Skinner
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Wed Sep-07-05 01:56 PM
Original message |
About our current high traffic, reduced functionality, and server upgrades |
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In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we have experienced an extremely large increase in traffic to our website. In order to accommodate this traffic, we have been forced to turn off certain functionality. While this is inconvenient, it has helped insure that our visitors do not experience unnecessarily long response times while browsing our website. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
A number of people have contacted us about the possibility of holding a fundraiser or providing some other assistance so Democratic Underground may upgrade our web servers to better handle unexpected traffic spikes like this one. We are touched by your generosity, and we appreciate the offers of help, but we would like all of you to know that we do not need additional support at this time.
Approximately one month before the Hurricane, the administrators of Democratic Underground had already begun working with our ISP in order to implement server upgrades. We discussed a number of upgrades, but the most important are the following: We are going to add a fifth web server, and we are going to double the number of processors on our database server from two to four. Had these upgrades been in place when the Hurricane hit, we believe we would have been able to handle the additional traffic.
Of course, we had no way of knowing that our country would experience a disaster of this magnitude, and we did not know that we would need the upgrades quite so soon. I regret that we were not prepared ahead of time, but in our defense I will say that we are not the President of the United States, and no lives were lost due to our lack of readiness.
The Hurricane and the massive increase in traffic to DU that it precipitated have made these server upgrades a much higher priority. We continue to work with our ISP in order to implement these upgrades. At this point we do not know exactly what the timeline will be, but we are doing what we can in order to get them done as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for your understanding.
Skinner DU Admin
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smartvoter
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Wed Sep-07-05 01:57 PM
Response to Original message |
1. Cool! Thanks for the update. nt |
MadAsHellNewYorker
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Wed Sep-07-05 01:58 PM
Response to Original message |
2. "and no lives were lost due to our lack of readiness" |
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you guys are great! Thanks for the hard work! keep it up!
:yourock: :bounce: :party: :toast:
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napi21
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:00 PM
Response to Original message |
3. Thanks Skinner. It helps to know you folks are working on it. |
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In a way, this is a good thing! It means a lot more people know DU is here! I hope a lot of those new visitiors like what they see and decidde to stay!
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MADem
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Wed Sep-07-05 08:41 PM
Response to Reply #3 |
69. Yeah, if you guys were running FEMA, NOLA would be in far better shape! nt |
SoCalDem
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
4. Yes.. There will be plenty of time to assess responsibility.. |
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Now is not the time... move on.... Now's not the time to play the Blame Game :evilgrin:..
:P
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meganmonkey
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
5. No need for regret - you guys do such a fantastic job |
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I hope you know how much this website means to so many of us!
:loveya:
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karlrschneider
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:01 PM
Response to Original message |
6. Thanks for the info. We all know you guys are doin' a fantastic job. |
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It's hard work. :evilgrin:
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merbex
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:02 PM
Response to Original message |
7. I totally understand and I appreciate the update |
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Thanks for all you and the mods do at DU
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silverweb
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:02 PM
Response to Original message |
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DU Admin has been doing a wonderful job and providing a great service. I know for sure I'd go completely crazy without DU and appreciate you more than I can say.
:yourock:
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Spazito
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:02 PM
Response to Original message |
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Thank you guys for creating a forum that has allowed the data collection and research skills of so many people that will be enormously helpful in the dissemination of the bush administration's complete failure in this national disaster.
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redqueen
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:02 PM
Response to Original message |
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You guys do a fantastic job... keep up the great work!
:yourock:
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ComerPerro
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:02 PM
Response to Original message |
11. "My Posts" is working. Who cares if nothing else does |
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As long as I have "My Posts", I am happy.
God, that sounds so self-absorbed.
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Skinner
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:05 PM
Response to Reply #11 |
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"My Posts" is extremely useful. It's really difficult to follow discussions without it.
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ComerPerro
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:09 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
16. I'm sure thats why you brought it back up |
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In fact, if it weren't for that feature, I may not have even seen your reply.
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WilliamPitt
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
23. Best feature you guys have added to date |
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Period.
Thanks, Skinner. Keep on keeping on.
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TahitiNut
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #12 |
42. Amen, Skinner. Is there a way to rebuild 'My Posts' links ... |
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... during slack time?? I can fully understand why the overheads of building the idices and individual access to the index needs to be Level-3'd ... but it sure would be nice if the links for posts made during a Level-3 could be harvested and added to the index database. As it is, we "lose our memory" of those posts. As a long-time former programmer (systems and databases), I can appreciate the possible difficuties. It'd sure be nice to have a rebuild, though.
It'd be even NICER for moderators and Admins ... if you know what I mean. ;-)
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nonconformist
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Wed Sep-07-05 07:31 PM
Response to Reply #11 |
66. I'm right there with you. "My Posts" rocks my world. |
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Lost without it.
Yes, I realize how awfully sad that sounds.
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atommom
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:07 PM
Response to Original message |
13. Thanks, Skinner! It means a lot to all of us. |
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And I love the way you slammed *.
I regret that we were not prepared ahead of time, but in our defense I will say that we are not the President of the United States, and no lives were lost due to our lack of readiness.
:rofl: :loveya:
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Historic NY
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:08 PM
Response to Original message |
14. We fully understand.........the storm got the bee's buzzing here. |
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lots of pissed off people posting........
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xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:09 PM
Response to Original message |
15. Where's the HIGH Traffic plan? Did you request help? |
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I don't recall any forms completed from your adminstrators.
We've been here starving for features for over a week. Can't you air drop a feature or two?
I feel like a refugee troll going to other boards to access features.
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FormerRepublican
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:16 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
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And I must admit that I'm so freaking addicted to DU that I might DIE if I don't get my daily dose!
Shame on you for calling us 'refugee' trolls - we're Americans, one and all (unlike that OTHER party, and I don't use that kind of language so I'm not going to describe them)!
:rofl:
Thank you, DU, for keeping us all sane in a very trying time for America!!
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cedahlia
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:24 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
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What about EarlG and Elad??? They didn't do crap!! What about the Mods of all the subforums?? I didn't see them doing anything about the high traffic problem. Leave Skinner alone!! Stop playing the BLAME GAME!!
You know, it's really the fault of all the thousands of DUers, who insist on using this site. They should have just left DU before the Hurricane hit. They knew it was coming! They just didn't want to get up off their asses and leave, so it serves them right that the servers can't handle the traffic and they don't get all the features they're used to! Lazy bastards! ;-)
p.s. Skinner really is THE MAN!!! :loveya: And also: EarlG, Elad, and all the DU mods who've been working their butts off, as usual. You guys (and DU ) are the best. This place keeps me sane. THANKS GUYS!!! :yourock:
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xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
30. I heard he was turning fundraiser volunteer efforts away. |
SaveAmerica
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:11 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
46. Don't forget, Skinner was ON VACATION when this all hit the fan!! |
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Looking for pictures of him with guitars, cake, and McCain...
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Beaverhausen
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:34 PM
Response to Reply #46 |
53. Well, if DUers evacuated like they were told to do none of this... |
Pithy Cherub
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:37 PM
Response to Reply #46 |
54. LOL! EarlG had every opportunity to sign the anarchy waiver |
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and asked for 24 hours to think about it... :rofl:
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Roland99
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Wed Sep-07-05 08:58 PM
Response to Reply #46 |
71. This place cracks me up! |
bleever
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Wed Sep-07-05 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #24 |
70. As long as Skinner promises to investigate himself, I'm good. |
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Skinner, EarlG, Elad, and all DU mods:
:yourock:
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Patsy Stone
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Wed Sep-07-05 09:04 PM
Response to Reply #70 |
73. Couldn't we all stand to investigate ourselves? |
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Edited on Wed Sep-07-05 09:05 PM by Patsy Stone
I mean, really... Have you looked into yourself recently? :hi:
And the Mods do ROCK! Thanks, Skinner, et. al.
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nonconformist
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Wed Sep-07-05 07:30 PM
Response to Reply #15 |
65. Now is NOT the time to play the BLAME GAME |
Spike from MN
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:11 PM
Response to Original message |
17. Skinner will be opening an investigation to look into |
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what went right and what went wrong with the upgrade. They want to solve the problem. That's what they do. They're problem solvers. This is no time for finger-pointing. Please stop playing the blame game so they can focus on the task at hand. ;)
Thanks Skinner! You're doing a great job!
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phusion
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:13 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
18. Actually, I'm an IT guy |
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and Skinner hired me for community relations instead of actually doing my job of upgrading servers.
:)
Thanks, Skinner!
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Spike from MN
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:19 PM
Response to Reply #18 |
22. I certainly hope you had other qualifications such as |
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running an Arabian Horse Association or something similar. Or were you and Skinner roommates in college? That would qualify too. ;)
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xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:42 PM
Response to Reply #22 |
34. He didn't run the horsey club. He braided their tails I saw his resume. |
Spike from MN
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:57 PM
Response to Reply #34 |
39. In that case he's over-qualified. He should resign and take |
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his rightful place as the director of FEMA. Rumor has it there may be an opening soon.
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xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:40 PM
Response to Reply #18 |
32. Not hiring the right people for the right job. DU Honey Pot! |
xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:38 PM
Response to Reply #17 |
31. How can he investiagte his own failures. We need an independent |
Spike from MN
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #31 |
37. I'm sure Skinner would be happy to appoint a fair and impartial |
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committee comprised of a few of his closest friends that just happened to make a healthy profit from the upgrade. Now stop pointing fingers and playing the blame game. Let Skinner get back to the important task of doling out the maintenance contracts to the aforementioned committee members. ;)
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xultar
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:05 PM
Response to Reply #37 |
43. Buhwawawa! Brilliant! |
hunter
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:15 PM
Response to Original message |
DarkTirade
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:18 PM
Response to Original message |
21. Save your donation money... |
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For the hurricane victims for now. :)
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bigbrother05
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:25 PM
Response to Original message |
25. While we might not have had four course meals |
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and stayed in three star hotel suites, but our basic sustenance was taken care of and we were safe from the storm.
Thanks!
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Lone_Star_Dem
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:26 PM
Response to Original message |
26. I think most of us understood |
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The DU Admin and Mods did an excellent job keeping things running as smooth as possible.
P.S. I was only kidding in my lounge post when I said you should have had an evacuation plan for GD and used the 200 buses to move us to another server. :hide:
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no name no slogan
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:29 PM
Response to Original message |
27. Skinner, you guys ROCK!!!! |
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And don't think we don't appreciate it, either!
And be sure to buy EarlG a round on us, for the fantastic work he did this past weekend.
:thumbsup:
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jokerman93
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:32 PM
Response to Original message |
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Thanks for the update Skinner. It's even possible that some lives have been saved because of D.U. One never knows!
Hats off to all the folks at DU who've worked hard to make our site a major hub for the Democratic/progressive/resistance movements.
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Catherine Vincent
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:35 PM
Response to Original message |
29. Thank you for what you are doing for us, Skinner and company! |
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And if FEMA gets in the way of the server upgrades, let me know.:-)
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all.of.me
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:41 PM
Response to Original message |
33. hahahahaha thanks for maintaining a sense of humor! |
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"Of course, we had no way of knowing that our country would experience a disaster of this magnitude, and we did not know that we would need the upgrades quite so soon. I regret that we were not prepared ahead of time, but in our defense I will say that we are not the President of the United States, and no lives were lost due to our lack of readiness."
and thanks for this informative site. i love to tell people that this is where i get my news from, because i always have info that they don't have and that they may never get.
and finally, yes, 'my posts' is my favorite part!
thanks, you guys!
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GreenPartyVoter
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:48 PM
Response to Original message |
35. Skinner you RULE! We're ready for our |
miss_kitty
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:50 PM
Response to Original message |
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Does this mean GD will get its own server and quit messing up the Lounge? :P
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txaslftist
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Wed Sep-07-05 02:57 PM
Response to Original message |
38. Thanks for all you do, Skinner. |
wryter2000
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:01 PM
Response to Original message |
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I've been okay without all the bells and whistles. What's important was that I could come here for information.
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patdem
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:03 PM
Response to Original message |
41. Thanks, Skinner...the only thing worse than DefCom 3 is NO DU |
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You folks are so very well prepared for overload, I think you need to advise FEMA. The way you deal with over load is so much better than other forums who simply cannot be reached.
:yourock:
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kimchi
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:45 PM
Response to Original message |
44. Thanks for all you do, Skinner. |
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I wouldn't be nearly as informed, or frankly, sane, if DU did not exist--it performs a much needed networking service in the progressive cause. We have a *large* group of "thoughful, committed individuals"...and we ARE making a difference!
In other words, Skinner, EarlG, Elad, and mods--you rock! :headbang:
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Renew Deal
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Wed Sep-07-05 03:54 PM
Response to Original message |
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I have been here long enough to understand why you are going to Level 4. I was looking at the Alexa report for DU yesterday. You have been as busy as the end of election season. Everything seems to be holding up much better than it did then, so congrats. Keep up the good work.
:yourock:
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Jersey Devil
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:14 PM
Response to Original message |
47. What about the Nooblin supply? Will it hold out |
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Generally, I throw in 2 scoops of Nooblin for every server depending on traffic, 3 scoops if the Finnegan Pin hasn't been rebuilt within 6 months.
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Twist_U_Up
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:17 PM
Response to Original message |
Don Claybrook
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:17 PM
Response to Original message |
49. You're blame-gaming the President, Skinner |
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So please keep up the great work!
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mogster
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:21 PM
Response to Original message |
50. Thanks Skinner - I hope you had a nice holiday |
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As opposed to Bush, YOU deserved it! :D
I think the board has managed fine, and the level system is a very interesting way of dealing with huge load.
Kudos :toast:
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Moderator
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:32 PM
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cynatnite
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:34 PM
Response to Original message |
52. Hire me, Skinner...I'm perfect cause I have no qualifications at all |
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I'm a housewife and when I was in college, I was fired for being a bad waitress. I think that right there should put me at the top of the list ;)
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Beaverhausen
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:39 PM
Response to Original message |
55. GEEZ- we are back to level 3! |
cynatnite
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:41 PM
Response to Reply #55 |
56. Who are we gonna blame it on? |
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:rofl:
I understand it happens with high traffic, but I can't help it now.
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Beaverhausen
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Wed Sep-07-05 04:48 PM
Response to Reply #56 |
57. Now is not the time to play the blame game |
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but I think it's the mods fault. If they had only asked the admins for help before this happened...
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jmowreader
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Wed Sep-07-05 08:06 PM
Response to Reply #56 |
67. Let's blame it on Bush |
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If Bush wasn't such an incredible twit, he wouldn't be fueling the rage that's clogging up the DU servers now.
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LiberalAmerican
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Wed Sep-07-05 05:20 PM
Response to Original message |
58. Skinnie, you're doing a heck of a job. eom |
HEAVYHEART
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Wed Sep-07-05 05:22 PM
Response to Original message |
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"I regret that we were not prepared ahead of time, but in our defense I will say that we are not the President of the United States, and no lives were lost due to our lack of readiness."
Skinner, I love that!!!!!
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Lisa
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Wed Sep-07-05 05:41 PM
Response to Original message |
60. this is one of the funniest threads I've read this week |
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And the laugh was sure welcome! As was, of course, the tireless efforts of Skinner and the DU team, to keep things running and everybody informed.
Michael Brown could use a few pointers from you guys!
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DinahMoeHum
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Wed Sep-07-05 06:51 PM
Response to Original message |
61. Hey, don't worry about it, we understand. |
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Tempers and traffic have gone real high the past several days.
:kick:
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Melissa G
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Wed Sep-07-05 06:57 PM
Response to Original message |
62. Thanks for all you do Skinner! |
Talismom
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Wed Sep-07-05 07:11 PM
Response to Original message |
63. I can't believe you're thanking us! Thank you for all this blog does that |
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helps preserve my sanity in these terrible times!
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donheld
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Wed Sep-07-05 07:26 PM
Response to Original message |
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You all are doing a wonderful job.
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pberq
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Wed Sep-07-05 08:17 PM
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I know I have been spending more time on DU than normal lately. What a great resource!
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OhioChick
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Wed Sep-07-05 09:02 PM
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for the great job that all of you do.
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eleny
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Wed Sep-07-05 09:06 PM
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Stinky The Clown
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Wed Sep-07-05 09:18 PM
Response to Original message |
75. DU, you're great! .... "we do not need additional support at this time" |
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I'm DAMNED impressed! Imagine that ... my measley donation, along with all the others during the fundraising drives is DU's income. And when faced with offers of more, DU refuses, saying they have enough.
There can be NO doubt what side of the political spectrum DU's admins are on! None at all.
Skinner ... you and your compatriots are the best. I am honored to be a member here.
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Warren Stupidity
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Wed Sep-07-05 11:10 PM
Response to Original message |
76. So that's great, but I have a question. |
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Like freeways: the more you build the more they get used. So perhaps somebody else has already covered this or perhaps I don't have a clue what I am talking about, but don't you need to have spare capacity (network and servers) for the spikes? Stuff that doesn't get used until an administrative decision is made to put it online to cover an crisis?
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Skinner
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Thu Sep-08-05 06:02 AM
Response to Reply #76 |
77. Indeed, we do need to have spare capacity. |
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It is our hope that these upgrades will give us the spare capacity we need for the next spike.
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DU
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Tue Apr 23rd 2024, 09:20 AM
Response to Original message |