Not much for hats anyways, this is perfect though!

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Lets see, I'll take the large mug because I can never get enough coffee in my mug , I do also like that beer stein. I would get more Slackware t-shirts, but the callcenter I work at for some reason has a stick up their ass about tshirts with logos on them, pff :rolleyes:

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This will make a great birthday present , for me - when the time comes :D

There's no reason, with good design, that a site can't have a modern look and features and still fall back to a completely usable text interface. As someone with a family member with visual impairments, I find the current trends to be quite annoying as browser support of web standards today make this more possible than ever.

How do we know is from Patrick himself? Any confirmation link from Partick?

Eric confirmed this is PV's here:

https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...ml#post5887438

How much he gets as a percentage, I'm not sure.

Yes, that's my site. The logo is a slight bit different than what was used on the store shirts ("classic" instead of "linux", and nothing on the back). That was due to an agreement that I had at the time to let the store be exclusive with the shirt designs that were sold there, but obviously that agreement is no more. In order to have more than one design on CafePress I'd need to upgrade my account there. I don't really make much of a cut off sales on CafePress either, but it's a little something. Moving forward merch might be more something that I'm doing for the community because they like those things and want to buy them rather than a significant source of funding.

Do not underestimate the appreciation for this. I am mostly wearing Slackware t-shirts cause they're great: feel good, last and have a nice design. The KISS OS translated to wear-ware, what more can we wish for? The Maya is a cracker: A friend came over to celebrate the end of the world according to the Maya calendar in the nearby Rosslyn Chapel (of Dan Brown fame) but missed that end; he booked his ticket a week late lured by the cheap Cristmas day flights; it was fun to give him this t-shirt later.

Anyway, you could combine the two by designing a t-shirt that has a subtle reference that to support Slackware is worthwhile, like many have now a signature with the paypal link (but you would want it to be less personalized, I guess). If we maintain the support-momentum here: "Slackware, a tool that ain't broke, ever"

EDIT: Maybe the 'ever' at the end is a bit much

I have followed this thread and re-re-read most of it multiple times, but stopped short of clicking the Post Quick Reply button because others have already said most of what needs to be said. More anger expressed at Pat's circumstance would not really be constructive.

But Pat has asked for and received suggestions for how to move forward, and I have a few to express that have not been brought into the center of the discussion and I think should be expressed - even if they are only the result of my own perhaps limited perspective.

There is a recurring suggestion to incorporate, or set up a foundation, or follow some established "open source" business model (meh!)... any of which would, in my opinion do more harm than good to Slackware, and perhaps to Pat.

I would suggest that we adopt the mantra, "Keep Slackware FREE!".

When we say "Keep Slackware FREE!" we explicitly recognize that Slackware is a singular remaining example of genuinely FREE as in "Liberty!" Linux-centric development, and must remain in that state, or not remain Slackware.

* FREE of the legal entanglements of incorporation - "Slackware", not Slackware, Inc.
* FREE of the of the mostly fictional benefits and real dissipation of right imposed by legal foundations
* FREE of lawyers, bankers, managers and other controllers, abusers and useless feeders
* FREE of the tyranny of a democratic community pulling it apart in all directions

Slackware is unique in being the long nurtured and mature product of the free thought and labor of a single individual, Pat Volkerding.

The community that has built itself around Slackware is equally unique and has its own bright stars, many of whom we know by name, some perhaps not so well known.

Pat is always mindful of the needs and desires of that community. And for the most part, the community, better the individuals and organizations which use Slackware, are respectful of Pat and his needs - at least to the extent that they are aware of them.

If Pat had wanted to build a growing business around Slackware he could have done so at any point. Evidently that has not been his choice, he has apparently chosen to remain FREE of the strictures imposed by a business. I have a personal appreciation for that decision and applaud it!

Pat has followed a truly FREE, as in FREEDOM business model, and life-style, it would seem. The fact that he is still the sole core developer of Slackware, the longest continuously produced Linux distro, speaks for his personal success!

Patrick J. Volkerding is the last true FREE software BDFL still standing, the most successful in his cause, and the only BDFL still worthy of the title, after all this time!

The community that has chosen to hitch itself to Pat's wagon, as it were, not with contractual obligations, legal guarantees or shared control, but with acknowledgement of its worth, appreciation, and adding the value of its own labors, is a free standing monument to Pat's success and their own! A bright, shinig example of the benefits of free and mutual respect!

A "Slackware" managed, produced or driven by any other model might preserve the "brand", but would not be the Slackware we all know, even if it were successful!

Pat, managed or driven by the requirements of any non-free business model not of his own making, would certainly be affected in adverse ways. It seems to me, as I write this, that even through this period of some distress resulting from the store problems, Pat has still chosen to continue his path. He might have decided to walk away from it, or he might have sought legal recourse or corporate control - he did neither...he continued his course. I think we should take that as his chosen path and continue along it with him, on his terms.

So, the problem has been that Pat has been defrauded, not too strong a word, of the fruits of his labor and ours - after all, donors who thought they were giving to Pat and Slackware have also been defrauded.

Now that we know his circumstance and needs, the response from the surrounding community has been truly wonderful, as evidenced by this thread. We simply need to make sure we sustain that over time to meet Pat's needs, so that he is FREE to continue Slackware development, so long as he chooses to do so.

It appears that some may be more disposed to support a corporation, or a foundation, whereas they might not be so willing to support the man... I cannot understand that. Pat literally gives us Slackware, FREELY! We shouldn't look for products to buy - simply give FREELY to Patrick J. Volkerding, in the same spirit with which he gives to us! Provide for him the best quality of life, and in return he will continue to share the fruit of his labor, and his genius, with us!

So, repeat after me, "Keep Patrick FREE to keep Slackware FREE!"

Indeed! I will continue to make annual donations to Mr. Volkerding. A regular influx of cash will free up our BDFL to continue to develop the best version of Linux.
I agree, astrogeek! Let's keep Slackware free!

Cafepress only gives a fraction of the price to the store owner and enough people have to buy stuff for him to get anything out of the sales (no check). That was the way it was when I briefly tried it.

Praise the Almighty BOB! As good as Free as in speech! For the win. ;)

Order placed.

But my old Slackware baseball cap is long in the tooth and really needs to be upgraded!:)

Indeed! Being hair follicle challenged, I need something to keep my brain from evaporating.

I will do what I can to keep H.A.T. (Hair Augmentation Technology) available.

I didn't read all this thread, so I don't know if someone already did suggest the same things, however, I think that Patrick should use this horrible adventure to change its business model. I would try to propose subscription plans without any physical object to sell, but only with some kind of "advantage" in support. I think that most of us would subscribe it just to see Slackware stay alive the way we know it.

Glad to hear that. My rocket shed its payload fairing a while ago.