We need your help - Permies server fundraiser

Just sent this out to the weekly-ish subscribers.  Wanted to share it here too just in case you didn't know.

Here are a dozen things that permies offers free to the world and that you are supporting when you help us move to a new server.

1- over 19 years of community in forums where we can ask questions, find solutions, and read up on permaculture projects.
2- resources for gardening, critter care, building, repairing, homesteading, alternative energy, financial strategies, cooking, cleaning, upcycling, survival, yarn, and so much more.
3- connecting landless with landowners through  the SKIP program https://permies.com/wiki/skip-pep-bb
4- permaculture personal ads for life partner seekers
5- a place to get some laughs or play a gentle game, or post a joke yourself https://permies.com/f/12/md
6- a free space to journal your permaculture projects (and follow others on their adventures) https://permies.com/f/69/projects
7- a digital market with no monthly or listing fees https://permies.com/c/29
8- a window into Wheaton labs projects - experiments into better world building https://permies.com/f/102/labs
9- a free place to promote your stuff https://permies.com/f/149/blatant-advertising
10- a place to discuss those far out homesteading ideas that the neighbour would call you crazy for even mentioning...  
11- free books during author events
12- massive list of free stuff available through the daily-ish email https://permies.com/goodies#freebies
13- and one of my personal favourites, a deep dive into the most eco-friendly, longest lasting, healthiest way to make coffee https://permies.com/t/16387/coffee  

I bet there is a lot more we could add to the list like plant identification and...?  Any ideas?

Wow! It's been less than 12 hours and we're over 80% of the way to the awesome server. You guys are awesome!

The thing I like the best about permies is that if someone has a problem, others always pitch in with ideas and information, willingly, enthusiastically, with kindness and understanding, respectfully, honestly, and if someone doesn't, the volunteer staff come along and remind the culprit firmly that we all agreed to "BE NICE" when we joined. Permies is the best place to hang out. A new server will help with that.

Now will I wake up tomorrow to see us over the target???

Jay Angler wrote:The thing I like the best about permies is that if someone has a problem, others always pitch in with ideas and information, willingly, enthusiastically, with kindness and understanding, respectfully, honestly, and if someone doesn't, the volunteer staff come along and remind the culprit firmly that we all agreed to "BE NICE" when we joined. Permies is the best place to hang out. A new server will help with that.

Now will I wake up tomorrow to see us over the target???

AND .......  we are a 24/7 family so there is always someone there being nice and providing help.  This is a great way to give something back for being able to be a part of the best family in the world.  

$8,425!

We're less than $900 from a new server!

I'm glad Paul and the team have done their server research so well over the years.

Right now, hospitals (and airports, and media outlets, and banks, and ATM machines, and many servers) are down thanks to a Microsoft outage.

From Australians have been hit by a worldwide tech outage. Here's what we know:

In Australia, all NSW government departments, including police and fire and rescue have been affected. Triple-0 was still working.

Several companies appear to be impacted, including banking, media, and airline networks across the country.

Customers have reported having ATM server issues at Woolworths, and other retailers.

Quantas flight check-ins have reportedly been affected.

ABC, SBS and Sky computer systems crashed this afternoon, interrupting programming.

On its X, Microsoft said it was investigating the incident, which appears to be affecting Microsoft 365 apps and services worldwide.

Microsoft said early on Friday its cloud services outage in the Central US region was resolved after it led to the grounding and cancellation of several flights.

I am so thankful that we're still up and running when so many other things are down. There's a lot of resiliency in our system, and there will soon be even more thanks to everyone who's helping buy this bigger, better server!

From down under, it is a third party security platform and not Microsoft itself that is the issue.  There are some companies that have added their own patch to disable the third party platform but cyber experts are warning that the patch will potentially enable hackers free reign.  Experts are warning that the company will gradually roll out patches to correct the problem but it will take time. Thank goodness for Java Ranch and our Big D.

Just letting everyone know, Paul will have the needed funds for the new server.

When my check arrives it will be more than enough.  

Maybe there will be some money left over to buy some bacon for that scamp of a bot!


Peace

9,155

Only $145 to go for a shiny new server!

$100 to go!

We did it!

We hit the top goal!

Thank you everyone, you are so amazing!

funds sent to the hosts for the fancy new server!

re-reading all the kind words ...   and I must say thanks for all these kind words ...   and the funding!  Sometimes I get a little dark when I try to do my world domination thing, and I don't get as far as I want.  This is the sort of moment when it becomes clear to me that not only am I not alone in this, but a lot of people will gladly throw their shoulder in!

im on ssi and want to help again on the 1st

I hope that the benefits of PIE is worth $3!

Yay! Quality physical infrastructure makes all this possible.
Hoping for a smooth upgrade/migration!

Wubbalubbadubdub

I'm sorry to hear you feel this way.  Have you tried turning yourself into a pickle?

This is the way

This is the way.

I'll shill the noodles out of this if you accept Bitcoin Cash (BCH) contributions

We had to shut down our crypto stuff.  In fact, I have never been able to get the money out of the crypto interface we were using.  It just says "what crypto?"

Here's to World Domination!

Yes!

As long as the server wears a tuxedo, I'm in!

It do!

We did it!

I got an email suggesting some stretch goals for more hardware and the like.  I confess that I have not thought of what to do here - i was just being wiggy about getting a new server.

So here we are.  

I dunno, permies runs in the red all the time.  Maybe we just ride it out and have a few months of running in the black?

The only reason I bought PIE was to contribute to the internet, and server costs. I'd appreciate some financial transparency in where the money goes. Maybe a public pie graph once a year in one of the private forums of property taxes, wages, internet, and such?

First: HHH.

The income from PIE is about halfway to our monthly server costs (being connected to the backbone ain't free!). That doesn't include what I pay for help or a buffet of other things.  And it does not include what I paid for the PIE stuff to be developed.

I have hopes that PIE will, in time, get permies to run into the black.

Yaaaay!! Congrats everyone!!

I just found out that i will be told about taxes and shipping for the server after it is purchased ...

Devaka,

I think sales tax in colorado might be as high as 10% depending on the exact destination.  

Shipping might be ... what ...  $100?  $150?

So maybe we need to change $9300 to $10,400?

paul wheaton wrote:I just found out that i will be told about taxes and shipping for the server after it is purchased ...

Why is the devil always hiding in the details?
Can you at least estimate a likely tax liability at this time?

Shipping is tricky due to mass and distance, however, I'd also allow for shipping insurance on the thing, as expensive tech seems to have a greater tendency than some things to fall off the back of trucks. Maybe we create a temporary permies shipping company? One staff picks it off and drives so far... then passes it off to the next staff... probably not worth the time and effort, but if the company gets goofy about it, figure out options!

I can just imagine, delivering a new server for a permaculture website by horse and buggy! That gave me a smile!

paul wheaton wrote:I just found out that i will be told about taxes and shipping for the server after it is purchased ...

Best keep on going then! Congratulations on getting this far but might as well see if you can build up a bit more of a surplus against all these other costs. It doesn't seem right that you should have to subsidise this wonderful resource which so many people enjoy and make use of!

maybe we should change this

Good, but not very upgradeable:
$4800
$4,468.57 for the server
~$144 in processing fees
~$187.43 in unforseen comedies

Excellent and very upgradable:
$9300
$8,795.99 for the server
~$279 in processing fees
~$225.01 in unforseen comedies

to something more like

$8,795.99 for the server
~$312 in processing fees
~880 in taxes
~200 in shipping
~$212.01 in unforseen comedies

total:  $10,400

??

Paul, I don't understand all the 1's and 0's in code writing stuff.  But if it helps to ease your worries my check has a 1 followed by three 0's.  Should cover any unseen costs.

Peace

PS if more is needed just let me know, may have to set up some kind of gift thingy each quarter.  I'll check with my investment folks, ah I forgot, just as soon as I bite the bullet and get a phone!!!

Wow Deane, that is very generous of you.

I'm very relieved we reached the goal. After the PTJ 2025 didn't go through I was a bit worried. So now I'm all the happier.
Thanks everyone. And thanks Paul and all the staff!

Yaaay! Super awesome server ultra secured!! This is great :)

Hey Paul, I have a question.  What does a new server smell like?  I mean is it like that new car smell of today, when you first open the door?  Or is it more like leather seats and cherry burl dashboard, oil finished, hand rubbed with bee wax type smell?

As I've said before, I'm not much of a puter guy, more like a table saw, planner, and molder type guy.


Peace

It has been a long time since I've been in a room with one of these servers.  They are kinda like a laptop that is really big.  It goes into a slot that is made for it.

I think it smells the same as a new laptop or a new phone.  There is a bit of a smell of the components and the solder.  A little different from "new car" smell.  

We are gonna take the announcement (at the top of all forum pages) down soon.  I just think that devaka made such a handsome announcement that I wanna make sure we save it for future use.

Zero experience here, but I’m guessing a new server smells kinda plastic-y.  At least until it has a chance to breathe and off-gas.

While we are all happy with ourselves, could I suggest a Dailyish with more information about PIE?  Even though I just bought a case of Building a Better World books and donated to the new server, I would be game to buy some PIE. Maybe next payday would work better for me…

I feel like a follow up email reporting how great the server project went should (could?) have a nice plug for the PIE.

Janie Brackett wrote:While we are all happy with ourselves, could I suggest a Dailyish with more information about PIE?  Even though I just bought a case of Building a Better World books and donated to the new server, I would be game to buy some PIE. Maybe next payday would work better for me…

I feel like a follow up email reporting how great the server project went should (could?) have a nice plug for the PIE.

I like the way you think! Passing this on to the peeps that do the dailyish.

Well done Permies!

This happened too quickly for me to donate in time. I hope my monthly PIE subscription is helping to keep Permies afloat, and I encourage anyone else who missed out on the fundraiser and wants to help to also get some PIE - you get extra features on the forums while supporting Permies at the same time.

https://permies.com/pie

Well done kate.  I never understood this PIE thingy, thought it was a bit silly really.  I've said more than once that Paul should ask, if he needed help to keep this site going.

Well he did indeed ask for help on the server fundraiser and look at how the good folks responded!!  I sent a gift to help with the server and I just placed an order for three whole PIEs, and I hope someone will think up a plan to give away this order of PIE.

I think it must be a law that PIE is to be served with ice cream, I'm sad to report that I still have no taste for ice cream. (thanks chemo)  But I now will place an order of PIE on a regular monthly basis.

Peace

Deane Adams wrote:Well done kate.  I never understood this PIE thingy, thought it was a bit silly really.  I've said more than once that Paul should ask, if he needed help to keep this site going.

Well he did indeed ask for help on the server fundraiser and look at how the good folks responded!!  I sent a gift to help with the server and I just placed an order for three whole PIEs, and I hope someone will think up a plan to give away this order of PIE.

I think it must be a law that PIE is to be served with ice cream, I'm sad to report that I still have no taste for ice cream. (thanks chemo)  But I now will place an order of PIE on a regular monthly basis.

Peace

When I have lots of pie I often give out slices to posts that I think are extra special - there's a way to include a little note with the slice, and also a way to send pie anonymously. You should be able to see a little picture of pie above each post now, and to send pie, you can just click on that and it's easy.