The Story Of Y2Y & The Inkblot Identity Mechanism
I just happen to own the domain name http://www.y2y.org (just as I have for almost 8 years now) and finally thought up a pretty good use for it. There also just happens to be a terrific group of folks, scientists, foundations and so forth at the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) who just happen to be working on something quite big and very important concerning the environment. It is something that I, in all honesty, really have had nothing very productive at all to do with, until now. You see, they currently, and have for years now, operate under the domain name y2y.net, but the .net doesn't quite have the same ring to it, nor pull, for a non-profit. Most often .org domain names fulfill this function, especially one of such size and undertaking as Y2Y is.
Here is my humble "I'll just head on over to IndieGoGo and try to raise some funds for my project, as well as some extra donations and awareness for Y2Y while I'm at it" plan;
1. I will (re)donate/(re)distribute 50% (after all IndieGoGo-related expenses and fees) of any and all donations from you to me to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) at the end of this campaign. For instance; Donate $25 and roughly $12.50 of your donation will go directly to Y2Y, guaranteed!
*You also have the option to specify the exact percentage (%) split if you would like. Just let me know with your donation(s). For instance, you can let me know that you would prefer that 75% goes to Y2Y and the other 25% goes to Inkblot, or that 90% goes to Inkblot and the other 10% goes to Y2Y, etc. If you don't want to specify a specific percentage then it's split even-up at 50% - 50% each, right down the middle.
2. No matter what the final amount raised during this campaign, I will also donate, free-and-clear, and at no additional charges whatsoever, the domain name http://www.y2y.org to the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y)!
What happens to the other, roughly, 50% of the donations you may be wondering? I'm going to use them to help fund my Inkblot Identity Mechanism at Inkblot.com.
Just what exactly is an "inkblot" again, you may ask? In a way, it could be classified as one of those "Do you live under a rock!?!" responses to such a question, but since I'm certainly not looking to insult anyone's intelligence here by doing so, I'll just explain it like this; The inkblot is most famously known as the 10 blots of ink used in the Rorschach inkblot test, which is a personality test developed in the 1920's by the Swiss Freudian psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach shortly before his death at the age of 37. The inkblot test itself remains infamous, as well as highly controversial, to this day. It's absolutely perfect for use as an identity provider!
*On a side note, if you would like to take the actual inkblot test (I also personally own and run it, so no worries!), just for fun and entertainment purposes only, you can do so here; http://www.InkblotTest.com
Again, Inkblot will be an OS IdP (Open-Source Identity Provider). It will encompass and incorporate your different identities and personalities online, as well as offline if you so please. I've owned Inkblot.com since December 7th, 1998. Yes, the domain name itself is almost 14 years old! I've been a part of the "indie-web" for a very long time now, folks. I've also been personally known as "Inkblot" since the early-1990's. It's my alter-ego, my doppelganger, the "other" me. Obviously, "Inkblot" is my well-established alternative identity (hello, Google+). Yes, anonymity and pseudonyms are most definitely allowed, and championed, here on Inkblot! They can also be your only identity if you so please. Consider the "nymwars" officially over here...
Facebook and Google+, and Twitter to a certain extent, want more than just your "real name", they want to completely own and control your online identity, as well as have a total monopoly on your personal data and information, while trampling all over your right to privacy, as well as the ability to actually control your data while they're at it. Not cool. Inkblot doesn't roll like that, folks. Not at all...
And another thing, you don't have to be "famous", nor have a "big enough" following, in order to get verified status on Inkblot. It will be open to anyone who wants people to know who they really are, even under their alternate identities. With becoming verified on Inkblot, the only obvious qualification is that you really are who you say you are.
As an early example, since my real name is Kyle (sometimes online, and most of the time offline) here is what will become of me on Inkblot, and to give you an initial peek as well into how it will all work;
kyle@inkblot.com
http://kyle.inkblot.com
https://www.inkblot.com/kyle (Username: Tester - Password: passwordabc)
@kyle
#kyle
Inkblot Identifier: kyle
Since my alter-ego is Inkblot, then here I am too;
inkblot@inkblot.com
http://inkblot.inkblot.com
https://www.inkblot.com/inkblot (Username: Tester - Password: passwordabc)
@inkblot
#inkblot
Inkblot Identifier: inkblot
My little pal, Them Bones, didn't seem to have a problem signing up either;
thembones@inkblot.com
http://thembones.inkblot.com
https://www.inkblot.com/thembones (Username: Tester - Password: passwordabc)
@thembones
#thembones
Inkblot Identifier: thembones
I also own the following TLD (top-level-domain) Inkblot extensions which I plan on incorporating into the Inkblot Identity Mechanism;
inkblot.tv, inkblot.fm, inkblot.am, inkblot.mobi, inkblot.org, etc...
You can use your you@inkblot.com just as an email address, or just as a webfinger protocol, or both. Your sub-domain address (you.inkblot.com) will be the place for your public profile and information, and your sub-folder address (inkblot.com/you) will be the place for your private profile and information. You don't have to use either if you don't want to. You can even forward them elsewhere if you'd like. Your @you identifier would work on Inkblot just as it does on Twitter, or just as on most any other site or service that uses it. Same with the #you identifier. Your specific Inkblot Identifier will work just like a system-wide keyword if you will, and will only lead to any content and information which you decide to post publicly, such as the information located in your public sub-domain, if any at all, and that's just the beginning of things to come!
There's much more to the Inkblot Identity Mechanism than meets the eye, I promise you that.
What Inkblot Needs From You & What You Get Out Of It
Remember, the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) will receive no less than half (50%), unless you personally specify a specific percentage with your donated amount, of any and all total donations (after minimal fees and expenses) made through this campaign, along with the domain name
http://www.y2y.org being donated to them, free-and-clear and at no extra charge whatsoever! They win big here, no matter what happens. How good of a feeling would that be to know that you helped in doing this for such a noble and worthy cause!
All of this will be done publicly and transparently concerning the donated funds going to Y2Y and the donation of the y2y.org domain name so that you know it truly took place. My word and my reputation are on the line if things don't go the way I say that they will here, so, needless to say from my corner, consider it done!
The Inkblot Identity Mechanism then gets what's left over, which is roughly 50% of all donated funds. Hopefully enough in the end to give the platform a firm footing to stand on in order to help take it to the next level and phase of development.
I'm not greedy, folks, and it does take a decent amount of financing in order to progress with projects such as Inkblot, considering all that it entails and encompasses, so please give what you can, and don't be afraid to ask any and all questions along the way as I'd be more than happy to answer them for you to the best of my abilities, skills and knowledge pertaining to them.
Other Ways In Which You Can Help Spread The Good Word
Besides your kind and generous act of donating to this campaign, you can also help in getting the word out about Y2Y and Inkblot to all of the other folks that you personally know in any and all ways which you deem appropriate, and by doing so you will be directly responsible in helping to make this campaign a smashing success for all!
You can also keep up with, and learn more about, the specifics of this campaign at http://www.y2y.org, as well as, of course, http://www.inkblot.com
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Just One Last Thing...
When I look through some of the other campaigns here on IndieGoGo, as well as on similar platforms such as Kickstarter, I'm just blown away by the kindness and generosity shown by everyone who donates to the causes which they genuinely care for, and truly believe in. I'm also reminded about just how fragile life is. With all of the folks on here fighting for their lives, or trying to save the life of a child, a loved one, or a close friend, and sometimes even a complete stranger, it is truly kind of embarrassing to even assume that some environmental/technology campaign such as this should presume to stand along side them as it does. I just had to make mention of it, that's all.
Thanks again, and the best to you all!
Kyle Sandau a.k.a. Inkblot
*The Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) is not affiliated with the Inkblot Identity Mechanism (Inkblot) nor have they endorsed this funding campaign in any way, shape or form. They are just a major beneficiary of said campaign in the end and nothing more.
