It’s been a few weeks since the last “weekly” update. First, a recap of the previous poll I was running. Thank you to those who voted in that poll. Here are the results:

When do you think Marcellus Shale drilling in New York State will begin?

2011 (19%, 58 Votes)
2012 (35%, 109 Votes)
2013 (16%, 51 Votes)
Never (30%, 94 votes)

Total Voters: 312

Here is the relatively good news about the poll (for those who support safe drilling anyway): Put another way, 70% of you think drilling in the Marcellus Shale will happen in New York, while only 30% think it will never happen. I think there’s wisdom in the crowd’s view.

Current Poll

After a lot of thought, earlier this week I posted an appeal and a poll which is still running. That appeal was for your feedback and asks the question, is MDN worth your support? (See MDN Needs Your Feedback to Continue Publishing.) In that post I said the following:

So I have a question for the 18,000 of you who visit this site each month: Is MDN worth a small subscription fee to you, to continue to the service? Please think carefully about it, and please be completely truthful. Perhaps the things I do on this site are “nice” and maybe “interesting” but not really vital or “necessary” for most people with an interest in the drilling issue. If that’s the case, I’m wasting my time and can find other things to do with it.

Here’s the deal, think carefully about the question I’m asking, and then please click on your answer in the poll (found on the right side of any page). The question: Would you be willing to pay $5 per month to continue reading MDN? Your answer is anonymous—I won’t know who you are. If enough people say yes, MDN will continue and I’ll ask you to subscribe using a credit card (or Paypal account) and it will be charged $5 per month with the option to cancel at any time. If there’s little response, or if the vast majority say no, time to fold the tent and move on.

The early results have been encouraging. Thanks to those who have already voted. I’m going to leave this poll open for one more week. The good news is that is I’m leaning toward continuing MDN and introducing a paid option. I’m working on the details now. In the meantime, please keep reading MDN, and if you haven’t already done so, please vote in the poll. Either answer is fine (yes it’s worth $5 a month, or no it isn’t)! I need honest and true feedback about the value of this service.

Below you’ll find the “top 5” lists and this week’s calendar listings.

Happy reading,
Jim Willis, Editor

Read More “MDN Weekly Update – Jun 26, 2011”