Countdown to hiatus is on
We've officially started work on our new professional writing project, and so we are down to about the last 60 hours or so of maintaining this blog. Several readers have written in to ask us what can be done to keep the conversation instigated by this site going. Unfortunately, we're not going to be able to maintain an active web page once the hiatus begins, no matter who is producing the content. The thought of an interactive site is even further out of the question. We need to move quickly to the stage at which we don't have to look at the site at all, for weeks or months at a time.
Our plan is to leave the site up as an archive only, and we're hoping to maintain a front page that will serve as our own personal links collection. That will include most of the places we go for news when our readers aren't tipping us off to new stories. If you like, you can come back any time and take advantage of that collection of links. If new sites appear that are interesting enough that we want to check them out on a regular basis, we'll add links to them on our main page, but other than that, readers, you are on their own.
Our greatest hope is that some or all of the regular commenters here will start blogs themselves. It's really simple. Go to Blogger, start your own blog, e-mail a link to us here, and if it looks like you're serious, we'll link to you. Readers who come to this site will thus be invited to go to yours.
One thing this blog has taught a lot of people is that they are not alone in their disgust at what's become of politics -- particularly Portland politics and Oregon politics. Some of it is partisan and some of it is generational, but the disapproval factor cuts across those lines. Broadcasting dissenting views is part of everybody's duty, and now might be someone else's time to answer the call.
Will we suffer withdrawal? Oh, heavens, yes. And when our new tax project is published a year or two from now, we'll think about coming back to blogging along the lines that we've been doing here for more than 10½ years. But until then, we've got big things to do. Imagine you were a guitar player, and Bruce Springsteen was on the phone. "I need you in my band," he's saying. Do you keep your Tuesday night gig singing your originals at Besaw's, or do you drop everything and pull your passport out of the sock drawer? That's kind of where we are professionally at this moment.
Portland needs its people to challenge the power structure in a mostly adult way. We're sad to be signing off from that function, despite the time investment that's been required. As a wise young man once said of blue jeans, "Though you want them to last forever you know they never will, and the patches make the goodbye harder still." But then again, another sage has more recently recommended, "If you love somebody, set them free."
| Posted at 8:48 AM | Permalink |
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Comments (21)
Jack: Thanks. It's going to take me at least two weeks to break the habit of dropping in on Bojack to begin the morning.
You've been a role model for many. You and you work here will be missed by more than many.
Posted by Roger | April 3, 2013 9:00 AM
Jack,
What Roger said. I will miss your wit and irreverence and also will need to find another "can't-miss" website to check daily after Friday.
I am profoundly sad to see you go but wish you the very best. Your new venture sounds like an offer that can't be refused, and I am sure you will make us proud.
Thank you for giving us so much of your time, insight and good old fashioned journalistic digging to ferret out many unsavory truths that never seem to find mention in the traditional media. You have done great work and it is truly appreciated.
Best regards and please make good on your threat to return when the tax opus is done.
jmh
Posted by jmh | April 3, 2013 9:16 AM
Jack, I choose to believe you are secretly working on a novel and complete compilation of Portland corruption, rather than the tax project you have described. Either way you’ll be missed. Blogs have to end just like all good books, and yours was a great read. Most of all I have really learned from the comments of your readers, “them's some smart folks.” Surgery in a few hours, so this is probably my last non-morphine induced post before you conclude. Best to all....
Posted by gibby | April 3, 2013 9:22 AM
Wow. One final Friday music video. How do you choose THAT one?
Thanks, Mr. B., for creating and maintaining one of Portland's finest institutions. I'm looking forward to the sequel.
Posted by PDXLifer | April 3, 2013 9:32 AM
Earlier comments have pretty much said it all. You will be missed, and it will indeed take awhile to break the habit of dropping in here from time to time during our day. I hope your new writing project goes well. Now the countdown to your return begins!!
Posted by Bill | April 3, 2013 10:03 AM
Hope you get well soon, Gibby.
Mamacita sad for loss of blog.
One big question Jack:
Can't we just take over Rex Burkholder's getting to 2100 blog? He brings up great topics, & gets it wrong "six ways to Sunday." No one else comments. BJ Cefola and Hart Noecker can't be everywhere.
BTW- when I first saw the Blog name I thought it was a typo- "Getting to 2010".
You know how blonde BPS is when it comes to numbers.
So, dear Jack, pls. consider pointing the funniest of us to Rex's blog. Maybe we can have a strategy:funny posts, quotes from yr archives, a Randall O'Toole-ism,
a
Posted by Mamacita | April 3, 2013 10:06 AM
Wishing you nothing but the best in the new, exciting endeavor. Otherwise damn it, I am totally bummed out at the loss of your blog.
Posted by Paul | April 3, 2013 10:13 AM
Jack,
Thanks for your inspiration a group of did in LO. While we have the "conservative" label from the O, I believe the mission is the same. Good Governance.
Posted by COLA LO | April 3, 2013 10:20 AM
Jack: Just wanted to say thanks and good luck with the project. The Bruce Springsteen analogy is all the explanation that is needed.
An old friend's grandpa would sometimes talk about your blog when we would go over for Sunday dinner and so it got an occasional read. I have become a frequent visitor and have enjoyed your take on Portland politics. I appreciate the public service you have performed by making people aware of the BS that goes on in this town and hope others will be inspired to take over where you leave off.
Thanks again. Paul may have said it best...nothing but the best, but totally bummed.
Posted by Ryan K | April 3, 2013 10:28 AM
Amen to all of the above.
Gonna miss you, Jack! Gonna miss everyone else here too.
Posted by Portland Native | April 3, 2013 10:45 AM
Everyone come on over to reddit.com/r/portland and fight the good fight!
Posted by Jake J | April 3, 2013 10:52 AM
Ditto to what Portland Native said. It's quite the community here and as much as I enjoy Jack's posts, the comment section is the gold mine. Even Tensky's scroll wheel defying contributions will be missed.
Posted by Andrew | April 3, 2013 10:59 AM
You won't hear any complaints from me about your leavetaking, Jack. Not only did you give it the good fight, but you're leaving for precisely the right reasons, and I can't respect that highly enough. My hope is that enough others are inspired by your example to keep fighting: if nothing else, you've done that for me. Thank you again.
Posted by Texas Triffid Ranch | April 3, 2013 11:59 AM
I think I know Jack. Hell, I think I know many of the commenters. I will miss the daily exchange. I was even learning to read Tensky with out a Google translation app.
Posted by David E Gilmore | April 3, 2013 11:59 AM
I have a feeling this blog will really be busy with last words on April 5th!
I will be forever grateful for "knowing" so many of you.
If one could even characterize it as good, but actually it has been good to know
that others have the antennae out as to what is going on around here
and comment about it.
I know that Mr. Grumpy and I have a continuing concern about the "redo" around here and Portland Native has seen more than his/her share of it as well. There are many others I have resonated with, might get that list ready for the last day.
Posted by clinamen | April 3, 2013 12:53 PM
You have an extraordinary record of public service here, Jack. Thank you for it, and for the wit and wisdom with which you have accomplished it. I will miss this blog a great deal, but doing without it will be easier knowing you are moving on to an exciting, intellectually-stimulating new challenge. Best wishes going forward with it, and thanks again for everything you have done here.
Posted by Alice | April 3, 2013 2:17 PM
We've had our differences over the years.
But congratulations, good luck, and best wishes for a safe return.
Posted by Max | April 3, 2013 4:05 PM
Ok Jack....i totally understand, but that doesn't mean I'm happy about it! Good luck and have fun. Really hope to see you back in due time.
Posted by fred | April 3, 2013 7:02 PM
Jack, Your blog has helped me keep up to speed on Portland politics from a remote location. I'll miss it, but I'm happy that you have such an engaging professional opportunity. I'll check back in once your tax reform plan passes both houses. Until then, best of everything.
Posted by NorthwestT | April 3, 2013 8:17 PM
Best of luck with your new project, Jack. I will certainly miss your perspective.
Posted by Robert Wagner | April 3, 2013 9:44 PM
Dear Jack,
I'm still in denial...so sad for us!! So happy for you. Thank you for all you have done for our lives.
Would you please occasionally keep us updated about you, family, job and Stenchy on your Facebook page? Pretty please???
Oh, and how about a real going away party so we can shake your hand?? Happy hour?
Posted by mossypdx | April 3, 2013 11:31 PM