…to Gary Schamburg, for both the I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead DVD and the book, Moneyball. I love a good crime caper, and I cannot tell you all how very much I need baseball season to begin.
Thanks, too, to all the guest posters who have kept this site alive—and to those readers who’ve remained while I’ve been busy fighting an ongoing legal battle, the particulars of which I have been unable to discuss publicly.
Sadly, many former readers have fled, and fighting to get them back—particularly when I find myself spending the better half of every morning dealing with that other issue—well, I just don’t have the energy, frankly. At least, not for a full frontal assault on their interests. Not yet.
My guest posters, who’ve done yeoman’s work in my extended absences (and who are in no way to blame for the loss of traffic—much of their work has been terrific), are welcome to continue posting here on the weekends. During the week, though I’ll be doing most of the posting (I may put up an occasional guest post)—but I’ll be doing so at my own pace, with the hope being that I can eventually recapture the tenor and feel of the site that I once recognized as my own.
Because lately, I’ve felt more like an interloper than anything else. And that makes posting more grueling than it should be—and more like work than it needs to be.
Welcome!
Or … welcome back!
Or … whatever you say to someone when he walks into his own house and you’re just there sitting on his couch eating his Double Stuff Oreos.
This sounds like good news to me.
Speaking of your other issues, have you seen this lunacy? I’ve never even heard of Kathy Sierra or any of the other websites involved, but what a bunch of tools.
If you write it, they will come.
Because lately, I’ve felt more like an interloper than anything else.
Interloper? Maybe from your POV.
From mine the “Jeff Goldstein” at the end of a post was like seeing the sun peek out from the clouds. (Uh, no offense Dan et al.)
It kept me coming back a couple times a day just for the chance of such a glimpse.
You sound awfully depressed, dude. Time to up the meds maybe?
Gotcha. I think you will enjoy Moneyball in its entirety, and I think you could get an essay on judging talent out of the first 70 pages.
It’s your place; remodel as necessary.
I’ve enjoyed some of your guest posters, Dan and Karl particularly – not to diminish others not named.
But recharge your wit, pen and energy as appropriate and post as desired. It’ll be enjoyed.
Ah the sound of tink’g bottles as I pop the top of another Miller, and prepare to Goldstein my brain. Welcome back, and I do thank your co-contributers for their efforts.
Karl, I don’t think I have your email. Would you email it to me, please?
John likes me! And almost no one wants to bash my skull into hundreds of pieces!
Seriously, thanks to Jeff for the squatter’s rights and to everyone who has had nice things to say. And to the trolls for melting down; always a good time.
JG,
Just sent you a message through the site that should have my e-mail address on it.
I don’t usually check it during the day, but I will in the next half-hour or so, just in case it’s urgent.
Jeff-
I only found your site when Brit Hume mentioned it on FoxNews regarding the, uh..legal issues you’re involved in.
So I’ve never really known Protein Wisdom “as it used to be”…looking forward to it.
You can have the tenor. Me…I’d rather capture the alto.
At best, I’m a casual baseball fan, but Moneyball was a pretty interesting book.
Do what you have to, Jeff, and take the time you need to do it right.
Know what I’ve noticed about PW? Few images or video links. It’s always text. Visuals always are a good draw. Like, visuals of…um….dancing armadilloes, for example. On Fridays, as a treat. Visuals of yourself in a Billy Jack hat. Stuff like that. That’ll make the ol’ sitemeter spin like a slot machine with an octogenarian granny with Parkinson’s holding the handle……
That would so fucking rock. The cost has been way too high for someone so low, both to you and yours and to the blogosphere.
Here’s to dropping that thing like a bad habit that won’t be back. And yes, if you write it, they will come. Also, a tip of the cap to Dan for riding this bitch like he stole it. Among lots of great guest posters, Dan has really kept pw afloat in your absence.
I’m just astonished that I put up a “farewell” post and have posted, like, four or five times since then. And nobody’s called the cops on me yet.
Well, I mean, nobody’s called the cops on me for that.
PC (and others),
For examples of PW “classic,” I heartily recommend checking out the “greatest hits” links in the right sidebar.
I never left, but I lurk more than participate.
Seriously, who won’t be glued to your site during the democratic convention in Denver? Hell, I’d even take a day off work to help you film a citizen journalist session just to say I saw it happen.
Legal battles suck, of that there’s no doubt.
I also fall into the crowd that thinks the guest posters did great, but DAMN I want Jeff back.
And I agree with Major John; you’ll recapture lost folks the same way you got us in the first place.
Jeff: You have everyone’s support to get done what you have to get done. It’s just too bad that it’s had such a corrosive effect on your family. That’s got to be disheartening. You really should be collecting damages.
Here’s hoping that ‘problem’ finally goes away–for good. Stay optimistic, fella, we all love you.
So, um, does this mean we can finally get some more dick jokes?
And Jeff, your Rockies look good this year, should be a fun one.
“…are stepping down voluntarily, to spend more time with their families. Hey, they’re my appointees, and I can sack ‘em whenever I please, Congress be damned!”
Welcome all the way back, Jeff!
Watch the mailbox, Jeff!
KEEP WATCHING THE MAILBOX!!
Only 119 hours until the first pitch at Coors Field! But who’s counting..
Hope you get that other little matter cleared up soon. It will be good to have you back to your usual good humor.
I’m going to miss the parts where you stop by and see the guest posts and then just shrug and say you are going to go lift now. There was something oddly motivational about that.
I’m just trying to figure out what Dan is going to do with himself all week.
I’m out of town and away from my latest samples of whiskey, but I’ll probably say something about it some weekend down the road, if that’s okay. People seem to like a good booze discussion.
Jeff,
What do you REALLY need to get back to feeling all full of spit and vinegar (yeah, I know that’s not how it goes)?
Are we talking another extended hiatus or what?
It looks like your supporting cast can handle the load if you need to lay down for a while with a cold cloth on your forehead.
As to traffic—I think it was Major J. who said if you write it they will come. Cowboy up, dude! You’ve got the talent so take the break you need and come back when you are REALLY ready, I’m sure a couple folks will keep the fire tended and I know I’ll continue to mostly lurk about the joint.
My fantasy offense is chock-full of Rockies this year (Holliday, Atkins, Taveras, Fuentes). So “Go Rocks!” or at least score runs by the bushel basket and get the ball to the closer occasionally.
Dude, you’ll have to try awfully hard to get rid of some of us. Hell, I still check in on Vodkapundit, and for as much fun as Green is, he never gave us the Martha Stewart Chronicles.
Draw whatever strength you can from us; we’re sure not using it!
Gary Shandling sends you shit? How cool is that?
Oh, “Schamburg”. My bad.
Anyway, not that your guest posters do a bad job, but I only read Goldstein posts. Partially because I’m a sycophant and partially because your guest posters just aren’t You enough for me. And I mean that in a manly way – kind of like the long, lingering pat on the ass after a home run type of manly way.
So this means I’m still allowed in the house on weekends?
If said statement is true, I’m breaking the pink tutu outta the frame.
Moneyball is such a fine read. Question for baseball fans: Who has less hope? Reds fans or Rockies fans?
Discuss
I want first to thank Jeff Goldstein for not disbelieving in me. Without his excellent site, I never would have gotten into so many scrapes.
I also want to thank my co-bloggers for all their inspiration and support. I couldn’t have done it without them.
And I’d like to thank everyone who read my stuff and didn’t complain too much. And Angie Schultz for not pointing out too often how hypocritical I am. And of course all of the underinformed people who linked to me.
I’d also like to express my thanks to my family for putting up with my insane laughing at nothing and putting their communications on strange loops that would emerge long after they’d given up trying to get a response. And Mom and Dad–love you guys.
And finally, I’d like to thank all the little trolls who kept people in the comments when I couldn’t be there.
Really. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Except for David Spade.
Second the encomia for Dan; he’s done a lot of heavy lifting these past six months, long after most of the rest of us exhausted our slender reserves of inspiration. It’s tough drinking single-malt hooch when you really came looking for…well, for red pills behind the sofa, but at least he kept the shots coming!
Jeff,
You probably have more people lurking than you are aware, me being one. I check your site more times then I’m willing to admit to. I remember what it was and I have no doubt that the wit and wisdom you bring will return in whole. You deal with the shit you deal with, we all do. Take care of you and the family and believe me, the ones that appreciate the effort and thought proving post you put together will be here.
You speak for those of us who don’t have the words, skill, and ability to think and write about the subjects that many of us are interested in.
You’ve been missed, but those who have filled in have done yeomens work.
You had me at “full frontal”.
Jeff, your site has left me gasping for breath and clutching my sides one hour, and nodding my head and going “Huh” the next after one of your structuralist posts. Even through the darkest hours of your fight, I would check back every few days just to see if your name had reappeared on a byline.
The world will become a brighter place if you can recapture the brilliance that once shined from my monitor, like rays of sunlight glittering off of a row of flawless diamonds. In a meadow. With wildflowers. Or something like that.
If I can make a request: do another Robert Anton Wilson parody, please!
Jeff,
The best advice I’ve ever read about blogging for the long-haul is to just post what you are interested about. If it’s drudgery to you, then you really aren’t passionate about it and it will show through to the audience.
Heck, a well-know radio talk show host proclaims that during monday thru thursday he only discusses things that he’s interested in and that if he had to discuss other things his boredom would show through and therefore, bore listeners.
The same advice applies I think. Only pick things that interest you. You have a very unique perspective on the world and it’s events. That’s something that makes me come back again and again.
It’s fine to rag on the liberal and conservative dumbasses of the world, but your real money is made with the offbeat perspective on interesting topics. And, isn’t that the stuff that causes the least grief anyway?
Oh yeah, and the hy-jinks of that little hard-shelled alter ego companion of yours where you project and live out inner fantasies via his erratic impulsive behaviors. And the bean dip of course. Those are the best.
Bottom line – if it interests and inspires you, then your personality will shine through. Hell, it might even inspire you to take an adventurous road trip with the little black shelled bastard.
Now, *that* would be a hoot.
All the best Jeff.
Dan – I know you blog somewhere else but I never bookmarked it cause you were blogging here. I would not think less of you if you were to put a link to that here.
Don’t forget about Glenn and the Indignitards. They’re over here reading all the time, but most don’t have the testicular fortitude to participate in a discussion.
Keep it coming.
Dude! Hide the weed! He’s watching!
Royals fans.
TW:money31ball?
You’ll do fine. You’ll get in the groove.
It’s just like falling off a bike…or riding a log.
I don’t remember which.
harrison—it’s like falling off a bike crossing a log. Into a pit of sweaty armadillos crazed on the red pills left in the sofa by Ward Churchill and Billy Jack…
THAT’S IT!!
Jeff-
I’ll be happy to see you posting more. That said, I think the guest posters have done an excellent job. I’ve really enjoyed reading the site, and my interest in the goings on here has not much flagged during your legal troubles.
I hope that with your return to a fuller schedule that your numbers will come back too.
Regardless, I hope that you’ll be happy with whatever you do with the verbiage here.
I second above sentiments–good to have you back on a more “regular” schedule and more frequently. Initially I was a bit dismayed by your absence from things but I grew to appreciate your guest bloggers. Particularly Dan (who did yoeman work) but too, the others filled in well, if not as frequently. While it is your intellect and “offbeat” perspective that keeps me lurking here, you might want to offer Dan a regular “part-time” slot. He offers a similar irreverance and an intriguing diversity of insight.
Jeff has a circle of hard core fans who show up no matter what. That would scare the crap outta me. I’m just glad I can now erase the circle around March 31 on my calendar. On a more serious note, I would like to thank Jeff for now including Amazon.com ads that feature attractive titties. That is all.
Despite being a patriarchal clod, Jeff, you’re way too nice a guy. I mean, letting the likes of us other farts clog up the works for some months and then asking clearance to write again (I don’t write; I sputter) is the height of, well, civility. For such a misogynist, Bushco-supporting bastard, among your other unique talents.
And speaking of the petite, sensitive, beat-down matriarchy, let’s all give em a break, ‘k?
Before Ace gets ahold of them, so to speak…
Well then–I feel better now.
And the whole Braves-not-in-first-place-thing last year?
Aberration.
Pie anyone?
I do not think this is an “offbeat” blog. “Creative,” yes. “Experimental,” yes. Gutfeld has an offbeat blog. That guy that played the kid on Star Trek has an offbeat blog. If I had a blog, it would be an offbeat blog. That’s because I am lazy.
What do you mean “much” of their work has been terrific?
Jeff
I want to thank you for letting me post here as the inspiration hit me … and I just get back to the whole puter thing just as you’re getting back to holding the reins full-time (new house purchase..you know the drill…’nuff said)
This place has always been yours… I think all of us have been fully aware of it even as we lent our own voices.
I look forward to reading you daily, boss.
he’s welcome to blog at my place…. but only about kitties. ;D
anyhoo, Jeff, it will be nice to see you back.
The first post I read at PW was regarding the launch of Pajamas Media, and although I barely knew who Jeff was writing about, I really thought it was funny after I figured out it was bunk.
Go read it.
Now.
Right now, jackass. Go read it. I dare ya. I double dog dare ya. GO READ IT NOW, BEEEAAATCH.
Alright, I’ve about had it with you. If you don’t go read that post right f’ing now, I’m gonna………….
TYPE!!!! WITH EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!! IN CAPITOL FREAKIN’ LETTERS PEOPLE!!!!!
Okay, okay, could you just please, pretty please, go read it? Could you? I mean, it would help me out a little, ya know? I would feel like I was part of something big, introducing you to something that will totally, completly blow your mind. For days and weeks, not just hours.
So, are you gonna read it?
Ah,
You lazy bastards.
Here ya go:
Liveblogging the Pajamas Media launch festivities from the W Hotel in New York, 1
My cab pulled up outside the W a little before 9 PM New York time, and after checking in and dropping my suitcase on the bed, I immediately made my way to the hotel bar, where I found Tim Blair, Roger Simon, and Ed Driscoll bunched around a small table near the restrooms. Ed and Roger were nursing Gibsons, while Tim (who at 5’1†is much shorter than I thought he’d be) was drinking what looked to be IPA out of a pilsner glass inscribed with the legend, “Bloggers Do It In Their Pajamas.”
“Heh, cool,†I said, motioning to Tim’s glass. “You have those made up for the launch?”
“What do you think, genius?†Blair asked, not looking up. “I maybe had it printed up special for myself?â€Â
Ed, who I’d met once before at a Rocky Mountain Blogger bash, threw me a glance that said, “skip it, he’s Australian,†before sliding me a chair. “Take a seat. How was your flight?â€Â
“Fine, nice,†I said, sitting down and looking around for the waitress. I hadn’t had anything to drink on the plane and was really craving a Guinness.
“So”â€â€this from my left, where Roger Simon, sans his trademark fedora, sat smiling and bleary-eyed, holding aloft a half-empty Gibson glass as if threatening to make a toast. “Protein wisdom is in the hizzouse, as the kids say! Welcome! Orâ€â€as my friend Bill Bixby once said to a French prostitute (god rest his soul), ’bonjour, you plump little tart!’â€Â
“Bullshit,” Blair hissed. “The Hulk never said any such thing. Any such thing. You fibbing wizened bastard.â€Â
“Absolutely he did,†Simon plucked a cocktail onion from his drink with his fingers. “Paris, 1979. Had her eating out of the palm of his hand, too. Literally. Cake and a little salted herring, I think. Christ, do I ever miss him.â€Â
“We all do,†I said, looking around again for the waitress. Then, “So, you fellas been here long, or…?â€Â
â€ÂFellas?” Blair shot me a look like he’d just found me buggering a wallaby. “Jesus. Tell me you’re not bloody serious, man.â€Â
“Shut up, Tim,”– Simon, waving his hand dismissively. “Jeff’s from flyover country. Colorado, isn’t it? Or Kansas?â€â€someplace like that? Say, why aren’t you drinking? Waitress –!â€Â
“– ’Fellas.’ Christ. You don’t happen to play banjo by any chance, do you? You bloody mountain hick.â€Â
“You know, come to think of it, I’m a little beat from the trip. I think I’m gonna have to take a raincheck on that drink –â€Â
“– You’re sure?†Ed asked, rising alongside me and shaking my hand.
“Yeah. Air travel is not my friend, as it happens. My legs are really sore.â€Â
“Oh boo flippin’ hoo, mate,†Blair spit, taking the final swig of his beer before slamming the empty glass on the table. “Try flying in from bleedin’ New Zealandâ€â€then come bitch to me. After 23 hours, your ass starts to feel like a diabetic’s feet.â€Â
“I’ll bet,†I said, not really sure what he meant. “So. I’ll see you guys tomorrow, then…?â€Â
Blair: “Feh. Whatever.â€Â
“Sounds good, Jeff. Thanks. And sorry about this,†Ed seemed genuinely apologetic. “Things should be a little more…relaxed by tomorrow, I should think.â€Â
“Sure,” I said. “I totally understand.â€Â
“Protein wisdom!†Simon raised his glass one last time, sloshing a bit of gin into his shirt cuff. “P-Dub is in the hizzy!â€Ââ€â€At which point I smiled and nodded and turned to take my leave. Quickly.
Should be an interesting couple of days, if nothing else. Wish me luck!
Well, if he thought my work was terrific, he wouldn’t have said “much.”
Thank you Jeff for all your work. Other than the tip jar, what can I do to help? You have ben dealt a bad hand and played it like a man.
This just in:
A team from the Washington Metro Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) office burst into Harry Reid’s Sennate office this morning and promptly put a toe tag on him.
I never left.
support75, and if someone’s boobs are THAT big then damn right they need supportin’ . . .
Visuals of yourself in a Billy Jack hat.
I agree, Robert, more visuals. The Billy Jack hat is hot, but I’ve been waiting and hoping for the gay puffy shirt and tight breeches we were promised a long time ago. Jeff didn’t promise it, but somebody on this blog did, and that’s good enough for me.
Just one shot of a gay puffy shirt on you Jeff! Just one?
And welcome back already!!
Jeff,
All I can say is………It’s about fucking time.
Now, put your big girl panties on and get to work entertaining me.
“Well we’ll go out to Miller’s Crossing, and we’ll see who’s smart, smart guy.” – The Dane
Jeff,
Keep up your inimitable work, man. You encourage the rest of us just by being there. Thanks.
T&T
Jeff,
Keep up your inimitable work, man. You encourage the rest of us just by being there. Thanks.
T&T
“What heart?”-Tommy
Enough of the lovefest. I speak for thousands…hundreds…a couple of dopes who will miss Dan, Karl, Craig, et al on this site.
I have been lurking the whole time. I love this site.
Jeff, welcome back. Your “part time” is better than most’s “full time.” Keep up the good fight & don’t let the ba&*^
s; get you down.
cheers
Jeff,
Go forth and do great things!
Excellent news, Jeff. Great to hear you’re moving up production. Your guest bloggers were all very good in their own rights, but PW is all about you. I have only been mostly lurking, occasionally commenting, maybe once or twice soliciting advice on single malts, for about a year, but this, IMHO, is by far the most entertaining, intelligent (and I can use that in spades) and provocative blog on the intertubes. Welcome back…
Thank God, Yahweh, Buddah, and any other head honchos that come to mind…
Bring it!
Thanks, Jeff. Glad to hear it.
BTW, I am wondering, does reading you using RSS give you credit for readership and ad dollars? I’m guessing it might not since Google Reader never seems to show me any ads, although it shows your articles. A few sites I browse using RSS do show ads at the bottom. This is something you might want to investigate to get your ad numbers and revenue up. I’m unsure of the tech issues, but it seems it should be possible to inject ads into the content you provide via your RSS feed.