Posted on 01/11/2011 5:28:06 AM PST by paulycy
FYI -
Here are statements from Jim about the future of FreeRepublic.com for those who missed them. They are quite serious.
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"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."
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[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. John has been programming since he was 14 and he’s pushing 40 now. He built these systems and he’s an expert in them.
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.
Hit it boys:
https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/
And no, we have no plans of taking FR commercial. I like it the way it is. Not sure I could handle getting rich.
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- Jim Robinson
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2653583/posts?page=168#168
FR is currently seriously underfunded. This is something we FReepers can do something about.
Comments? Suggestions?
Donate:
I’m here to the bitter end, which I hope never comes. This is a very necessary outlet!
I am a daily contributor. That won’t change! :)
I couldn’t give much but if a Michigander who lives hand to mouth like myself could give $10, its pretty hard to deny that everyone couldn’t pitch in $5 or $10.
So anyhow did the recent fix purge a pre-existing bug from the system? At least that was progress.
I can’t see messing with Oracle or any commercial data base manager which would require bringing in “strangers” for support, for the same reason.
I’m here to the end with you, money’s tight, but did manage $10.00
...my monthly “payday” is tomorrow.
I can relate having programmed for about 35 years, always build from scratch, build it to last, not to throw away and start over every couple of years. My only suggestion is to stay the heck away from Oracle.
I’ll donate more when we start having banner ads. I live in a capitalist society. I have no problem with ads.
I’m with ya to the end, if I need to step up my monthly, let me know. I am, of course, going to get the FreeRepublicNews site up, and that will take currency and time, but in addition to that, I can assist here at Free Republic.
In short, I’d hit it.
What is ‘oracle’?
Commercial database, expensive, bloated, complicated.
Actually, I really wish every user would give $1/month. Then we'd be flush!
Would it help to get rid of the superfluous forums? The Religion forum, for one, brings nothing but heartache and endless stabs in the face.
Oracle is not an option. It usually isn’t. Way overpriced for what it does, more hype than substance.
“...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”
That’s very true in general in the software industry; changing X for Y without knowing first if it will do better is a bad idea.
What’s the FreeRepublicNews site? Will it be separate from FR?
Oracle is an expensive, commercial database system used to hold all the information FR stores.
Most of the internet is NOT run on such an expensive system. Moving FR to such a system would be controversial even if we were rich (which we're not.)
bttt
There's a bunch of long term members who are IT professionals...it seems like one of the proven-trustworthy of them should be let in as a volunteer....if only as a second pair of eyes.
John's done a terrific job: I'd hate to see everything go up in smoke due to circumstances.
Wow, that is funny.
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