Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Where Do We Go From Here?

Three days ago Dymphna and I were summarily ejected from Pajamas Media. That same night I posted a report about what happened, and floated the idea that we could avoid taking on any new advertisers by appealing directly to our readership for financial support.

PayolaWell, folks, it looks like we’re going to be able to do it.

You really came through: in three short days we made up the PJM shortfall for the rest of the year, so we won’t be launching any more annoying fundraisers until at least January.

Thank you all for your extraordinary generosity.

Gifts have arrived from the following places:
- - - - - - - - -
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • The Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Texas (Yes, I’m listing it separately, due to the number of donations that came in from the Lone Star State.)
  • The UK
  • The USA

From now on our site should load quickly. The last time I timed it, fourteen seconds elapsed between clicking the link and whwn the full text was displayed — unprecedented!

The only ads or links remaining on the sidebar are for friends and/or allies, and none is being paid for. No scripts are left except for the TTLB listing, the site meter, and the 910 Group blogroll. That’s why the page loads so quickly now.

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Dangerous OpportunityMy temperament is naturally optimistic, so I tend to see this crisis as an opportunity.

Our operating costs are minimal, and the donated funds will cover them. The basic requirements are the satellite internet connection, various online hosting services, the site meter subscription, and occasional hardware purchases. There’s sufficient overhead left after meeting those needs to pay for a few field trips to blogging-related events in Yankeeland. There may even be enough spare change in the budget to cover a beer or two.

So we’re working with a new business model here — a worldwide voluntary collaboration involving hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, one which requires almost no money to operate.

What kind of precedent is there for such a thing?

What marketing director worth his salt would even consider it?

So we’ll see where it goes from here. As usual, we’ll be taking suggestions.

10 comments:

babs said...

Good for you guys! But,I would also like you to have the funds to be at conferences in Europe. Are you able to do that too? If not, hold another fund drive. I am sure your readers would be willing to sponser a few trips to Europe for important conferences. I know I would...

Bezzle said...

"What kind of precedent is there for such a thing?"

When Thomas Paine published "Common Sense" (which sparked the American Revolution), the book was immediately copied and re-sold by printers all over the country who didn't pay him royalties.

Paine just shrugged -- because he wasn't in it for the money anyway, and they were doing all the work for him.

AMDG said...

Dear Baron and Dymphna,

I am “paying” you as guest contributer to your blog, but I will also do something more, as I want to see Spain in the list :)

Bobby Coggins said...

Good for you guys!!!

Just try not to fall into the trap of getting too full of yourself like a good number of the big bloggers have, although I am sure that will not be a problem for you and Dymphna.

Sagunto said...

Dear B&D,

Got myself a good and trustworthy Transatlantic homing pigeon, tied a fistful of Euros to its leg and sent him on his way to you guys.
Takes about a week, so I guess "the pigeon flies on Friday" ;-)

Kind regards from Amsterdam,
Sag.

Afonso Henriques said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Afonso Henriques said...

Well, nice to know I was overreacting when I had forsaken the destruction of Gates of Vienna due to the draught of money flow.

Nice to see I was wrong! Keep doing what must be done!

And yes, AMDG is right, it is a shame Hispania is not represented in the list. It just shows what the European Union and the Left has been doing to the Latin Oestreminis (Far West).

Damon said...

Zonka's given you the "thumb up":

http://beta.kimcm.dk/index.php/2008/05/01/assessing-the-strength-of-your-enemy/

Peggy Snow Cahill said...

Cool about Texas. 'Cause I am IN North Carolina, but I am FROM Texas! And it really is, as their tourism line goes, a whole other country!

R. Hartman said...

Baron,

I'm almost ashamed to admit I missed the whole commotion, being occupied with other business. But you were right, and imho the politically correct response from PJM is outrageous. This was published on Brussels Journal recently, as a quote from Der Spiegel:
"The EU's monetary affairs commissioner has called for far-reaching new powers for the European Commission. He would like Brussels to have greater control over economic policy in euro zone countries – and even wants its members to speak with one voice on the international stage. […] [EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia] says the Commission should also have a hand in determining “adequate wage developments, flexibility and security on labor markets.”"

I think this speaks volumes of where Eurabia is heading.

Keep up the good work.