Since Dave Wannstedt and Jamie Dixon got their two year extension, I want mine.
No, just like athletic director Steve Pederson said with Coach Dixon it is merely a coincidence. As most long time readers know, every two years in April I ask for donations to keep things going smoothly at Pitt Blather. The deal with keeping domestic peace with the wife is that while this obviously takes time from me, it can’t cost me money.
So where does the money go? Well, the obvious stuff like server and storage costs. There’s keeping control of this domain.
Some of the money goes to making sure I have a decent laptop running well.
It also goes towards site upkeep and updates. This site is overdue for an update.
I’m not talking about anything too radical. Readability and smooth loading of the site is the primary focus. That is why I have kept too many other things that slow it down off the site.
Adding things like the “personal blogging” feature — giving you the ability to write your own posts on topics is on the list. I’m also mulling the addition of a message board.
Input and suggestions as to features people would like to see on the site are important. I want to know some of what you like in a site.
As has been the policy for a couple years, I will maintain the rule keeping political ads off of the site.
You can contribute two ways. If you want to send a check, shoot me an e-mail at pittblather-at-gmail-dot-com and I’ll give you my address. The other option is PayPal. There is a link for PayPal in the upper part of the right-hand links column.
There will be a daily post each day this week to try and guilt donations. Please don’t make me beg too much. It’s very uncomfortable.
Also, I will make a cash contribution, I have your address from last time.
Nonetheless, I do believe there are other constructive ways of raising funds as suggested in the previous posts.
Lastly, FWIW while I am certainly open to any improvements, I am also pretty happy with the current format.
Overall, I like the simplicity of this blog. Not so many images or avatars or shit lke uploading an image into every reply. I like how I can have this page up at work without drawing attention and also read it easily on my Android phone. Might be good to add another contributor or guest contributor or at some kind of opinion column on a weekly basis.
Live blog is fun…’cept when people cave in early…
I’m thinking I can coordinate some kind of NYC fundraiser if folks are interested (i.e. pay some flat rate get drinks, snacks, and all profit to PB???). This November might be a good chance since we’ve got two basketball games at MSG and nationally televised football vs. Miami.?.?…..BTW, my tix for those basketball games already arrived!!! Texas and Maryland in big print. Pitt and Illinois in small print. WTF is that all about?
I like the blog’s design but SB Nation is a great comunity
I would be more than happy to donate. This site has been my home for a long time now and even though we are serious about our sports here, it also has a family feel to it.
The tailgate idea works. Ribs and beer, Pitt football? Sounds like a poem.
Reminds me of our efforts vs. ND.
Hang in there, buddy. I’m fresh out of law school and down to part-time – feeling your pain. It’s rough out there.
Dan72 – congrats and good luck.
To my unemployed buds, been there done that. You have to stay positive and keep networking. Maybe start your own consulting firm, make some business cards, take any piecemeal work, volunteer, whatever. Employers prefer people that are already working, go figure. Keep your chins up.
Here’s another idea: Hold a raffle for Pitt logo “stuff.” $5 or $10 gets each entrant a unique number and Chas randomly pulls numbers to determine the winner(s). The items could come from the swag that Chas gets sent to him or from donations from the university. (With all the loyal fans and boosters on this site, I’m thinking the university would be happy to donate something.) Worst case Chas buys some stuff from the entry money and keeps the profit to support the site.
The raffle would allow all of the out-of-towners on the site to participate where the tailgate is limited to the folks who are in the ‘Burgh for a particular game.
Not sure of all the legal aspects but I’m sure as a “recovering attorney,” Chas can figure that part out. It’s just another fundraising thought for consideration.
FWIW, if your considering some new gadgets that could possibly improve things but FWIW, I think one of the best things about your site is the simplicity. Just something you may wish to keep in mind when doing improvements. Also, the check’s in the mail (or processing thru paypal.
Charge 20 bones, and have a list of who paid.
It would be cool to meet the other Jags who frequent your site