Are we here for good? Did Phil get his new server?

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), December 29, 1999

Answers

No, I did not get my new server. It takes about 10 working days for VA Linux or Penguin to build a machine. But I decided to experiment to see if all the folks running robots had shut them off. If my ancient 167 MHz machine starts to blow chunks again, I'll have to turn off the forums again. Remember that there are 300,000 postings in this forum and therefore when 10 people all simultaneously try to grab each one, it is quite a large load on Oracle.

So try to chill out on those robots!

(I am actually trying to scrape together $100,000 or so to buy a rack of Linux boxes and build a new server farm for the next generation of Web experiments. See http://photo.net/teaching/one-term-web.html for what we think is interesting at MIT (you may be sad to learn that the Y2K bug is not covered in our course))

-- Philip Greenspun (philg@mit.edu), December 29, 1999.

1 2, 1 2, this is just a test.

-- 6 (6@6.6), December 29, 1999.

You guys have to remember that by all using fake email addresses, you put another huge load on the box (trying to deliver email to non- existent machines). Basically we could support 1000 MIT students doing something productive and looking toward the future for the same server admin cost as supporting this one forum....

-- Philip Greenspun (philg@mit.edu), December 29, 1999.

I hope those MIT students are ready for what's coming.

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), December 29, 1999.

Phil, your efforts on behalf of the forum are hugely appreciated. Many thanks for sticking w/ us through this.

-- silver ion (ag3@interlog.com), December 29, 1999.

Thanks, Phil. You are a prince!

-- margie mason (mar3mike@aol.com), December 30, 1999.

While we all appreciate your efforts on our behalf, Mr. Greenspun, perhaps, if we were to each contribute a dollar, you migh invest it in a course on interpersonal skills.

-- (miscjld@aol.com), December 30, 1999.

Maybe Mr. Greenspun would like to get a look at all the things you people wrote about him on other forums.

Perhaps he has been using all of his interpersonal skills just biting his tongue and turning the other cheek on all of you ungrateful, demanding, whining, spoiled children.

Perhaps you could learn to ask him politely for what you want and accept his answer, wheather positive or negitive, in the same manner.

He owes you nothing.

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), December 30, 1999.

Ditto. We are guests on this box and should behave as such. I've admin'd plenty of systems and if I had folks sucking up resources and paying not one yankee dollah, I'd expect them to mind their manners. If they did not, they could bloody well locate another camping area.

Thanks again, Phil, for your patience and expertise in re-establishing this forum.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), December 30, 1999.

BTw, I do apologize for my fake addy and the load it creates. Assuming such services are available next week, I'll establish an anonymous e-mail account and use that from now on. Thanks again.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.hid), December 30, 1999.

Thank you for keeping this forum alive into the Y2K.

-- INever (inevercheckmy@onebox.com), December 30, 1999.

Phil, I'm sure that you can appreciate the fact that many who post here give advice on Y2K related issues such as how to effectively store cash, gold and silver against theft. Obviously, posting one's true e-mail address would tend to inhibit the quality of the advice.

I have noticed that dropping the auto-email alert feature seems to have done wonders for the forum software performance. Perhaps this is a good compromise.

Thanks for your generosity and support for this forum that has helped so many prepare for Y2K.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), December 30, 1999.

Cherrie,

I've known some real bitches in my life, but you make them seem pleasant. What the hell is your problem? I'm curious, did you ever say anything nice to anyone in your entire life?

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 30, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

Phil, thanks for all you've done. Please, burn yourself a CD from your backup tapes. Then, when you find someone with a laptop and a solar setup you can use it to survive if needed. If it wouldn't violate your contract with MIT, you might seriously consider offering that CD via your favorite charity, for say $25 a pop. I'm thinking it would sell like hotcakes. But act soon.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), December 31, 1999.