I realized something interesting about "Money" magazine today...and I'm not sure what it says about the magazine's editorial, promotional, and sales strategy.

First, I should mention that I really, really enjoy "Money". Since they retooled the editorial (hipper) and demographic focus (25-55 year olds) of the magazine, it's improved leaps and bounds. I happily subscribe to it, and have enjoyed reading it cover-to-cover.

But it's in reading it cover-to-cover that I noticed something interesting. Or, at least, something interesting to me, a cartoonist who just moved his entire archives to a free site: Every story from the print version of "Money" is repeated, for free, at money.cnn.com. All of 'em. For free.

Granted, not all at once. They dribble them out over the course of the month. But if you're a savvy reader, and check the site at least once a week, you'll get all of the articles that appear in the magazine.

This seems like an ineffective "loss leader" for print subscriptions, so...I'm at a bit of a loss as to their strategy, here. Keep in mind that, while their demographic is lusted after, there's not a huge amount of targeted advertising on the site itself, so that can't be paying the bills.

Could it be that CNN is paying a tidy enough sum for the extra content? Or is there something I'm missing here?

I'd love to hear your thoughts over at the Sheldon forum. I'm a bit flummoxed.

I should've mentioned it when it happened, but all copies of "A Well Balanced Meal" are now sold out. My apologies if you weren't able to get yourself a copy...I tried to give fair warning.

On that note: copies are still available for "The Good, The Bad & The Pugly" and "Pure Ducky Goodness", over at the store.

Forgive today's strip, if you would. It's a pretty random poetry reference to Robert Burns....I know.

But I've always found it funny how, when you put the words "Scottish" and "poetry" together, it's pretty much just Robbie Burns and....well, Robbie Burns.

Apparently, the Scots live by "The Highlander" credo of "There Can Be Only One". Because outside of Burns, there are no other poets. Or, at least, none that spring to mind. You're pretty much left with the two guys that wrote that song "I Would Walk 500 Miles".

But I do secretly dig Robert Burns. And because I feel guilty for besmirching the name of the great Scottish nation, today I'll share with you my favorite Burns poem, "To A Mouse". He wrote it when he ploughed through a field mouse's nest, and startled the little creature:

(Note: It reads a little tricky at first, until you assume the "Scottish poetry position", which I just invented. Crouch forward ever-so-slightly, and stick an elbow out. You'll find Scottish English much easier to read.)

Wee, sleekit, cow'rin', tim'rous beastie,
O what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickerin' brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee
Wi' murd'rin' pattle!

(My favorite part? He rhymed "BEASTIE" with "BREASTIE". Ahh, Scotland.)