!!!INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT -- PLEASE READ THIS!!!

Shaon

(EDIT: I've moved this to the Announcements sub-forum. - Cirr)

Today I was contacted by our one and only leader, DP. He gave me a grim message and told me to relay it onto the populace in the best a manner that I could.

Last week, DP lost his job. He told me that money is tight. He also said to me that...

He told me that Blackstar may have to be shut down.

As you all well know, DP has been running Blackstar out of the combination of his pocket and donations. Whilst Blackstar does not cost much -- not more than $10 a month -- if he has to choose between buying gas to get to his next job interview or keeping Blackstar up, Blackstar could go up again later.

As much as we hate to say it, we need the donations. While Blackstar will likely be good for the next four months or so, DP isn't sure whether he can keep the forums going after that.

Please, guys, as the messenger of DP, donate something -- Blackstar might be in a bit of a rut, but we don't want its server to be shut down, do we?

Cirrial · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject:

I second this sentiment. Donations are far from mandatory, of course, but if we all manage to put something together, maybe we can at least help DP by paying for Blackstar's uptime for just a little while. After all, he's been doing us all a favour by hosting and maintaining it for so long and expecting so little from us in return.

LordPsycho · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:31 pm Post subject:

I figured if I'm going to turn begger, I might as well show up Wink

First, I apologize for my extended absense. December I got news that the company's sales were going down fast, and knew that my job would be on the chopping block should worse come to worse. So I doubled - no tripled my effort into work, leaving little time for anything else, in an effort to save my job.

Well, that didn't count for Jack. I got laid off last Thursday. I've been taking careful stock of my bills, my savings, and my severance package (thank God for something!). I've put in for another three months of hosting this afternoon, which considering this month's was paid for, brings us through July.

I happen to be fortunate that there is an EXTREME need for IT people in my area, but as I haven't worked IT before (Computer Engineering yes, but not IT), it may take me a while to find land a job. I'm hoping that it's not July long, but better safe than sorry.

Any help you can give will be appreciated. I'm hoping that I can find a job that will actually allow some free time so that I can get back to work on my Blackstar upgrade project. I'll let you know how things are.

~DP

Edit: Thanks Cirr for your generous Donation. That will help Blackstar stay up even longer. If I haven't found a job by then, I've got bigger issues than my hosting bill

Danikat · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 3:48 pm Post subject:

I can't be sure what exactly I'd be able to offer but I'll be donating something ASAP. Besides which I'm sure I still owe you for Ctopia.

3kul · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:35 pm Post subject:

Whilst this kind of news would normally prompt me to donate immediately, unfortunately for some bizarre reason Australia's dollar is doing especially terrible against the American dollar at the moment, and so any decent donation that I make would be a bit wasteful.

To give you some examples, a donation of US$20 costs me a bit more than AU$30, a donation of US$50 it would cost me almost AU$80. It's a little out of my budget, but if I were to donate AU$1,000 it would only be worth about US$660. It sucks, but the more I want donate, the more that is lost through currency conversion.

I will most definitely donate soon, but I would rather wait a little while in the hopes that maybe I can get Blackstar more for my pitiful Australian dollars.

As a slightly off-topic note, it's good to see you here on Blackstar again DP, and I'm sorry to hear that you lost your job.

Coolpikaaa · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:37 pm Post subject:

Friday the thirteenth. That irony is actually horrible.

This really sucks.

DP, you living comfortably is much more important than this forum could ever be. I hate to say this, but please don't pay anymore unless the money is covered and you really want to :S.

I hope I can find some money somewhere.

-coolpikaaa

Cloud · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 5:48 am Post subject:

Sorry to hear you lost your job, DP. I know how frustrating searching for a job is, although in my case I think not having any prior work experience was against me. Hope you get back on your financial feet soon. Wink

I shall probably donate some monies when July comes a-knocking (Ok, maybe June Razz

). I don't think our English pound is doing too well either 3kul - I'm sure the dollar is going slightly up in value while the rest are going down.

Cirrial · Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:56 pm Post subject:

Swix · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:24 am Post subject:

Wow, that's pretty rough, I hope you get a job again soon DP.

Violet · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject:

While I haven't been here in a while, I do give my condolences. I understand hosting can be expensive. Good luck with the job hunt, and don't let us stress you out, eh?

Treesprite · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 5:31 pm Post subject:

LordPsycho has posted to inform the populace of Creaturetopia of the situation as per his search for employment, and I hope they all respond well and with donations. I noticed when I dropped in to visit here that some of you weren't privy to some of the facts as posted to Creaturetopia citizens. In that vein, I thought I'd post here to let those of you uninterested in Creatures, but yet interested in all developments regarding Blackstar and LordPsycho know what's been discussed between myself and LP.