I’ve decided to add a “Donation” button to my sidebar (under all those nice endorsements) in case anyone wants to contribute to the La Shawn Barber’s Corner Bandwidth Fund. Several people suggested months ago that I do this, but it felt sort of funny. It still does. All proceeds will be used for blog hosting expenses unless there’s enough for me to quit my day job and write. 
This goes without saying, but please don’t feel obligated to give me money. I may start accepting ads, too, if I can figure out where to put the code. Give me some feedback. Are both ideas cheesy or what?
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You shouldn’t apologize for being a capitalist. It is the American way. It is a great site and I hope you get lots of money.
Heck, somebody has to pay the freight, and now that your traffic is so high, something has got to give.
My traffic isn’t as high as some might think. (I’ll never tell unless it reaches a sufficiently “braggable” number.)
It’s the occasional traffic spikes (yesterday’s, for example) and commenting that tend to use up my monthly allotment.
I forget to say thanks to you, Norris.
I’d worry about the ads unless you can control the type you get. I’ve seen some pretty skeevy ones on blogs.
The donation route is a good idea, though. When I’m a for-real law wife (i.e., the wife of a lawyer rather than the wife of a law student), perhaps we will be able to support the cause of the Reformed conservative blogger we all love!
I wouldn’t hold your breath getting a lot of money.
Trust me, I know very few who do.
But email is a better way to raise funds. That’s worked great for me.
LawWife – With blogads, you approve every ad, which is the only way I’d do it. I’ll wait for your hubby to start making the big bucks!
Stacy – No big money. The funds will be for monthly hosting expenses. I have to use a special package that’s not even listed on the Blogs-About site (www.blogs-about.com/hosting.htm).
La Shawn,
Bandwidth is the coming word in technology. Michael Powell who has been critized by Howard Stern. We need someone to keep filth off airwaves. It is not what you discuss but how you discuss topic. I see no reason not to accept money if you do not accept ads for tobacco or something you do not approve of using! I do not feel that townhall.com which this week has article by Star Parker. This is where I first heard of you via your book review. I hear that females should be Democrat, blacks should be Democrat, and Jews should be Democrat. BS (not Bachelor of Science) to this idea!
JMB
A Townhall fan that stuck around. Thanks, James! People say all sorts of weird things. Today a black co-worker saw some George Bush material among my personal items, and he made a “joke” about what happens to blacks like me at the hands of other blacks. With a smile! He’s an old man from a different generation. He’s lived under Jim Crow and has seen all the “Colored Only” signs. He can’t get past it, I guess.
I think you should do both and not feel guilty. It is not like you are holding a knife to my throat. God bless you and keep up the good work. May your cup run over.
Rod Stanton
Cerrits, Cal
La Shawn
I agree that both leaves you flexible. I would certainly provide some money to cover your bandwidth expenses.
You might remind your friends from the “different generation” that fire hoses et al were used by the Democrats (OK, DixieCrats), not Republicans.
Hey La Shawn, Check out Blogads.com
I would think your site would be a pretty good spot for a lot of advertisers because you get so many people who stick around and comment.
La Shawn: Look around the blogosphere. Many bloggers seem to be going the “pay to play” route now; most of them are blogs of entertainment. Your blog of enlightenment deserves a financial boost too. Where did you come up with that idea anyhow? hmmmmmmmmmm? God leads in mysterious ways.
Capitalism is the way to go here on Earth. (If everyone believed in Jesus Christ, all forms of government would work and it wouldn’t matter.)
I have given $ to townhall and a blog I read regularly, but I send checks. I don’t like to give out my credit card number online too much. I’d suggest having a P.O. Box for people like me who might give money, but wouldn’t give electronically.
Well, since I read you at least once a day and I spend a lot each month on books and other publications, it seemed like a no-brainer to help jump-start your fund
Keep up the great work, sister!
La Shawn, I love your blog (I’m new to it). I have been married almost 2 years and have primarily been a single mother (although I was married for four years to another fine fellow). I feel the pain of finances. But I will pledge at least $25 if you will tell me where to send it. You are a dear. Appeal to your readers, they will deliver. Please keep spreading your wonderful message. You are NEEDED.
Hugs,
Lisa & Vanessa (my college student daughter!)
Oh dear, James. I’m female, but I’m a Republican. Does the fact that I’m white and Baptist get me off the hook?
LaShawn, I think donations are a wonderful idea. We have the option of doing so, and doing it relatively anonymously. Remember, many support missionaries financially for spreading God’s Word. Since you are doing the same, I think it would be wonderful for you to be supported financially for doing so.
LaShawn, I hope you don’t mind, but I need to add something off-topic here. It’s about the flu vaccine problem. I am really getting frustrated and sick and tired of how John Kerry, the liberal media, et. al are politicizing this issue. I think, too, that many buy into this because they don’t know how flu vaccines are made. They expect Bush to just order a company to make some pronto. It doesn’t happen like that.
Usually, companies start making the flu vaccine at the end of the major flu season, generally around late winter to early spring. This is to include any new strains that might have developed during the flu season. It generally takes around 6-8 months to make the vaccine. Six months would be a short turnaround in making the vaccine and only to fight a major outbreak. It usually takes closer to 8 months to make the vaccine. So, to get the flu vaccines out by October, they would have needed to start making the vaccine in roughly February to April of last year.
Of course, there is only one company in America that makes the vaccines and we frequently get our vaccines from other countries, and those are tested by the FDA to make sure they are safe to give to the American public. Well, this year, a major flu vaccine manufacturer in Britain had their license suspended for breaches in their manufacturing process that could lead to contamination. This particular company had been flagged for violations before. Here is the link to this story:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-10-10-flu-vaccine_x.htm
If you will recall, it was a contaminated batch of vaccine(meaning contaminated with bacteria) that led to the flu vaccine shortage in the first place. Unfortunately, we can’t just crank out a new batch in 3 days, and ship it out. Also, President Bush had nothing to do with this problem, and it’s not his problem to solve. It is the responsibility of the vaccine manufacturer to make sure this never happens again. So, to everyone who wants to blame President Bush for the flu vaccine shortage, GET OVER IT!! It’s not his fault, and there is nothing he can do about it. He isn’t a magic genie who can create more of the flu vaccine out of thin air.
Here are some FAQ’s on flu vaccine manufacturing:
Who decides what viral strains will be used in the influenza vaccine?
Each year, the Food and Drug Administration Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) determines the formulation of the strains to be used in the vaccines.
How is flu vaccine created?
After VRBPAC determines the formulation, manufacturers begin production of the vaccines. The viruses are then cultivated by manufacturers in chicken eggs. During the process, the virus is “killed” and parts of the outer coat of the virus are purified. After a person is injected with the vaccine, this process simulates protective antibodies.
What is the amount of time required to create the flu vaccine?
According to CDC, the process of creating the necessary vaccines can take more than four months. This is due to the complexity of the manufacturing process.
Can influenza vaccine production be “sped up”?
It is impossible to decrease the amount of time it takes to make vaccine given the current egg-based manufacturing process. However, using a cell-based manufacturing process, it would be possible to produce vaccine in one to two months. Cell-based production is an emerging technology for flu vaccination.
Where is the flu vaccine manufactured for the United States?
Currently, approximately half the vaccine is manufactured in the United States. The remaining vaccine is manufactured in the United Kingdom.
Here is the link to above information, as well as other FAQ’s and information on flu vaccines:
http://www.hidanetwork.com/govtrelations/flulinks.asp
Take care and wash your hands, people. That’s the best flu prevention.
Go for it. Maybe in due time you can compare your take to that of the Soros-financed blogger who attacked you the other day
Neither is offensive and both would cover you better. Text ads are usually unobtrusive. Maybe use Paypal so that people don’t have to worry about giving out credit card numbers?
Thanks, contributors!
You should by all means keep your “Make a Donation” button! Many folks like myself who greatly appreciate your blog see making a contribution as a way of showing our appreciation, encouraging you to keep writing and paying for a service we avail ourselves of on a regular basis.
May your PayPal account runneth over!
Ads?? Hmmm You know that brought out the entrepreneur in me
No pop-ups though. As much as I’d like to get my message out, I hate pop-ups!
Donations and Ads – This is a good thing!
Absolutely no popups! These ads will appear in the sidebar. If I can figure out where to put them.
Well, then, if you can control the content, I think it’s all good. No ads for matchmaking, huh?
I’m looking forward to the day my husband starts working full-time so I can stay home and take care of that instead of these crazy training materials, and now I can look forward to that day for a different reason, too. Rah-Rah, La Shawn! (and hooray for the BoSox, too!!)
Hi LaShawn..
Giving is a gift in itself. It has it’s own reward. I have spent hrs going through your writings..and the writings of your visitors. Truth has a color of it’s own. It does not belong to whites..blacks or any other color. In todays world class and civility are diminishing human qualities.I would gladly donate simply for being given the opportunity to read you and the views expressed here..and also for the chance to express my own perceptions of the truth. Please let me know when and if you decide to accept contributions.
Respectively yours. Rainmaker..
Rainmaker – See the “Make a Donation” button in the sidebar. I began accepting contributions on Wednesday to help defray some of the hosting costs. Thanks for your interest!
Somewhat on-topic…
John C James III and the other Balt. Crows fans:
Anyone interested in a friendly wager on Sunday’s game? Loser pays into the LBC bandwith fund.
I call the game as 20-6, Eagles. I took 10 points off the Philly score since Westbrook won’t be in the game, but I have high hopes for Dorsey Levens
No Miss Barber, those are great ideas. That is what is so great about America!!!! If there is something that the American people want, they are willing to pay for it. And if there are causes that people identify with and deem as greater than themselves they will support it. That is also the beauty of being a soldier for Christ. When you seek Him and His will for our lives, He puts people in a position to support us and bless us in our ministry. This is your ministry (for now, until He calls you to something greater) and people will support you if it is in His will. I’ve been trying to gain support for my current ministry but what He has been revealing to me is the ethic of hard work and that my only financial support is going to come from work and job opportunities. And thus far He has blessed me abundantly. I will always support you and your minsitry, rather financially or by prayer. Take care and God Bless
SCSI LOL!!!
20-6 . . . Maybe if we depended on our offence to score LOL!! But you’ll be plaing against out Defense so the score will be more like 20 Ravens 6 Philly Smeagles
JcJ3,
Hah. The defense that has let teams without the # 1 offense in the NFL take them down twice? C’mon, Cleveland gave the Eagles a run for the money last Sunday, but they treated the Crows like Bing Crosby treated his kids on a bad day. What was that score? 20-3?
Fly, Eagles fly
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