Server Issues: Update

[Batleth]

Believe everyone knows we had some server issues back a couple of months ago during one of our monthly maintenance cycle. This issue has caused us to suspend using our server to host any new files for the time being. Nick has been working on repairing any damage and looking for a long term fix.

Nick has decided that it's just time for us to obtain a newer server. Something larger and faster to carry us into the future before our older server gives out. It's been having some problems for years. Nick has had to do more and more tweaking for it to hold up to the higher volume of traffic that we've been getting. He's looking at new servers and deciding which one would be the best for us as well as cost effective. Once he has bought a new server, he'll begin transferring our sites to the new server. There will be an interruption of service of our sites during this process. I'll do my best to try to inform everyone before sites are taken down during this process but I'll know more later as Nick gets closer to doing this.

We survive online mainly by donations from our members. We do obtain a small amount from advertising but it doesn't amount to a lot per month. While Nick pays out of pocket anything that our donations can't cover. Donations have taken a real hit lately due to the downward trend of the world's economy. Frankly, donations have been down for the past 2-3 years. We recently had a 2 for 1 deal to get double the subscription time for any donations we got. I'm happy to say that many of you decided to partake in this bonus offer.

Since it's going to be quite expensive to buy a new server, initial setup fees, and transferring of our site's data; we'll be doing the 2 for 1 deal again for the month of May. If you are leaning towards obtaining a subscription by donating then this is the time to go ahead and do so. Please, do not donate if you can't afford it. But if you can, we ask that you take this time to do so. Kids, be sure to get your parents permissions before donating.

You can make a donation and obtain a subscription to our various bonus features by going to Paid Subscriptions found in the userCP.

Thanks ahead to all of you taking the time to donate to keeping us online!