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October 5, 2004
Supporting the Quixtar BLOG
By QBlog in
As you undoubtedly know, I don't get paid to publish this site. The various costs associated with running the Quixtar BLOG come directly out of my wallet and that's just fine with me. However, as a response to several inquiries on the matter, I launched the Quixtar BLOG Donation Page last November which provided a way for people to contribute funds to this site. Some of you responded with donations and I'm deeply grateful for your generosity.
Yet as the Quixtar BLOG has grown, so too have the needs associated with publishing, maintaining and improving the site. And while your generous contributions have helped defray those mounting costs, the reality is that more money is needed to keep this site out of the red. Because of this reality I decided to explore alternative funding methods. The most obvious alternative is the appearance of Google Ads on the site last month. Google pays Quixtar BLOG a small (taxable) commission each time an ad is clicked. It's not a lot of money but after a month of testing, it looks like it may significantly reduce the maintenance costs.
The Refund
I've refunded every donation given to this site (minus the PayPal service fee). This wasn't easy for me to do, mainly because I was afraid some would perceive me as ungrateful. I refunded the money because it was given at a time when donations were the only source of funding for this site and now that has changed. Because the Quixtar BLOG now receives alternative funding I felt it was necessary to give that money back.
I thought and prayed about this decision for a long time and became convinced that it was the best thing for me to do. Maybe it's a stupid move but it feels right to me and I guess that's all that ultimately matters. If you'd still like to give to the Quixtar BLOG you may do so but you must understand that things have changed.
No Profit
So what's changed? Well, first I'll state what hasn't changed. I am still committed to keeping this site non-profit. I never wanted to make money from this site and that resolve remains intact.
What has changed is how the money will be handled. Previously, I said that I would quit accepting donations if and when the site costs had been met. Obviously that never happened but I'm going to do things a bit differently in this new environment. All revenue will still go towards funding this site, paying for improvements and ensuring that it stays around for a long, long time. However, any money earned beyond those costs will be donated to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a non-profit organization working to protect your digital rights. If you do choose to donate to Quixtar BLOG, you should know that some (if not all) of that money may be given to the EFF (if the site costs have already been met). It was this change that ultimately prompted me to refund all donations.
Conflict of Interest
Some have questioned my motives for publishing this site asking if the content is influenced by the money of various donors. I have remained fiercely independent and uninfluenced by the ideology of the site's supporters. Now that "credibility issue" has been totally negated, how many of my critics can claim similar independence?
Openness
I'm committed to being open and honest with everything I do here and if you have any questions please feel free to ask. I've gone ahead and listed a couple of questions that I anticipate being asked and hope that answers some of your questions.
- Will you pay yourself a "salary" for running this site?
No. All funds received will only go towards ensuring that this site stays operational (paying for bandwidth, software licenses, maintenance fees, etc.). Anything extra goes to the EFF. - Will you avoid criticizing Google since they're giving you money?
Of course not, don't be silly. - Those eyes creep me out.
Uh, yeah. Is that a question?
I just want to extend a big thanks to everyone who's made this site an important place to visit. The Quixtar BLOG has surpassed all my expectations and I can't wait to discover what is waiting for us just around the corner.
Sincerely,
QBlog
Comments
Well, as always, let me know if you need any 'web' assistance.
Qblog:
I didn't even know that you were being supported by Passport until you brought up the subject. I'm convinced Passport swayed your views, no matter what you say. I have read enough of your blog to understand that you are very critical of Quixtar and support Passport.
And I understand that. I'm very supportive of the employer who feeds me, though I don't go around and tell people I'm neutral about my employer - that would be unloyal.
So pick a position. You can't be financially supported by Passport and tell everyone that you don't support them. And you can't do nothing but bash Quixtar and call yourself neutral.
Your readers simply want honesty from you. I know you are probably going to say that you are being honest by what you disclosed in your last post but you operated under Passport support for 9 months and didn't come clean until you were exposed by Qrush.
Whatever, you "discontented" moron. Your lies and deceit are plainly obvious. However, in the interest of allowing the discourse to be heard (no matter how ignorant your accusations may be) I'll respond.
1. I've never been supported by any business. Not that it makes any difference but I received more donations from active Quixtar IBOs than those involved with Passport.
2. Donations were made by individuals, not businesses and had no impact on the content of my blog.
3. I have never supported Passport. By using your logic, if I don't devote a large portion of the Quixtar BLOG to discussing the problems with Passport then I must support it. I also don't discuss the problems with Primerica, Avon, the Cuban government and Reality Television but that doesn't mean I support them. And for the record, I have been critical of Passport. Do your homework my anonymous "discontented" friend.
4. I have no loyalties to any business.
5. Again, I was not, am not and will never be supported by Passport.
6. I quit reading that QRush Blog a couple of weeks ago. No idea what you're talking about.
Eric,
6. Please direct yourself to your own blog where you copy part of Qrush's article on Eric Janssen supposedly being neutral. Did you copy part of the article and comment on it in your "anything goes" section without reading it? You are a liar like Bo Short. I wonder what other things you are lying about.
In the future please remember what you post so you won't get caught in such an embarassing situation. Liars must have a great memory to remember their own lies and you are falling short of that mark.
Good day.
Remember that game you played as a kid where you look at picture and try to find what's wrong with that picture as quickly as possible? There would be a mailman dressed in a hula skirt while a woman was walking her pet penguin. Something like that.
Eric, this article was posted on Qrush on October 1, which make it 6 days old today. That isn't even 1 week since you have read Qrush. That makes your statement that you haven't read Qrush in two weeks yet another lie. Do you remember yet?
Anyway, the new version of this game is "See what's wrong with Qrush's post."
http://qrush_quixtar_blog.blogspot.com/2004/10/eric-janssens-qblog-is-neutral.html
I can't really understand most of it but maybe you'll have better luck.
Discombobulated:
"The purpose of this site is ONLY to express personal opinions, convey emotions and relate experiences." - QBlog
Thanks for cracking the case wide open, detective Dis.
Back on topic: Disclaimer - I, to my knowledge, have not contributed. Sorry about that. However, if I had, it would have been fine with me if you spent the money in a manner similar to previous references to inhailing illegal substances off of ladies for hire's backsides, or at least a pizza and six-pack whilst you did web maintenance, etc.
I admire your ethics and integrity on this and commend you. I think it is a bit too serious, though. Nowhere do you expect any of us to think of you as a boy scout, nor do we expect you to uphold journalistic principles in the purist sense. You have an opinion blog - no false advertising there.
That said, if you would swear and affirm that my particular donation would in fact be placed to purchase a pizza and a six-pack, I would be eager to oblige.
It's not an article but whatever. I misspoke. I haven't read the QRush blog since that post and I really didn't understand it then. And no, I still don't know what QRush "exposed" about me. To be clear, in order to "expose" something one must reveal formerly hidden or unknown FACTS. This has not been done by QRush or his multiple personalities.
Geez,
Let's be obvious Qrush...
If you are going to comment on the blog, feel free to comment on the forum also. I don't think you will be treated differently than anyone else.
I'm just trying to figure out why you would use the name 'discontented'? What with? Have you spoken to anyone about this? Is there anything we as a blog-hanger-on community can do to help you work through this? Let us know!
If you really knew Q and his motivations, you'd understand that he is just trying to get a Pulitzer prize for investigative reporting.
By the way, I am an IBO and I sent him a donation. This place is good entertainment!
AB
Discontented:
Your messages on here are pathetic. Having been on here for a while as a very neutral party, I am actually impressed with Qblog's position with the big Q. A bit of a negative slant, but hey....I've heard the positives from him too. I have not heard anything about Passport.
What I have heard from you is pretty sad. While I appreciate the expose on Passport, (and I agree with Qrush in many ways), you seem so brainwashed that you can't look at anything objectively anymore. And the mighty Qrush prides himself on being like Rich? Hardly.
Here's a challenge to Qrush...why doesn't he allow comments on his post....that would be really interesting...I don't think he'd be able to stand the heat.
Evan,
What expose of Passport? Surely you're not referring to the tripe written on Qrush, are you?
Dave,
Although I disagree with almost everything Qrush says, he has a few good points on Bo. That is very clear. Bo has made enough off the backs of IBO's, through the tools system. Starting his own company does not clear his slate, from a character standpoint.
Qblog,
I'm impressed! You've finally found a way for Quixtar to financially support your blog, and you don't even need to be an IBO trying to build PV/BV!
Care to guess what I'm talking about? I just loaded up your page and the 2 google ads which first popped up were Quixtar related. The first - a link to the Artistry web page on www.quixtar.com If you'd like me to I can email you a screen capture of this - it seemed a little too unbelieveable to be true.
The second - a link to Fred Harteis Nutrition - his page promoting the Quixtar Trim Advantage protein bars.
So if I understand this correctly, when I click on these links you'll get a bit of money from Google. Quixtar and Fred Haretis presumably paid Google for these ads. Therefore in a way isn't Quixtar is financially supporting (through Google) your site? Way to go!
Qrush,
If you are going to post in here, why not just do it under your own name? Why the need for dis@yahoo.com? It's OK to use your real name. Maybe imabigshillforquixtarandthekingpins@quixtar.com won't fit. If that's the case, I apologize.
If you bring up Passport in a post where no one else has even considered bringing up the subject, you might be Qrush.
If you think that Qblog is not as honest as he can be in his posts on this site, you might be Qrush.
If you think that anyone reading your comments, gives a rats ace about what Qrush writes, you might be Qrush.
There have been some compelling arguments given from both sides on this blog which have been enlightening, thought provoking, and interesting to read.
Qrush, the only thing that keeps me reading your site is to see, once you run out of all your other made up ideas, when you report that Bo Short, Qblog, and whoever else have birthed alien babies from Mars. I know it can't be too far off with the other stuff your write.
I think that it's pathetic to be ashamed of making money for your site. There are all these hippies out there with silver spoons in there mouth enforcing this unwritten "don't make money" rule for everything on the internet.
Sorry, you rich maggots, but people shouldn't feel ashamed for making money for their **time and hard effort** that keeps the internet **usable**!!!!! if everyone is expected to be a volunteer nowdays, how come no one is volunteering me some FOOD or GAS or FREE HEATING? Ah, that's right, probably because it all comes back to those rich hippies who live in the clouds with their bong. Ugh.
I think it shows that you actually care about the people that contribute and view your site.
I have yet to meet a person that would be dissapointed with getting their money back.
Posted by: NO DIAMOND! | October 5, 2004 5:31 PM