Some things you may not know about Democratic Underground...

[Elad]

1) On a typical busy weekday, we get about 1,000,000 page views and 150,000 unique visitors
2) Over the past month, we've had over 2,500,000 unique visitors to the site
3) A busy day will see about 20,000 new posts
4) We have 6 top-of-the-line dedicated servers running the site
5) During the heat of the primaries last year we were getting so much traffic that our ISP had to rewire part of their server farm to provide more power to our servers, which were tripping circuit breakers at peak hours

...my point is that DU is big, and while it is a challenging and full-time job to manage all of this and continually try to improve DU, we absolutely love it. Although we can't provide 100% uptime, 100% bug-free software, 100% user-friendliness, or make 100% of our members happy, we approach every upgrade, change, or decision with regards to DU with a perfectionist attitude. You should hear some of the conversations that go on...

Skinner: The text in that image doesn't look quite right, I don't think it's centered.
EarlG: Well, it's an equal number of pixels from each side of the image.
Skinner: Try shifting it one pixel to the left.
EarlG: Ok.
(silence for a moment while EarlG fiddles with it)
EarlG: How's that?
Skinner: Hmm, now it's too far left. What if you changed the font and moved it one pixel down?
EarlG: Ok.
(silence)
EarlG: Take a look now, I like the font but now it's definitely not centered.
Skinner: Are you centering it from the edge of the image or from the inside lines?
EarlG: Ahh, maybe that's it...
(silence and more fiddling)
EarlG: Well, not much of a difference there... maybe we should put one pixel in between the letters?
Elad: I liked the first one.

...you get the idea. We take pride in the fact that DU is a well-designed site that is generally user-friendly and pleasant to look at, and we will continue to work to make the site better.

Obviously this is a tough time, both economically and politically, but making a donation to Democratic Underground is a great way to support a truly grassroots website, that while far from perfect, at least never stops attempting to get better. We rely on the good will of our members to support the site and you've always come through.

If you've already donated to the fund drive, THANK YOU! If you've been sitting on the fence, I hope you'll take a moment to go make a donation now, no matter how big or small. Even a small donation helps, and you'll get all the cool benefits of being a donor for an entire year. Just click the link below to donate:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/donate.html

Thanks!

[dionysus]

1. cool

[KansDem]

2. I'm not unique...

...can I still visit?

[MercutioATC]

15. But you ARE unique...

...just like everybody else.

[KansDem]

17. .

[RaleighNCDUer]

99. When everybody is unique, nobody is unique -

to misquote Syndrome.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

101. BRAVO

[NBachers]

67. OK - We'll settle for risque

[Mrs. Overall]

3. Donate! K&R because DU rules and DUers are smart!

I have learned SO MUCH over the 6+ years I've been here.

[JaneFordA]

35. "Learning, too!"

Thanks a million, y'all. This place and the terrific people who hang out here just make my day EVERY day! Good on ya!

[Mrs. Overall]

73. Welcome to DU, JaneFordA!

[graywarrior]

4. Hell, you should be Obama's Health Care closer.

I can't afford a donation this month, but guess what...you just convinced me.

[UpInArms]

70. hey, graywarrior,

have I ever told you how much I care about you?

Well, if I haven't, I really do.

Will you ever let that poor duck go free?

[graywarrior]

71. I care back +100000000000000000

And no...the duck stays...lol!

[annabanana]

5. What a lovely batch of factoids! This site is WELL worth

a few bucks here & there.

[Solly Mack]

6. pixelated humor

[babylonsister]

7. Now that was funny!

Thanks for the laugh!

And yes, I'll donate soon.

[Enthusiast]

87. We should pay you.

[madmax]

8. And then are the times that you guys go

way beyond the call and scope of the main objective of this site.

I wish I could donate bazillions!

Thank you - Skinner, EarlG and Elad. Salt of the earth guys.



P.S. Times are tough but, ever nickel helps.

[Enthusiast]

88. Yup, bazillions

would be about right.

[Glorfindel]

9. I can't imagine life without DU

Of course I'll donate, and plead with everyone else who can possibly afford it to do so. And thanks to our Magnificent Administrators for all the good work you do.

[TommyO]

10. RE: Try shifting it one pixel to the left.

I'm glad that even the pixels are shifting to the left, it's been a long time coming!

[jhain]

11. THANK you! Thank You ! Thank You!

We are making you a cake:

[Gregorian]

12. I am totally opposed to "bigger is better", except for DU.

It is the one thing that has overturned my "smaller is better" philosophy.

And it's one of the greatest places on earth. I am not exaggerating.

[City Lights]

13. There's no place like DU!

Skinner, Elad, and EarlG:

[Jackpine Radical]

14. Here's a couple of brazillions. Wish it could be more.

[gratefultobelib]

16. Actually I was waiting to knock out Sarah Palin, but Lou Dobbs will do!

[rhett o rick]

18. HEY the un-rec feature doesn't work on this thread. JK. Keep up the good work. nm

rec

[Harry Pierce]

19. Okay I'll donate

but I have to wait for payroll to go through, that would be on Monday, swear to God.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

22. Welcome to DU!

Have a ball, but be careful! This place is addictive!

[OneGrassRoot]

24. Yes, welcome to DU!

I'm donating my little contribution before my daughter needs something ELSE before school starts and I'm completely broke once again.



Thanks for posting this, Skinner!

DU:

[madmax]

31. Welcome to DU

You're going to love us.

[Laelth]

20. DU is beautiful and busy. Thank you for all you do. n/t

-Laelth

[Soylent Brice]

21. i would love to

but can't afford it this time.

i'm sorry.

[Jazzgirl]

23. I wish I could afford more!

When things get better I'll donate more. DU has been like a rock and a big family to me since I joined several years ago. You guys rock!

[mmonk]

25. Will do Elad.

DU is a treasure in a world full of fool's gold.

[SWr]

26. very interesting

I enjoy DU quite a bit now after 'lurking' for some time. I see some very heated debates but for the most part most arnt hostile.

I use it as a primary news source now ... I find its updated much faster than any other site and very much enjoy the discussions.

[byronius]

28. Welcome to the Democratic Underground.

[liberal N proud]

27. Exquisitely designed

[Tangerine LaBamba]

29. Good people, good place -

nice people, nice place.

DU matters.................................

[Call Me Wesley]

30. Great post! (Hope you don't mind ...)

Thanks for all what you do to keep this community up, alive and running smoothly!

[Elad]

36. Ha, nice...

I miss that shirt.

[proud patriot]

39. LOL

[Call Me Wesley]

41. Thanks!

[Call Me Wesley]

40. It's a great shirt!

I think I had a similar one once!

[madmax]

38. So cool!!

Thanks!!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

49. ok, that is toooooo funny!

Love it!

[Duval]

32. Thanks, guys, for all you do!:) n/t

[DU GrovelBot]

33. ## PLEASE DONATE TO DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND! ##

This week is our third quarter 2009 fund drive. Democratic Underground is
a completely independent website. We depend on donations from our members
to cover our costs. Please take a moment to donate! Thank you!

[Bluenorthwest]

34. You flat out talked me into it

[proud patriot]

37. I'm a broke preschool teacher and even I can afford $3.00 per month

Subscription is the way to go for me

I like that we can give as much or a little as we
can afford .

Thanks Admin for all you do to help members here.

[Jester Messiah]

42. Great job guys, keep it up.

This is the first time I've donated money here. I suspect it will not be my last.

[I Have A Dream]

92. Thank you, Jester Messiah!

[TexasObserver]

43. Recommend ... cuz I'm unique!!

[nc4bo]

DU

[Bonobo]

44. Bring back "Ask the Admins" and I will. As it is, you silence criticism and discussion of DU. nt

[AuntPatsy]

66. With all the sites out there if you dislike the rules here why engage at all?

[Bonobo]

68. I said nothing about rules. Carry on. nt

[CrispyQ]

45. This is the best forum software on the net!

I love the hierarchical format!

I hate forums where the threads go to multiple pages & your posts are stuck at the end of the thread. It makes it very hard to respond to specific posts. Also, if you want to go back & read a specific post you have to remember what frickin' page it was on. The DU format is so much better!


DU is the best!

[liberaltrucker]

46. Thanks for all you guys do!

It's sooo nice to see folks who REALLY love their job.

I hope I can contribute more next time.

[Arugula Latte]

47. More "Inside Baseball" stuff, please!

I love the behind the scenes glimpse at the legendary founders, Romulus and Remus, err, I mean Elad, Skinner and EarlG.

I will donate in a bit ...

[Swede]

48. Boy,skinner sure sounds persnickety.

Yeah,that's the word.

[Auggie]

50. As an art director I agree. One pixel makes a big difference.

[peace frog]

51. Ya'll boys are effing awesome!

Happy to toss a few samoleans into the kitty for DU.

[DeSwiss]

52. You guys are the Greatest!

K&R

[wildbilln864]

53. great job guys! nt

[Politicub]

54. I love the DU

I've been around for years, and it's gotten better and better as time goes on.

[argyl]

55. Free Republic is the gold standard of political website design but DU's getting there.

Seriously, the few times I've ventured to freepville I've been amazed at what a tangled mare's nest it was compared to this place.

Keep up the truly outstanding work. This place is no doubt a labor of love for y'all and we love ya right back.

[glinda]

56. I love DU!

[MsLeopard]

57. Thank you K&R

I'm an old timer here despite a relatively low post count, and have donated twice a year for about 8 years now. In the beginning I wanted to support DU when it seemed the only place of sanity I could find after the election theft of 2000. Not sure I could have gotten through the BushCo years without this place. I've watched DU grow from a core group of under 100 regular posters in 2001 (maybe less, don't know) to the virtual metropolis it has become today, with thousands of 1000+ members it seems.

It's the place I get facts about what's happening politically and economically, and I very much appreciate the fine work you all have done and continue to do. Thank you. By the way, kudos to the Stock Market Watch daily thread in LBN - the best source of economic information there is. :cheers:

[tnlefty]

58. It's on the way, snail mail this time!

Sorry, but that's the way it has to be right now.

[tavalon]

59. We never hear from you!

I love this site. I mean, I really love this site. I give monthly (I don't do that with any other site) and when my financial system is ok, I sponsor 5 people to get stars during each of the fund drives. I am incredibly blessed right now as I am a nurse, and even better, a unionized nurse so my job is safe. I decided to sponsor 10 people this time because I know that many of my fellow DUers aren't doing nearly as well.

I hope the other three DUers who feel secure in their jobs will follow suit.

[Elad]

78. Thank you..

That's very generous, and we appreciate our monthly subscribers giving a few bucks every month. It goes a long way. And those who sponsor other members during fund drives are the epitome of generosity!

[justabob]

60. thank you admins

I can't donate this time around, but will again as soon as I can. Thanks again for all you do.

[BrklynLiberal]

61. K&R

[BumRushDaShow]

62. K&R

for the best political admin team on the 'net!

[MadMaddie]

63. All of the DU moderators and maintenance folks do a

wonderful job. Without you there would be no DU.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[AllyCat]

64. I love DU. It is my homepage :) Donate!!!

[earcandle]

65. I am planning to send you a check. When you get it, will you let me know how many stickies I get?

I'll make the check from Ear Candle Productions.

I really appreciate the site and the great reporters that
access and share information.

[gtar100]

69. Best blog site around - both for content and for layout

and for managed threads (the people kind). Yours is a site to be emulated.

[Cha]

72. Whoa..Behind the scenes stuff!

I tell ya one thing.. DU is even more Pleasant when you're a donor.

The creativity of the Admin~and the ever diligent Mods~

[Generic Brad]

74. That explains why I don't know everybody

Now I feel better.

[lib_wit_it]

89. Ha--that's why I don't know *anybody*!

[spanone]

75. best site ever

[Maru Kitteh]

76. our ISP had to rewire part of their server farm to provide more power to our servers,

our ISP had to rewire part of their server farm to provide more power to our servers, which were tripping circuit breakers at peak hours

[yodoobo]

81. yea...

Obviously some heavy duty technical to layman translation going on there.

[snooper2]

97. That is some funny shit ROFL

I wonder who the ISP is

[pleah]

77. K&R

[Joe Bacon]

79. Earl G, Elad & Skinner, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

A BIG THANK YOU for providing us with DU!

[PatSeg]

80. Thank you!

[sheldon]

82. Handling fee?

Not sure why, but the "handling fee" bothers me.

[renate]

83. DU literally preserved my faith in humanity during the Bush years

I love you guys.

[Luminous Animal]

84. So how much do you, personally, make off of this site?

Why should I donate? (Which I've never done... I've only received a star from well-meaning DUers to shut up my complaints.)

I've taken a $35,000 annual pay cut this year. I pay $9834.00 a year for health insurance for me and my daughter. My rent (yes, I rent in San Francisco where only 11% of the population who lives here can afford a mortgage) is $1974.00 a month... a shy less than $24,0000 a year. Between my rent and health insurance, I pay out nearly the medium household income in this US of A. But I would never plea for more money from strangers unless I could show a need.

So tell me Elad, how much of your appeal for donations is to maintain your lifestyle and how much is it to maintain this site?
Clearly, you will whore yourself out to any advertiser no matter how un-democratic. Where is the transparency?

[old mark]

85. I'm just waiting till I can get in on punching Palin!!!!!

Can't pass up a chance like that!


mark

[tularetom]

86. It was worth getting up at 3 AM to read this

Keep up the good work EarlG, Elad and Skinner!

[fasttense]

90. Wow, I had no idea how big this place was.

I'll see if I can dig up a few pennies to send your way.

[MaineDem]

91. I love you guys!

Thanks for all you do.

[Buzz Clik]

93. Be serious for a second. Do you honestly think the DU front page looks better than this:

[Bhaisahab]

94. I may not have the money

But I make it a point to click on every advert I can find on every page of DU. Twice! Hopefully that makes a bit of a difference?

[TankLV]

95. There is one question I have - how come some posts within a thread run past the right margin

and are extrememly WIDE?

Isn't there a way to make sure ALL posts stay within the margins?

just asking...

[Skinner]

96. I think it's probably because the post includes text or images that are too wide.

Like, if a post includes a long URL without any line breaks.

I think we could force those posts to stay in the margins, but the text might get cut off.

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[D23MIURG23]

100. You guys do a great job.

K&R

[NJmaverick]

102. Thanks guys! I have a couple of suggestions though

any chance you can update your smilies? They are looking pretty old, there are so many better ones out there.

Have you considered allowing auto embed of You-Tube and a couple of other videos? It may seem like a small thing but to veiw videos with out having to click away from DU would actually be a welcome change. I have seen it on other message boards and it is a very nice feature.

[FirstLight]

103. DU Rocks! Don't change a thing!

I stumbled here during the primaries and have made it my virtual HOME online...I have met folks that are near & dear to my heart and that I would easily consider family...
and I have had my feelings hurt by people who have the sensitivity of a rock

But it is all part of political discourse...and I have learned so much and paid more attention as a citizen as a result.

Soooo THANK YOU DU!!! My car wears your bumpersticker proudly!
heh, and my conservative family cringes at it when I park in their driveway! bwahahaha!

the format, love it, don't ever change it!
and YOU, dear mods...don't ever change either!
Please give us more of this info...I love hearing how DU makes a difference and how you guys go all geeky "code monkey" on the site!


(ps...as a freelancer, I am waiting on an invoice to get paid so I can donate! Hopefully I will get to punch either Glenn Beck or Rush! lol)

[TahitiNut]

104. Who're you calling a eunuch??

[Javaman]

105. I was waiting to donate in hopes my donation punches palin in the face.

I'm now donating.

Cheers and things for everything you guys do to make DU happen on a daily basis.

You help to keep me reasonably sane!!

Cheers!!

[Dystopian]

106. Elad! KandR!

Thanks for all you do...
Skinner, EarlG, Elad....and the awesome mods!


peace~

[lunatica]

107. K&R

[emilyg]

108. k/r

[Left Brain]

109. Youse guyse rock!

Thanks for the stats, very uplifting!

[Skinner]

110. kick (nt)

[spin]

111. K&R because it's very interesting. (n/t)

[Beer Snob-50]

112. if we donate to free republic

can we make you guys administrators there also? Let's face it, that is NOT a well-designed site that is generally user-friendly and pleasant to look at!!!

[Swamp Rat]

113. Thank to whomever gave me a star