If all you have is an old-style connection on your house, call up your telco's repair line and request that they replace it with a new network access box. The new box will have a wonderland of easy-to-wire connection options for your extension needs.
I've done this a half dozen times (rentals, and now my own house) and they've always prompty replaced the equipment at no cost. Plus the linemen are usually quite friendly and if you show some interest and/or knowledge in phone wiring, they're usually delighted to give you free advice about setting up a your home runs and planning out your extensions. They might even slip you some equipment for the inside wiring.
Find a local public library that has survived the rounds of budget cuts and is still open. You might be suprised at the level of sophistication and timeliness of tech books in most library collections. Be sure to browse the collection in their catalog rather than the stacks. Its a safe bet that 75% of the books are in circulation. To get one put a hold on it. Its almost always free, and the library will usually even ship the book to you. Some libraries do this for free as well. If they don't have a book you want, request it. They will either get it on loan or order it for their collection. Either way, you win.
For your personal collection, contact the library to see if book donations are taken and how the policies relate to your collection. Often paperpacks will not go into circulation but instead are set aside for fund raising book sales. Books the library won't take will probably be happily accepted at a school, boys and girls club, or the like that has computer classes.
While you're laid off, consider using your newfound spare time volunteering to teach kids to read instead of succumbing to the urge to direct a whole bunch of talent and enthusiasm into yet another open source project, destined to haunt the halls of Sourceforge half-finished when employment returns. Libraries are a precious resource, staffed with professionals dedicated to getting people the information they need and changing lives for the better. Why dilute their role?
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If all you have is an old-style connection on your house, call up your telco's repair line and request that they replace it with a new network access box. The new box will have a wonderland of easy-to-wire connection options for your extension needs.
I've done this a half dozen times (rentals, and now my own house) and they've always prompty replaced the equipment at no cost. Plus the linemen are usually quite friendly and if you show some interest and/or knowledge in phone wiring, they're usually delighted to give you free advice about setting up a your home runs and planning out your extensions. They might even slip you some equipment for the inside wiring.
Find a local public library that has survived the rounds of budget cuts and is still open. You might be suprised at the level of sophistication and timeliness of tech books in most library collections. Be sure to browse the collection in their catalog rather than the stacks. Its a safe bet that 75% of the books are in circulation. To get one put a hold on it. Its almost always free, and the library will usually even ship the book to you. Some libraries do this for free as well. If they don't have a book you want, request it. They will either get it on loan or order it for their collection. Either way, you win.
For your personal collection, contact the library to see if book donations are taken and how the policies relate to your collection. Often paperpacks will not go into circulation but instead are set aside for fund raising book sales. Books the library won't take will probably be happily accepted at a school, boys and girls club, or the like that has computer classes.
While you're laid off, consider using your newfound spare time volunteering to teach kids to read instead of succumbing to the urge to direct a whole bunch of talent and enthusiasm into yet another open source project, destined to haunt the halls of Sourceforge half-finished when employment returns. Libraries are a precious resource, staffed with professionals dedicated to getting people the information they need and changing lives for the better. Why dilute their role?
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