I have to say, I’m working my butt off over at the other place for the past few weeks. It’s kind of addicting, putting stuff up and seeing the page views jump like that. It’s been years since I had that experience!
But of course many of the regulars are very angry. Change is hard, routine is comforting, and many of them hate the design. They ridicule almost everything we put up, and complain that we don’t do more.
I don’t get to vent over there, so I will here. Here it is: Political blogs do not run on rainbows and unicorns, especially the big ones. All those little goodies readers like, like the videos and the daily newsletter, cost money. It’s a couple of thousand dollars a month just to rent the servers to host the videos. And as far as donations go: meh. Here’s the weird part: I get more in donations than they do, and I’m just this small blog.
And the readers are being quite vocal and nasty. They accuse us of selling out (we didn’t). If I put up an interesting story in the tech section about some new gadget (you know how I like this stuff), they insist it’s a paid ad. (I wish.) Then they complain if no one writes a post about something in the news — as if, you know, I had a staff and could make assignments. I don’t and I can’t. It’s not 100% volunteer, but maybe 98%.
Anyway, the contrast reminds how much I like the little community we have here. It keeps getting smaller, but I like y’all and I’m glad you’re here. Now just turn off your Adblocker (because that’s how I make money) and I’ll be happy as a pig in shit.
I know how hard people work, and I know how it feels to be criticized when you are doing your best. I think C&L has gotten a little better … more original ideas and less complaining about FOX news. 🙂 And I did turn off the adblocker, just on this page, just for you.
To tell the truth, I haven’t noticed much difference over at C&L, other than the obvious layout graphics etc. I’ve always like the editorial choices over there 😉 Especially the lambasting of Faux Spews, any strike against Fox is a blow for humanity in my view.
I am truly sorry that I had to stop subscription. My Credit Union changed policy, and started charging me $5 for every scheduled automated transfer over their oddly small amount of five. Sadly, after Mortgage (2x per month), STULOANS (2x p/m), gas and electric, I am already $5 in the hole. You and three other good places had to be cancelled, and that bothers me. I can make all the random Point Of Sales transactions I care to make, but the Scheduled, automated transfers are capped at 5? Just wrong IMHO.
I’m not a fanboy of the new C&L design, but things change, and they will change again. It WORKS and delivers the goods faster. The complaints are mostly petty whinefests, and site tweaks will continue, I’m sure. It’s a whole new platform. Looks GREAT, runs WELL!!! What more can you ask for? I got my share of the investment out of it.
Good job to all!
You and C&L are the only two sites I allow ads… always have been, as I know how dear the money is, how very, very kind you and John are, and appreciate the true quality of product delivered. I’ll do my best, as ever, to rise to the call of your dire need, so please don’t think I’m upset, or anything… Capitalism just got in the way of making it easy.
I sure would like a turn at “Mike’s Blog Round-Up.” Though I had to stop blogging because work noticed, I think my silly little Christmastime Monkeyfist Awards accomplished an awful lot in getting a host of unnoticed but GREAT lower-tiered bloggers the notice they deserved. I would REALLY like to do that again. If y’all are ever in a bind for a week, I’ll be happy to fill in.
“It’s a couple of thousand dollars a month just to rent the servers to host the videos.”
I had no idea hosting a site could be so expensive.
In any case, thanks for this site and your part at C&L too.