Show me the money

Mood: vegas lucky
I've always been fairly lackadaisical about trying to convert efforts like this into cash because I've had other sources of income. Fred Argoff, a NYC subway conductor who probably knows as much about Brooklyn and the subways as anyone, once told me that was the fastest way to turn something he enjoyed into work. I see his point, but I also thought it had something to do with Fred's own safety zone, from which he didn't feel comfortable venturing. However, my life circumstances have changed. For example, I'm looking to raise between $5,000-$1,000 for an engagement ring, and this seems as good a place as any to start.

I'm going to start asking people who read and enjoy this blog to think about throwing something into the pot. Other blogs do this so it's not like I'm the greedy one. I've set up a PayPal account so people can donate. This means I will be running the occasional commercial for contributions. You're certainly welcome to ignore such pleas, but to do so when you continue to read this means you sacrifice the right to be indignant when someone else, for example, me, freeloads or games the system.

I'd like to believe the information offered here is fairly unique, insightful, useful, or entertaining, and what that's worth I'll leave up to you.

Think of this blog as a mash-up between "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," "Down and Out in London and Paris," "Truth or Dare," and "Jackass." While I rarely engage in physically dangerous stunts, I do things most people would at least think twice about, like show a couple of NYPD officers at the checkpoint to the entrance to NYPD HQ my "New York F--kin City" t-shirt and tell them that's what I think of their toddlin' town. Hey, they were a lot mellower about it than Federal Reserve Bank security. As the slogan says on NYC police cars, "Courtesy, professionalism, respect." Well, two out of three ain't bad...

Your contribution allows you to come along for the ride without the possible side effects and wear and tear on your nervous system of being there in person. For example, vicariously get involved with one of Hollywood's foremost drama queens (and that's just in her personal life) without acquiring scorch marks.

It would be nice if I could write these posts out of my you-know-what, but they all require a certain amount of preparation, research, and planning, not to mention interesting life experiences, and as the cliche goes, time is money.

As I always say, you can pay from the top or you can pay from the bottom. You can pay off the front end or you can pay off the back end. Your choice. But you always gotta pay the piper.