Well, faithful readers, the Free Republic website has been up and down like a yo-yo over the past couple of weeks. I thought that maybe the hampster just died, but it seems to be more serious than that.
Apparently the entire steam-powered server system needs new copper tubing!
If FR dies, that’s that.” – Jim Robinson [Jim’s reply at post # 588]
freerepublic.com ^ | 1/11/11 | paulycy
Posted on Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:28:06 AM bypaulycy
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
HEY!
Waitaminnit! If these bozos lose their Speak-and-Spell-powered database…
I’m out of a gig!
No more mad Soros bucks! All the money I don’t get paid to post here will dry up like Jimbo’s colostomy bag!
Unless, of course, I plaster ads all over my clothes to support myself, but I’m not sure I could handle being rich.
I couldn’t give much but if a Michigander who lives hand to mouth like myself could give $10, its pretty hard to deny that everyone couldn’t pitch in $5 or $10.
I’m here to the end with you, money’s tight, but did manage $10.00
…my monthly “payday” is tomorrow.
I’ll donate more when we start having banner ads. I live in a capitalist society. I have no problem with ads.
What is ‘oracle’?
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But it’s inevitable, Jim. Change will come.
And if you refuse to change the way you manage the servers and software, it will crash and burn.
Now I respect your attitude, but the future of FreeRepublic is more important than any one of us.
I hope you have a change of heart, or find a wealthy “sugar momma”!
Need a financial Knight in shining armor. Rush? Are you there?
I honestly don’t know. That is a mystery that Jim won’t share. Part of me understands why and part of me wants to know what the heck is going on so that we can solve the problems and bring the money and manpower to bear on the situation as needed.
Jim is the owner of FR. We are merely donors.The problem comes in that we *feel* like shareholders in a company and should have the rights of shareholders. But we don’t. That’s the rub. We don’t have a right to know what Jim knows because FR is his private property and not *our* company.
This is what Jim said: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.
FR lives hand to mouth andFreepathons are taking longer to fulfill. It may be that sometime we won’t complete a fundraiser and that will be that.
Ok not meaning to be a smart as* here but I am paid 6 figures as a web and database programmer and have 3 websites and 13 years experience. So with my pedigree stated, I fail to see why this board cost gazllions to run each year.
My three websites, 2 of which have dynamic content, shopping carts, stream video and link to most social networking sites, total web hosting cost per month is 150 bucks. The highest end dedicated, unlimited bandwidth server can be had for 1000 per month, and we are talking Facebook like data traffic there.
There is no way, probability 0 that this site cost 70k a year in technical costs to manage, not possible. Technical costs cannot cost more than a few hundred per month, if they are are the board founder is getting ripped off.
For 100 bucks an hour and maybe 200 hours of total development and testing time, some shrink wrap PHP scripts for forums, and some other cheap addons I could write an ASP app that would do it all here with minimum maintenance. Don’t mean to pull on Superman’s cape , but educate me why it cost so much.
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On a related note. FR has been telling certain groups that they are not welcome. I wonder what impact that has on the length of time the fund raisers run.
We’ve been stuck on 12% for a while.
Regardless of the intent to keep things the way the owner wants, some of the hands that have been bitten did feed FR.
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Free Republic is not the Republican Big Tent.
The reason FR has an impact is because ANYONE can come here and read the truth. That will not happen with a closed board.
Some of them were great posters, with lots of interesting things to say.
Every day when I log onto FR I wonder if this is going to be the day when all Mormons get the zot. Or when self-described libertarians all get the zot. Or when supporters of Mitch Daniels or Chris Christie get the zot.
That wondering does not motivate me to contribute.
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I am totally with you on this. As a Latter Day Saint I have to hold my nose and donate due to all of the Mormon Bashing that goes on. If that ended I could pony up some funds. Not sure if it is allowed because Jm Robinson is anti-Mormon or just gets pleasure from others bashing us. Whatever the reason, I just don’t get it. Now all of you anti-Mormons on here can go ahead and let the hate postings begin…
Time for those that Professionally benefit from the discussions HERE, to pay for that privilege by donating.
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It may not be more than anything.There is a problem with simply having FReepathons in which we pour money down a dark hole and never know specifically what we’re getting for our money except a website that stumbles as much as much as it does.
Now, we’ve already argued over all the reasons for it, but until the specific solutions are presented, along with the price tags, the donations are not going to come in in appropriate amounts.
It is common sense that we are not going to buy something without looking at the menu, seeing the prices and choosing something that we, personally, can afford. We need to see the choices available.
For instance:
Replace the dead server: approx $xx,xxx, 30 days.
Have John fix the broken Activity tab software: $xx,xxx, 3 months.
Add polling to the home page: $xxx, 7 days
See what I mean? If you give people specific things to spend their money on then they can decide to spend it with confidence. Otherwise they are just pouring money down a dark hole with little feedback and although we thoroughly trust Jim we can’t help but think that maybe something more can be done to help things along besides just spending money…
I’ve watched it for 12 years as it has degenerated into hatefulness, name-calling, nastiness and division among freepers…and the warfare never ends.
Do you see what I see? Indeed you do. I happen to believe those doing the degenerating, are not freepers at all, but they are sure using this board for their porpoises.
Before I start contributing regularly I would like to feel that I will be welcome here in the future.
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Free Republic tote bags!!!
Thats the answer!!
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Is it possible to come up with a Free Republic flag for flagpoles?? I wonder how many libs that would drive nuts?
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FR has always been an important part of my day, since I joined 10 years ago. I got my news here, my laughs, even met my wife. I have donated.
However, something has changed recently. We used to allow different types of conservative viewpoints here, but lately, if you’re not an Evangelical, New-Earth Creationist, Rudy-Hating, Mitt-Hating, goldbug conspiracy theorist, you don’t belong here.
That is entirely missing the point of what FR is intended to be. We’ve become a circular firing squad, and have already killed off 80% of our own people.
LOL!
On the other hand, some will post some extremely long monologues – to get their money’s worth!And some of the great humor on the site might go away, if people don’t want to post one-liners.
We use to post excerpts of writings and speeches of leading professional news-makers, and then follow up lively discussions.
Now there’s too much posting of links to videos without posting an excerpt of the video and an opinion on it. It’s getting to be just too much bla, bla bla.
One solution is to insist that only articles are posted that can be joined without viewing the link to the video. To top it off, charge a fee for every post, ~5$, until the poster reaches a deductible amount. This would get rid of a lot of junk on FR.
As Rush likes to say ‘ news businesses fail because of lack of content’. And content is what is lacking at FR. We had it and lost it.
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Another thing that has caused me to feel unwelcome here is the proliferation of threads of older women seducing young boys, then numerous juvenile freepers chime in applauding the event. I find those people to be disgusting and reprehensible.
As long as she is hittable, no foul.
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This discussion stimulated a depressing thought. Does FreeRepublic=Jim Robinson. More specifically has there been any thought about the site existing after you pass on?
I know that this is your baby, but you have created something bigger than any of us individually. I hope there are plans to keep things going after all of us are dust.
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For us paranoid types, how anonymous and untraceable are our donations?
Plug up the other end!
17 It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I sawtwo Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!
18 My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join. No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right(for at this time it had never entered into my heart thatall were wrong)—and which I should join.
19 I was answered that I must join none of them, forthey wereall wrong; andthe Personage who addressed me said thatalltheir creeds were anabomination in his sight; thatthose professors wereall corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.”
20 He again forbade me to join with any of them; and many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time. When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home. And as I leaned up to the fireplace, mother inquired what the matter was. I replied, “Never mind, all is well—I am well enough off.” I then said to my mother,“I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism is not true.”
Joseph Smith continues: “for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as todestroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible” (fromPearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-History 1:12). “What is it that inspires professors of Christianity generally with a hope of salvation? It is that smooth, sophisticated influence of the devil, by which he deceives the whole world” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.270).Questions put to Joseph Smith: “‘Do you believe the Bible?’ [Smith:]’If we do, we are the only people under heaven that does, for there arenone of the religious sects of the day that do‘. When asked ‘Willeverybody be damned, but Mormons’? [Smith replied] ‘Yes, and a great portion of them, unless they repent, and work righteousness.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 119).Brigham Young stated this repeatedly: “When the light came to me I saw that all theso-called Christian world was grovelling in darkness” (Journal of Discourses 5:73); “TheChristian world, so-called, are heathens as to the knowledge of the salvation of God” (Journal of Discourses 8:171); “With a regard to true theology, a more ignorant people never lived than the present so-called Christian world” (Journal of Discourses 8:199); “And who is there that acknowledges [God’s] hand? …You may wander east, west, north, and south, andyou cannot find it in any church or government on the earth, except the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.24); “Should you ask why we differ from other Christians, as they are called, it is simply becausethey are not Christians as the New Testament defines Christianity” (Journal of Discourses 10:230).Orson Pratt proclaimed: “BothCatholics and Protestants are nothing less than the ‘whore of Babylon’ whom the Lord denounces by the mouth of John the Revelator as having corrupted all the earth by their fornications and wickedness. Any person who shall be so corrupt as to receive a holy ordinance of the Gospel from the ministers of any of theseapostate churches will be sent down to hell with them, unless they repent” (The Seer, p. 255).Pratt also said: “Thisgreat apostasy commenced about the close of the first century of the Christian era, and it has been waxing worse and worse from then until now” (Journal of Discourses, vol.18, p.44) and: “But asthere has been no Christian Church on the earth for a great many centuries past, until the present century, the people have lost sight of the pattern that God has given according to which the Christian Church should be established, and they have denominated a great variety of people Christian Churches, because they profess to be …But there has been along apostasy, during which the nations have been cursed with apostate churches in great abundance” (Journal of Discourses, 18:172).President John Taylor stated: “Christianity…is a perfect pack of nonsense…the devil could not invent a better engine to spread his work than the Christianity of the nineteenth century.” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p.167); “Where shall we look for the true order or authority of God?It cannot be found in any nation of Christendom.” (Journal of Discourses, 10:127).James Talmage said: “A self-suggesting interpretation of history indicates that there has been a great departure from the way of salvation as laid down by the Savior, auniversal apostasy from the Church of Christ”. (A Study of the Articles of Faith, p.182).PresidentJoseph Fielding Smith said: “Doctrines were corrupted, authority lost, and afalse order of religion took the place of the gospel of Jesus Christ, just as it had been the case in former dispensations, and the people were left in spiritual darkness.” (Doctrines of Salvation, p.266). “For hundreds of years the world was wrapped in a veil ofspiritual darkness, untilthere was not one fundamental truth belonging to the place of salvation …Joseph Smith declared that in the year 1820 the Lord revealed to him that all the ‘Christian’ churches were in error, teaching for commandments the doctrines of men” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, p.282).More recent statements by apostleBruce McConkie are also very clear: “Apostasy was universal…And thisdarkness still prevailsexcept among those who have come to a knowledge of the restored gospel” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol 3, p.265); “Thus the signs of the times include theprevailing apostate darkness in the sects of Christendom and in the religious world in general” (The Millennial Messiah, p.403); “a perverted Christianity holds sway among the so-called Christians of apostate Christendom” (Mormon Doctrine, p.132); “virtually all themillions of apostate Christendom have abased themselves before the mythical throne of a mythical Christ whom they vainly suppose to be a spirit essence who is incorporeal uncreated, immaterial and three-in-one with the Father and Holy Spirit” (Mormon Doctrine, p.269); “Gnosticism is one of the great pagan philosophies which antedated Christ and the Christian Era and which was later commingled with pure Christianity to formthe apostate religion that has prevailed in the world since the early days of that era.” (Mormon Doctrine, p.316).PresidentGeorge Q. Cannon said: “After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as the Church of the Lamb of God and Babylon. The variousorganizations which are called churches throughout Christendom, though differing in their creeds and organizations, have one common origin.They allbelong to Babylon” (Gospel Truth, p.324).PresidentWilford Woodruff stated: “the Gospel ofmodern Christendom shuts up the Lord, and stopsall communication with Him. I want nothing to do with such a Gospel, I would rather prefer the Gospel of the dark ages, so called” (Journal of Discourses, vol. 2, p.196).
See what I mean?We can’t even have a discussion about this place without somebody having to cut and paste and bring anti-brand of someone elses idea of salvation to junk up the thread, hence, the term, . The FRinquisition. A band of about a half dozen or so posters that insist upon brow beating others into submission, EVERYDAY!!!! Damn some of us get sick and tired of it. Give it a rest, Go to church or something, One day Y’all or gonna OD on that stuff.
19 thoughts on “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “If FR dies, that’s that” edition”
Comments are closed.
They’re making $60,000 per quarter and he’s pleading POVERTY? Are you kidding me?
If we had $60K per quarter I’d have five publicists just for BUCKY and you would be the White House press secretary.
A.
And a Crack Van in every driveway! 🙂
The “76” web-dude sort of nailed it. Whoever is hosting/supporting FR is either stupid or crooked or both, a full-blown comments-and-email enabled site with RSS feed can be had pretty cheap, unless you are getting the relentless traffic like a DKos or a HuffPo.
Which FR is evidently not.
I feel just a little sorry for Jim, watching your dream die is tough. Nothing beyond that, though, these characters did it to themselves. Couldn’t happen to a nicer crowd!
Heh.
That is all.
Maybe the money doesn’t go to the web host and tech people. Smokescreen?
I’d say absolutely a smokescreen.
FR has always been an important part of my day, since I joined 10 years ago. I got my news here, my laughs, even met my wife…Another thing that has caused me to feel unwelcome here is the proliferation of threads of older women seducing young boys
Hmmm, are you thinking what I’m thinking?? Anyway, no loss of FR goes under; that’ll just freeup bandwidth for something more useful, like porn. Tommy, not to worry. If FR goes under, there’s always RedState.
Well, and this isn’t 1997, I mean, you can do this shit with any number of platforms and systems, you’re no longer dependent on that one geek you know. I swear, I could save people bazillions of dollars if only I could convince them all they don’t need to pay this guy their cousin went to school with who’s, like, totally awesome at web design, dude, like he’ll give you a flaming logo and shit man, $3,000 for a basic web site.
A.
Assuming that the statements of implied income (“a couple of thousand” and “about $30”) are true makes as much sense as the rest of the site. And if the place does get that much, I’m sure there’s a “management fee” that is never underpaid.
It’s particularly telling that someone that’s been “programming since he was 14” has gotten into such a cul-de-sac. One suspects the usual substitution of bullshit for, you know, knowledge and skill.
I’m guessing whatever money there really is goes to pay for gas for the ’68 Vette. No matter how awesome the paint is, it still won’t make up for the small penis.
Hold that thought while I make more popcorn…
Or actually what I ought to be doing is convincing dingleberries like this to pay ME the $3,000, and then signing them up for Typepad.
A.
Robinson is sooooo scamming the Freeper suckers. Fools and their money…
Hey, I wanna be Riot’s publicist!
Can I be Claire’s stylist and life coach?
Don’t know whether to lol or sob over all this. I’m sure they’ll push through and continue providing each other with want they want to hear.
Its a good thing the management over there doesn’t take advice gladly though. There were some fairly competent suggestions.
Zero “employees.” O.K. And how many paid consultants?
Knowing the way the far right uses fear as a motivator in what seems like every possible situation, I’ve got to wonder if fear of the demise of FR is being used to raise money and motivate the base to action in other political arenas. This, as opposed to being honest with the readers and holding a fund drive.
Also, to add a little snark, the far right is always talking about how they run things as a business. It sure doesn’t sound like FR has a feasible Business Plan.
Oh, BTW – this was cross-posted to the GOS.
Made the rec list again.
We bad.
Tommy
It’s like that time Oral Roberts told his flock that God was going to strike him dead unless he could fleece them for a particular sum of money by a certain deadline.
Jim Robinson’s constant FReepathons remind me of the mail order places that insist that “This Will Be Your LAST Catalog If You Don’t Order Something NOW!!!!!”
His expenses go for web hosting in the same way that Christine O’Donnell’s campaign funds went to running a political campaign.
Scam artists, the lot of them.
D
The IP address of FreeRepublic traces back via GeoIP to Robinson-Defehr consulting in Englewood Colorado. Yes, that Robinson. So it looks like he’s paying his own company for colocation services!! How’s that for tacking on the extra costs – instead of billing for a T-1 to his office, he sets up a shell and then charges for managed server “colocation!” I’ll bet that Robinson-Defehr consulting has only one colocation client.