Reader,
I make an effort to limit this kind of request or reminder, because nobody wants to read a hundred pleas per year for the kinds of things a dude with a website is supposed to request. I appreciate your patience with the following paragraphs. I don't maintain this site for financial reward, and I hate creating the impression that you're expected to pay for the privilege. You certainly are not. Not even a little. But if you happen to feel the urge to be generous, here are some options.
1. If you haven't already, follow G&T on the ol' Facebox. There's more to it than a bunch of links to posts. It's a little heavier on humor and lighter on politics compared to this site. And I'm supposed to, like, try to boost traffic and build a base of readers and all that shit. So do it. Oh, as the previous post explains, I'm also temporarily banned because apparently it's OK to swear at strangers but not OK to take a screenshot of strangers swearing at you and post it. Makes sense!
2. Speaking of, even though traffic has increased consistently over the years the site remains and will remain free of advertisements. If you have to ask why, you must be new. In lieu of advertisements you have to put up with the following few paragraphs once per year.
You can do nothing and continue to enjoy the site for free. This is called "free riding", and it's an entirely rational behavior. I have done (for thirteen years!!) and will continue to do this every day whether I make a million bucks, nothing at all, or I have to pay out of pocket for the privilege.
You can use this tip jar / donation link to contribute an amount of your choosing to defray the costs of this site. If you happen to be saddled with extra cash and feel like donating fifty bucks, I will be extremely grateful. However, if donating fifty cents is more in line with your current budget, my gratitude will be no less. If zero cents is your preferred option, that's A-OK too. Your tips and contributions are (obviously) voluntary but greatly appreciated. Either way I'm glad you're here and I appreciate you.
3. I finally committed properly to the Merch game in 2016. The "Everything is Terrible" t-shirts sold out, and in fact I had to cancel and refund about 75 orders. To say they were popular is an understatement, and early in 2017 I will be replenishing the supply. Because I did a second batch of Clurb Shirts, a few of those are still available if you're so inclined. On the $5-and-under end of the spectrum, there are very lovely Clurb bumper stickers and the classic G&T background image stickers for $3. Your positive response to the t-shirts was one of the most pleasant surprises of the year for me.
4. Post frequency on this blog fell a little in 2016. Part of that has to do with professional obligations and some changes I've had to make to my daily routine since moving to Chicago last year. I'm working on adjusting my schedule to better accommodate regular updates, because this is important to me. I enjoy it and it's the only part of my life that doesn't consist exclusively of people telling me I'm shit. So that's kinda nice.
Thanks. Big things are in store. Despite the fact that 2017 is going to be a terrible year, it also has the potential to be a good year if we don't all die first. Trust me that this post felt as awkward to write as it must have been to read.
Sarah says:
Okay it didn't feel awkward until you pointed it out — but now that you mention it, yeah kind of an awkward ending. ❤️❤️
Sarah says:
Also proud of you for SWAG + HATERS THAT COME ALONG WITH INTERNET FAME. I don't think you're shit.
dylan says:
Have you considered a Patreon.com account? It's a way to set up monthly recurring donations. Used pretty frequently by artists. I definitely would back you on Patreon if you had one.
Katydid says:
Don't do the Fakebook and don't do the online donations, but if you had a P.O. Box, I'd be glad to slip some cash your way.
doug says:
It aint awkward, or it should not be.
And Carrstone, you better pay up, you capitalist pigdog…..
Tamarama says:
1) You're not a shit (not, you're not shit); 2) Patreon is a great idea.
mago says:
What Katydid says and doesn't do. Paypal doesn't like me. Don't do FB, but would like to have an avenue to contribute to your creativity.
Marcion says:
You're back in Chi-town? Whereabouts? I kinda feel like I ought to buy you a drink sometime (that would express some appreciation right?)
Noskilz says:
Best of luck with the site in the coming year!
Odie O. D'Eudille says:
Glad to chip in a little bit. I was also one of those who got a
refund instead of a T-shirt that said 'Everything is Terrible',
so I will be re-ordering one of those when they become
available again. Keep up the good work, & Happy New Year
from a faithful non-Facebook reader.
April says:
If you set up an alipay account I can donate. Otherwise you'll have to wait until I get back to the states.
Sorry.
Jen Coleslaw says:
You're my favorite. I can't wait to order the restocked shirt. I hope I can get it before I am bombed back into the stone age here outside of Washington DC. Keep up the good and snarky work. Go get some nice Ann Sather cinnamon buns, now.
DaelM says:
good luck, fella. i donated what i had. been reading you for a very long time and it's always worthwhile.
be well.
RosiesDad says:
Pretty funny that "Too bad 2016 didn't give us the one celebrity death we all really want" didn't get you banned either.
Although now, Putin will be watching.
RosiesDad says:
I've got a G&T bumper sticker on my office door, another one on my laptop and my son has one on his laptop and a new Everything is Terrible…t-shirt so I've done my part in 2016.
Let's commit to having a less shitty 2017.
Bob says:
Happy New Year!
Katydid says:
What Bob said: Happy New Year!
Martine says:
Looking forward to great things from you in 2017! Happy New Year!
Kate says:
Glad to give. G&T is awesome and I tell everyone I can get to listen.
Verena says:
Long sleeved shirts next, please. It's going to be cold during the nuclear winter.
teemunney says:
Sucks to hear you had to cancel orders for the T-shirts. I luckily got my hands on one and love sporting how I feel about our sociopolitical zeitgeist.
Keep doing what you do, my friend.
Heather says:
Ed – any possibility of getting a tshirt with the original G&T logo? Thank you for being an oasis in an ocean of shit.
Mark S. Heberlein, DO says:
Truly love your site. Sadly I can not abide Facebook, haven't logged in to my account in >5y so I am clueless as to what the CLURB is. Que sera… Made a donation and bought some stickers but PayPal is apparently sending them to a place (Metlakatla, AK) I haven't lived for 3.5 y. Any way we can get them redirected to my current, actual physical location?
Keep doing great work. Have learned so much here & you have helped keep alive in me a sliver of hope & the belief that if it all goes to hell in a bucket, @ least I wasn't one of those pushing downhill…
Martine Gallant says:
Hope you’re having a spiffy day and up for another ignorant question. I’m sincerely wondering if the recent donation that I made to is tax deductible. I don’t see it advertised as such, but you never know. I also wanted to just say thanks so much for the daily dose of intelligence and wit. We can all use more of this right now!
Stay classy,
Martine