Wifi... We Find WiFi!.... God Bless the Truckers :)

Ok, I was starting to wonder if WiFi was just a big pipe dream. I found it sort of in Ohio, for some reason they have it at all the rest stops, but I was not really able to get it to work. I probably should have parked closer to the buildings, but didn't want to be rude. I'm learning to be more rude as I go!
Anyway, over the last few days, I've been circling the parking lots trying to find access points at hotels, even checked into a hotel last night just so I could take a shower and check email, and of course, the internet was down at that place! Oh well, it was nice to take a shower. Next time I'll be rigging some kind of a shower in my van, I just didn't have time on this trip.
So, Ohio has Wifi at the rest stops, and I did use a computer in Kansas City library. I'm also thinking of getting some kind of Satallite internet set up for the next time, as WiFi is too hard to find when you need it, at least for now. Or I'll drag a string and some cans :)
So anyway, I finally found a truck stop that had Wifi, for only $4.95 a day. I'm tempted to just stay here and use it for the whole 24 hours! I could have signed up for longer, but who knows if they'll have other francise where I'm going? I do have an account now, so can just add a day when I need it.
To anyone who is reading this, drop me a line, ok? Just so I know! My email address is bluestar@televar.com , that would be cool, just to know I'm not completely forgotten.
Lets see, I will post later a list of states I've been through, but if you go to my other webpage at www.ncwvideo.com then look at the Survivors Stories link, I have a map there that is from the GPS software I'm using. I'm pretty sure I am on the same basic route as I had planned before I left. I think I might have brought a paper map, but I've not used it yet. I've been using my laptop, a GPS receiver, and Microsoft Streets software. Wow, that is so slick. Moving map display, zoom in or out, it even does a Track feature, so it leaves a trail on the map where you went. So if I take a side trip, I can see where I could back track, or even go a different way. I think it even made sense as a way to save gas, if I get lost, it should get me back on track before I run out of fuel! Oh, and it even shows gas stations, and helps you estimate fuel range and costs.
And to all the people who I didn't have time to talk to before I left, I'm sorry. I didn't even sleep the night before I left! I think if I waited until I was ready I wouldn't have ever left town! So, I'll see you when I get home ok?
Speaking of home, I'll probably be back early December. Maybe sooner. Depends on how things go here, etc.
Ok, I think I'll go drive some more miles, then find a quiet place to take a nap.
Stay Tooned!
Carlin
PS I've been averaging about 3 States a Day! I actually know people who have never left their home state, ever. You people need to go take a trip, this is a big beautiful country... oh, and this from a Canadian :) Its a long trip, but I'm enjoying it!

Alive And Well...

In Kansas City, Kansas... on a library computer... where is all the WiFi??

Keeping this short, have about a billion emails, I'm trying to clear out the junk before my inbox explodes :)

Stay Tooned!

Carlin

Finally On The Road!

Ok, its about 2 AM, I have 3 more boxes to put in the van, then I'll go take a shower, because I STINK! I've been packing and moving stuff for about like forever it seems... urg.

I'm Finally hitting the road. If you're able to help, I'd really appreciate it. I have probably enough gas money to get to Texas or New Orleans area. I'm planning to start driving, then in a day or two I'll start checking the news to see which way makes more sense. The story is about the Survivors, so I need to know where they are!

To make a contribution to my gas and food fund, go here:
http://www.ncwvideo.com/survivors_stories/
toward the bottom of the page is a button for PayPal. And check back here, I'll post when ever I can!

Thanks, and Stay Tooned!
Carlin

Who is Carlin anyway?

Who's Carlin?

Born and raised in Alberta, Canada, on a grain farm, moved with my Dad to Wenatchee, WA when I was 16. Joined the US Navy right out of high school, was trained as an aircraft mechanic (AMS2, airframes 2nd class, E5 for those who know!). Navy stations... San Diego for boot camp, Memphis (Millington) for Airframes school, Lemoore, CA, for advanced airframes, China Lake, CA first duty station at VX-5. NAS North Island (San Diego) for Helo training at HC-3 for HH-46 training, then to HC-5 in Guam. While in Guam I was deployed several times West Pacific, including Desert Shield / Desert Storm. Then to VF-124 at NAS Miramar to work on F-14 Tomcats. 9 years total service, medals, awards, tattoos, and one broken tooth. Not a bad deal!

One story from Desert Storm that I think is worth mentioning here, as I think it may have been the seed idea for the documentary. Most people would remember the Any Service Member program started by Ann Landers, where anyone could address a letter or package to "Any Service Member" and it would eventually be read by the troops in the war. The ship I was on handled a lot of cargo, and a large part of the cargo was mail. There were pallets full of
this Any Service Member mail. So much, in fact, that the ships we were delivering to couldn't handle the volume, and asked us to stop delivering it. In the end, there was some that was dumped overboard, unopened, just because we didn't have room for it. Seeing this, I started grabbing a few handfuls of letters any time I could, and would read them when I wasn't
working. Keep in mind we were working between 12 and 18 hours a day then. I had my first computer with me on the ship, it was a 8088 clone, had a 12" green monochrome screen, and a 30 MB hard drive. I started writing a database program in Basic, and soon had 100 names and address in the file. I'd write personal letters back to the 100 people when I had time, and also
made up a generic 20 questions answered letter that I sent to everyone. We had free postage then, as it was a war zone, so I'd just write Free where the stamp would be, and drop them in the out going mail box. A few weeks later, I had 50 write me back. Oops! Now I don't have any time at all, but some how I started sending semi regular letters out, and had most of those 50 who would write me back regularly. It was a fun project, I've actually met 5 or so of the writers since then, and I even was recognized by my chain of command for taking time to write the letters. I've still got the letters, and will someday combine them with a dairy I kept, also on the computer, into a book. So, why is that relevant? I'm kind of thinking of the documentary as a way to pay back all those who wrote to me when I needed the support.

Since the Navy, I worked as a computer tech at a ComputerLand store, eventually being trained as a MCSE. This is handy, as I can now do all the computer work needed to keep my edit systems working. I also have my own website running on my server, which is a Compaq rack server (1850R)... running Apache on NT 4.0.

I've been self employed the last 5 years now, and have just recently done over 50 weddings total.

My goal or plan for the documentary project, mission plan, if you will... To get to the New Orleans area, get as many survivors of the storm to talk to me on camera, and get the stories. That will be cut down into a documentary, which will then be distributed to network TV hopefully, or direct to DVD. I can see it being released as a 1 hour special, or maybe even several hours, mini series or disk box set, etc. Proceeds will be donated to the relief effort. I'm staying vague on the details beyond actually shooting the video, as I have not had time yet to really do research into the distribution. Anyone with leads or ideas of how to distribute, please email me. I may not have time to respond right away, so be patient!

My current timeline is to leave Washington state by 25 September, 2005, and return home by first week of December. Beyond that, where the story leads me!

I'm starting to think the real story here will be what it takes to get started!

Let me explain. No, that would take to long, let me summarize.

On the 6th of September I started fundraising, after 2 or 3 days of wondering if this was something I could do. I mean, how much would it cost to drive down to New Orleans, and was it even a good idea? Would I even be allowed to drive to where the survivors are being housed, and would they talk to me? Guess we'll find out soon enough!

So, on the 6th I put up a single page on my website, http://www.ncwvideo.com/survivors_stories/ , and then emailed the link to a few mail lists, and went to bed. By the next morning, I had my first donation of $20. I was on my way!

Ok, I know $20 isn't going to get me far, but I at least knew it could work, the page worked, PayPal worked, and at least one person saw what I was trying to do, and believed it was worth at least $20!

So, what exactly am I trying to do? There is a longer explaination on the website above, but briefly, I'll be driving down to the area of New Orleans, and talking to as many survivors as possible. I'll be going to the evacuation centers, the stadiums, as well as some of the cities they have been transported to, and simply ask people to talk to me, tell me their story. Beyond that, I don't have a lot of specific plans, yet. The scope of this project is so big, its hard to imagine. Makes me feel very small and insignificant, and yet, at the same time, very excited!

Once I have the story, then what? I'll be editing the interviews, and make a video documentary, with the purpose of selling it to a network, plus local showings, maybe getting someone like Red Cross to help with distributions, with proceeds from the sales and showings going back to the survivors, to help with the recovery efforts. Again, its pretty early for specifics, but there will be plenty of time for details later. Now there is a story to get!

And, some specific obstacles. Its about 2500 miles or so, from where I'm starting, in Wenatchee, WA (a couple hours from Seattle) to New Orleans. Now, I know there are not many people in New Orleans at the moment, so I may not even go there, at least right away. So, I'll probably go toward Texas first, then jump from place to place after that. I want the story to be about a lot of different people, but at the same time I'd like to go back and check on some families as I go, to see how they're doing, if things are improving, and so on.

I'll be adding to this as I get ready, and then try to post as often as I can from on the road.

Stay Tooned!

Carlin