Blogging ain't all it's cracked up to be. Monday's Washington Times reports that dollar signs don't match the hype for most bloggers. "It is in no way a moneymaking device," Michelle Leder of Footnoted.org told the Times. "I'm enjoying it. If it got to the point where it was becoming a hassle, I'd rethink it." Miss Leder is not alone in finding blogging a financially thankless profession. Other than big guns like Instapundit, Andrew Sullivan, and DailyKos, few bloggers reap rewards beyond the knowledge that their work is reaching a mass audience. And I guess most bloggers can't even claim that.

Since this site will run a four-figure deficit in '04, I guess it's a good thing that I didn't go into blogging to make money. I speak, write books, and have a day job. For me, blogging is a late-night hobby. It serves as a vehicle to get my ideas out to a mass audience without having to wait on an editor's decision. Blogging also allows me to write about off-beat topics--such as reality television, 1980s New Wave music, and boxing--that I'd likely never get a chance to write about beyond this site. People who believe politics is the only subject of interest are themselves generally uninteresting.

Who knows? Maybe blogging is to the early twenty-first century what CB radios were to the 1970s. I doubt it. I'm having too much fun in our online community, whose population should rival some small cities once the campaign to promote Intellectual Morons launches next week. Other bloggers are having a blast too.

But as with everything else, bloggers gutsta pay the bills. This isn't a pay-site. You don't see pop-up ads. And FlynnFiles.com doesn't solicit you for donations. We do have products (books, CDs, and DVDs), and if you see anything you like please buy it as you'll be helping to fund the overhead for this site. If you don't like what you see on the right side of the page, how about Michelle Malkin's new book, The Very Best of Elvis Costello, or this inexpensive five-games-in-one video game player?

Are your suggested reading/viewing/listening links ones that following to make purchases will help fund the site? If so, or if you can make that clear that I would say having a link to a page of recommendations or regularly cycling through such on the right side of the page would be a great way to promote sales unobtrusively. For example I am set on purchasing Buchanan's new book at some point here and I often will buy dvd's and books and such as gifts. I have no problem helping Flynn Files out in the process but expanded selection or links is key.

That video game unit is sucking me in though.

Oh, and I think getting my appendix out recently has provoked my imagination. Since I have not seen any final word (did I miss it while sick?) on your slogan contest here are some thoughts from me.

Something playing on being the typing equivalent of long-windedness.

Like: "For those who like to hear themselves type . . . FlynnFiles.com"

Or
1) "Dan Flynn, too RIGHT not to type"

2) "Blogging is best at 3 a.m."

3) "Backtracks? We don't need no stinkin' Backtracks!"

4) "FlynnFiles.com (or Dan Flynn) gave me Carpal Tunnel Syndrome"

5) "Blogger's delight, liberals fright." (no, this last one was gay).

I will stop now but I have many more coming to me. Let me know that I am not being a total stooge and that the contest isn't already long over with.

Dan, I enjoy your blog. Unlike many, I do not have time to visit every blog site out there. This is my favorite and the only one I post to. I like this one because:
1) My friend (you know who) recommended you
2) Your rational intellectualism (you aren't a lemming)
3) Your dry sense of humor (my wife is CanEHdian, I get your jokes)

My own site is not a "blog" site, but rather a place for the disabled to read my essays on how I have overcome all that I have. But I don't update it every day, there simply isn't time at this point, with the Pro Bowling and all.

One last reason, I am trying to convince you to start a Federalist party. You understand the definitions of "enumerated" and "reserved" powers.

Be well,

Sponge

Hey Dan did you here the Kinks on that new commericial(Kodak or something.) I think the songs called pictures and I love it. Its on my "to the bone" albulm. Jolly Rancher used a kinks song too, right?