Bad Ads, Strohl Munitions, and Headstones
Posted February 5th, 2009 by Howard TaylerThank you (yes THANK YOU) for emailing me about the bad ads recently. Something snuck into the bottom of the stack, those remaindered ads that don’t pay squat, and it was something smelly. We’ve had reports of pop-ups, seizure-inducers, noisemakers, and yes, ads for porn. Many of you took time to tell me about these not because you were offended but because you knew I would be.
I realize that the subject line of this entry might suggest that I solved the “Bad Ads” problem using “Strohl Munitions”, and now there is a “Headstone” covering a coffin… which lies empty but for a small pile of ash. Sadly, that is not the case.
I solved the ad problem in the short term by completely replacing the ad code with a GIF and a link to the store. If you’re not seeing an amorph family photo next to the Schlock Mercenary logo you should refresh your cache.
The Headstone I was speaking of is on a new print we have available in the Schlock Mercenary store.
Finally, Strohl Munitions… the Strohl Munitions Plasma Cannon Safety Activity Book is now available via Lulu. I’m not carrying any inventory on this thanks to the modern “Print On Demand” technology you kids are so hip with. This means I’m not hurt in the least if none of these sell. But if you want it on paper, shiny and hand-holdable, and soon, this is probably your best option.
Note, please, that we may still do a mass-printing of that book on actual coloring-book paper. That day is at least three months away (and may never come), but I don’t want it to come and have you complain that you spent money with Lulu instead of with me directly. And of course you will always have the option to buy a PDF version of the book, in which case every penny you spend goes to me (well… after Paypal’s 30-cent-plus-2% cut.)
Final remarks: Sorry for the bad ads. Boy, the site is prettier with amorphs up top. I wish I could afford to keep that kind of leaderboard there forever…
Explore posts in the same categories: Advertisers, Books, Merchandise, Site News
February 5th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Actually, Howard, after refreshing cache I still get an ad for freescore.com, a credit score sales outfit. The only amorphs I see are in your blog post.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:41 am
The ad runs in an iFrame. Apparently refreshing the cache isn’t universally refreshing the content of iFrames.
*sigh*
February 5th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
What ad service was hosting the bad ads? I ask as I am also a website owner that takes pains (like you do) to not allow pop-ups/takeovers/etc.
February 5th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I don’t know. I have an ad broker managing a large chain of ads, and one of their suppliers tried to pull a fast one. Well… DID pull a fast one. They’ve been cut off now.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Having absolutely no authority to speak for the fan base, let me just say how much we (er, *I*) appreciate the pains you go to in order to keep the site as family friendly as you do. And realizing that those are financial pains, shows your willing to sacrifice for us. We (er. *I* again) appreciate it.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
oooooo… A pook on coloring-book paper?
I am most intrigued, sir… What, pray tell, is this “pook” you speak of?
*grins*
Sorry. I had to. I’m so very, very sorry… Please forgive.
February 5th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
A “pook” is a Print bOOK, as opposed to the more-recent phenomenon
of “eooks” (Electronic bOOKS).
[makes exaggerated "whew" brow-wipe gesture :) ]
February 6th, 2009 at 2:28 am
Any chance you’ll go back to project wonderful for the leaderboard? I’d dearly love to have another shot at getting some ads for GUD up there, (or even just my “Saber Duel” flash game I’ve got hosted there–getting into flash game development to try to cross-promote ;) )
February 6th, 2009 at 7:17 am
Ah, the “pook” typo. I saw that while editing, and got distracted by a formatting issue. It’s fixed now.
re: Project Wonderful — maybe. We’ll see.
February 6th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Nieces and nephews just got new coloring books. Woohoo!
February 6th, 2009 at 9:17 am
if it wasn’t for the fact I no longer use a mousemat, I’d consider asking if “the amorph family” was going to be made into one.
February 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
It would make a fine mousemat. We should definitely do that.
February 7th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Sorry to sidetrack, but this is weird, because I definitely don’t remember posting the message above. I don’t even remember making a profile using my real name, and I can’t remember the password to it! :S
February 7th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
That’s because it’s not you. I’m another 1 of our almighty conspiracy across the world.
February 8th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Ah right, just did I remember thinking the same thing about the mousemats as you and I think I nearly wrote a comment. I was worried that I might have been sleepblogging!
Either that, or you really ARE a part of my subconscious and you’re just messing with the rest of my head for the lulz.
February 8th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Bad ads, bad ads. Whatcha goona do? Whatcha goona do when they…
*gets hooked off the stage*