Expectations and Disclaimer

Over the last couple of days, I've been getting a lot of email along the lines of "You haven't posted in two whole days! Where are you? Are you Ok?"

I would like to dispel the unreasonable expectations that I am going to post something creative and clever every day. Sometimes, nothing interesting happens. Sometimes, I just don't have the time. This is just a hobby. Sorry.

Granted, I often use this blog as sort of a personal broadcast, and I certainly appreciate the overwhelming feedback that I receive when I ask for links, ideas, code samples, or even when I need to borrow a textbook. However, this blog was never intended as a tool for tracking my whereabouts, or finding out what my dinner plans are for this evening, and so on. I always answer email, and I (almost) always answer my phone, so that's really best.

Still, it would be hypocritical of me to chastise my readers for irrational expectations, when I myself am often guilty of just that. So, some healthy self-criticism is well overdue, I suppose.

In its original incarnation, the W116 blog was based on the completely unrealistic expectation that Brian Cashman will read it, and will be so enlightened by my insightful analysis, that he will finally trade Jeff Weaver. (Maybe it worked, but why didn't he listen to me about Brown?!) This current blog is often composed with an even more unrealistic expectation that Mr. Tom Lehrer will read it, and will be so moved by my sincere adulation, that he will send me oodles of previously unreleased material.

However, I've recently come to terms with the apparent realization that this blog is in fact read mostly by colleagues, who wonder why I haven't gotten around to fixing their computer; professors, who wonder why nothing that I've written this month has even the remote semblance of compiling; friends, who wonder why I can't go out for lunch; and relatives, who wonder why I come to Boston and don't visit them.

Also, I read a lot of personal blogs that feature a disclaimer. And, due to a recent surge in the popularity of these pages, I feel like I should follow in that example. So please note that the opinions expressed on this blog do not reflect those of my employer, my colleagues, my friends, my family, my professors, Columbia University, The Bronx High School of Science, The Kinneret Day School, Major League Baseball, or the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and The Bronx.

Of course, this will be prominently displayed on the slightly re-worded about page.