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.] Dont have the financial wherewithal."
"To those who wish to leave because of it, see ya."
"If FR dies, thats 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.
Its 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, theres no going back. As it is, we get a couple thousand donations per quarter averaging about $30 bucks each and theres no guarantees we can cover this quarters expenses much less next quarter. Were 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 wont solve it. [This latest glitch] was a technical issue and we just had to keep troubleshooting until we found it. And no, were 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 hes pushing 40 now. He built these systems and hes an expert in them.
And no, we are not going to throw out our software and rewrite it and no were 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 thats for sure. And we dont 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!! Ill 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
Beautiful!
Well, I guess that's a personal preference you'll have to make your own decisions about...
I expect to occasionally get my feelings hurt when I'm on any discussion board that's worth a damn.
That's why I don't feel any need to conform my views to what others expect or want.
>> “There may come a time when the Perl system you have simply won’t cut it any more.” <<
.
Will you and I still be alive?
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I would love to support a Freeper business.
It does create accounting headaches for FR unless the businesses specified their payments to FR were donations.
I may be wrong and also may be projecting. We are the customers at Free Republic. It is about us being warriors and not passive consumers. Jim is up front about his model and if it doesn't work so be it. I think this is Jims test of where we are going and I concur. It is not about capitalism, business model or consumerism, it is about freedom and if we will pay the price, whether it is donations here at FR, learning thru other opinions, laying down our worldly goods and maybe even our lives like our founders did.
Ben Franklin and others, did not advertise but wanted to know if the ideas would sell themselves. It was a big test that we passed back then. Our test is bigger today. There are bigger things than capitalism.
bookmark
Well if ya got no bassoons I’m not coming!
I’ve had to write mostly science stuff, simulators and things like that. I don’t use if I don’t have to; that may have something to do.
If I were to re-write FR I'd re-write it with virtually the same interface and possibly an even more simplified interface based on John's experience over the years dealing with the code. It needs no graphical bells and whistles. It just needs speed and stability IMO.
EXCELLENT POINTS, imho.
INFORMATION is crucial to folks paying the bills.
It relates directly to motivation and generosity.
That was so well stated it’s almost frightening.
I was at my local Tea Party meeting the other night and got into a conversation with some folks who had never heard of FR. Frankly, I was really surprised at that, but I repeated the name of the site to them several times so that they would remember it.
On the way home, I thought to myself how nice it would be if Jim Rob offered FR business cards for sale on the site. I would buy them, and hand them out. Now that so many of us are off the couch and active in our communities, it's an idea whose time has come.
Thank you, Quix. I’m trying to be helpful.
Excellent idea.
I plan to do that. Thanks.
As long as she is hittable, no foul.
Now you’re just sucking up, Quix. :-)
Soooooo, you’re picking a fight? Is that a perk of being a donor?
Not quite sure about the mandatory part, but in general another good idea. On a site I visit we have a small ad for Hocks Online Drugstore, if you click the link and make a purchase 8% goes to the site.
I’m sure it’s very consoling to you to know that you’re one of the reasons many respectable folks feel disconnected to FR. Nice going.
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