Error message

  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementBase::execute($args = [], $options = []) should either be compatible with PDOStatement::execute(?array $params = null): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2244 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).
  • Deprecated function: Return type of DatabaseStatementEmpty::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in require_once() (line 2346 of /home2/renealte/public_html/includes/database/database.inc).

THANKS POLYCOM! [2016-06-30]

Euphoria?  Relief?  Gratitude?  Anticipation?  Yes… all that and more this week!  Monday Neal, Reneal Board member Steve Guerzon, and I traveled to the Polycom warehouse in Tracy to pick up a magnificent donation of 86 used laptops and adapters.  We are still reveling in the knowledge that 2017 is going to be a banner year for Reneal as we distribute these units to public high schools in the Philippines and Tanzania!

Our connection to this wonderful gift was through Joan Cotta, Polycom employee and a friend through our former church, Alum Rock United Methodist Church in San Jose.  We have been thankful recipients of past hardware grants from Polycom – in fact two of our projects in September, Arcelo Memorial NHS Senior High and Tominjao NHS Senior High, will be “Polycom Schools”.  Our pickup Monday was graciously facilitated by Noel Farmer of Polycom.  We understand that it is extra work for Noel to make this happen, and we only wish that he and the folks at Polycom could see and enjoy first-hand the impact of their investment in kids overseas!

The neat thing about the Reneal system from the perspective of potential corporate donors is that the hard disks can be removed prior to the donation.  Information security is a pivotal concern for corporations, and this risk is mitigated completely by the thin client system where hard disks are not needed.  If we do receive systems with hard disks, our very first step is a secure disk wipe; however, if we receive a diskless machine, it just speeds up our incoming processing!  I’ve already gone through about half of the machines with just a few hours of labor.  This is my joy – tinkering with hardware to make it work.  So far, so good!

Now the Reneal Board has the exciting task of making deployment decisions.  While Neal and I are in the Philippines in September and October, we will be evaluating potential candidates.  This is the first year of the new “Senior High” in the Philippines, so there is a huge need for new IT labs to support those schools.  We are absolutely thrilled to have capacity to help address that need!  And schools in Tanzania are always desperately lacking in resources.  Look for 2017 project plans before the end of the calendar year!

Although it perhaps seems mundane by comparison, Neal’s operating system upgrade to Xubuntu 16.04 is a key milestone for Reneal.  It’s been a struggle, no doubt, but he’s made amazing progress.  As I go through my test matrix I make lists of problems, and he methodically goes through and fixes them.  We are getting ready for a couple of weeks of R&R, but we’re leaving with things in a good place for September.