I don't like liars and thieves, or people who pull a bait and switch

My son spotted a game Steam was selling a game, under the guise of "Pre-Order to save money!" that he requested for his birthday. So, I purchased it for him.

Imagine how we felt when just 6 weeks later, they are selling the game for $20 less and it's a deluxe edition with game packs and addons.

.Hereby transpires my emails to them, their lame assed reply, and my rebuttal.

1 « Message by you on Sat, 29th May 2010 7:31 pm »
I pre-ordered this game as a gift for my son. The adverts gave the impression that to pre-order would save money. Now find that you are NOW selling it for $46 and you get extra games and the deluxe edition of the game.

Not happy at all about this. Had I known you were going to drop the price by so much in just a month or so, and have gotten the entire shebang.

Lame assed reply:

2 « Message by Rudy on Sun, 30th May 2010 1:35 pm »
Hello Sandra,

Thank you for contacting Steam Support.

The terms of the transaction, including the price, were outlined at the time of your purchase. Unfortunately, our billing system is automated and we have no option to offer a partial refund on a game or to apply a credit to your account.

We apologize for any inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding.

My rebuttal:

3 « Message by you on Sun, 30th May 2010 4:25 pm »
Hello Rudy,

Thank you for contacting me.

No inconvenience, but what you did is called a either a "bait and switch" or "sandbagging". You sold the game under the guise that pre-ordering would save money, then turned around and sold a deluxe version for less. You should have offered an upgrade to those who have purchased the lesser version, especially since the game was purchased 6 weeks ago. I don't want a refund.

The excuse of blaming your billing department is lame. I, and the person I purchased the game from, will inform others to not fall for your 'pre-order early to save!' line, and with the word of mouth, especially with online gamers like we are, it will spread.

We apologize for the inconvenience, and appreciate your understanding.

Unfortunately, I was right

Doing another 3.5 hrs of walking around yesterday was too much. Everything from mid-lower back on down was a train wreck. I caved in and took some pain meds, pre-warmed the bed, crawled into it before 10pm, and passed out until almost 9am.

Anyone who knows me knows how unusual that is.

Anyhooo, I got up... slowly, and have been hobbling around the house, using walls to keep me upright. Can't find my old cane, or I would be using that instead.

Maybe *now* he will understand that forcing me to walk up a lot of stairs, up inclines, and ground pound on cement sidewalks for over three hours isn't going to make me all better. It's going to set me back. But you know, I wouldn't hold my breath.

Wow, I am exhausted

But very happy.

Mega Thanks to Bunny_M for taking me to Perth Zoo, and for understanding that my mind wants my legs to run, but a slow steady walk is all they can both do.

Got many good photos, but if I am going to use the telephoto lens, I really need to bring my monopod.

Dayam that Estuarine Crocodile aka Simmo the Salty is a biggun, and it's only 4 meters long! (yeah, right, only).

Bunny, this is the panoramia I made. Full sized image is 40 megs.

It must be that time of the year, because we saw many birds exhibiting courting behavior.

Black Spoon Bills

As much as I fully say kids have the right to visit the Zoo, parents really need to teach them manners. Headed into a few places, where there are signs that say "SHHHH", and the kids would go clomping through, hollering, screaming and yelling. Too many little girls allowed to shriek for no reason in an enclosed building isn't easy on the ears of humans, so can only imagine how the Ghost Bats felt. Also, chasing the birds isn't really all that cute.

And then there was the idiot, that in spite of all the "THIS IS A SMOKE FREE PLACE" signs all over the place, lighting up, and attempting to cup it in your hand to hide it is stupid. The smell of it is very distinct, as is this photograph I took of you trying to hide it.

Even with the screaming kids, and idiot smokers, I still had a great time. And I hope to do it again soon.

Ziggy and Loki

Even though Ziggy isn't snuggling up to Loki, she is never far from him. I think if we move her 'comfy cloth' closer and closer, she will find "Mutually Assured Warming" is a good thing.

Ziggy's eye is improving on a daily basis. There is only a slight difference in the color of the graft compared to the rest of the eye.

Here she is with her favorite 'victims': A roll of paper towels, the phone, a battery charger (whohuhwha?) and an empty treat can. Love the look on Loki's face. How dare she disturb his nap!

KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!

Interesting question he asked

Aikidomayland asked me, two weeks after the fact, how could I watch my arm being tattooed, and why didn't I flinch when it hurt.

"Dear, after waking up in screaming agony, clawing at the brick walls pain, the slight sting of the tattooist needles was nothing."

Decision time

At the none to gentle insistence of family and friends, I applied to enter some artwork for NatCon50. I submitted a few pieces as my 'job application' and they were accepted.

Now, I am going through all of my digital work. The titles of the ones in the running for submission so far are:

String Theory Rose, Proxima Station 2 ,Anime Mask Graphic Design, Objects May Appear to be Closer, Kneeling Moon Child, Contagion, Seed of Life and Helios Flaring.

Next, will have to check photographs, or maybe even start a project specifically for NatCon50

And he wonders why

The Great Nubbin Hunt hasn't gone all that well, due to the umm selective amnesia of
Aikidomayland
. I wanted to go before pillaging yesterday as I knew that over 2 hours of pillaging (that includes shopping, putting things away, etc) we would be too tired to go out and about.

He kept saying it wouldn't be a problem, so after we came back, put everything away, I waited and waited. He came in and said (care to guess? Nah, too easy) he was tired so could we do it tomorrow.

Silly me, I agreed. So, today, I got up early got everything ready and waited... and waited... and waited. I remind him about it and he nods, and I see him getting into street clothes. So I wait. He starts to fix himself lunch. So I wait. Then he starts watching a movie??!! WTF?

I got angry. Not loud angry, but that cold quiet. That don't-you-dare-even-look-at-me quiet. Suddenly he's all "What?"

When I mention his selective amnesia, he suddenly remembers and off we go! Of course, the shots are rushed, not too great, and I didn't get to most of the well known Perth/Fremantle landmarks.

So, after we came home, and I calmed down, I said "So there is no misunderstanding, I want to go to Perth city, to certain known landmarks, ie the Bell Tower, the 'Giant Cheese Grater", the odd funky modern sculpture, maybe the Zoo." and a few other places.

I'm gonna see about getting into Perth, and maybe the Zoo, and to not let
Aikidomayland
sabotage yet another thing he isn't to interested in doing. So, if there are any
Sanctuary
fans out there local to me, who would like to play, let me know?