…To Mark Curtin, for the Film Noir DVD box set; David Nolin, for The Fourth Man (been wanting to see that one for a while but never got around to it; no excuses now!); and Lydia Van Houten for the Harry Potter films.
When DVDs arrive at my door unexpectedly, I get all tingly and happy—and for the rest of the day I’m a kind and caring human being, a friend to all living things great and small!
Also, thanks again to those of you who hit the tip jar during my site outages. My hosting fees just jumped considerably when the site was switched to a dedicated server, and my ability to offset those charges is not helped by the fact that my wife and I just discovered, this very morning, why I wasn’t selling many ads —in fact, my ad sales have dropped precipitously—despite increases in traffic: it seems RightWingNews’ John Hawkins has formed a network within blogads for “conservative” blogs—and that advertisers targeting conservative readers are using that network to find conservative sites and place ads.
And you’ll never guess who isn’t included in the network.
No, really. Just try to guess.
Which means that, for all intents and purposes, blogads subcontracted out to Hawkins the ability to define me out of a political designation when it allowed the Hawkins’ network to become the go-to place for conservative advertisers to place ads in bulk.
Not happy. Nope. Not.
****
update: another blogger writes to tell me that he doesn’t think the Hawkins coalition has much to do with my ad fall off—that “there are a bunch of blogs with equivalent or higher traffic charging about the same” and that I’m not a great bargain “per impression.”
Could be. I did a quick and completely unscientific perusal of 11 “conservative” blogs in Hawkins coalition and eleven “conservative” blogs outside his coalition, and the ads ran on avg of 8 to 2 in favor of the Hawkins sites. Further, many of coalition sites had the same ads, in roughly the same order, suggesting…I dunno, something. So take that for what it’s worth.
Could be that they charge on average far less than I do. Or that they are better matched to their advertisers, which leads to better per-impression value. Either way, I wish I had known about these ad coalitions several months ago.
El Jefe,
Have you contacted Hawkins about this? I’d be inclined to think it was an oversight instead of a conscious snub, at least until I knew otherwise.
That, or he’s pissed about the lack of ‘dillo love.
Hawkins and I had a feud a while back. When he created his conservative grapevine, he left me out of that as well.
But that’s beside the point, really. What I want to know is, where did these mini-networks come from? Can anyone set one up? Does he have proprietary rights over the designation? And why wasn’t I told?
Obviously, Jeff – you need to bump off
BlackFive and take his spot.
Sure, he’s got all that quote military unquote training, special forces training, hand-to-hand combat, knife fighting, pistols and rifle training, probably well versed goofy shit like blowguns or extra-super duper slingshots with depleted uranium pellet loads, explosives training, stealth tactics, and BlackFive could execute a HALO jump from 40,000 feet and land on your deck in the middle of the night …
on second thought, go after Rusty.
I don’t want to go after anybody. Just was wondering why I had no advertising over the past several months, even after cutting my prices in half as my traffic increased.
I was beginning to question the hype over capitalism and free markets. I bought a black beret and started smoking French cigarettes. I was becoming disaffected and even considered taking up watercolors.
But now that I have a more local explanation, I’m reassured. AND I SHALL BECOME A CORPORATE RAIDER!
Jeff:
Exactly.
It’s not the market. It’s your asshole competitors. Go get ‘em, cowboy!
ITs not just your loss. You’re always good, but your careful analysis of the ‘cane has been exceptional. I’m sure it was alot of work too.
thanks
Looking over the BlogAds site, it seems like anybody is free to aggregate a collection of links and form a mini-network.
Also, once an advertiser selects the mini-network, they can deselect particular blogs.
You could, if you were so inclined, form ‘The Real Conservatives’ mini-network .. or, taking a cue from the Yellow Pages have the ‘Cconservative Network’ mini-list and have a nearly identical listing of weblogs as Hawkins bloglist, except, of course, for Hawkins blog.
None of the other websites would care.
If you go effete Frenchie on us, Jeff, I’m taking my ball and going home.
PS, you’re quite welcome, and a big hearty thanks! for your Katrina commentary.
Slickdpdx—Thanks for the kind words. Speaking of which, I found this in my referral log.
The operable quote:
Weird?
It was the penis thing, wasn’t it.
And Lydia, too. Thanks for the kind words.
First, if you do set up a blog network, the only name I could imagine you using is South Park Blogs. When I compare you to the Baby Jesus (Hannity), I have trouble thinking of you as a plain “conservative”. I’m sure there are quite a number of Goldstein type conservatives, just as there are a number of other very funny and irreverent blogs. I would think your audience is not the same as that of say, Powerline or Captain’s quarters. You’ve got a solid niche,and I think you would do well if you were to ally with other less “staid” bloggers.
Second, I have looked under my bed, in the garage, and just about everywhere else, and I can’t find your tip jar. I would be glad to give occasional tips (other than “Don’t sleep with my grandmother”)if I could only find the tip jar. Any hints? We can’t have you too stressed out about paying your server. This place is too good…
Jeff,
When I grow up I want to be just like YOU! Well…maybe not look like you and maybe not be quite as WEIRD as you….but I would kill a couple thousand socialist communistic leftist bastards if that would enable me to put words together like you do. You know, thoughtful, logical, insightful, acerbic and to the point.
This site has become an oasis of sanity in a desert of overhype (is that a word?) during the Katrina mess. I’m sure the market will come around – but perhaps you should make it a little easier for ALL OF US LOYAL READERS to hit your tip button. There is enough of us that are more than willing, as the product here cannot be found elsewhere.
Thanks again. I know the effort you have put in has been exhausting.
tw: faith Keep the faith, man.
Do you have any more movies to sell?
Thees Hawkins, you wish me to veesit heem, si?
What’s in the Noir set, Jeff?
Gun Crazy?
Murder My Sweet?
The asphalt Jungle?
Inquiring minds.
SB: your
I got nothin’
I like the suggestion about South Park. Maybe South Park Conservatives.
Other suggestion:
Neo Cons R’US
or
Dillo Network
Mojo—
Gun Crazy, Murder My Sweet, Asphalt Jungle, The Set-Up, and Out of the Past.
Daniel —
I have Carlito’s Way and Born on the Fourth of July to sell.
Lost Dog —
Only because you asked, the tip jar is the PayPal button on the left, right above the Amazon link.
rls —
Suggestions? I feel creepy asking, and in fact the only time I ever did so was when my computer crapped out and I needed a new one, fast. Other than that, though, I do this because it’s interesting and it forces me to keep current and keep sharp. Well, sharp-er, anyway.
I think you should turn this into the Church of Protein Wisdom. Surely what you would save in taxes could cover the new server costs and then some.
People can be very stinky, can’t they? If you talk to Hawkins and he insists on being forgetful, I see no way around forming your own network: South Park Conservatives–now with 25% more raisins.
FYI, my old schoolmate, Rocky, stabbed Sean Penn in the elevator in Carlito’s Way. Next time I see him I’ll have to shake his hand.
John,
Why are you not including Protein Wisdom for your “okayed” list of sites for conservative ads? I’ve worked for conservatives ever since my dad took me to see Goldwater speak in “64. I am not crank, but this smacks of telling Ronald Reagan and his 11nth commandment to go take a leap.
I’d love to have a response.
Sincerely,
Ed
This whole thing smacks of oligopoly pricing. Maybe instead of forming your own network, you should sue. You get treble damages under Sherman as a private party, you know. And I hear Kenny passed the bar.
Jeff,
Being an Independant, I like my politics with a voice of reason. Being a bit twisted, I like my humor a bit off center.
I mean who really wants their cake if they can’t eat it also?
Thank you very much, for what you do.
Creating your own group is the best idea and South Park Conservatives would be a good name. It’s all about monopolistic competition, baby. Everybody looks for advantages to get excess profits, which is what Hawkins did. Best response? Do the same.
My problem is that Blogads, who I signed on with, allowed Hawkins to own the conservative monicker. I had no idea these networks existed. Maybe I missed an email.
Anyway, I simply assumed, because I had signed up for it, that conservative advertisers were looking at my site when making their decisions about where to advertise. It turns out they weren’t, and I didn’t know about it.
The other day Ace mentioned that he made a Hawkins list of “best conservative writers,” or something like that. I noticed a certain name that was missing from that list as well. And seeing who did make the list, I almost got the impression he made up the list just so he could not put you on it.
There’s room for a sub-niche here—there really are different audiences. Much as I respect the straight-forward deep thinkers(you all know who they are), I’m not ashamed (mich) to admit that I don’t read them because they bore me. I like mine with a bit of humor and “edge” (gawd-help-us), like Jeff and Ace. Plus, I can trust them to link to the must-read boring stuff. Two blogs probably aren’t enough to form a niche/group, but there’s probably more I don’t know about (who can be seduced away from that boring herd). Besides, your readers are a preferred demographic—that other audience is only going to buy sensible shoes and plastic furniture covers and such. Whereas this crowd . . .
is probably a bunch of people with liberal arts degrees and even less money.
Your network name:
Pants-Down Republicans
(a PJ O’Rourkeism, circa 1980)
We enjoy partying, loud music, women what ain’t got clothes on and limited taxation. We own ties and can mix a VO manhattan with a twist while wearing one of those same ties wrapped around our heads and smiling to ourselves knowingly when someone says “Hayek.”
I thought about the South Park Conservatives as well when I read the post, but hey, you don’t want to get into a pissing contest with Andrew Sullivan. So, how about Citizen Journalists instead, or perhaps Citizen Journalists and Pie?
Turing word: brought, as in I am amazed at what you have brought to the table.
When “progressives” no longer believe in, you know, progress, all bets are off. I can’t think of any conceivable defintion of the word “conservative” with any hisotrical coherence whatsoever that would include Protein Wisdom and fellow travelers.
That’s a good thing – you’re the only real “Left” left, at least in these parts. Such is the fate of empires, evidently. There’s always the (formerly) third world from which to build your vanguard.
Well, I always describe myself as classical liberal, but a lot of the classical liberal positions happen to be advocated for by today’s conservatives (though not, perhaps, social conservatives in some instances).
Just because “progressives” who wouldn’t know progress if democratic elections in two of the world’s most nefarious former dictatorships, U.S. economy growth of over 3 percent for the last nine quarters, the longest streak in two decades, and an African-American female Secretary of State who kicks ass hit them in the face call you a conservative, that doesn’t make you one. Indeed, it seriously lessens the likelihood of that label’s accuracy.
Face it – you’re a liberal, and a damn good one at that, as is El Presidente, a liberal I mean, but not so good. Good enough for me, for one, but not as good as El Jeffe, in his protean wisdom.
Our so-called “Left” is too selfish to share power with the liberals that helped them achieve their cultural ascendency, and so they train their fire on liberals while calling them conservatives, hoping that no one notices the difference.
Let’s notice.
Jeff,
It has to be South Park Conservatives. The ad guys will get it. They probably still don’t get blogs, but they understand a good name. Just find a few other blogs that fit in with that name.
If you want to get in John Hawkins’ good graces try elevating the level of your work. For instance you could start interviewing people in the fascinating world of pro wrestling. (see the comment)
Awhile back, he was much more forthcoming in his RWN FAQ about the nature of his earlier site. He seems to have realized that he might not want to mention this.
So, John Hawkins = WWF fanboy.
… not that there’s anything wrong with that… wait a second, yes there is, he’s not gay, he’s a giant tool.
Lesson’s learned from Ward Churchill: self declared ethnicity for fun and profit works.
Maybe you can self identify as an African American New Orleans victim. Get a quick transfusion of cash via as many of those credit cards as you can grab onto. Follow up with with some special grants that will be set aside for minorities to demonstrate that the government cares.
This may even give you absolute moral authority to say what needs to be said w/o fear of reprisal by the thought police.
The Dancing Armadillo Bund!
SB: clearly
superior
So how come I find links to Protein Wisdom where e’er I go a virtually rovin’, but have never heard of this Hawkins person or his “site”?
Call me a Colonel Sibthorp type if you will (and you may), but P. Wisdom is internationally renowned and J. Hawkins is not.
Something damned fishy about all this (shakes stick at wife).
Why can’t Andrew Sullivan be a South Park Democrat? I don’t want to be classified as a GAY COCK OF PORN CONSERVATIVE.
tw: short. I think we’re getting short shrift here.
Okay, color me asshole but I simply must point out that this is the Terry Funk that John Hawkins had interviewed.
It is probably one of the great tragedies that the interview has been lost to man (see comment). They probably touched on a number of important issues like break away chairs, cousin dating, and how to smile sexy with missing teeth.
Jeff,
Late again to the party. Hop you see this. I think if you were to change the “bit map” of the PayPal Button to, say………an Armadillo eating a dollar? with a notation that it is the tip jar. And perhaps have a few more of the little fellas as you scroll down.
You know, Fridays could be, “Feed the ‘dillo Fridays” as well as dancing Fridays. My point is just to make the tip jar easier to see and a more frequent, yet subtle, reminder. It could all be in fun, yet somewhat profitable.
Sounds like an excellent idea to me, rls. I am long months away from even going for a tip jar, but I’ll likely think of your idea when the time comes.
I just love ideas a la *Comercial* and carpetbagger is only meant in a nice way. A compliament, like parliament, and ours is seriously flawed. Concise can of worms can be glanced at..
http://bendgovt.blog.ca
and you thought money was wasted in DC?
Free book/Thesis on the Blogworld for you at:-
http://Anchorpin.Redpin.com
Say thanks by leaving a comment after you hit link AThesis Download…please? 73s TG