The blog has "morphed" from something of a wide open, well balanced kiosk of sorts to one that I think Attila the Hun would find inviting. A true measure of the times, it has now been "infested" by a rather large Tea Party/Palin type who has figured out that people actually read these things and due to search engine practices, the topics and comments come up fairly often in natural search.
.....Holding out the Proverbial Tin Cup......
I'm of the mind that if you choose to write your own blog and not just hang out on others, you do so for one of two reasons: 1. a small amount of money from advertising or a large amount depending or 2. you like to write and express and virtue is its own reward.
Recently Ms. Althouse has crossed the line to straight out pandering for money with the supposition that "if you like to read this, well here is your chance to pay me something for my time and it won't cost you a cent". It involves ordering things online through links she supplies in her postings.
1. It isn't true that it doesn't cost you a cent. It costs you whatever the merchant pays her for the link access and order. If she gets 8%, then it cost you 8%. It is a pass through cost.
2. It also begs the question of why is she blogging? For the discourse or for the buck? Don't hide behind the "if you appreciate me" thing. If you want money, say so. If you need money, say so. Don't screw around.