Farewell Newsvine (and Thank You)

Good luck on this journey we call life.

I'd like to thank and re-congratulate all of our RAV recipients - whose accomplishments will never fade in my mind.

Recognizing one of our own, Dr. Jack Gillis, was enough for me about appreciating the quality of an excellent writer.

Good luck.

Best of luck Calvin. Thanks for putting up with me and my antics. LOL!

Wow! This was a surprise. End of an era, eh? Rather sad too.

I really wish you well and thank you for the sterling work you've done overseeing us unruly lot!

Take care, Calvin, and have a great adventure! :o)

Calvin: I want to thank you for co-founding such a wonderful place to share news, stories, and articles. My appreciation for the whole program is something I can hardly put into words.

Somehow, you managed to create something that was a couple of steps above those 'other guys' like Digg, etc. who only pretend to be what Newsvine actually IS.

I remember creating accounts (after I joined Newsvine) over at Salon.com, and Digg, and Helium.com. Either I ended up deleting those accounts, or in the case of Helium, I removed all the articles and just don't go there anymore. There is nothing remotely like Newsvine, which is a pretty straightforward site in many respects.

One strange thing is that we've never met, and yet I will miss you. I can't explain it.

Wherever you go and whatever you are doing, I am sure you will do well.

Wow ! I sure did not think I would ever see this on Newsvine. Good luck Calvin in your future life and enjoyed talking with you over the time you and I connected.

Take Care !

Calvin, ya done good by us. May your future endeavors be as fruitful and rewarding as this one was. Have fun!

Calvin,

I keep reading articles regarding the newsvine earnings not being posted yet. Is this why you're leaving? Are you stuffing everyones earnings down your pants and getting outta Dodge?

Just curious.

All the best to you, Calvin.

Are you stuffing everyones earnings down your pants and getting outta Dodge?

Hmmm, suddenly I have a vison of trying to go to the Newsvine homepage tomorrow and just getting a message that says:

"Oh my, there doesn't seem to be a page here any longer! Sorry about that!"

;-)

e-mail me if your coming to the Central Coast....I will miss your genius....will we be the same?

Whew, what a surprise, Calvin. I haven't read anything here in a while, just stop by to tend to groups silently, but was drawn to this article... Guess we all need a break sometime. Do contact me when in the DC area Calvin. I'd love to sit down over a brew or two and chat. Best, Marilyn

Good luck! Great site!

Good luck! Thanks for helping Newsvine become my one of my favorite online sites!

Good luck dude.

'Nuff said. We'll miss you Calvin.

Calvin,

It's a great thing you've started here. I hope you're proud, you should be. I hope to see you around the vine "unleashed" as it were.

Good luck and have fun.

Calvin it seems like only a Minutes ago since became my first fan : For God sake dont Go!

Thanks Calvin. Congratulations and best wishes.

And conservatives wonder why non-conservatives consider them "classless"-- and I don't mean in a "class-warfare" sense. Didn't your mother ever tell you, Karen? In situations such as these, if you don't have anything nice to say, shut up. Now, please go piss and moan in your own column, thanks.

Thank for establishing this forum. I hope that one day msnbc headlines will be accurate.

Karen I hope that someday anything you have to say will be accurate.

It's funny and maybe even fitting that Calvin's farewell has a little room for tactful moderation! C'mon kids, can't we all try to get along? We have needed you in so many discussions Calvin!

Without you there would be no us as a community, so thanks from the bottom of my heart for the vision, the passion and effort to see it realized in the special place that Newsvine became. Sweet Fennel, it has has changed so many of us for the better; may whatever lies ahead for you be as wonderful!

Good luck Calvin in where ever life leads you.

Adventure awaits...

Two words: Thanks Calvin!

I guess I am a day late...

Sorry to hear you have left us Calvin. But do know that you leave behind a lot of people, including myself, that have found a home of sorts to learn and grow in a somewhat respectful forum...

We will miss your guiding hand, but look forward to seeing you as a 'regular member' from time to time...

Take care and have fun in your new adventures...

Calvin; this said it all...."Good luck! Thanks for helping Newsvine become my one of my favorite online sites!" Good Luck and Fair Winds...not to mention a BIGGER happiness?, is that possible?, where-ever you go!

I keep reading articles regarding the newsvine earnings not being posted yet. Is this why you're leaving? Are you stuffing everyones earnings down your pants and getting outta Dodge?

Priceless! Trust my friend dkaz to think of that one. I guess you could tell from his bulging pants? You should be working with MI5!

I did wonder where this month's money had gone! Glad you apprehended him in time! :o)

I thought the bulge was something else..... (picking up mind from gutter now)

Great good fortune to you, Calvin. I hope you have the best of luck in business and in life.

Karen in Los Angeles; Your verbal venom is "persona non grata" here so please take the advice of #1.23 and #1.24. You could learn something, anything, from those 2 level-headed "viners" not whiners........*there's always one in every crowd, tryin' to poo on the party....LOL Calvin, your a success in whatever you do!!

Good luck Calvin! Thanks for NV and I hope you all the best in life!

CC

I suggest that if you really want to be in news, you learn how to be an impartial journalist.

wtf? at most retirement parties, which i attend, the guests do not lambaste the one who is leaving.

calvin

thank you for all of your efforts. newsvine is quite enjoyable.

Calvin

I will greatly miss working with Viners on fun projects like the DNC & RNC, CES, breaking news coverage, running for office, Lost in the Vines, Newsvine Guides, televised debate analysis, Entertainment Gateway, charity events, disaster relief, investigative journalism, political analyses, original reporting from the Iraq and Afghanistan, publishing of books, interviews with celebrities, The Arena of Death, Newsvine Podcasts, community photography, radio interviews, structured debates, coverage of music , and way too many more to list them all.

Eh? I'll remember you as the guy who subbed for Tyler during Shark Week. The days when one day in jail could morph into a week. Not once did you telephone me.

rick

Except for the people that work at newsvine, NO ONE HERE KNOWS THIS "CALVIN" PERSON.

I doubt you know whether he is tall or short.

So acting like he is a long time friend is a little disingenuous.

Will there be any changes to Newsvine after he departs? Or will it still just be people commenting on the days news/propaganda like it has always been?

And why is he leaving? Did he get a better offer?

If Karen in L.A. didn't like his political slant, so be it. Isn't one honest opinion better than a hundred sycophants saying what they think you want to hear?

I would imagine that Calvin is a big boy an can hear the undiluted truth. If people didn't like his political leanings, then this would be the last opportunity to say so.

And isn't that what Newsvine is REALLY about?

Kathleen @ 800 lb. gorilla, I'm with you. Calvin has been great and gratitude is all that is necessary here. Why Karen thinks it is appropriate to snipe is a mystery to me but at least she'll know it is not appreciated.

tyler

:) I'm just saying it's hard to see him leaving as Good News. Calvin's definitely the best boss I've ever had and he's taught me a lot.

Really now? Can you sip your Starbucks without brurning your lips?

The best boss you'll ever have will let your customers evaluate your performance. Who, then are your customers?

Good luck and God's speed Calvin...

We are all grateful for the foundation you laid.

Except for the people that work at newsvine, NO ONE HERE KNOWS THIS "CALVIN" PERSON.

I doubt you know whether he is tall or short.

So acting like he is a long time friend is a little disingenuous.

Uh... I know Calvin in real life. So do lots of other people in this community who've been to various "Vine Meets" and involved themselves in other events.

They say you don't really know a person until you've tried to keep Fox News Radio from tossing you out of a press box.

Killfile - I'll wager that the number of people who go on newsvine and meet at a newsvine event is less than .1% of the total, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were .01%.

I only found this thread because the headline is "Farewell Newsvine". That is either poorly written, or misleading. Newsvine is to my knowledge not going away.

With all the nutjobs out there (and frequently on here), I'm not sure that I would want to meet and greet them anyway.

But like I said, each is entitled to their own opinion.

Ryan,

Except for the people that work at newsvine, NO ONE HERE KNOWS THIS "CALVIN" PERSON.

I doubt you know whether he is tall or short.

So acting like he is a long time friend is a little disingenuous.

Disingenuous!?!?!?!?! WRONG!!!! Long time friend... I suppose that depends on what you think of as a "long time"... I met him... Had a couple of beers with him... Corresponded with him on many issues... I can't speak for Calvin, but as far as I am concerned, he is my friend!!! My comments to him in this article are absolutely sincere!

I hope your other comments are backed up with better research than that one Ryan...

Ryan in Texas

It's amazing, some people can find a way to argue about the most simple things in life.

Most are just saying goodbye to one of the people that made this forum possible, a forum that actually pays you for the content you post, but you feel the need to piss all over that to make an irrelevant point.

So you don't know Calvin, are we suppose to really care?

A wise man speaks because he has something to say; a fool because he has to say something - Plato

Thank you, Mal and Rodney.

"Most are just saying goodbye to one of the people that made this forum possible," ---and a whole lot more. You don't have know someone to 'see' the work and influence of positive efforts.

CL,

Sorry for the tone, but some things kinda get under my skin, this was one of them...

A simple "goodbye" would suffice...or say nothing at all.

There's probably some disingenuous comments in here, but you can't assume that they all are. I've met Calvin in person and have corresponded through email, comments, etc, just like many other online friends, guess it depends on how much credence you give to that sort of thing, but for me, an online relationship can be just as meaningful as one in the physical realm.

Every article posted on the internet on a major site has a way to respond or reply now. This is just where MSN/MSNBC routes some of their comments. CNN does it their own way, and plenty of sites use facebook or twitter. The end result is the same. The reader comments on the article. The debate goes from there.

I do apologize if some of you know Calvin personally and you were offended by me defending people commenting against his slant. (Of course if you are paid by newsvine, then you work for newsvine and therefore, as I stated, those would be the people that know Calvin personally.) I will admit that I had no idea that people actually meet in person from meeting on newsvine. Or that there is some newsvine event thing. Personally, I'm not interested, as if you have something to say that is of value, type away, and I can read it at my leisure. For me, it is excercise for my mind to comment on an article. It's not like you are ever going to change someone's mind with a comment.

But this is newsvine. People get to have their own opinions.

And if Karen in LA doesn't like his slant, then isn't this the appropriate time for her to state her case? He is "Leaving" after all.

Of course it would be more convenient to withhold criticism until ???

(It would be different if he had died or something. But he's leaving voluntarily. Perhaps he has found something better to do, and really then, he is leaving you.)

Rodney, 1.47 -- Oh, no apology necessary.

I was just glad that you, Mal and Killfile said something. Ryan's comment, " So acting like he is a long-time friend is a little disingenuous." ...... really got under 'my' skin, and I had to say something also.

I've read every comment and thought it was easy to tell those that know Calvin personally from those that have been here long enough to see what his visions and accomplishments have been - and in my case, am mourning the loss .. and chose to talk about it.

Thank you for your concern.

Thanks CL

I do apologize if some of you know Calvin personally and you were offended by me defending people commenting against his slant.

Thanks for the apology Ryan... but my reaction had nothing to do with your "defense of people commenting against his slant." It was to your assertion that "acting like he is a long time friend is a little disingenuous" and to your assertion that "NO ONE HERE KNOWS THIS 'CALVIN' PERSON" I see no connection between those utterly erroneous assertions and your defense of Karen.

Sorry about the rant Calvin, but like Rodney this sort of things get under my skin!

Thanks CL!

As far as I'm concerned nitpicking can always be set aside when it is not appropriate for the moment. In a celebration and farewell to a friend or acquaintance it is always wise to be cordial. If a complaint is needed it should be done privately. I'm sure everyone on Newsvine knows how to write an e-mail.

Sorry if you find my comments in appropriate js, I really am. But I do not consider questioning my sincerity "nit picking." I made my first comment on this article to expressed my sincere thanks to Calvin, as have many others. But I am also here to do the very thing that Calvin and others created this site for... express my honest opinions... and to try to "get smarter here." No matter what the tone of my comments may be, I hope Calvin will see that I am making them in recognition and appreciation of the very great thing he and the other founders of Newsvine have made for us.

Yo, Cal Tang, aren't you gonna miss this?

Ciao bud... see you on the other side...

Goodbye, Calvin.

May you find Greener Pastures.

LOL. :~)

...But leave the gate open - It's not always greener on the other side. :-) ...or so it is said.

Ryan in Texas

Have you figured out by now that Calvin was one of the FOUNDERS of Newsvine???

MalamuteMan, I am sorry if you thought I was addressing your comment, as that is not the case. I was simply commenting upon the approach to take when wanting to express an opinion in a negative vain which I did not find you doing. As a person who has been called out in inappropriately in a group setting I am sensitive to and an advocate in taking issues to the source. I hope this clears the air.

Ryan in Texas,

I will admit that I had no idea that people actually meet in person from meeting on newsvine.

Awww man....You missed a good one. I wish you could have been with me when Sara G. and I had a mini Vine Meet. You would have pissed your pants from laughing. Either that or shoved merchandise down them like we did and run out of the store.

Viki Babbles Gonia, at least we got some sideline amusement out of this didn't we? I'm with you all the way. Newsvine is fun due to some with wacky ideas and comments. Got to love 'em.

U da man Calvin! Come on over to the Big Island and I'll take you to the best beach!

Sometimes, we just have to wonder where people are coming from, don't we? There is so much diversity here on the vine, we're bound to run into the 3% of the people that can't be happy, no matter what...

Keep the faith, Viki-- the vast majority of people are decent. The few that aren't just seem to stand out from the rest and cause all of us to despair! :-)

(((((((((((((((((Viki))))))))))))))))))))

Trying to put a political spin on the co-founder's retirement? Ridiculous, unnecessary, and insulting, IMHO.

What has Calvin done for me, and how did the creation of Newsvine benefit me personally? I'm a bit embarrassed to talk about it, but here goes:

Our regular website for Adventure Books of Seattle gets plenty of visits and we sell a lot of books. Our Newsvine column receives TEN TIMES MORE TRAFFIC, and some articles I've posted here appear on the first entry for popular Google searches. One article, The Top Ten Historical Events That Shaped America and Why They Did is downloaded by 1,000-2,000 kids every month for the past two years. There are others like it.

Thank you, Calvin.

Because of the varied nature and open policy regarding the type of articles that can be posted, and the large number of categories available at Newsvine, I didn't have to just write straight articles. I also was able to share flash fiction, short stories, interviews, and any number of items short of kiddie porn or advocating the overthrow of the government. Free expression and First Amendment rights are certainly upheld at Newsvine.

Thank you, Calvin.

Oh...and they've paid me well over a thousand dollars so far. I almost forgot to mention that. *smiles*

Thank you, Calvin.

And if Karen in LA doesn't like his slant, then isn't this the appropriate time for her to state her case? He is "Leaving" after all. Of course it would be more convenient to withhold criticism until ???

I don't know, how about not holding your criticism, but directing it somewhere appropriate. Karen has had plenty of time to contact Calvin privately-- Newsvine has a built in function for that, after all. And if she wasn't capable of figuring out that feature (you know, the hard task of clicking on Calvin's name or using the "search" function to find his column, and then clicking the "Contact this Author" button) until right now, it's not like she couldn't bitch about her opinion of perceived bias on Newsvine to the staff that's remaining behind.

But then she wouldn't get to be the person at the party who, after having too much to drink, tells the host's wife she's ugly.

Going away parties are usually not the right time for someone to pipe up with a 'Good! I'm glad you're gone!' People generally mentally label those folks as "@!$%#s" and hope they don't have to cross their path very often.

BobinFL, Karen and rickace are being classless boors.

But then, that's to be expected of them. They've got a track record that a lot of us are already familiar with.

Remember "Every Party Has A Pooper and That's Why We Invited You. Party Pooper"? Well, now we know who to dedicate this song too on Calvin's "Good-Bye" party.

Some people!

oh, man. bummer.

It's been a pleasure working with you, Calvin. Please keep us posted as far as your future endeavors.

Ryan, people participating on Newsvine should know who Calvin is. And I defy ANYONE to accurately and factually peg what Calvin's political stance is.

I'll second that.

Viki and I couldn't pin him down while basically living with him for a week in Denver.

Ooh ooh I know Calvin's stance!

Standing or sitting if not lying down :)

(OK, I took that from a book I read when I was a kid -- Westing Game)

And I defy ANYONE to accurately and factually peg what Calvin's political stance is.

He is pretty cool so.. I'm going to have to go with being a conservative.. or conservative leaning. :P

Oh and to add to your list. Ever passing through Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR feel free to hit me up!

Really Tyler? I liked the word puzzle part of it. To each their own.

I'm guessing Calvin to have conservative leanings as well, SR.

(Uh-oh, best leave this topic; it will turn into a political debate, name-calling, throwing food - even the trolls will show up for the fun. This could get really, really ugly, I mean cool!!)

Why doesn't my abc with the line through it work, hmpfff!

*fills her mouth with mashed potatoes, then punches in her cheeks to spit the potatoes back out*

Can you guess what I am? A ZIT!!

TOGA TOGA TOGA!!

LOL!! --- ewwww.

And I defy ANYONE to accurately and factually peg what Calvin's political stance is.

...best leave this topic; it will turn into a political debate, name-calling...

.

• Reports that Calvin's sudden departure from Newsvine, is at all connected with the coincidental, completely unconnected and ongoing nationwide roundup of Russian spies...are completely and absolutely unfounded.

.

.

...there, you can't have a party without someone starting a good and idiotic rumor.

;-)

Dubbya, that's a great rumor .. let's use it!

(I wonder what the story will be at the end of the party?!) ...we could always get Calvin really drunk and find out all kinds of good stuff -- nah, I doubt he can top your story. ;)

Ooh if we get Calvin drunk enough maybe he'll agree to star in a GG clinic educational video! :)

Oh belle you are so devious and wonderful!

belle, if he stars in the video, I hope he wears the cute outfit he's wearing in Walt D's avatar. Looks like he's already pregnant; all we to do is take his shoes off.

Ooh if we get Calvin drunk enough maybe he'll agree to star in a GG clinic educational video! :)

belle... very nice young lady!!!!

Anything for the cause of research. I may even decide to appear in the video with him! :)

belle... Calvin is a cutie pie... Make it happen GG!!!! You know the clinic will be so proud of you. We can't pay you (Calvin will... with his input) but, for the research we will dedicate the video to you.

no newsvine-sponsored vinemeet tour of the states?

• Reports that Calvin's sudden departure from Newsvine, is at all connected with the coincidental, completely unconnected and ongoing nationwide roundup of Russian spies...are completely and absolutely unfounded.

(considers starting a rumor that calvin has a russian accent)

Psssst.. Scott.. I love false rumors. I will back you my friend. :-)

Ummmm. Calvin, sweetie... you could have at least mentioned my name. I know we don't know each other but, geez!!!! :-(

Calvin, love you...but that post came off like the song 88 Lines :P

Killfile wears a kimono to sleep and gets all of his ideas for articles from his brainy wife, Courts.

So the truth does come out..... lol.

Calvin, love you...but that post came off like the song 88 Lines :P

ha. too true. i could add a few lines about some women he's met at meets but - i kid. sorta.

Scott Butki is an introvert. yeah like that's newsactually it probably is - thats why prior to meets i revive my piece warning people I AM more shy in person.

I think i've guesed your real next step - scuba diving correspondent for some publication, maybe msnbc-related? It'd explain the traveling comment. My suggestion - avoid the bay of mexico area.

As far as actually "knowing" each other, as a few people have pointed out, some Newsviners know me quite well, and vice versa.

Between that comment and the one from the women chastising him about not being a journalist i'm reminded of trying to explain journalistic principles and conflict of interest issues to calvin while we were getting drunk - thanks, msnbc - at some awful club with weird couches.

The one common theme in getting to know all of these people is the fact that our political leanings have had zero influence on whether or not a good friendship has developed.

Did i mention we passionately disagreed on this issue and yet i respected him more because of it? this is right after seeing the Meeting David Wilson movie and me essentially accusing him of asking us viners to act as shills for msnbc and me, while drinking said alcohol, admitting to feeling like quite the hypocrite.

where does he stand? he will not abide by apartments rented being left in crappy shape. that i know well.

Killfile wears a kimono to sleep and gets all of his ideas for articles from his brainy wife, Courts.

this part is actually true. ask yourself which of the two is in the middle of publishing not one but two academic books.

I appreciate your efforts with NewsVine, and a sincere Thank You. If you're ever in California, in the High Desert, let me know...I'll introduce you to a $hithole bar known as "Froggie's" and you can help convince the rest of NewsVine that I'm not such a Prick as I've let myself become known as.

In real life I'm actually a A$$hole, or so my wife says.

Rob Goodlatte

I thought so. I attended an online conference talk he gave about UX.

As for leaving, Calvin, from Texas accept a hearty "Happy Trails." If you swing through Austin sometime, there's more than a couple of us here. I'm sure we could arrange a happy hour.

" If you swing through Austin sometime, there's more than a couple of us here. I'm sure we could arrange a happy hour.

indeed

So long, Calvin, and thanks for the memories. This was a fine endeavor. Good luck to you.

--Carolyn (Glenham, NY & Bennington, VT)

Killfile wears a kimono to sleep and gets all of his ideas for articles from his brainy wife, Courts.

So the truth does come out..... lol.

Not all of them. Hell, most of them Courts disavows on the grounds that she's got a academic reputation to worry about.

Speaking of which, that's "Dr. Courts" to you. :-)

Oh, tell her congratulations for me!

And here I thought I was the only one who had met you in person ... I feel so small knowing that you met Killfile and Courts and Adam and Scott and Ryan and Myk and OF and ... wait, they were there too, and I didn't drink all THAT much.

Next goal in NV - meet Viki. Somehow this will happen. We're actually FB friends, which is so weird since we have never met in person. But it will lead to vodka.

But it will lead to vodka

Undoubtedly.

I've only met Viks for a brief encounter, but even that was enough to know that, as great as she is on NV (and FB), she's even cooler in real life.

I was working on one for this summer, but as the date nears, the silence is deafening. i suspect those who were 'in' when it was a nice idea are reassessing as we contemplate making it a reality. Without a critical mass, I doubt we'll do it, but there's always next year.....

Unless we do another Minimeet in TO!

Calvin, it's gonna be nice to "see" ya around just being you. Have fun (at long last!) with the 'Vine.

*beware of the trolls--they hide under the bridges!*

Cheers from MN... :)

Think that holds true for most of us. Maybe the fall...?

good luck Calvin with all that lies ahead

Doug

Lytton, Iowa

I'm just saying it's hard to see him leaving as Good News.

Seconded, big time.

Calvin, thankyouthankyouthankyou for, well... everything. Namaste ♥

Dear Calvin-- You will be greatly missed!

Thank you, so very much, for all of your help and for your encouragement! I will miss you very much, and wish you the very best on your life's journey.

((((((((((((((Calvin)))))))))))))

Please take care and come to see us! AND, if you're ever near Louisville, KY, please stop and say, "Hey"!

Viki, I sure wish you had known and I had known! Golly-- you've got to come by this way again, and we'll have a vine meet!

((((((((((((((Viki))))))))))))))

Thank you, Viki-- I'm really going to miss Calvin! He is a great friend, and has been very kind to me while I've been here on Newsvine! I'm sick that he is leaving and only hope that he will keep in touch. I have a great deal of respect for him!

Take care, dear Viki! We will meet someday!

I am honored, dear Viki! and Deeply Touched by your request!

((((((((((Viki))))))))))))

If ever a comment needed an emoticon Red Wolf yours does (Smiley with the green tint in it's cheek would have been perfect). :)

Calvin, let me know whenever you make it to the DC area, it would be good to see you again. Best of luck!

^ I might be going to one of those with my friend Heather if I got work off. Haven't been to one yet.