Ok, so not my only hope. National ad sales are picking up this holiday season as well as local ad sales. I'm in dire need of resources, though. Bessie (my car) is dying. (Just ask Mark Glaser!)

That's the least of my problems, though. As you can see in the hastily drawn graph above, I let my fishing for steady clients lapse to concentrate on MFP and grassroots journalism. It helped (ad sales are up and traffic is too. highest ever...), but then a client fell through without me having spent enough time in working the other lines I had in the great big pond we call the intrawebs.

I didn't want to have to ever beg for money, but here I am, down on my cyber knees, asking please.

Whether you're a Director commanding Gannetteers or one of the low level grunts feeding the big media machine or simply someone who believes in what I'm trying to do, I ask for your monetary help. As little or as much as you can spare. It will be put to good use.

If you can't give money, please consider spreading my crazy graphic across the series of tubes to drum up some support for the cause.

I learned my freelance lesson, believe me. I should've known better, but as MFP continues to improve (we've attracted someone working for OhMyNews! She did a write-up on us a couple days ago - Citizen Journalism in Muncie, Indiana. Not to mention the cool stuff happening Downtown Muncie and the other projects...) I've been drawn to concentrating on my baby and screwed up my timing. (Having a guaranteed - for the most part - paycheck every week is one thing I kinda miss. I'll get there again, though. I'll hold out somehow...)

If you donate, I can even write you a poem (I was recently told I write poetry like jazz, but I'm trying not to let that go to my head. ;) I can write a cute poem for your significant other, a ditty about your boss, just let me know. Obviously (I hope), I'm also looking for some small/mid-sized clients/projects (Level 12 Drupal Ninja for $40/hour - half upfront, half on completion. Free quotes.)

Ok, that's it. My appeal.

1) Work your citizen tail off starting a grassroots journalism site with no start-up capital
2) Run out of money after 2.5 years
3) Create funny graphic lamenting your plight and launch it into the blogosphere
4) ????

<subliminal_pitch>This is funny. You want to help. Spread the word about this post. These aren't the droids you're looking for...</subliminal_pitch>

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