We have a sad announcement to make from behind the scenes at the Hooniverse-Atomic Toasters Galactic Central Command. We have lost one of our own. One of the original group of commenters who followed us here to our new corner of the internet, back when we first started Hooniverse so many years ago, has passed away at a very young age.

Those of you who have been here since the early days will no doubt recognize his screen name, and many of you may have known him in person or on Facebook; Joe Lynn, known here as chrystlubitshi, passed away suddenly on January 27, at only 32 years of age, leaving behind a young son.
Joe had been going through a very rough time in his life in recent months. I had personally been talking to him almost nightly, trying to help him navigate some very stormy seas; to that end, there was some concern that perhaps he had succumbed to the weight of depression or despair. It comes, then, as some small measure of relief to report that his death was ruled accidental, with no foul play or negative influences suspected. Joe passed away in his sleep, as peacefully as one can hope for, and we wish him clear roads ahead for his journey into the great beyond.
Joe managed to keep a positive attitude thanks to the two things he held most dear in his life; his passion for cars, and his unrepentant love for his son, Walter. Those who knew him, knew he was scarcely able to go more than a few minutes without mentioning Wally, his “greatest accomplishment ever”.
To that end, we here at Hooniverse and AtomicToasters have set up our own little college fund for Wally. We thought it would be a nice gesture to pass the hat and collect what we can from the people Joe considered friends from our own little online world. I’ve heard from several of his family members, and they said he frequently mentioned Hooniverse, and spoke of the great group of people he’d gotten to know here. We thought that the least we could do was to let his young son know that we thought just as highly of him.
Whatever money we collect will be invested in a long-term savings bond in Wally’s name, timed to come to maturity in 15-16 years, roughly around the time Wally will be graduating high school. We’re hoping that a gesture from us, received when he’s graduating, will help young Wally know that his dad was a man he could be proud of, and one that earned the respect of his peers.
If you can’t afford to contribute, we completely understand. If you can afford anything, even $20, that donation will be welcomed and received gratefully.
To contribute, please CLICK HERE.