This is tough for me. I should be used to this. Other people have left the TU blog community and ventured out on their own. Rob Madeo. J Eric Smith. Daniel Nester.
Yet through all this, even when quality writers like those left the TU blog farm and ventured to their own websites, there was still a cadre of quality bloggers to remain on the page.
We’re losing one of them today. As you may have heard, Kevin Marshall has chosen to leave the TU blog community and “set up his own shingle,” blogging independently. You can find his new posts on his personal website, Kevin Marshall Online, and if you can’t find it there, look over at my blog roll and you can find the link there.
Whether you’ve loved Kevin’s blogs, or you didn’t love them, you have to admit that he was, without a doubt, a very prolific and gifted writer. He could blog with authority on everything from mixed martial arts to Troy politics; from cultural issues to popular music. His posts had a mixture of irreverence, snarkiness, seriousness and passion, and you always left a Kevin Marshall blog feeling like you’ve learned something important for the day.
He always used his blog to help others, whether it was fundraising for the Special Olympics or co-hosting the Mockingbird Marathon for improving literacy, whether it was shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s or promoting his roommate’s 24-hour video game fundraiser, it was important for Kevin to promote causes and to advance good will to all. And if the blog helped him achieve each goal, if it earned one more dollar for charity, if it brought a disease one inch closer to eradication – then it was worth it.
Let me now take this opportunity to wish Kevin Marshall all the success in the world. In the 18 months he’s been a part of the TU blog crew, his “Kevin Marshall: In The Present Tense,” and later “Kevin Marshall’s America,” is one of the first blog posts I read each day. Without question. He only spent eighteen months with the Times Union blog community, but he won’t be forgotten. Not by a long shot.
So… best of luck, Manville Shark. Whatever it takes, I know you can do it.
You’ve proven it already here.
Chuck The Writer 
Thanks, Chuck. Appreciated.
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Well said and agreed! Good Luck Kevin!
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Gonna miss my Kevin Marshall. Glad he’s just a click away. LOVE his snarkiness!
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Snarkiness is always a good time. Good luck to Kevin!
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Really, I mean, really? Pulling a Baumgartner is an old TU joke at this point…
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Well-written, Mr. Miller. Kevin Marshall did some great blogging on this platform. He’ll be missed.
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Thanks Chuck for these wonderful statements about Kevin. You’re a good friend. Good luck Kevin, I’ll still be reading!
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Good luck Kevin, and if you do another reading marathon, I would love to help out!
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Excellent post, Chuck. Once again, the T-U loses a great blogger. Kevin made good use of the platform not only with his writing, but also for so many charities.
“He’ll be missed,” indeed. That is the understatement of the day, Mr. Huber.
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Oh -S, you’re kind of the reason people leave the TU blog community. TU Blog Comment Snark Rage is also an old joke at this point. At least you say who you are, I’ll give you that.
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