I didn’t have much to do on February 13th, 2007. Dr. SJ, on the other hand, was busy, so to get me to stop annoying her, she told me, “start a blog.” So I did. It’s 15 years later and the blawg is still here, even though the blawgosphere has mostly come and gone in the meantime.
I’ve made a great many friends, and more than a few enemies. I’ve watched blogs come and go. I’ve seen Facebook, Twitter and podcasts replace actual thought as reflected in writings, and the need for validation replace the challenge of critical thought. Lawyers have been replaced by culture warriors, and reason has given way to emotion. And yet, here I am, still sitting down at the computer in the mornings typing out blawg posts about whatever strikes me as worth writing about.
Some tell me that SJ is a zombie blawg, still walking around even though the blawgosphere is dead. The short answer is that this is what I want to do, and whether you like it or hate it really doesn’t have much to do with my decision to pound on the keyboard. Perhaps someday it will matter to future lawyers as a record of trends in the law over the past 15 years. Perhaps it will be forgotten, a relic like so many of the other carcasses of blogs now forgotten. Beats me.
Fifteen years is a pretty long time in blawg years. As of this post, there are 12,172 posts here. There are 159,378 posted comments, and others that never saw the light of day. Some think I run this place wrong, as if they get to tell me how to run my house, but right or wrong, I’ve done it my way.
And I’m still here. Thanks for reading.
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Thanks for being. You made me a better lawyer. Tip a Bowmore 15 (after 5:00 p.m. of course).
Bowmore 15?
Bowmore have a 15. The bottle you buy today was casked in 02/07 or thereabouts, seemed appropriate. You have to wait 3 more years for the 18. Or not.
Forgive him. He doesn’t know any better. Happy 15th. Can’t wait until your 18th.
Hi, my name is Scott and I am a blogaholic. Ps. No objection here to keeping this saloon open for a bit.
15 years is surely something. But innkeeping 159K comments gets induction to the hall of fame.
Free whiskey brunch in the bar starts at 10. I’ll buy.
So, maybe at this juncture you’ll be open to well-wishing and “tummy rubs”?
Congratulations! And, thank you. I’ve learned more than I expected to, mostly helpful.
An acerbic wit once said, “this blawg doesn’t pay for itself, you know.” I’ll make my donation today as a down payment towards the next 15 years.
Happy Birthday, blog!
Mazel tov!!
Huzzah! I am grateful this is what you want to do.
Not sure the correct words to commemorate this day, but here’s to many more.
Thanks for writing!
Thank you for writing.
At times, its… inspirational…
As time passes, this blawg will be looked upon as, not only one man’s struggle, but as the universal guidepost for all sane, thinking men. Men that struggle in the face of a crumbling empire, infiltrated and co-opted by an enemy of its own creation. A monument, if you will, erected in the remembrance of a better way of being. A way, with inherent imperfections, and that in spite of itself, moves forward with slow, clear, cogent thought, and an honest awareness of what parts of the past are essential to bring forward, and which are to be buried.
A monument to sanity, in a time of decline.
I hope no one including Mr. Greenfield will disagree that one of the fringe benefits of SJ is your participation G. D. I always look forward to your musical commentary; and occasionally I learn something new.
I’ve learned a lot here over the years, and read about a wide variety of subjects I might not otherwise have thought about. And thanks.
Congrats on 15.
I followed in your (and Andrew’s) footsteps at the start, so thank you. I still chuckle when I think about Norm’s bizarre claim that he started me in blogging.
I think I told you, “ Just start typing.”
I was unaware that there was no stop button.
SHG,
Thank you for everything.
All the best.
RGK
It’s a pretty ok blog. You can keep it going for a while longer, if you like.
Happy anniversary. I hope we read your post for SJ LVI.?
I wonder how many people remember when you were the SJ Hinterlands Correspondent?
I got provoked at my Other Subscription and canceled it without foreseeing the cost. What a source it was. Is. From what I can tell skimming headlines. Why don’t I renew it?
Ok I resubscribed. “Thank you for supporting local journalism…” Journalism, right. When elephants roost in trees. Meeorw hiss. I’m interested in a little fun is all.
Probably about as many people as remember the yPad.
One of my favorites.
Thanks so much for fifteen years of knowledgable, opionated and challenging commentary. I discovered you through an interview you did with Conor Friedersdorf. Your challenge to the orthodoxy really took me aback—moreso when I realized how correct you were!
As a Union leader at a public union, your thoughts on public unions have been difficult for me but I hope have made me more thoughtful in my approach to contract negotiations even if it puts me at odds with others on my side. Trying to do the right thing is not the easiest path!
Happy Anniversary, SJ!
Happy Blawgiversary, Scott. And many more.
Tummy Rub
Head Pat.
The world would have been different if she had told you to go play in traffic.
Happy Birthday, SJ, and many more.
I have been reading since shortly after you started.
Right on and write on!
Non-attorney here, medical researcher, get inspiration out of your blog, both the content and the comments. They are a nice change from my line of work, reminds me all academic disciplines have their frustrations, and the jesuitical nature of your thinking is kinda neat. I hope you keep blawgging, and no this is not a tummy rub.
You did it your way and you are still here 15 years later. Must be doing most things right.
insert sinatra “I did it my way” here
Some people say a blawg,
Is made up of crud,
A good one makes mention,
Of barley and suds,
And things going wrong out there in the world,
And people who throw tantrums if you say “girl,”
You blawg 15 years,
What do you get?
The ABA Medal it hasn’t come yet,
But it beats the New York Times for starting the day,
And a hellah better read than Roxane Gay.
Not getting the ABA Medal is a Badge of Honor.
I’ve not gotten it a half dozen times at least.
You have a better chance of being honored by the ABA these days than I do. I don’t think they really like me anymore.
Congratulations! And many thanks for your efforts.
Thanks for writing. I think I compared you once, favorably, to Mike Royko. Future historians may compare you to George Templeton Strong, Who knows? At any rate, please carry on my friend. Your work is greatly appreciated.
You are still just a teenager at 15 and so much fun to read, first thing in the morning.
I look forward to following you into middle and old age. The blog is wonderfully refreshing,
funny, snarky, and smart. Thanks for making us all smarter.
Congratulations for 15 years and thanks for making me less stupid about the law.
Congratulations and thank you for what you do. I always admire your principled stance, which seems to be a very rare commodity these days.
Hanging out at the SJ saloon is how I ended up at Fault Lines. I’m a much better writer and lawyer because of it.
Here’s to you, Admiral.
Thanks for taking the time. I know it’s not easy; I tried it a couple of years ago, and halfway into my first article I realized that I didn’t want to sit in front of my computer typing all day. I admire and appreciate your efforts.
Welcome back to the comments! I look forward to being told how wrong I am.
I look forward to it as well. And thank you for pointing out my typos that occasionally slip past Beth’s eagle eyes.
Came here years ago, ‘cos Maggie McNeill had you on her sidebar.
Not disappointed, and have come back, occasionally commented, and will continue to do so (if you entertain it).
SHG, you are not full of shit, quite the opposite in fact, and that remains a rare and valuable thing on t’ internets. Long may you continue.
Argh, I did try to edit this comment to replace “you are not full of shit” with “a sane and principled voice”, but WordPress wouldn’t let me. Still think that they could be synonyms though.
I was happy with “not full of shit.”
I would consider it a compliment too, but perhaps not quite the most apposite way to acknowledge the amount of work you have put in here. I don’t think that I’ve ever read a dull post of yours, and that’s a hell of an achievement. Also, glad you are back in the replies. Mine is an exact business, and it is always informative to get your take on subjects that are, shall we say, a bit more nuanced. The overall impression I get from our fellow denizens of this here hotel is that this is very much appreciated, and I’ll echo that.
Getting close to a tummy rub here, but hell, for once, take one for the team?
Can’t be a zombie blog. Zombies don’t think. They just shuffle about and spew simplistic slogans about “braaiins” and “equity.” Seriously, as a non lawyer, I’ve quite enjoyed reading this blog and I hopefully learned a thing or two. Or at least wasn’t made stupider.
Thanks.
My approach to law and ethics as a public defender was very much shaped by this blog. Thanks for the last fifteen years!
Congrats on 15 years!