Open Thread - Rest in Peace, Jon Swift
We all wondered what had happened to him, particularly since he did not come forward even for his own baby, Blogroll Amnesty Day.
Jon Swift passed away on February 27. His mom left this comment at the last post to his blog:
I don't know how else to tell you all who love this blog. I am Jon Swift's Mom and I guess I'm going to OUT him. He was Al Weisel, my beloved son. Al was on his way to his father's funeral in VA when he suffered 2 aortic aneurysms, a leaky aortic valve and an aortic artery dissection from his heart to his pelvis. He had 3 major surgeries within 24 hours and sometime during those surgeries also suffered a severe stroke. We, his 2 sisters, his brother, his partner and his best friend since he was 9 years old were with him as he took his last breath. We have all lost a shining start who warmed our hearts, tormented us and made us laugh as he giggled at our pulling something over on us. He passed away on February 27, 2010. My beloved child will live on in so many hearts. I miss him more than I can say. If you are on Facebook, go to organizations and join "Friends of Al Weisel, Unite!" It will give you just a taste of how special he was. Farewell, Jon (Al)
3/02/2010 8:14 AM
Jon Swift was already terribly missed because he stopped blogging abruptly last March. He was not only a very talented blogger, he was a true blog citizen. He linked to all of us, cared passionately about the community of small bloggers, and was one of the best at giving the ones and zeros in which we bloggers interact some heart and soul. And he was very funny.
Love to his family and may he rest in peace.
Godspeed, Mr. Swift...
Acerbic as the day was long. He was so good I often thought he was serious and I'd actually get pissed off. He elevated blogging to an art form. He is leaving a big, winking hole in the universe of satire.
Condolences to his family and friends.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
I've never heard of him, but maybe I've read his postings?
They actually started putting him on the $100 bill, but it was only worth $50 when the ink dried...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
they have to use 'In odd we bust' as the slogan instead.
because I can't comprehend how with the Dems in control of Congress such a thing could even be conceivable. ronald w. reagan is a monster, who is totally responsible for the last 30 years of crimes committed in, and by, America and/or its destruction.
BLOOD instead of ink for that evil SOB.
Well said. I just finished my post on this, and I'm deeply saddened by this news. Condolences and best wishes to his family and friends in a very rough time.
That Al has passed away, and also because he did so on the way to a family funeral. :( My thoughts will be with his family in this difficult time.
I've never seen change without a fire
Barack Obama gets a surprise visit in the night from ex-Presidents Bush Sr., Bush Jr., Clinton, Ford, Reagan and Carter to get a few pointers about the Consumer Financial Protection Agency and why it's so important.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/f...
Goodnight, Frau Blücher
I've known Al for years. We only met a few times, but kept in touch fairly regularly ever since my days at The Advocate when he was writing for New York based gay mags that don't exist anymore.
Al co-authored (with Lawrence Frascella ) Live Fast Die Young: The Wild Rode of The making of Rebel Without a Cause -- the definitive book on both that film AND its star James Dean.
Al was so smart and had so much to give, and now we won't have it.
Worse still, we won't have Al.
I'm happy we HAVE him,he changed the world.The one we got now.
....the fools do not realize,a population that can ,..... not paticipate .............in the 'economy'...,can not keep it viable!..........."we are listening,.......and we're not blind.,......this is your life....this is your time."
My sincerest condolences for you and your family in this trying time. Rest Well Al.
What is your conceptual, continuity?
My condolences to his family and friends.
He was never a prolific poster even on his own blog but like his namesake he was a master of satire. I used to get notices from friends whenever he put up something new and it was always worth the time. Always. He will be missed.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
That was a beautiful message from your mom. Brought a tear to these eyes
"Maybe you build a ladder to the stars,
And climb up every rung.
And may you stay...
Forever Young"
Rip jon.
Here's the kind of "sign of the times" story you just can't make up.
U.S. Bank CEO Richard Davis Wins "Executive of the Year" Award while Janitor who Cleans His Office Fights for Her Home
Democracy is too important to be entrusted to politicians.
Rise Up!
Protest!
Ouch. Talk about your lopsided priorities.
What specifically did Mr. Davis do to deserve this honor? Was it the way he ran the bank (into the ground). Or was it that he made so much personal income while his company got bail-out-billions from tax payers?
Yeah, probably that last one. Everybody wants to be the millionaire; nobody wants to be the janitor. Let’s all aspire to ripping off the government whilst making grotesque amounts of money. Hand that man a ribbon. Hand the janitor a mop…
As the accolades are distributed, however, it should be remembered that this financial mess we’re in won’t be cleaned up by any banker.
how he increased the income ratio between himself and his lowest paid workers.
That's leadership in this country. No shit. It. Really. Is.
a gun.
fucked up situation as I've seen. Astounding.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
how old he was but when you see the likes of Cheney living through 5 heart attacks we know that only the good die young. RIP!
And what you said, Ron.
I never read your blog, but it is always sad when a bright spirit is taken from this world. - My thoughts go out to his family.
Thank-you for Al. You did good,he did good,and we are gooder because we had Al,even if only for a while.......Thanks Mom..
....the fools do not realize,a population that can ,..... not paticipate .............in the 'economy'...,can not keep it viable!..........."we are listening,.......and we're not blind.,......this is your life....this is your time."
One more voice is stilled. My condolences to his family. Rest in Peace, Al.
If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're gonna get selfish, ignorant leaders.
George Carlin
I actually was not aware of his work, but he certainly sounded like a man who was highly regarded and much loved.
This probably would have given him a smile:
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/f...
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
As usual, Ken Burns makes the people as important as the places. I was pretty young when Carter used the Antiquities Act to overcome a filibuster and create the monuments. And I'd forgotten that Alaskans burned Carter in effigy and otherwise threatened him, albeit from the safety of 3000+ miles distance. I could only imagine how bad things would have gotten if Obama had done what Carter did.
I can see why the same people like palin.
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
i am devastated by al/jon's passing. i never knew him in real life but i considered him my friend here in blogtopia.
i have a round-up of tributes and memorlizations for jon over @ skippy.
much like steve gilliard and jim capazzola, jon was extremely gracious w/his time and links to help other bloggers find their voice and their audience.
i will really miss him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXDOlWcD4aM
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
RIP.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Greece also tries its luck @ "balancing" the budget. Support our troops on repealing DADT. Calcium and vitamin D may not cut cholesterol. Hoyer has dirt on Massa. Brazil tells us what we can do with our Iran sanctions. Certain teachers end up being spoil-sports when it comes to Black History Month. How 'bout getting rid of high school completely, since no one actually needs it in the real world. And speaking of irrelevant education... Perry the Dick loves to tea-bag. Reconciliation for me, but not for thee. Looks like we're gluttons for punishment. TOyota fixes are anything but. Nissan is next. The feds are blind to defective window shades. Asleep at the switch? D.C. celebrates gay matrimony. Senators aren't stimulated by our money subsidizing overseas jobs. Joke Gregg and ten other Bullshit dogs screw the elderly and vets out of inflation-adjusted benefits subsisidies.
.
According to reports on morning joe today, Sarah Palin has been shopping the networks for a reality show starring her own family. I bet if we search the comments made here during the last presidential campaign someone suggested that would be her best bet as she seemed to be living in one at the time.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
... totally clueless.
Reality TV has given us 'stars' like Richard & Mayumi Heene (parents of 'Balloon Boy'); Michaele and Tariq Salahi (party crashers); Jon & Kate Gosselin.
The potential for career-ending dirt, as well as exposing Palin as the shallow, superficial idiot she is, is just amazing.
Show her a camera with some money on top and she's all over it. Like your list shows, crazy people are getting rich due to being crazy and audiences love to watch the foolishness. What a world we live in.
Anyone who opens their life and home to a camera just has to be a little bit insane.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Whether from greed or avarice they all want fame, money or power. Those who want fame are short-sighted and stupid. Those who want money are shallow and foolish. Those who want power are more dangerous.
Sarah gave up her place of power (limited as it was) for fame and money. She seems caught between short-sighted and stupid and shallow and foolish. There she will remain.
Probably better she stays out of politics anyway so we should encourage her to get her own show.
Read Jon Swift's Amazon reviews, a great bite-size introduction to his satire. You can find them in the Best Of section on his blog.
I'd only visited his blog a few times but always loved reading his many comments here and around the blogosphere. This is sad news indeed. My very heart felt condolences to his family and friends.
Latest FaBlog: Al's Gone (But Far From Forgotten)
... to be part of Blogroll Amnesty Day, and always enjoyed reading Jon Swift. My favorite part was the comments when commenters would get mad because they took him seriously, or even better would congratualte him because they agreed!
Bye Al, we hardly knew ye.
He linked to all of us, cared passionately about the community of small bloggers, and was one of the best at giving the ones and zeros in which we bloggers interact some heart and soul. ~ He certainly did all he could to promote the 'little blogs'. We are all a tad poorer with him permanently gone from this here earth. ;(
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