© 2007 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/dead-trees-and-g-strings/
The history of Damn Interesting is a rich tapestry of events. In September 2005, the site sprang into existence. Then we wrote a bunch of stuff. Now, something new is happening… It’s rectangular, inky, and full of knowledge. And it’s not a frightened robotic squid.
If you tend to be stimulated by flattened tree guts, then this will come as exciting news. Damn Interesting the site has fallen in love with trees, and following a long courtship it is now ready to deposit its bounty into the tree-flesh. Within a few months, a little bundle of pages will arrive. To help bring this bastard to fruition, and to increase our overall posting frequency here on the site, we have a small favor to ask.
Damn Interesting the book will feature some of our greatest hits— often with expanded information— as well as a bunch of exclusive content. Its pages will also be plastered with piles of new pictures. We have lots of spiffy plans for the paper repository of knowledge, including the opportunity for artists and photographers from the Damn Interesting community to expose themselves. Further details will be provided in the weeks ahead.
Ultimately, the purpose of these provocative gyrations is to entice you to tuck a few bills into our virtual g-string. Such contributions will allow us to briefly strip away some of life’s other obligations, lubricating the publishing process and freeing up time for increased article production. So peel off a few banknotes if you have some to spare, sit back, and we’ll take care of the rest.
If you contribute $15 or more, just include your mailing address and we’ll send you a very attractive Damn Interesting magnet as our way of saying, “Here’s a magnet.” Collect all one! For donations of $35 or more, we’ll also ship you a free copy of the Damn Interesting book once it’s published. Be sure to include a valid e-mail so we can confirm your shipping address when that glorious day arrives, and if you live outside of the US, please include an additional $8 for shipping costs. If you send us $100 or more in a gutsy attempt at the world generosity record, each of the book’s authors will express his/her gratitude by personally signing your free copy.
In any case, anything more than $0 will be immortalized in our catalog of book benefactors, unless of course you prefer anonymity. Presently we’re only set up to accept online donations through Paypal, but you can contact Alan if you wish to contribute through some other method (check, money order, etc).
We stand by our promise to never pollute this site with commercial advertising, so your contributions help us immensely in our efforts to grow. Thanks much.
[DONATIONS CLOSED. THANKS ANYWAY.]
© 2007 All Rights Reserved. Do not distribute or repurpose this work without written permission from the copyright holder(s).
Printed from https://www.damninteresting.com/dead-trees-and-g-strings/
Since you enjoyed our work enough to print it out, and read it clear to the end, would you consider donating a few dollars at https://www.damninteresting.com/donate ?
First!
……you can also record our name in book form in the…………wait a minute………that’s naming a star after someone! Anyway, it’s great to see (or will see) DI expanding!
Nice idea, hope you are successful!!!!
first time posting. Been reading the site over a year. Good luck with that, will be sending something. You’re probably the most interesting site i’ve come across in a long time.
What a great day for DI. I thought about some Crown Royal…but bought the book instead. Thanks to all the DI writers for educating and entertaining myself, my wife, my kids and my dad.
gg DI
charlesthehammer said: “first time posting. Been reading the site over a year. Good luck with that, will be sending something. You’re probably the most interesting site i’ve come across in a long time.”
They’re certainly in the business of producing interesting factoids. I keep finding myself quoting the name of the site each time I read an article… “wow that was Damn Interesting”..
Now to find spare donation cash… *wanders off*
Monty said: “They’re certainly in the business of producing interesting factoids. I keep finding myself quoting the name of the site each time I read an article… “wow that was Damn Interesting”..
Now to find spare donation cash… *wanders off*”
Come on! You MUST find that money to donate to this truly interesting and important site. What would you do without it? I am certainly going to donate what I can!… *wanders off*
Awesome! I’ll try to donate ASAP, as soon as my finances are sorted out.
Wow! Now thats Damn Interesting ….. *wanders off*
“following a long courtship it is now ready to deposit its bounty into the tree-flesh. “
Wow, I’ve never seen anyone manage to make a euphemism for “publish a book” sound dirty. I’m impressed!
And broke ;( But good luck!
As others before me…Wow! I stumbled upon this wonderful gem of a site in my usual wandering way, always on the lookout for something….um, well, damninteresting! Amazing, quirky, and eclectic material that definately tweaks my brain synapses…..keep up the good work! I will look forward to your tree-progeny’s development…..best of luck!
I came across DI a week ago, and after my productivity dropped by 25% for a week, I’m glad to say that I’ve read everything but the comments (I have a wife & daughter, unfortunately). As soon as the money for my left kidney comes in, I’ll buy a magnet.
It’s an oldish kidney.
Hi there, this is my first post, so i would like to say how grateful I am for this site and his wonderful ability of making time move faster here at work. Congrats for your great job, let’s se if i can send 27.00 Euros for the book!
do i get a discount for aussie dollars???? :D ($100AU and a autographed book)
he he i don’t care either way i’ll send ya the US money
speaking of the book i recall droping the idea a while back…. althow i suspect i wasn’t the only one to do so
there should be a list of the people who gave the idea
….. althow that could just be me wanting to blow my own horn :P
gimmie a couple of weeks and you will find my name in that list of benefactors…… i just hope in a few weeks i’ll still get to be the first to send the $100 …. then on the other hand i will also be disapointed in other readers as well
(plese ignor me speeling eroors)
So if I send in $100 can I get multiple copies of the book instead of it signed? This would be great for several non computer users I know!
Will you be stopping there, or are you planning to then go back to painting caves and engraving rocks? ;)
C’mon, the future’s this way…
I’ll have to be waiting until next Wednesday…. poor state employee that only gets paid monthly…
But the free book shall be mine!
Look, if I cannot be FIRST on the catalog of book benefactors, then you can just forget it!
I guess I’m like many others; I’ve been lurking for a long time and never bothered to post until now. This is fantastic – I can get my DI fix on the weekends, when I don’t have a computer to waste time on. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking to people and felt compelled to quote something from this site. So, do we know exactly how much the book is going for?
I’m a little confused. You cap off an announcement of a commercial book project with a donation drive. Oh, it makes sense to have a last-ditch grab for free cash before you start making legitimate money, sure. (And it will make money, the blog-to-book model is a tried and tested one.) I just don’t understand why you’d want to be so blatant about it.
I would love to have your articles in book form! Quick question, when plopping down $35 for the book, do we get a magnet as well?
Thanks for all the interesting articles!
The irony of the fact that I may, one day, get fired for reading D.I. at work has not prevented me from contributing to your honorable cause. Always a damned interesting read. Yay for the book!
What about giving away an ‘Alan Bellows Bobble Head’ toy as a thank you?
Oh, yeah! I want a bobble head!
Jenever said: “I’m a little confused. You cap off an announcement of a commercial book project with a donation drive. Oh, it makes sense to have a last-ditch grab for free cash before you start making legitimate money, sure. (And it will make money, the blog-to-book model is a tried and tested one.) I just don’t understand why you’d want to be so blatant about it.”
Well, it’s not a commercial project… yet. We’re doing most of the legwork before choosing a publisher (or self-publishing outfit), to ensure that the quality is extremely high. I currently make a living by working several contract jobs at once, and I barely scrape by. By taking donations now, I can carve out a bigger part of my day to devote to writing for the site and preparing the book.
For the same reason that we don’t do advertising on the site, I refuse to release creative control of the book to someone else. Publishers don’t care for people like that, because they want to tweak things for marketing purposes. Yuck. But if we have a bunch of pre-sold copies (the $35+ donations), we have a better leg to stand on.
If anybody has any other questions, feel free to ask! And thanks for all of the donations so far! Exclamation point!
this is great! as soon as i get some money tucked into my virtual g-string, i’ll put it in yours! uh… i’ll clean it first though.
How much for a book AND a magnet??
MrMike said: “How much for a book AND a magnet??”
Anyway. We want it all! Highest donation should be first on book benefactor list.
That pic of Allen looks an awful lot like Dr. Cox from Scrubs. Or maybe its just me. Good idea for the book. Will be finding a way to get mine!!
Have you considered Lulu? They’ll publish your book at no cost to you.
http://www.lulu.com/
I’m still in college, so there’s not a whole lot of extra cash lying around, but I’ll see what I can do ^_^ I’ve been reading the site since it was the “site-of-the-day pick” thing a while ago, and I would love to see it as a book! Good luck!
ElderGias said: “Quick question, when plopping down $35 for the book, do we get a magnet as well?”
Yes… Sorry about the ambiguity there. I’ll have to go re-word it to be more clear.
jreiter said: “So if I send in $100 can I get multiple copies of the book instead of it signed? This would be great for several non computer users I know!”
If you’d like to secure more than one copy of the book right now, the best way to do that would be to make several separate $35 donations, one for each book. Sorry it’s a bit clunky that way.
Another alternative is to just pre-obtain one copy by donating $35, and then purchase more copies once it’s officially for sale. That way your donation still helps us in our effort, but you can still buy as many copies as you like. Then everybody wins! Yay!
Haha, would buy the book, but then I’d have to use my parent’s Credit Card illegally…. =o
So, I guess, I’ll try to get the magnet, but that’s the best I can do =(
I am another lurker that has yet to post but has lost considerable man hours at work due to this site.
While I know you cannot possibly give a date for the book, are we talking 6 months? 1 year? 3 years? Vaporbook? (HA!)
Thanks for all you do!
Wait, I’d LOVE to get an autograph, but I dont have ANYWHERE NEAR $100, so *cries* I guess I’ll have to have the cheap magnet and be happy =)
I, too, have been reading this site for a while, and this is the first time I have posted a reply. I usually don’t donate anything to any website, but Damn Interesting, you have turned my cold, stony heart to a green, flower and (naked) pixie filled meadow. I look forward to each and every article, and as someone in one of the earlier posts wrote, this is one of the best websites I have come across. The content truly is Damn Interesting and well written, and the articles are a joy to read. I also like (love) that there are no annoying advertisements. While it would be forgiveable if there were a few ads, in this age of Adsense motivated content creation, it’s refreshing to find a site that has not a single one, and I will donate to keep it that way. (And to get a book, which if it is done well, will probably become coffee table material)
I’m all for killing trees. – Semper Fidelis-
Aziraphale said: “While I know you cannot possibly give a date for the book, are we talking 6 months? 1 year? 3 years? Vaporbook? (HA!)”
That largely depends on the turnout of donations, because that will determine how much time we can afford to spend working on the book. So far turnout has been great, by the way! Thanks everybody!
My best guess is 3-6 months, but there are many variables still at play. In the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should also mention that we will not scrap the book or cut corners, even if overall donations are lower than expected. The amount we receive will only effect the timeline. I realize that information may prompt some people to withhold their donations in favor of waiting, but I don’t want those who have already donated to worry about receiving a substandard product.
Why do you use PayPal for donations? I can’t make a donation because my country isn’t listed on PayPal.
Alan Bellows said: “That largely depends on the turnout of donations, because that will determine how much time we can afford to spend working on the book. So far turnout has been great, by the way! Thanks everybody!
My best guess is 3-6 months, but there are many variables still at play. In the interest of full disclosure, I feel I should also mention that we will not scrap the book or cut corners, even if overall donations are lower than expected. The amount we receive will only effect the timeline. I realize that information may prompt some people to withhold their donations in favor of waiting, but I don’t want those who have already donated to worry about receiving a substandard product.”
That’s what I like to hear!!! I was very much hoping that it wouldn’t be 1+ years. My donation has been sent. :-)
how much for an autographed magnet?
Not really a “free” book if you have to pay $35, now is it? ;)
I’d get one anyway, but I’m unemployed at the moment.
Hmmm… I’ve been reading this site for at least a year and a half now it would seem, so I think I should donate. Next paycheck I’ll try to send 35 bucks your way… I want a book damnit. =/ Perhaps my invention of the whatchamagigit will allow me to donate more. If only I could figure out exactly what a whatchamagigit is and how to build it and then sell it for a tidy sum of moola…
I’m working poor and I can’t afford to contribute to all the causes I’d like to. Including DI which I find DI. I hope this commercial aspect doesn’t evolve to paid subscriptions:-/
If I had a million dollhairs, I’d give it to you’s.
adastra said: “I hope this commercial aspect doesn’t evolve to paid subscriptions:-/”
Not a chance… we refuse to even put ads on our site, let alone something as goofy as paid subscriptions. In fact, the book (and other future side ventures) will directly contribute to our ability to offer ad-free and fee-free content here on the site.
What I don’t understand is, why you guys (Alan & co) don’t just use web ads for revenue. Eveyone else does it. Why not give something like AdSense a try?
I’m all for NEVER putting ads on the website. I’d also like to ad (get it?) that I am confident in that the DI writers will never fall for the old “do it if you’re cool” trick.
I couldn’t help but notice Alan, that you wrote about having artwork put in there as well. I’ve been a big fan of the site for a while now, and happen to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago on a prestigious scholarship as well. I’d be very interested in submitting anything you guys may or may not want to include. When can I expect more info on how I can contribute in this manner?
Also, those are the most kickass glasses ever.
Jenever, it’s not necessarily free cash. These fine writers work their asses off to entertain us for hours (days, years) on end and get little to no cash at all for it. I for one would be happy to give these people what they more-than-deserve. And once our moolah helps get this book off the printing press, they’ll continue to get what they’ve been earning for over a year now with the
“legitimate”
earnings from that.
Jenever said: “I’m a little confused. You cap off an announcement of a commercial book project with a donation drive. Oh, it makes sense to have a last-ditch grab for free cash before you start making legitimate money, sure. (And it will make money, the blog-to-book model is a tried and tested one.) I just don’t understand why you’d want to be so blatant about it.”
Besides, it was a humble request. Nobody’s forcing you to give them anything.
exsomnis said: “What I don’t understand is, why you guys (Alan & co) don’t just use web ads for revenue. Eveyone else does it. Why not give something like AdSense a try?”
Well, adding ads to a site doesn’t tend to make it a more pleasant place to spend one’s time. Though AdSense is one of the less bad options, they’re still intrusive, distracting, and information-diluting. Since I have a powerful dislike for web advertising in general, I couldn’t place any on my own site in good conscience.
We’re all about creating the best possible experience for the reader, and ads just don’t fit within that philosophy.
Misfit said: “I’d be very interested in submitting anything you guys may or may not want to include. When can I expect more info on how I can contribute in this manner?”
We have a bit of prep-work to do before we’re ready to accept anything, but we hope to have everything in place within 10-12 days. When it’s ready, we’ll definitely post a follow-up with more information. Very cool that you might be interested in helping.
By the way, did you notice the numbers on the comments? I think that was one of your suggestions, if I recall correctly.
Alan Bellows said: “By the way, did you notice the numbers on the comments? I think that was one of your suggestions, if I recall correctly.”
I did notice! In fact, I read your response to my comment in the recent comments section as well! I was very grateful to be mentioned in the article discussing the results of the various DI member’s suggestions.
Damn Interesting is an awesome website, and I love reading the articles. ^^ Of course, a print edition of DI hits means not only expanded but also cleaned-up articles, right?
xD
I wish I had some money to donate.
Awesome, I can’t wait.
Now instead of telling someone “hey you should check out damninteresting.com” I can just tell them “hey check out this book and the site too if you like it”. Could really get some massive exposure for DI when people who have never heard of the site pick up the book and like what they see and want more/fresh articles.
I have no cash, but luckily for DI i have no morals…so I am gonna go “sell my bodily goods” and see what i can get for you guys…..*slipping into fishnets and disappears*
I’m a little short as well on canadian funds, but I’m definitely pysched about the idea of a book coming out, and I’ll order one as soon as the old pocketbook allows.
Misfit said: “Jenever, it’s not necessarily free cash. These fine writers work their asses off to entertain us for hours (days, years) on end and get little to no cash at all for it. I for one would be happy to give these people what they more-than-deserve. And once our moolah helps get this book off the printing press, they’ll continue to get what they’ve been earning for over a year now with the
legitimate
earnings from that.
Besides, it was a humble request. Nobody’s forcing you to give them anything.”
Well said. A site like this is something alan has worked so hard at and it definitely is one of my favorites. keeping it ad-free while selling what is sounding to be one damn good book? better than most other sites out there
Alan check your e-mail for my message. GG!! DI! Cant wait!!
Hugs!!!
“We stand by our promise to never pollute this site with commercial advertising, so your contributions help us immensely in our efforts to grow.”
Why?! There is absolutely nothing wrong with advertising! Think of the benefits – you could PAY your writers for the work they have done. Now, I don’t want to detract from the awesomeness that is the book idea, and I’m sure it’ll be very successful!
Still, I’m almost offended by this strange opposition towards making money for your writing. For the last year and a half I’ve blogged on a bunch of sites like Joystiq, TUAW, and Engadget. Although I absolutely love the writing, I physically couldn’t justify working there without being paid. Advertising pays for my work. I love my work. I don’t see any issues whatsoever with advertising allowing me to do what I love. What’s the problem with adverts on Damn Interesting?
The thing is, you don’t have to go down traditional routes. Think different – go for a donation system like Ze Frank, where people can display their own, shorter, interesting facts and pay a small amount for the priviledge. Or, you could simply slap some subtle Google Ads at the top of the page. That would take no effort and yet it might allow you (and other talented writers) to justify producing work for Damn Interesting. Your opposition to advertising is frankly illogical, and I would love to know why the site is so opposed to the concept.
Thanks,
Conrad
P.S. Good luck on the book, and no hard feelings! I’m just a very interested reader, although I’m sure you can sense my frustration! :-)
I’ve been trying to convince the my friends all to pitch in and make a sizeble donation to.. well, little success. Raised a mediocre 50$ AUD, not much really. Will keep trying though. :-)
If advertising isn’t your bag, and we can thank *something* that it isn’t, perhaps you can befriend yourself to Maddox.. he seems to endorse sites chock full of inane factoids, as well as provide them. Plus he gets more hits than the next leading pRon site. :D
I’m all for avoiding advertising. It keeps the site clean and crisp, and actually more professional in my mind. Cheers to Alan & Co. for the awesome work they’ve been doing here. Just making my life a little more interesting everyday (Not to mention the plethora of conversation starters I’ve acquired!). I’d give them a salary if I could. But a book will do just fine.
Kudos also to all other fans for being interesting folks too!
I definitely want that book when it comes out, but I have one question: is it the same DI articles we’ve been reading, but in print form? Or will it contain new articles? Either way, I’m intrigued, but I’d still like to know.
Coneee said: “Why?! There is absolutely nothing wrong with advertising! Think of the benefits – you could PAY your writers for the work they have done. Now, I don’t want to detract from the awesomeness that is the book idea, and I’m sure it’ll be very successful!”
As nearly every single commercial radio station faces declining listeners, the only major group (other than Christian radio, which is a “niche” market) seeing gains are public radio stations. Listernship is near all-time highs, and I’m sure part of that reason is the lack of commercials. Some of the finest programs ever produced for radio air on NPR, including “This American Life”, and the way they keep their experience uniformly excellent is by keeping ads out of the game. Listeners understand this and pay to keep it that way.
From a writer’s perspective, some things are worth more when you don’t get paid, if doing so means reducing the quality of the experience for the readers.
ballaerina said: “I definitely want that book when it comes out, but I have one question: is it the same DI articles we’ve been reading, but in print form?”
The book will me made up of some of our old favorites, some expanded versions of existing articles, and a few that are exclusive to the book. There’s also lots of plans for other bonus stuff that’ll only found in the book, but we don’t want to give away all of the surprises just yet.
Alan Bellows said: “We’re all about creating the best possible experience for the reader, and ads just don’t fit within that philosophy.”
Understood. Though for what it’s worth, I for one wouldn’t mind them at all, especially if it paved the way for regular new articles.
Coneee said: “Why?! There is absolutely nothing wrong with advertising! Think of the benefits – you could PAY your writers for the work they have done. Now, I don’t want to detract from the awesomeness that is the book idea, and I’m sure it’ll be very successful!”
Anthony’s summary is spot-on, but I wanted to add that we writers WILL get paid under this approach, it’s just a different model. Using ads for income is like getting a loan to buy a car rather than saving up for it. Like ads, a loan allows for immediate results, but with unpleasant consequences.
I’ll convince the wife to stash aside some money for a donation when our tax refund shows up.
I’m also interested in the whole art thing. Please let us know if you need contributions.
Some people just don’t freakin get it do they. NO ADVERTISING is “Damn Interesting” in itself. I enjoy not having a blinking ad anywhere on the screen while I’m trying to read a damn interesting article. Trying to convince Alan & co. to advertise is as stupid as comments posted about “first”. *#@%ing DROP IT.
As to the book, I can’t wait. Will be donating shortly. Alan, are you signing the book for $100.
One of the many long-time-viewers-first-time-posters out there, and I’d just like to say that I, too, frickin’ love this site, and I’ll happily take any reasonable measures to ensure that you folks can churn out articles regularly…donating inclusive 8-)
…And since I’m already here, I know you had to have considered DI Forums. Do you think that they’re a possibility in the near future? I’ve been lookin’ for a new forum to call home, and the discussions a forum borne of this site would promise to be…well, DI!
PS: I’d love to see some site directed ads on this place. Can you imagine the crazy crap that a Google ad would show us in an effort to be relevent to the content?
Reaper said: “PS: I’d love to see some site directed ads on this place. Can you imagine the crazy crap that a Google ad would show us in an effort to be relevent to the content?”
While I’d normally never want to see ads on a pure site such as this, maybe these content-relevent Google ads would actually add to the I in DI… Just a thought.
If I wansn’t €300 in the red right now, you’d get some :(
Seriously though, if I ever make it big.. : p
I’ve another question, are you going to include the coments on the book? because some of them are hilarious, like those in the article of the grand canyon sightseing structure, (go look it for yourselves because im supose to be working!!!).
I mean its up to you “the writer” all mighty to decide and us the avid readers to read and contemplate, but i realy woundn’t mind to have my name in the book, in the part were it says thanks to all that contributed!!!
but, in other way, im just a mere pesant…
Keep up the good work, cheers…
God i’d kill for a cold blondie!
Coneee said: ‘We stand by our promise to never pollute this site with commercial advertising, so your contributions help us immensely in our efforts to grow.’
Why?! There is absolutely nothing wrong with advertising! Think of the benefits – you could PAY your writers for the work they have done. Now, I don’t want to detract from the awesomeness that is the book idea, and I’m sure it’ll be very successful!”
There is no doubt that advertising would provide a stable conduit for monetary funding, albeit negative side effects may result from employing this scheme for aquiring monetary resources:
Keep the information flowing freely and unadulterated. Keep advertising out!
I’ve never bothered posting here before, but I will say I’ve enjoyed this site for at least 6 months now when I happened upon it, wish I knew how as I’d hope they’d have linked more gems like this place.
I can’t today commit the $35 for the book via a donation, but I will say when I got more green in my future I will, or at the least I will buy this book. The stuff here is so wide ranged and well written you can’t help but look, and I do a lot here from work.
I have even at times considered submitting a few pieces for this site as I’m into the ‘weird’ and just ‘damn interesting’ stuff this place does and I can think of a few I could do given a go-ahead.
I have to say I must have missed it or never noticed Alan Bellows beliefs in advertisements on a website but that’s a guy after my own heart and beliefs. I hit the wall a good few years back hating to death ads when it went from easier on the eye banners to aggravating as hell pop ups, then flash, then those insidious pop unders *shiver.* Thanks to the wonders of mozilla, and then firefox using adblock I’ve been able to teleport myself back to 1996~ before hell spawned on the web. I call this one of my most favorite information and story sites I know of and recommend it to people around work here (I work for the Humana health insurance company in KY) and it’s received warmly with people commenting even on the cleanliness of the site not being an eye ball ad assault. I appreciate it greatly being stucking using disgusting IE I can’t patch here at work too. If this place ever went ad crazy or even in moderation I’d probably stop coming here at all from work and keep it as an at home adventure where I can block them not just from showing but even loading (and I do set it that way so they don’t get paid for trying to abuse me.)
Thanks and keep up the good work as I really enjoy that 2-3day turn around as I just look forward for the next damn interesting piece of work. Also let me know if you’d be interested in a bit about Archimedes as he had made some damn interesting inventions in his day. ;)
Lusitano said: “I’ve another question, are you going to include the coments on the book? because some of them are hilarious, like those in the article of the grand canyon sightseing structure, (go look it for yourselves because im supose to be working!!!).”
I can second that. The articles are frikkin awesome, but the comments, at times, add real insight. I usually spend at least as much time reading the comments section as the article itself!
I just found this site today and I must say it is Damn Interesting… perhaps I’ll get a book myself!
Alan, I’m a new poster here, but I have read virtually every article and
comment on the whole site and am hungry for more. I will personally
pledge $150, but I will have to do it by cash, check, or money order, as
I do not yet have PayPal. Just email me an address to send it to, and it
will be there in the next month or so. I can’t wait for the book, it
sounds awesome!
As for Ads, you will eventually get them. Believe me. I remember
GameFAQs back in the good days. No ads, nice crisp forums. But
eventually the site became too much, and CJayC (the administraitor and
creator) sold the site to CNet. He was losing work, and so he added ads
to the site, and the site became his job. It soon overwhelmed him, and
he had no choice but to sell out. I really respect your no ad decision,
which doesn’t matter for me anyways as I have AdBlock, but you will
eventually get them like every other site online. I just fear the day
when it comes.
On the note of GameFAQs, if you DO make forums (which is something I
strongly suggest), do it in the old GameFAQs message boards format. It’s
simple, easy, and very efficiant.
Anyways, congratulations on making it this far. Your site is, IMO, the
second best in the whole of the internet. I’m sorry, but LUElinks makes
first. LUElinks also remained a great source of information on
everything and anything, but they too eventually got ads. Seeing as how
I was banned from that site nearly a year ago, your site is the best on
the web, and it is something I have shared with many a people. Now, I
had better stop typing before this message colapses upon itself. There’s
an idea, do an article on black holes ;)
“… I just don’t understand why you’d want to be so blatant about it.”
Where I’m from, we call this honesty ;-)
The exchange rate is not altogether favourable, but given that I recently introduced my father to the site, I figure a book would be a nice gift for him.
I’m guessing shipping/handling is included (international?)?
Hey, i was just wondering but for future posts would it be possible to include links or just larger images on the stories, cause most of the time the images are really neat and i would love to see something larger than a 2×3 etc….
Ayebaw said: “I really respect your no ad decision, which doesn’t matter for me anyways as I have AdBlock, but you will eventually get them like every other site online. I just fear the day when it comes.”
That’s crazy talk. You highly underestimate my distaste for advertising, good sir. Ads are distracting little attention parasites, infecting every crevasse they can find and sapping their surroundings of usefulness and joy. Years ago I swore off commercial television and radio because I could no longer stomach the ads. I’ve promised before, and I’ll promise again: As long as I own Damn Interesting you won’t see commercial ads here. Frankly, even in the unlikely event that my feelings about ads change in the future, I’ve been so outspoken about my anti-ad stance that I’d never live it down if I began using them. Hehe.
Anyway, if you still want to donate-by-mail, just send an e-mail to alan at damninteresting dot com and I’ll reply with the appropriate snail-mail address. Either way, thanks for all the compliments!
Alan Bellows said: ” …Anyway, if you still want to donate-by-mail, just send an e-mail to alan at damninteresting dot com and I’ll reply with the appropriate snail-mail address. Either way, thanks for all the compliments!”
Alan dear, Am still awaiting your reply to my email with baited breath (had sushi for lunch ;)) Please send info ASAP! Thank you and all the writers for DI! And all the commentors too! Hey Floj,(cannot remember ur new moniker) wheres the pie? Missing you here! :)
Lusitano said: “I’ve another question, are you going to include the coments on the book? because some of them are hilarious, like those in the article of the grand canyon sightseing structure, (go look it for yourselves because im supose to be working!!!).”
We’re toying with a feature that ties the book into the comments a bit, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise just yet.
openside said: “I’m guessing shipping/handling is included (international?)?”
Sorry, I missed this question on the last go-around. I was originally intending to cover the shipping charges under all circumstances, knowing that some would be expensive (international) while others would be inexpensive (local). But a very large portion of our donations have come from outside of the US. That’s very cool, but it does upset the averaging effect a bit.
So on 01 February I added a note to the article that asks for an extra $8 if you want a book sent internationally. But that only applies to donations sent on or after 01 February, so if you sent one earlier, you can ignore that added bit.
Hi Alan,
I am really keen on getting my paws on one of these books. I wanted to ask what courier company you will be using because I am in South Africa and not all of them venture this far south. I also need to ensure that $10 will cover shipping. Check the exchange rate of the dollar to the South African rand and you will understand my concern. As soon as I am happy that my book will make it all the way here, I will gladly contribute.
P.S. I’m 100% with you on the whole advertising thing
Alan, is that really you? If anyone knows the answer to this question – no, not that question but the next question – then this is the site for it.
Is there a silly term for seeing an author photograph and feeling utterly shocked that they don’t look at all like the mental image of them you didn’t really know you had? You are supposed to be much older and sort of rotund I’m afraid, Mr Bellows.
Plank said: what courier company will you be using because I am in South Africa and not all of them venture this far south. I also need to ensure that $10 will cover shipping. Check the exchange rate of the dollar to the South African rand and you will understand my concern. As soon as I am happy that my book will make it all the way here, I will gladly contribute.
Any info yet Alan? I need to know before I go and spend the money on useless things like rent and food :) Sorry that I’m being so cautious about sending you my cash but I have ordered products online before that have failed to reach me in sunny South Africa. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Plank said: “Any info yet Alan? I need to know before I go and spend the money on useless things like rent and food :) Sorry that I’m being so cautious about sending you my cash but I have ordered products online before that have failed to reach me in sunny South Africa. Any info would be greatly appreciated.”
Sorry for the slow reply, due to other circumstances I’ve been away from the computer a lot for the past few days. My wife researched the shipping costs to your area, and they are pretty steep. The best price she was able to find was USPS Global Express, which was $37.40 for the shipping alone.
Your best option may be to just wait until the book is officially released; that way you can probably get a much more reasonable shipping rate.
Thanks for getting back to me. I did some research of my own and found similar amounts, I was hoping that I was somehow way off. That is a serious bummer because I unfortunately cannot afford that at this point in time. I will make a small donation for now and bide my time until the official release, and as you said, hope for a better shipping rate. It seems crazy to pay more for shipping than the actual cost of the book. Someone needs to invent a teleporter already.
Speaking of teleporters, Alan would it be possible to add a “Back to the top” link/button below the comments box? Getting carpel tunnell scrolling up and down. LOL
when does the book come out?
Or navigation buttons at the bottom too. Then there’s no need to scroll up.
suggestion: A Joshua Tree would look so much better and the Joshua Tree image would drip with symbology…………………thanks for listening
btw, i’m on a fixed income, you know a DAV & all…
i can only give moral support…& here’s some in this post
I’m considering donating (I will definitely buy a book in any case) but what would definitely push me to donate is the promise of a keyring! Magnets do nothing for me but a DI keyring would be superb for my collection of 131 and counting.
I wonder if we could get an update on your progress.
I love this site and you can bet your last dollar I want a copy of the book. Keep up the damn interesting work
cybrbeast said: “I wonder if we could get an update on your progress.”
The project progresses daily, though not with as brisk a pace as I’d like. Sometime rather soon we’ll have a book-related announcement which you may find fascinating… it’s not a notice of it’s completion, but it will provide some nifty details regarding the book project’s ultimate aim.
More info coming soon!
rhonleea said: “That pic of Allen looks an awful lot like Dr. Cox from Scrubs. Or maybe its just me. “
Yeah, you’re right it does.
Incidentally, Alan, astronomical units are a measurement of distance, not time.
(“I am frequently behind on my e-mail… so you might not hear back from me for a few astronomical units”)
Hmm…
I also agree with you not wanting advertising all over your site, I love the term ‘parasite’.
Erm, when adding the $8 shipping, do we enter an amount of $43? (that is what I have done).
I also think this will be a great book, likely with a the right words in the right places, a big UK seller (we love our books).
I find the concept of a free book for $35 most humorous. Still, it will be another great slap in the ol’ publisher face when this book succeeds without them. Also, this site is nicely done.
I would lurve to donate, but wouldn’t you know it, I’d have to explain it to my dad. And that would mean “No-ity no no.” However, this site is the coolest place I have found yet and if you put even one ad on here, I will become angry-ity angry angry. Other sites are a huge pain like that.
^^That’s why you get firefox and install Adblock Plus and during install tell it to use one of the often updatable databases online of new crap to block. I haven’t seen a web page ad outside of work (where tinkering with the hosts file removed much) in years.
Alan, I truly am so proud of what you have done to this site since I’ve been here in Oct ’05. I have commented/emailed/and donated.
If there is anything I can do to help I would be more than happy. I will submit a few topics/completed works I have been toying around with to see if they meet your approval.
The real reason I am posting is to let you know that Damn Interesting has forever changed every conversation I will ever have. Without getting all teary eyed… I would like to just say thank you. Believe me when I say.. and I think I am speaking for most of the people on this site… your hard work does not go unappreciated.
Any idea when this is coming out? Just asking because I’d really like to give it as a gift to someone, so the sooner the better.
Yes can we get an official update on the front page of the site as this post itself is already around the 11 month old mark. I really do want to buy this book so I’d like to get any info I can on it.
I most enjoy reading ‘damn interesting’ facts and other fun stuff like hoaxes (museumofhoaxes.com) and the such as it’s all fun facts and amusing information. I have that website authors two books and want to add yours to my collection.
Hey there, I was wondering when the book would be sent to those that already donated?
love the site, but is this book thing just a money ripping scam(no offence meant if not) and i will also buy the book!?!?!?!?
First time poster
Can’t wait for the book I’ll be happy to buy/Donate to get a copy.
Just need to make some money now!
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