Show Me The Money!

In the event anyone ever wonder, The Garlic, here, generates $0 (zero) revenue.

While at various times (not currently), we've had a decent rating, and peak readership, the consistency of such hasn't been to the point that posting the ubiquitous Google Ads (or some other packager) would start sweeping in the dollars.

I write The Garlic, for a variety of reasons, including, for the love of it, just to keep in writing shape, to exercise the creativity, take it out for a spin, while, hopefully, being readable and entertaining.

We cross-post on various other sites (including being a Contributing Editor on Michael Stickings' The Reaction), all without seeing any moohla.

We have, in the past, made money writing, working for newspapers, magazines, both staff and freelance, and writing stand-up material.

Yet, each month, almost like clockwork, some new blog, or "social media site" sends me a fawning email, raving about The Garlic's content, and that I should join them, and write on their new blog, or "social media site".

After viewing said sites, most of the time, I reply back, and inquire as to if payment, or revenue-sharing, is offered, and always, always, the reply (if one comes), is a "No", but that I will get exposure and "plenty of links".

So, we limit our cross-posting, as last time I tried, my corner store doesn't accept "links" as payment.

All this leads up to a wonderful raving, over-the-top video of Harlan Ellison, that has been out there for awhile, detailing a request he received, for use of his material, and the expectation of doing it without payment

Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer



Blogger Max Boot wrote about it yesterday, as did James Joyner, on his Outside The Beltway blog.

Joyner offers some amusing comments;

Ellison is an all-time great and he’s been getting paid to write — and been famous — since before I was born. So, his, um, output is worth worth than most. But the fact of the matter is that there are plenty of people out there who are willing to do all kinds of writing without getting paid. Most op-eds you see in the major papers are published free or for an insultingly nominal fee. Most blogs don’t generate enough to pay for operating expenses.

There's plenty of Garlic posts (as well as three childrens books and a screenplay) to wade through (and, we are approaching our 3,000th post), so, if anyone out there wants a writer, and can pay said writer, email me, and lets talk

Breaking News! GM Cancels UAW In Favor of Adopting Huffington Post Business Model

Celebrities, Auto Enthusiasts and Bloggers To Build Cars For Free; Huge Spike In Profits Forecast

"I don't know why we didn't do this sooner," beamed an ecstatic General Motors Chief Executive Rick Wagoner, at a hastily called news conference this morning.

Wagoner was referring to, just hours before the news conference, his backtracking on the recent strike settlement reached just two-days ago, and his actions of dissolving the United Auto Workers Union contract with GM, in favor of adopting the business model of the popular blog, The Huffington Post.

It was reported earlier this week that The Huffington Post just closed on another round (their second) of $5-Million in funding, upping their total to over $10-Million raised.

In slightly less than three-years, The Huffington Post has built itself up to being the 5th most popular blog on the World Wide Web, primarily by having its' content providers and generators write for free.

Celebrities, politicians, actors, pundits, some famous, others up-and-coming, write daily for Huffington Post, all said not to be receiving any compensation other than "visibility, promotion and distribution with a great company", according to Ken Lerer, the co-founder of The Huffington Post.

Lerer added that they have no plans to begin paying bloggers - ever.

"If you wake up and have something to say, great," says Arianna Huffington, the Editor-in-Chief, author and former political candidate for whom the blog is named after.

Wagoner believes GM will be "enormously successful" with adopting The Huffington Post business model.

"There's thousands-upon-thousands of auto enthusiasts, auto club members, people who write about automobiles ... Even backyard mechanics, that are biting-at-the-bit to get their hands dirty and build a car," added Wagoner. "Now, we'll give them the opportunity."

Wagoner indicated a move has already been made, similar to The Huffington Post, to attract celebrities to the new GM plan, including some who are currently writing for The Huffington Post.

"We already have Alec Baldwin on board," grinned Wagoner. "He was jumping with joy with the chance, we didn't have to sell him on it ... And, he may some of his brothers with him, as well."

Others, Wagoner stated, have either have been contacted, or have signaled they will come on board, include famed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawkings, American Idol Host Ryan Seacrest, newly-elected French President Nicholas Sarkozy, actor and activist Brad Pitt (who, Wagoner offered, wants to work on a line of "green" cars), The Blue Man Group, the musician, Kenny G., and soccer star Zinedine Zidane.

Missing millionaire adventurer Steve Fossett was to both invest, and be part of the new, pay-free GM and Wagoner said, that should he found alive, "the invitation still stands."

"We see quarter-after-quarter of record profits," said Wagoner.

Wagoner would not say if the celebrity-built automobiles will fetch a higher price than cars built by no-names or up-and-comers.

UAW's president, Ron Gettelfinger, was devastated, indicating he need to see the paperwork before commenting on any possible course of action. Gettelfinger urged his membership not to "be exploited" and reject taking part in this new GM business model.

Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich called the GM move "breathtaking"

"This will be a economic revolution like we've never seen before," gushed Reich. "My God, if a relatively new, intellectual property-based, on-line entity can raise that kind of money - and via a free labor pool - General Motors will set profit records that will stand for decades to come."

Reich declined to say if he will join the GM production line, but did admit it has caused him to daydream about it.

"Ohhh," cooed Reich, "I could build the car of my dreams."

Bonus Links, Written-For-Free

H/T To Barry Crimmins, and his Financial Modeling for Fun and Profiteers

Josh Wolf: Huffington Post doesn't plan to pay its bloggers

Valleywag: blogging for dollars - Huffington Post raises more cash

Dylan Tweney: This is the Future of the News: The Arianna Huffington Interview















With having GM change over to the The Huffington Post business model, as predicted by GM Chief Rick Wagoner, thousands are lining up to build cars for free