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Unfortunate Announcement

Posted on November 12th, 2004 by Shane

It had been brought to my attention previously that my current host, BlogHosts is closing down. This left me with a problem, but not one I found to be as inconvenient as it truly is. It appears that I have until January 1st to find hosting elsewhere, which is not a problem. However with the holiday season coming up, it is looking to be a problem.

I do not want to say “screw my visitors,” however at the same time I do not want to say “screw my friends and family.” I know that hosting for a year only costs roughly $150, but at Christmas time that could be someone’s big gift. So I have come up with a solution, if I can get 600 visitors to donate a quarter, this problem can be licked.

I get roughly 500 unique hits a day, so this means if everyone of you can afford to donate 25 cents I can move to a different host, and still provide my friends and family with the Christmas I wish to provide them. This problem could be solved in a matter of days. However I am realistic enough to realize not every visitor is dedicated enough, or has the funds to do so.

What I ask from all of you is that you help keep this site up and running, I love working on it as much as you all enjoy viewing it. However, with December 25th coming quickly, that $150 is better put elsewhere. If I raise $100 of this I will swing for the difference, however if I will re-deposit whatever you donate to me into your PayPal account.

Sorry for the bad news, and I hope that this goes accordingly.

By the way, the host I am considering switching to is DreamHost, I would like to hear what people have to say about them, and possibly other alternatives (they must accept PayPal).

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More Opinions on Unfortunate Announcement

Dreamhost is a good pick, I’ve been happily hosted (their slogan) with them for well over two years now. I love the control panel where you can fiddle with just about any settings by yourself. Helpdesk response rate is pretty quick, too. They also have a rewards program. Btw, my referral ID is johanka.
That was shameless, wasn’t it?

– Johanka
What bandwidth do you you use per month? How much space do you need?

/might be able to help you with hosting for free… email me.

– Chris Gwynne
Bandwidth isn’t too bad here. Right now I have two domains on this host, and unmatched <style> is the big one.

Bandwidth can go from as low as 1.5 GB one month then shoot up to over 5 gigs the next, it isn’t really a stable figure. As far as space, I need room to grow, but I don’t need an excess. I don’t think in 2 years I could even hit the 500 Meg mark.

Also, I would like to thank Paul Haine for his genrous donation of $5.00.

* Update/Edit *

Thank you: Brady Frey for your more than generous donation of $20.00.

– Ryan Latham
Gonna get my donation right now — and again, This guy keeps posting up your site, I have no idea why, I’ve been trying to figure it out

As for host, I prefer Lunarpages — I’ve had tones of problems with other hosts, and I switched everyone I manage over to them, and they’ve been prestine for the past two years — they respond with IT requests in under an hour half the time!

– Brady J. Frey
Hello Ryan,

I could be hosting your sites with those BW and space requirements. Either permanently or while you put the 150 together. Please let me know. Would be glad to help.

– Manoloweb
www.midphase.com check out that host its really good value and unmetered bandwidth.

– Oscar
There’s no such thing as unmetered bandwidth.

– Chris Gwynne
Hmm, well there do seem to be some catches.

I just found this website through Web Standards Planet and would love to donate, but as a high school student, I dont really have access to my own credit card/PayPal acct. Good luck!

– Matt Widmann
Whoops, didnt see that popup window JS there.

here

– Matt Widmann
Well, I have to get a plug in for my guys: www.CanadianWebHosting.com. I’m not affiliated, but I am a client and I find their service to be excellent!

I’ve got the cheapy plan and they treat me great. I would assume that the Canadian rates would help you out as well.
PS, your comment form doesn’t seem to like my link…or my line breaks either…

– Dave P
$5 has been sent. Good Luck

– Bryan
I may recommend textdrive.com, run by Dean Allen.
I’ve heard people talk highly of it, and am considering moving myself.

– Indranil
DreamHost, TextDrive and Segment publishing are your best bets.

– Sime Ramov
If you consider going for Segment publishing (http://www.segpub.com.au), I’d be more than happy to donate.

– Allen
Why would you only donate if he supports your organization? Had every non-profit agreed to special interests for their donations, I’d think we’d lose a biased opinion.

– Brady J. Frey
I have no affiliation with Segpub. I am a paying customer. I’m simply a fan of their company’s ideals and work philosophy.

– Allen
Then why would you offer a donation with strings attached? I’m not saying it to cause an issue, but it seems a little odd if you’re willing to help someone out… but only if they choose your path. It would make sense to me more if you are on an affiliate program, or have a connection with the company — then you’re not offering charity, you’re giving a sales pitch in the guise of helping someone out.

– Brady J. Frey
To Brady: If you were to ask me to donate money for your music purchase, I’d say I’d be glad to donate if it’s jazz music. If you asked me to donate money for your dvd collection, I’d say I’d be glad to donate if it’s for “Lost in Translation or Amelie”. If you asked me to donate money for your computer purchase, I’d say I’d be VERY happy to donate if it’s a Mac. You have made my offer seem rather sinister which I find unsettling.

– Allen
Because you’re offering to help fund his community project, so long as he agrees to your terms — which I find support with strings attached. While Jazz or Amelie are depth bound artistic products, you’re comparing that to hosting. Neither that, nor buying a Mac, are comparable to putting up a source of content for the world to see, without compensation. If you want to help someone, then help them — don’t offer your help only if it is within your guidelines. That would be understandable if you were giving someone money to spend on a crack habit, but otherwise it sounds like corporate marketing rather than charity.

Why would you only offer him money if he chooses that hosting then over other hosts? Because you like it, and that’s it? Why wouldn’t you offer money if he chooses another host?

I’ve been using macs for over 7 years now, love them to death, but if I had someone who needed a computer for their livelihood, I wouldn’t say ‘I’d donate if you bought a mac’… I’d offer suggestions as to what I thought was the best purchase and why, but if I really wanted to help them, I’d donate regardless.

– Brady J. Frey
Brady: “if you are on an affiliate program…”
We’ve already cleared that up, I’m not associated with the aforementioned hosting company. However, your accusation can make visitors feel uncomfortable.

Brady: “you’re not offering charity…”
Nowhere in my comments nor Ryan’s announcement did it mention of the word “charity”. I’m making a donation. There is a difference.

Brady: “sales pitch in the guise of helping someone out…”
To make a sales pitch, I’d need something to sell.

Brady: “giving someone money to spend on a crack habit…”
Your words can be extreme and rather hurtful. By your analogy you have made me and possibly others associate me with crack.

Brady: “it sounds like corporate marketing rather than charity…”
This is a fund raiser, a donation. Not a charity. There is a difference.

Brady: “if I had someone who needed a computer for their livelihood,
I wouldn’t say ‘I’d donate if you bought a mac’…”
Did I say the computer was for their livelihood? For all you know that computer could be to enhance his home theatre experience. Twisting, adding or blowing a scenario out of context is wrong.

– Allen
I dont understand your problem Brady. I think your forgetting that Allen doesnt have to offer money at all. The fact that he has is commendable. And im sure that Ryan isnt there jumping up and down saying “quick, lets move to segpub just so we can get allens donation” but rather might be investigating.

I cant see how allens suggestion is ‘Corporate Marketing.’ After all, he’s not benefiting from convincing this site to move to segpub. In fact, if it does, allen will be out of pocket however much he is willing to donate.

Anyway, Ryan, you should consider moving to segpub. they are top notch.

– Alistair
i don’t think it’s wrong what allen has said. there really aren’t any strings attached to his offer. he’s not forcing anyone to use segpub, he just wants to see his money go for a good cause. i don’t blame him either, i just switched to segpub, it’s a pretty well run host.

allen just wants to see the money go to a good cause, and he’s not alone, others have been suggesting hosts too. the only problem you have is that he’ll only donate if ryan chooses segpub. also, there have already been 2 hosting offers for free, so ryan has plenty of choices.

i’m just thinking it’s not so bad to want your money to go to a good cause, that’s all allen wants.

– ak
Wow…I disappear for a day, and the world goes ballistic on this post.

Without being too rude, the way you a lot of you have worded things is a lot different than what you are trying to convey.

I’ve seen a lot of “consider,” which may not accurately portray what you want to state. I can consider a lot of things. I can consider smoking crack, doesn’t mean I am going to. I can consider drinking Budwiser, but I am a Coors guy. I can consider Sugpub, however consideration is not a guarantee.

The bottom line is consideration means to put thought into. Now I can consider Segpub, and after hearing many people say good things about them, it has swayed my thought. However, I sill am considering DreamHost based on many people past and present who have had nothing but good things to say about them.

I have also taken into consideration many of the other alternatives brought to my attention. Yes consideration is a very odd thing. No one stops considering something until the final decision is made.

I see where Brady has his quarrel, however I see Allen’s right to state what he state. It’s like the bum on the street who asks you for spare change for food, you feel like you should, yet you wonder if he will truly spend it on food. Will he end up at the liquor store instead?

The fact of the matter is everyone has their right to a choice. I have my right to a choice of hosts, Allen has his right to choose wether or not their are stipulations to his funds. And everyone has the right to choose to donate or not.

In the end it all is based on what you find to be the best solution for the problem. If I find segpub to be the best decision, I will undoubtedly go with them. However, if I find another choice to more suit my needs, well the pattern is obvious.

Now off the rant topic, I would like to say that I had a little bit of good fortune come my way. I graduate December 2nd with my Associates in Web Development. Now I don’t expect it to be like a high school graduation where everyone and their brother gives you money (especially considering my upbringing and location), however I am expecting to see a couple more bucks thrown my way.

This will of course be used for the hosting. I’d like to see at least another $10 in donations by December 10th, however I will truck on no matter what.

I think deep down even if people hadn’t donated I would have pinched pennies to keep this site (it keeps me sane sometimes). But the fact that people were willing to donate their money to the site touched me in a way that if it were a woman I would say “a little lower.” Well, all joking aside I will find a way to keep this site up, because of you guys.

The visitors. I enjoy doing this (by the way version 3) is looking to kick some major ass, but I do it mostly for you. And the response I get from you. And the response to version 2 has been tremendous enough, daily visits have almost doubled. I am looking to shatter that with 3 (you can expect a more Stylegala approach because David is a genius and I love what he has done).

Was that a comment or a book?

– Ryan Latham
I can see your opinion Allen, and I’m going to stop short of turning this into a brawl out here — I commented on your site for you; I don’t see any need to pick apart your statements piece by piece — we can both play that game for hours (a love and hate of the internet).

I apologize if I came off abrupt and aggressive - though I still feel that my comments were just, Ryan is spot on — we have our right to our own opinion.

– Brady J. Frey
Hello Ryan, I’m sorry to hear that this problem has arrised. I enjoy visiting the site very much and would hate to see it go. I have a suggestion for a host for you though. Myself and a couple of other fellow bloggers are using A Small Orange for hosting. Their prices are very attractive and the support and customer service has been great. I’m not sure how much space or bandwidth you need, but take a look at there packages. If I can spare a couple of bucks, I’ll be sure to send it your way to help out. Take care and happy holidays.

– Shawn Grimes
Hey guys.

Sorry to hear the news bout the hosting company.
I can help you with a very good hosting company for less then half a price. I lredy have an account with’em and it’s grea!

Let me know if you want to have some details about it.

Your website rocks!

Oded

– OJ
Ouch - that sucks about the host.

Without coming off like a total ass-hat, I strongly STRONGLY suggest ServerSeed.com. I have never had a problem with them at all, ever. When I have a question, they respond 24/7 usually within an hour. Even at 3 in the morning! Their plans are incredibly cheap, and they do take PayPal.

I swear I don’t work for them - I’m just really that impressed.

– Jeff Clark
Do you require a mirror or even free hosting?

I can offer you unlimited webspace and bandwith.

Drop me a email if you are intrested.

– Kyle Hudson

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