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***Crowchild Update***
15 years ago
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This is for the watchers of 
crowchild. If you're not a watcher of Crowchild, feel free to ignore this journal.
***WARNING*** Any and all nasty, rude, or unpleasantly phrased comments will be deleted, reported and blocked at my discretion. There will be no foulness on my page. We are adults, and if you can't play nice then you will be removed from the discussion by force.
***YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED***
Crow's system gray screened about a month ago. Research led us to the discovery that it was one of the poorer models Apple put out at the time -- one that had excessive overheating issues. Stress has now flayed that vindictive machine into scattered pieces. The computer is no more. Most if not all of the backups have been saved to an external, but we can't access it until we get the new system.
Fortunately we have my laptop, and Crow has been borrowing it to work on open source programs to practice art, work on commissions, and familiarize himself with a new system (his new computer will be a PC, and he's been raised on Apple). And with newer versions of Flash and Lightwave, he's taking the opportunity to learn all the new features. The problem is, my laptop was purchased for me, a writer, not a graphic artist -- it does not have the necessary capabilities he needs to do his work. So all he can do right now is practice, learn and wait until he gets the new set up.
Why can't we just pay for the new system and get it sent here? It's a long story.
To start, there have been extensive car issues. Over the winter, Crow's toyota froze in the 17 below freezing winter we had, and broke the engine. At the advice of my mechanic stepfather we bought a new car, and ended up sinking more than he let on into getting it road ready. It's a piece of shit, and there's no way around it. We lost the hood around February (it is still held on with bungee cords), and the drivers side door got smashed not long after that. There are journals in my archives that go into a bit more detail. Much of our savings went to that seemingly never-ending mess.
More of our savings went into a move. One of the factors in our decision to move was a woman got stabbed in our apartment complex on Thanksgiving. The other is that my sister was bullied by my parents into buying a house. We are living with her to help pay the bills. So far this arrangement is working out.
Crow also had four impacted wisdom teeth removed -- mentioned in my last journal. The pain had made working on anything all but impossible. The surgery went well and he's fully recovered now. This was a still setback.
To top it all off, our work has been unreasonably slow with money owed to us from months ago, and contacting them has been an endless stream of dead-numbers and phone-tag. We are getting our usual paychecks. The money owed to us is for out of town traveling expenses -- this is money we had to spend because we were out of town multiple times, sometimes up to a month -- money that has reduced what little savings we had left in the process. This isn't a small some of money owed to us either. It is more than enough to pay for the updated system and get us back into a slightly safer financial position. Trying to actually get the money is proving to be like pulling crocodile teeth.
Setting up the new pay system has been put on hold because the computer crashed. They need updates to the site for legal purposes, but other than that HTH Studios seems to have found a new home. So that's a bit of good news.
I'm very sorry for whatever frustrations these delays have caused you, just know that we share your pain. This is not what we want. Life is full of ups and downs, and we are now attempting to claw our way out of a down. I hope that you can be patient while we attempt to do so, because complaining about it won't help. Trust us, if complaining was all it took, we'd be out of this mess ages ago.
I just want you all to know that Crowchild is alive, and working as hard as he can. He understands and accepts that he's made some mistakes. We all make mistakes, some impact others more than most, but as long as we try to make amends and work hard toward that goal, there's not much else we can do. He also knows that there are lots of people who like his art and ideas, but we can only demand so much of an artist before that well dries up. Everyone has their limits, let's not push another artist to theirs.
Thanks to everyone who has been a support during these times. Your understanding and friendship has been beacon of hope during all of this.
***Extra*** I'm currently working online on projects, so I will be checking this journal to field questions, but I have submission deadlines I need to meet, so my appearance will be sporadic. Do not take this as free reign to be rude. I will still remove nastiness at my discretion. If I have to take time out of my writing to deal with childish behavior, I will do so -- but I won't be happy or pleasant about it. ***End***
crowchild. If you're not a watcher of Crowchild, feel free to ignore this journal.***WARNING*** Any and all nasty, rude, or unpleasantly phrased comments will be deleted, reported and blocked at my discretion. There will be no foulness on my page. We are adults, and if you can't play nice then you will be removed from the discussion by force.
***YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED***
Crow's system gray screened about a month ago. Research led us to the discovery that it was one of the poorer models Apple put out at the time -- one that had excessive overheating issues. Stress has now flayed that vindictive machine into scattered pieces. The computer is no more. Most if not all of the backups have been saved to an external, but we can't access it until we get the new system.
Fortunately we have my laptop, and Crow has been borrowing it to work on open source programs to practice art, work on commissions, and familiarize himself with a new system (his new computer will be a PC, and he's been raised on Apple). And with newer versions of Flash and Lightwave, he's taking the opportunity to learn all the new features. The problem is, my laptop was purchased for me, a writer, not a graphic artist -- it does not have the necessary capabilities he needs to do his work. So all he can do right now is practice, learn and wait until he gets the new set up.
Why can't we just pay for the new system and get it sent here? It's a long story.
To start, there have been extensive car issues. Over the winter, Crow's toyota froze in the 17 below freezing winter we had, and broke the engine. At the advice of my mechanic stepfather we bought a new car, and ended up sinking more than he let on into getting it road ready. It's a piece of shit, and there's no way around it. We lost the hood around February (it is still held on with bungee cords), and the drivers side door got smashed not long after that. There are journals in my archives that go into a bit more detail. Much of our savings went to that seemingly never-ending mess.
More of our savings went into a move. One of the factors in our decision to move was a woman got stabbed in our apartment complex on Thanksgiving. The other is that my sister was bullied by my parents into buying a house. We are living with her to help pay the bills. So far this arrangement is working out.
Crow also had four impacted wisdom teeth removed -- mentioned in my last journal. The pain had made working on anything all but impossible. The surgery went well and he's fully recovered now. This was a still setback.
To top it all off, our work has been unreasonably slow with money owed to us from months ago, and contacting them has been an endless stream of dead-numbers and phone-tag. We are getting our usual paychecks. The money owed to us is for out of town traveling expenses -- this is money we had to spend because we were out of town multiple times, sometimes up to a month -- money that has reduced what little savings we had left in the process. This isn't a small some of money owed to us either. It is more than enough to pay for the updated system and get us back into a slightly safer financial position. Trying to actually get the money is proving to be like pulling crocodile teeth.
Setting up the new pay system has been put on hold because the computer crashed. They need updates to the site for legal purposes, but other than that HTH Studios seems to have found a new home. So that's a bit of good news.
I'm very sorry for whatever frustrations these delays have caused you, just know that we share your pain. This is not what we want. Life is full of ups and downs, and we are now attempting to claw our way out of a down. I hope that you can be patient while we attempt to do so, because complaining about it won't help. Trust us, if complaining was all it took, we'd be out of this mess ages ago.
I just want you all to know that Crowchild is alive, and working as hard as he can. He understands and accepts that he's made some mistakes. We all make mistakes, some impact others more than most, but as long as we try to make amends and work hard toward that goal, there's not much else we can do. He also knows that there are lots of people who like his art and ideas, but we can only demand so much of an artist before that well dries up. Everyone has their limits, let's not push another artist to theirs.
Thanks to everyone who has been a support during these times. Your understanding and friendship has been beacon of hope during all of this.
***Extra*** I'm currently working online on projects, so I will be checking this journal to field questions, but I have submission deadlines I need to meet, so my appearance will be sporadic. Do not take this as free reign to be rude. I will still remove nastiness at my discretion. If I have to take time out of my writing to deal with childish behavior, I will do so -- but I won't be happy or pleasant about it. ***End***
Besides, Crow was the first person I started watching when I joined FA, I'd hate to see anything happen to him or his works go to waste. So I wish you two the best on your way back up.
No one here is giving up, his work won't go to waste, it's just not going as fast as anyone would like.
Thank you for your well wishes and support. ^^
Thanks for your support.
I shall keep posted so I can continue to hear this out. You guys can do it, remain strong!
I hate to sound like I'm only interested in that, and I hope I'm not coming off that way. If I am, I apologize. I mainly wanted to say how much I hope you guys get everything settled, and that I'm wishing you two all the luck. Keep us posted on how it goes, 'K?
Thanks for your support.
Sounds like you guys have been having a run of bad luck recently. Cars, Wisdom Teeth and stabbings... I hope you guys get better luck soon. and get the money your owed.
Thanks for taking the time to reply :D
Though, we have finally made progress on the money owed to us. We have a number that goes to a real person (so we're told) whom we will contact on Monday -- when their offices are open. Hopefully we will soon be getting those checks.
He has records of those who have paid him, and he has refunded a few people (per their request), but many are willing to wait. If people who did pay are willing to wait, then those who did not pay for anything should be content with that.
If people who did pay, insist on complaining, despite the offer of refunds, there isn't anything we can do. Some people insist on being difficult.
Still, it is highly suspecious that he has all these "Accidents" and the only time we got an update was when his paypal was frozen due to them recieving so many complaints about crowchild.
It would help his case greatly if he posted updates more, like his last journal being several months out of date.
There are over ten people who have not purchased things from Crow and are using the situation to make it worse. He has checked his records, and asked multiple times from each of these people that they supply him with the address/alternate address used to order the dvd at the time they claim. They have either ignored his requests or replied with undo hostility. Which makes it difficult to work with a person.
There are at least five people who have asked recently for refunds, which he does intend to pay, but considering the current circumstances, it will take some time.
Paypal froze his account because of the adult content, not because of complaints or payment issues. But someone did make Paypal aware that he was selling adult content. That was what froze the account -- it's as simple as that -- and Paypal has been extremely difficult in getting it reactivated, to a point where it's not even worth having one. Which is why he has gone to a different company. Once we have the new system he can make the necessary changes to the site to activate his new account.
The main reason why he hasn't posted updates was because his computer was dying. On a regular basis it over-heated and froze. He lost work constantly -- oftentimes while in the middle of saving. But he kept at it, because it was his only machine. Really, his computer couldn't handle uploading anything game or dvd related, and when it started to crash during pictures, he'd give up from all the frustration.
All that thing did was crash. He'd been trying to fix it since the beginning of the year -- it was even rebuilt and modified -- but every time it got a bit better, it would get a bit worse after a while. Then it gray screened, and now it's gone. As I mentioned in my journal, a lot of people have made statements to this model having extensive overheating issues, and we believe that was the root of the problem. Companies put out bad shit all the time, and sometimes it takes a while for people to find all the problems in any given product.
You can believe the accidents or not, but they're true. If it sounds unbelievable, then I don't know what to tell you, that's your decision to believe or not. I can't convince anyone of anything, only tell people what I know. I really wish that the situation was better, but sometimes things don't work how we plan. All we can do is keep trying until things work out.
I don't know why he chose to fave those things -- he probably only did them for my benefit, as those stories are mine and he'd read them way before I posted them. But it doesn't take that long to click fave, it takes much more time to post a journal update.
Crow won't be deterred by the naysayers, because he has so many projects he'd still like to do. He created High Tail Hall before anyone ever cared about him, and he'll continue to do art, because he's an artist, and that's what we do, we create.
but I hope you get out of your streak of bad luck soon. you must feel like your in the series of unfortunate events. :(
as for free ware, this site may help. http://www.freewarefiles.com/category/graphics.php
Thanks for the link, and your support.
I have heard several people say "It's ALMOST as good as photoshop, and it's free" and personally I use it from time to time for messing around it's pretty powerful from what I can see.
Best of luck! --> http://www.getpaint.net/
I have to admit I am ecstatic to hear he has backups of most everything saved externally. I know what it's like to have a system crap out and lose everything, and all I do is write the occasional poem. I feel bad hearing about the people who are just out to stir shit up though, I run a chatroom in my spare time and I know what It's like trying to deal with those kinds of folks, maybe not on the same level, But the basic problem is the same.
So, Tell crow to keep his chin up, and know that some of us DO understand That life has been hard, and we can wait, and even better, a few of us can truly Empathize with you.
As for paypal, I've always found it a bit ridiculous their rules on adult content. There has to be a better way for them to handle things than just disallowing it completely.
Everything will turn out alright, it always does.
Everything will turn out alright, it always does.
Everything will turn out alright, it always does.
Everything will turn out alright, it always does.
By SinForged
To Succeed one must keep Trying
Only when you stop Trying do you Fail
To Fail means you’re Resolve has faltered
When your Resolve falters it may be time to change your Goal
Your Goal is what determines your Path
There is always time to change your Path on the road of Life
Life is shaped by those with Freedom
Freedom is only obtained by those who Succeed
I made this by the way... Anyway this is the first time I've posted anything I've made on the internet... So, I ask everyong to please not plagiarize
my work... Thank you... Anyway keep on trying, and don't give up! Oh, and I look foward to more awsome work from crow! I actually just added him to my watched artists... I did before, but things were pretty heated on the shout box so I didn't want to make another breeding ground for trolls... They seem to notice every little change, and if they saw someone new in the, "Is being watched by..." box... yeah I unwatched him, because of the fact that going on to my profile after whatever amount of time and seeing trolls spaming the shout box... I'll admit it's a bit parinoid but I was having a rough time... Anyway now things should calm down at least a bit, and they won't notice the new username... Besides I'm feeling better now, so it really wouldn't bother me! ..Damn this has gotten kinda long, eh? Any best of luck to ya!
"So, I ask 'everyone'..." How'd that happen...? lets see... 'e' key... over here... 'g' key... over... 0_0" WTF... Ok... anyway only noticed one other one in the quick glance through... (Not sure if I'm spelling everything right in this post, but after this I'm done...)
"'Anyway' best of luck to ya!" Yeah... Again WTF... *sigh* I really need to start watching what I'm doing when I type something... Anyway that's the mistakes I noticed though being born in the golden age of spell check... or at least from what I remember I from my childhood... (I seem to 'makeup' alot of memories or mix them up, without even realizing it... I lie about my past to myself... Sad, but true...) Anyway, that's just what stood out to me... And that's why it bugged me so much, I normally don't notice much... If I notice a misspelling, then it really bugs me... Other then that, I stand by the phrase "Ignorance is bliss" at least for me... Anyway again I prattle on endlessly... *sigh* I need to learn to stop typing whatever pops in my head... Anyway sorry for clogging up the comments with my ranting, but that spelling was really bugging me... God, the internet needs a spell check... Other then google...
"...what I remember from my childhood..." I put an extra 'I' in there... *sigh* Sorry... God, if there 'is' a edit feature, and I just can't find it, I'm going to die of shame... V.V ... 0.o ... There isn't a edit feature for this...? Right...? <_< >_> ...Oh man I hope not... I really would look dumb then... ...I just jinxed myself didn't I...?
FOUR wisdom teeth at the same time? Ouch.
I hope you are passing on all the positive wishes from everyone, or at least saying "people are still cheering you on, Crowchild!" Sounds like things are getting better slowly and surely, and I can only say that when HTH Studios takes off again, its going to be huge!
All I can say is, I wish he'd gotten back to me sooner. It's been over two years now since I'd commissioned and paid him, (well over $200 for a piece) and I was left to only wonder what the heck happened.
Now that I know, all I can say is I wish you good luck clawing yourselves out of the situation you find yourselves in and I do look forward to my commission whenever it's FEASIBLE for him to do so.
I had to say it.
Sucks that shit's rough for ya guys. It's happening to a lotta people, but shit's getting better for everyone these days, hopefully it's getting better for you guys, too. Stay alive!
"Get up. Move forward. Keep moving."
Some people payed for this.
There has been no sign of progress.
People are getting pissed (some justified, others...not so much).
What would really just make everyone happier are more consistent journal updates.
I realize from a succeeding post you have tendinitis, but if that's the case, let Crow on yours to update a bit (assuming he doesn't want to deal with everyone on his page yet) though, if not, then we'd all be fine with your regular updates anyway when you get better.
My point is that a steady flow of information letting people know that there is actually someone caring about people's interest and financial obligations to this project is a GOOD thing.
I sympathize for your troubles, both of yours.
I still think to myself there may have been a better option somewhere along the line, but that's in the past, and it's now not important.
Get better, and just PLEASE, please give us an update when possible.
Even if nothing's happening, we just want someone out there saying that they realize that we're all waiting.