I actually did go to Z's funding page intending to make a contribution, but the language that he used on the page turned me off unfortunately.
He made some borderline racist remarks (OK I understand his frustration relating to his work situation, but I think this was a bit much).
The second thing that I found quite dissuading was the seeming lack of direction for what he wanted to occur. He thought he might want to be like Mark Dansie, he thought he may finish one or two investigations, etc. I think if you are going to attract funding then you need to stay true to yourself - Russ you are a good guy, you keep politics etc out of discussions, you have your beliefs and recognise that others have theirs. So you are good on the first part.
I think that the second part needs a specific charter of some sort that outlines the projects you intend to work on and then some type of formalised approach to working on them. It is the only fair thing to do if people are taking to properly funding you. As things stand with you providing your time and effort free (with donations along the way) you have every right to flit between projects that interest you and abandon them as you see fit.
In an ideal world there would be a sufficient ground swell of support to allow you to focus your time and energy on this as your full time job - I am not sure that there is enough of an audience to let that happen just now though.
Maybe you can investigate switching to part time hours at your job with part time hours covered by your supporters? maybe you can look at taking a brief sabbatical? who knows really. What I would say is that it will require careful thought and some realistic financial planning! Nobody wants to see you or your family worse off as a result of taking this type of thing on.
You make sense Symanuk. Its one thing to see what the possibilities are, but another to make a radical step. Always have a backup plan.
One way of making money is using youtube. As i notice there's little advertising on Russ his video's i wonder if he gets enough money out of them.
If you have 15.000 hits you should be able to buy a nice new computer i hear...
So what's up with that?
And in regards to diversing into other alternative projects. I have my prefferences, if Russ would have a priority counter on his site... the project with the most funding gets the most attention (without exactly giving numbers) then all is still clear, open and fine for me to make a decision what to sponsor.
And knowing that all outcome is open source, so an ok goal too.
If Russ wants to make more money out of the popper success, and why not (as long as he still has given the knowledge that could make it work to the public)
***Then he can already try to find a big sponsor, he has his video's, he has a laptop, he can do presentations... so that's already an option.
(just make sure the people have enough good info to make it themselves if they choose so)
Enhancements don't need to be public yet? Maybe, maybe not diff. question. If you made them while being paid by a boss..then they should belong to the boss..?
***He can start a foundation or a ministry? lol
All kinds of options that could be talked about with some legal counsil, or found on the internet.
Who doesn't wish that Russ can make a decent living, get enough sleep and doesn't have to be a slave of the workforce anymore, but thinker away for mankind?
But we all need to stay pushed by something. And if that was to find an alternative energy source and then you find it? What then, what next? And what was the real motivation..and is it still there? And does a big sponsor stand in the way of what's best for mankind?
May not have to be so..
Its difficult one's you reach something, as if ye don't want to say goodbuy to the hope for it you had before?
I myself am never good in finishing stuff, better in starting up things.