We just expanded onto another image server today full time (It has been doing some of the animations for a few weeks already). If you notice missing images, or other weirdness, let me know here.

This means we are back up to 3 image servers again, after being down to 2 after the 2005 season.

Thanks to Mike Potts for the assist on this.

The main purpose of the multiple image servers is to deflect the load on the site that happens when a major hurricane threatens the continental US. For example, the month of Katrina ate up more bandwidth for the site than the entire prior existence of the site. Thankfully we did have 3 image servers during that event. The unregistered google ads usually pay for about two months of service in the off season, and the donations help for just a part of the rest, but mainly they are done to prevent getting too slammed during a major event and having the site go down.