As someone who comments on contentious topics (notably UFOs), I'm sometimes accused of being a paid shill or part of a disinformation effort. I am not. What follows is a factual summary of my income sources, to the extent I can disclose them.
The only limitations are standard ones: client confidentiality and, in a few cases, nondisclosure of exact payment amounts.
INVESTMENT INCOME
I was a founder and co-owner of Neversoft Entertainment, which was acquired by Activision after the success of the Tony Hawk series. I left several years later. Investment returns from that exit remain a significant part of my income. In practical terms, I am semi-retired and largely living off savings.
CODING / CONSULTING
I occasionally do contract programming work at standard senior-level rates. One client, whose identity is confidential, funds continued development of Sitrec, an open-source web app I created for analyzing UAP cases, especially those involving video.
All funded work is published openly in the public GitHub repository and is available for inspection and noncommercial use.
Because confidentiality was explicitly requested, I have a standing no-comment policy on any questions about that work, including speculation about who the client might or might not be.
TV APPEARANCES
I sometimes appear on news programs, documentaries, or TV series. I am not paid for news or public-television appearances. For some productions, I charge a modest per-diem. Most recently, this involved a few days of recording for The Proof Is Out There.
BOOK ROYALTIES
I authored Escaping the Rabbit Hole (2018; revised edition 2023). Royalties are modest and recurring.
WRITING
I write approximately five or six articles per year for Skeptical Inquirer, paid at typical niche-publication rates. I also occasionally write for other outlets (roughly 2–3 pieces per year), with pay generally ranging from low hundreds to around $1,000.
ADVERTISING / PLATFORMS
Metabunk carries a single ad for my book, which generates negligible income.
My YouTube channel was demonetized for many years and only recently restored; current revenue is trivial.
On X, I earn roughly $30–$100 per month, which offsets the cost of an X Pro subscription.
NOT SOURCES OF INCOME
I do not receive donations, have no Patreon, and have no sponsor. Metabunk operates at a monthly loss.
I do not participate in disinformation, astroturfing, anonymous influence campaigns, or deliberate misrepresentation, paid or otherwise.
The only limitations are standard ones: client confidentiality and, in a few cases, nondisclosure of exact payment amounts.
INVESTMENT INCOME
I was a founder and co-owner of Neversoft Entertainment, which was acquired by Activision after the success of the Tony Hawk series. I left several years later. Investment returns from that exit remain a significant part of my income. In practical terms, I am semi-retired and largely living off savings.
CODING / CONSULTING
I occasionally do contract programming work at standard senior-level rates. One client, whose identity is confidential, funds continued development of Sitrec, an open-source web app I created for analyzing UAP cases, especially those involving video.
All funded work is published openly in the public GitHub repository and is available for inspection and noncommercial use.
Because confidentiality was explicitly requested, I have a standing no-comment policy on any questions about that work, including speculation about who the client might or might not be.
TV APPEARANCES
I sometimes appear on news programs, documentaries, or TV series. I am not paid for news or public-television appearances. For some productions, I charge a modest per-diem. Most recently, this involved a few days of recording for The Proof Is Out There.
BOOK ROYALTIES
I authored Escaping the Rabbit Hole (2018; revised edition 2023). Royalties are modest and recurring.
WRITING
I write approximately five or six articles per year for Skeptical Inquirer, paid at typical niche-publication rates. I also occasionally write for other outlets (roughly 2–3 pieces per year), with pay generally ranging from low hundreds to around $1,000.
ADVERTISING / PLATFORMS
Metabunk carries a single ad for my book, which generates negligible income.
My YouTube channel was demonetized for many years and only recently restored; current revenue is trivial.
On X, I earn roughly $30–$100 per month, which offsets the cost of an X Pro subscription.
NOT SOURCES OF INCOME
I do not receive donations, have no Patreon, and have no sponsor. Metabunk operates at a monthly loss.
I do not participate in disinformation, astroturfing, anonymous influence campaigns, or deliberate misrepresentation, paid or otherwise.
