Welcome

Welcome, welcome, one and all.  "One" being the hopes that someone shows up to greet day one of my blog!  I have no idea how popular these things really are or if there's anyone who might want to talk to me this way.  So, hailing on all frequencies...
Any writers out there?  Readers?  Dreamers?  I'll try to get us started on some discussions, some rants, whatever sparks good dialogue.
Who am I?  Well, a few people might know me as the author of a certain Alternative Animorphs Ending (http://members.shaw.ca/jcmlott/).  Or as the daughter of Lynda Williams, published author of the Okal Rel Universe (http://www.okalrel.org/index.html).  Failing that, I guess I'm your everyday starving artist.  Not literally.  Actually, I'm more of a shivering artist lately,
because our furnace broke.
I've had a wonderful week as a writer.  An agent asked to see the first three chapters of my novel, Coffee News started publishing my poetry and I unsubscribed from "Go Freelance!" Between jobs at the moment and trying to find a way to make extra cash, I started sifting through freelance job e-mails I've been saving for months.  It wasn't until I seriously considered applying for one that I realized this particular job resource is a money-sucking black hole of doom.  Checked on Preditors & Editors: "Charges Fees.  Not Recommended."  I should have checked there in the first place.  Anyway, I believe in giving people chances and I was going to use the contact form on the Freelance Work Exchange site to politely state my concerns and request reassurance.  But when I got to the bottom of the form, they wanted a password.  To get a password you have to join them.  To join them?  You guessed it: $$$!
Feeling slightly jipped that I wrote them this letter for nothing, I thought I'd post it on my blog.  Maybe someone who needs to will see it after all:

"Become a Gold Member for just $2.95," but then it goes to "Payment Options: $3.16(CAD) for 7 days (trial) then $42.77(CAD) recurring every 30 days." To the best of my knowledge, Freelance is a job resource on the internet. I haven't encountered any before that insist you pay over $500 a year for the privilege of seeing them. Moreover, I am already seeing the jobs you send me by e-mail. Every piece of information about a job except how to apply. Yeah, I know; apply by joining Freelance. Is that all you withhold until I start paying? The means to contact an employer? If they really are looking to hire freelance writers, why would they want to screen by who is and is not willing to pay you money? What about that could possibly qualify a person more or less to apply for any job?
As I assume I have made clear, I am very skeptical. I would appreciate any clarification you could offer.