Fuck. Good and bad.

This might be better suited for "offline" discussion, but I have a pretty fat connection and I run a server. I'm obviously not the only one here who does. Would it help if some of us with spare bandwidth hosted some things? Stored the archives? Etc?

-R

Just for information's sake, we are looking at a yearly cost of $350-400 a year for upgraded hosting. Which will give us 300 Mb of storage space and 15 Gb of bandwidth. Enough to keep everybody coming in and out very expeditiously.

FYI: Netacore.com hosts my domain. 250MB/10GB/$180yr, 500MB/15GB/$264yr.

I'm also hosted by Netacore. Great customer service, excellent up-time... I've never had a problem that Netacore couldn't resolve in a timely manner. Usually, it's my fault anyhow!

What about Media Temple? My connection at work is being a bit wonky right at the moment so I can't look at prices and such, but everyone even remotely involved in design seems to use (and love) them...

-R

I only make payments in e-gold. Sorry.

I probably won't change hosts. The one I have right now is very good and provides some excellent back end utilities. I do use Media Temple for some other web sites I have. Thanks for the proposals anyhoo.

Hi Armin (and also all of those that are contributing with constant work, ideas, posts, etc)

Just to let you all know I've already made my donation as I truly believe Speak-up has got to stay and be the media it has so far been and be able to grow.

We can all suggest ideas but I feel that if those are the needs then man, those are the needs and we ought to contribute.

Remember, there is nothing like a free ride and if we so much value this forum we should all contribute no matter if its only a nickel but it will show we care.

Good luck and hope you make it.

Speak-up must manage to stand-up (and not break-up). We all deserve it!

I'll bet most of us pay $50/year to get CA, yet briefly thumb through it and toss it into the archives. Many of us read Speak-Up daily or even hourly (and minute-ly on a slow day) for free. The hosting fee of $400 amounts to $20/person if 20 people donate. All of us have many obligations — homes, kids, eBay habits — but I think this is a fucking worthwhile cause. My contribution will be "in the email" in short course.

Well said Jon. I'm in.

Armin, can we put a little "brought to you by FutureBrand" right under the SpeakUp logo? Thanks.

(That was well worth the money by itself)

>Armin, can we put a little "brought to you by FutureBrand" right under the SpeakUp logo? Thanks.

Let's ask Felix.

"brought to you by FutureBrand"

That's classic. Maybe LogoWorks wants to get in on this too?

> brought to you by FutureBrand

Best comment ever!

I just have to say that this must've been very difficult for you to ask Armin. I sympathize and admire you for it.

The therapy this site provides us is well worth the cash.

>I just have to say that this must've been very difficult for you to ask Armin. I sympathize and admire you for it.

Yeah, pride was not getting in the way at all. No siree. It's hard, but I also knew that I could count on all of you to help keep this thing going and make it easier on the pockets. So, thanks!

> I have posters and other design junk I'd be willing to donate.

Save them! One day we will all get together and do a design auction like TypeCon's. That's one of the best events I've seen.

S.O.SU

i fully agree with Tan that there should be some other way of assuring the longevity of the site. a yearly drive like this would be fine but it is not something you can bank on.

>i fully agree with Tan that there should be some other way of assuring the longevity of the site.

In reality, hosting is the only expense right now. It's not like I'm spending money all over the place. There is more time than money involved... if I could negotiate some extra hours a day with God, now that would be cool. But seriously, this money will help alleviate the hosting charges for a couple of years at least and I have some ideas (you'll hear about them eventually) that could now be made possible with these donations. And now I have the confidence that the Speak Up crowd is cool enough to help out and that is very comforting and reassuring.

Seriously guys and gals, it's not as bad as it sounds and I absolutely love and appreciate the concern. Let's save this drive and effort for when we put together our first conference or something...

...did anybody hear the AIGA's knee's rattle when I said that?

> it's not as bad as it sounds

in that case, can I have my $500 back?

Let's save this drive and effort for when we put together our first conference or something...

Right. You better not be driving around in a new Mini Cooper S if I visit Chicago one of these days.

Ideas folks?

I vote for a bake sale. I'm a sucker for brownies.

...just kidding, I just threw in a $20 folks.

use it however you deem fit, Vit.

i pay for NPR and i'll pay for this too!

Let's ask Felix.

Ask? No Need, my friend.

Arm, dont spend it on

broads and booze you rascal!

i pay for NPR

I've been listening to NPR for years and I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to contribute monetarily, but I clicked on that Speak Up PayPal logo right away. Damn design.

Seems to me that donations seem to work for a lot of sites I frequent (mostly webcomics.)

The best example is diesel sweeties. Rstevens there seems to do pretty good for himself by taking donations and selling merchandise.

Which got me thinking, maybe people would go in for shirts and the like? I would buy a Speak Up tshirt if it was cool enough (I trust that it would be.)

I would definately buy a shirt.

tess sound good. and i got the hookups for apparel. i'm the man, yo.

Ah, t-shirts... I guess it could happen, I've been trying to avoid them. Not because of price or anything, but I dunno...

I've been trying to avoid them.

I agree. Seems like every design portal or whatnot has t-shirts. Passé.

Let's think of something cooler.

for what it's worth (and if i wasn't very scared of paypal i'd send hot cash) i'll do a t-shirt for you-i don't have any probs (passe-wise) with tees and actually i like them. we could all do loads and i bet you'll make a mint, speak up at least being a nicer thing to have on one's chest than say typo-blog or grafixweb. or something.

> Let's think of something cooler.

Let's do a SpeakUp beefcake calendar.

>Let's do a SpeakUp beefcake calendar.

T-shirts it is then!

T-shirts are cool, but I agree; ever designer and its cousin has some t-shirt thing. Notice how The Chopping Block had limited edition designer lunchboxes (VERY cool); some places give out stickers with cut-out designer dolls; other places sell hats instead of t-shirts, etc. Or underwear. ;) Or maybe a special designer cd. Or designer fans. I dunno!!!

C'mon. We're creatives. Let's think of something creative.

It would have to be something as useful as a tshirt. Selling Speak Up tote bags or boxers would really make me sick.

I dunno. Maybe there could be a book or something. Either of written content or design content. Perhaps something like the open space project, but mass-producable.

Thank you all so much for the contributions. I think this will keep us safe for a couple of years. Together, we (well, you) raised a little over $500. Don't worry your money will be put to good use!

Thanks again

> Armin - Thank you all so much for the contributions. I think this will keep us safe for a couple of years. Together, we (well, you) raised a little over $500. Don't worry your money will be put to good use!

That's good news!!!

And, BTW, we dont worry, its you who now has to worry to maintain the drive to keep-up speak-up (if you pardon the pun) katchup??

You know even though enough money has been raised, it would still be interesting to make a tangible object centered around the site. I think it would be pretty cool to be able to buy a small booklet filled with a collection of the word its submitted.

I could imagine a small 4" x 4" book filled with everyone's artwork from the site.

>I could imagine a small 4" x 4" book filled with everyone's artwork from the site.

That is not a bad idea. At all...

I want a beefcake calendar. Of course, where would you find designers who are beefcakes? I'm sure that it happens. somewhere. sometimes. :-p

> I want a beefcake calendar. Of course, where would you find designers who are beefcakes?

Alas, no beefcakes round here I'm afraid. Maybe porkcakes -- soft, dumpy, near-sighted design/computer nerds with wrist pains.

SU, the other white meat...

i keep thinking that producing limited edition prints would work really well considering the talent that's already on board.

nominal to produce and who doesn't like a great poster?

Hi, I know that "money is ok" now.. but please post something similar when needed again! I LOVE this site, you guys, the opinions (I know, only been here for a bit!)... I would love to help in any way!

Thanks Sarah! There will be other opportunities to help out... maybe soon, because papa needs an airport base to go with his laptop... did I say that out loud?

Seriously, thanks.