XML Feeds
More hats, and other projects
By quixjote on Jan 7, 2012 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
I think before long I am going to end up being called the "Mad Hatter" Coyote instead of just the "Mad Coyote". Finally have hats for most of my family, which is good. It seems for every hat I make I get a request for two more. Definitely NOT complaining about that, but after family I am definitely going to have to start charging for the hats, Especially the Wool ones. I am also taking requests by email (quixjote) @ (quixjote) . (net) $35 for and adult large with folded up brim. Other styles can be made as well, like full reversable, no brim extra short (Skull cap style), extra long... etc. Shoot me an email and I can get a quote off to you :)
Trying a few different things with the knitting looms. First off; I am sketching out a sweatervest design using my Knifty Knitter Green Round loom. There is a few more things I need to figure out before I can actually make the sweatervest, like getting the "V" for the neck. but overall I think I have the basics for it down. I believe I can do the project in two flat panels. If I measured correctly, the Green loom is actually perfect for my size sweatervests as far as how wide to make the panels. I needed 18" flat, and I average 2 stitches per inch on that loom with the bulky yarn. If I need more width though I am sure I can come up with something. Worst case senario is I can give the sweatervest to someone that has a smaller upper body than me (Or I can try to sell it on etsy or something).
I am still wanting to do socks and such, but I have been waiting for the Blue round loom to be in stock. 3 stores that I check on a regular basis have been sold out since right before Christmas; Go figure.
This year is in the bag
By quixjote on Dec 31, 2011 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
Premature, but Happy New Years!
It has been an interesting year to say the least. Turning 29 this year has had me thinking about a lot of things. Doing Therapy for 3 months to gain some lower back strength that I have not had since 1993 was definitely a step in the right direction.
One of my goals this year was to spend 10% less on necesities of the house like bills. I was doing well for a while, but I think I buggered that goal up around October. Not bad though: I was able to keep it up for 10 months out of 12. On the flip side many of the things that I did spend on I tried to get stuff that would last longer or be more efficient in the long run, so I am not sure how that ties at this point into the equation. Either way: I am living within my means. Another year that I have NOT gotten a Credit Card.
Since 2008 I have been wanting to get my own web game off the ground. I did a test run back then in April of 2008 of a simple, what is called now, Freemium style battle game. In one month I had made over $200 on it, and this was before Freemium games really exploded in the marketplace. This year, probably by Q3 I am working hard to have the first draft out in the wild of my game. Pretty big goal for me considering I really have not had time to work on it and there is still so much to do on it.
At the bare minimum, by this point I will have the core structure in place that will be able to run the game. How do I know this? Because that same core system I will be using for all manner of websites for people and it is focused around two things: Power and Performance. Powerful enough to host a good webgame, enough performance to host an every-day site.
Big deal you say? Well... It kinda is a big deal. Sure there are many CMS' out there, and many do a great job... but unless you are willing to sit down and learn them, they don't all have a great learning curve. I would venture to say that most people that have even used a computer could do something as menial as dragging a file to a folder, and that is where my CMS will be different. Right out fo the box, no learning, people can build a site. (Maybe Ocean Marketing can even build a better "Wwebsite").
Paul Christoforo is Still at It
By quixjote on Dec 30, 2011 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
If you thought that the bad customer service and outlandish Twattitude wasn't enough for N-Control's new PR, Paul is back for more.
I've been trying to get him to give up the access to these things he's been holding hostage (email accounts, Twitter, etc) by asking nicely for a couple of days. The gloves are off now.
Paul told me on the phone two hours ago that "Eight months ago, I locked down all this stuff so they wouldn't be able to fuck with me. If they don't give me what I want, it's war." His demands include a contract written on his terms and substantial compensation, both immediate and for as long as the company continues to exist. He flaunted the PR debacle he created as proof that he "made the company a success", citing all the media and public attention as the "best thing that ever happened to Avenger".
He didn't count on the fact that I anticipated all of this and have been a computer hardware and web tech since I was 14.
The thing we did have is control over the AvengerController.com domain. It was transferred away from its original account, which Paul has complete control of. Because of how GoDaddy works, that old account retained all of the email addresses and their master control settings (forwarding and so on). He has continued to respond to customer emails from his personal GMail account and lied to me repeatedly about doing so.
I tried to play nice, and Paul played stupid, acting like he didn't have access to this master account, blaming his "Indian outsourced tech team" being on vacation. I gave him two days to give over N-Control's digital property.
He finally leveled with me tonight that he knew I wasn't that stupid and that he was lying about his access to all these accounts. That's when he issued the above-mentioned threat. He reiterated that he had the hosting, email, and everything on lockdown.
... Wow. Paul wasn't kidding in twitter the other day... He really did have a hacking problem; He is the hacking problem.
Now, I would like to say right now that I have no ill will to the rest of his family... but wow. Paul really needs to learn a few lessons. At the rate he is going and how fast he is spiraling down, those lessons may end up being learned in Jail.
Oh, right... He also has ANOTHER Twitter handle: @OceanDeepSea. (So he currently has two live ones that we know of... @OceanDeepSea and @OceanStratagy)
Some good news though. When he closed his @OceanMarketting Twitter, someone caught it up and is now using it to promote Indie style games. Round of applause for that guy :) (Check out his blurb at http://oceanmarketting.tumblr.com/)
Although, I am surprised that Penny Arcade has been quiet since all this started. As always, it's sometime tough to follow where facts end, and rumors begin. Doing my best to keep the facts straight though.
Winter is a great time for hats
By quixjote on Dec 29, 2011 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
Been busy making hats when I haven't been programming recently. I think they are turning out rather nicely. The newest one I was able to complete in just shy of 1.5 hours.
Especially this time of year these hats make great gifts for friends and family. Next up: I am going to try my hand at tube socks. I picked up a nice worsted weight wool yarn that has a light patterning to it. should make for some comfy slipper-socks for around the house.
Anyone have special requests? Shoot me a message and I will see what I can do.
Ocean Marketing Wwebsites as on the internet.
By quixjote on Dec 28, 2011 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
Links of Interest:
Nates Network
Penny Arcade Post of Events
If you have not already read the long history above, please take the time to do so... It is well worth your while.
Done? I know... It probably took a little while and you are probably sore from a few facepalms by now; However you know can protect yourself from Global Marketing. I kinda feel a little bad for Paul (Owner), but he had many chances to right both wrongs and continued to take the arrogant approach even when it was clear as day that he was wrong.
Even Geiko is having fun with this one and making fun of his "Wwebsite as on the internet" comment.
Even now if you have been following him on Twitter "@OceanStratagy" he has most recently been seen trying to say that it wasn't him, that someone else had control of his account.
...
Lets assume for a moment that this is true: If someone had your account that long to cause that much damage (Twice apparently if you count "Nates Network" as well), why would I want to use your company for my marketing? For all I know any account info I give you to make an account WITH you would be hacked as well and then I could become another target for Identity Theft.
On the flipside, if it is NOT true... Well now we know that you have a tendency to bold-face lie. That is another situation I would not want to deal with either.
Either way, N-Control has released their contract with Paul after finding out about his (at least) twice over horrid customer service.
The sad thing in this is apparently Paul's Wife and Kids have been brought into the mix by angry fans of Penny Arcade, and even Gabe has said that there is no need for that. I don't know if Paul will learn his lesson or not, especially since he is still tweeting things like "the more you say my name the bigger future paycheques get".
...
Yes, I came back out of my writing cave for this. I may not run the most successful business ever, but at least I run it with ethics. My clients know up front that things may be delayed due to occasional health issues but I do the best I can to work around that.
Again: Because of spammers, comments are still closed to non-members. Membership is free, I don't send spam (I hate spam... unless it comes in a can), and it allows you to further voice your views.
