Now on the technical side, the problem with researching new hosting possibilities is that our primary problems have an unquantifiable aspect. We have a problem now. We don't know what's causing it. It could be our code, or the server configuration, or a bug in mysql, or something we haven't even guessed. We have no way of knowing if a new hosting situation can handle the problem or how willing they will be to work with us to work it out.

Because we wrote our own code and have an unusually active site (in terms of transactions, not necessarily traffic) we are likely to be a problem customer whereever we go.

Thank you, Kristen (and Monique, whom I miss).

Thank you, geekies.

In my opinion, this definitely isn't a vote issue, so I'm glad to see so many others voice the same opinion.

When it comes down to the technical stuff, I'll leave that to the geekies.

The $2,400 concerns me, and the Friday decision time makes me uncomfortable. Kristen, that's not criticism of you (or Monique) at all. I realize you've negotiated the best deal you could for us, even with fee reductions if we... (do whatever that thing is you said we could do blahblahOverMyHead). My first response is to bristle when I'm told I have to decide in two days whether or not I'm going to spend a lot of money.

Regardless of that, if the geekies decide this is the way to go, I can cough up $24.00.

One more thing to Kristen, do you foresee yourself hating us, and/or leaving us with your hands in the air, if we stay with IH? Because really, you've rocked, you've rolled, you've bouldered very hard in your host-client liaison position, but I'd much rather keep you as a Buffista, than as our ISP liaison.

My abdication? I'm taking it back for a minute.

What seems to be desirable is the following:

1. Board stability
2. The same or greater speed
3. An ME show on the air next year
4. A sip of good bourbon or a chocolate bar (your choice of delectable pleasure)

As humans are wont, we want to do it as cheaply as possible. Unfortunately doing it as cheaply is not always the option or at least nto always the best option.

But you know what, like NoiseDesign, I often find that the cheapest solution isn't always the better solution. Yeah, if board stability and speed means paying X, of course I'd rather pay >X, but you know what, if I have to pay X, so be it.

If I'm worried about board culture going fizzle, I also need to be worried that we will still have a board that is functional. Because, frankly, that's my first priority.

Who else would tell us what make up to buy??

Please don't assign to the entire community a problem you appear to have with the way I phrased something.

My apologies if you felt like I was singling you out for critique, but this isn't what I meant to do at all. People had been saying "we'll let the Stompies decide" since yesterday and it had bugged me since yesterday, and you just happened to be the random example I grabbed -- I honestly couldn't have told you who I was quoting.

Me, I plan to give whatever paltry sum I can afford and then be very adult about it.

"I gave $8 to this board and so far you people aren't giving me my $8 worth of fun. Yes, $8 of my OWN money. Step up with the ha-has, folks! "

Speaking of which, we should probably toss around a different number, because we're talking about paying $2400 for our total access, but we've had about six accounts mentioned that could potentially be moved to take advantage of the discount. I think there are probably a few more out there, but just counting those, we're already down to $140 a month, or $1680 a year, which is $17/user instead of $24. Right?

If I toss in extra money, I expect beer. Cases and cases of beer. And more scrappy.

I'm a little confused. If it's $2400 a year, and we assume all the active users donate(~200, IIRC), then aren't we looking at $12/user/year? Not month.

$1680 a year, which is $17/user/month instead of $24. Right?

$17/user/year, I think you mean.

And that's only assuming the 100 most active members give. If every registered member donated $5, we'd be more than paid up for two years.

(And this is a very odd conversation for me to be having right now, since my local NPR is in the middle of a pledge drive, which I wake up to every morning. I keep expecting someone to say "For the next hour, your $120 donation will be worth $240 thanks to the dollar-for-dollar match offered by Mr. and Mrs. VeryRichBuffista. You'll also recieve a Buffista tote bag and our exclusive "Sounds of Buffistas" CD as a thank-you gift.")