Hello, goodbye, hello

Hello? Is this thing on?

Howard here. Thanks for all the comments on the last post. I laughed at some of the "sightings." I wish a quarter of them were true.

I'm back from a few weeks of working on an article that will appear in the newspaper soon. In the meantime, I've resumed my regular print column, starting with Sunday morning's paper.

As for this blog, the news is different. I've decided not to return to it.

There are several reasons, but the main one is that I want to spend more time on columns -- in particular, more time away from the keyboard and in the world. What I found was that to do justice to the blog, I was spending a pretty good chunk of each day, then playing catch-up on column topics and research.

There are a bunch of right smart and entertaining folks here, and I am grateful that you have taken the time. There are plenty of places on the Times site to comment on current events and see what other folks are saying. As for me, I'm still around, still writing three columns a week. I'll figure out a way to do occasional live chats -- my favorite part of this blog -- on the Times site somewhere. And you can e-mail me anytime at htroxler@sptimes.com.

Best wishes,

Howard

P.S. That's a photo of Harry, who was in the first blog post ever. I still miss him.

Comments

Howard,

Welcome back, I fully understand why it's time to dump this blog on many levels. I'm just glad that you didn't take the retirement buy-out package............which I was starting to suspect.

Harry has been immortalized by your love of him as with several others of your pets. Your first column upon returning was kick butt and excellent, per usual..............welcome home.

Lorraine Margeson

[Reba]

Howard, how we will miss the blog but can understand you want to get out into the world and away from the keyboard. Thank heavens you are still with the SPT, I was thinking of boycotting the paper if they had "let you retire!"
You are still my hero and I will anxiously follow the three columns every week.
You are a breath of fresh air for the paper and worth your weight in gold to them, on second thought maybe your weight in gold would be great for all of us rather than any devalued USD!!
Keep up the great work, keep telling us the real stories, and giving us sage advice
Reba

[guy]

Howard ~~ I wish you all the good fortune in the world.
You have more than earned the trust and admiration of your readers.
Harry could not find a better pal to hang out with.
sincerely ~~ guy nash

[jerry dycus]

Sorry to see this blog go as it's my first time. Just wanted to ask, are the repubs trying to destroy our country? They just voted down the 'bailout' which the US probably would have made money on buying at fire sale prices, instead the markets at 3:30pm are 6-7% down, largest in history!!
Are we seeing the end of the repub party?
Jerry

[Hammer]

Howard,

My very best to you and yours... and welcome back; you were missed.

[Bill]

Blog, Smlog! You are one of the stars in the rapidly dimisishing talent roster at the Times. Your columns are world class and much more important than burning up time with us, a tiny group of mostly fans. The column may inform and educate folks who aren't into blogging. It was fun and good luck on your hopefully bright and appreciated future with a presently challenged medium.

I'll second that!

[Cathy Wilson]

I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it was to open my Sunday paper and see your column. I might miss some of the blogging but I found that I missed your column far more. Thank you for the experiment in cyberspace-time and THANK YOU for returning to print...
I'll be reading - 3 times each week!!!
Give Harry and all his friends a pat from all of us...

[Tom Nocera]

Howard,
Glad to see you are back, and I too respect your decision. Harry provides proof that you are gathering many new fans online. Whatever you have been working on, I look forward to reading it. I hope it is about baseball, the Rays and the prelude to the World Series.

Cheers.
Tom Nocera

[Chris Jenkins]

Howard, Bill hits it dead on. It's not often that we the loyal readership get to interact in such a personal and frequent way with our favorite authors and columnists. Your blog has been entertaining, lively, and has introduced me to more than a few people I am glad to know. Thank you for running it as long as you did.

Be that as it may, having run more than one magazine/blog aggregate, I know how much time and energy it can suck up, and your columns are really where that belongs. Thank you for doing what you do, and for being so accessible to your audience.

[Jonny Anonny]

Welcome back, Howard. Sorry to see this blog go. But looking forward to reading your columns.

Thanks.

[Howard Troxler]

Thank you for the kind comments so far -- I am grateful!

Howard

[Winston McDuffie]

Howard,

I still want to see the expose' of the crooked umps.

Most of all I want to see Louie rounding third, with Joe Maddon trying to exchange the first World Series baseball for a doggy treat!!

It's wonderful to read your columns again. You have a touch that few ever achieve.

Today's was a perfect example, two really great public servants that made bad decisions.

Winston McDuffie

[guy]

Howard ~~ I want you all to join me supporting the Rays and get a Mohawk, You too Ladies.
This will show true dedication that all can see.

[Larry]

All good things must come to an end. Thanks Howard, for the useful information and past interaction on your blog. We really hate to see you go, but understand everyone has to grow and move on. I guess you liked that "reporting" gig. Be cool.

...and guy means you too Lorraine!!

[2geezersinatinbox]

Dear Howard,
We want to add our thanks for your style, elegance and insight reflected in your writing. This is rare, and obviously from the above comments, appreciated by many who still actually read and try to understand. After 3 generations residence, we finally left Florida for good a year ago...taxes, insurance, etc would just not let us retire in the St Pete family home. For the most part, happiness IS 'Florida in our rear view mirror'...one of the few exceptions being your writing. Thankfully we can still read you here in NE Mississipi via e mail and will continue to do so as one of the few remaining links to our generational home, St Petersburg Florida. PS...I'm STILL sure it was you I saw here in Corinth MS at the White Trolley Cafe on US 72...sitting happily munching a 'slugburger' with a side of tater tots. And I did follow you back to the 'Daily Corinthian' parking lot. Glad you changed your mind. They need you at the Times. Thanks for coming back and keep it up!

It puzzles me that a columnist, who often takes on the issues in depth and goes beyond the “sound bite”, would be sent on a “still undisclosed special assignment” and have what was the most substantive and comprehensive blog on the Times site ended in the throws of what could be the most important election cycle of our lifetime.

Could it be that my answer resides within my question?

11:35
the bots have even inflicted the times

[Dave]

11:35 - I think you mean "throes," and 10 people barking at each other hardly qualifies as comprehensive or substantive, IMHO.

Props to Trox for pulling the plug. Y'all were mostly an embarassment.

Although I'm sad in one way. I had figured out how to get paid by the ellipsis and Lorraine alone was gonna fund my retirement.

I think the fact that Howard didn't fully support the water front stadium may have some thing to do with it. But we will never know the real reason...

Lorraine was making too many politicians nervous, they fought back.

[Inside]

12:42 and 11:35 (even with a mis-spelling) is closer to the truth and any of you even realize.

will just have to wait till Howard pens his Memoir to get the real story.

unfortunately, the damage will have been done by then.

You will enjoy the deep amount of research he has done, for your benefit!

What Howard has figured out how to bet the lottery?????

What Howard has figured out how to beat the lottery?????

I've been watching the senate vote on the rescue package this evening....it passed, thank goodness.....and just checked in to see if Howard had already shut down this blog...............and find it astounding that I am part of this discussion.......I long ago abandoned the disgusting and horrid language and behavior on this blog once Howard's guiding hand had been removed. I'm glad he's shutting this down.......because folks have become so ugly, nonsensical, uncaring and cruel. Now, you'll have to write a letter to the editor which would include your address, phone number and email address if you disagree with Mr. Troxler, a man for whom I have the greatest admiration and respect.........a man on a mission with integrity and balance.

Lorraine

and you will be able to go to open forum and continue your crusade against the evil that premates our city government..good luck Lorraine

[rustyeibeam]

Thanks for this blog, Howard, for the time that it ran. It was far, far better (well, for the most part) than Ballpark Frankness. I, too, have missed your columns more than I can say, and am extremely happy and relieved to find them back! Keep on keeping on.

[guy]

Somehow I get the feeling after watching and listening to our elected representatives explaining the importance of the financial bailout, that I have just bought a truckload of booze from Mordecai Jones, the Flim Flam man.

I have always paid my way, without any help from the government.

If anything the government has hindered my financial status with burdening taxes.

I am now debt free and retired.

Why in the heck should I now support backing the poor rich people with tax money that my children might be liable for.

Sorry but no free passes.

Let the chips fall where they may.

[surfdog]

you supported them fully and unconditionally when you voted for bush
TWICE
so why stop now!

GO RAYS!

What just Happened????????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exxVZTKq1vA

[Rick]

Welcome Back Howard:

Just a reminder that the County will have to vote a second time on Bayside Reserves Apt. Complex on Tuesday, October 7 9:30A.M. The Pinellas Planning Council also agreed with the residents but the county commissioners will be wearing their dual hat as the
Countywide Planning Authority. Same issue though.

Residents haven't given up, afew surprises for the commissioners at this meeting. Still afraid, even in these unstable times, the commissioners will not change their mind. Just means an appeal to DCA if they agree with the commissioners.

Please watch on Tv as it might be enlighting at that.

Rick

This Human Season..... On a still day — rain threatening — a tall stem moves in the garden. A goldfinch has landed just below the flower head and is eating the seeds while the stem sways like a pendulum. The rain begins, and above its steady rhythm there is a clatter and a pop on the woodshed roof as a hickory-nut falls. Soon, the clouds tear apart and the sun spills through. Maple leaves are coming down in ones and twos, and the ones and twos are beginning to add up in drifts along the pasture edges.

Most of the time, nature is simply there — when I do chores, when I walk down to the mailbox, when I look up from writing. I don’t expect solace from it, nor do I theologize it with my own desires. It simply persists in sublime indifference. And yet from time to time I find myself surprised by it, and I know that what I am really noticing is the volatility of the human world.

I have been struck before by the gap between the new news of my city life and the old news of nature. I have that feeling now. Nothing in the natural world upbraids me. It offers no commentary. It has nothing to say about financial meltdowns and dirty politics or, for that matter, personal grief. But the other lives on this farm do remind me of how captive I have become, like all of us, to the tensions of this incredible human season.

That is the trick in nature. There is no escaping to it. It throws you back upon yourself again and again. The geese shriek when they see me coming and then drop into their bassoon tones. The chipmunks freeze on the stone wall, waiting to see what direction I will go. Remedy makes the sound that is usually called nickering but is really a slow, deep equine purring. I am carrying the grain bucket, which is why I also am lost in my thoughts. And when I slip out of them, walking beside the horses up the hill to their grain buckets, I can feel for a moment how insubstantial those thoughts really are, before they engulf me again. VERLYN KLINKENBORG

[David Mathews]

Mr. Troxler:

How does the St. Petersburg Times plan to report on the collapse of the United States of America ... and, along with it, the end of this resource-devouring Earth-polluting future-destroying civilization?

There isn't a lot of time left for the US of A. I encourage everyone to use their time wisely ... because when the bad days come they aren't ever going to leave.

The Great Depression is small fries compared to the troubles that humankind will face in the 21st century. If you think that the death of capitalism is a tragedy ... wait until the day comes in which the trucks cease delivering food to the grocery stores and all the restaurants have gone out of business.

When there is no more gas at any of the gasoline stations, do you suppose that all of the SUV drivers will regret having burnt gasoline so wastefully?

Those things which can pass away are passing away ... after all is said and done, Nature will remain. Alone.

Humankind cannot trash the planet without suffering the consequences. All of our evolutionary ancestors went extinct ... the Homo sapiens are not exempt, nor is Nature under any obligation to protect the species regardless of humankind's wildly inflated opinion of itself.

http://www.flickr.com/dmathew1

[TRUE BLUE]

YOU WILL BE MISSED!!!

[1-of-300 laid off by the Times!]

Howard will be back… just not until the election season ends. There’s a reason the Times shut his blog down just before the Primary. Much to the Editors surprise, Howard’s blog attracted many observers and several informed posters. When the level of discussion and debate reach a point of actual information dissemination based on substantive facts and data – and once some politicians and politicos began to weigh-in in defense of their positions – the Editors were directed to shut it down and sell it as Howard going on ‘special assignment”.

By the way… anyone read the results of Howard’s “special assignment” yet?… no, and neither will you.

Howard’s blog was supposed to be like the Buzz and the Bay Buzz; a bunch of adolescent snipes and insults completely lacking in substance… but oh contraire…!

The facts, data, and truth-filled observations being posted – so close to an unpredictable election season – scared the hell out of the political power brokers in Pinellas, who have used our county, our government, and our taxes as their own personal Monopoly Board Game, player pieces, and bank… hence; the shut down.

Howard lied to us about a special assignment. Who can you trust anymore.

[Another 1-of-300 laid off by the Times!]

Howard didn’t lie; in fact, his propensity for exposing the hidden truth got his blog shut down and him sent on “special assignment”.

Check out the Latest!

http://www.vote4norm.com