I actually always enjoy their croaking. It's right out of the Fake News/Anonymous sources playbook. Here's what I see when I read the Croaking and Spewing:
“I don’t want to answer this question out in public, [because I'm a sleazy little troll!] but I do want to answer it because I believe that many potential donors are in the same position. [I can read their minds with my Toad Troll powers!]
I have donated fairly regularly, [If anyone believes this, I have a bridge on each coast of the USA I will sell to them!] but am becoming increasingly hesitant to continue on. [If I withhold the donations I've never given, just you watch what happens then!]
We [Me and my Legion of followers!] see from the numbers that EXCLUDING expenses (collocation, bandwidth, legal, credit card processing fees, etc.) Jim (and I assume John shares) is pulling in a cool quarter million per year from this. [Hope nobody notices my Toad/Troll gills quivering fluorescent green in envy ... Soros sure doesn't pay me that much!]
Its his baby... he created it, he does what he can from home to babysit it... that’s fine... more power to him. It seems that his son John is the other principal who does the running to the data-center when things need fixing. [Croak, Croak ... Grrrr! I hate these guys. All these years they have been accomplishing something and Me? Just a loser, a Toadish/Troll!]
I don’t know [Just skip over these three words!] how much John gets from this... but there’s enough profit there for BOTH Jim and John to make a six-figure salary. John apparently already has a full time job... he gets around to FR issues “when he can squeeze in the time”. If someone’s getting a six-figure salary to mind a system then that system ought to be sort of a high priority, not something that can be squeezed in on weekends now and then. [My never-has-been-successful threat to start a Web Site to replace FR will really, really happen ... really, really soon ... just wait and see!]
It is what it is... but here’s where it’s reaching the breaking point for me and I think many others: [Do I have to repeat myself? I read the minds of others ... many others!]
Given the frequency of hardware failures, it’s becoming clear that it is now more likely than not that FR won’t exist a year from now. [My Crystal Ball, though smeared from my slimy Troll hands, has told me this! Don't ask why I can't get the winning Lottery numbers from it!] Many of us [We are an Army .... of One!] have suggested that hardware upgrades are becoming increasingly more of a priority... they’re now imperative. [Doom ... FR is Doomed I tell You!]
There in NO discussion of this even being considered. I get it that Jim’s a stubborn guy... no one likes change, and a migration is a scary project. [Jim won't talk to me ... I need discussion ... and closure ... my feeeeeellllliiiinnngggsss .... He's so hard headed .... I'm so scared .... hold on while I get my Binkie!]
But, without it, this site is going to evaporate... soon. [Croak, croak, pant, pant ... even my Binkie isn't helping me .... Site evaporating .... I'm just so scared .... it's getting dark .... things are fading ... but ... I have a PLAN to save FR ... to Save the world ... to save the Universe!]
Hardware is cheap... he could get a pair of great servers for $20K... the software is fine, no need to spend a ton of money writing some fancy new system. Just replace the hardware with something modern. Get some of the many experts here to volunteer a few days to work on the migration. [De PLAN, de PLAN!]
A brand new setup would cost less than one month’s “salary”... but would guarantee that FR survives. If giving up one month’s pay to invest in the future of his site (and the future of his income) is too much to ask, then hold a special freepathon to raise it. I can almost guarantee this money, if it was known that it was being allocated to a legit hardware upgrade plan, would be raised in a matter of a few days.[My Dad, a Used Car Salesman taught me about making guarantees!]
Perhaps Jim’s plan is to simply squeeze as much money out of it until it dies, then forget about it... we don’t know... he’s not saying anything (at least publicly that I can see). If that’s the case, he should at least be honest about the plan to the people he’s asking to pay his salary. If he has a plan for the site to continue, then he would be better served telling his donors what that plan is.... that would encourage more to be on board with the plan. [Dammit, forget His plan ... no I don't know what it is ... you think I have a Crystal Ball or something? .... Just forget Him and His plan and PAY ATTENTION TO ME AND MY PLAN!]
I would hate to see FR die abruptly and permanently. The likelihood of that happening soon is becoming very high at this point if these outages and other hardware issues continue on their current trend. [Whoops, I almost forgot to emphasize my CARING ABOUT and FEELINGS FOR FR's SURVIVAL! But don't forget I still have those bridges for sale!]
If that’s NOT the plan, then I wish Jim would communicate to his donors about it and get moving to prevent that... before its too late.” [Don't let it be too late! Truussst in Meeee, Trussst in Meeee! Well, all done here for today, off to make some more Trolling for Soros $$.]
Too bad the weaselly little puke disseminating this crap
has to do it behind the scenes so as to avoid well deserved
criticism and rebuke. But weasels are like that, it’s axiomatic.