Re: Question to all candidates: Ongoing/future legal projects

[Tiago Bortoletto Vaz <tiago@debian.org>]

Hi Felix,

It seems there's much more behind the scenes than I happen to know... So, with
the little context I have, I keep believing that your reimbursement request is
appropriate. And, for *just* not following the proper procedure, such a request
shouldn't be ultimately refused, IMO.

Bests,

--
Tiago

On Tue, Mar 29, 2022 at 08:47:10PM -0700, Felix Lechner wrote:
> Hi Tiago,
> 
> On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 11:09 AM Tiago Bortoletto Vaz <tiago@debian.org> wrote:
> >
> > Given that Jonathan, after lots of research as he describes in this
> > thread, has stated that such request never reached him, can you clarify
> > how can you have even complied to a request for more information from him?
> >
> > Also, if that's the case, why didn't you try to reach him in private at
> > the time rather than bringing it to -vote months later, during an DPL
> > campaign period in which you are both candidates?
> >
> > In my view, your request was totally eligible and could/should be
> > quickly approved.
> 
> Look, the discussion with Richard was about the process for
> disbursements. I like the idea of committees that are on schedule and
> open to the public.
> 
> Despite the collateral damage Jonathan suffered for the missing
> reimbursement (which people in power have to endure) I did not intend
> to embarrass him, yet that's where we are taking this thread.
> 
> Jonathan is a busy guy. In fact, he is so busy he too would benefit if
> other folks handled the disbursements. It would be a win-win for
> everyone.
> 
> My messages may also have gotten stuck in Jonathan's spam filter.
> 
> It furthermore seems that I did not follow the proper process when
> filing my request, as Paul Wise pointed out.
> 
> Either way, you challenged me for the true record. Below, you will
> find the exchange you are interested in. I redacted both of Jonathan's
> responses in case he wrote them. As you can see, I wrote a lot in
> private, but was ineffective.
> 
> Similar to my other responses, I am committed to transparency when possible.
> 
> For context you will need to know that my internal hindrances with
> operating lintian.d.o—which we resurrected after years of spotty
> service—did not start (or end) with the misplaced reimbursement. In
> RT#8464 from November 2020, you will find a partial record of the
> dispute. (The ticket contains one of the few irate emails I have
> written in Debian; it may have contributed to my DAM warning.) To this
> day, there has been nothing but obstruction.
> 
> In my mind, the missing reimbursement simply made that point one more time.
> 
> Jonathan witnessed some of my issues, but he did not cause them. In
> Debian, too much power is held away from the public eye. We have Setec
> Astronomy. Hence my open and public committees.
> 
> Thanks for supporting my reimbursement request!
> 
> Kind regards,
> Felix Lechner
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com>
> Date: Wed, Nov 3, 2021 at 7:45 AM
> Subject: Re: Spending Debian money, [redacted]
> To: Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org>
> 
> Hi Jonathan,
> 
> On Sun, Aug 9, 2020 at 9:01 AM Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org> wrote:
> >
> > [excerpt of posting to debian-private]
> 
> For over a year, I contemplated writing this request. As part of my
> contributions to Debian I operate the website lintian.d.o. Untarring
> and scanning the archive uses lots of resources. The service is
> heavily disk-bound.
> 
> It would help to upgrade one of my machines to an NVMe SSD. The
> machine also needs more memory (currently 24 GB). I would not normally
> make the upgrades. Would the project please help out with the proposed
> purchase?
> 
> The details in the amount of approximately US$217 are below. Thanks!
> 
> Kind regards
> Felix Lechner
> 
> * * *
> 
> SAMSUNG (MZ-V8V1T0B/AM) 980 SSD 1TB, $120
> Dual M.2 PCIE Adapter for SATA or PCIE NVMe, $16
> Patriot 16GB(2x8GB) Viper III DDR3 1600MHz CL9, $60
> Subtotal $196
> Sales Tax $21
> Total $217
> 
> All amounts are in US dollars. The seller is Amazon.com.
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org>
> Date: Thu, Nov 4, 2021 at 11:57 AM
> Subject: Re: Spending Debian money, [redacted]
> To: Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com>
> 
> [redacted for privacy]
> 
> -Jonathan
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org>
> Date: Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 11:53 AM
> Subject: Re: Spending Debian money, [redacted]
> To: Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com>
> 
> Hi Felix
> 
> [redacted for privacy]
> 
> -Jonathan
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com>
> Date: Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 12:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Spending Debian money, [redacted]
> To: Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org>
> 
> Hi Jonathan,
> 
> On Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 11:53 AM Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org> wrote:
> >
> > [redacted for privacy]
> 
> The website consists of three parts. There is a web server, which
> [redacted] hosts presently; a database on my personal VPS; and the
> machinery that generates the data.
> 
> Some time ago, [redacted] offered to host the database (part
> [redacted]). I believe I met all their requirements (most notably,
> packaging semver [1] for bullseye), but no one has responded to my
> most recent message from October 4.
> 
> At this point, I believe I earned the right to suspect that the delay
> was intended to provoke me into writing another angry letter, but none
> is coming. It would therefore be fine to proceed with the database.
> (The website will also work better if DAM kicks me out, as [redacted]
> suggested.) The database is currently hosted on a VPS with 1 GB of
> RAM, which is under dimensioned. I already offer reduced services.
> 
> Having received no response from [redacted], I approached [redacted]
> about the database yesterday. Due to the broken lines of communication
> with project leadership, I also did not ask for your or [redacted]'s
> help with [redacted], but I would certainly appreciate it.
> 
> The third piece of equipment generates the data and is currently
> located in my garage. While it is a distributed system with a
> scheduler and a variable number of runners, it does not yet run
> automatically. In addition, several other Debian services (like UDD,
> PTS, and DMD) depend on intermediate products that I generate by hand.
> I often change the configuration of that equipment, so a transfer to
> [redacted] is not yet practical. (My estimate is a year.) The funding
> request is for that third piece of equipment.
> 
> Given the ordeal I [redacted] went through, your approval of my
> request would send an important signal that the project values my
> contributions. Thank you.
> 
> Kind regards
> Felix Lechner
> 
> [1] https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/postgresql-semver
> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
> From: Felix Lechner <felix.lechner@lease-up.com>
> Date: Thu, Feb 3, 2022 at 4:53 PM
> Subject: Re: Spending Debian money, [redacted]
> To: Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org>
> 
> Hi Jonathan,
> 
> On Fri, Nov 5, 2021 at 11:53 AM Jonathan Carter <jcc@debian.org> wrote:
> >
> > [redacted for privacy]
> 
> Did you have a chance to make a decision regarding my request? Thanks!
> 
> Kind regards
> Felix Lechner