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
“I don’t know how they could enforce the mandatory search.”
It’s already there - kind of. When posting content from some sites it’s searched against a list, and if it matches it’s rejected. That can be tweaked to match addresses of posted pages. Not trivial, not on titles, but doable.
oh... ANY n00bie can do THAT!
WINNING them is what's IMPORTANT!
There is something to be said about grassroots and small donations to fund things. Anytime bigfoot donors start putting up multiple thousands of dollars at a whack, won’t be long they’ll be trying to tell you what do do and how to do it.
See any big-time college football program to find out how that all works.
Yessir. Probably even their involvement, which I would welcome. Nothing like a track record of success, I say.
I feel better already, boss. Not that I felt badly before, mind you. Thanks so much for all you do.
Thanks for #588 to update those that don’t know the site’s history.
The truely wonderful thing about FreeRepublic.com was an individual with patriotic yearnings for information and communication set it up with what he could muster up on his own. It is as patriotic a move as anything I have seen in recent years.
The Clinton era Whitehouse saturday picketing started with poster MrConfettiMan (bless Joe’s dear memory) went to the White House alone and posted a thread, “ I was there, Where were you” to talk of his individual action. Your individual action, legal and constitutional, prompted Joe and all of us to take action and discuss it.
Users have the unfortunant tendancy to see a personal project like this and treat it like it is a commercial enterprise. They suggest, gripe, complain, demand, argue and in general forget that they are but visitors to your hobby — trying to save out nation. You are very patient with all of us and sharing as well.
Thank you.
Well stated, and I am in total agreement with you.
P.S. Add my thanks as well (to Jim, John, Amy and Chris), for this island of Conservative sanity in the vast sea of leftist spew.
What I don’t get is why some people are saying it takes 1/2 a mil to run the site, but then someone posted a link to the budget, and it said it costs about 25K a month. That’s a big difference.
If Jim asks for money in terms of donations, he opens himself up to questions. I think he’s the better person to answer that some self-appointed people who get sarcastic towards people on this thread.
By asking of money, people will also point out ways that could reduce costs, but it’s tough when we don’t see how those costs are broken down.
Then,some people say that Jim and John receive nothing, but then others are posting that they get a salary.
Clarity and transparency are important to people, and I’ve found that the more I read on this thread, the less clear things become. Contradictions from those holding themselves out as ‘in the know’ abound.
It’s not like people are asking about (or making suggestions about) how much is spent on what type of paper clip.
InDEED!
That's really putting your money where their mouth is!
>There also seems to be some embargo on Sarah Palin articles going on there. Not sure what that’s all about.<
That’s a good observation.
Ahhhh welllll
given FR’s founding father . . .
curmudgeons are a treasured class.
WOW!
FR ebay-lite!
We bid to be able to ZOT someone and THEY bid to stay smokefree!
(Although that burning at the stake thing just mentioned is intriguing, too.)
As much as I love FR, this is a problem that I see, too. Transparency is the issue.
Thanks for that post Jim. Very informative to a guy heading toward 80 who started life without so much as a telephone in the house...
I’m not opposed to ALL bloggers. Just the ones who post nothing but threads and don’t participate in any other way.
If you look at some of their posting histories, you’ll see post after post of threads and virtually nothing in the comments section.
FWIW, I won’t click on the links to any blog pimps anyway, so even if they are posting good videos, there’s no way of knowing. I also know that I’m not the only one who is opposed to them.
There are a couple who participate on FR in conversation and debate who have been (unfairly IMO) attacked for posting links to their blogs. That’s uncalled for. But to post 3-4 and up to over 20 threads a day and not comment on them? That just doesn’t pass muster in my book. That’s what I’m opposed to.
No.... Thank you Jim! And John! And Amy! And Chris!
You guys walk the talk. You more than walk the talk, you build the sidewalks and the coffee shop the talk happens in, then maintain it. You are all outrageous and I love you for it!
We are in your debt. There is no doubt of that.
In light of this, I know there are a lot of very tech savvy people. Perhaps there is a way that qualified folks could assist with the code writing duties?
I don’t code personally. I can build computers well enough, I have built a couple of rather bleeding edge PC’s just recently. But thats where my lame skills end.
At any rate, I would think that there are at least one or two people who have the skills and the willingness to donate them to assist however they can, and have the long term familiarity with the site to have some crediblity.
We love this site, and I for one wish there was more that I could do other than being a monthly donor. I am just hoping now that someday soon I can up that amount. Once I am done with school and working, things will get better, but until then, like so many others, we are cash strapped.
Its inspiring to know and see what just a few people can do, and you folks have made a HUGE difference to us conservatives out here in the wilderness.
THANK YOU!
Heck I get so sick and tired of stuff here...I just don’t read it anymore.
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