How much is that bloggy in the window? December 11, 2009 2:47 PM Subscribe
First bid! (of $5; I gave up at about $505 after I figured that I'd had my fun)
posted by adrianhon at 2:49 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by adrianhon at 2:49 PM on December 11, 2009
I bet that's the eBay record for number of times "fallow" is used in one product description.
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:53 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by FelliniBlank at 2:53 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
So some background: I obviously haven't been following daily TiVo and gadget news for several years, and for the last couple years I've only been doing one post per month when I found a bit of interesting news. Back in the heyday, this was a great site to run -- I spent a couple hours each day reading forums, reading blogs, and reading news wire stuff to find one post per day and the site was making $1200-1500 a month for a couple years, just enough to cover my mortgage.
The site's gone fallow and I made some attempts to find freelance writers and I even had a buyout offer about a year and a half ago that I turned down (it was for what seems like an insanely high number now), but really I would be happy if some other blogger (read: not SEO spammer) would pick it up for a couple grand and turn it back around.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:54 PM on December 11, 2009
The site's gone fallow and I made some attempts to find freelance writers and I even had a buyout offer about a year and a half ago that I turned down (it was for what seems like an insanely high number now), but really I would be happy if some other blogger (read: not SEO spammer) would pick it up for a couple grand and turn it back around.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 2:54 PM on December 11, 2009
I bid 235 favorites or 10 spouses!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:56 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 2:56 PM on December 11, 2009
I bet that's the eBay record for number of times "fallow" is used in one product description.
I don't know about that. There are probably some spy binocolars for sale that you can use to fallow around people with.
posted by ODiV at 2:56 PM on December 11, 2009 [3 favorites]
I don't know about that. There are probably some spy binocolars for sale that you can use to fallow around people with.
posted by ODiV at 2:56 PM on December 11, 2009 [3 favorites]
curated because I'm artisanal!
I just thought it's easy to list ten million spam comments in any blog install.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:13 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
I just thought it's easy to list ten million spam comments in any blog install.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:13 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
The phrase busy running other blogs and a family has me picturing a server farm powered by a giant hamster wheel with your kids on it. I thought JRun errors were a cold fusion thing, now I realize that it means Jr. is out of energy.
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:14 PM on December 11, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 3:14 PM on December 11, 2009 [5 favorites]
I don't know why you would mention PVRblog on MetaFilter none of us got TVs
posted by Optimus Chyme at 3:39 PM on December 11, 2009 [19 favorites]
posted by Optimus Chyme at 3:39 PM on December 11, 2009 [19 favorites]
Just out of curiousity, Matt, have you thought about seeing if any existing "Big New Media" outlets (Gawker, _____ist, etc.) would be interested in picking it up?
posted by MikeHarris at 3:39 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by MikeHarris at 3:39 PM on December 11, 2009
Ah, good. I was going to post this if no one else had.
posted by limeonaire at 3:40 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by limeonaire at 3:40 PM on December 11, 2009
Just out of curiousity, Matt, have you thought about seeing if any existing "Big New Media" outlets (Gawker, _____ist, etc.) would be interested in picking it up
Back in 2005, Weblogs inc (Jason Calacanis) tried to buy me out with no cash, just a rev share offer. When I refused (I was making more money off the site than the rev share) he threatened to start a clone site called PVRweblog.com because my name was too generic and that was ok. He also used to publish posts on how VC people should have ethics so I pointed out those posts to him and asked that he reconsider. He eventually launched his clone at PVRwire.com.
I approached Wired Blogs about a year and a half ago and they gave me a pretty good offer, but stupidly I turned it down not thinking it was enough (it was in the low tens of thousands of dollars). Honestly, I'd be happy to get a couple grand here with this ebay thing.
It's mostly because I just have a tiny nagging voice in my head that says "hey, you should make a post on PVRblog today" and I've been ignoring that voice for a couple years and would rather just have it silenced.
God, I hope some SEO spammer jerk doesn't buy it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:50 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
Back in 2005, Weblogs inc (Jason Calacanis) tried to buy me out with no cash, just a rev share offer. When I refused (I was making more money off the site than the rev share) he threatened to start a clone site called PVRweblog.com because my name was too generic and that was ok. He also used to publish posts on how VC people should have ethics so I pointed out those posts to him and asked that he reconsider. He eventually launched his clone at PVRwire.com.
I approached Wired Blogs about a year and a half ago and they gave me a pretty good offer, but stupidly I turned it down not thinking it was enough (it was in the low tens of thousands of dollars). Honestly, I'd be happy to get a couple grand here with this ebay thing.
It's mostly because I just have a tiny nagging voice in my head that says "hey, you should make a post on PVRblog today" and I've been ignoring that voice for a couple years and would rather just have it silenced.
God, I hope some SEO spammer jerk doesn't buy it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 3:50 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
God, I hope some SEO spammer jerk doesn't buy it.
It will be our new answer to "where do you get your metafilter links?"
posted by Artw at 4:08 PM on December 11, 2009
It will be our new answer to "where do you get your metafilter links?"
posted by Artw at 4:08 PM on December 11, 2009
Can I buy and rename it "Did Mathowie [overused internet meme] in 1990?"
posted by qvantamon at 4:15 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by qvantamon at 4:15 PM on December 11, 2009
the site was making $1200-1500 a month for a couple years,
I hope this isn't too prying, but how many hours a week were you putting into it? Was it an easy $1200-1500 or something you always were kind of researching? I always wondered how much work really went into running a site with that kind of revenue.
posted by geoff. at 5:10 PM on December 11, 2009
I hope this isn't too prying, but how many hours a week were you putting into it? Was it an easy $1200-1500 or something you always were kind of researching? I always wondered how much work really went into running a site with that kind of revenue.
posted by geoff. at 5:10 PM on December 11, 2009
Wow, I never knew there was so much potential money to be made for a blog about proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Wait, what?
posted by Rhomboid at 5:13 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by Rhomboid at 5:13 PM on December 11, 2009
Was it an easy $1200-1500 or something you always were kind of researching?
It was pretty easy. What is your current hobby? How much time do you spend on it? Sure, there were a few weekends where I had to take 60 photos of a hard drive upgrade in my TiVo that normally I'd skip and just do undocumented, but really it was like being into xbox or bikes or beer or whatever after work hours, and just making one blog post a day after reading up on it for an hour or two each night (for fun).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:23 PM on December 11, 2009
It was pretty easy. What is your current hobby? How much time do you spend on it? Sure, there were a few weekends where I had to take 60 photos of a hard drive upgrade in my TiVo that normally I'd skip and just do undocumented, but really it was like being into xbox or bikes or beer or whatever after work hours, and just making one blog post a day after reading up on it for an hour or two each night (for fun).
posted by mathowie (staff) at 5:23 PM on December 11, 2009
Again, just curious, but have you checked to see if anyone who made an offer to you before is willing to make their offer again? Just thinking such organizations might be able to offer you a little more bank than the average Joe.
posted by MikeHarris at 6:33 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by MikeHarris at 6:33 PM on December 11, 2009
"It's mostly because I just have a tiny nagging voice in my head that says "hey, you should make a post on PVRblog today" and I've been ignoring that voice for a couple years and would rather just have it silenced."
You shoulda mentioned that during your brain surgery. I'm sure they coulda taken that right on out.
posted by klangklangston at 6:55 PM on December 11, 2009 [6 favorites]
You shoulda mentioned that during your brain surgery. I'm sure they coulda taken that right on out.
posted by klangklangston at 6:55 PM on December 11, 2009 [6 favorites]
Back in 2005, Weblogs inc (Jason Calacanis) tried to buy me out with no cash, just a rev share offer. When I refused (I was making more money off the site than the rev share) he threatened to start a clone site called PVRweblog.com because my name was too generic and that was ok. He also used to publish posts on how VC people should have ethics so I pointed out those posts to him and asked that he reconsider. He eventually launched his clone at PVRwire.com.
Was anyone else half-expecting that to end with: "And where is he now? DEAD."?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:08 PM on December 11, 2009 [7 favorites]
Was anyone else half-expecting that to end with: "And where is he now? DEAD."?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:08 PM on December 11, 2009 [7 favorites]
Unfortunately, I think the magic hour is passed now for the DVR, and the demand for information about the technology is ebbing. Even my kids' school newsletter now reminds me to record a show "on your DVR/VCR." A website about "PVRs" (unfortunate bet on the name, btw) is probably going to pull traffic right up there with your favorite Segway site.
Don't mean to snark, though -- that was one of my favorite sites when you launched it. I lost interest about the same time you did. You capitalized at at the peak, not many people can say that. Good luck!
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:21 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
Don't mean to snark, though -- that was one of my favorite sites when you launched it. I lost interest about the same time you did. You capitalized at at the peak, not many people can say that. Good luck!
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:21 PM on December 11, 2009 [1 favorite]
Was anyone else half-expecting that to end with: "And where is he now? DEAD."?
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:08 PM on December 11
Reader, I married him.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:27 PM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:08 PM on December 11
Reader, I married him.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 8:27 PM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
It's mostly because I just have a tiny nagging voice in my head that says "hey, you should make a post on PVRblog today" and I've been ignoring that voice for a couple years and would rather just have it silenced.
Oh god yes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:46 PM on December 11, 2009
Oh god yes.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:46 PM on December 11, 2009
jessamyn, all I would ask at this stage is that you check out our award-winning workspace wellness program, and the range of exclusive hotel and resort discount vouchers we make available to all our employees.
cialis
posted by SEOgrandmaster2203 at 8:50 PM on December 11, 2009 [39 favorites]
cialis
posted by SEOgrandmaster2203 at 8:50 PM on December 11, 2009 [39 favorites]
cortex
hey cortex
when are you going to post a new bunt cake cortex
what's going on with the aural times
how's that x-files thing going cortex
posted by danb at 9:00 PM on December 11, 2009 [8 favorites]
hey cortex
when are you going to post a new bunt cake cortex
what's going on with the aural times
how's that x-files thing going cortex
posted by danb at 9:00 PM on December 11, 2009 [8 favorites]
Oh look, someone bid $5.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:23 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 9:23 PM on December 11, 2009
I am going to write a number on a piece of paper.
*slides it over to mathowie*
posted by Eideteker at 9:30 PM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
*slides it over to mathowie*
posted by Eideteker at 9:30 PM on December 11, 2009 [2 favorites]
Eid, this is a crude drawing of a naked woman with the word "garbonzo" written underneath.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:01 PM on December 11, 2009 [23 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:01 PM on December 11, 2009 [23 favorites]
Unfortunately, I think the magic hour is passed now for the DVR, and the demand for information about the technology is ebbing.
I agree, and it's how I feel personally (I can't be bothered to wander into the tivo forums anymore) but just last week there was a report that 1/3 of all US households have some form of DVR now. That's pretty astounding and a sizable audience if you're doing daily posts on how to streamline your comcast DVR or put more storage in your U-verse set top box, etc.
But I was definitely in the right place at the right time and I know how lucky I was. Still, I think something interesting could be done with it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:34 AM on December 12, 2009
I agree, and it's how I feel personally (I can't be bothered to wander into the tivo forums anymore) but just last week there was a report that 1/3 of all US households have some form of DVR now. That's pretty astounding and a sizable audience if you're doing daily posts on how to streamline your comcast DVR or put more storage in your U-verse set top box, etc.
But I was definitely in the right place at the right time and I know how lucky I was. Still, I think something interesting could be done with it.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 12:34 AM on December 12, 2009
Eid, this is a crude drawing of a naked woman with the word "garbonzo" written underneath.
That's a time limited offer. In six hours twenty seven minutes it's just the word "garbonzo". No pressure.
posted by Sparx at 1:50 AM on December 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
That's a time limited offer. In six hours twenty seven minutes it's just the word "garbonzo". No pressure.
posted by Sparx at 1:50 AM on December 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
cortex
hey cortex
when you going to post a new cat?
posted by cjorgensen at 7:38 AM on December 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
hey cortex
when you going to post a new cat?
posted by cjorgensen at 7:38 AM on December 12, 2009 [1 favorite]
"when you going to post a new cat?"
This. A thousand times this. In fact, you know what? Take the weekend off and post cats instead. Tell the boss I said it was okay, he'll know what I mean.
posted by majick at 10:06 AM on December 12, 2009 [2 favorites]
This. A thousand times this. In fact, you know what? Take the weekend off and post cats instead. Tell the boss I said it was okay, he'll know what I mean.
posted by majick at 10:06 AM on December 12, 2009 [2 favorites]
One of our cats is up there (305 and 306).
I sent in another. It has to be seen to be believed. I'd tell you about it, but no one would believe me.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:17 PM on December 12, 2009
I sent in another. It has to be seen to be believed. I'd tell you about it, but no one would believe me.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:17 PM on December 12, 2009
Oh, and anyone want to take bets on when PVRblog sells how long it will take Matt to get his money from PayPal?
posted by cjorgensen at 7:18 PM on December 12, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by cjorgensen at 7:18 PM on December 12, 2009 [2 favorites]
I'm excited that it's "local pickup only".
Me, in 5 days: "Hi, I'm here for the keys to the website."
Mathowie: "They're... not real keys you know—and how did you find my house?"
I fully expect the auction to close right near $7,500-$10,000, but I can see it hovering in the $5,000-$7,000 range. I'd consider picking it up for $3-$5,000 or so, but we're quickly eclipsing that price. I also don't know if I could take the whole gadget blogging side of things, having given a part of my soul to Gizmodo and the Denton mothership.
posted by disillusioned at 1:12 AM on December 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Me, in 5 days: "Hi, I'm here for the keys to the website."
Mathowie: "They're... not real keys you know—and how did you find my house?"
I fully expect the auction to close right near $7,500-$10,000, but I can see it hovering in the $5,000-$7,000 range. I'd consider picking it up for $3-$5,000 or so, but we're quickly eclipsing that price. I also don't know if I could take the whole gadget blogging side of things, having given a part of my soul to Gizmodo and the Denton mothership.
posted by disillusioned at 1:12 AM on December 13, 2009 [2 favorites]
Oh hey, this is here. Good thing I didn't go writing my own post about it :P
posted by mullingitover at 7:58 PM on December 14, 2009
posted by mullingitover at 7:58 PM on December 14, 2009
And continuing your post, I found it weird Gruber "found" the adsense mention since it's in the eBay auction pretty clearly and has been on the Google Adsense site since 2004.
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:04 PM on December 14, 2009
posted by mathowie (staff) at 8:04 PM on December 14, 2009
Not terribly odd, I'm guessing he posted a blurb before he finished reading the auction's description.
I have to confess, I miscounted the zeroes and for a minute was wondering if you'd quit metafilter when you became a millionaire.
posted by mullingitover at 9:21 PM on December 14, 2009
I have to confess, I miscounted the zeroes and for a minute was wondering if you'd quit metafilter when you became a millionaire.
posted by mullingitover at 9:21 PM on December 14, 2009
Best seller feedback evar:
If I met the seller on the street I'd give him a big kiss right on the lips. A+
posted by Deathalicious at 11:41 PM on December 14, 2009
If I met the seller on the street I'd give him a big kiss right on the lips. A+
posted by Deathalicious at 11:41 PM on December 14, 2009
Cats for gold! Turn that glitter to litter!
posted by Artw at 12:31 AM on December 15, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by Artw at 12:31 AM on December 15, 2009 [5 favorites]
I was really hoping for a 3rd term for Bush so I'd have more high quality content for lolpresident.com
as it stands, I've lost interest in the site, but I'm scared to let the domain expire.
posted by jrishel at 7:15 AM on December 15, 2009
as it stands, I've lost interest in the site, but I'm scared to let the domain expire.
posted by jrishel at 7:15 AM on December 15, 2009
If I met the seller on the street I'd give him a big kiss right on the lips. A+
Wasn't he the one who won a user number? I remember Matt auctioning off a really low user number a looooonnnnggg time ago.
posted by iconomy at 7:59 AM on December 15, 2009
Wasn't he the one who won a user number? I remember Matt auctioning off a really low user number a looooonnnnggg time ago.
posted by iconomy at 7:59 AM on December 15, 2009
Yeah - he started off as #3557 and won #8. At the time, #3557 must have seemed high....too funny.
posted by iconomy at 8:10 AM on December 15, 2009
posted by iconomy at 8:10 AM on December 15, 2009
... He eventually launched his clone at PVRwire.com.
Was anyone else half-expecting that to end with: "And where is he now? DEAD."?
As regular readers know, the PVR Wire blog is retiring as of today. ... But retiring a blog is never about the bloggers, .... so the PVR Wire team is heading [to TV Squad](Posted Feb 1st 2007)
And the latest PVR Wire taged post on TV Squad is dated Jul 22nd 2008. So in essence, PVR Wire did die, but a rather prolonged death, whereas PVRblog kept going with sporadic news posts.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on December 15, 2009
Was anyone else half-expecting that to end with: "And where is he now? DEAD."?
As regular readers know, the PVR Wire blog is retiring as of today. ... But retiring a blog is never about the bloggers, .... so the PVR Wire team is heading [to TV Squad](Posted Feb 1st 2007)
And the latest PVR Wire taged post on TV Squad is dated Jul 22nd 2008. So in essence, PVR Wire did die, but a rather prolonged death, whereas PVRblog kept going with sporadic news posts.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:24 AM on December 15, 2009
SOLD for $12,100.00 - (The price doubled during the last five minutes.)
Well deserved, Mathowie.
posted by lodev at 2:22 PM on December 18, 2009
Well deserved, Mathowie.
posted by lodev at 2:22 PM on December 18, 2009
good call, disillusioned! (I was watching the end of the auction and kept feeling a random, unfounded compulsion to bid, so I closed the window!)
posted by peep at 2:26 PM on December 18, 2009
posted by peep at 2:26 PM on December 18, 2009
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posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:48 PM on December 11, 2009 [15 favorites]