I first apologize for using a different handle here, but this Room 8 meta stuff is not what my regular column is supposed to be about, and to make my column about such stuff is to let the terrorists win.  

It was very heartening when Rock reopened his comments section, because discourse is what this site is about.

It was sad that most, but not all the comments posted in response were ad hominem attacks on Rock and sycophantic response to them from Rock’s “fans.”

It would have been better if Rock and his “fans” had just ignored the insults.

For your consideration, a small sample of the witty incisive commentary that that Ben Smith protects from being sullied by the frightening prospect of a comments section.

Or is it something far more disturbing like a note from the Unabomber?

You doubt me; let me quote the author:

This article begins my new series of Bloopers, Outtakes and Gaffes which have either been deleted from Room 8, or were too embarrassing even to post here in the first place.

I actually didn’t initially think this was necessary, but rather than disfiguring the place I set up for comments on Rock’s Cuomo-Sampson post

Yeah, I know you know it’s me, but I have my reasons for posting here.

The last time I got into a pissing match with Hackshaw, he wrote or suborned about 1001 pseudonymous posts calling me a racist, and I felt compelled to answer them on my blog.

As a result my archive started stinking like the Gowanus Canal.

I regard my archive as a precious possession, and want to preserve its value. By contrast, this blog has over time evolved into my B-List dumping ground, and is this a perfect place for crap like this.

Brooklyn Democratic District Leader Bernie Catcher, a brilliant political operative and longtime Brooklyn political fixture passed away today, Friday, August 20th, around 4:00 pm at his home. I am told that it was not something sudden.

The funeral will be at Sherman's Funeral Home, located at 1283 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn , on Sunday, August 22nd at 10:00 am.

But meanwhile, all those who lives Bernie touched could do worse than to show up on Sunday so that we can do right by Bernie one last time on Sunday.