Hello all! I realize what a can of worms I may be opening by bringing this up, but it seems like the all the public outrage over dyed-in-the-wool scalpers obtaining Gulf Coast concert tickets for the sole purpose of selling them for profit has just made it harder for fans to attend, not easier. The tickets that were immediately posted for sale were not canceled. So rather than being bought by people who would gladly attend and support local tourism, which was the point, they’ll just go to waste, since it’s not worth the trouble for the scalpers to try to sell them. So now not only does the Average Joe fan not get to attend, but but neither will a person with enough money to buy the ticket, rent accommodations, eat in the restaurants and tip their servers and buy souveniers.No one thinks what they did was right, but as long as tickets have been sold there have been those that capitalize on supply and demand. There will always be Have’s and Have Not’s, and it always sucks to be the one without. I have a friend that got 4 tickets just the way she was supposed to, took off work 2days off work to attend with her husband and in-laws, arranged to pay a sitter for 4 kids, and reserved a motel room for the July 1 show. Since it was postponed due to the tropical storm, her in-laws didn’t go, but her and her husband went anyway, as she had already paid for the room and had someone else scheduled to work in her place. Now she still has the 4 concert tickets, but for her and her husband to go back this weekend she needs to sell the 2 that her in-laws won’t be here to use. So how is that so wrong? And why shouldn’t she be allowed to make a practical financial decision that will result in not only more of her dollars supporting local businesses, but also someone who could spend even more? Every time I’ve seen a post on facebook, news discussion pages, etc., where someone says that have a ticket for sale, and they’re attacked and insulted by those who act like it was stolen from them personally. It was luck of the draw, and there will always be profiteers. I wonder how those die-hard fans, so violently opposed to the sale of a ticket or two, would answer this: you have two tickets to hear your favorite performer~ that you were lucky enough to win for free~ to a show that will be one of the most memorable highlights of your life, but you just can’t afford to miss a day’s minimum wage, and you’d still need to buy gas, food, sleep somewhere, and hey~you gotta buy a t-shirt, but you know this chance will never come along again. Do you give away both tickets because you got them for free, or do you sell one to someone who just wants to go and doesn’t care that they have to pay for it? So now you have people afraid to even say in public that they need to sell a ticket so they can enjoy going, too. And you also have people that want to go and can provide a real boost to the local economy, but can’t find a ticket. Just a thought…

I’m writing a business proposal for a place I’m interning at, and that is to be reviewed by a professor. It’s basically regarding a free online database for alternative and/or medicine. In order for it to be free, we need to make money off of advertisers. Who would be good businesses to talk to about paying to advertise on our website?
There is a few criteria:
1. They should be small local businesses that generally cater to sustainable living, such as fair trade products, hand-made crafts, family-owned restaurants, and food co-ops.
2. If they are big business ideas, then they should hopefully be somewhat in sync with the basic philosophy of economic equity and sustainability. We want more than anything to help promote small businesses, especially during these economic times, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a few large ones on there too.
We also would like any advertisers to be unconnected with pharmaceutical companies, if possible.

Just respond to this question with ideas, or shoot me an email if you have further questions or wish to share information that you don’t want posted on here.
Sorry, I meant it’s a “free online database for alternative and/or HOLISTIC medicine.”