Well, with the SC fights gearing up I think the news will pick up. But, take a vacation. Leave an open thread and your regular readers will hang around. Or let some guest blog for awhile. Anything gets old after awhile, but if you break it up you might start enjoying it again. If you're doing it for fun, take some time until it gets fun again.

welcome to my hell, buddy.

actually, it would be hell if I cared. But I don't. And never did. So my blog just lists along with random posts and the usual misplaced bitterness.

If I'm boring myself, I'm sure I'm boring others. So why bother.

To quote Lebowski: "Fuck it."

What you need, Ace, is a dose of Mr Paul Anka. Crank "Jump" up to 11 and blast the cobwebs out of your soul.

But seriously (how's that for a lame segue), it happens to everyone. You're just feeling it more because everything has been so damned intense. If the world around you is filled with shrieking asshats yelling "BushitlerburtonLIEDLIEDLIEDdowningstreetheocratsjebusfreakhomophobe," it's bound to affect even the most titanium-balled blogger.

So take it easy. Get guest bloggers, take a vacation, whatever. You've been handing out free ice cream by the bucketful, Ace - we can wait a while while you stock up again.

I'd pin it mostly on #7, since the current trend started around then.

But whatever you do, don't become an irritating embittered ex-blogger.

Yeah, take a vacation - most of us will come back when you do. Unlike the news shows, you don't have to manufacture items every day.

I've cut down on my own blog reading lately, because I've been tired of people scrounging for crap to talk about. The "who will Bush nominate" chatter is driving me batty -- why not wait til he actually, you know, nominates somebody? It's not like the chatter of these particular groups are going to be moving Bush one way or the other.

Besides, the weather in NYC has become oppressive. I switched from wine to beer lately. Surely, that must mean something.

Well, I think you are one of the best and most enjoyable bloggers out there. Whatever you do--rest a while or whatever--don't quit.

Glad to know I'm not the only one. Of course, I write to keep from yelling at the television and annoying my wife, so very few people actually read my moronthoughts.

Ever thought of making your blog a group blog like Polipundit or Wizbang? I know Allah may not have the energy to maintain his own blog, but I figure he's still got to come up with funny crap once in awhile.

Anyway, I still read your site and enjoy the longer stuff or the links to weird and unusual places on the web. Just to let you know.

Ace, of all the blogs I read I prolly agree w/ you more than anyone else. You've got that irreverent attitude that makes me grin, even if you're not making me laugh my rear off. Take some time off, cause I still enjoy reading you too much!

McDirty

.
Actually, it's kinda refreshing to hear one of the big-name bloggers (and make no mistake, Ace, you *are* big -- you get mentions and links from *Michelle Malkin!*) respect us enough to offer up an apology. And why the hell are you apologizing?! Did I miss the famous "Ace-O'-Spades Satisfaction Guarantee: You'll love this post or double your money back???"

Don't be so hard on yourself. Oh, and I actually like the term "crap-blog;" you should claim that one and use it for Sully, et al when they piss you off.

I've only been blogging for about 6 months, and I'm THRILLED when I hit 25 or 30 for the DAY. 5k or 7k? Holy Crap-Blog, Batman!

Whatever you decide, know that there are a LOT of folks who look forward to their daily (or every-other-daily, or whatever) dose of Ace. For me, you've taken the place of Allah (pbuh) as my brain candy for the day.

Take care, and thanx for the loose shit.

welcome to my hell, buddy.

actually, it would be hell if I cared. But I don't. And never did

Gotta do it for the love man. Can't be about the money. When the loves gone, the t-shirt revs just don't cut it. My blog was never good, but I quit b/c I got bored of it, and it wasn't worth the time. Only time I went back to was to demote a guest-bloggers final post (who tried to usurp mine). It's my baby, i'm goin out on top. :-D

Take it easy man.

-M

Thanks for the understanding and encouragement, guys.

I thought a break from blogging would juice me back up; it really didn't. So I don't know if another vacation from blogging would help.

You've been handing out free ice cream by the bucketful, Ace - we can wait a while while you stock up again.

Yeah, what Christopher said.

It's hard to be current when there *is* no current.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I'm sure all the other top bloggers go through the same syndrome.

Hang in there, buddy. You're an inspiration to us all.

MoS

How about just a frickin' weird story to cheer you up?

I remember when Allah quit, and he posted that disturbing question that every blogger has to ask him/herself: "Are you making enough money to treat this as a career? If not, are you enjoying it enough to pursue it as a hobby?"

The hobby option always sounded a little more plausible to me. So, if you're burned out, then take a break. Get Hoke to put on the red shirt a few more times. And even if Allah is out of the crazy blog biz, he might not mind treating your blog as an occasional hobby.

Lots of alternatives. But try something, please. It'd be a shame if you quit completely.

Ace, you're still the first blog I check every day.

Of course, if I took up Aaron's Rantblog, you'd drop to second.

I read your blog because you are one of the better writers I've come across. I enjoy your wit and your sarcasm, and I think your a decent chap (Texas expression there). Your post I think is a reflection of that character.

If you aren't enjoying yourself, it won't be as good. Do what makes you happy.. if the muse comes back, I'm sure we'll want to read about it. Good luck.

besides, there's a war on.

I can understand your thinking Ace. I think in the future, most blogs will be group blogs to prevent burn out on one individual, just as newspapers are written by multiple journalists.

You could take reader submissions for those of us who have a point to make, but don't want to create an entire blog just to do it. Plus whats the point of creating an entire blog for one post that will never be read because nobody knows about the blog.

You could proof the submissions for quality, and to ensure that there is enough bad language in the posts.

Alternatively just throw in the instapundit strategy from time to time. Link to articles, make a small comment and let the readers have at it in the comments.

I often enjoy the comments as much as the original articles (except when Ace does the Funnays, then the articles are excellent). Frankly, as long as there is new stuff here, even just small articles with comments, I'm more than happy to keep reading. Not every article has to be a masterpiece with insightful wit or wisdom (hell, we know not to expect either from Ace).

I think it's a catch 22 thing, you can't get back to writing great posts while there is this pressure on to keep filling the blog with great posts. Truth is, you only need mediocre posts with great comments to keep people coming, and then the great posts will write themselves.

It's called heavy drinking. All the great writers have done it.

Nothing else will blast away your inhibitions about whether or not something you've written is "good" or "bad", or whether using certain words beginning with c or f will drive away the sponsors, like your sixth straight whiskey in thirty minutes can. So you end up completely ruining your life and dying penniless in a gutter in West Philly, but so what? At least your last four months of blogging will have been wickedly funny.

Alternatively, you could just pretend to have a drinking problem, allowing you to be more outrageous than you ever thought you could be. Then, you'll get links from other bloggers saying things like "Something bad's going down over at Ace of Spades... I'm a bit disgusted but can't look away while this guy crashes and burns," and your traffic will go through the roof.

If you play it right, you might even come out of it with a book deal, or even the very first made-for-tv movie about bloggers.

Once again: heavy drinking. Look into it.

harky,

Don't you get the impression I've explored that possibility?

Ace,

Inspired writing is a sometime thing. Even geniuses can't crank it out day after day. The only obvious solution is a group blog with compatible co-writers. That way you can slide a bit when you need to.

It would be a shame if you were to pick up your ball and go home. When you're playing your A-game, you're one of the best.

Ace,

A couple thnigs I've learned from my casual observation of blogs and blogging over the last several years:

Lots of lunchtime anal with congressional staffers will put you in a) the blogging mood and b) the money.

If you're not up for that, then yeah, take a break. But don't hang it up entirely if you can avoid it. That would ruin a significant part of what's supposed to be my work day.

Ace, don't knock yourself out over this. You don't have an obligation to make us laugh or provide us with insightful commentary. Life is too short to waste time on something you are not enjoying.

That being said, I hope you stick around. Your site is the first and last I visit each day. Even if you just post on occasion, when the mood strikes you, and then link a few things, most of your regulars are going to stick around. We know that when you are on, it is well worth the wait.

Either way, thanks for all the laughs, man, you've brightened many a dreary workday.

Ace, take your medication. You're getting all panic-attacky on us again.

Ace, I've never commented here before but i'm addicted to this site , mostly check it at work (always get hammered by the Super Scout when i check your links). If you quit i'll have to go to work again. You Bastard.

My suggestion would be to post when the mood strikes. If that's once a day or once a week or once a month, well so be it. Take some of the pressure off of yourself. Want to keep the morons amused in between posts? Start a flame war thread. I never tire of telling Michael what a pussy he is. He has a thing for my mom's boots, you know.

Sounds like a change would do you good. Here ya go.

I felt the same way about my CB Radio in 77.

I've noticed no drop off myself, and I check your site all day long! And I've got my snappy looking, soft & comfortable Ace t-shirt (which my girlfriend thinks is great looking!) The only way you can disappoint me is if you stop blogging like Allah. Why not get that guy to post here too? Like a co-regency, or duo-umvirate or whatever you call it? Or he could just help out a bit, like Man-at-Arms vis a vis He-Man. Or else take a little break. Just don't start playing World of Warcraft, or you'll never blog regularly again.

I think I've floated the idea to Allah about guest-blogging here. I don't think he's interested.

If I'm wrong about that-- the invitation is of course always open.

Ace, maybe part of the problem is that you are talking to allah about it (no offense, allah).

I have not noticed a decrease in quality in your writing. I enjoy your serious posts. People wouldn't keep returning if they did not enjoy it.

Didn't you consider at one time getting someone to help, if not handle, the bookings for you?

I don't feel the radio show needs a star guest each week. I like when you do have one, plus a blogger. But, it wouldn't bother me to just hear you and Karol.

Maybe, you need a real vacation? Take the show on the road? Is there anything we can do on top of throwing money at you to help you through this blog malaise? And remember, you don't owe us a thing.

Aw cheer up! I check in at least five times a day.
*smooches*

If you quit, the terrorists win!

Ace, maybe part of the problem is that you are talking to allah about it (no offense, allah).

Don't pin this on me, brother. I don't want Ace to quit. His blog has always been one of my very favorites. All we talked about, and very briefly at that, was how blogging will probably never lead to anything more lucrative. It's a lot of effort for comparatively little reward.

You can sign me on to everything Ace said here, especially numbers 4 and 5, which is why I don't think guest-blogging is in either of our interests (although I'm flattered and grateful for the offer). All I'd do for the site is drag down the intelligence and humor quotient. I am a beaten deity, alas. But life goes on.

Cheer up, guy. You're a role model for little blog-punks like me and still one of my all-time favorites..

Here's the thing. With most political sites I visit, if they suddenly went dark, I really wouldn't care that much. All they do is provide opinion/link to the controversy of the day. There are 100 others where I can get the exact same thing. But where the hell else am I gonna get originalist constitutional talk next to walking v. running zombies next to insanely filthy haikus next to bbeck's tits? The point is, you fill a particular geeky/filthy/thoughful conservative niche that many on the right need (a potentially larger audience than I think you give credit for). I don't hang round with my conservative friends talking in serious tones as if I was writing a post for 'Powerline' and. though I like their site, I wouldn't write comments there even if they were enabled.

My suggestion. Bring in some guy/chick whose politics you agree with to do a few posts a day of normal/straightlaced news of the day political stuff. Like anything on anyone else's blog. Red meat for the conservative commenters diet to keep that crowd hanging round here. You parachute in for the funny, the audiotape nonsense, the zombie threads, movie critiques - and hit the political when something so absurd happens you feel motivated to get your opinion out on it. Just a suggestion to cut down on your 'obl;igation', the sense that staid political stuff has to go up to keep the site running, at it's level. The site needs that stuff - don't wanna see it be an ALL funny site- but that doesn't mean you need to spend your time providing the daily run o the mill news reactions. Reserve your efforts for 'value added' posts, straight funny or political.

In short, it's the 'value added' stuff that brings me here. I don't particlualry want to see you bring in others to do that kind of stuff. They aren't gonna have your tone, won't be as funny, and will kind of cheapen the place (Allah excepted.) I guess what I'm saying is bring in a straight man. Just my suggestions.

All I'd do for the site is drag down the intelligence and humor quotient.

Allah:

I can respect your wish not to blog or even guest blog. However, when you write something like the above, it's hard to take what you say seriously. And, no, I'm not trying to give you backhanded flattery. It just indicates to me you aren't being serious. And, I'm not sure how that helps.

I'm absolutely serious. My hand to God.

I guess what I'm saying is bring in a straight man.

I'm disgusted by this comment, and Lord knows I'm not easily offended. But I shouldn't be surprised to find such homophobic comments on this gobsmackingly vile little site.

Ray,

Well, I've long considered asking someone to come in as a guest linker. Actually, I've just thought about giving out the posting information to five or six of my best tipsters and letting them just post away, rather than emailing me with their good stuff.

The trouble is, of course, that basically that's sort of asking someone to do free work for you. And since y'all are Republican greedy bastards, I don't think too many people would be up for that.

The Daily Kos kind of uses that kind of model. But the inducement there is that your posts will be read by 400,000 (insane) people per day.

I don't know if my middling level of exposure is enough to tempt someone into becoming an unpaid intern for a (virtually) unpaid mid-level blogger.

I wouldn't mind seeing a group blog here that included Allah and Megan. I mean, i'm sure there's some funny left in you, Creator of Worlds.

Just so long as you don't go trying to convince the rest of us that slow zombies are better than fast zombies.

I think Ray has a great idea. I'm sure that plenty of us that read a story and think "this should be on ace's site", but I know I feel like i'm spamming your comments if i keep dropping links there, so i try not to do it too much I think you have enough loyal readers that you could easily get "guest linkers."

I could have written this myself.

Except it would have been, you know, funnier. And more hetero. But otherwise, BINGO!

I don't think mob blogs hold that much appeal. The mono-blogs at least have a distinct, undiluted personality to them. Even the crap ones.

A vacation of any useful length (three months say, in a conch house a few blocks off Duval.. not that I've thought of it) probably spells death. You'll have to build traffic all over again.

Posting a couple times a week when you feel like it also probably spells death, just a slower one, like wasting away in an assisted living community only without the cool drugs.

So just do less. Do it every day, just less every day. At least for a while. You know you'll do it anyway. If you stop writing here you'll just end up forwarding things to your friends and family with amusing observations attached so you might as well still share them with the rest of us.

At least that way we have a shot at getting the conservative T-shirt chicks back.

And more hetero.

Just what are you trying to say?

I would expect such a comment from a theocrat, but from a moderate like Bill? My heart aches.

I mean, i'm sure there's some funny left in you, Creator of Worlds.

That's not his problem. For what ever reason, he doesn't want to do it anymore. It's his decision and it should be respected.

Good God,

First Den Beste, then Allah, and now Ace. Why can't it be Kos, Atrios, and Fillet-o-Kryptonite?

I'm starting to feel like the Ted McGinley of blog readers.

That's not his problem. For what ever reason, he doesn't want to do it anymore. It's his decision and it should be respected.

Yeah, but it would be great to see an Allah photoshop gallery on the web.

Those Howard Dean photoshops/comics were some funny crap.

OK, so the crazy blog money isn't rolling in. But, doesn't being a famous blogger help you get laid?

I mean, c'mon, let's get your priorities straight.

Maybe, it's time for:

Ace of Spades, HQ, the Movie!

Our favorite burnt out blogger and our favorite burnt out blogger's friend(s) take to the road: In search of inspiration. In search of women. In search of themselves. It'll be the conservative's Sideways.

No, better yet.

Ace of Spades, HQ, the MUSICAL!

But, doesn't being a famous blogger help you get laid?

If it did, he wouldn't have to stand outside college bars pretending to be a democrat.

Maybe it's time for a round of mergers and acquisitions in the blog industry. If the idea is to keep a worthwhile thing going without any longer letting it overly occupy one's life, then slowly and carefully putting together a group blog seems like the way to go. I think the Ace&Allah idea is a good one, ahem, insh'allah. The notion that Allah would drag down the site's intelligence or humor doesn't merit a counterargument. It's high time Allah took off his hairshirt and struck a muscular pose again. But if Allah can't be prevailed upon, and even if he can, others must be carefully selected over time to share the load--that is, if Ace continues to feel the way he does today.

Another possibility would be for Ace to widen the scope of his topics in order to make blogging easier. I mean, Glenn Reynolds writes about his choice of electric razor, for crying out loud! And I just bought the one he recommended. He talks about the books he reads, and people lap it up. His topics in current events include gadgetry, books, the politics of longevity research, the law, the war against Islamic terrorists, and whatever suits him on any given day. Think also of the breadth of James Lileks's topics. As for humor, both Reynolds and Lileks are funny, but they don't try to force it. They're funny when they're funny, and they just blog it straight when they don't have a funny angle. One ought not let one's enthusiasm wane through having confined oneself to fewer topics or genres than can maintain one's own interest or provide sufficient material. If something doesn't fit the schtick, it's okay to get a bigger schtick.

I love you, Ace. You, too, Allah. Let's have a three-way. Since Bill of INDC is so hetero, he can just watch.

There's already a group blog: Huffington's Toast

No, better yet.

Ace of Spades, HQ, the MUSICAL!

I'm...conflicted. I have nothing to say.

Late-breaking: Another possibility that would provide a vacation, if one continues to seem necessary, would be to put this weblog on hiatus for a few weeks after having arranged to guestblog on someone else's weblog. We'd follow you, Ace; whoever hosted you for a few weeks would pick up a crackerjack guest blogger and some new traffic. New readers would be exposed to you, and some of them would continue to read your work when you cranked up your own weblog again.

My final thought is that it's too bad that you judge your work by a monetary standard or by a standard of ever-rising readership. Having a few thousand readers each day is more influence than 99.999% of humanity will ever have. You need not rest satisfied, but you should be happy and proud.

I'm kidding. That wasn't my final thought. My final thought is the biggest and most spectacular of all: a group blog combining the talents of Ace, Allah, and Steven den Beste. Just keeping that kind of company on a daily basis would make the venture worthwhile.

a group blog combining the talents of Ace, Allah, and Steven den Beste.

How would you find Ace's and my posts, though? You'd have to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and....

Here's my solution:

Ace, you can fall in love with a rich girl, just as easily as you can fall in love with a poor girl.

"How would you find Ace's and my posts [in amongst Steven den Beste's], though? You'd have to keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling and...."

Now that SdB has crashed and burned, maybe he'd have more moderate output after his return.

Come on guys, aim for the happy medium. There's no need to give up your life to blog, on the one hand, and there's no need to quit outright, on the other.

Your blog is great even when you think you're not at the top of your game. Blog when the spirit moves, please. Thanks.

While I hate to be yet another one to say, "Dude, I've been feeling the same way you have!"...

Dude, I've been feeling the same way you have.

I'm just a baby blogger (10 months), and I'm about ready to drive my site off the cliff.

I bought a bunch of podcasting gear over the weekend, thinking I was gonna be some Adam Curry clone or something. After I realized what I'd done, I felt like such a fag. Good Lord, someone put a bullet to my head quick.

Thanks for the honesty Ace.

Well, either way, just wanted to say that I'm a big fan of the blog.

Damn Ace. I've only been coming here the last few months. This is my number one stop on the Net. Several times a day. It's good stuff pal. Trust me. We like it.

I bought a bunch of podcasting gear over the weekend, thinking I was gonna be some Adam Curry clone or something. After I realized what I'd done, I felt like such a fag.

This has to be the comment of the year. I'm still laughing.

"If it did, he wouldn't have to stand outside college bars pretending to be a democrat."

Well, he's anonymous, so he has to lure some left-wing, emotionally insecure chick back to his place for a glass of Val-U-Rite vodka. But then he can turn on his computer and reveal his secret identity -- he's the famous Ace of Spades (kinda like being Batman), and BAM, he's getting laid.

At least, that's what I want to believe.

But then he can turn on his computer and reveal his secret identity

Is that what ace calls his little ace of spades? "Come here, baby, let me reveal ma' secret identity." Shriiiieeeekkkkk!!

Ace, you'll always be a lvl 75 elven mage with +10 fire resistance in my book.

Your post doesn't surprise me given the volume of material you crank out every day. I'm only surprised that the inevitable burn-out didn't come sooner.

Hell, I've burned out and I only have a 6 month old crap blog that gets about 40 hits per day. I took an entire month off and decided that there's a helluva lot more to life than blogging. Now I only post occasionally.

But.....

I'm basically a no-talent who can kinda fake it because I read a lot and understand just enough about good writing to pull off a semi- plausible imitation if properly inspired.

You're the real deal. You're style can't be faked. You either have it or you don't.

Visiting here feels a lot like hitting a local shit-hole bar with my moron friends and spending the evening drinking, shooting the shit, and insulting each other. Believe it or not, I mean this as a compliment. You're genuine, and people feel it in the writing. And that they only get a peek of who you are, that you try so hard to hide it and fail, well that just brings them back for more.

What you've done here is build a community unlike I've found at any other blog. Where else can one go from haiku flame wars (where the host doesn't even follow the rules) to a serious debate over constitutional law from one post to the next? This place, when hitting on all cylinders, is shaped almost as much by the commenters as you, the host.

My advice (not that you asked for any) is to relax and stop putting so much pressure on yourself to produce. Get a few reliable guest bloggers, link frequently, and get out more. You don't need to kill yourself to keep us retards coming back. What the hell do we have to do?

Oh, and as for this?

I don't know if my middling level of exposure is enough to tempt someone into becoming an unpaid intern for a (virtually) unpaid mid-level blogger

I'd be the first in line to volunteer as a researcher/linker. I figure that once I give up blogging, I'll just spend that time sending you links and articles anyway. I'd do it more often if it didn't make me feel like such a shameless groupie/pest.

Ace is a pokker fan (must misspell to get past filter), so let's just say his secret identity is his little ace in the hole.

Worst pun of my life, I know.

"What you've done here is build a community unlike I've found at any other blog."

Amen. Where else can I go for spambot threads, squeekhole jokes, serious political discussions, catfights between bbeck and Megan, and all the other stuff I enjoy so much?

can i have your shoes?

Worst pun of my life, I know.

Oh, no! I loved it!

I know you weren't asking for it but I'm sending you some dough. I have subscriptions to three dailies, I might read them occasionally or scan them on the weekends but I'm checking in here 2-3 X a day. Even if you quit tomorrow, I figure I'm way way ahead on the deal.

Ace I've liked your style because you are stubborn! You walk the walk. You hang it all out for everyone to see.

Many of your readers ilike your style as is! Other hate it. Piss on them, spin it like a politician or the MSM and celebrate it. We are all sick F&$#ers!

I accept that!

As my hero once said " I y'am what I y'am".

I could throw some more cliche's at you but in your mood it might make you sick. Or if you prefer sicker in the head than you already are.