wasn't intended to be serious, I guess propensity to catch fire is related to aeration and low water content, neither of which hold in the compacted and very wet environment of discarded vegetable trimmings.

    Hey, maybe the Eat Healthy lobby should use this in their advertising: eat healthy or your house will burn down! :-)

    --
    "The question of whether machines can think is no more interesting than [] whether submarines can swim" - Dijkstra
  186. Hackers are prone to their houses burning down ... by Morgaine · · Score: 3

    ... because most junk food comes in paper wrappers. :-)

    The moral of the story is, change your diet to a healthy one. I never heard of vegetable waste catching fire.

    [Morgaine pushes pizza box deftly out of sight.]

    --
    "The question of whether machines can think is no more interesting than [] whether submarines can swim" - Dijkstra
  187. Re:Ow. by Pascal+Q.+Porcupine · · Score: 3
    Gee, I don't know about that. It looks like they posted to Everything while waiting for the fire trucks to arrive.

    They're at ALS damnit! Jeeze. They're great people. You should meet Taco and Malda in person. They were great fun to hang out with. No pretentions at all, they're just normal people trying to be friendly and run a good site for everyone. They were happy to chat with people and got annoyed when they were treated like celebrities. There is no reason to ridicule them for being unable to do anything when they're not even there.
    ---
    "'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.

    --
    "'Is not a quine' is not a quine" is a quine.
    Quine "quine?
  188. How it could have been prevented by SheldonYoung · · Score: 3

    Sorry to hear about the fire, boys. I'm really glad nobody was hurt.

    On a lighter side there are several ways it could have been prevented (written in a manner to hopefully avoid hurting nates pride even more):

    1) Cases of penguin mints. Can't start a fire while you're sleeping if you don't sleep.

    2) Cases of Mountain Dew. Good for refreshment and dosing fires.

    3) Eat only Peanut Butter M&Ms. Their wrappers are plastic and won't catch fire in the trash so easily.

    4) Move from the Geek Compound into the Geek Fortress. An old missle silo would do - concrete doesn't really burn well.

    5) Hemos. Oh wait, this isn't a poll.




  189. Ye-ouch! by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 3
    Sorry to hear, glad no one was hurt.

    Learning from other's mistakes is much less painful than learning fro other peoples, so /.ers might all take this as a reminder to check their basic fire safety - batteries in smoke detectors, extinguishers charged, outlets not overloaded by plugging six boxen and monitors into one outlet, and so on...reminds me that I've been wanting to set a fire safe to put backup tapes in. (Yeah, if I was doing really important stuff I'd have offsite backups, but like most of us I'm in good shape if I remember to have backups at all.)

    --
    Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
    You cannot wash away blood with blood
  190. Wires by robertchin · · Score: 3

    I'm somewhat afraid that my house will burn someday, with all the computers and peripherals plugged in. I did a little research and found out that the best way to reduce this risk is to make sure your computer, power strips, etc. are resting on some sort of non-combustible material (my stuff sits on a sheet of steel). A rackmount type rack would be most ideal, however those are a bit expensive (though they may be a good investment anyway). I also twist tie the wires and cables coming out of the back of my computer together and have them travel in bundles to a location. This way I hope to minimize any chance of dust collecting. Dust improves the change of a power arc from one line to another, which can start a fire. Anyone else have any suggestions?

  191. Hemos Now Seeking... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4

    Cute and elligible female to shack up with.

  192. I knew it! by Leebert · · Score: 4

    I just *KNEW* the slashdot flamewars would go too far one day!

  193. Re:Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by ucblockhead · · Score: 4

    That really sucks, and I'm sorry to hear it.

    I know how you feel. About ten years ago, a roomate of mine and a friend (of his) were using a plastic bag as an ashtray. Burned out one room and destroyed most personal belongings on the top floor. The worst part: I was renting the condo from my mother.

    Fortunately, while I lost every stitch of clothing except what I had been wearing, the computer and stereo, both downstairs, were unscathed. (I lost a record player, though, remember those?)

    But in the end, it was probably good for me. It drive me to live alone for the first time in my life. It drove me to quite the job where they had troubles paying me on time Events like these can be learning experiences. They aren't necessarily all bad. (When it is just property that is lost.)

    And now the real question. Is your insurance policy "Replacement value" or "Actual Cash Value"? That is one of the things I learned the hard way. For those who aren't in the middle of this, you want the former as it saves you huge headaches.

    --
    The cake is a pie
  194. Note: I am Insured. So is Nate. by Hemos · · Score: 5

    No one got hurt - and thank you for the kind words.

    --
    Yeah, I'm that guy.
  195. Open-source the rebuilding of your house by dustpuppy · · Score: 5
    Hey Hemos,

    When you rebuild/redecorate your house, how about making it open-source. Sort of like the Kasporov vs. The World Chess match - but instead, The World redecorates Hemos' house!

    Just think of the opportunities: Slashdot green walls in the computer room, DustPuppy themed vacuum cleaner cupboard ...

    On a serious note, I hope nothing irreplacable like photos were lost.

  196. Ow. by Signal+11 · · Score: 5
    Let me first appologize for all the stupid posts that are going to (and have been) be submitted. There's a good reason why stuff like this ought not to be submitted to slashdot - there's nothing to add to the conversation, and nothing useful will result from a half-million geeks knowing somebody's house burned down. I'm sure the inane e-mail you're going to receive will only add to the problem. :(

    People, please leave the residents of the geek compound alone for awhile. half their house just burned down! And don't complain if in the next few days submissions get processed alittle slower.

    --

  197. Let's give him some space by pjr · · Score: 5

    Having experienced my house burning down, I find it suprising to read the remarkable calousness of some of these replies. I can say, confidently, that it altered the course of my life. In some ways, it was good, in others, simply tragic. By the age of 27 I'd built a library of some thousand books. Two thirds of them were lost, including a hand written journal covering about 5 years. My filing cabinet containing many, many documents that were, to me, priceless, gone. Keepsakes from my dead Grandfather. Furnature that I'd build by hand. Photo albums and personal drawings, all gone.
    I suspect that most of the people replying here have not experienced a house fire, if they had, the tone of the responses would likely be very different.
    Perhaps it wouldn't be too much to ask that people posting to this news take a minute to think over what their feelings would be if they lost their most cherished, most irreplacable keepsakes.
    Take it from some one who's been there, fires build character, they steel you for the rest of your life.

    pjr