XML FeedsThis 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.
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.
Planter Box - Pt 4
By quixjote on Jul 30, 2011 | In Crafts | Send feedback »
The planter box is pretty much done and has plants in it now. It took 14 bags of potting soil to fill the box up, but the plants are rather happy. I rescued a few plants from some neighbors that said "Take em, they will die otherwise". Some died, some are surviving the move.
Also, in the area of my normal garden area I mentioned that I had some volunteer pumpkin plants come up. Not only that but I have some lambs-quarter growing as well as some volunteer tomatoes! I found out that pumpkin leaves are edible and have good nutrition value, and are rather filling. Obviously it is not great to eat them raw because of the spines on the vine, but if you boil them or saute them, they are quite delicious! About 6 leaves (8" in diameter) make about a single 1-cup serving after cooked.
I don't know how much my garden will do this year, but if nothing else, it will be prepped for the next season. Who knows though, with as mild of a summer as we have had here in Oregon, it might be sunny and 75 as late as December.
