Rittenhouse Square Goes Dark

As you may already know, if you visit blogs whose proprietors either get up earlier or aren’t bowed down with the burdens of running a quadruped intensive care unit, this is a sad day for the blogosphere — Jim Capozzola has passed away.

Jim was a fine writer with an insightful grasp of the medium, who was somehow able to make the political personal and the personal universal, while avoiding both mirror gazing solipsism and wonkish droning. He was also uncommonly generous with his online notoriety, adopting a number of bloggy little urchins and helping them to flourish. Like Tbogg, he was one of the very first high profile bloggers to link to World o’ Crap, and did much to expose new readers to s.z.’s unique brand of gentle, but thorough snark.

Perhaps the greatest thing about blogging is how it works to amplify, rather than mute, an original voice. The immediacy of the medium preserves flaring, but fleeting passion, the daily accretion of small details creates a map of the writer’s mind, and the absence of an editorial filter leaves the writer free to improbably fold, squeeze, and twist the language like balloon animals, allowing the reader to see that the proper response to cynicism, chicanery, and malfeasance isn’t always despair; sometimes it’s a giraffe.

The blogosphere has lost a unique and irreplacable voice. And a great giraffe maker. Farewell, Jim.

Posted by scott on Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007 at 1:21 pm.

7 Responses to “Rittenhouse Square Goes Dark”

I never knew this Jim, but apparently he was someone worth knowing. It is always a shame when the irreplaceable leaves us.
This is a very odd week. So far, in the matter of 2 days I have been informed that; my daughter is pregnant (unexpectedly and pre marriage) and today this Jim is the third death (the only of someone I don’t know) I have learned of — and its only 4 o’clock. What next?

Left by kate on July 3rd, 2007

Wonderful post. I remember how exciting it was when we saw Rittenhouse had linked to the salon version of World O Crap.
First Steve Gilliard and now Jim Capozzola. I don’t like this trend…

Left by maryc on July 3rd, 2007

and by now I bet Jim knows when sz sleeps…
(it’s a long story)

Left by julia on July 3rd, 2007

My heartfelt condolences, Scott & Sheri & Mary and everyone else who knew Jim. I was not so privileged, and it sounds like I missed out on a helluva lot.
Most beautiful and poignant tribute that I think that I’ve ever seen, Scott.

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on July 4th, 2007

in the “love goes out the door when money comes innuendo” spirit, there’s a new group newsblog of folks from Steve’s old place

Left by preznit giv me turkee on July 4th, 2007

Well… damn. HEY, GAWD–IT WOULDN’T *HURT* TO BUMP OFF SOME REICH-WING ASSHATRIGHT ABOUT NOW!!!1! Just a li’l hint, from me 2 U, babe. I don’t care which one – I’m not picky.

Left by Marq on July 5th, 2007

It’s so much more fun if we do it OURSELVES, y’know…

Left by Anntichrist S. Coulter on July 7th, 2007