Hello all,

Quite a while back, I wrote the first of the four main HTML
tutorials and offered them to the world as my alternative to the
more technical manuals that were available at the time. Since then,
they've become pretty popular, and if the letters I get are any
clue, pretty effective too.

It was very important to me that the tutorials be distributed free
of charge. It wasn't really a money thing, it was a spirit thing. I
wanted them to be a resource that was free for the taking for anyone
that was willing to pull up a chair and learn.

What I'm faced with though is an unexpected situation in my family
life that is beyond my ability to pay for... and I could really use
your help. I was hoping that it wouldn't come to this, but I have to
take advantage of every resource available... including the
tutorials.

At first I didn't feel comfortable explaining the problem, but one
of the people who sent money for the tutorials suggested that
explaining the problem might be beneficial on several counts. So,
here goes...

My wife lost a younger sister to cancer recently. Since then she's
been diagnosed as clinically depressed and has been seeing a
psychologist on and off ever since. On and off, because our
insurance pays very little for visits to psychologists. The bulk
comes out of our pockets and we're behind in payments to the clinic.
Now, on top of this, my brother's wife, who my wife is close to, has
also been diagnosed with cancer. She's putting up a good fight but
the odds are very much against her. Mind you, we're not that old.
Sharon was 25 when she died. My brother's wife is around 30.

In some ways my wife is strong, but she's not handling this well at
all. She's been getting more depressed, she's sick a lot and she's
been getting these migrain headaches which has her ending up in the
emergency room on occassion (more bills). I know we'll get through
this, it's just a little tough right now. I really want her to
continue to get the help she needs. I'll do whatever it takes. She's
really a wonderful person and I will not lose her to this. One way
or another, she'll get whatever she needs. Right now though, I'm the
only one working, and our bills are piling up faster than I can pay
them off. I can't even help out my brother because I can barely take
care of my wife right now.

Well, that's it. That's my problem. And the tutorials are one of my
potential resources. Over the years I've filled a zip file with over
4000 really great thank-you letters. The tutorials are mirrored and
used all over the world. They're on corporate intranets, in schools,
on CD's... all over the place. I thought to myself, if I asked for a
few bucks for this stuff, people would be happy to help, my wife
could get what she needs, and my life right now would get a whole
lot easier. I don't want charity. I just want people to say "Yes,
the tutorials are great. I don't have a lot but here's a few bucks
for them. Thanks."

So, this is what I ask: If you use the tutorials and they help you,
could I impose on you to contribute 10 dollars? If you can't swing
10, then maybe 5 dollars? Whatever you can afford, whatever you
think they're worth.

Yes this is a voluntary payment. But, you folks out there in
Internet Land with your ten dollars or even five dollars are my last
hope. I'd like to think after all this time maybe I'm cashing in a
few chips. This stuff has been free for years, but now I really
really need the help. Just a few bucks from each user would do
wonders.

I've already gotten a surprising response. Many people have sent
their checks, and to them I offer my sincerest thanks. I'm hopeful
that my wife will get through this in one piece, and selling the
tutorials for a while will help pay some of the bills.

Thank-you,

Joe Barta
1209 E 357th Street
Eastlake, OH 44095
USA

Any form of payment in any currency is fine.