This post is the 1,000th entry in this blog (including its predecessor). At this arbitrary juncture many would take the time to look back at some of those posts, enjoying the highs, lamenting the lows. Not I, though, my loyal readers. I am casting aside the self-congratulary air for something far more diabolical.

Charity readership drive

I am blessed with a wide and interesting readership. Through this little blog from the Big Lychee I have found people from all over the globe (if you are the person at the IAEA reading this, you really should be concentrating on Iran) and I have been lucky enough to have met some of these people in person. It has often been said that one cannot put a value on readers. That's cr@p.

According to (the admittedly imperfect) Sitemeter the current daily average readership of this blog is 203 people*. That's worthy, especially given the high quality of this readership. But it is time to take it to the next level. It is time for a readership drive. And I'm prepared to pay for it.

In 2 weeks I will check Sitemeter again**. For every extra reader above the current 203 I will donate HK$2 (about US25 cents) to a charity***. The charity will be at the discretion (with my agreement) of the person who is able to generate the most additional traffic to this site. While that does limit it to blog owners, if you are a blog reader suggest to other blogs they link to this and send me proof. If that link creates the most traffic you will be the "winner". There is one caveat. In order to prevent bankruptcy in the highly optimistic case that I get several Insta- and other -lanches in the next two weeks, I am imposing a generous but undisclosed upper limit on the total donation. That way I won't go bankrupt. I am not disclosing it because I don't want you to stop once the limit has been reached. Suffice to say when I say generous, it is not in an Uncle Scrooge kind of way.

It is an HR person's favourite situation: win-win. I get more readers, someone's charity gets money. Get going...

UPDATE: Welcome to all those visitors from Sgt. Hook and further afield. Please take the time to look around. And please be aware that for the charity you have to keep visiting...the donation depends on the average number of visitors over the next week or so. Thanks again and spread the word!

* _{I know Sitemeter underestimates and is not reliable but it's as good as anything else and is publicly available.}

** _{The precise date will be either June 23rd, 24th or 25th but I am deliberately leaving it open so that there can be no manipulation of the numbers.}

*** _{If this backfires and my readership goes down, I am going to bill a charity instead for the difference. It's harsh but fair.}