Cashing in........

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

"The best things in life are free
But you can keep them for the birds and bees
Now give me money
That's what I want
That's what I want, yeah
That's what I want..." Beatles

My favorite version of that song was done by a new-wave/punk band - used on an ad with an Asian woman singing it - it inspired me and I wanted to do a new wave version of Connie Francis' "Lipstick On Your Collar" - why didn't I follow my muses? (That was mid to late '80's I think.)

Gerald, who has a respectable blog I check daily - except for the past day or two of my moratorium against blogs - is going commercial. In a way he always was. He has Amazon links and paypal buttons. "I just wanna get...I just wanna get...I just wanna get paid!" -A disco song.

Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The comments on Gerald's post, "I need help..." - the negative ones - are not surprising. As an artist, I know how nice it would be to earn your living from your art. I did well for a few years - well I got by. So I don't blame Gerald for trying - maybe it will work for him.

I just recently expressed my exasperation with blogging - especially the Catholic gossip online types. And my own. Why would anyone pay to read a blog? Especially when they become so redundant - and so many link to others with the same story? Reading the comments on Gerald's "appeal" (58 comments last time I checked.) demonstrates that I'm not alone in my thoughts. A few of them were rather "scolding" to say the least. While many of his fans are very supportive - they seem to like his kitty kat.

It's not a new phenomenon, I have known lots of religious people who want someone to pay their way through life. "Help us pay for our pilgrimage to Rome." "Help me pay off my school debt so I can enter the convent." "Help us pay our adoption costs - consider it a pro-life donation." "Help us pay our rent until my husband graduates college." "I bought a really expensive statue of the Blessed Virgin, would you help me pay off the credit card bill?" "Well, we are living in a Catholic shop front, offering counseling to homeless people, could you donate to our apostolate - it's hard to make ends meet." "I live in Rome and it's pretty expensive, anyone willing to donate something? I'll pray for you." (The "I'll pray for you." always seems to work.)

People have asked me for money for numerous "worthy causes" - and I give when there is a genuine need. But many younger people have to learn to pay their own way and not use religion (not that Gerald is doing that) to boost their income or enhance their lifestyle. (If they can grow something into a business, fine. But the "Donate" buttons - what is that? Donate to what?) There are many people who do things to support a hobby or avocation, or until they get discovered; like actors wait tables, students work their way through school, artists do a lot of jobs to support themselves and their art, like manage a shop. (No offense Gerald - you're young. If this thing works for you, more power to you.)

Maybe it's just me, but "pay me for blogging" - especially when eblogger is a free service - seems kind of...

I don't even want a counter on my blog to see how many hits I get, much less try to sell something. (Altho Subway should pay me something for all of my plugs...I'm so kidding!)

"Eat Fresh!"