Jeff Welch
Puget Sound Transit Operators Blog
Metro Transit Operator, Central Base
sharon
Whew! I ’bout panicked there when I clicked in for a peek at your blog – as an escape from work – and it seemed you were leaving the blogesphere! So happy to follow you here. BTW: I was in your dad’s cancer support group. (My younger brother passed away several months before your mom.) I knew your mom briefly at that time, and was moved by your remembrance at her funeral. Such a lovely woman, and such a great couple. You do her justice, and both of them proud. Congrats on your newest baby and thanks for letting us follow along. Please pass along my best to your dad! Sharon Stone
Thank you, Sharon. I am very sorry for the loss of your brother.
My dad doesn’t read this blog (or any blog, for that matter), but I will certainly pass on your kind words.
The truth? The blog was/is a hobby (read: I do not get paid). I didn’t mind that so much, since I enjoy writing it, but I did mind that my free content was being used to sell/display ads—for political candidates (including some strongly anti-transit candidates), teeth whitening, and even cars.
Also, I was disappointed in the choices Hearst made when it shut down the print PI. The focus on free content (with blogs like mine and other random opinion columns) isn’t, in my view, the best idea. My blog was/is not edited (neither are any of the many, many other reader blogs), and I am not a journalist. It is a chronicle of a first-person experience that is intended to entertain. (Of course, I hope to also educate and inform in the process.) The very small remaining staff at the PI was also dominated by bloggers and culture/entertainment types. Strong, thoughtful, award-winning reporters and columnists were let go.
I realize that the world of journalism is undergoing a shift, but (keeping it real) I didn’t feel good about the way the PI shifted.
P.S. – Glad you like the site!
jkh1948
Thanks for the explanation. Succinct and non-hysterical. I like that! Your new site is great, and I’ll be here regularly!
busboy
I’m glad Rowe-Parker asked, and you answered. And jkh1948 couldn’t have characterized your response any better. I also join Sharon and Carrie in their relief you’ll still be blogging about public transportation and, well, still being Bus Chick!
I love the look and your contribution to promoting transit.
Congrats!
Jeff Welch
Puget Sound Transit Operators Blog
Metro Transit Operator, Central Base
Whew! I ’bout panicked there when I clicked in for a peek at your blog – as an escape from work – and it seemed you were leaving the blogesphere! So happy to follow you here. BTW: I was in your dad’s cancer support group. (My younger brother passed away several months before your mom.) I knew your mom briefly at that time, and was moved by your remembrance at her funeral. Such a lovely woman, and such a great couple. You do her justice, and both of them proud. Congrats on your newest baby and thanks for letting us follow along. Please pass along my best to your dad! Sharon Stone
Thank you, Sharon. I am very sorry for the loss of your brother.
My dad doesn’t read this blog (or any blog, for that matter), but I will certainly pass on your kind words.
I have loved following your blog on the PI site and now look forward to reading you here!
Thanks, everyone!
Why did you move away from the PI? Inquiring minds want to know. Nice web site. I design web sites and blogs for a living, and yours is pretty nice.
The truth? The blog was/is a hobby (read: I do not get paid). I didn’t mind that so much, since I enjoy writing it, but I did mind that my free content was being used to sell/display ads—for political candidates (including some strongly anti-transit candidates), teeth whitening, and even cars.
Also, I was disappointed in the choices Hearst made when it shut down the print PI. The focus on free content (with blogs like mine and other random opinion columns) isn’t, in my view, the best idea. My blog was/is not edited (neither are any of the many, many other reader blogs), and I am not a journalist. It is a chronicle of a first-person experience that is intended to entertain. (Of course, I hope to also educate and inform in the process.) The very small remaining staff at the PI was also dominated by bloggers and culture/entertainment types. Strong, thoughtful, award-winning reporters and columnists were let go.
I realize that the world of journalism is undergoing a shift, but (keeping it real) I didn’t feel good about the way the PI shifted.
P.S. – Glad you like the site!
Thanks for the explanation. Succinct and non-hysterical. I like that! Your new site is great, and I’ll be here regularly!
I’m glad Rowe-Parker asked, and you answered. And jkh1948 couldn’t have characterized your response any better. I also join Sharon and Carrie in their relief you’ll still be blogging about public transportation and, well, still being Bus Chick!