Hats off to the freenode folks. I feel a bit disrespectful speaking ill of the departed, but some history would provide context. Before he passed away, Rob Levi

Hats off to the freenode folks. I feel a bit disrespectful speaking ill of the departed, but some history would provide context. Before he passed away, Rob Levin set up PDPC (and OPN before that) to essentially operate as his own piggy bank, while being tasked with 'administering' freenode. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/01/29/buy_a_piece_of_net/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2003/01/29/buy_a_piece_of_net/ The reality was that volunteers already provided the servers and most of the IT admin duties, and the donation solicitations over IRC were incessant -- to the point that I actually ignored all global messages coming from lilo (Mr. Levin's nick name). The individuals that took over from Mr. Levin are to be commended for doing away with the full time position, the overzealous calls for donations, and instead relying on volunteers and the community that had always been ready and willing to chip in. In that regard, the PDPC shutting down seems neither surprising, unwarranted, or sad. Many thanks to the folks that keep Freenode running.