I'd first like to say how disgusting, libellous and offensive I find the remarks that have been made here without asking me about the situation at hand. Not only do the aforementioned posts have nothing at all to do with the way in which I fulfil my role, but they make a number of false allegations.
The notion that I have bought a ''shiny new MacBook'' with money that I EARNED by writing two long & well-received eBooks is completely and utterly false. Had anyone asked me about this before assuming I had bought my new laptop with funds I made, I would have explained the situation; instead, and, as ever, feedback has been made baselessly. My mother paid for my MacBook with my own money. When my grandmother died in 2003, she left behind a small amount of money to be used to cover some of the expenses which would be incurred during my time at university, which my mother has kept in a bank account under her control since my grandmother's death, seeing as I was 10 when she died. As I've said, the amount she left was small, and my mother and I agreed that I should buy a competent laptop with it for university. My old laptop simply was not adequate - not only was the mousepad well and truly broken, but the screen was becoming increasingly disconnected from the body of the laptop. To make matters worse, the fan was broken and so the laptop could not be moved at all - instead, it had to remain on my desk at all times - HARDLY suitable for university, where moving your laptop around in order to take it with you to seminars and lectures, for example, is necessary. Furthermore, I didn't make nearly enough money to buy the MacBook, and the money that I did make has so far been used to buy various necessary items for my place of accommodation - namely cutlery, plates, bedding, and various other essentials. This weekend when I arrive, I'll be able to buy the assortment of textbooks I need from a second hand bookstall.
Now, given that this feedback has absolutely nothing to do with the quality of my site administration, and also given that what I spend the money I have EARNED has NOTHING to do with anyone but me, I would not usually respond to such character assassination attempts. However, given that many of the aforementioned comments are not only completely off-the-mark but also libellous, I felt the need to clarify. I am offended & shocked by the assumptions some of you have drawn and would advise those that have jumped to conclusions to reevaluate the way they act - some very grave remarks have been made here.
Although I hope I have dispelled the false and baseless assertions made above, I would say that, in future, you have absolutely no right to comment on the way in which I spend my money.