Every once in a while I stumble upon that most fascinating of web pages … a quotes page. I’m in a generous mood today, so I’m going to share this one with you. The quotes seem selected with just a hint of an edge to them, a tiny scent of an acid wit and come accompanied by linocuts which you can purchase, if you so wish.

The link above is well into the middle of the site … be sure to scroll backwards as well as ahead.

Here’s a teaser:

You are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life and your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live.

- George Bernard Shaw

After this has been up a few days as an ordinary post, I think that I’ll make it permanent page and every Friday pass along the best quote I’ve encountered during the preceding week.

I suppose by now that you are hoping I will leave off the rants for a while … and in a while I intend to do so.

But not yet.

Click here to read on, my friend.

Just a very brief post today.

Like I often do, I was using Wikipedia several times today to research a small point. Sometimes it is for a book I am working on, sometimes for “pay the rent” college papers, sometimes just to get my facts straight before writing an e-mail or, even more critically, before answering a question from my wife.

Married men: do not underestimate the value of Wikipedia!

The point is, I use Wikipedia a lot and I’m willing to guess that you do too.

Today, in the banner area, there was a request from Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, for financial support. You can probably guess where I am going with this, can’t you.

This won’t be the first time I have donated. I have a keen appreciation of the value of what amounts to an encyclopedia that is kept up to the minute. If things change … and I know of the change … I can even make the needed edit myself.

Yeah, just makes me feel warm all over.

That’s Jimmy below. Look at those sad little puppy dog eyes. He’s not getting rich off this; the poor man is going gray and can barely afford to shave. Open your wallet.

They are asking for a minimum contribution of $35 … so are the guys alongside the road with those cute signs about ninjas and kung fu lessons. When I get done paying this months bills, maybe this time I’ll pop ‘em $35-$50. Or, maybe I’ll just slide ‘em the same $20 I’ve been passing along all these lean years. They’ve never complained … and they’ve never shut my subscription off.

Here’s where to go when you leave this blog today. http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Support_Wikipedia/en

Oh, and if you make a donation of at least $100, the founder of eBay will match it … turning your $100 into $200 with no pain to you (or him, either … the guy is loaded!) Moreover, this donation is tax deductible for you and for him).