This is diverging from the point, but I wanted to make a technical troubleshooting point:

Tom, Rob -- I tried on our test server to do the show processlist -- not only could I get into the commandline mysql twice, show processlist showed both command line logins and my browser firing off queries.

And the deadline unfortunately is not irrelevent. Generally if given a deadline that does not allow time to make a good decision, the best decision to make is "no". This has nothing to do with blame.

Sorry, I should have said arguing about the deadline is immaterial.

> The $99/month offering from iStrata is a dedicated machine.

Is this what you were calling a virtual server, Typo Boy?

No, there was another offer that was a virtual server.

And my problem with the new offer is:

The server would be entirely FanGeek's and we are willing to play around with the configuration and settings to see if that helps your situation. Whether or not it does, the site would stay up and there won't be any further error message issues. Also, being that it would be our server, I can reboot it any time we need that to happen.

It does not specify how much they would play with the configuration - certainly not unlimited amounts. The thing about a real dedicated server is we could play with the settings as much as we wanted. Even with a dedicated server - it seems like we could play with most of the settings - ability to tweak stuff we just could not tweak with the current offer. My problem with the current offer is we still have to rely on the host to tweak some things. This could end up with us being that pita customer again.

It does not specify how much they would play with the configuration - certainly not unlimited amounts.

By they -- you mean Kristen. It's probably simplest to ask.

Additional re the Dinix plans from my friend:

I just called Dinix at 1:30am. And got a live person on the second ring.

The guy confirmed that there is no pre-set limit on the simultaneous MySQL database transactions/connections

Ah, I wasn't sure what was Kristen and what was Steve. "They" seemed suitably vagure.

Look, for various reasons I'm tired most of the time right now, so I sometimes put things clumsily, and misunderstand some stuff that was clear to everyone else. But I honestly think some of my points may prove useful, and if anything I say seems hostile I hope you will understand that it is not - it is simply poor phrasing that in trying to help solve the problem.

Tom, Rob -- I tried on our test server to do the show processlist -- not only could I get into the commandline mysql twice, show processlist showed both command line logins and my browser firing off queries.

This is very interesting. And we have been unable to fail on the test server also, correct?

Also, Typo Boy, I read you as also speaking reasonably. By nature we have divergent opinions throughout the board. Yours sounds fine, and not accusatory, to me.

It does not specify how much they would play with the configuration - certainly not unlimited amounts.

I had been pretty much willing to test out any and all server configuration options. The server would be mine to do with as I please. IH would have no say though Steven would be on hand to make suggestions if I wanted to hear them.

The thing about a real dedicated server is we could play with the settings as much as we wanted.

See, my plan was pretty much to give you a real dedicated server without making you pay for the whole thing.

At this point, can I just take the offer off the table and let you guys make some other arrangements? I'm tired and feeling kind of beat up here. I think it's clear that the will of the board or the geekies or whatever you want to call them is that we're too expensive. I understand that. Unfortunately, I can't afford to give you guys any more price breaks at this point. If I could, I would. But, you know, I need to be able to buy groceries every week.

So can we all just move on to talking about where to move to, please?

Honestly we are not beating you up. Like I said some of the phrasing may be clumsy. You made an offer, and it may still be the right one. Remember a lot of the people saying the things that offend you are not making the decision. And I'm sorry you find some of the discussion hurtful. Normally when you make an offer, the parties considering it discuss it privately. This situation does not allow for it. Some of what you just said was not completely clear to me - even though it may not be to everyone else For example, until now I did not know the server would be completely under your control. And maybe everyone else did.

I'm going to shut up now, becasue I think at this moment the negatives have strarted to outweight the positives in my contributions to this conversation. I do wish you could manage not to be hurt by this discussion. I know, that kind of rates with "cheer up" as someone asking you do something not under your control. Its not ingratitude; we can't accept an offer just because you are going out of your way to try to help us; we have to make sure we don't get both the buffitas and fangeek into a worse situation than at present. ita and the other buffista super-geeks may yet decide your offer is the best way to go - or not. Having made an offer with a very short deadline, I really hope you won't withdraw because you find the discussions made under a fair degree of time pressure less than tactful.. But I apologize since obviously I offended you.