Another miserable FR Live Thread failure.

me | 10/11/12 | hole_n_one

[hole_n_one]

Yet again, FR fails the big LIVE THREAD test.

How does what is supposed to be the premiere conservative site on the 'net continue to fail?

I would have expanded on this except it took forever to get this simple post through the muck and molasses that we have to wade thru on night's like this.

[HiTech RedNeck]

I don’t know what Jim’s actually got going on in the guts. Whatever it is, has to ensure that writes are atomic, that nobody gets just part of a posting.

I don’t think he’s using a commercial database e.g. Oracle. That would be vastly too expensive to license, judging by the budgets we’re seeing.

If some well to do Freeper wills a million bucks to FR things would probably drastically change. At least a piece of serious hardware could be had.

[InvisibleChurch]

Ok. That makes sense. Thank you.

[justlurking]

I don’t know what Jim’s actually got going on in the guts. Whatever it is, has to ensure that writes are atomic, that nobody gets just part of a posting.

Yeah, I think that's the problem. If they are using MySQL, it is known to have a performance constraint, although they may have addressed it in later released.

I don’t think he’s using a commercial database e.g. Oracle. That would be vastly too expensive to license, judging by the budgets we’re seeing.

While Oracle would be a great performer and scale well to a cluster, it's not a reasonable solution. The Freepathon budgets would have to double, at least.

Postgres is free, and is used for a lot of serious database implementations. Historically, it has been a better performer for large datasets. I don't know if that is still true in the latest versions. Both also support clustering, although it's a bit more hassle on Postgres.

[Yaelle]

Well, I’d like the chat room but I’d want it to work on an iPad!

[Chickensoup]

We used to be slow but managable during elections. We were able to influence the MSM like have Rather take back his early call during the election of George Bush. We started and have unseated the media. We were effective. I was unable to connect at either debate and have little hope for the election.

I wonder what is going on, whether we are being spammed or attacked. It is disheartening since we are the watchdogs. And I treasure and value this role.

FR is more of a force in this country than most realize. Our ideas, our reactions, our discussions are closely monitored and reach the mainstream and the New Media. We have a job to uphold here, as conservatives re-make the media.

The Robinsons have crafted something that is bigger than any of us. This is not a blog, not a board, it is real-time grass roots news editorial. And it is fun! I thank God every day that we have this forum and I pray that it will become more and more effective and flexible as time goes on.

I have been here 14 years almost every day. I actively recruit younger members to the board, and nice conservative teens and twenties visit often.

I hope with all my heart that the software and hardware will strengthen and improve, so this wonderful idea will continue...

I am a flea on this board, and I am fortunate to chat with great brains and thoughtful commentators as well as some really funny people. Do we have jerks? Absolutely, myself included. Thank you for putting up with me.

Much love to all,
Chickensoup

[Chickensoup]

Saw that Lucianne was down and a couple of other places were not functioning well. Figured there was an attack. We need better security.

[Chickensoup]

But the budget isn’t there to buy that million dollar computer.

_________________

Or the talent to keep it running. I wonder if there isnt an interested mainframe owner who has space???

[worrywart]

So frustrating last night to once again not be able to view the Live Thread on the debate!

I love FR but this has been going on for years and the inability to access it during important events is worse instead of better.

I agree with the others that suggest a chat room format for live events. I hope JimRob will consider it. Need something in place before the next debate and definitely before Election Night!

[Yardstick]

What puzzles me is that it wasn’t always like this. I’m pretty sure these problems only showed up a few years ago. I’ve been on FR for over a decade and I don’t remember speed being an issue back in the day. So the question is what happened?

[rockabyebaby]

The solution is that we avoid FR during times that are expected to have a high volume of traffic. I wonder if the Sharks on ABC would buy into that business model.

Sharks would laugh this place out of the room! FR is useless - those servers have been coming for years, same rhetoric over and over and the problem still remains. Kinda makes one wonder where the money is going doesn't it.

[katnip]

What puzzles me is that it wasn’t always like this. I’m pretty sure these problems only showed up a few years ago.

I believe the problem started when JR stepped away from the technical operation of Free Republic a few years back.

Wish they would bring in someone to analyze the problem and fix it.

[Col Freeper]

The solution is that we avoid FR during times that are expected to have a high volume of traffic. I wonder if the Sharks on ABC would buy into that business model.

=========================================================

Sharks would laugh this place out of the room! FR is useless - those servers have been coming for years, same rhetoric over and over and the problem still remains. Kinda makes one wonder where the money is going doesn't it.

=========================================================

LOL,

Well Jim, looks like you, and FreeRepublic's days are really, really numbered now (it appears that it may only have a few weeks, maybe a couple of months left).

Reading through this thread it is clear that there are folks posting that can do that FreeRepublic thingee you do faster, cheaper, and better than you'll ever be able to do it.

And many of them have apparently been hanging around at FR for years developing their plans to take the lead with their faster, cheaper, and better websites.

Hey guy, they've outed you as a bigger grifter than Clinton and/or Obama.

They will probably post the pictures they have of your new Malibu Mansion, your string of Cadillacs, Collectors cars, giant RVs, private 747, gold-plated and air-conditioned dog house, etc., on their stunningly faster, cheaper, and better new websites, for all the world to see.

They're probably also working with the major media outlets to release a brutal "tell-all" story about your greed, avarice, and wasteful spending of the vast amounts of money they are sending to you as fast as they can acquire it (the core of the story will probably point out that their family has been doing without the necessities of life because they've been sending all the money to you -- you know, the women and children hit hardest meme).

But hey, that's what's wonderful about America, eh? They'll build it, and the giant sucking sound heard around the world will be every last one of the people currently on FR, as well as those who ever did, or ever will, visit here, rushing to join up at those faster, cheaper, and better new websites.

So, sadly, it seems you might as well just give in to the plans of these new web magnates and throw up a giant flashing announcement on the front page of FR that you're going out of business.

And you need not even think about selling any of your equipment to these dynamos of the interwebs, after all, they can acquire and provide equipment at almost zero cost, and 24/7 service, with 100% up-time rates, at prices so low, it might as well be free.

It was good while it lasted Jim, but these go-getters have plans that you clearly won't be able to compete with. Their business and operational plans are so good that when you sign-up at their faster, cheaper, and better new websites, your home pc/mobile device will actually run faster than it has ever run before!

But Wait! If you sign-up in the first 24 hours, you will get a free lifetime membership (for the lifetime of their faster, cheaper, and better new websites), and 3 sets of stick-free cookware (not sold in stores, S&H extra).

Jim, don't feel too bad though, these folks are just natural-born powerhouses who will ROCK the interwebs!

Google, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft better be watching their backs! These faster, cheaper, and better new websites are just going to be that good!

So, as you fade into history, knocked out of the top spot by these individuals who will change the world, just console yourself with the fact that you were privileged enough to have had them spend a little time (well, actually, years) at your useless site, before they ROCKED OUR WORLD!

I know I will be watching for the opening of their new sites -- I'm soooo excited just thinking about it!

[Yardstick]

Wow, quite a cynical post. The simple fact is that the site isn’t performing as it should. I’m sure even Jim would agree this is true. You may be okay with FR choking at important moments, but some of us aren’t. Some of us remember when FR could handle the load. There’s a difference in being a supporter and being a cheerleader. Supporters want FR to live up to its mission. Cheerleaders shift blame when it doesn’t. I’d like to see FR succeed.

[Col Freeper]

Wow, quite a cynical post.

Wow, what a sensitive post. Since my post was not addressed specifically to you, are you self-identifying with its contents?

The simple fact is that the site isn’t performing as it should. I’m sure even Jim would agree this is true.

So you have identified site performance as a problem, and you're sure Jim would agree. Well, now that's a real revelation, especially since some posters are spending some significant time pointing it out over, and over, and over, ad nauseum.

And Jim has agreed numerous times in his posts that he knows that there are problems, and that he is working with John to correct them. (You could have included him in your address line, since you are referring to him).

You may be okay with FR choking at important moments, but some of us aren’t.

You don't have a clue what "I may be okay with".

Also, since you are referring to "some of us" while responding to my post to someone who said FR was "useless" and inferring that Jim was using the donated money for something other than running/fixing the site, I can only assume you are in agreement with that poster's assessment of Jim's credibility and honesty.

Some of us remember when FR could handle the load.

Oh please.

LOL, check my signup date noob.

I guess in your world, nothing ever changes (like the Internet technical and business operating environment, increase in the number of FR visitors between now and then, intermittent technical problems, Denial of Service attacks from within and external to the U.S., etc.).

There’s a difference in being a supporter and being a cheerleader. Supporters want FR to live up to its mission. Cheerleaders shift blame when it doesn’t. I’d like to see FR succeed.

Oh my, what blather.

I was curious who would respond to my post. I notice (happily) that it wasn't one of the posters who regularly try to suggest something technical to try to help Jim/John in analyzing the possible problems with FR.

As I suspected, it was someone who is apparently easily "offended" that anyone would point out that there are some people who have an axe to grind with Jim, and/or are just types who love to complain, complain, and then complain over again. On, and on, and on, posting and reposting their non-useful complaints until it is enough to gag a maggot.

LOL, I'm a cheerleader and you're a supporter -- LMAOROTF.

Well, Yardstick, regardless of your post, I'm still looking forward to your creation of your newer, faster, and better website. It will undoubtedly be marvelous, and I'm sure it will ONLY be filled with supporters who will sing your praises 24 hours a day, everyone will ride the unicorns, and there will be free skittles for all participants.

Oh yes, and since you undoubtedly took critical time away from your efforts to implement your newer, faster, better website, please don't waste any more of your valuable time responding to a lowly "cheerleader for FR".

Why, I'll probably sign up at your new site, to get that a lifetime membership and the 3 sets of stick-free cookware (not sold in stores, S&H extra).

[Vision]

FR wasn't always like this. Frankly the tech problem are hurting the cause as we can't communicate during big events.

[Jim Robinson]

No excuses, no denials. The system is failing under peak loads. Don’t know why yet. I thought we might be able to solve it by beefing up the servers and the RAM, and raised $6,000 to do so, but guess John does not agree. He’s wrestling with some systems configuration problems at the moment and has not yet found the solution. Unfortunately, I cannot help him with these issues as they’re way over my abilities. I’ve asked him if bringing in a consultant will help, but he appears reluctant to do so. I’ve also asked him to come on to a thread to post the status and answer questions, but so far he hasn’t wanted to do that either. Hopefully he will eventually find the problem. Sorry about the slowdowns during the debates and praying we get it fixed soon. If we end up not needing the $6,000, I will offer to return it to the donors. But I’m still thinking we need to beef up the hardware.

[Randy Larsen]

Jim, That $6000 will be needed eventually no matter what. It’s hard enough to collect it when planning for the future, imagine trying to collect it in an emergency.

My vote would be to save it for later if not needed right away.

[tomkat]

Jim,

I have nothing but respect for you & yours and the wonderful work of love and dedication and patriotism that is FreeRepublic.

Please do not misconstrue any of my occasional gripes re system sluggishness as commentary other than technical.

The integrity and honesty of you and all those behind the scenes of this place have never been in doubt in what little is left of my mind.

(well, there may have been a couple mods i wanted to slap over the years but . .  ;-)

Seriesly tho, my very best hopes to you and John and whoever else is/may be working on getting us back up to speed, literally.

FRegards,

[Chickensoup]

Jim use the money. Get doo dads for the board.

Why was my post deleted tonight? Was I bad?

Soup

[Yardstick]

Roger that, Jim. We know you guys are trying to get this worked out. John’s forum software is the best bar none. Given what he’s accomplished there’s no loss of face in letting a consultant come in to do some housekeeping if that’s what’s needed. I have no idea what the right solution is. Something definitely needs to be done though. We’re all pulling for you.