Discussion of all things related to Public Domain

[tom poe <tompoe AT amihost.com>]

I visited the Neighborhood Network Center in Carson City this week.  It
was much more than I expected.  Very nice facilities, and lots of 386
computers to work with.  Most are Windows98, some newer computers with
Dual Boot, but didn't notice which distribution they were using.

The entire Housing and Urban Development budget is some USD $35
billion.  That stacks up interestingly, against the $50 billion in tax
cuts to those earning over USD $300,000 a year.  Even more
interestingly, the 2005 budget for the government is reported to be
cutting HUD by at least 25%.

In other words, facilities like the Learning Center (HUD-sponsored
Neighborhood Network Center) in Carson City are about to be left
swinging in the wind.  There are some 1100 such facilities around the
U.S.  

I'm trying to establish contact with the Nevada HUD coordinator for
Neighborhood Network Centers.  No luck, so far, so will resort to
certified mail.

In the meantime, Open Studios will send out emails to those facilities
that provide one, noting what we are, and how we can help them integrate
community-based recording studios as a part of what they are doing,
now.  If any of you live where a Neighborhood Network Center is located,
please let me know, and we'll coordinate an introduction for you to
visit, and represent advocacy of Open Studios.  The URL to check is:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/mfh/nnw/nnwfindcenter.cfm

Met with Chairman of the Board and Director, and will keep you posted as
to their level of interest in going forward with Open Studios.
Tom