I want to make sure this accomplishment doesn't pass by unnoticed and unappreciated.

[TygrBright]

19. WELL-DONE, all around!

Not just to Elad (although, dayum, dude! Did you evah think, in 2001 when posting those initial posts, that you'd be replacing DU servers in 2015? You go!) but to you, Dave, and to EarlG, for choosing the "invest in the quality of the user experience" route rather than the "lower user expectations" route.

That is not always an easy choice to make.

Particularly now, in the heat of the primary season, when, to be honest, it's not exactly fun to have to duck the shrapnel from the Scorched Earth brigades of the various factions, it's easy to lose sight of what DU really is, and has been, for so long.

A coupla guys who looked at the chicanery and sleaze of Decision 2000, assessed the capabilities of the Appointed One, looked into the implications for the future, and said "We need a place to talk on the Interwebz."

And then made that place.

And kept it alive, vital, full of provoking thoughts, interesting conflict, community support, and all the other good stuff through three general elections and going into a fourth.

And made it into a way to support your young families, work Elad into the scheme, and walk the line between "community service" and "paying enterprise" in a surprisingly durable way.

I never forget, you invited us in, that cold day in 2001.

And you've been good hosts ever since, to an amazing, wonderful, rowdy, verbose, intelligent, diverse crowd of guests.

Take a bow, alla ya.

appreciatively,
Bright

(P.S. Elad, yer "Christmas bonus" from me is on the way. Wish it could be more.)