The Pineapple Fund (
pineapplefund.org), a cryptocurrency philanthropic project announced
in December, is giving away $86 million in Bitcoin, through an
application process that Erowid completed last month.
We were moved by the tag line on the donor's site:
"[...] because once you have enough money, money doesn't matter".
The last two weeks have been a whirlwind (or a "flaming toboggan
ride" as we call these periods). On December 30th, the landlord of
Erowid's library/office gave us 30 days' notice to vacate the space
we've rented for seven years. That's short notice for finding a new
space and relocating thousands of books, archives, and ephemera.
On Jan 9, we signed a new lease on a nearby larger space. Twelve
hours later, we received the news about the Pineapple Fund grant.
How's that for an exciting start to 2018?!
To Extracts subscribers -- we know some of you are wondering where
the next issue is. After a delay we were nearly done with the new
issue in December, when the end-of-year demands inherent in running
a nonprofit pushed the completion to January. Then, our Library's
landlord sent that letter, giving us just weeks to dismantle and
reestablish Erowid Center's extensive physical collection.
Despite it derailing Extracts, the library move is an exciting step
that we have been wanting to take for several years. The new space
is bigger, nicer, and more suited for Erowid's library, archiving
projects, and growth. Onward and upward!
We're eager to get out the new issue of Extracts (#30) as soon as
the stars align to make it possible. It's a fun in-depth review of
the history, value, and future of Experience Report at Erowid, and we think
you'll enjoy it!