Well, faithful readers, the Free Republic website has been up and down like a yo-yo over the past couple of weeks. I thought that maybe the hamster just died, but it seems to be more serious than that.
Apparently the entire steam-powered server system needs new copper tubing!
If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson [Jim's reply at post # 588]
freerepublic.com ^ | 1/11/11 | paulycy
Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:28:06 AM by paulycy
FYI -
Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.
===
"Well, I can say that there are definitely two things that will never happen. 1) Banner ads. 2) Oracle [a completely new database system.] And a third is a total replacement [of the current damaged system.] Don’t have the financial wherewithal."
"To those who wish to leave because of it, see ya."
"If FR dies, that’s that."
[To: paulycy]
Hey, you want us to get an all new system with all new software and add a few more pricey techs, system programmers and database administrators to keep it all working 100% of the time 24/7/365? Well, start coughing up the big bucks.
It’s going to take tens of thousands of donations and many with at least three zeros each after the comma to accomplish the task. And that would be EVERY month like clock work to make the payroll. Once you take on a big load of expensive overhead, there’s no going back. As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and there’s no guarantees we can cover this quarter’s expenses much less next quarter. We’re on a pay as we go system and we have zero employees.We just ask for enough to pay the bills.
Throwing more money at the problem won’t solve it. [This latest glitch] was a technical issue and we just had to keep troubleshooting until we found it. And no, we’re not going to invite a bunch of strangers in to get their hands on our secure systems.
And no, we are not going to throw out our software and rewrite it and no we’re not going to move on to some other database system. There are no guarantees that any other system can do a better job and not without hiring a staff to build and maintain it and that’s for sure. And we don’t have the financial wherewithal to do any of that anyway. Maybe if we had a couple million bucks at our disposal and a couple years to do it in we could build an iron-clad system. And maybe not.
All I can say is, if someone else can do it better and cheaper, then please step right on up and get ‘er done!! I’ll bow out and retire. Thankyouverymuch.
HEY!
Waitaminnit!
If these bozos lose their Speak-and-Spell-powered database...
I'm out of a gig!
No more mad Soros bucks! All the money I don't get paid to post here will dry up like Jimbo's colostomy bag!
Unless, of course, I plaster ads all over my clothes to support myself, but I'm not sure I could handle being rich.
To: paulycy
I’ll donate more when we start having banner ads. I live in a capitalist society. I have no problem with ads.
9 posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:39:29 AM by Mercat
You just gave Jimbo a coronary.
Besides - how do you decide who's too crazy to allow to buy ad space?
Do you draw the line at Orly Taitz's learn-as-you-earn dental school?
Or the Council Of Conservative Klansm....er, Citizens ?
To: CAluvdubya
Need a financial Knight in shining armor. Rush? Are you there?
28 posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:50:56 AM by TheRake
Dunno - are you a young boy in the Dominican Republic?
This is how little these yahoos know about their "heroes".
You'll get money from Rush Limbuagh the day you marry him, and not one minute before.
To: Celtic Cross
Whats the situation currently? Is death imminent for FR?
I honestly don't know. That is a mystery that Jim won't share. Part of me understands why and part of me wants to know what the heck is going on so that we can solve the problems and bring the money and manpower to bear on the situation as needed.
Jim is the owner of FR. We are merely donors. The problem comes in that we feel like shareholders in a company and should have the rights of shareholders. But we don't. That's the rub. We don't have a right to know what Jim knows because FR is his private property and not our company.
32 posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:54:13 AM by paulycy (The Constitution is a Formal Contract. Live up to it or lose your job, Congress.)
So you're not "shareholders", as much as "marks". Got it.
To: Celtic Cross; paulycy; Jim Robinson
Whats the situation currently? Is death imminent for FR?
This is what Jim said: As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and there’s no guarantees we can cover this quarter’s expenses much less next quarter. We’re on a pay as we go system and we have zero employees.We just ask for enough to pay the bills.
FR lives hand to mouth and Freepathons are taking longer to fulfill. It may be that sometime we won't complete a fundraiser and that will be that.
35 posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:56:16 AM by DJ MacWoW (America! The wolves are at your door! How will you answer the knock?)
As I said before, I have mixed emotions about this.
For more freeper hand-wringing, and some uncomfortable (for Jimbo) questions from a web designer about why it would cost so much money, and why having purges that cost you paying members wasn't such a good idea, please click through.