Andrew Sullivan speaks out: "Blogging nearly killed me."

Courtesy of CNN:

"The truth is, I had to stop primarily because it was killing me," Sullivan said Sunday night at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. 

"I used to joke that if blogging does kill someone, I would be the first to find out." He described the grueling pace that he maintained along with a small editorial staff. 

"This is 40 posts a day -- every 20 minutes, seven days a week," Sullivan said.

After closing down his blog in January Sullivan took some time to "detox." But on Sunday he agreed to an interview with Jeff Greenfield.

 "Here's what I would say: I spent a decade of my life, spending around seven hours a day in intimate conversation with around 70,000 to 100,000 people every day, " Sullivan said. "And inevitably, for those seven hours or more, I was not spending time with any actual human being, with a face and a body and a mind and a soul." 

"I couldn't imagine blogging the next election," he said. "I will not spend another minute of my time writing about the Clintons. Period. Or the Bushes."

Wow, you that really hits home for me, and I totally understand where he is coming from.

Personally I keep my blog posts to a manageable seven a day of the most, part but since I have no staff that means that each post must be researched, written, and edited all on my own.

And as many of you know, sometimes mistakes slip past my attention.

Also unlike Sullivan I do work out at least five to six days a week, and usually space out the workouts so that I have a reason to leave my desk and get some exercise. Since my other job also requires time on the computer it is easy to spend up to ten hours at my desk a day. And I often do.

However much like Sullivan I also find that most of my interactions with other people take place online in the form of texts, blog comments, and e-mails. I do get a few phone calls a day to break up the monotony, and I have several face to face conversations with my daughter when she is here, and others who live with here as well. So I am not completely isolated.

What's more I rarely ever feel alone, even when I am completely alone in the house.

That may have a lot to do with the constant ideas that bounce around inside of my head.

I don't actually hear voices or anything, but I have been known to talk out loud to myself when I am trying to flesh out an idea. (My daughter gives me grief about that constantly.)

And unlike Sullivan I have no plans to walk away from blogging at this time even though I have also been doing it for ten years now.

There are some changes coming however.

My buddy Dennis Zaki builds websites as a side job, and he has convinced me to upgrade IM in the near future. I am somewhat resistant as I don't usually welcome change, but he assures me the site will be much improved and more user friendly when he finishes with it.

So let me take a moment here to thank all of you for your patronage. I am well aware that there are sharper, sleeker, more content heavy websites you could be visiting, and yet I know many of you camp out here on a daily basis and I want you to know that it gives me the inspiration to keep on plugging away.

And have no fear, changes or no changes, I will still be the un-apologetically liberal firebrand you have all come to know and barely tolerate.

As Michele Bachmann leaves Congress she claims to have no plans to run for President but still plans to be a major pain in the ass.

Courtesy of CNN:  

Rep. Michele Bachmann says now that she's leaving Congress, she can "take the handcuffs off." 

In an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Friday, the eight-year Minnesota congresswoman said she wants to play a major role in the 2016 presidential campaign -- even though she has no plans to seek the Republican nomination. 

"I intend to go around the country and speak nationally on a variety of issues. I'll be writing. I'll be affiliating with groups," she said.

Well I don't know who had Bachmann handcuffed, but that just seems wrong.

If they really wanted to control her they would have gagged her instead.

As for her plans to "go around the country and speak nationally on a variety of issues,"  I think she might be trespassing on somebody else's turf.

Besides who can really take her seriously until she gets her own channel?

Right?

It's official, Stephen Colbert will replace the retiring David Letterman on the Late Show. Update!

Courtesy of Politico:  

Stephen Colbert will replace David Letterman when he retires from "Late Show" next year, CBS Television announced on Thursday. 

Colbert, the host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," has signed a five-year deal with the network set to begin when Letterman steps down in 2015. 

“Stephen Colbert is one of the most inventive and respected forces on television,” CBS President Leslie Moonves said in a statement. “David Letterman’s legacy and accomplishments are an incredible source of pride for all of us here, and today’s announcement speaks to our commitment of upholding what he established for CBS in late night.” 

“Stephen is a multi-talented and respected host, writer, producer, satirist and comedian who blazes a trail of thought-provoking conversation, humor and innovation with everything he touches,” Nina Tassler, the Chairman of CBS Entertainment, said. ”He is a presence on every stage, with interests and notable accomplishments across a wide spectrum of entertainment, politics, publishing and music. We welcome Stephen to CBS with great pride and excitement, and look forward to introducing him to our network television viewers in late night.”

Okay I am a little torn here.

I read earlier that Colbert would be playing this straight, and appear on the show as himself, rather than in character.

That raises conflicted feelings in me.

Because while I really like Stephen Colbert, I really LOVE Stephen Colbert.

I mean Stephen Colbert is a gifted performer and quite entertaining, but Stephen Colbert is a genius.

I guess what I am saying is that I don't know if I can enjoy watching Stephen Colbert, while at the same time mourning the loss of Stephen Colbert.

Okay now I have a headache again.

Update: For any of you who are worried that Stephen will be bullied by CBS into being non-controversial or into watering down his comedy, I remind you that the man has the biggest set of balls in all of comedy.

Behold his 2006 appearance at the White House Correspondent's Dinner.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has just announced her plans to retire.

Courtesy of ABC News 15:  

Gov. Jan Brewer has announced she will not seek another term. 

Brewer made the announcement Wednesday morning in front of a cafeteria full of students at Park Meadows Elementary School. 

"There comes a time to pass the torch of leadership, so after completing this term in office, I will be doing just that," Brewer said. "While I will no longer be governor after this year, I will remain a proud cheerleader and champion for this awesome that I love so dearly."

Hmm what could Brewer have come into contact with that would drive her out of politics?

 Ahh, of course.

So let the speculation that Palin is going to run for this now vacated position begin in 3..2..oh hell you know it's already started.