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From the Editor, L.Pyle#1621: A belated Happy New Year and Merry Christmas to you, family and friends. I hope Santa was generous to you all!

Today I want to introduce you to my world after Law Enforcement – the myrid and sometimes confusing world of Internet Technology. Now the information below, though a little bland and “geeky”, explains some of the workings of maintaining a website – in particular, The Farsider website. I’m hoping it explains the basics of keeping the website up and running.

I would also like to express my profund appreciation for the continuing support by the donations you have sent to help fuel the boiler that runs The Farsider express!

Your Website Administrator and wizard behind the curtain,
Eric Duran, ACSO Retired (1974-1999)

### Understanding Information Technology and Its Role in Websites ###

In our increasingly digital world, the term Information Technology (IT) often pops up in conversations about modern tools and communication methods. So, what exactly is Information Technology? At its core, IT refers to the use of computers, software, and networks to manage and process information.

Now, let’s connect IT to the world of websites. A website is a collection of web pages hosted on a server, allowing users to access a variety of content, whether it’s news articles, online stores, or in this case Leroy’s creative content.

However, maintaining a website is not solely about development and attraction; it also involves ongoing costs related to hosting, security, and updates. Here is a breakdown of the primary expenses you might encounter when keeping a website active:

1. **Domain Registration**: To have a website, you need a unique domain name — like www.yourwebsite.com. This domain needs to be registered and renewed annually, which usually costs between $10 and $20 per year which does not include additional options and ensuing costs to insure the domain name cannot be “taken over” by another party.

2. **Web Hosting**: Every website requires a place to live on the Internet, known as hosting. This is where your site’s files are stored and served to visitors. Hosting costs vary widely, starting from as low as $3 per month for basic shared hosting to several hundred dollars for dedicated servers or cloud hosting solutions. To ensure additional security, other options may be employed to protect the content of the website to thwart any attempt to gather information used by the website like your email address that may be used when informing you of a new post. Again, another cost to help guarentee a dependable and “safe” website.

3. **Website Design and Development**: If you’re starting a new website, you’ll likely need to hire a web designer or developer. Depending on the complexity of your site, this can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

4. **Maintenance and Updates**: Websites require regular updates to perform optimally and securely. This includes updating software, plugins, and security protocols. You might consider hiring an expert for this, which can cost between $50 to $150 per hour.

Overall, while the world of IT and websites may seem complex, understanding the basics can empower the user to engage with it more fully. By being aware of the components that contribute to a website’s functionality and the costs involved, users can make informed decisions about its content

If you’ve read this far, than thank you! I hope this information will help you understand how it all works and where the donations go to keep things running and to insure you of the security involved to keep the website secure from the many bad players out there.

-ED

Donation Confirmation
aka: “How do I know if my donation was received?”

To see if your donation has been received, go to the “Thank You” page (https://thefarsider.net/16018-2/thank-you/) . On this page is listed all those that have donated since the beginning. If your name is in green and underlined, that means you have donated within the last 30 days. If it was within the current week, your name will also be listed at the top under “Donations this week:”

If you would like to have an email sent to you when your donation is received, please include a note in your donation (PayPal, Venmo or with your check) asking for a confirmation email. In the case of a check, please include your email address.

There are several ways to donate: via PayPal, Venmo or by check. All these options are available on the “Donations” link in the index (https://thefarsider.net/16018-2/).

And as Leroy has said before, “I seriously doubt theFarsider would continue without your generous help!”

Thank you all for your help!

-Eric Duran
Webmaster minion

Want to help Leroy keep this site running? Donations of any amount are accepted and welcomed. You can now donate online by clicking on either the “PayPal” or “Venmo” image below or by mailing a check the old fashion way.

	OR
(Click on either image)

If donating by check, please use the following format:

Pay to the order of
“Eric Duran dba CMPD”

Mail to:

“CMPD”
1710 Magic Ln
Lodi, CA 95242-3928

In check Memo Line:
“For thefarsider.net website“
(In either case – PayPal, Venmo or check – if you wish to be notified when your donation is received, please include your email address. You can also go to the “Thank You” page to see if your name is in Green.)

NOTE: All checks received are shredded after 90 days.