My eRPM was higher for each of the first 6 months of this year than for each of the last 6 months of 2013. July was lower. There's a lot which goes into eRPM numbers, more than just, "the industry has tanked."

I'm not sure whether to be impressed or depressed by this claim, particularly in light of the actual numbers I shared above.
Alas, I don't have 100% of the content going back to last year so I cannot be certain of this one way or the other. But I do know that OMAAT was writing plenty about the Ink card earlier this year. Here's a post from the beginning of May, replete with all the links. It is one of seven from that month on the topic. If we are to believe your claim that there was a precipitating action "this summer" which has caused a sudden spike in post frequency and CC links then shouldn't be some evidence of that?

I personally think seven posts about the card in a month is excessive and not a particularly great content choice; I wouldn't do that. But I don't see any evidence that the decision to publish those posts was based on anything which happened this summer. Do you?

And when they do so erroneously they get called on it. Just like you are in this case.

I'm still waiting to see evidence of anything other than your hunches that these changes have actually occurred. I've provided details and facts. Your turn. :-: