Auto Reply: Out of Office

There's this great little place out in Palm Springs where my girlfriend and I go whenever we want to get away from everything. In addition to the desert, the spring water, the clean air, and all the other qualities that make our escapes to this place so wonderful, it doesn't hurt that the last time we went the whole thing was on them, thanks to the fact that my name was drawn in a Facebook contest they have each month, the prize being a free weekend. Well, maybe they just like us or something, because while we were there for our completely on-the-house getaway recently, one of the managers of the place gave us passes for another free weekend -- and we're taking it beginning today.

It's pretty rare for somebody to step up and do something nice for you so I guess you have to always remember to appreciate the hell out of it when it happens. And I do.

Speaking of which, I want to say a truly wholehearted thank-you to everyone who was kind enough to reach out and contribute during this week's Summer Pledge Drive. The support, especially after all this time, humbles me like you wouldn't believe. So thanks.

Now I can give Beggy the Beaver a hot meal and let him hibernate until Fall.

See you all on Monday.

Reading Is Fund-amental: Day 4

You are falling under the sad, forlorn spell of our new money mascot, Beggy the Beaver. And that can only mean that our Summer Pledge Drive is going on here at DXM -- in fact, it's almost over.

You know how this works: If you like what you find here, on The Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and at the Daily Banter, then please be a mensch and throw a little of your hard-earned cash toward keeping it all humming along.

There are a few ways you show some devotion to the DXM Media Empire(!) The first is the simplest: Just click the Paypal electronic tip link in the right-hand sidebar of this screen and donate away. You can also use the Paypal tip jar to pay-what-you-want for a digital copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight, for iPad or Kindle. Go here to begin your instant download. Remember, it's a full length book and it can be yours for whatever you feel like putting toward it. The last way you can give is by buying a physical copy of Dead Star Twilight from Amazon. To purchase the paperback, just click here. (It should be said that buying the book outright sends the least amount of money in my direction since there are costs and percentages to contend with; I want to sell books but I know there are some people out there who would want to be made aware of that.)

Big thanks today to Troy Segel, Lizzy B., the always wonderfully generous Gordon Jennings, and the awesome Maureen O'Neill, who should actually be demanding money from me to make up for my atrocious behavior during my mercifully brief time as an executive board-member at WVUM 20-something years ago (before I decided it was better to stop trying to run the place and just be a massive thorn in the side of those who did).

To everyone else who's given -- as well as those who continue to read, comment, share and so on -- you guys rule.

One final update over the weekend.

Reading Is Fund-amental: Day 3

How can you resist the sad, soulful eyes of our new money mascot, Beggy the Beaver? (That's the most alliteration I've ever put into one sentence.) I'm hoping you can't, seeing as how we're right in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive here at DXM.

You know how this works: If you like what you find here, on The Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and at the Daily Banter, then please step up and kick a little of your hard-earned cash toward keeping it all going.

There are a few ways you show some love. The first is the simplest: Just click the Paypal electronic tip link in the right-hand sidebar of this screen and donate away. You can also use the Paypal tip jar to pay-what-you-want for a digital copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight, for iPad or Kindle. Go here to begin your instant download. Remember, it's a full length book and it can be yours for whatever you feel like putting toward it. The last way you can give is by buying a physical copy of Dead Star Twilight from Amazon. To purchase the paperback, just click here. (It should be said that buying the book outright sends the least amount of money in my direction since there are costs and percentages to contend with; I want to sell books but I know there are some people out there who would want to be made aware of that.)

Big thanks today to Nicole, Teddy C., and the always generous Mr. Gwaltney.

To everyone else who's given -- as well as those who continue to read, comment, share and so on -- it really means a lot to me.

Another update tomorrow.

Reading Is Fund-amental: Day 2

The onscreen presence of our new money mascot, Beggy the Beaver, can mean only one thing, kids: We're right in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive around here.

While things were certainly dry for a bit, they've picked up lately and I'm trying to keep it going that way -- balancing lengthy, cumbersome writing projects for the Daily Banter with good content around here, all of it balanced with the rest of the piles and piles of work I have on my desk so that I can avoid literally panhandling.

Anyway, you know the drill: If you like what you find at DXM, on The Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and at the Daily Banter, then by all means feel free to kick a little money toward keeping these proceedings humming along.

There are a few ways you can contribute. The first is the simplest: Just click the Paypal electronic tip link in the right-hand sidebar of this screen and donate away. You can also use the Paypal tip jar to pay-what-you-want for a digital copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight, for iPad or Kindle. Go here to begin your instant download. Remember, it's a full length book and it can be yours for whatever you feel like putting toward it. The last way you can give is by buying a physical copy of Dead Star Twilight from Amazon. To purchase the paperback, just click here. (It should be said that buying the book outright sends the least amount of money in my direction since there are costs and percentages to contend with; I want to sell books but I know there are some people out there who would want to be made aware of that.)

a big thank-you to Riles, Comedy Fred and Brett Skean for the generosity. And as always, thanks very much to everyone else for continuing to read, share, comment, and not get too pissed at me when my dipshit trolls decide to bleed over and infect your own sites with their crap.

Another update tomorrow.

Reading Is Fund-amental: Day 1

I admit that there was a time there when very little was going up on this site and it can still occasionally be hit or miss. With that in mind, I'm not going to belabor the point or draw this out any longer than necessary, but the fact is that if I want to keep doing pledge drives, the best way to do them is seasonal -- hence, it's time for one. And so here we are -- with Beggy the Beaver and his sad, soulful eyes marking the start of our Summer Pledge Drive here at Deus Ex Malcontent.

You know how it works: If you like what you find at DXM and, more recently, on The Bubble Genius Bob & Chez Show podcast and at the Daily Banter -- if you find my rapier wit, not-at-all-penetrating insight, pathetic attempts at comedy, public fights with trolls, musical picks, and general juvenile behavior entertaining -- then by all means feel free to throw some money toward keeping these proceedings humming along.

There are a few ways you can put your hard-earned cash toward the DXM empire and me, its humble proprietor. The first is the simplest: Just click the Paypal electronic tip link in the right-hand sidebar of this screen and donate away. You can also use the Paypal tip jar to pay-what-you-want for a digital copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight, for iPad or Kindle. Go here to begin your instant download. Remember, it's a full length book -- 300-some-odd pages that I promise will whiz right by -- and it can be yours for whatever you feel like putting toward it. The last way you can give is by buying a physical copy of Dead Star Twilight from Amazon. To purchase the paperback, just click here. (It should be said that buying the book outright sends the least amount of money in my direction since there are costs and percentages to contend with; I want to sell books but I know there are some people out there who would want to be made aware of that.)

As always, I want to take a minute to thank everyone who continues, after more than seven years of effort and output, to read, share, comment on and otherwise indulge in this ongoing little experiment of mine. As I've admitted lately, I miss writing here full-time but unfortunately I'm no longer in a position to make a lot of money on a specific, regular shift, thereby leaving me space to write in my off-time. In fact, I actually have very little off-time these days. But I still write here. This is still my home. Believe it or not, I've had offers over the past year or so to either "sell-off" DXM or allow somebody else to partially take it over for me and, despite monthly money on the table, I've turned them down flat. This thing is just too important to me and even when I'm not here the way I'd like to be, just the knowledge that no matter where I go or what happens I always have this to return to is enough to make it worth it to keep it mine and only mine. DXM has always been independent and it will hopefully stay that way.

As for simply writing, I do that on a near-daily basis, whether it's specifically for here or for here, Banter and the Huffington Post, and I sure as hell don't do it because it makes me rich -- I do it because I love it and because you guys still inexplicably keep wanting to read it. So, again, thank you from the bottom of the dank pit where my heart is supposed to be.

An update tomorrow.

Now back to your regularly scheduled nonsense.

Cash Into Me: Day 4

Yet another friendly reminder that we're in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive around here. I know that most of you are naked in a bathtub filled with ice right now, but when you finally reduce your body temperature back to human levels, please take a few minutes to show a little love to this site.

If you feel like you can contribute, the best way to do it is to click the link in the right-hand sidebar of the screen and drop some money into the electronic tip jar. Remember not to bother with my book, Dead Star Twilight, at the moment because I'll be adjusting the availability of it pretty soon and you'll want to wait until that happens.

Now you know that from this point forward not only will you be able to read my genial wise-assery here at DXM, but once a week you'll have the opportunity to let me whisper sweet, sweet vulgarities in your ear as co-host of the newly rechristened Bob and Chez Show podcast, which I'm doing with Bob Cesca. And isn't that worth something to you?

To those who've already helped out during our pledge drive, your contributions are appreciated and I can't thank you enough for them. Also, another special round of shout-outs -- this time to Gordon Jennings, Chris C. and the lovely Rhonda -- for going above and beyond the call of duty. Your generosity just humbles the hell out of me.

As always, thanks for reading, kids.

Cash Into Me: Day 3

Another friendly reminder that we're in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive around here. I know that a good number of you don't have any money at the moment because the paper stuff spontaneously caught fire and burned up along with most of your other possessions and of course the coins are too hot to touch -- but if you have a couple of bucks the solar flare hasn't cooked just yet, I hope you can see your way clear to throwing them at a silly website instead of buying a room air conditioner for you and your family.

If you do feel like you can contribute, the best way to do it is to click the link in the right-hand sidebar of the screen and drop some money into the electronic tip jar. Remember not to bother with my book, Dead Star Twilight, at the moment because I'll be adjusting the availability of it pretty soon and you'll want to wait until that happens.

As far as I know, the big announcement I've been sitting on for the past week or so will be revealed tomorrow. I have to admit that I'm kind of looking forward to spilling the details because what's happening is something I'm excited about and I hope you'll think it's at least mildly cool too.

To those who've already stepped up and helped out during our pledge drive, your contributions are very much appreciated and I'm humbled that the nonsense I spew here is important enough to you to actually pay for. I can't help but think that there's something very wrong with you -- but I'm incredibly grateful. A special shout-out to Helen Stepp, Matthew Graves, Fausto R. and Joss for going above and beyond the call of duty. You guys rule.

And so do the rest of you for reading.

Cash Into Me: Day 2

Just a friendly reminder that our big Summer Pledge Drive kicked off last night. You know how this works: If you like what you regularly find here and you feel like you can throw a little money toward DXM, know that it'd certainly be appreciated.

The best way to show some love at the moment is by clicking the link to the electronic tip jar on the right hand sidebar of this screen. My book, Dead Star Twlight, is still available for purchase as well but I'd hold off on that if you haven't already bought it -- or even if you have, actually -- because I'll be making an announcement soon that will affect the availability of the book. Suffice to say that I'm going to be doing something special with it for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, so sit tight on that.

I'll also have another announcement having to do with me and my little corner of the internet coming within the next couple of days. Once again, nothing huge -- but I'm kind of excited about it.

As always, thanks for reading regardless of whether you can contribute. It's you nice people who keep me doing this nonsense.

Cash Into Me

We've slowly but surely been inching back up to full-throttle around here following my brain-draining work project, so given that -- and the fact that 5th-Birthday-Jubilee-May and 111-Post-June were exceptional months in terms of content and readership -- I don't feel too embarrassed about coming to you with hat in hand. Yup, it's that time again, folks -- time to kick off our big Summer Pledge Drive around here.

If you enjoy DXM -- if you make it a part of your day, if it makes you laugh or cry or think or want to beat the crap out of me, whatever -- then please consider throwing a little money toward keeping it running smoothly. There are one or two interesting announcements coming in the next few days that will expand DXM's reach, as I continue my quest for the absolute domination of social media platforms that don't pay me anything. Nothing too earth-shattering, but I'm pretty excited about it -- and you'll all be let in on the details soon enough.

This is normally where I'd say that there are a couple of different ways you can contribute to this site, but actually this time around there's only one way: You can donate to it by clicking the link that's located in the right-hand sidebar of this screen and adding money to the electronic tip jar. While the link to purchase my book, Dead Star Twilight, is still there, you may as well avoid it for a little while because one of my announcements will have to do with a change coming to the availability of DST for the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11. Believe me, I've done a lot of thinking lately about how at this very moment ten years ago I was in the darkest throes of my really stupid adventure abusing heroin, and with the anniversary of that event and the subsequent one that admittedly rescued me but which indelibly affected all of us, I wanted to do something to mark the occasion. So avoid the book for now. More to come on that soon.

As always, if you can't afford to donate and all you can do is read and comment, I still appreciate it. This little experiment of mine has been going pretty strong for five years and it continues to be a labor of love for your humble narrator. I can't thank you guys enough for being a part of it.

Graditude Adjustment

Just wanted to take a minute to thank everyone who was kind enough to contribute during our little Summer Pledge Drive.

The fact that people enjoy my idiotic ramblings enough to actually throw a few dollars -- and in some cases, a lot more than a few -- toward keeping them coming is just astonishing to me.

So really, thank you -- and to show my appreciation, here's a photo of a beagle puppy. Because who doesn't like beagle puppies?

Dough Nation: The Squeakquel

A reminder that this is it -- the last official night of our mini-Summer Pledge Drive.

A lot of you nice folks have already dropped a buck or two into the little hat I've set down on the digital sidewalk directly in front of my pathetic self; for that I can't thank you enough. If you're a fan of this site, a regular reader, whatever, and you want to show DXM some love, all you have to do is click the Paypal link in the right-hand sidebar. Or if you'd like, you can pick up a copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight -- which can be purchased and downloaded immediately to your computer by clicking here.

Even though we're doing this quick and dirty and I'm not pressing the issue, quite a few people have still been kind enough to step forward and make their support for my tiny corner of the internet known over the past 48 hours, and that really humbles me.

So thanks -- and thanks for reading.

Dough Nation: Return of the Thing

We're on day two of our abbreviated three-day Summer Pledge Drive.

Thanks a lot to everyone who's already thrown a few bucks into the till, either by making a donation via the Paypal tip link in the right-hand sidebar or by purchasing a copy of my book, Dead Star Twilight; the show of support is very much appreciated.

If you're one of those people who hasn't picked up my book yet and wants to, just click here. It'll be downloaded to your computer immediately and you can be knee deep in my pitch black nightmare by, well, nightfall.

Remember again that even though I'm so busy these days, this site remains a labor of love for me -- so if you enjoy it, whether you contribute your hard-earned dollars or not, it means a lot to me.

As always, thanks for reading.

Dough Nation

I can't believe I actually have the balls to do this right after subjecting you all to that Poltergeist clown crossed with Minnie Pearl I posted a little while ago, but it's that time again -- sort of.

Obviously things haven't been anywhere near as exciting around here lately as you've probably grown used to over the last couple of years; I wish I could make a lot of grand excuses but the simple truth is that I've just been completely swamped, trying to keep several different balls in the air at the same time. It means that content has suffered as far as this little experiment of mine is concerned, and believe me when I tell you that this has eaten me alive on more than one occasion. There are quite a few times that I've sat down hoping to publish something erudite and generally thought-provoking and have wound up realizing that my brain is just plain fucking tapioca these days, so hey, here's a couple of dick jokes.

With that in mind, I'm going to go ahead and have a Summer Pledge Drive only in the most perfunctory sense. In other words, I still feel like this site might be worth contributing a couple of your hard-earned dollars toward -- provided you enjoy the humor, the music, the occasional righteous indignation, and of course the witty banter of the regulars in the comment section -- but there's no way I'm going to be audacious enough to press the issue. For the next couple of days, if you feel like dropping a little cash into the Paypal tip cup over in the right-hand sidebar, or maybe buying a copy of my book Dead Star Twilight -- which you can purchase electronically and have downloaded immediately to your computer by clicking here -- just know that it'll be appreciated by your humble host.

I promised that things would return to normal around here eventually, and I stand by that. At some point, hopefully soon, I'll learn to strike a balance that allows me the time to write as prolifically (and thoughtfully) as I did not too long ago.

As I've said before many times, this site is free and will always be that way. Now more than ever I could easily make the choice to clutter it up with ads for stuff you wouldn't want anyway, but I don't because I consider this place my home -- and you my guests. With all the turmoil, uncertainty and instability in my life over the past year-and-a-half, this site has been the one constant. In some bizarre way, it's my foundation -- the thing that keeps me sane.

So if you're a fan and feel like you can give a little toward it, know that it'll mean the world to me.

Thanks for reading, everyone.

Thank You

I just wanted to take a second out to say thanks to everyone who helped out in last week's Summer Pledge Drive.

It was a big success and I honestly can't express my gratitude enough to those who reached into their pockets -- especially considering the economy -- and let me know in the strongest terms possible how much my little corner of the internet means to them. Honestly, whenever I have one of these things I'm always blown away by the generosity and outpouring of support -- financial and otherwise.

Obviously, you can buy a copy of my book or make a donation to this site anytime, but during these drives is when I really ask for help -- and when so many of you answer.

Once again, thank you.

Will Write for Food 6: Annihilation

Now that I've sufficiently depressed the hell out of you on a Friday afternoon with tales of kidnap and murder, I figured I'd really drop the hammer and just abandon you altogether.*

I'm bailing early today, but with good reason: Tomorrow, Inara arrives to spend a couple of weeks with the father who misses her all to pieces.

This means that I've got to finish getting the place ready, make one last run to the grocery store, hide the sharp objects I regularly surround myself with, you get the picture. On that note, I wanted to remind everyone that we'll soon be wrapping up our big Summer Pledge Drive around these parts.

If you like Deus Ex Malcontent and want to help support the site, there are two ways you can do it: You can buy a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and it'll immediately be downloaded to your computer as an e-book. You can also just donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen (click the link that says "Donate").

The drive wraps up tomorrow, so get those last minute nickels and dimes in, folks. To those who've already pitched in, I honestly can't thank you enough. You guys are the reason I keep doing this.

To everyone else, come on -- look at the cute baby!

*This isn't completely true. I'll be posting a Happy Hour video later and I'll continue checking comments throughout the day and night.

Will Work for Food 5: Rise of the Lycans

Gotta keep these little reminders coming, folks: Our Summer Pledge Drive is currently underway.

If you enjoy the unapologetic nonsense you find here at Deus Ex Malcontent and you want to help keep the site going strong, there are two ways you can do it: You can buy a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and it'll immediately be downloaded to your computer as an e-book. (Imagine, you can finish it by tomorrow!) Of course you can also just donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen (click the link that says "Donate").

Thanks so much for helping out. Lord knows I can't count on the lovely Kate Gosselin taking me up on my proposition and whisking me off to a life of TLC-subsidized luxury.

Will Work for Food 4: A New Hope

Yet another reminder that our big Summer Pledge Drive is currently in full swing.

If you like Deus Ex Malcontent and you want to help keep it running and keep the guy behind it from having to blow strangers for change at the bus station, there are two ways you can do it: You can buy a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and it will be downloaded to your computer as an e-book immediately. You can also donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen (click the link that says "Donate").

You know, I had a conversation with a friend of mine today and she joked that I should make this entire drive about getting money to have the tattoo of Jayne's name removed from my shoulder -- like take pictures and chronicle its removal so readers would be able to see where their money was going.

Whattaya think?

Will Write for Food 3: The Quickening

Another reminder that we're in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive.

If you like what you find here and you want to help keep Deus Ex Malcontent running, there are two ways you can do it: You can buy a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and it will be downloaded to your computer as an e-book immediately. You can also donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen (click the link that says "Donate").

Thanks, gang.

Will Write for Food 2: Electric Boogaloo

Just a quick reminder that we're in the middle of our big Summer Pledge Drive.

If you like what you find here -- if it makes you laugh, think, get angry, choke on your own tongue, etc. -- and you want to help keep Deus Ex Malcontent running at a steady pace and keep its humble editor from having to go get into German scat-porn to make ends meet, there are two ways you can do it: You can buy a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, by clicking here. Just follow the instructions and it will be downloaded to your computer as an e-book immediately. You can also donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen (click the link that says "Donate").

To those who've already stepped up and helped out, I can't thank you enough. It great knowing how much my little corner of the internet means to so many people.

Will Write for Food

I figure I had a pretty productive week around here so now's as good a time as any to, well, hit you nice folks up for money. Yes, it's that time again -- time to strap on my sandwich board and sit like a pitiful wreck on the digital sidewalk while people pass by me dropping the occasional dollar or two into my hat just to get me to leave them the hell alone.

As always, if you like the stuff you find here at Deus Ex Malcontent, there are a couple of ways you can support the site (I mean, aside from reading -- which is certainly appreciated).

If you haven't picked up a copy of my memoir, Dead Star Twilight, please do so. You can purchase it as an e-book that will immediately be downloaded to your computer by clicking here. To those who've already read the book and have responded to it so favorably, thanks very much; I'm honored that it moved you, made you laugh, kept you turning the pages, etc.

The other way you can show a little love is to donate money via the Paypal electronic tip jar in the right-hand sidebar of this screen. Obviously, this site is free and will remain that way. I don't clutter it up with ads for products you probably wouldn't care about anyway; I don't demand a subscription or anything silly like that. I put a lot of effort into Deus Ex Malcontent, but it's always been a labor of love and one that means more to me than just about anything else I do professionally. I don't need to remind you that I lost my job over this thing and I have no doubt that it's stood in the way of a few other opporunities since then. Still, never once have I questioned whether any of that was worth it. I love this little experiment of mine; it's my personality in every way and it's allowed me a voice I otherwise wouldn't have had. Judging by the surprisingly decent numbers I regularly pull in and the reaction from you guys, you enjoy the site and value the time and effort put into it.

So, if you feel like you can afford to, please give a little toward it. I rely on you, the readers, to keep DXM running. You of course don't have to donate; I'll likely keep doing this regardless. But if you can spare a couple of bucks because the material you find here is a welcome and entertaining part of your day, then it'd certainly be appreciated by yours truly.

Thanks again for reading and we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

I'll have updates on our big Summer Pledge Drive throughout next week.

Let's light up that wheelchair.