[A4] ADMIN: list server move and expenses

[Dan Simoes]

I know I don't post here all that often these days, so some of you  
may not even know me.  I run the site/lists.  I also shoulder all the  
costs for doing so, offset by some minor advertising revenue, and  
some contributions.

I took over the list from the original founder, and have kept it  
going continuously since 1993.  That's going on 14 years now.
Over the years I've owned an Audi 90 (nonq), several 4000q, a  
gorgeous CQ, and finally a green (cause they are so rare) 95 S6 Avant.

Thankfully, Audi recognized all my efforts with a gorgeous S1 which I  
keep at my summer home in Italy.  Yeah, right.

Over the years, the list has "lived" at various of my employers, on a  
variety of hardware.  About 2 years ago, I purchased a new server for  
the site, and arranged for network and power (known as colocation) at  
a community data center near Poughkeepsie NY.

That data center is being shut down in a few weeks, so I am making  
arrangements for a new location.  Since I now live in California, it  
makes sense to find somewhere near here, in case I need to physically  
touch the box.

Although at times I think about just pulling the plug (especially  
since I haven't owned an Audi in several years), I know there is a  
lot of value here, and this is "home" to many of you.  So, I'm  
committed to keeping it going.

Our new data center requires a rackmount server, so I will be  
building or buying a new machine for this purpose.  That server will  
cost in the $600-800 range, conservatively.  Data center colo costs  
will run only $50/mo, but even that is $600/year.

So, those are the numbers.  Now, here's how you can help:

- If you happen to have a 1U server sitting around, let me know.   
Otherwise I will be building/buying one.

- If you would like to contribute to offsetting these costs, you can  
send me funds via paypal: http://www.audifans.com/about.php, or  
direct to dans at audifans.com.

- If you're going to buy something, visit the affiliate page I've  
build at http://audifans.com/shop.  Yeah, it's ugly, but those little  
commissions add up.

- If you use the marketplace and are able to sell something, consider  
sending a contribution.  In particular, dealers have been abusing the  
marketplace, even when I reduced the "fee" to only $1/ad.  If  
marketplace abuse continues, I will have to pull the plug or switch  
it to moderated, but I don't have time to develop the code and the  
guy who wrote it seems to have lost interest.

As far as Audis go, I think the A3 is interesting but overpriced, and  
not much else in the lineup interests me.  I still have a soft spot  
for the urq and the 95.5 S6 Avant, and I think I might be able to  
afford to buy (but not repair) an S8 one day :)
In the meantime, I've been driving VW TDIs for the last few years,  
and I look forward to seeing more diesels coming to the US in the  
next couple of years.

Back to work we go.  Thanks for reading.

Dan