A silly blog polmeic turned ugly. I have no room for stress in my life. I hope people involved make wise choices.
See Jonestown post "No Mall For Old Men" for details. But this has put me in the mind of my oldest friend, Gabe Isaacs. We were seniors in HS and were playing hooky at Aqueduct and losing money. Come the 6th race and there was a 4/5 favorite named Roman Coffee than looked unbeataable. I suggested we just bet the rest of what we had on him, win a little and hope to build up. He said "Roman Coffee isn't worth laying a price...let's find something more interesting...if we're going to go down, let's go down fighting." We played small on some lightly-raced 10/1 shot who finished 4th. Roman Coffee finsihed 2nd. We didn't do any good that day at all, but Gabe's words have always stuck with me. To that end, I reprint the greatest hits of THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST's insults with no editing. And my final response. It's the Roman Coffee response. The reprint of the insults is what Gabe would have done. His words in bold rust.
"At one time, I thought you were slightly intelligent, though too dumb to know that you bore the fuck out of people.
Where have I EVER said anything that would indicate that I am corporatist in any way?
Not white, not fully. And if you weren’t so stuck on yourself, maybe you would already know that 1 out of nine people in New Mexico are indians. That’s registered with a tribe. Lots more like me that are mixed or unregistered.
I don’t give a damn about KU. I like the people, not their sports teams. There’s a difference, ya know.
Either study some business, finance, law, and interntioanl politics…You’re a fool Kelso.With this statement, you said it yourself.
Learn to read before flapping your gums. You are empty wind, with a foul smell.Where I come from, we have a name for that.
Progressive Traditionalist said this on April 5, 2008 at 1:41 "
"Alright.
I just called Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove and spoke to someone at the management office there.I was told that they don’t have an Armani’s there, and that the nearest one is at Roosevelt Field Mall in Cedarhurst.
So I called there and spoke to the lady at AX Armani Exchange at Roosevelt Field. I asked if there was another Armani’s around that would be closer to Lake Grove.I was told that the only other Armani’s on Long Island was in Walt Whitman.
So post a case number, if this is something real.Because nobody else has ever heard of it.
Peerhaps it was that fabrication was your specialty in your study of business, finance, and law.
Progressive Traditionalist said this on April 5, 2008 at 2:41 pm "
Impresionante, si o no? I would like to draw attention to the fact that THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST is also a part-blooded Indian (sic). So much for Manifest Destiny!
Some choice tidbits were excised by proprietor, unfortuantely. If he would be so kind as to post the excised comments on my comments section, I would be in his debt. You can't buy this kind of stuff for love or money, Fairlaem, man, give me the unexpurgated version.
And now, my final offering to THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST (in bold)
"Prog/Trad: You win, buddy. I’m wrong and I’ve taken your harsher remarks about me to heart. There’s merit in them. I would only beg everyone’s understanding that I cannot help myself from being boring because I don’t speak much English anymore. A lot of thoughts, ideas, concerpt in English build up while I’m speakng Spanish.
For better or worse Spanish is my language now and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Best to set the English aside for times when I really need it.
Congratulations, Jonestown. Keep up the good work.
Congratulation, Prog/Trad. Ring up a winner for yourself. Put it in the books, buddy. You got the best of it. Your logic was superior, your stylistics better, and you fought your corner more bravely. No one can say you’re boring or are of limited intelligence.
Me, on the other hand, well….I got a problem or two in both those areas. Should have known I was overmatched.
Thanks for being a good sport. If you are ever in Panama City, be sure to look me up and we’ll knock back a beer or ten and settle the world.
Once again. Mazel tov, mi brother. Well done."
Kelso said this on April 6, 2008 at 12:21 pm
For the record, I think THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST is a blogger with a big future and huge trajectory. This is a BLOGGER, friends and neighbors, in the sense that Rickey Henderson was a BALLPLAYER. He's got the entire toolkit: logic, style, command of English, scholarship, a common touch, widsom, sensitivity, and a wit I haven't read since Dorothy Parker or Oscar Wilde. I think I may have been a bit stingy with my praise, but Parker and Wilde have to be in anybody's top 10 list of great wits. I have no doubt that should he switch to the spoken-word format, Spalding Grey would soon be forgotten and should he make the obviously forthcoming move into big-time journalism, Matt Taibbi can get out out town, because here's the real new Hunter Thompson.
I cannot recommend the man's work more highly. Run, don't walk, to his blog. I could not recommend a better replacement for myself upon my retirement than THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST .
Apologies to my generous guest bloggers: Gary'sBoner, Spartacus and DistributorCapNY. Nice try, guys. But nuts to you. Though I'd love for any or all of you to take over for me, you are overmatched here by a professional. Your shit is good, no knock. But this dude is PRICELESS. I have no hope of getting him to fill in, but having posted these pearls, I don't think you guys really want to try to compete. I'm going to have to leave it vacant.
It's been a pleasure and a privilege doing this for the last 2 1-2 years. But, shit, when you see the next Rickey Henderson coming into camp, you just hope they release you and you can sign on as an outfielder elsewhere.
Kelso's Nuts love you
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
37 comments:
That is unfortunate, you guys were having a heated exchange but you hit a nerve when you brought your access to elite circles.
Some people still want to be in the in-crowd.
I have always considered myself the in-crowd.
I think both of you guys shopuld humble yourselves with a mutual apology.
e-mail me bassdancy@hotmail.com
i'll give you my burnout cell#
Dave: I emailed you and am ready, willing and able to resolve this peacefully. I'll always take the humble and diplomaic way out of a problem if I can. Out of respect for the Team, I'm willing to do whatever. Up to a point. Nothing has been said or done that can't be taken back so far. But the edge is close. When all this is resolved and we're all buddies again, I'll let you or Fairlane google me or do a paid inquiry or whatever and you can pass along to your friend exactly what I'm all about because there was not one single word of "fantasy" in any of it and he'll be happy to know what sort of shit he dodged. If he doesn't want to shake on it, he'll find out. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Sometime. God, I hate this. This is not what my father forced me to go to prep school for.
Ok. I don't know if anybody wants my 2c on this, because I didn't even read the comment thread until I saw your post over here. But I consider you one of my blogpals and your work on your blog has had a significant impact on my own blogging. Even when I disagree with you, I always respect your intelligence and I am NEVER bored by you.
I don't see that you crossed any lines. The other party crossed a line the moment he typed up those personal insults. So do what you gotta do and I'll wait for your return.
SuziRiot: Thank you so much but unless Dave can find a way to broker this to a diplomatic conclusion, I don't want any part of any of this.
My son is 6000 miles away from me. I have partners who depend on me to be alert and energetic to put lots of hours in. I have a number of businesses here and in Ecuador I have to deal with.
Personally, I don't think the guy can blog his way out of a wet paper bag but that's not really the point. He's probably right that my intelligence is nothing special and I am a fucking bore.
Silly to spend time in a hostile enviornment doing something poorly, than in a friendly, remunerative environment doing things I do well.
Better I walk away because if this doesn't get resolved and I'm still blogging the results will be hideous for the poor guy. Dear god, he threatened me with names of public figures; you realize what a fuckup that was? All I got to do is tell those folks they were offered as threats by someone they don't know and it's over.
I don't wnat that on my conscience or anthing else.
And it's a shitty example to set for my son. I'd take no pleasure in ruining a no-account loser's life, anyway. I get angry, but I'm not a sadist.
Dave is a very good guy. We'll see what happens. But I also can't shake the feeling that the guy as a point. I'm not terribly good at this.
Kelso - Why not take a short break? You've done it before. Then decide whether or not to come back to this.
You can always usurp my persona and start blogging as a nutty chick named DCup as long as you don't mention sports.
Call me when you get a chance.
D-CUP: Thanks for the support. I'll give you a call forthwith, but this time (I hope) it's for good. I would like the challenge, however, of blogging as a woman. That might be super-rad!
I learned a lot about the game and myself from the contretemps over at Jonestown. I'll go into the minutiae when we speak but the broad strokes are these: the guy beat me fair and square; his logic was better; his English was better; he's brighter; he's pithy and I'm boring and there ain't no way around that.
I'm of the smile when I win, pay when I lose school, so all I can do is offer The Progressive Traditionalist my heartiest congratulations and best wishes going forward. I hope he builds up a monster blog-following and I think he would make an excellent addition to the Jonestown Super Team. He has my endorsement.
He can put a circle around his side of the Don Zirkel/capitalism debate. Holder of Prog/Trad tickets are cashing. Holders of Kelso's Nuts tickets are ripping.
L'chaim.
Like I said, do what you gotta do. But I'll miss your presence. So will you please at least email me? You can get my info from Dcup.
SuziRiot:
I'd prefer to continue, of course, for no other reason than that it's been a wonderful way to keep a diary through three of the most tumultuous and oddly successful years of my life.
I got to like the whole scene too much, however. Funny thing, on the Black blogosphere none of what I've experienced even raised an eyebrow. Not the money. Not the world travel. Not the education. Not the rhetorical flouishes. None of it. I didn't change my thing at all, and I never caught any shit, even when I went hard against Obama.
I was appalled that I had to endure that shit at a comfy-cozy spot for me like Jonestown. But in a weird way I root harder for Jonestown than I root for myself. So, I don't want to be a disruption there.
There are certain facts about me that aren't going to change no matter how much some people hope they aren't true: I did grow up in a Puerto Rican neighborhood and learned to speak Spanish as a little boy; I did go to an extremely exclusive prep school, college and (of course) grad school at the best! I have lived all over the world. I did make my bones in the gambling world. I did run money and move in rarified circles. I did study economics, finance and prob/stat at a high level. I was a victim of UIGEA. I do have juice in many places with many kinds of people. I have given many presentations on esoteric financial topics. I did own a thoroughbred racing stable with horses in many states. A simple google will reveal all that. I did put away a decent-sized estate for my son. I could go on, but my point is not to brag on myself. I'm a short, neurotic, anxiety-ridden, depressive Jew. Nobody -- least of all your most excellent regular commenter woudl ever want to be me. I go through intense periods of anger and self-loathing.
I've made my life an open book to those who were interested. If one person believes I've made any of it up just to make him feel small, he's free to ask me for a list of my friends and family and he may do his own research.
If all of that puts motherfuckers on tilt, and it will again and again, I can take two approaches: I can pretend I'm 11 and have a street-fight or I can walk away. I believe the latter is best.
The blogosphere is full of psychopaths and I ran into one of the worst ones yesterday. He got me into a position in which I might have had to sue him or have him hurt real bad. I had his fucking address and but for my own good sense I didn't pass it along with the excuse that he got to be got or I couldn't produce work. Do you think pondering such a thing made me feel GOOD about myself?
Christ, I got so involved in the polemic I let my partners down by not doing some work I HAD TO DO. They have famllies and depend on me to get the work done. They are not goof-ball bloggers. They are old-timers and we'll leave it at that.
I could have ratted him to the Sifry family and Senator Lautenberg. I could have shown the comments to my Dad and let the chips fall where they may knowing how my Dad is about family and how dark a man he is. He WANTED to die in Korea. Taking care of a geeky blog putz would be his idea of a great way to go out now that he knows my mom could live with me just a stone's throw from Johns Hopkins/Paitilla Hospital.
That's not the kind of person I want to be. My parents had a very differnt idea of the man they wanted me to be and so far I've made them proud of me. I work hard. I abhor violence. And I don't rat.
If, however, this most exceptional blogger becomes obsessive and causes me stress, my approach might change. My mentors might get involved. My attorneys might get involved. My family might get involved. I don't know how it's going to play out. How does anyone know how it's going to play out with a psycho?
I'd rather cede the excellent blogger I encourntered yesterday the win for the good of Jonestown, shut my shit down and get on with my life. He might even be right. He may well be a BETTER Jonestown citizen than I am. He's PROBABLY a better blogger than I am. Given that such is possible, I'd rather he be a productive commmenter at Jonestown without having to worry about being made to feel insecure by my wooden nickels.
I don't want my vanity to interfere with the good work you, Fairlane, Dave, Dash, CAP & CUP, Vorhees, mi brother, Johnny Wingnut and the rest are doing.
This used to be a great hobby for me. I had been a great diary. Now, I realize that I'm too vulnerable to psychos to continue and maybe a pen and paper would work just as well.
I'll get your email from D-CUP and we'll continue our discussion at whatever length we like away from Blogland.
Thanks for appreciating my work. I was in a small minority of folk who thought it was good.
kelso
i dont know what to say
i read the whole thread - and wow -- shit was flying....... who am i to judge?
you are one terrific guy -- and i wish you could see that -- i havent even met you and i bet we could be buds here in the city -- tho i know i would get my ass handed to me in gin and poker (two games i love, but am not that great in) ---
i know where you come from being so hard on yourself --- i dont know if it is the jewish thing (sure works against me at times) or the new york thing -- but i fully understanding how consuming this all can be.
one thing i am sure of -- you will never be anything other than yourself - and that is something you should be proud of. a lot of people come to blog world and still hide a lot -- good bad or indifferent -- you don't -- and that is one breath of fresh air. i would guarantee you are exactly how i picture from all your posts, rants and info.....
you have no idea how much i have learned from you. do what you have to do. continued success in all parts of life.
stay in touch. my email is nyz5678@gmail.com.
an ps -- you mi amigo are NOT boring by any stretch of the imagination.
Kslo,
I have no fucking idea what the hell is happening. I don't stop by for a few days and BOOM shit is on and poppin' WTF.
Look you have my email. I want to stay in touch. I just hate that I would come here and your not here!
Lovebabzatgmaildotcom
You may be a lot of things, but BORING AIN'T ONE OF THEM!
Do what you must. But don't be hasty. Be still. Or in the words of the prophets: The Beetles: Let It Be. Let it be.
D-CAPny:
I don't understand the confusion. You read the thread. I wouldn't even DARE re-post what I wrote. It was garbage. Fucking basura. I don't know the first thing about about business, finance, economics, history, law, tax, accounting or any of that.
Don't be shy. Come right out and write it. You're a financial journalist. And I've posted the absolute ACES against me here.
I'm a tough little city kid, I can't take criticism. You read the thread. You know your stuff, so just be honest and don't gas me. My notions about financial accounting of US subs of European Parents in the fashion industry are for shit. Who are you to judge? Who better? Judge away. I lose.
I'd love to have taught you what I know about poker and gin, but I kind of think in this emerging blogger I've featured here, you've got the next Phil Ivey and Stuey Ungar.
Real? Honest? Open about myself? Again, paisano, you read the thread. He caught me out. Everything I've been writing about myself is pure fantasy. You read it from the source. With your own two eyes, D-CAPny. What mnore proof do you need? I am full of shit. Just ask him. Or re-read the thread.
What's the big secret. You've seen my picture on D-CUP's blog. You know what I look like. 5'7" 160lbs, olive complexion, brown hair. Nothing too sexy there, bro. THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST looks kind of like a blend of Brad Pitt and Lou Diamond Phillips but much more muscular.
I'll stay in touch because I like you very much but if I were you I'd recommend sending him the email address, too. But I don't understand the "continued success" part. You mean you hope I finally achieve success, right? You read the thread. I've made everything up. I've had no success so far. I do appreciate the sentiment, though. The only thing you could possibly have learned from me is how to lie and how to emit a foul smell. And how to have a sub-normal IQ. It's all there in the thread. Or were you reading Dave Dancy's thread by mistake?
Boring? Thanks for the props but the thread, I'm afraid, reveals that's an open-and-shut case.
You're too damned nice to me, buddy.
Kelso-
A'ight, being long-winded and boring are two, very distinct things, for one thing. (You are long-winded. There are times I can read it all, times I can't and come back. When it's been a comment on my blog, I enjoy it though, I'll say.)
For another, I, personally, enjoy commenting others' blogs very much, but I blog for ME. I blog to have a creative outlet (ok, I'm addicted, but....) There are a tone of blogs out there, and I only wish I could read them all. All's I'm sayin' is that there's plenty of other fish in the sea if you can't resolve matters with a few bloggers.
Of course, that's your choice, but who is gonna comment on all the raunchy pics over at Dis with me then and mix the Spanish colloquialisms into comments that make me learn something new and then leave me guessing? At least fill me in on arecho, k?
LOVEBABZ: I think the world of you, darling, but go read the thread at Jonestown and decide for yourself.
I got my clock cleaned by the superior blogger and thinker. My ego isn't so huge that I can't admit that. You're a women's NCAA fan, right? OK, here's an analogy. I was like TOWSON playing away to UCONN against The Progressive Traditionalist on the subject of freedom of speech, propety rights, implied value, etc.
When you're beat, you're beat. You don't pretend you won. The better blogger even said my intelligence was limited and I was verging on "dumb."
That kind of spells my future as a blogger pretty much, si o no? Having to be TOWSON against UCONN every time? I don't know about you, but I know I'd find it wearying.
I just feel bad for great folks like Fairlane, Dave Dancy, Spartacus, SuziRiot, et. al. I brought MY A game but MY A game isn't even The Progressive TRaditionalist's C- game. I guess by THEPROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST'S point of view as I've quoted here I kind of disgraced Jonestown by being "....an empty wind with a foul smell..."
And as for being or not being boring, I appreciate your kind words but the man did indeed write "At one timethought you were slightly intelligent, though too dumb to know that you bore the fuck out of people..." And make no mistake about it THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST is smart with a capital "S."
Sometimes, I'm hasty, sometimes not. I always liked the BEATLES so I'll consider letting it be. We'll see.
I'm just not going up as Alejandro Falla against Roger Fereder again! The ProgTrad is too sharp for me.
With the caveat from THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST that most of how I present myself is fantasy or lies and that I am AT BEST "slightly intelligent" and he should know because he's VERY INTELLIGENT, I might have been making up a fantasy of being a fluent Spanish speaker, the reflexive infinitive "arecharse" means "to be turned on".
I might still mess around in HELL, but jeez, what if THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST follows me over there? Once they read his stuff, I won't have my title Ser Kelso anymore and he'll probably comfortably defeat any position I take at yet another of my favorite blog haunts. That would sting.
...and furthermore, dear FreidaBee, though I agree that I, too, blog for me and I'm long-winded because I speak Spanish 95% of the time so a lot of thoughts in English pile up and I need an outlet, what if the TIGER WOODS over blogging, TPT, starts visiting my gaff and taking apart my shit with such precision the way he did over at Jonestown?
Part of my purpose in blogging for me was as sort of a standin for a diary, which I hope my son will read someday. That brilliant PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST could make me look pretty bad in front of Kelso-Jr by picking my stuff apart and accurately insulting me the way he did over and over again at Jonestown. Kelso-Jr listens to me now and respects me and often disagrees with me and is an all-round great kid and amazing short-stop, switch-hitter and right-handed pitcher. I'd lose his love and respect in a second.
So, while blogging and commenting used to be a great hobby for me, yesterday proved beyond all doubt how bad I am when mano-a-mano against a veritable genius.
I'll think long and hard about this, but you know what's long and hard for me at least according the THE PROGRESSIVE TRADITIONALIST? 7th GRADE!
I didn't know that blogging was a competitive sport. Or a blood sport for that matter.
If you see your blog as your "diary" what does it matter if someone disagrees with you or is are coming from a different life experience than you, a different POV. Doesn't make him wrong and you right, or vice versa. and it doesn't make him the stronger blogger or you the weaker. it just is what it is.
to be honest kelso, you do seem to throw in your "elite bona fides" when the going gets rough. search kelso under these key words ---
prep-school
exxon/mobil stock
inheritance
money
money
and more money
when you pull that, it seems you are intentionally trying to antagonize. it seems, from the outside, really ugly.
and then with the false modesty, and angling for compliments. again, don't get me started.
i think you should take the advice of the perennially wise dcup. give it a break. no one is out to get you.
This all, of course, has been a joke. I happen to think that if a thought entered The Progressive Traditionalist's head it would die of loneliess. His vocabulary is limited. His grammar is appalling. His logic is Swiss Cheese.
But while I might take a break from writing, I'm certainly staying away from commenting at Jonestown because he sort of is to Jonestown what I am to HELL.
He may be on to that fantasy and lying thing about me, though. Right now, I'm fantasizing that maybe the feller could use a visit from some nice guys I know. Maybe share some sodas and some potato chips or something. Watch a ballgame. You know like a gesture of friendship.
Ah ANITA, dear sweet Anita...always there in a pinch. Always kind and trustworthy. Always a friend in need.
Outstanding. Dee-lite-full.
Only one I can see out to get me including the dude who insulted me is you, my sweet. But, hell, you showed exactly how I DESERVED IT.
I know you've got plenty more where that came from, too. Sensational. Orgasmic. Don't hold back. Unbelt it immediately.
Indeed, That was extry nice of you. Much appreciated. Please don't hold back.
That was just the shrimp cocktail, I know. I'm waiting on the wedge of iceberg with roquefort dressing, the filet-mignon rare, the creamed spinach and hash browns sides, and of course the chocolate parfait and brandy for dessert.
As my friend George said, "bring it on."
Oh baby, I love it. You're much too kind, much too kind, I don't know what I'm gonna do.
How ever shall I return the favor?
I'll have to mull that one over some. I don't think I am actually able to return the favor so I won't try.
Right now, I'm just loving that Kelso-Jr went 2-4 with 2 doubles 2 runs scored, an RBI and 3 assists and no errors at SS in his debut. And that, Anita My Sweet-ah, is an umbrella none of your foul rain can get through. It's a father's dream come true even from 6000 miles away.
But since we're on the subject of MONEY AND MY LUST THEREOF, how bright does Jr's future look? That kind of debut as the only 8YO on a team of 9YOs and a trust-account absolutely full-to-bursting! Like apples, Anita-Sweet-ah, dearest friend, how 'bout them apples?
[Congratulations, boy. You're the best!]
4th Of July, Asbury Park
Sandy the fireworks are hailin' over Little Eden tonight
Forcin' a light into all those stoned-out faces left
stranded on this forth of July
Down in town the circuit's full with switchblade lovers
so fast so shiny so sharp
As the wizards play down on Pinball Way on the boardwalk way past dark
And the boys from the casino dance with their shirts open
like Latin lovers along the shoreChasin' all them silly girls
Sandy the aurora is risin' behind us
The pier lights our carnival life forever
wow, I go work the weekend at the library and when I come back here to check you out all hell has broken lose.
hey, I get mad sometimes too and I think about shutting down but then I step back and think "fuck you guys, I am me and that is that". some people are just fucking rude!
so take a break and get your work done. do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself. when and if you're ready to come back some of us will be here waiting to talk to you again.
good luck and smooth sailing buddy!
Kelso, what the fuck man? I hear what you're saying about the Prog Trad, but since when was blogging ever about competing? Seriously, He's got nothing on you. If you need to take a break from blogging take it, but you can't let the bastards grind you down. You have a strong voice...nay, a powerful voice and it needs to be heard. Use it.
But like everything else in life, we need to make choices, so if this is yours, so be it. I can't say that I'm not sad to read about it. You know where to find me in the blog world and how to contact me in the meat world. Don't be a stranger. ¿Me entiendes,'mano?
Your pal, Spartacus.
Can we get back to making fun of Wingnuts now?
I'm confident that your cage has not been rattled as bad as all this, K-man. But there are some stress risers that have been revealed, so I will also concur with the inimitable D-Cup's wise advice (perhaps INHALE ole' Panama Red before the paranoia sets in and you end up talking to his white horse Mescalito, winkwinknudgenudge).
I'm not one of your frequent and pithy commentors, and a solid 20 percent of what you say hits cruising altitude before it even enters the airspace between my ears (go ahead and keep that one for future self-effacement), but I'll be damned if I don't enjoy the fuck out of your blog and your comments when I happen to step out in their path elsewhere. There are a lot of awesome bloggers who I just don't have time to visit, but guess what? They come HERE. So you don't pull 100+ comments with each post, that doesn't diminish your position as a touchstone for 5-10 really smart, cool and funny people who do stop by.
If you are not BSing here and truly hang up the glubs for goot, I will miss the hell out of you for sure. D-Cup also has my e-mail and lives a figurative stone's throw from me, so sneak back to the ATL someday and we'll all go commiserate at the U.S. 41 dive of your choosing.
Guarde su barbilla para arriba...
O'T
ANITA: 2nd comment of yours was really sweet and I am reminded once again of why I am so fond of you. 1st comment I forgot.
LIBS: I'll think this through some, but I'm sure I'll be back in some form or other. I've been tinkering with reviving the FOREGO'S NUTS blog which was basically about the stuff I really like: sports, gambling, finance, math, economics and politics from a completely unideological material perspective. I've also tinkered with just doing a Spanish language blog because it's great practice for me to write it more often, and has been my experience there in the past, if I fuck up a tense here or there, I'll get a gentle correction and I'll add that bit of knowledge to my toolkit.
SPARTACUS: Perhaps, as they say about academia the level of rancor is so high because the stakes are so low.
I had hoped that blogging would not be about competing. I must have written 10 times that in a weird way I root for the Jonestown Super Team more than I root for myself. And that's absoutely true. But bright people are always competitive. That's how it is.
As for Prog/Trad, when it started to get bitter, I offered my usual "mal arreglo es mejor que buen pleito," but it did not work. I'm merely calling him the Ivey/Ungar/Woods/Henderson/Federer/UCONN of blogging because it's easier that way. I don't approve of the competition but it's hard to acknowledge that it's not there. By stipulating that he's better than me, I hope to avoid further hassles.
I have purposely avoided the Wingnut blogs because I never wanted to get into arguments that would dissolve into rancor. I assumed that as I basically agreed with ProgTrad's property-rights read, I could maybe add something financially-relevant to the discussion. I added nothing but problems. And that is why this area of blogging keeps disgusting me over and over again. I earned FAIRLANE's much-appreciated award but at what cost?
And these are issues that really don't affect me anymore. I've made peace with the idea that I'll never live in the United States again and will probably visit very, very rarely and not for a number a years to be sure.
I am best off leaving AMERICAN issues to AMERICANS. It's silly for me to try to hold on to a thing I've got no part of anymore.
FAIRLANE: I'm kind of in a Wingnut-Friendly mood right now. If the Wingnuts hadn't really gone for broke on this stupid UIGEA thing, I never would have realized that not only is there a big world out there but that the idea of never returning was a good thing, not a bad thing. I might have been stuck, instead of the varied experiences I'm having now.
I may not have the American electoral franchise anymore but I still have the spirtual franchise and with that I'm voting for YOU FOR EMPEROR.
O'TIM: My cage is not rattled at all. I just came to realize that THIS particular type of blogging is not for me. It's nice to know that people are visiting and appreciating what I've done. I really hate the idea that what I'm writing is going over anyone's head. I have my fields of expertise just like everyone else does.
Maybe I'll be inspired to do American public affairs stuff again. I don't know. I'm still mulling it over. I'm sorry to say that Georgia is still kind a sore point with me because I have so much family and so many friends there and it will be a good long while before I see them again in Georgia.
PROGRESSIVE-TRADITIONALIST: I'll go check out your apology but the handshake stage is a small image in the rear-view mirror, si o no?
If you mean your father is a Navy vet, well, guess what? So's mine and I'm glad we have that in common.
I absolutely refuse to rehash any of the arguments. I've already conceded your superiority to me in this and all past and future points of contention. There's not much more I can do.
I don't think anyone's out to "get" me. It would be very difficult to accomplish if they were. And FYI "Panama Red" doesn't exist anymore for one because the strongest pot is grown in the US and Canada now. Also, my body will not tolerate marijuana. It has been years and years since I've smoked. If you mean to imply that my brain is drug-addled in some way, I have to disagree. I am a joyful consumer of drugs but my cognitive function could not be sharper.
Finally, I don't know how often you've read my stuff. I am a Jew, and on a number of occasions I've made the point that words such as "motherfucker" and "cocksucker" generally speaking in the Jewish community don't have any meaning. Certainly, they aren't used to convey real anger.
If I were really mad at you, which I'm not, I'd have used the words "cancer", "Hitler" or both in my invective. Those are the only Jewish curse words in English I know.
I got a great laugh at your insults, though. They were pretty much on point. I am definitely stupid and boring, although I bathe daily, use deodorant and brush and floss my teeth regulary and use mouthwash, so I doubt I smell bad.
Good luck, buddy, in all seriousness with your blog, career, family, etc. May you get all you wish for and more. You're a good man and you desserve it.
It's really hard for me to feel anything but great after my son's debut at SS as the youngest player in his bracket, batting leadoff for the I________r Rangers. It's a very competitive league. Nelson Figueroa who had an OK major league career (but more importantly graduated from Amherst College) played in it and he's not the only pro to have played in it. I have no illusionns. Admission to Amherst someday for Kelso Jr would be more than enough!
AND TO EVERYBODY: Please don't forget to have some fun tomorrow and every other day, too. Life is short and the Wingnuts are cruel.
I look forward to reading your lengthy, deep posts. Often I can't make a comment because I don't have sufficient understanding of the issues. I don't think that you and I agree on everything, but I certainly enjoy the mental exercise of trying to fathom all of the issues that you raise. I hope that you decide to keep throwing the pearls. Some of us really like trying to catch them.
Kelso - I should clarify that 90 percent of the 20 percent I referred to is from obscure references and names I don't know, usually from your NY and finance background (but hey, you keep the Google warm).
That said, I think you are quite adept at making obscure political and ideological concepts fairly interesting, and being long-winded is pretty necessary for that (this from someone with adult ADD - medicated, of course).
Oy gevalt
kelso,
Fascinating developments here in kelsoland.
As far as I know "progressive traditionalist" is one of the few people to get under your skin here in blogland.
You went completely Clinton on him with all that raging I'm-a-guy-who-eats-with-the-queen stuff. However, despite what you might believe, parading elements of your c.v. does not equal a trump card in blogland debates.
On the other hand, he showed he was a bit thin-skinned himself, which is something bloggers should overcome.
The argumentation was good, however. It should have continued without the ad hominem angle since there were probably a few more points worth adding.
As for the issue itself, I'd say old Zirkel knew how to exploit his age. He probably concluded he'd enjoy an extra measure of consideration due to his senior status.
It's amazing that people believe owners and operators of businesses are obligated to stand by while people engage in whatever antics they please on the private property of another. As though the sign often found in retail venues -- "no soliciting" -- is meaningless.
No_slappz:
We disagree on practically everything but we always settle it. I appreciate the breadth and depth of your knowledge and I was rather taken by the power and poetry of your meme response sometime back.
And you killed me knowing about the various English translators of Latin fiction and the brilliance of Rabassa.
With you, I've reached the point of not wanting to argue about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Nor will I argue about this word or that phrase anymore. I notice that you stopped taking that tack with me, as well. And I appreciated it.
I don't want to get into the argument again. The tea-with-the-queen bit was a rhetorical device which anyone who's read Marx (I know you have) should understand. It was not meant as a trump card. You know what I meant.
My real goal was to initiate a discussion of the property-rights angle of the debate at the actual business level, because I understand that point of view as well as Spartacus's.
I know you would have had a well-reasoned comment in opposition, as regards to the suburban/exurban retail industry, which probably would have gone well into the financial and beyond the political.
Alas, you were not there to pick up that thread. It would have been interesting, no? We'll have other arcane financial debates later and elsewhere.
The topic is dead now as far as I'm concered.
I've always appreciated your comments here, however, whether I've agreed with you or not, so I'm responding to YOU specifically about this just to keep you in the loop.
I don't want to discuss this topic or any aspect of it anymore, though.
Prog-Trad,
It's time to reach in the bag and give Ser Kelso his wallet back. It's the leather one with "bad motherfucker" hand stamped on it. We, Ourselves, know what was in the suitcase was impressive but you cannot have it so it's time to take your nervous girlfriend and get the Hell out of the diner.
Ser Kelso,
Once again We call upon you to understand that We do not come to your defense because as all of Hell knows you can defend yourself, but We wish to let everyman who hears and sees know that while they may walk and run and move mighty missile firing tanks on the ground and sail the oceans with powerful warships, We, Ourselves, OWN THE SKY!
As always,
We remain steadfastly loyal
and at your service dear friend.
Qu'ul cuda praedex nihil!
Estimada Pain:
I'll use the Spanish because sadly the English translation will never be the same after malign forces in service of niether Democratic candidate for president took the Big Dog's "bad motherfucker" wallet as well.
The story of Kelso and "No Mall For Old Men" se termina como un Cuento De Hadas!
That would be Reed Johnson doing some stretching and getting a massage because the word from the clubhouse is that Soriano's hamstriang is a little tender and somebody's got to get out there and play left.
Your support and love is much appreciated and I surely don't take it as your thought that I cannot defend myself in Blogovia.
For me it's always a question of having the philosophy that "un mal arreglo es mejor que un buen pleito."
But with Soriano a bit "gimpy" (to continue the pun), Reed's going to have to get loose and man left. Check the Thompson Sub Machine gun's mailbox.
Estimada Pain:
Better still the way you've arranged it. Un buen arreglo es mejor que un MAL arreglo, cierto?
I haven't done anything. Read the "Reed Johnson & Me" post above.
I was offered a spot on a team and I took it. I write the same stuff with the same point of view and the same attitude only as part of a team instead of as a one-man band.
Moreover, while I'll grant that I was a little tough and prickly for most, I am now with a squad in which in terms of anger and prickliness and everything else folks didn't like makes me kind of middle of the pack.
I'll probably resume cross-posting in a while, but I think they'd like some bright commentary over there from fearless people and until I have decided for sure whether or not I've brought them more of those readers and commenters, I'm leaving this blog in suspended animation.
Check me out at http://thedisbrimstone-dailypitchfork.blogspot.com/
For what it's worth, I could have gone down to felt over the whole argument, but I took them temperature and I don't think either the wind at my back nor the love of the crowd.
The role of theanti-hero suits me well. The role of the villain does not.
I've posted 4x times over there since all the mischigoss started. And I haven't changed a bit nor has anyone asked me to.
Post a Comment