Tue, Jun-27-06, 16:29
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Experimenter
Posts: 25,829
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Plan: DDF
Stats: 202/185.4/179
BF:
Progress: 72%
Location: San Diego, CA
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Adieu, The Omnivore
Poor guy, I know of his pain of self-publishing. My brother tried that too.
Quote:
WHY I'VE PULLED THE PLUG ON THEOMNIVORE.COM
Dear Readers,
In early 2003, I created TheOmnivore.com as a result of my desire to
share what I felt was vitally important diet and health information
with others. Since that time, I have posted hundreds of articles, sent
out hundreds of newsletters, and answered thousands of emails from
people all over the world. I have performed this function
single-handedly and funded this effort entirely out of my own pocket.
To say that I have put a huge amount of time and effort into running
this web site would be something of an understatement.
Recently on June 26-27, 2006, I removed the bulk of TheOmnivore.com
from the internet. The few intact pages of my site that remain on the
net feature information about my recently released book, The Great
Cholesterol Con.
Numerous readers, after attempting to access articles and instead
getting a message stating "This page no longer available", have
written to ask what on earth is happening with the site. In order to
give an honest answer, I'm about to go on one of my famous rants, but
hey, you asked…
WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
In essence, running TheOmnivore.com was just taking up much time and
effort, and I realized I simply wasn't getting anything in return.
Don't get me wrong--the site was never intended as a money-making
venture, and at no time during the 3 years I ran the site did I ever
ask anyone for a single cent. I simply hoped to make some sort of
contribution to public health and knowledge by posting information for
people to consider and research further. However, instead of becoming
a repository of info for self-reliant free-thinkers, my web site seems
to have become a magnet for free-loaders who seem to be under the
impression that I am obligated to furnish them with free diet and
health info on tap.
This point has really been hammered home to me by the lackadaisical
sales response to my book The Great Cholesterol Con. The book was
released on May 29, 2006 and so far, it's selling VERY slowly. Judging
by the enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive feedback from those
who have actually bothered to read it, it's not because I've written a
substandard book. The consensus so far is that it is entertaining,
easy to read, and the most thorough, damning and eye-opening expose of
the anti-cholesterol agenda ever written.
Unfortunately, due to lack of interest from the politically-correct
major publishing houses and literary agents, I had to self-publish the
book. Obviously, I don't have the mega-marketing budgets and worldwide
distribution networks that the major publishing houses do. If my book
is to achieve even modest success, it will happen only because of
word-of-mouth, because enough people bought the book, were blown away
by what they read, and told as many people as they could about it.
Well, judging by the sales figures over at Lulu, only a small fraction
of my newsletter subscribers have even bothered to buy the book. Yet I
still get people emailing to tell me what a great guy I am, how great
the (free) info on my web site is and still wanting (free) answers to
their questions. It's brought home to me the truth behind the old
saying about how people love you when you're giving stuff away free
but then suddenly run for the doors when you ask for some money.
The final trigger was the truly idiotic emails I received soon after
publishing The Great Cholesterol Con. Right after I released the book,
I received an abusive email from some wacko in Panama, who was most
upset that the book wasn't available in e-book form and that he would
have to pay international shipping charges if he wished to purchase
the hard copy version. Well boo-hoo, I've been living down under in
Australia and paying international shipping charges all my life! Due
to the lack of interest from the major publishers and literary agents
I approached, I was forced to self-publish with a print-on-demand
firm, and I cannot do anything about the fact that POD firms do not
have the same publishing and distribution facilities as major publishers.
As for releasing an e-book version, the last thing I wish to see after
pouring my heart and soul into this book is for it to be illegally
copied and pasted all over the internet (as so often happens with PDF
e-books). Thanks, but no thanks!
Not long after this, I had another fellow from Finland or the
Netherlands or wherever chastising me for not making the book locally
available in his country and taunting me that not many people will buy
my book as a result. I explained that I had to self-publish out of my
own pocket, and that if instead of offering unhelpful and spiteful
antagonism he could organize a contract with a major publishing house
that will allow my book to be sold in countries all over the world,
then I'm all ears.
So here I am, having self-published a book that has literally costs me
thousands of dollars out of my own pocket (and caused me more than a
few headaches along the way) to bring to market, and in return I get
disgruntled wankers writing to complain about how they have to pay an
extra ten piddly bucks to have the book delivered to their country!
Then about a week after I released the book, some woman who had
evidently read a statin article on my web site emailed asking: "OK, so
statins are bad, but what should we take instead?"
Soon after this, some equally idiotic bloke from Italy emailed telling
me about the zillion stents he'd just had installed in his arteries
and asking what I would recommend for him to help salvage his already
crapped-out cardiovascular system.
Holy %$#~!
For crying out loud, I have addressed these very questions several
times already on my web site, and have just written an ENTIRE BOOK on
the topic!
I guess it's way too much to expect the apathetic, lazy, unthinking
sheep that constitute the majority of today's population to actually
use the search function on my site, or to plunk down a piddly 20-25
bucks for my book...nope, on top of the abundant info I've already
given, I apparently still must provide them with their very own
personalized answer!
If people want to act like a bunch of whining, unappreciative,
free-loading shmucks, that's their prerogative, but I refuse to be an
accomplice to such idiocy any longer. That is a major reason why I
have torn down the bulk of my site and why I will not be answering any
more health/diet questions. Virtually everything I have to say about
the saturated fat/cholesterol/CHD issue can be found in my book.
Whether people choose to buy and read it or not is beyond my control,
but it's all in there...
PERSPECTIVE
Two weeks ago to this very day, my last surviving grandparent passed
away. My Grandma was an incredible woman, and second only to my own
Mum as the person who I loved and respected most in this world. When
someone who means this much to you passes away, it tends to put a lot
of things in perspective. My Grandma was a strong, self-reliant woman;
her and my Grandpa had experienced poverty and much hardship during
their life. Yet they rarely complained - their primary concern was
always for the welfare of their children and us grandchildren. Even as
my Grandmother lay in her hospital bed, with the organs of her 84
year-old body failing, knowing that her long and eventful life was
about to come to an end, she did not complain. Instead, she would ask
my mother and Auntie, who were keeping a bedside vigil, if they were
hungry, and would urge them to go eat. Instead of complaining about
her fate, she repeatedly asked how us grandkids were doing. Instead of
whining about the pain, she wanted to know how her first great
grandchild was doing, and whether he would make it to Adelaide in time
to see her (unfortunately, he/we didn't).
What an amazing woman.
What a stark contrast to the self-obsessed, pansy-assed, serial
whining weenies that constitute the bulk of today's population!
WAKE UP, PEOPLE!
When someone sticks their neck out, and suffers virulent abuse and
denunciation for having the audacity to present you with potentially
life-saving facts, you need to SUPPORT these people! I'm not trying to
hit you with a Jimmy Bakker-type "I need your money to do God's work!"
routine, I'm just telling you how it is. People like me, Uffe
Ravnskov, John Hammell, etc, who have worked tirelessly to try and
alert people to the numerous frauds occurring in the diet and health
arenas, are NOT rich playboys who decided to go on some
conscience-placating humanitarian kick after getting bored with
driving Lamborghinis, sailing in the Carribean, canoodling with
supermodels and orchestrating multi-million dollar leveraged buyouts!
We are ordinary people who have to clothe, feed and shelter ourselves,
and receive virtually no financial assistance from anyone for doing
so! The main sources of research money are governments and drug
companies; these organizations are hardly going to provide us with
funds when they are the very organizations whose corruption, greed and
incompetence we are seeking to expose! And contrary to the claims of
certain shameless commentators who cannot factually dispute our
arguments, we do NOT receive a single damn cent from the meat, dairy
or egg industries.
When one of us writes a book that has taken years of effort to
research and write, please do NOT have the audacity to write asking
questions that are already addressed at length in the book, or to
complain about shipping charges or the fact that the book is not sold
locally in Outer Eastern Mongolia, or to point out that you would have
chosen pale violet instead of black for the cover background…just BUY
the damn book already! And if you like the book, tell as many people
who will listen as possible! Write reviews on amazon, talk about it on
web forums and give a copy to your doctor if you believe his brain has
not been entirely dulled by drug company propaganda.
Let me ask--how many of you have bought books by Dr. Atkins, or The
South Beach Diet? Now how many have bought The Great Cholesterol Con?
Gee, where did all the raised hands go? So if people won't think twice
about buying a weight loss book from someone who consistently sported
a double chin and who had absolutely no idea about the pivotal role of
calories in weight loss (Atkins), and will take diet-heart advice from
someone who uses and recommends toxic statin drugs (Agatston), why are
they so reluctant to purchase a book written by someone who has
established himself as an author of thorough research habits and
unassailable logic (I'm still waiting for the dozens of folks who have
attacked me on the cholesterol and calorie issues to front up with
actual evidence…)?
Hmmm, maybe it's because Atkins and Agatston never spoiled people with
hundreds of free articles, newsletters, and personal answers to their
email questions!!!
WHERE TO NOW?
People have been asking if the drastic downsizing of TheOmnivore is
temporary, or if it is permanent. Make no mistake, it is permanent. I
just don't have the time, nor do I any longer possess the desire, to
keep it running at full tilt.
I will, however, leave the site as it now stands in its drastically
trimmed down version to provide people with information about the
book, and may add any emerging news about the book to the site. For
example, I understand that a number of web sites are planning to
review The Great Cholesterol Con, and I intend to add links to these
as they become available. If the book somehow ever manages to attract
any coverage in the corporate-controlled media, I'll post info about
that too.
I will also let the newsletter list remain active, in case there are
any newsworthy items I feel I should pass onto subscribers. Those who
do not wish to remain on the newsletter list can unsubscribe
immediately by following the instructions at the bottom of this email.
PLEASE DO NOT write to me directly asking to be unsubscribed, you need
to do this yourself. Like I said, just follow the instructions at the
bottom of this email and you'll be unsubscribed in no time!
I am currently working on a new web project which will hold special
appeal to all those of you who follow low-carb diets and are also into
strength and/or endurance activities. It will be totally free to
participate, but it will be a project that will hopefully provide far
more personal satisfaction and possibly even financial reward than
TheOmnivore. If you are a low-carbing bodybuilder or athlete, then you
may want to stay on the newsletter list to learn when this project
goes live.
I am also working on a fat loss book that will once and for all
address the unrepentant stupidity of people who think that eating
high/low-fat/carbs/protein at the same calorie intake awards some sort
of magical, mystical weight loss advantage.
Before I sign off, I would like to take this opportunity to personally
thank each and every one of you who has put your money where your
mouth is and purchased my book. I would especially like to thank those
who have graciously posted positive reviews on sites like amazon.com,
and a big hearty thanks goes out to folks like Hank from Canada, who
thought nothing of buying ten copies of the book to hand out to
friends, colleagues, and his doctor. If everyone had Hank's brand of
pro-activity, the powerful perpetrators of the cholesterol fraud
wouldn't stand a chance - they'd be toppled in no time! I truly hope
you all enjoy the book, and am always eager to receive your feedback.
Sincerely,
Anthony Colpo.
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