Server Update
As you may have noticed, we've been experiencing more server trouble than usual lately. Our servers are overloaded, and it's creating long lag-times between when a post or comment is submitted and when it shows up on the site. And in the worst cases, the post or comment won't show up at all. We're really sorry about this, and we're working on it. Right now we're moving all of our data over to a new server setup and, if all goes well, we should be launching tomorrow night.
Trust us, we feel your pain-- we're seeing the same lags and server kinks you are. Please try to hang tight for another day or so, and when you blog, avoid reposting immediately-- more often than not, your submission has been recorded, even if you don't see it right away. I'll be posting updates as I get them, and will be in the comment thread to answer any questions. Thanks!
You poor guy. You will figure it out. Now if I only had the same faith in Paulson and gang.
September 22, 2008 1:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
If only he had $700 billion.
September 22, 2008 1:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
What else is new? We peons of tpm have been suffering like this - for only 8 months!!!!
September 22, 2008 3:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
There's lies, damned lies, and Al Shaw's lies.
Feel my pain, do ya? Well try this. Submit post. Become enraged at its failure to show up. Draw arm back to punch lights out of your monitor. Think better of it. Punch the sharp edge of your oak desk instead. Break two knuckles. Bleed profusely. Get infection. Gulp antibiotics. Watch them fail. See hand turn gray. Suffer through amputation. Take months to learn to type with forehead. Submit post. Become enraged at its failure to show up. Draw head back to knock lights out of your monitor.
You know the rest.
Good luck Al. May the force be with you. Last week I lent it to Lehman Brothers, and that didn't work out so well maybe, but this time for sure. ;-)
September 22, 2008 4:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Where does the expanded/improved format that Josh promised fit in with this problem? And, more importantly, when the election is finally over do you guys anticipate that the traffic will continue at this level? (Dumb question - by then we will be commenting about where the cheapest caves to live in are located.)
September 22, 2008 5:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
We're on a timeline. First (this week) we are migrating to new faster servers, next week we are upgrading to Movable Type 4.2, the newest version of the publishing platform we use (which will also increase speed and reliability) and the week after that, we will be rolling out the new community tools. It is a three-pronged upgrade that we're gradually moving through. You should see the improvements as soon as tomorrow. I can't speak to traffic, except to say I'm confident the community will really take off with these new tools.
September 22, 2008 5:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good luck. Point in your favor: pages load way faster than at HuffPo, which is abominable in its propensity for holding my browser hostage, unable to abort page loading if I change my mind. Point not in your favor, (or anyone else's): this crap of adservers is just insulting as hell.
I can't get any medium, not even novels sometimes, free from advertising. Newspapers, OK, even online newspapers, OK. Blogs, OK. Cable TV, which was supposed to be subscription, we get to pay for subscribing and still get ads. Even PBS and NPR are supported by sponsors, sounding like commercial broadcast did in the fifties and sixties.
Even goddamn movies run ads, not just previews. I expect to see ads written on the clouds, or the Moon, soon. People are spening megabucks to learn how to write to empty sky with lasers and such.
It is these fucking adservers that hold up page loading, not allowing bailout. To make it more insulting, they are following keywords, so, one gets to see ads for Ann Coulter just because some political keyword triggered the delivery of an ad for her new psycho rant.
I assume one has to accept that mode of ad placement, but I hate it with a deadly passion. It's a living for you guys, but don't expect a trace of sympathy from us users.
September 22, 2008 9:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
From past experience from that company before, don't let this one give you a song and a dance...
Good luck and get their promises in writing. :)
The Who gets TPM staff read for the next upgrade :)
Won't Get Fooled Again (live)
September 22, 2008 10:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Al, thanks for the update and best wishes on moving the data. :fingers crossed: Sounds like a dreadful job, but I'm glad it's going to get done now and not any closer to zero hour.
It's much appreciated that you're working to keep us apprised of what's going on. And thanks again for your assistance earlier today. I can post!
September 23, 2008 10:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
So. It's Wednesday. Did the move go okay?
September 24, 2008 4:27 PM | Reply | Permalink