Based upon the results of TBP as we approach the halfway mark of this year, I would say the economy is in the toilet.
Oddly, page views are up dramatically versus last year, while advertising revenue and donations are in the shitter compared to last year. The charts below are a little hard to read, but show page views year to date are up 16% and are tracking to get back to near the 12 million mark we achieved in 2021 and 2022. In case you’re curious, the month in green was the denial of service attack month when TMWNN rode to the rescue and kept TBP alive. Otherwise this place would not have been around for the last ten years.
Page views are the only positive trend in 2024. TBP does tend to do better the worse the economic, political, global, and social situation gets. So the page view trend should continue, as we spiral towards our November rendezvous with destiny and the ultimate climax of this Fourth Turning.
A year ago I was still using five ad companies, with numerous complaints about the volume and type of ads. I made a decision to only retain two ad companies, in order to make the user experience on TBP better. I was hoping an increase in donations would fill the gap. Advertising revenue is down 80%, as we have far less ads and the two ad companies are paying drastically less than last year. The advertising environment is poor, reflecting the poor economy.
Google has been screwing me for years and the beat goes on. I’ve been banned by Google Adsense for over a decade. Six months ago Google threatened to not allow any ads to show on TBP if the user was using Google Chrome, unless I buckled to their ridiculous demands. I told them to fuck off. It seems the majority of internet users still use Google Chrome, so that has further cut ad revenue. In addition, when legitimate ad companies have approached me about running ads on my site, they end up walking away because they partner with Google Adsense and require Google Chrome to work.
Amazon did un-ban me last year, but their commission structure is far worse than it was several years ago. In the old days TBP would average a 6% commission on purchases through the website. Now it is 3%. Based on the monthly sales this year, my TBP economic indicator says the country went into recession in May. Below are the monthly Amazon sales through the TBP link.
January – $9,552.95
February – $14,068.26
March – $9,840.64
April – $12,324.72
May – $5,347.46
You can do the math. Amazon generated about $160 for TBP in May. That equates to one generous donation from a TBP reader. Which brings us to donations as an economic indicator. At the beginning of the year I was pleasantly surprised by the volume of donations. Through February we were well ahead of last year’s pace, but there has been a dramatic drop-off in donations in the last three months. I am chalking it up to the deteriorating economic conditions in the real world, because the number of visitors is way up. Donations are very lumpy, as we only have 46 readers who donate automatically through Paypal each month.
I’m always surprised and gratified when a large donation comes in through Paypal, Stripe or the PO Box. But at the current pace, donations would finish 20% below last year and 30% below the year before. All of these revenue trends don’t bode well for my master plan of retiring from the rat race in the near future and running TBP full-time. My boss quit this week after staying for less than two years. No loss. He was an empty suit. They announced the interim boss yesterday and it is a woman I despise and who dislikes me intensely. Factual reality seems to offend her, so we are not a good fit. I really need an exit strategy, other than the one below, and a successful TBP is my best bet.
I understand how difficult everyone’s economic situation is, just based upon what I see with TBP. But there are a few ways you can help keep me getting out the truth about our government, politicians, banking cabal, military industrial complex, Big Pharma, regime media, and the billionaire global elite pulling the strings. First you can spread TBP links on other websites and social media to broaden our reach. Second, you could buy me out for $1 million. Otherwise, there are 3 donation options:
2. Via Stripe, click here.
3. By Mail
Burning Platform LLC –
P.O. Box 1520,
Kulpsville, PA 19443
I know many people don’t like Amazon, but if you are going to make a purchase using Amazon, please use the TBP link:
Lastly, TBP makes small commissions from purchases at the TBP Merchandise store and from MyPillow:
Use Promo code ILMF2 at MyPillow
Thank you for your support and readership through the years. Hopefully I can keep this going until they throw me in the gulag or until we can achieve a successful outcome to this Fourth Turning. Meanwhile, I’ll try and keep the lights on.
It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
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To donate via Stripe, click here.
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Use promo code ILMF2, and save up to 66% on all MyPillow purchases. (The Burning Platform benefits when you use this promo code.)
JQ, what $$ amount would it take to keep TBP in the black if just 50% of the TBP users contributed this amount on a monthly basis?
If 50% of TBP users contributed $5 per month, TBP would be well in the black. That is the subscription model used by bloggers on Substack.
DANG Admin, I didn’t know that. From this point forward I’m giving $5 a month. Only income is SS but that amount in no way will break me. Will send via Stipe tomorrow.
Anyone here know if Western Rifle Shooters has surfaced somewhere?
Try this link…
Western Rifle Shooters Association – “You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end — which you can never afford to lose — with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be.” VADM James Stockdale, USN (coldfury.com)
Thanks Will
LEONIDAS the Celt
Sixty bucks a year???? That’s it??? Come on Dover..Move your bloomin’ arse…
I am a canary in the coal mine.
People don’t NEED expensive artwork.
I actually tell a good friend in the investment business how my sales
are when he calls and gives me a small stipend for the information. When my sales drop, the economy is in real trouble. In the 2008 recession, I lost 40% of my yearly income and it has not ever fully recovered to where it was before.
I had the best year ever the last year and chalk that up to people trying to put useless paper into something tangible that holds value….Until May. I generally sell several paintings a month for at least 4 figures. For the first time in many years, I only sold one in May. I agree May is the start of the recession. I did not know TPB was so dependent on donations of money. I will do what I can to keep this place functioning. 5 bucks a month is 17 cents a day. We can all do that.
I’ve always donated sporadically several times a year however, I did just set up a monthly donation.
Almost a year ago I set up the TBP Amazon link when we order from Amazon, which is a lot.
Thank you for the info as only income is SS but if it will help, I can send that in a monthly payment. Coffee and TBP read every morning. You are appreciated.
I don’t post here that often, but I read here quite often, which is the important part, and did notice the weak Funding Thermometer situation. You’ve convinced me to at least pay for my passage and three or four other users on a monthly.
Sorry this is tardy. Well done, o good and faithful servant!
Done and done.
Sent in my small donation to go out around the 10th every month. Didn’t mark as monthly as a kindness to hubby who would never figure out paying the online stuff if I kick the bucket. 🙂
Donation coming over the weekend, thanks again for this site. You actually get tremendous value for your money here.
Take note, MAGA.
Y’all continually throw your money away on Trump.
You must really love paying for his lifestyle, his attorneys and seeing your money go indirectly to New Yorkers through lawfare verdicts.
What ROI are you realizing?
All politicians to the grave.
Thanks for your honesty.
Incidentally in all honesty some of those Trump funds, Lord, help, right to the coffers of LGBT.
Does anyone get a “report” where the dough goes? Don’t be a fool thinking none goes to the Log Cabin Republicans and as mentioned LGBT.
“What about the grandchildren?” Will they look at the adult trannies (LGBT) and think it ok they don’t “feel” like a man or woman and make the switch? Lord , help!
It’s precisely this kind of monotonous, brain-dead commentary that has donations down. You trash talk, but offer no solution – as do so many others here. If our collective intention is to try to right this ship — and we do believe there will be an election in November — under whose umbrella do you think we have a better chance of beginning that undertaking?
No indulging yourself by further running your mouth — just an answer, Biden (or whatever psychopath they’re offering) or Trump.
Just dropped $1k in addition to the monthly donation. Wish I could do more, but Fish Prices are also in the toilet right now, (not that you’d notice it at the grocery store. Go Figure)
The only fish in my “budget” come out of a pond. Other than a catfish dinner here and there I’ve not bought fish in an undetermined number of years I forget how long. I’ve not forgotten all the fried, grilled shrimp, shrimp cocktails , fried, baked flounder filets, oysters on the half shell, grilled Red Snapper etc. etc. from years past. The quality for these at typical grocery stores sucks and I’m not in the money in order to purchase good fish even if it could be found here. This is one result of paying taxes so those such as speaker Mike Johnson and the many lard asses up there in D.C. can enjoy the finer cuisine.
Side note, realizing many differences in the “economy” from state to state, peeps around here certainly don’t seem to be panicking when it comes to building new homes and building new commercial facilities. Why, this area is even getting a Starbucks? However, I’m out of the workforce praise the Lord so I cannot really say how tough it is on folks around here. I don’t see a whole lot of folks driving vehicles that are 20+ years old but I suppose that means little other than possibly peeps are up that creek without a paddle in debt.
I bring a lot of Cod and Pollock home from Alaska, and have quite a few friends in other fisheries, so I can usually score Salmon, Halibut, and King Crab for a pretty good price or some Horse Trading on the dock in Dutch. However, when it comes to things like Oysters, Clams, and Shrimp, I have to pay Seattle prices for it. Unfortunately, I really love those. Fortunately, my wife is allergic to shellfish 😉
It’s a different scenario in the Gulf. Anyway, perhaps work a deal with TBP and ship that salmon! “Lucky” you.
Unbelievably generous. Much appreciated.
Wow.
Nice!
Damn zero,that is one hell of a donation!
You say all you can do but fish market bad,seems you could buy the place if prices were good on fish!
I try and do a drop every 4 months or so,time to get on it,that said,can’t match your donation without cutting into a lot of folks I am helping at moment,things work out and get me monies back from a home sale will add more,till then same basic drop but the smalls add up.
I get many folks in a real tough time and can’t contribute monetarily,so,push the site/bezos buyers ect.
On a side note,sucks to type with trigger finger in a big ass bandage due to cut but felt you deserved a lot of kudos despite the aggravation,may the wholesale fish prices favor you in the future!
Mrs Ed has trigger finger in both thumbs. My sincerest condolences. She has been putting off getting anything done about it for a couple of years now, but I don’t think she’s going to be able to for much longer….
No, my income isn’t THAT great, even on an awesome year, but I really appreciate what Jim does on a daily basis, and want to ensure that I have done everything I can to assist. I’m now 59, but hope to be able to continue working at-sea for close to another decade or so.
Z,just cut me finger real good,nothing long term issue.
I hope what ever ails your wifes thumbs gets squared away,perhaps sooner while we still have a functioning to a partial degree health system!
Anyhow,mend the nets and keep feeding folks,a good job to have,lifes work feeding others.
“They announced the interim boss yesterday and it is a woman I despise and who dislikes me intensely. “
The two bitches over my lowly “position” in the corporate world struck me as totally anti-man. I left the rat’s nest in ’16. It’s interesting however that the worst of the bitches was laid off only months after I “retired” and she had been a worshipper of the corporation for 30 years! I cannot imagine not being a major blow for her.
I guess everyone just has to figure the shit out.
I give rats what others think of Amazon. Therefore what purchases I do make I link through TBP as long as I can “remember” to do so.
Putting a check in the mail tomorrow. Times are tough when you are on a fixed income and everything keeps going up in price. I will do what I can when finances allow. FJB!!
While Trump tax cuts are set to expire “next year” it seems to me that expiration only applies to the common joe working kind of person and not the tea sippers Trump hangs out with. Could be wrong on the expiration for corporatocracy. Supposedly “investors” are worried sick but just an written by barrons AI.
https://www.marketwatch.com/articles/trump-tax-cuts-expire-investors-ce1156ab?mod=home-page
For me personally, I no longer donate because our elections are rigged. No point in trying to influence the direction of America. Our future is up to Barack Obama and no one else. His whims alone matter.
So you punish TBP. Asshole.
You could contribute by throwing yourself off a high building or playing in the highway!
So you admit 2016 was rigged as well. “He” said “elections are rigged”.
2-3 bucks a month in an envelope is not a lot to ask for. I’ll continue to help out via Amazon. Purchases vary from month to month depending on how puny I feel about lack of money and it’s ALL fucking Joe Biden’s fault!
Do you not donate to TBP because elections are rigged or
do you not donate to politicians?
Your post doesn’t specify.
Gawd Bless Jim.
I’ve been around TBP for a few years and I see the dedication and integrity you exhibit. Every morning by 6am the stories start flowing and flow throughout the day and into the night.
I don’t know how you do it…honestly!!!
I thank the stars that a guy like you is unleashing truth bombs while giving the middle finger to the bastards choking the life from this country.
Cheers!!!
I think if you were working the platform full time it would boom. I also think it would help if some of the blatant nutjob/propaganda stuff gets jettisoned – State of Nation comes to mind immediately. Just my opinion.
There are so many conspiracy theorists running around here, so many driving wild and incorrect narratives when there is plenty of real stuff to discuss, it is impossible for me to engage. I suspect I am not alone.
Your full time involvement would change all that.
I don’t have issue with anything published here. Might be nice to have an organic gardening section.
I like humor in these end times.
Keeps me sane.
I’ve been advocating for “Joke Tuesday” or some such.
This crew of miscreant fogeys must know 10,000 jokes.
I’ve argued it would be just like Friday Fail.
But not necessarily for the better. There’s a lot of dynamics to operating a site like this and human psychology is nowhere near the least of them.
The more you fiddle with something that works, the higher the likelihood of something going off the rails.
Stay the course is not what anyone wants to hear during a depression, but experience has shown me that is the surest way through the crisis.
I’ll help Jim as I’m able, that goes without saying. Freedom always comes at a price, and we’re free to speak here…which I believe is the MAIN draw to his site…not the content. Not that the content is worthless, mind you. Some of it sucks. Some of it is great. It’s the same way with everything in life. You take the good with the bad. When the bad outweighs the good, it’s time to bail. That is not the case here. Let us pray that trend continues.
Check going out on Monday Admin…reminded my wife to use Amazon through you.
Thanks for what you do!
Admin,
Just an idea, but this type thread reminds me I need to send you some support…I just forget (I use to do automatic monthly but I cut all those ties) the $5 per month (or more) from regulars should a no brainier.
Keep us posted on how the support is going on a regular basis! I will be MOUR REGULAR with $ and using Amazon!
I also send out many threads with the TBP link to all friends and family to wake up more people.
What you do here is amazing, powerful, and much appreciated.
mark
Well that sucks. I’ll send my quarterly through this weekend. It won’t be 1K, though. I would have to leave home if I did that and I’m sure you don’t need me to show up at your door homeless😁
You could try the streets of Philly though.
I try to contribute regularly, but I don’t think my contributions are “regular” on the calendar.
By the way, I try to use TBP’s Amazon link every time I go there, but occasionally I get a “URL request was throttled” message.
Also I have a question about that link: do you get the same traffic credit if we right click and “open in new tab” or do we need to left click and open the Amazon link in the same tab? The difference being that you leave TBP with the left click and keep the TBP tab open with a right click. No big deal, just wondering.
You are confusing me. I just “click” “CLICK HERE TO SHOP AMAZON” log in to the Amazon Monster and purchase some stuff. I sure hope the purchases are credited.
I think as long as you start at the TBP link it recognizes a TBP code.
Work for me over the past year or so has been brutal – going through a divorce only compounded that. In March of last year, the company I contract with lost 2 accounts that had represented close to 50% of my income, and the primary account we had, had been decreasing steadily throughout the year. If I didn’t hustle to take on work that no one else wanted, I would’ve taken a haircut of over 50% – even so, my gross income was still about 20% lower.
And if my ex would’ve listened to my recommendation for divorce mediation, we both would’ve saved thousands. But I stull got my half of her 401k, and a great deal of that went to pay off the credit cards I’d been living off of the past year. I can also re-stcok on some PMs I had to cash in, and buy some more lead PMs.
The company I contracted with ceased all operations a few months ago, and most of the work I did went to another company, which I did as well, though it took awhile for work to pick back up to the point I can live comfortably.
My ex used an attorney that my family knew so the cost of the divorce was minimal from that standpoint compared to what other legal maggots charge. She hated me though after paying the attorney he advised her not to have sex with me until after the divorce. It never happened either way but she felt insulted by his comment.
BTW, I sent a donation via Paypal last night, before this article posted.
I’ve been doing $100 a month.
Jim, I’ll upscale my monthly. If you can quit work, move to Aiken to be with Dirtperson Steve. As you know, he’s turning to academia there with his MBA. Can he make you a visiting lecturer?
Told me his daughter has been admitted to the Chikin Nursing Skool & transferring there.
Both of y’all are welcone out on Coosaw Island & in Chucktown. OH! Btw, did you see the story on Knucledraggin on the monkey in Colleton Co. that had to be shot? Escaped from a fed med testing facility in Beaufort Co. called “Monkey Island”.
Had to look twice at the broadcast, as Channel 5 in Chucktown always shows local buildings or landmarks behind the newscaster.
It was our condo building, Bee St. Lofts.
General Augustus Bee stated, “There stands Jackson’s Men like a STONE WALL.”
Gen. Bee died in combat an hour later.
Thanks for the heads-up Jim, and if it helps you are not alone. My paid subscribers on Substack are now tending to bounce their Stripe DDs – signs of economic pain no doubt. My scribbles attract only a limited audience and TBPers are leading the knowledge engineers IMHO, they know their history. So we are all struggling for now until the finale of The Fourth Turning.
Your spirit is indomitable, thus we will win if we stay together:
“The most effective way to destroy the people is to deny and obliterate their understanding of history.” [George Orwell]
Go well my friend.
ANYONE NOTICED, “WHAT” IS BEING “FLUSHED DOWN THE TOILET???
TAKE A WILD GUESS FOLKS!
Do you by any chance remember the actual date you lost your mind?
LOL
“Goofé Dean. Dean. Well, let’s see, we have on the bags, Who’s on first, What’s on second, I Don’t Know is on third…”
What’s the frequency, Kenneth?
Dan Rather wants to know.
Check in the mail, Mr Quinn.
No matter what happens with TBP, and society in general, I pray that you and your family continue to receive the blessings you deserve.
Stupid question. If I use your Amazon link, can I still get my prime account and free shipping?
Yes, I do.
Yes
Amazon? who would willingly support the little bald demon bezo?
Admin after 40 years in the workforce.
Ever watch Jack Reacher? Remember the scene where he tells the broad to look out the window at her fellow man and asks her which ones she thinks wouldn’t have it any other way? None of us are free. We never were, for you may serve the Devil, or you may serve The LORD…but YOU WILL serve.
For what it’s worth, I think you’ve made the right choices so far.
And yes, I am sorry for your troubles as I am with most folks.
Yes.
Serve the Lord.
Indeed. And He made each of us specifically for a purpose. Not on this Earth so much as in preparation for the life to come. That purpose may seem to “bump” while here on Earth, but when you get your heavenly assignment I think you’ll find yourself perfectly suited to it.
Serve the Lord
“The body is a temple.”
“I shall have no other gods before me.”
Life is hard.
Lotus eaters are a fantasy.
But here is the thing…
Pressure creates action, pressure creates diamonds from carbon.
Pressure causes action.
I’ve known dozens of inherited wealthy people who had no pressure in their lives unless they created the pressure to succeed themselves. The rest are uniformally useless. Embrace the call to overcome. It’s what makes us human.
Being an artist with 4 children and a wife who likes the finer things in life living in a nice neighborhood is pressure. If I didn’t have that pressure, I would just drink all day instead of going to my easel and committing to painting all day, wheather I feel like it or not. I don’t have a boss, just me. (Gotta relieve the pressure with fine spirits around 5pm, tho!)
I’m no trust funder. I’ll work till I die. I buy a couple of Lottery tickets every time it reaches a billion dollors or so and quietly pray I don’t win because it would be great for me and my wife and sons (who are titans), and a complete catastrophy for my line as God loving productive humans.
I appreciate the work you do! Been reading your site every day for a couple of years so I guess it’s time I pony up my fair share. 10 a month sounds fair.
All I can contribute is my usual shitposts of pro-Jesus content or the latest rap analysis.
TBP has become extremely anti-semetic in the last year. Do you think that scares off advertisers?
By ‘semetic’ you mean?
they must be confused. i highly doubt anybody would be anti-one third of the world population simply because of their ancestor shem.
I know, people open their breathing holes and makes noises without knowing the meaning of the words they use.
SR680 has not gotten past committee and according to linked info “24% chance of getting past committee.” Good thing because what the house passed is a complete load of horse manure.
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/118/sres680
You would probably like to lock me up for saying , “I’m going to try to jew him down on the price of that car.”
Treading on shaky ground with the Victimization Card Game idea of “anti-semetic”. Actually it cracks me up all the years the democrats have claimed “victimization” for any number of issues concerning people and now the so called party of “conservatism” has joined the whiners in the card game concerning the “The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act”.
Total nonsense as well as the following “invitation”:
Johnson And Schumer Invite War Criminal And Mass Murderer To Address Congress
https://chuckbaldwinlive.com/Articles/tabid/109/ID/4577/Johnson-And-Schumer-Invite-War-Criminal-And-Mass-Murderer-To-Address-Congress.aspx
Fuck no! It ought to bring them in in droves. Antisemitism is waay popular these days. Ain’t sayin’ it’s right. I’m just sayin’ it is.
Just made my first of what I plan to be 3 payments this year. Mr. Quinn thank you for keeping this site going. I say payment instead of donation because I think you earn every penny you get from us TBPers.
The check will be in the mail tomorrow. I hope you get enough to keep it going.
I admit you had me at the abuse by google! I write about patterns in astrology cycles and politics and pissed them off enough that they DE-INDEXED my blog. Sent a donation.
https://mundane-astrology-notes.blogspot.com/2024/04/silicon-valley-bank-canary.html
The CIA doesn’t control Google to make shlubs rich or even profitable. They control it so they can monitor you 24/7.
I expect you’re correct but I did not expect ANY income from the blog, didn’t even put any ads on it. The site was just to share information and I wasn’t even allowed that. They can’t stand someone speaking against the narrative.
Top economist predicts ‘crash of a lifetime,’ worse than 2008 (nypost.com)
$100 coming your way.
All one has to do is give a thousand to Joel Osteen “Ministries” and Joel will write a check for $100 in return.