So Jon said in early January [goats.com] that no one should become a Premium member at this point in time. I didn't see any follow-up to this, though I may have missed it.

I'm wondering because I just got an automated subscription reminder over e-mail. I'm not objecting to giving another $20 to Jon--I'm happy to support Goats--but is premium membership about to become obsolete? What's the story?

We should just get the hyper-elite ILoP shirts every year until the end of time. They'll become our Masonic Compass, telling any of us that spy someone with a shirt that they are within one degree of separation from a super-premie.

Well, until china knocks them off.

Here's the deal, folks. I didn't want to post this until we were ready but I'll try to post a quick explanation.

Premium is going to undergo a cryogenic freeze. All current members will have their memberships extended indefinitely, without additional charge, until such time as I feel like I am not slighting you. You're going to get everything you paid for -- the discounts, the SPEY, the Sunday Strips, but at a slower rate. You will continue to have access to all archived material.

The best way I can explain it is that I've been putting so much effort into the daily strip that I have very little left over for for you guys, and it's not fair. You've given me money and I've been unable to give you the things you gave us money for.

So until I can do it properly again, everyone gets a free ride and we'll be closing the door to new subscribers. Worlds of Peril will be finished, no worries there -- I know how it ends and I want to finish it. Your SPEYs will be sent out as soon as the mini is finished, which will be first priority once we get our redesign finished (I would have put it off but it needed to be done for larger technical issues). That should be within the next week or two, it's just about complete.

After that, I'm on to Book 5 and back to Worlds of Peril.

Sorry I've been silent on this so far, I will explain in greater detail and with better words when I've rested up from this weekend's convention.

I am truly sorry about this, but after four months of 70-80 hour weeks something has to give. If you are feeling impatient or ripped-off, please drop me a line via email (jon at goats dot com, not here) and I will help resolve whatever issues you have in whatever manner you feel is fair.

In Response to jon (#32130):

now i'll just have to drive to new york to buy you beer... instead of the indirect paypal method i had been using.

In Response to jon (#32130):

What's in this year's SPEY?

Will there be fudge?

In Response to mcgrue (#32162):

No fudge, sadly. It'll be similar to last year's, except the print will be full-color archival pigment dyes and whatnot. The Gocco is limited and takes forever.

This is so frickin' weird: I've never been disappointed by not paying money like this before.... :) Ah, well: if it speeds up the process of getting book 5 into my grubby little hands, I guess it's all good. And I assume you'll let everyone know if there are other ways to help keep Goats in business.