Tonight's photo: Saturday night in Lane CoveTomorrow I will be removing Google Adsense from the blog. Like many others I have received the following email from Google, "It has come to our attention that invalid clicks or impressions have been generated on the Google ads on your site(s) through users of third-party programs paid or provided with other incentives to visit your site. Such programs may include, but are not limited to auto-surf, pay-to-surf, pay-to-read, or pay-to-click sites"
I do not agree with their definition - which in any case is inadequately defined and open to interpretation. I do not like being told by anyone what I can and can not do on MY company blog, operated by MY company. I do not like being told what content and advertisers I can have on MY blog.
I have a small but loyal following that has been generated through programs such as Blog Explosion and Blog Mad. Comments and emails show that users of these programs do not just click and run. I am not going to ditch people who have been loyal to the blog, in favour of a hundred bucks or so generated by a remote and short-sighted organisation increasingly lacking in credibility.
It is ironic that Blogger is owned by Google and it was through Blogger's promotion of Adsense, that I learned about the program.
How do they think people are going to promote their blogs?
Google used to be a great company but over the last few years it seems they have become caught up in their own hype. Google search is no longer the be all and end all of search engines; Google News has always been something I turned to if everything else had crashed.
I will continue with other ads and while I realise there are net-demigods who believe that the Internet should be all free and lovey-dovey - I don't. I pay a fortune in media subscription fees and there are many organisations who charge an annual subscription fee to be able to access information that is posted here for free. I don't just pick the first nine articles I see - they are chosen for a variety of reasons and appeal.
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Tonight's song snippet is dedicated to the sort of right-wing blogger we all know and laugh at. From Tom Paxton - "Daily News"
Civil rights leaders are a pain in the neck
Can't hold a candle to Chang Kai Shek
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News
Ban the bombers are afraid of a fight
Peace hurts business and that ain't right
How do I know? I read it in the Daily News
Wherever you may be - be safe!
