The FuzzyBlog!
Marketing 101. Consulting 101. PHP Consulting. Random geeky stuff. I Blog Therefore I Am.

Tuesday, July 30, 2002

Wow!  No More PC Magazine? From Linux & Main: Ziff Davis, a publishing leviathan which has and has had a strong presence in computer periodicals, might declare bankruptcy by week's end, according to a published report. ZD, according to the report, has been telling advertisers that it is likely to declare bankruptcy this week. The story cites three unnamed sources said to be familiar with the situation. Earlier, the company ceased publication of its "Yahoo! Internet Life" magazine and five other of its publications.. The talk of bankruptcy follows failure of a debt restructuring plan to achieve needed backing from the holders of company debt. The Chapter 11 restructuring, the company hopes, will allow it to survive. The company has shut down all but nine of its magazines in recent months, consigning six of its titles to history. The new plan for ZD's survival, according to the report, involves additional focus on gaming and youth-related topics, and less on mainstream technology. Ziff Davis publications include PC Magazine, eWeek, CIO Insight, Baseline, Extreme Tech, Official U.S. Playstation Magazine, Xbox Nation, Electronic Gaming Monthly, GameNow, Computer Gaming World, and Microsoft Watch. The success of Ziff Davis's restructuring depends on the continued loyalty of advertisers, which is not assured should the bankruptcy move forward. Though Ziff Davis founded ZD Net, a site familiar to computer professionals and hobbyists, the site is now published by CNET. To me this is the end of an era if it comes true.  I pretty much started my very first marketing in the high tech industry with a 1/4 page ad in PC Magazine in October 1987.  Wow.  Shocking. 7:08:52 AM  Google It!  comment []   IM Me About This

Hi.... You're Dumb.  Have a Nice Day The idiocy that is all too often found in automated systems that companies implement never fails to amaze me.  Afternic, a web site which lets you resell domain names, just sent me the email below.  Among other problems, here's what I see as huge issues: Didn't tell me which name Didn't tell me how to put it back Didn't give me a link to do anything -- even just go to their site. Sheeesh.  IMHO, they are dumb.  19 lashes with a wet noodle for this VP of Engineering. -----Original Message----- From: Afternic.com [mailto:escrow@afternic.com] Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 5:19 PM To: Scott Johnson Subject: Your Auctions Dear Scott, Because of inactivity, Afternic has de-listed 1 of your names for sale. There is no charge to place de-listed names back on sale at Afternic, and you may do so immediately. Afternic has insituted this program to ensure that all information on domain name sales is up-to-date and accurate. Thank you for your assistance in improving our data quality. Best Regards, Afternic 6:01:52 AM  Google It!  comment []   IM Me About This