I've been involved in a many different businesses, mostly as owner, over the years. I sold produce along the road when I was 8, gleaned cornfields to earn the money to buy an English Racer when I was 9, and manufactured a small line of parts for hobby shops when I was 10. When my wife's websites needed better hosting at a reasonable price, we got our first server – and I started PDhomes so that others could share the server. Later, I added AmishHosting, and when Domania's server was vandalized, Craig's mother asked me to see if I could fix it.
I can't say hosting was always the most enjoyable of the businesses I've been in – working 24 hours straight to bring a server back from the dead is not much fun, and when I was a photographer, I once shot a Playboy playmate of the month – but helping people deal with the frustrations of using a computer or WebTV is rewarding, and almost every time I open an envelope with a check, or get a phone call, I appreciate the kind words people have offered me.
In recent years, attacks from spammers, scammers, script kiddies and vandals have increased to the point that the technical part of the job has become a real chore.
I promised Auline that I would do my best to run Domania as Craig would have, as a memorial to him. I've never been perfect, but in the past year, my health has limited my ability to give the kind of service I'd like you all to get. At this point, my wife has been pestering me to give up the hosting business, and my doctor has warned me that I need to retire or die.
Which is pretty much what they told me in 1994, when I retired the first time. I didn't mean to get so active again. I was just helping my wife with her business, and then things started to snowball.
I didn't want to see this hosting business in the hands of someone who didn't understand WebTV. At this point, less than 20% of the editing on sites is done with WebTV, but it's more than 20% of the sites – a lot of people do some editing with WebTV, some editing with PC. I thought it important to find someone competent to deal with both the technical and the business parts of the business, and important that it be someone who exhibited honesty and integrity.
Bert Pourchot is that someone, and he will be owner as well as operator of the business. While AmishHosting and PDhomes will be folded into ZboxHosting operation, D21C.COM and DOMANIA.US will remain separate.
Bert told me that one of the first things he intends to do is to set up a different Domania forum based on SMF, like the first forum I set up. I switched to Drupal because I couldn't figure out how to keep SMF secure, but he says he's solved that problem. That should be a welcome improvement. He also thinks he can improve on the billing system, which is something we sorely need.
As of February 1, checks and money orders should go to Bert at 214 Klenke Lane, Canyonville, Oregon 97417. If you mail payments to me, I'll just have to forward them to Bert.
Taking over Domania and AmishHosting and PDhomes, all at once, is going to be a bit of a shock to his wallet; I know these are tough times, but if you could get current and stay current, that would really help Bert out. And it's going to take a while for Bert to understand the Domania software, so please show him the same patience you extended to me when I first took over.
Thanks so much for making me a part of the Domania family. You've been great, and I will miss you.
A farewell
Paul, nothing's worth getting sick over. I thank you for all the work you put in to keep the service going. I hope you and your wife enjoy your new retirement for many years to come.
All the best,
Nightwing