"The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of Sweetness and Light." - Matthew Arnold

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About Our Very Own Little S&L Bailout

We are now accepting contributions.

As veterans of the site will recall, S&L went for years without even resorting to advertising. But as we have expanded our audience and our features we have come to depend upon ad revenue to pay our way.

Alas, thanks to the Democrats’ recession our income from ads has been for several months about one quarter of what it once was.

But rather than reduce the gimcracks and gewgaws that we have incorporated into the site, we have resigned ourselves to putting out the begging bowl.

Those so inclined can make a donation via PayPal or a credit card, using PayPal’s highly secure and remarkably pain-free system:


Please note that you do not need to have a PayPal account to pay by credit card.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use a credit card or PayPal, you can send a check to:

Steven Gilbert
Post Office Box 237001
New York, NY 10023

Of course you can help the site in several other ways besides (or in addition to) sending us some of your filthy lucre:

  • Visit our wonderful advertisers now and then. Each time you do, a honeybee gets its wings.
  • Exempt Sweetness-Light.com from any ad-blocking programs you might use. Otherwise, S&L gets no financial benefit from your page views – and the honeybees suffer grievously.
  • Post news items in the ‘News Selected’ thread (see the link in the sidebar). Or send them on to us using our handy contact form. You never know where an item you help uncover might turn up.
  • Post witty and insightful comments, along with your own research on the current issues of the day. They really help to make S&L what it is.
  • Tell your friends and even complete strangers about the wonderful benefits of reading S&L.
  • Remember: "The Sweetness and Light of the few must be imperfect until the raw and unkindled masses of humanity are touched with Sweetness and Light." – Matthew Arnold

Regular members know the amazing reach that this small site has. We have the ear of some of the most influential members of the conservative cause. And in our own modest way we have made a real difference.

Please help us to continue our noble work.

 

This article was posted by Steve Gilbert on Thursday, May 14th, 2009 at 10:53 am. You can leave a response.

29 Responses to “About Our Very Own Little S&L Bailout”

  1. Colonel1961
    May 14, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    SG: I don’t use/support or even want to type ‘PayPal’ – is there another method to this ‘madness’?

    I’d be happy to send an old-fashioned check to an old-fashioned Post Office Box…

    Most sincerely,
    Colonel1961

    • Steve
      May 14, 2009 at 1:50 pm

      “I don’t use/support or even want to type ‘PayPal’ – is there another method to this ‘madness’?”

      Update!

      You can now send a check to:

      Steven Gilbert
      Post Office Box 237001
      New York, NY 10023

    • pinandpuller
      May 14, 2009 at 2:04 pm

      You could try Western Union, if the line doesn’t stretch to Nogales.

      Speaking of old-fashioned Post Office Box…my wife reserved one for us online so that when moved it would be a smooth transition. We have since moved and the Post Office was anything but smooth-not to mention the DMV. It’s not good enough to show a driver’s license to get our key-my wife has to now dig through our storage shed to find her passport. We can’t get a voter ID card because we haven’t yet resided in TN for 30 days. We can’t use utility bills or deeds or leases because we are staying in an RV park until our house sells; we have to get a letter from the park owner on letterhead just to get our cars titled here! Well, thank goodness they are at least guarding the borders!

      Back to the subject at hand, lest I am accused of hijacking and get taken out by SEALs:

      I would look at the contribution link as a tip cup. My mom always tipped the paperboy. I always tip the lady who cuts my hair, the pizza guy, wait staff, skycaps etc. Its often a sign of appreciation.

      Dan Carlin runs a couple of podcasts on the concept of if you like the show and you think its worth a dollar why don’t you send one in? I kind of like the idea.

      I would much rather see that than you getting an NEA grant, although the sight of Al Franken in a jar of…ahhh-better keep my daydreams to myself.

    • Colonel1961
      May 14, 2009 at 2:40 pm

      SG: Tried that with my one and only credit card (for business travel) and it said the card number was blocked. Hmm. I will try a debit card…

      Update: debit card = success!

  2. Dangerous
    May 14, 2009 at 1:47 pm

    I did notice this, and I’m sorry to hear it. At the very least I can post a bit more, seeing as I’ve been lurking here almost since the site’s opening. I’ll consider a more concrete form of support, but I’m leaning towards the good Colonel’s line of thinking.

  3. Liberals Demise
    May 14, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    Steve…. you should have a Fedora instead of a cup. I’d like to think I’m offering alms to a classy site of Computer Conservative Thinkers and Warriors of Yore!

    Just a thought my friend.

  4. jobeth
    May 14, 2009 at 2:30 pm

    first….A contribution is forthcoming very soon, but there is something else all of us can do and is something I did quite awhile ago.

    I included the S&L web site URL on my email signature.

    Now everyone I email has a link! :-D Gotta keep getting that conservative truth out there!

    Not only that if each of us just makes it a point to click on each and every ad on S&L every couple of days…I’ll bet that will help some as well.

  5. Steve
    May 14, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    Good news for those who eschew PayPal and credit cards.

    We now have a post office box where you can mail checks!

    Please see the updated article.

    • Colonel1961
      May 14, 2009 at 4:05 pm

      I’m always a step behind (or ahead) – I got PayPal to work… lol

    • Dangerous
      May 14, 2009 at 8:40 pm

      Aww, heck. If the colonel can get on Paypal, I guess I can pull out the ol’ credit card.

      Donation sent, Steve. Let’s all put it to good use.

    • Rusty Shackleford
      May 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm

      Stimulus package sent. And I promise I won’t take over your blog, or make you resign.

  6. proreason
    May 14, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    Steve’s web-site is the best place for conservatives looking for some support and fun.

    He’s a wealth of information. He provides several interesting and varying topics a day to comment about, along with his always insightful observations. The site is cozy enough that you can learn a bit about the other posters. You can research past posts if you want.

    The commentors here are the best. They are uniformly bright, knowledgable and funny. They make you think and are as polite as you will find on the web (thanks to good moderation). Steve gives people just enough rope. There isn’t much profanity and although we uniformly detest libwits, there isn’t too much over the top criticism (except for PR, of course).

    And you get Artboy for free.

    That’s worth something, if you ask me.

    • electionhangovervictim
      May 14, 2009 at 4:21 pm

      “The commentors here are the best. They are uniformly bright, knowledgable and funny. They make you think and are as polite as you will find on the web (thanks to good moderation).”

      Here here!

    • DGA
      May 14, 2009 at 4:53 pm

      +2 on all you said PR, but would like to find some way to lure the odd leftist troll in now and then, for a good way to relieve our frustrations, a sort of virtual punching bag…..

    • proreason
      May 14, 2009 at 5:04 pm

      DGA: “some way to lure the odd leftist troll ”

      A troll stumbles in once in a while, mostly during off hours when they must feel a bit safer.

      After somebody responds with some non-fantasy facts, the troll usually skulks off after throwing a couple of stink bombs.

    • Rusty Shackleford
      May 14, 2009 at 9:09 pm

      A troll walks into an all-conservative bar…..

    • DW
      May 14, 2009 at 9:27 pm

      A troll walks into an all-conservative bar…..

      Didn’t I see this in a Chuck Norris movie…?
      “click/click/click/click/click/click/click” (hammers being drawn back)

  7. catie
    May 14, 2009 at 4:44 pm

    done and done

  8. Howard Roark
    May 14, 2009 at 6:14 pm

    I never part with my hard-earned dollars for anything other than food, shelter, and utilities, (and, ok, the occasional gift and dinner for my lady), but this call-to-arms sent me immediately to my hidden file of passwords for my Paypal account. Although currently hunkering down in the trenches until the enemy passes my position (or, in other words, being unemployed), I find this cause a very worthwhile reason.

    I am sorry, Steve, for the state of the economy for your sake, right now. I know it must be taking its toll if you’re having to make tough choices such as this. I only hope that you are able to weather the storm, and I hope you will always feel free to send up a flare if you find yourself off course, weak, and in need of assistance. We need your site for commaraderie, illumination, and motivation.

    And thank-you to everyone here, visible and invisible, who help Steve keep this boat afloat.

  9. woodmanthered
    May 14, 2009 at 6:33 pm

    I really enjoy this site my contribution will be arriving soon. This site and the peolpe who do the articles are something I look forward to every day. Thank you.

  10. DW
    May 14, 2009 at 8:21 pm

    Folks, the math here is really simple.

    How much time do you spend here?
    A lot? Cool. So what else do you do for large amounts of time -that doesn’t cost you anything?

    What do you get here?
    Well, gee…I dunno… How about hearing about things that you would not hear about anywhere else?
    Oh wait. Got it from Rush? Well where the hell do you think he got it from?
    When you’re considered the “informed one” at work -because you not only know sh*t but can cite sources? Where did you get it from?

    How about a place to come and vent among like-minded conservatives? Check.

    I don’t post a lot these days, but I’ve been here a long time and I’ve reaped every benefit that a site like this has to offer. I’ve made some damned good friends here. People I interact with away from the site. People that I’ll always have room for here, and people who I know have a place for me wherever they are located.

    That doesn’t come for free. Not in this day and age.

    I know that there are members here who are hurting right now because of the economic downturn. People who are trying to keep their businesses viable or who just watched their pensions dry up and evaporate.
    No one expects you to start playing Santa Claus if you’re in that boat. We all know you would donate if you could. When things get better – you can get the next round. We know you’re good for it.

    For the rest of us -the steadily, lucratively employed: well how about it, eh?
    We get a lot here. We always have.
    No one will say anything if you don’t help out.
    That’s what they call the honor system.

    But aren’t we conservatives supposed to be the ones who are honorable?

    Steve – sorry for jumping in where maybe I had no right to go, but this site is valuable. It needs to be kept going. Contributions from the membership here is a resource that is long overdue.

    Please folks – help if you can.

  11. xdannyh
    May 14, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Hello Steve: Please accept this $50 (pay pal) to help you continue your great work. I am on SS and “O blah blah” forced the taxpayers to give me an extra $250 to stimulate the economy so you are included with other conservative activists that are most deserving of stimulation. I hope some of the more witty comment makers can make a connection between SS stimulus and S&L. Also I throw down the challenge to all conservative SS Insurance recipients, and I mean insurance not entitlement, to use that windfall to make a difference. You can’t just sit on your ass when there actually has been a coup in this government, besides it won’t be long until SS$ goes away for any body who is rich, and in O blah blah speak that is anybody who is not diverse.So get off your duff and support the work of folks that deserve it.

  12. sheehanjihad
    May 15, 2009 at 11:20 am

    I personally echo the sentiments of DW…I too have been here practically from its inception, and no where on the internet can one find what exists here. Nowhere. Even though, for the first time in my storied career I have been unable to find work for over six months now, (a record for me, the old record being a week and a half) I am going to go over my dwindling resources and figure not how little I have, but how much I can send to keep this site viable. Yes, it does mean that much to me. I would rather eat macaroni and cheese for two weeks and help Steve out than to have a steak and find that S&L is no longer. So Steve, expect my meager contribution in your PO box shortly.

  13. Jason Gillman
    May 15, 2009 at 6:41 pm

    Honest I gave at the office!!

    Really.. umm.. the covert one … wink!

  14. Steve
    May 15, 2009 at 7:45 pm

    Thanks so much to everyone for your very kind comments and amazingly generous contributions.

    I should note, however, that there seems to be an impression that S&L is going to go under without immediate financial help. It isn’t. (It’s probably my fault for calling this a ‘bailout.’ But I couldn’t resist the joke.)

    As I mentioned, it’s more a matter of the ad revenue being down so precipitously for the last few months. And this is not just true for us here, but for just about every website — and indeed most media outlets — across the board. (Cf. the New York Times.)

    But worry not. Even though I am a one man band and this takes up a lot of my time, I would probably keep the place going without any advertising or donations at all — just like I did for the first few years of S&L.

    I posted this thread to explain why I was adding a donation option in the sidebar, since we have never accepted donations before.

    Your donations are greatly appreciated. But as I said at the top, please don’t feel like you have to donate. And certainly don’t donate if you need the money yourself. Times are tough all over.

    Your comments and news tips and all the rest are more important, and they do just as much to help the site.

    • jobeth
      May 15, 2009 at 8:12 pm

      Steve,

      We thank you for being who you are. And thanks for doing it for “free” if you have to. But many of us think you give us something worth far more than we can “donate”.

      Many of us will still try to continue to share in the costs of running this site by periodic contributions to the cause.

      I don’t think many of us are “rich” but we waste money sometimes. This would not be a waste but instead a piece of the fight for our freedoms. This is the least we can do.

  15. NotStuckOnStupid
    May 15, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    It is my pleasure to donate to such a good friend, who has given me so much knowledge and so many laughs over the years. Keep up the good work, Steve.

  16. Peggy
    May 16, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    I’ve been a huge fan of Sweetness & Light for years. It is my favorite refuge from the storms of nonsense we see everywhere in the so-called news world.

    Please keep up the great work.

    And I promise I will try to comment more.

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