Grandpa's Reflections on a Year of Bankruptcy Blogging
I suppose that moment comes in everyone’s life. The first time someone calls you a “grandfather” (or the geriatric equivalent thereof). I faced that first reality check yesterday from, of all places, The Daily Bankruptcy Review, which ran this story about the one thing sex, politics, and BAPCPA have in common: blogging (though it appears a second commonality is that they all can be bought, too, for the right price!).
I have to say that the tag seemed a little premature, especially since it was pinned on me for something that, as of one week ago, had only been up and running for one year! But, having now been given reason to ponder the transience of life, it seemed appropriate to take a moment to reflect here on the past year of blogging and, most importantly, to extend the many thanks that are due to those who helped make this first year a success that far exceeded my wildest expectations:
- To the pioneers and superstars of the blogosphere (Volokh Conspiracy (Todd Zywicki), Houston’s Clear Thinkers (Tom Kirkendall), WSJ Law Blog (Peter Lattman), Delaware Litigation Blog (Francis Pileggi), SCOTUS Blog (Tom Goldstein), Legal Underground (Evan Schaeffer), How Appealing (Howard Bashman), Point of Law (Walter Olson), and Ernie the Attorney (Ernie Svenson)), whose kind words and links to my site made a big difference in extending readership and in energizing me to work even harder to match the quality of these premiere sites.
- To the written and online publications (LRP's Bankruptcy Court Decisions (Kate Colangelo), Illinois Bar Journal (Helen Gunnarsson), Dow Jones' Daily Bankruptcy Review (Laura McGann), and BKINFORMATION.COM) that helped spread the word.
- To the anonymous and citable lawyers and fellow bloggers who provided leads to key stories and pleadings.
- To Bob Coleman, the firm’s big-hearted leader.
- To Kevin O’Keefe and LexBlog for their smart, efficient service.
- To my wife and two children who encouraged and tolerated my passion.
- To my mother, of blessed memory, who read every new entry and is sorely missed.
- To the federal judges whose opinions from the Supreme Court down to the bankruptcy courts across the land provided more fodder than a roomful of impassioned bloggers could accommodate.
- And, last but not least, to each and every one of you, my readers, without whose incredible readership support I would have stopped long ago.
As I said on opening day one year ago, when hope sprang eternal, and repeat again today, when hope continues to spring eternal:
I can only hope and pray that the good and merciful L-rd grants us at The Bankruptcy Litigation Blog the strength to keep the blog fresh, humorous, and informative for what looks to be a very long and challenging season ahead.... [But] don’t hesitate to try and boo me off the field, when deserved. As every Chicago [Cub] fan knows only too well, that’s baseball!
In the meantime, I think it's time for a nap!
[FYI: More great Ray Bial photos available here, and many thanks to him.]
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Posted By Steve Jakubowski In Personal Notes
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May It Please the [Heavenly] Court - A Eulogy Delivered in Mom's Honor
Unexpectedly, and far too swiftly, my mother passed away, and today was her funeral. My sister, Ruth Jakubowski, a Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge, asked me to deliver the eulogy on behalf of the family. This morning, I delivered this eulogy in her honor.
While reserving my right to retract this post, I have decided -- at the end of the day -- to post my eulogy to her in hopes that it inspires you, the reader, to live each moment to its fullest until your very last breath, just as my mother did.
In the one-year mourning period that follows, please forgive me if I don't blog for a while with quite the intensity I have in the past.
Thanks for reading, and for your continued support.
Steve Jakubowski
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Posted By Steve Jakubowski In Personal Notes
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Welcome to The Illinois Legal Malpractice Blog, Our Sister Blog
As all bankruptcy practitioners know, lawyers are increasingly being held accountable for losses suffered by their bankrupt clients. To meet the blogosphere's demand for quality legal postings, the Coleman Law Firm has developed a second blog, The Illinois Legal Malpractice Blog (www.illinoislegalmal.com). The blog is moderated by my colleague Cassie Crotty, who quickly understood the great potential of blogging, and developed a zeal for it. Given her talents, the blog is sure to be a great one. Please stop by the site and add it to your RSS feeds. You'll be glad you did!
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Posted By Steve Jakubowski In Personal Notes
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Play Ball! Opening Day at The Bankruptcy Litigation Blog!
Baseball fever is running strong in Chicago if you're a White Sox fan. Finally, the White Sox, winners last Friday of the first post-season anything in my--and my mother's--lifetime, have given us long-deprived fans reason to gloat.
For us at The Bankruptcy Litigation Blog, however, it feels like opening day. First pitch honors go to Lexblog's Kevin O'Keefe, who was instrumental in getting the show on the road sooner rather than later. Thanks much, Kevin! Great toss!
Today, with a month-long preseason finally behind us, we leave the friendly confines of Lexblog's servers, with a few at-bats under our belt, now of record for all to see.
So how did this blog start? Well, many know of my personal obsession (spurred on by my legal learning role models Judge Diane Wood and All Star DH Attorney Dick (the "Mick"--and I've got the knees to prove it) Dannenberg) with staying current with developing case law. During this past summer's dog days, as the "blog-o-sphere" gradually enveloped me, I decided that the world actually needed another blog--one that kept people current on complex bankruptcy litigation case law developments. So now, as cartoonist Alex Gregory aptly penned, instead of pointless, incessant barking, I'm blogging.
On this opening day, when hope springs eternal, I can only hope and pray that the good and merciful L-rd grants us at The Bankruptcy Litigation Blog the strength to keep the blog fresh, humorous, and informative for what looks to be a very long and challenging season ahead.
Thanks for taking the time to visit the site. If you decide to subscribe through email or RSS Feed, please don't hesitate to try and boo me off the field, when deserved. As every Chicago fan knows only too well, that's baseball!
All the best to you and yours,
Steven Jakubowski
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Posted By Steve Jakubowski In Personal Notes
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