Another element involved the quality of the blog. It reached a certain level, but it could be much better. But to make it much better, I’d have to give it a lot more time that I just do not have. I wouldn’t be happy to let the blog drift on at this level.

It’s been a fascinating experiment, and one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. It’s given me one very proud moment that sits on my mantelpiece at home. There have been a lot of regular readers, commenters, and passers-by, and I’d like to thank all of you for your contributions. Without them, the blog would have withered and died long ago.

I’ve learned a few things along the way. So here’s a few things I’ve picked up along the way:

- Blogging isn’t easy. It takes time. It takes effort. It means trying to be distinctive and interesting. It means trying to reach a standard that justifies your continued existence. It can be exhausting.

- But it can be fun. There is a camaraderie among bloggers, and their readers, that is really heartening. Let’s be honest: sometimes it leads to a bit too much back-slapping, and their needs to be a bit more self-examination rather than navel-gazing by the general “blogging community”. But there bloggers are continually driving traffic to each other, pushing each other on, striving for increased quality. And they put on a great awards party too, which helps.

- Blogs will never be central to an online newspaper, but they will be an important component of any site. Jim and Conor have shown just how much cross-fertilisation there can be between the main paper and a blog, although I think that blogs are generally better if they’re focussed. This one was a bit loose, although - if done sparingly - there can be an attraction in the pick and mix approach too.

- This blog has given me a communication with readers that I would never otherwise have had. An e-mail address at the bottom of a column opens a dialogue of sorts with readers, but nothing compared to this. Some journalists wouldn’t like it (know that, in fact), but others would thrive of it.

- The demands of doing the blog shouldn’t be an excuse for sloppiness. Biggest regret was that stupid post in which I buried The Chancer when it was very much alive and kicking. Should have checked it before I posted. The pressures of keeping a blog fresh doesn’t excuse anyone from that.

- The biggest reaction to any post? That following the recent one on the death of the motorcycle racer Martin Finnegan. There have so far been over 1,700 views of the YouTube footage I posted. Blogs can give newspapers a sense of just how much interest there is a subject - and unearth surprises here and there. You can’t stand over every reader and assess what they’re reading, and market research can be imprecise, but click-throughs, page views and visitor numbers should be vital tools for any media organisation.

- Actually, as a general rule, journalist bloggers should have as much access to their site stats as any other blogger. It’s an important tool for them too.

- I didn’t do it as often as I should have, but getting involved in the comment threads is important. This might seem obvious, but I don’t see it in a lot of newspaper blogs.

- When you become a blogger, building traffic involves posting as regularly as possible. It means having to continually think about what you want to throw up there, and how many times a day, while also dealing with the demands of the day job. The problem is that a blog can be a distraction from the day job; and the day job a distraction from the blog.

- If I didn’t post my column on a Saturday morning, my chances of getting a response to it diminished greatly. I am guessing that people read it in print and went straight to the computer to comment. If it wasn’t there, they didn’t go back. The blog was originally a way of getting the column online and letting people comment, but it turned out to be the least commented-upon part of the blog. It must have had a lot to do with the fact that people don’t really want to read 800 words in a blog format. That’s best kept for print.

This is likely to be a lengthy break, rather than a permanent retreat, from the web. Obviously, given the way the media is going I won’t have much choice in that anyway. The column will continue in the Weekend Review on Saturdays and some day, I’ll get back to blogging. But, for now, I’m just looking forward to reading everyone else’s.

Be amazed by the “Colourful PowerPoint Illustrations”!

Marvel at the madness of the “Ape Man”!

Be baffled by the “Frog that turned into a Prince (Man)”!

Completely miss the irony of religious types accusing evolution of being a “fairytale”!

- Highlights for me? Badlands was great, and Livin’ in the Future (as Jim has said this morning) is settling in as a classic. But Jungleland on Friday was just glorious. (Neil agrees. His review his here.)

- I saw Clarence Clemmons get into a car on Friday night. He really is the biggest man you’ve ever seen.

- It’s getting to the stage now where of the 10 best gigs I’ve ever seen, at least six of them are Springsteen shows.

- Most heard comment of the weekend: “Jaysus, he’s in fine shape. isn’t he.”

- Overheard conversation:
“Paddy was here last night and he says he didn’t even play Born in the USA”
“Really? What about I’m On Fire?”
“No.”
“Ah, Jesus.”

- When the introductory carnival music struck up on Friday night, there was a distraction in front of me as someone tried to jump into the wristband-only circle, and he got chucked out. He desperate pleas were ignored. He was probably drunk, but it seemed to be a harsh penalty.

- Well done to the two stewards who were acting as clapping, dancing cheerleaders to those sitting in Block H. Made a refreshing change form the stewards asking people to sit down.

- It occured to me that becoming a Bruce fan makes you an obsessive because, as each show is different, you become a collector of songs and moments and rarities. You never know what you’re going to find each time you go to see him. But you always know it’s going to be great.

If the stats had popped up on the screen, in football terms RTÉ would have spent far more time on the pitch than its rivals, because once half-time was done and dusted, the broadcaster didn’t go to a single commercial break until well after the last unused substitute had danced around the trophy. Instead, the Irish viewer was treated to analysis before extra time, during its half-time changeover and before the penalty shoot-out. A small screen - with mini-Giles, Dunphy, Brady and O’Herlihy - even slid into view at the appropriate moments.

ITV, on the other hand, gave the viewer ads. Lots and lots of ads. It was only just short of squeezing one in between each of the penalties. And when it had run out of ads, it took a minute to remind viewers of what other sporting action it had in store. Finally, it got to analysing the action, although the important action was flashed through so quickly that its panellists had little time to actually talk about it. Instead, they clung to the platitudes that help them float at such moments. (more…)

What would the universe look like in time ran backwards, asks Scientific American.

Slate.com on the perils of running for US President if you have an unusual name.

While climate change litigation be the class action of the future?

The New York Times looks at the book 1001 Books To Read Before You Die and suggests that “death might come as a relief”.

The blog Positive Boredom has some fine ideas. None of which succeed, but he shouldn’t let that put him off.

I had meant to link to the Sky One Lost Initiative podcast earlier in the week. It really is top class. You can subscribe to it through the website here.

Here’s some White Denim.

UPDATE: Thanks to Green Ink for capturing this great moment from last night’s show. Which I wasn’t at. So Bruce had better repeat himself tonight. I don’t care what the crowd thinks.

However, is there a moment at the start when the man nehind/beneath Dustin, John Morrison, can be heard saying hello in his own voice?