Out of the Blue [Feb 24, 2020, 11:56 am ET] – Share – Viewing Comments
Okay, as recently promised, we have launched a
pilot support campaign for Blue's News after many of you raised the topic when
we were once again dropped by Amazon's affiliate
program. This page
has all the details on what this is all about, much of which is covered by the
rest of this post as well. It explains our mission for this: "Your support will
allow us to remain completely independent from the influence of game companies,
media conglomerates, advertisers, and sponsored content."
Funds are being collected through PayPal and Patreon, and they work the same way, though if it affects your choice, it looks like PayPal takes less of a cut. You can sign up as a recurring supporter for USD$3, USD$5, or USD$8/month. This will entitle you to a forum badge designating you a bronze, silver, or gold supporter, respectively. You will also have the option of hiding your level of support or hiding your support altogether. Our informal poll revealed a general sentiment that readers are looking for a way to support the site on an ongoing basis without other tiered rewards, so that's how this is being handled for now. Also, while many of you use ad blockers already (one of the reasons this is necessary), we will add optional ad-blocking for contributors as quickly as possible. Those of you willing to sign on before that feature goes live will receive an extra designation as "founding" supporters. Update: Please be aware that forum badge assignment is a manual process. I handle these as quickly as possible, but under some circumstances there may be a delay.
You can also make one-time contributions through a separate PayPal link. You can also use Patreon to do this by pledging however much you want and cancelling your support after that goes through. Here's a note about that: Patreon requires a permanent decision up front of whether or not patrons get charged right away upon pledging. But recurring charges always come on the first of the month. So even though there are only a few days left until March, since this option cannot be changed, we have chosen to allow them to collect this upfront payment to allow for one-time pledges going forward. But everyone will still get a full 30 days membership for each monthly pledge regardless of their start date. So pledging today and getting charged on March 1st covers you until April 24th. Those who make one-time payments will still get a supporter badge for the length of time appropriate to the amount they pledge.
Feel free to ask questions or leave comments about this in the forums or by email, and sincere thanks to all of you who have expressed a desire to directly support the site in this manner.
Obituary: Katherine G. Johnson, the Groundbreaking NASA Mathematician Featured in Hidden Figures, Has Died at 101.
Funds are being collected through PayPal and Patreon, and they work the same way, though if it affects your choice, it looks like PayPal takes less of a cut. You can sign up as a recurring supporter for USD$3, USD$5, or USD$8/month. This will entitle you to a forum badge designating you a bronze, silver, or gold supporter, respectively. You will also have the option of hiding your level of support or hiding your support altogether. Our informal poll revealed a general sentiment that readers are looking for a way to support the site on an ongoing basis without other tiered rewards, so that's how this is being handled for now. Also, while many of you use ad blockers already (one of the reasons this is necessary), we will add optional ad-blocking for contributors as quickly as possible. Those of you willing to sign on before that feature goes live will receive an extra designation as "founding" supporters. Update: Please be aware that forum badge assignment is a manual process. I handle these as quickly as possible, but under some circumstances there may be a delay.
You can also make one-time contributions through a separate PayPal link. You can also use Patreon to do this by pledging however much you want and cancelling your support after that goes through. Here's a note about that: Patreon requires a permanent decision up front of whether or not patrons get charged right away upon pledging. But recurring charges always come on the first of the month. So even though there are only a few days left until March, since this option cannot be changed, we have chosen to allow them to collect this upfront payment to allow for one-time pledges going forward. But everyone will still get a full 30 days membership for each monthly pledge regardless of their start date. So pledging today and getting charged on March 1st covers you until April 24th. Those who make one-time payments will still get a supporter badge for the length of time appropriate to the amount they pledge.
Feel free to ask questions or leave comments about this in the forums or by email, and sincere thanks to all of you who have expressed a desire to directly support the site in this manner.
Obituary: Katherine G. Johnson, the Groundbreaking NASA Mathematician Featured in Hidden Figures, Has Died at 101.
| Supported Links: | Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam. |
| Link: | Fans grossed out by sex scene on 'The Walking Dead.' Thanks Yiddish. |
| Science: |
Physics undergrads crunched numbers for Star Trek’s tribble problem. Here's NASA's new idea to get its stubborn Martian drill to work. Thanks Acleacius. Nuclear weapons tech could allow scientists to 'hear' tornadoes. Thanks Yiddish. |
| Media: |
Avalanche in Colorado partially buries snowmobiler in 'terrifying'
video. Thanks Acleacius. Mesmerizing Kinetic Sculptures. Aquatilis-Under The Ice. |
| Follow-up: | "Watchmen" Reclassified As Limited Series. May mean more is coming. |
Sorry, I donated with one email account and signed up here with another 
. I'm not worried about the badge stuff.
I would add to the voices that suggest a pledge reminder in whatever timeframe you feel is appropriate.
thanks
. I'm not worried about the badge stuff.I would add to the voices that suggest a pledge reminder in whatever timeframe you feel is appropriate.
thanks
Dev wrote on Feb 28, 2020, 22:30:
Ugh patreon now has this email verify thing and of course they aren't sending emails to me. Going to have to open a ticket or something, and if they can't let me log in, I'll have to cancel my subs with them.
Anyways, I sent a year from paypal, and added a note with my email here.
Somehow I missed it when it first started, then I checked out various people with colored names and got to this page.
Thanks for doing this Blue!
No no, thank you and everyone else for participating. The support and the kind words you've all been sharing are amazing. You are a great bunch.
Sorry to hear about your headaches with Patreon.
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Ugh patreon now has this email verify thing and of course they aren't sending emails to me. Going to have to open a ticket or something, and if they can't let me log in, I'll have to cancel my subs with them.
Anyways, I sent a year from paypal, and added a note with my email here.
Somehow I missed it when it first started, then I checked out various people with colored names and got to this page.
Thanks for doing this Blue!
Anyways, I sent a year from paypal, and added a note with my email here.
Somehow I missed it when it first started, then I checked out various people with colored names and got to this page.
Thanks for doing this Blue!
deleted
This comment was edited on Apr 9, 2020, 02:27.
This comment was edited on Apr 9, 2020, 02:27.
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Kxmode wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 18:25:Ever had it? The taste can be very similar depending on recipes...RedEye9 wrote on Feb 25, 2020, 21:38:sweet potato pie?
Is that pumpkin or sweet potato pie.
ewww
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
Quinn wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 17:48:Bummer. Good luck on getting the situation rectified.
Right now I'm in a place where I took a new job that pays better but sucks ass so much that I'm probably going to be "between jobs" soon or else I'll go nuts. So yeah, rationing just to be safe for now.
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
deleted
This comment was edited on Apr 9, 2020, 02:27.
This comment was edited on Apr 9, 2020, 02:27.
"Listen, Peter... with great horsepower comes... the sickest drifts..." - source
Blue wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 11:40:Quinn wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 06:44:
I have too little money to support the gazillion of sites I wish to support. So I feel discriminated but mostly unsafe for not having a colorful nickname, showing everyone I'm a leech who enjoys but doesn't support Blue.
I am a hurt victim.
No worries Quinn, I totally understand. We have an option to hide your status for supporters, just feel free to claim that's what you're doing.
Imagine that
Neh, I promise I'll donate soon. I've been visiting this site since the day I got my own rig and internet connection and was searching for a reliable game news site. Right now I'm in a place where I took a new job that pays better but sucks ass so much that I'm probably going to be "between jobs" soon or else I'll go nuts. So yeah, rationing just to be safe for now.
Blue wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 11:40:I support Blues in part so that others with other commitments can still enjoy the site. So please don't feel discriminated against or guilty about it.Quinn wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 06:44:
I have too little money to support the gazillion of sites I wish to support. So I feel discriminated but mostly unsafe for not having a colorful nickname, showing everyone I'm a leech who enjoys but doesn't support Blue.
I am a hurt victim.
No worries Quinn, I totally understand. We have an option to hide your status for supporters, just feel free to claim that's what you're doing.
I do the same for Star Citizen with my multiple Legatus pack purchases.
Speaking of Star Citizen, at 100 comments, we've reached the Star Citizen threshold. I shall therefore initiate the ritual summoning: Derek Smart! Derek Smart! Derek Smart!
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Quinn wrote on Feb 26, 2020, 06:44:
I have too little money to support the gazillion of sites I wish to support. So I feel discriminated but mostly unsafe for not having a colorful nickname, showing everyone I'm a leech who enjoys but doesn't support Blue.
I am a hurt victim.
No worries Quinn, I totally understand. We have an option to hide your status for supporters, just feel free to claim that's what you're doing.
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
fakespyder wrote on Feb 24, 2020, 19:07:
This site has been my go-to for over a decade. Thanks for the Paypal one-time option. I hope this works out for you Blue.
Thank you for the support. I wrote you to ask what level of badge you desire, but have not seen a reply. Would you prefer Gold, Silver, or Bronze for the corresponding appropriate span?
Stephen "Blue" Heaslip
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
Blue's News Publisher, Editor-in-Chief, El Presidente for Life
I have too little money to support the gazillion of sites I wish to support. So I feel discriminated but mostly unsafe for not having a colorful nickname, showing everyone I'm a leech who enjoys but doesn't support Blue.
I am a hurt victim.
I am a hurt victim.
jdreyer wrote on Feb 25, 2020, 21:11:Is that pumpkin or sweet potato pie.emgarf wrote on Feb 25, 2020, 11:41:Dood, awesome. Also, sweet avatar pic. Now I'm hungry.
After 17+ years of lurking, I'm happy to subscribe.
JohnnyRotten wrote on Feb 25, 2020, 19:34:
Done and done
Nuthin rotten about you, Johnny!
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
emgarf wrote on Feb 25, 2020, 11:41:Dood, awesome. Also, sweet avatar pic. Now I'm hungry.
After 17+ years of lurking, I'm happy to subscribe.
If Russia stops fighting, the war ends. If Ukraine stops fighting, Ukraine ends. Slava Ukraini!
Done and done
Forum badge test, nothing to see here
No problem, glad you worked it out and were willing to contribute. 
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
Mr. Tact wrote on Feb 24, 2020, 18:52:Ghostface Killah wrote on Feb 24, 2020, 18:24:It isn't necessary -- just email Blue with saying the payment should be assigned to the email used here at the site. But if you want to change your email address here you can do so via the "User Settings" link on the left, then select "Modify User Details".
I’ve been coming here since it was Blue’s Quake Rag. This is a no brained to sign up. All the luck with this Blue and the site renovations!
Just curious, will there be a way to update my email address now on the forums to match the email I subbed to PayPal with?
Thank you Tact! How I overlooked this for so long I have no idea! Apparently I must have created another account under the correct email address because when I tried to change the email it informed me about this account. Logged in at it's already bronzed! I'm all set!
Paypal's conversion from US to CDN was pretty bad: a $60 USD donation became $88 CDN using their conversion factor while the true conversion is about $78. Their processing fee too, $4.81 USD. Yowza.
*edit: Paypal offers to let the credit card do the conversion, so that was avoided. Just a heads up for other Canadians.
*edit: Paypal offers to let the credit card do the conversion, so that was avoided. Just a heads up for other Canadians.
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