Year-End Bleg: Be My Santa!

It's been more than a year since I did any blegging — but don't worry, I'm going to keep this short medium-sized.

Just two points:

(1) I love that you come here, and I doubt I'd be as motivated to write daily Nanny-State updates and musings on liberty if I didn't have an audience of thousands of committed freedom lovers. Thank you, and just so we're clear, you don't owe me a thing. Never have, never will.

(2) That said, it won't surprise you to hear that it costs hundreds of dollars a year in hosting and administrative fees to keep this site up and running (an expense that isn't defrayed by annoying advertising). But that's nothing. I'll confess to some moments of self-recrimination when I realize that if I'd turned all that work and energy into regular, paying journalism assignments, I'd surely be making an extra bundle of money that's the equivalent of a decent mid-level sedan (or five minutes' worth of Ron Paul donations). I get the craziest when I think how nice it would be if my output here — some 150,000 to 160,000 words in 2007 alone — would somehow get compensated at my minimum magazine rate of a dollar a word. It'd be a bit like having a money tree that grows geese that lay golden eggs that produce wish-granting genies. Awesome!

Anyway, the bottom line is this:

• If you're a regular here and you don't feel like contributing, that's no problem and I'll still love you.

• If you could help pay for the site, that's easily double the love; click on one of the PayPal buttons over on the right and follow the simple instructions.

• If you'd rather get me something from my Amazon Wish List, whether it's a 15-dollar book or that Sony Bravia hi-def set (I'm talking to you, Warren Buffett), a couple of clicks is all it takes.

For PayPal and Amazon gifters, I'll feel pangs of appreciation so strong it hurts. Also, if you step up to the (collection) plate, you and I won't have to write / read any more blegs on this site for another year. A worthy mutual goal, no?

Thanks, guys!