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"If FR dies, that’s that." - Jim Robinson [Jim's reply at post # 588]
freerepublic.com ^ | 1/11/11 | paulycy

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.

===

"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. 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.

===

- Jim Robinson

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2653583/posts?page=168#168


TOPICS: Breaking News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: blogpimp; defragthedatabase; fr; freepathons; freerepublic; future; glitch; ilovefr; jimrob; metmom; netizen; raid10
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To: Jim Robinson
Jim,

Thanks for all that you and John do...it's truly appreciated. As much as I love FR, I wouldn't mind going without for a few days so you could take it down for system maintenance (and a little well deserved time off for yourselves!)...Of course, I would hope that notice of planned downtime would be posted well in advance. Needless to say, I can only speak for myself, but I think many, if not most here would concur that ya'll richly deserve some time off, and it would give you time to play around and do some tweaking.

1,221 posted on 01/11/2011 4:32:58 PM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: FReepers; paulycy; Admin Moderator
JIM JUST WROTE!


Woo hoo!!

And this just in:

$50.00 from Kentucky
$20.00 from Virginia
$200.00 from Tennessee
$100.00 from Texas
$50.00 from Virginia
$50.00 from Arkansas
$20.00 from Massachusetts
$25.00 from Pennsylvania
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$10.00 from North Carolina
$50.00 from Arizona
$10.00 monthly from Washington
$10.00 monthly from South Carolina
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$20.00 from Colorado
$25.00 from Florida
$100.00 from Never Never Land
$50.00 from North Carolina
$10.00 from Never Never Land
$50.00 from New York
$10.00 from Michigan
$20.00 from Texas

Thank you all very much!!

Woo hoo!! The first TWENTY SIX percent is in!!




1,222 posted on 01/11/2011 4:33:56 PM PST by onyx (If you truly support Sarah Palin and want to be on her busy ping list, let me know!)
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To: Quix

You are welcome. I know people give me websites, then in a matter of minutes I forget them as my mind has moved onto many other things. That little business card is a good reminder.

I just try and make sure the person is a conservative before I offer it to them.


1,223 posted on 01/11/2011 4:34:08 PM PST by GailA (2012 rally cry DEMOCRATS and RINOS are BAD for the USA!)
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To: greyfoxx39; vox_freedom
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Consider your FABULOUS work, *borrowed*.

1,224 posted on 01/11/2011 4:35:59 PM PST by onyx (If you truly support Sarah Palin and want to be on her busy ping list, let me know!)
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To: PeterPrinciple

Though I mostly agree with your sentiment, it sure would be nice if someone would write an iPhone app for FR. That ain’t frills, that’s keeping up with the times.


1,225 posted on 01/11/2011 4:36:25 PM PST by glock rocks (I am Dyslexis of Borg. Your ass will be laminated.)
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To: Windflier

Make your own. All it takes is a program that will do business cards or labels, those programs are dirt cheap any more. Print them out on plain copy paper. I print one sheet at a time. When I need more I print more (save the project once created). I put them in my wallet. You don’t even have to do the Logo, just do the Mission Statement and web URL. Your word processor will allow you to do that, just make sure you make them of a size to cut into business size cards.

It cost money to get cards printed, and is another chore Jim and John don’t need.


1,226 posted on 01/11/2011 4:41:55 PM PST by GailA (2012 rally cry DEMOCRATS and RINOS are BAD for the USA!)
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To: The_Victor
And that points to the other recent problem many are experiencing with FR. In my first 8 years here I had one real argument with another FReeper. We used to be entitled to our own opinions, and we accepted that our areas of disagreement were small. In the past year nearly every post I've made of substance has elicited a string of insults from someone who joined fairly recently.

I show up to check the headlines these days, but rarely bother attempting to discuss them.

You know, if someone is stalking you and harassing you like that, you could alert the mods to it. I'd think that they'd be interested in knowing about it. It's generally discouraged.

No noob with obnoxious behavior should be running off an old timer like you.

1,227 posted on 01/11/2011 4:42:03 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: 4woodenboats
I would support a simple Business Listing section benefit for members who donate.

What an excellent idea. I hope Jim considers incorporating that into the site.

1,228 posted on 01/11/2011 4:43:49 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: paulycy

Your “coffee pots breaking down whenever there was a crowd of people” metaphor doesn’t work.

From the Free Republic Home page...

“We’re currently delivering over thirty million pageviews per month to over one million visitors.”

http://www.freerepublic.com/home.htm


1,229 posted on 01/11/2011 4:44:36 PM PST by deks ("...the battle of our time is the battle of liberty against the overreach of the federal government")
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To: deks

You must not be here very much.


1,230 posted on 01/11/2011 4:45:59 PM PST by paulycy (The Constitution is a Formal Contract. Live up to it or lose your job, Congress.)
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To: GailA; DJ MacWoW; Jim Robinson

You know, the business card idea is a good one.

Could some creative person on FR design one that meets with JR’s approval, and then post it so people could print out a pageful of them and cut them up to distribute as they can?

There could be a set up so that you’re not printing one per page, but maybe 8 or more, or however many would fill and 8x11 sheet of computer paper.


1,231 posted on 01/11/2011 4:47:10 PM PST by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: onyx


We ARE on a Roll Now Stanley!


1,232 posted on 01/11/2011 4:48:56 PM PST by RedMDer (restoration of our honor, dignity, and freedoms will save America. - Sarah Palin)
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To: Sidebar Moderator
"Can I look now?"

No. This one is going to take a little longer. First I have to unplug some things because I don't want anything to short out.

1,233 posted on 01/11/2011 4:49:28 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: paulycy

I’ve been reading the threads here extensively for over six years. I have no complaints.


1,234 posted on 01/11/2011 4:52:51 PM PST by deks ("...the battle of our time is the battle of liberty against the overreach of the federal government")
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To: paulycy

And since they run the coffee/donut place, I’d say they know best for their own place. More activity w/anything, and a break is to be expected. Of course, being a local there somehow makes some feel like it’s their right to suggest a better way. Control.


1,235 posted on 01/11/2011 4:53:26 PM PST by presently no screen name
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To: musicman

LOL! That job description fits.


1,236 posted on 01/11/2011 4:54:29 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: deks
I have no complaints.

That's fine.

1,237 posted on 01/11/2011 4:54:32 PM PST by paulycy (The Constitution is a Formal Contract. Live up to it or lose your job, Congress.)
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To: GailA

I use card stock, but, practice with paper. I use the Netscape composer for a template.


1,238 posted on 01/11/2011 4:55:33 PM PST by Netizen
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To: presently no screen name
Control

I'm curious as to just what your point is. That no "customer" should ever engage in "shop talk" with an owner because there is no possible way that the customer cannot possibly have useful information that could benefit the owner? Is that your position?

If so that's just plain nonsense. If not...well, that's why I'm curious.

1,239 posted on 01/11/2011 4:57:27 PM PST by paulycy (The Constitution is a Formal Contract. Live up to it or lose your job, Congress.)
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To: Netizen
The only thing I can surmise is that they don't generate enough traffic and they aren't a 'threat', whatever that may mean.

Drudge is a major internet site, and he does nothing BUT link published articles, while displaying ads to pay the bills.

As far as I know, you can do the same on Facebook, and those pages all have advertising embedded.

Sites like CoastToCoastAM embed linked articles on their site, and they have banner advertising on every page.

These are all huge sites on the internet, and somehow, they seem to be getting along just fine with that combination.

Call me dense, but I just don't see what makes FR so different, that it couldn't use the same business model (aside from Jim Rob's stated reasons for not doing so).

...how is posting articles and or excerpts for others to see/read any different than the person that buys a newspaper, then leaves it in a restaurant for other customers to see/read?

It's not.

It's also struck me as odd that anyone would take issue with others posting links back to the original source page of a published work. Most points of origin on the net are commercial in nature, and host advertisers. One would think that those sites that host these articles would be thrilled with the increased viewership.

1,240 posted on 01/11/2011 4:57:43 PM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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