During the course of January ConservativeHome's daily hits have been rising steadily. Interest spiked on the day that Charles Kennedy confessed to his battle with alcoholism. It peaked again on the day I appeared on Newsnight and yet again for the results of the ConservativeHome Members' Panel. Interest in David Cameron's gravitation to the political centre and the anger he is provoking on the right seem to be underpinning this blog's popularity.
Running a blog like this isn't cheap, however, and this week I'd like to encourage you to make a donation to the site's costs.
Sam Coates recently became my Deputy and is writing occasional posts as well as sharing the task of compiling the frontpage newslinks. The cost of buying a laptop for him to use and a twelve month mobile internet contract from Vodafone is £1,700.
Another big cost is the software and processing for the Members' Panel. I'm also buying some viral email packages to advertise the blog to the many Tories who still don't know about ConservativeHome.
The total cost of these expenditures is about £3,300 and I'm inviting you to make a contribution towards that sum. Every donation would be welcome. All you need is a debit or credit card and you can give by pressing the button below and setting up a secure PayPal account...
'PayPal' is an internationally reputable payment service that provides you with complete security. If you have concerns about paying online, however, please send a cheque to ConservativeHome, 16 St Ann Street, Salisbury SP1 2DN. Cheques should be made payable to ConservativeHome.com.
I'll update you everyday on how the appeal is progressing throughout this week. It would be great to get close to the target by Friday. Please give generously...!
TIM MONTGOMERIE, Editor of ConservativeHome.com
Hi Tim,
I've just made a modest donation. I'll probably donate more when I get my dividends later in the year,
Cheers
Matt
Posted by: Matthew Oxley | January 30, 2006 at 13:52
A little something is in the post, Tim!
Posted by: David Surtees | January 30, 2006 at 16:00
Donated £5, don't mock, I'm bloody poor!
Posted by: Gregor Hopkins | January 30, 2006 at 17:16
A good reason for getting married -you can use your husband's paypal account to send a regular contribution to my favourite blog, gosh I'm generous with his money just call me Tracy Brown!
Posted by: a-tracy | January 30, 2006 at 17:55
Hope you paid your husband back, A-tracy!
Posted by: Selsdon Man | January 30, 2006 at 21:52
Thanks everyone. About £450 has been given so far. Much appreciated.
Posted by: Editor | January 30, 2006 at 22:02
My cheque is in the post.
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | January 30, 2006 at 22:06
I suggest that you contact
a) Pfizer - offering to publish articles against parallel trade in pharmaceuticals.
b) Microsoft - offering to publish articles dissing open source software.
It works for certain think tanks I can think of.
Posted by: Wonk for sale | January 30, 2006 at 22:54
As its 20 to 1 and bedtime, I will post off 20 quid later today. I dont do on line, and will not till someone sorts out the phishers or similar pond life!
Posted by: Annabel Herriott | January 31, 2006 at 00:40
Would love to donate, but recently lost quite a considerable poker stake. If I dont get the money together soon, they will break my legs. Who would have thought I would lose with 3 Queens?
Posted by: Rob Largan | January 31, 2006 at 01:44
Rob L - Ouch!
Sincere thanks to everyone helping keep this site going.
Posted by: Sam Coates | January 31, 2006 at 01:47
Thats the problem with a high set - it looks very strong but it still gets beaten by the any straight or flush, not to mention the good old same trips with a higher kicker.
Flopping trips is a bit like getting KJ under the gun preflop - as good as it looks you can still be beaten by the turn/river by somebody with a far inferior (initially) hand.
Posted by: Matthew Oxley | January 31, 2006 at 02:14
He caught the river, I was not pleased.
Posted by: Rob Largan | January 31, 2006 at 02:21
To clarify the cost, as brought up in another post, the £1700 included a laptop with carry-case, scanner, Microsoft Office, Vodafone GPRS card and a years worth of portable internet connection (the same contract with O2 is £900!).
We, especially Tim, spend the good part of every day doing site-related work, and the mobile net connection ensures this.
Again, thank you to everyone who contributes to the site and not just financially.
Posted by: Sam Coates | January 31, 2006 at 03:14
"Who would have thought I would lose with 3 Queens?"
There's a joke about the Liberal Democrats in there somewhere...
Posted by: Daniel Vince-Archer | January 31, 2006 at 12:55
There will be a cheque in the post tomorrow, so you will get it on Saturday.
Posted by: Patsy Sergeant | February 02, 2006 at 20:31
Thank you Patsy!
Posted by: Editor | February 02, 2006 at 20:48
How unusual, a thank you to someone who says that the cheque is in the pst!
Posted by: Selsdon Man | February 02, 2006 at 20:55
Selsdon you might mock yesterdays EPP thread - which I thought revealing on how this party has changed in 20 years - but a number of us were "shamed" into contributing cash as penance for contributing to it.
Posted by: Ted | February 02, 2006 at 20:59
Hi Tim, Am now retired on a fixed income but trust that the modest donation via Pay-Pal will help you maintain the excellent service. Neville
Posted by: Neville Cheek | April 25, 2006 at 15:07
"To clarify the cost, as brought up in another post, the £1700 included a laptop with carry-case, scanner, Microsoft Office, Vodafone GPRS card and a years worth of portable internet connection (the same contract with O2 is £900!).
We, especially Tim, spend the good part of every day doing site-related work, and the mobile net connection ensures this.
Again, thank you to everyone who contributes to the site and not just financially"
Dear Sir
I read with interest the above. And all I can say is that if you and Tim spend a good part of the day on site related work, then God help this country if you ever get into power.
The web site is RUBBISH and the money that you have wasted on a lap top and ancillaries is criminal.
What you have; should cost no more than £500 per year for a managed web site including ; hosting. All I can say is that your efforts are pathetic and you should not brag about your efforts or the cost of a web site
I build and manage web sites and I can assure you that I shall not be contributing to this web site as it is ashamedly pathetic.
Phill Collings
PS: and when Cameron is on Television; get him to wear tie. I would like a Prime minister with dignity that I can be proud of, We have already had a number of years with a Prime Minister that has no dignity or credibility that has lead this country into shame. So Let Cameron start by wearing a tie, start acting like a potential prime minister and, stop acting a a pseudo chap. And Get his act together and show leadership skills instead of pouncing about like one of the boys
Posted by: Phill Collings | March 08, 2007 at 20:24
Phill Collings you sound like a prize plonker but you may yet persuade me... can we see one of the web sites that you have built?
Posted by: Valedictoryan | March 08, 2007 at 20:34