Those of you that inhabit Blogistan have seen the results of these "spambots" that generate generic posts to drive traffic to sites that sell semi-legal viagra or sports betting (but never, oddly enough, canned pork). One of these got caught by my spam catcher the other day:
I can not believe the amount of quality material that exists on this site. The site is extremely eye catching and pulls the reader straight in, the articles are great quality and are very professionally written. I have seen too many of these sites where it looks like they pay an 8 year old to do the writing – Not this one. Your site is easily the best that I have seen in a long while.
It's not praise from someone that reads the site, or even an actual human being, but I'll take it anyway.
As new agey as it sounds, there is only so much "political energy" a person has. It has become obvious in recent weeks that mine is better spent talking to the folks in District 28 rather than writing here. Frankly, there has also been a couple of occasions where I didn't write something that I wanted to because I'm campaigning for office.
I'm still surprised at the generally good reactions I've gotten from people who thank me (yes, believe it or not) not only for getting a certain point of view into our public conversation, but getting the word out about things going on in the legislature.
I'd like to thank all of you who have been regularly posting over the last five years, even those of you that use the comment section to lob rhetorical hand grenades.
Even though I'll be gone, there will not be a vacuum. Blog for Arizona, which pre-dated this blog by at least a year, is still up and running and has gotten better by adding more writers. Jim Nintzel is now blogging at the Tucson Weekly (what was the Skinny but a primordial blog anyway?). And, Luke Knipe has started up a blog called Poco Bravo. Knipe, by the way, puts a lot more effort into his postings than I ever did. I just call a few people and vent, Luke actually does interviews and -gasp- journalism.
My plan was to, after the election, use this blog to give you the goings on up in Phoenix, much the same way Steve Farley does in his "Farley Reports." I still plan to do so.
I'll be gone, but like San Xavier Mission, I'll be Bac.
Thank you, all of you. Even you, Bruce Ash.
Hasta la Proxima. Do Zobaczenia.
NB: By the way, you notice the tabs are still up there. You can continue to check out the archives or even click the "Swag" tag to order an R-Cubed coffee mug.
