We've had some complaints concerning the mechanism around renewing subscriptions and with the door closing soon on Charter Members (you only keep your membership in force if you continue to subscribe), we want to make sure everybody gets covered.

Please see this thread in ATMB on the situation:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/...d.php?t=687136

If you need help please say so and we'll see what can be done.

Most of our Charter Member subscription plans expire sometime in May, so this is a reminder to you that to maintain your Charter Member status you need to keep your subscription in force.

To check on the status of your subscription click on the UserCP hyperlink on most every SDMB page and then click on "Paid Subscriptions" in the list on the left hand side of the page. Your subscription details will be listed on top. This applies to everyone who ever purchased a subscription, including those who have allowed their memberships to expire.

You can renew your subscription from that page.

Subscription revenue helps keep us keeping on. Your support is very much appreciated.

While I've got your attention I should also mention that you do not need to go into PayPal to pay for your subscription. (Some of you really really loathe PayPal.) While there is a large box urging you to sign in using your PayPal account for this transaction, on the very same page is a much smaller box to click if you want to use a credit card.

PayPal processes the credit card transaction but you do not need to sign into the internal PayPal system. Unless you want to.

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR THOSE WHO USE THE PAYPAL "PAY FROM MY CHECKING ACCOUNT" OPTION: It takes PayPal at least five to ten business days to process these transactions. Don't wait until the last minute to resubscribe.

We will also start the annual "help me get subscribed to the Straight Dope Message Board" thread in ATMB. The kindness and generosity of the Straight Dope community has been a beautiful thing to behold over the years and we thank you for sharing with others.

Any questions? Any problems? Let us know. Let me know. Look for threads on resubscribing in ATMB. You can also send me an email. TubaDiva@straightdope.com

TubaDiva
Administrator

But we're still on watchful waiting here.

Please try signing back in and making posts and etc. Let us know if you see anything weird -- well, weirder than the usual, that's what we mean -- and if you encounter any technical problems.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Jenny
Administrator

We seem to be having some technical issues not only on the message board but on the entire Straight Dope site as a whole.

The message board appears to not to be saving stuff so I wouldn't write anything right now and expect it to be there later. Hold on to your posts until we give you the all clear.

At some point this afternoon there will probably be some sort of system reset . The entire site or parts of it may not be available when tha happens. We'll be back as soon as possible.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

TubaDiva
Administrator

Ed has just informed me that the once-weekly Straight Dope podcasts are on hiatus for at least the time being.

We do not know when (or if) they will return.

The episodes between 10/16/2012 - 03/24/2013 are still available for download from iTunes.

The last episode currently loaded on the Straight Dope site is "Are hurricanes getting worse?"

Not sure what's happening going forward but I would recommend drinking more Ska Beer in the interim.

When/if we know something on the subject, we'll update you.

Jenny
Administrator

__________________
Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.— Allen Ginsberg