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July 06, 2012
Raising the roof at boj World Headquarters®™©
Constant readers will know that my ancient double-layer-of-asphalt shingled-roof — the second layer having been added in 1982 (30 years ago!) — is way past its expiration date, and recently gave up its valiant attempt to survive long enough for me to make it till next year when I'll finally have access to funds accumulated over the decades.
You don't have to be a brain-dead blogging treadmill-walking anesthesiologist to know that when you can push your finger through a wet ceiling, it's time to reroof.
Pictured up top, my roof as of five minutes ago, with multiple tarpaulins placed two weeks ago in an attempt to stem the tide (literally).
I had a genius idea a while back but wasn't sure how to implement it without alienating the people in the world I care about most: that doughty band of sisters and brothers around the world who secretly call themselves — and sometimes even proclaim that fact in public — "joeheads."
Long story short: Whenever someone visits Amazon via the box on my site [below],
I get a chunk of the purchase price — from 4% to 7%, depending — of anything they happen to buy there.
It's all done seamlessly as part of the Amazon Associates program, which I joined years ago.
Your price isn't affected: it's Amazon's way of paying people who send customers its way.
It dawned on me that if lots of people used boj as a way station to Amazon — the way a couple of my closest friends do — that would greatly enhance my income from the Associates program.
But I've not been happy with the tin cup aspect of the things, so haven't gone forward with the idea till now, when my roof caved in.
The easiest way to make it a no-brainer is to simply delete your Amazon bookmark and use boj as a proxy.
No less a presence than Paul Biba, grand panjandrum/majordomo of Teleread, did so a couple days ago to our mutual delight.
My plan (if no one objects too violently) is to add something to the effect of "Visit Amazon via your boj bookmark and help raise the new roof," with the picture of the tarped roof nearby.
What do you think?
Venal, practical, annoying, stupid, all of the above, some of the above?
Flautist?
clifyt?
Bueller?
Anyone?
July 6, 2012 at 12:01 PM | Permalink
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Comments
Another BOJ lover here but....I access Amazon through either my local NPR link or my local library link - the reasons are obvious I'm sure. I'm pretty sure you ain't rich Joe, but compared to my local library and NPR you are!
Posted by: Pamela Daley | Jul 11, 2012 10:39:56 PM
Practical.
-- Another Technical Writer
Posted by: PT | Jul 10, 2012 8:51:10 AM
One thing I keep in mind when a plethora of comments follows a post, as happened with this one, is that those who weigh in represent only a tiny fraction of those who visit bookofjoe.
What do the other 99% think?
That is what I try to surmise from published comments, much as particle physicists use particle tracks to extrapolate back to their source.
Posted by: bookofjoe | Jul 8, 2012 11:58:23 AM
I stand by my cyclopropane remedy. Nothing better for "raising the roof" of the BOJ HQ!
Posted by: 6.02*10^23 | Jul 8, 2012 3:33:02 AM
Better yet. If I were you I would put a simple post in text near the Amazon box and say: "Please search Amazon through this access, it could help me maintain my house for which I am not really good at." He who bawks at this can go find another blogger that does what you do, good luck it ain't out there. There's only one boj.
Posted by: friskypainter | Jul 7, 2012 9:40:17 PM
"...hobby..."
Posted by: bookofjoe | Jul 7, 2012 9:01:51 PM
Say Joe, there's nothing wrong with the World HQ that a little cyclopropane and a source of ignition would't cure. Consider it household analgesia.
What? They don't use cyclopropane for anesthesia any more? One too many bang-up surgeries, eh? Well, rustle around in the basements of those backwater hospitals near Podunk and I'm certain that a few old tanks could be found.
Alternately, I hear tell that a certain real estate developer with a penchant for terminating university officers ultra vires will be looking for a job soon. Perhaps she would undertake the challenge of renovating BOJ World HQ?
Posted by: 6.02*10^23 | Jul 7, 2012 1:31:19 PM
“They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing”
Posted by: Kay | Jul 7, 2012 10:16:13 AM
sherlock - Of course it takes effort, as any hobby does. Mine these days is cooking and baking; I pursue it in an exacting and time-consuming manner that would put most people off. Any given dish is usually the best friends and co-workers have ever had, but I choose not to monetize it. I share it because I love to hear the noises people make when they have my food.
I'm not really begrudging the scheme. It's just not something I'd do.
Posted by: Mike Harney | Jul 7, 2012 8:26:47 AM
joehead nation has spoken — at least, that sector with time, energy, and interest enough to put down their thoughts in writing for public consumption.
That's the mystery, isn't it?
To what extent do the 15 or so comments on this post reflect my audience as a whole?
Are they drawn from a broad swath of my readership or, rather, from a more passionate, limited group?
Who will speak for hoi polloi who, by definition, go unremarked — until they bring down the walls of the castle?
Posted by: bookofjoe | Jul 7, 2012 7:34:25 AM
to Mike Harney - there is a logic disconnect here - "BoJ, which I've read and enjoyed for years" and "it seems a bit like cheating to me -- chicanery, money for nothing" - so you think running this post takes no effort?
Posted by: sherlock | Jul 7, 2012 4:03:47 AM
I hesitate to write this because it's going to seem like a downer compared to the previous comments, maybe even all the way to nasty in some people's minds, but what the hell, here goes. I'm quashing the hesitation because I know you're receptive to criticism as well as cheering.
I don't intend this as a slight against BoJ, which I've read and enjoyed for years, but the affiliate program has always bugged me for some reason, regardless of where I see it employed. I never examined why until tonight when I read this post. It encouraged me to write the following on a private site, where the volume and nature of my posts add up to what might as well be a blog -- and where I've never set up any sort of affiliate linking or money-making schemes. Please bear in mind that I'm not singling out BoJ. These are my thoughts on all affiliate programs.
Quote:
I sometimes feel I may be a bad person because every time a web or blog article has a link to something on Amazon I'm interested in, I examine the link to see if the author is trying to make money off it by using an affiliate ID. If so, I'll take pains to go search for it on my own on Amazon if I'm genuinely interested in looking at it and might buy it. Why? Because it seems a bit like cheating to me -- chicanery, money for nothing -- but also because I think all Amazon customers share the cost of those finders' fees in the end.
To date, the longest it's taken me to shake off that slight feeling of guilt is six seconds.
How about Amazon offering me a four to seven percent discount every time I go to the trouble of searching for something myself? Their prices must reflect, in part, the number of affiliate-linked items they sell. For all I know -- and wonder when I see something on my wish list has gone up an odd amount like $0.77 since last week -- perhaps the more affiliate sell-throughs on an individual item, the higher the price goes on that item over time.
That's just guessing, of course, but in any case, I find it hard to believe that much of that affiliate money is truly coming straight out of Amazon's corporate pockets. From what I've read, it doesn't sound like their margins are big enough for such generosity to a fault.
Posted by: Mike Harney | Jul 7, 2012 2:22:49 AM
Nevermind, figured it out. Consider it done.
Posted by: tamra | Jul 7, 2012 1:34:39 AM
OK, I'm in. None of us want to see you flirt with Stachybotrys. I have, more than once, bought as a result of your recommendation. I assume when I click a link from BOJ, you get paid, but I'm not completely clear how to access Amazon, through you, for other things I buy. S'plain please. Oh, and ditto about the door.
Dude...seriously...so gross.
Posted by: tamra | Jul 7, 2012 1:32:37 AM
Go for it, I say - GC must be kept dry. I just wish it was about 8 years ago before Amazon ate all my munnees, I woulda bought you a whole new roof myself.
Posted by: Flautist | Jul 7, 2012 1:26:38 AM
Every day, Dr. Stirt, you give me joy. Now you have given me an excuse to buy books. Truly, I can never repay you.
If Joehead Nation can't keep the rain off the good doctor's head, this internet ain't worth surfin'. To the Amazonmobile, Joeheads!
Posted by: Tara | Jul 7, 2012 12:49:35 AM
Um. Just occurred to me to ask...Are you able to see what we end up buying? Would we be sacrificing some privacy to help with the roof? Not that any of us have anything to hide, I'm sure. Ahem.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 6, 2012 11:33:12 PM
I say let's all do this for stopping the water drip on his head and equipment could possibly insure the continued enjoyment and contentment that we have come to know. If he goes down there would be a likewize hole in all of our daily happiness factors. Agreed?
Posted by: friskypainter | Jul 6, 2012 11:13:41 PM
No harm in asking.
Posted by: Bubbub | Jul 6, 2012 11:02:35 PM
might we be seeing the roofofjoe I suggested a while back?
Posted by: Saul | Jul 6, 2012 10:30:11 PM
Dude. I am a little hurt that you did not appeal to me along with the others you thanked while speaking before the Academy.
Ahem. I know that I am no great one with finances. Otherwise, I would not be a 50-something bat living in Jersey with a mortgage. I am a mere technical writer. Surely you, Doctor, Doctor, Mr. M.D., have got to be raking in some serious do-re-mi.
If things are that bad, I'll send you, like $20, but honestly. Get hold of your finances before it's too late. And I suggest you take a look at that wood along the side of your front door. Is that little termite teeth I hear?
Posted by: Becs | Jul 6, 2012 4:36:25 PM
A good idea, especially with the reminder of helping with the new roof.
Posted by: Matt Penning | Jul 6, 2012 2:39:59 PM
Ohhh. I didn't know that.
I make quite a number of purchases from Amazon as a "Free Shipping Prime Member". I definitely will access via my friendly BOJ connection from here on.
Posted by: Kay | Jul 6, 2012 2:36:28 PM
I do not object. I've never had to pay for your excellent content, and this seems more than reasonable to me.
I also will try harder to remember to go through your site to amazon. I hope you are able to raise your new roof soon.
Posted by: Jo | Jul 6, 2012 1:57:29 PM
I've been going through your site for Amazon, but sometimes I forget and just Google Amazon from an iOS device. I'll redouble my efforts.
Posted by: 6.02*10^23 | Jul 6, 2012 12:48:39 PM
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