Nikolas Schiller and Flautist give lessons: In which we learn that my readers have more sense than I do

Not that this comes as any big surprise.

In a comment Nikolas posted about 15 minutes after yesterday's 10:01 a.m. entry headlined "On being offered stuff after I've already obtained it," he opened my eyes to a broader perspective.

First, what he had to say.

Joe,

So, ummm, do you take donations? I am kidding, only slightly. You are right about the time delay in getting the new charger, but the larger issue is that people who appreciate your blog might want to give back, à la donation, and to them time is no issue. After all, reading your blog is free. More seriously, do you have a P.O. box? I'd feel more comfortable giving that address out than my home address. At least that way you could get actual products sent your way and not have to fear that some stalker is going to drop [in to visit while you're] on your treadmill. And thus, while you wait for your charger fairy, a solar-powered flashlight might show up....

....................

I find Nikolas's thoughts spot on.

I guess the reason I haven't added a P.O. box to my armamentarium is laziness, in that not only would it require a trip there to apply but, more importantly, I'd have to get off my slothful keister every now and again to go see if there's anything inside.

Just one more thing to do.

I'm so lazy you really wouldn't believe it if you saw me in action.

Wait a minute... is that an oxymoron?

Never mind.

Flautist, as is her wont (wanton? won tons? stop already, joe) summed it up perfectly in her own pithy fashion, to wit: "Sometimes it's good to simply accept stuff that's offered."

As I have remarked here previously, few people know how to graciously accept a compliment (just say "Thank you").

Gifts are compliments and require nothing less.

So to Milena and Jon Haas and others who may have thought about sending me a charger for my phone: "Thank you."

Nikolas raised another interesting issue, namely, the donation question in a larger sense: many websites and blogs back in the day had a PayPal donation icon — something you don't see much anymore, for whatever reason.

If I thought significant money would start to flow if I had such a thing — enough to balance the visual and esthetic ickiness of the button's appearance on my stripped-down homepage and bring in an amount which would make a difference in my life — I'd do it in a Charlottesville minute.

Which is much longer than a New York minute.

The Million Dollar Homepage (top) has already happened.

I need its equivalent.

So until I figure out something that I can live with, I'll just continue to toss bookofjoe out here for the heck of it.