Gotta do it again - the "D" word


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(Note from MSK in 2013: This was written at the end of 2012, but it is being reused for the end of 2013 instead of starting a brand new thread as the intention is identical from last year to this one. New posts from this year are later down the thread. Don't want to ask, but there it is...)

Gotta do it again - the "D" word

Some of you might have noticed a recent upgrade to the forum software, like when you use the quote function. Also, a few spam accounts have cropped up recently and I have killed them. But for the near future, I don't expect to see many, if any at all.

This is because, even with all my love-hate musings about IPB, it is a top-notch company that does keep our little neck of the woods safe, online, and with updates that keep up with changes in the Internet world. And, from time to time, we get a new bell or whistle...

We use IPB's proprietary software with integrated hosting. This is not the cheapest resource available, but it works well for us. This company uses special encryption with an automatic backup system to ensure our data (like your posts) do not get destroyed or swiped en masse on the server side.

Ever since OL got hacked, I have been a bit gun shy. So I prefer to err on the side of caution. The fact that we have been cruising along all these years with only a few glitches shows that this is a good course.

The current downside is that a duty to bother OL members from time to time has sprung up among the weeds and that sucks. (I shouldn't say it, but it's true.) Because of increased traffic and user access, especially from a large--and growing--audience of lurkers, we have been reclassified into a higher category with a higher cost.

Kat and I do our best to keep this thing running without bothering you, but sometimes, we have to ask.

If you can make a donation (that's what the "D" word is in the title), we would greatly appreciate it. We will keep the forum running even if no one contributes. That's our commitment--to ourselves and to you. Fortunately, we do get some sporadic donations and some small amounts from ads. These have helped enormously, but things are what they are.

I believe we have all built a good little piece of the online Objectivist-libertarian universe, one that we can be proud of. Lots of great stuff on OL. You can get lost reading around and it will almost always be an enriching experience. Or a thought-provoking one. I know I'm proud of what we have produced. So is Kat.

We value OL and we value you. We value letting people work through ideas without intimidation. We value a world where reason, independent thinking and freedom will not be extinguished. Where you have a voice in a unique community of people bearing intelligent goodwill--feisty or otherwise. :smile:

That's why we do what we do.

That's OL.

So if you can contribute, please do. It's a quick and easy process. Just scroll to the bottom of any page and click on the orange "Donate" button. It goes to Paypal, but you don't need a Paypal account if you don't have one.

Many, many thanks in advance.

If you can't, we still love you and thank you for being in our lives.

Michael

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I hope some of the lurkers will join and donate, as they are partly responsible for your the increased costs!

I joined OL two years ago because it had the smartest and most interesting mix of minds in the Randiverse, and the members seemed to have the most fun*.(I thought that was just happy accident then, not realizing that the work of M and K made it happen. I wanted to join the party. If there had been an entrance fee at the door I would have paid it. I might have tried to haggle but I would have paid .

*Also to meet men, of course, though not necessarily the ones I did meet...ref. my "Appeal to Browsing Women"

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A propos of nothing, I just finished Innocent by Scott Turow which I missed when it first came out although I loved Presumed Innocent and should have noticed it.

My fave character in it is a minor one, Judge Basil. Yee. He doesn't speak English good, although he reads and writes it better than William f. Buckley. He has used this drawback to ascend to the bench..

He became a lawyer because , understandably, as a child and youth who did not speak English good, people would not listen to him.

But if they were on a jury, they had to listen to him. No choice.

(Better tie this into (what thread am I on?) - oh yes, listen up, everybody. Even if you don't speak English good, on OL you will be listened to, with respect, and that is worth money.)

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Well, let's see.....donate to the "Ministry Of Truth," PBS. :o ...

or to OL....hmm, let me think :unsure: ...

Actually, for OL members and readers, it's an easy choice! :D

Oh! And don't worry about PBS, The One has good reason to take very good care of them (- with your tax dollars, of course! :huh::angry: ).

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  • 11 months later...

I was generously reminded of "D" day offline by an OL member wishing to donate.

Thanks for the reminder--you know who you are. :)

(If you want to come out of the woodworks, that's fine. If not, I respect your privacy.)

Kat and I bear the brunt and guarantee of OL existing for many, many years to come, and we will continue to do so regardless of what happens, but the help we have received from you--our donors--has been wonderful in alleviating the pressure, especially during price increases, emergencies, equipment upgrades, etc. Some of you donate during my requests and others have donated during the year. Just knowing there are donors has helped me maintain my cool when the clouds have darkened for OL, and for that Kart and I am grateful to each and every one of you.

It's people like you that allows people like us to keep OL running smoothly and not go crazy. :)

And, if you can't donate, like I said in the opening post last year, we love you just the same. The important thing is for our little community to flourish. Your participation, even if it is only as a reader and lurker, is important.

Many thanks once again to all.

And especially to the person who reminded me to ask again. (I sometimes think I would forget my head somewhere if it wasn't screwed onto my neck. :) )

btw - The process is easy. Just scroll to the bottom of any page on OL. You will find an orange Paypal donate button. Click it and follow the instructions.

Michael

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  • 3 weeks later...

Michael,

Right now I prefer things low key.

Later there will be a different context and we'll see.

OL is not competing with other forums or sites.

OL is a value in itself.

A person holds it as a value or not.

The wonderful people who have donated have expressed this by their very action.

And, once again, Kat and I say thanks.

All of you have made our job a lot easier.

Michael

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  • 3 weeks later...

Michael, as you know I am just now getting use to computers and websites. Sorry, I just seen this post. I didn't know it cost to have a site such as this and I don't want any of you to lose this site. Is there a monthly bill? I would like to donate once a month...is that possible? Your site has helped me tremendously and I would like to pay back out of gratitude. I am sending a donation now, which isn't to much because I just seen your post...its at the end of pay week :smile: But I will be sending more. Thank you so much for this site and for all yours and everyone else's help :smile: ~Cathy~

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Michael Marotta wrote:

Over on Galt's Gulch Online, they put a little $ in front of your name if you are a Producer. It is not much, but it is something.

end quote

Not a bad idea, MM.

I have given money to PBS before but when they stop the show for a ten minute sales pitch I get irritated. Michael and Kat could make a video parody of the PBS people. That might be funny!

This particular thread is not in the new box one day from its origination. Perhaps it could be put back there. Or the donate button could be placed at the top of the page.

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  • 5 months later...

Why not try switching from adsense to a cpm ad provider. Cpm means you are payed per impression rather then per click. A good cpm network will pay about 2-3$ per thousand views. If you get 100,000 views per month then that becomes 200-300 per month. I have noticed that your merchandice is on different sites. For example books is on one site and shirts are on another and these sites are not promently featured. You should use an e commerce script and host all merchandise on objectivistliving.com and feature it in the menu. Im not sure if your site already brings in more then it costs but if it does or you can get it to then you should start posting your own ads to increase traffic.

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  • 3 months later...

Guess what time it is, folks? It's hitting in October instead of November this time.

This year there has been a small squeeze, so to anyone who can donate, you have no idea how much your contribution will help.

As a reminder, here is the post from last year.

We made it even easier this year to help out: the donate button is also at the top of any page on the forum.

I was generously reminded of "D" day offline by an OL member wishing to donate.

Thanks for the reminder--you know who you are. :smile:

(If you want to come out of the woodworks, that's fine. If not, I respect your privacy.)

Kat and I bear the brunt and guarantee of OL existing for many, many years to come, and we will continue to do so regardless of what happens, but the help we have received from you--our donors--has been wonderful in alleviating the pressure, especially during price increases, emergencies, equipment upgrades, etc. Some of you donate during my requests and others have donated during the year. Just knowing there are donors has helped me maintain my cool when the clouds have darkened for OL, and for that Kart and I am grateful to each and every one of you.

It's people like you that allows people like us to keep OL running smoothly and not go crazy. :smile:

And, if you can't donate, like I said in the opening post last year, we love you just the same. The important thing is for our little community to flourish. Your participation, even if it is only as a reader and lurker, is important.

Many thanks once again to all.

And especially to the person who reminded me to ask again. (I sometimes think I would forget my head somewhere if it wasn't screwed onto my neck. :smile: )


Sorry to bug you folks with this, but I didn't need to be reminded this time. Reality knocks pretty hard when it wants to.

Thank you so much once again for those who contribute.

As to others, like I said in the opening post, we love you all.

Michael

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