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I spoke with PayPal support today regarding the upcoming removal, on September 23, of the back-up funding source for the PayPal Business Debit MasterCard*. I was told I was not the only PayPal customer objecting to this new policy and for similar reasons. I am hoping the cacophony of user complaints will stop this policy change. I know PayPal makes money on my transactions, even with my 1% cash-back. But this change will eliminate 99% of my PayPal transactions. * With a back-up funding source, you do not need a PayPal balance to make purchase with the card, it will draft from your funding source. This essentially turns the card into a pass-through debit card, earning you cash-back and allowing a little more distance from your bank for security. As well, if you accept payments via PayPal, those funds are instantly available to you via the card. This is has huge utility for business. (And personal, just never let them know you are using it for personal purchases.)

Not jumping ship* I have this question: What other forums are good for Atari news and conversation? * (but realizing I shouldn't put all my eggs in one basket... )

I'm probably not going to make up for not publishing any Artie episodes for nearly a year in just one night... but here's another one: https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18671-those-alexa-enabled-twerking-teddy-bears-aint-cheap/ I had these written months ago when the "Last Chance" sale was announced, but never got around to publishing them. Strike while the iron is cold!

Now that AtariAge is owned by a heartless corporation, how long will it be before Al gets replaced with AI?

I'll be honest, I found the news a little depressing. At least I broke the bank with my "last chance" orders.

Artie's back. And he's got some catching up to do... https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18664-well-about-those-homebrews/

I want a pony!

"Tonight on 'It's the Mind', we examine the phenomenon of deja vu. That strange feeling we sometimes get that we've lived through something before..." https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18670-always-look-on-the-bright-side-of-life/

Artie's back. And he's g... wait, didn't I do this already? https://forums.atariage.com/blogs/entry/18666-we’re-just-a-little-behind/

Both Edge and Chrome have added ad tracking on their most recent updates. Take 2 minutes and turn them off to keep some level of privacy. Also, don't buy the hype about Brave.

Well that's some interesting news today, haha

My reaction to today's AA news https://youtu.be/0EOBrsioPgw

(Originally posted https://decafbad.net/2023/09/07/atari-sa-acquires-atariage/) Apparently the folks that currently own the Atari SA hot-potato of "intellectual property" and trademarks have acquired AtariAge. On the face of it this is an incredibly positive merger. Al has been a long-standing member of the Atari community and runs an excellent forum for discussion about all things Atari. He's also been instrumental in providing a place for Atari Homebrew Authors to get physical Atari Cartridges made for their software. However... I've also been around the block a few times. I've seen companies suddenly get very interested in old IP because they feel there's a market for it. Atari themselves have a long history (post Jack Tramiel) of not wanting others playing in their sandbox. The community of AtariAge was able to withstand many of these challenges simply because it's the largest number of folks that still have nostalgia and feelings for the Atari systems. Piss off the AtariAge folks and you essentially burn the Atari brand to the ground. And therein lies the question I have for the "new-and-improved" Atari SA: how are you planning to be stewards of this community. They've already hired Al as a full-time employee (Good!) and appear to be leveraging the efforts of the community toward making new hardware and software (also good!). But good stewards of the community will prioritize the community over their own financial interests. At what point will Atari SA start sending out cease-and-desist orders to software preservation efforts? At what point will it become more difficult to be a member of the community because you didn't happen to have a large-enough checkbook to buy the Atari SA rights when they were available. And what happens when the Atari SA portfolio gets passed on to someone else who believes only their brand can be stewards of the community, not the community itself. I feel that it's Atari SA's responsibility to enact non-revocable licenses for the old Atari IP and allow the community to continue operating as it has. These licenses could effectively codify the tacit agreements that have existed between Atari SA and the community. It would create a much more equitable partnership an already flourishing community to do more for not only the legacy of the old Atari but also the current owners. I'm hopeful for the future but also skeptical. I'm getting the same uneasy feelings that I get when it's time to pack up my nostalgia and move on. Treat me as an equal and we can do great things together. Treat me as a customer and my priorities shift dramatically. Hoping for the best in all of this.

We're glad you're here!

If anyone asks, I'm not jumping ship until something bad actually happens. Period. I love AtariAge too much to abandon the forums now. Love y'all. ❤️

First full game of Dark Cavern on my flashback portable.

If you anticipate wanting to contact me, please note my email address andrew@taswegian.com Although a knee-jerk reaction, I have considered how I would respond once this sale/acquisition was confirmed. I'm not interested in any way supporting Atari. They did wrong by me and it still smarts. So I expect I may disappear from this site. I'll mull over it for a few days. But basically, fuck it.