I am sure Lambert is honored and humbled by the many many expressions of appreciation as he wraps up his time at Naked Capitalism. I hope those of you who have enjoyed and perhaps even tangibly benefitted (particularly on Covid!) from his in-depth, incisive, and often mordantly humorous work have seen fit to stop by his donation page and make a final contribution. If not, do so right now! Since Lambert is a WASP and WASPs are not great about asking for money, I will refrain from embedding the Harlan Ellison classic Pay the Writer.
Lambert’s last Water Cooler will take place later today. He has graciously agreed to help with the transition to new writers by also working this weekend, so you will see one more links and original article from him.
Many of you have said how much you will feel the loss of his regular contributions, not just his yellow wader analyses of speeches, his election horse races and debate open threads, but also in his many other areas of interest, from gardening and permaculture to important political works to photography to trains and transportation, manufacturing, and class warfare. I will very much miss him, not just as a highly reliable and insightful writer, but an important participant in the management of the site, from helping evaluate new writers to organizing the fundraisers to working with our tech maven Dave to tackle the more than occasional site anomaly to determining what to do about particular comments and commentors to even playing Mr. Diplomacy in reviewing missives to less than receptive parties. We’ve spoken pretty much daily for over ten years. So I will miss his counsel and sanity-checking on both news and the business of the site.
But we hope to keep the site at the high level of vim and vigor it attained during Lambert’s era with the additions to our writing team and new contributions by current members. As we announced earlier, KLG will be providing a weekly, health-and-science-news-related post in the old Water Cooler slot every Friday, which we are calling Coffee Break (there can, after all, be only one Water Cooler). Two other writers are stepping up to provide topical Coffee Breaks: Kevin Kirk, who will post a Europe/UK focused weekly offering on Mondays called Across the Pond, and Haig Hovaness, a defense industry/economics/politics overview (what Ray McGovern calls MICMATT) in the Tuesday Coffee Break slot. Attentive readers may recall that Kevin Kirk posted on the ultranationalist Zionist plans to destroy the Al Aqsa Mosque. We also featured a very informative talk he gave on Myanmar, which many said helped them get a better grip on the complicated history and present of the war-torn country. Both Kevin and Haig will each make additional weekly contributions, Haig a Links and Kevin an original post.
KLG’s first Coffee Break also launches today, but it will be a bit short since Lambert will be providing his final Water Cooler, which will include his regular Covid and health policy coverage. KLG intends to cover the Covid/pandemics beat, albeit not at Lambert’s intensity. He will set up an e-mail address to solicit reader input for Substacker Twitter and Bluesky accounts worth following (Twitter makes it impossible for Lambert to export his well-curated list of experts).
Finally, we have two more occasional contributors joining the Naked Capitalism team: Charlie Krauss, an energy and energy politics expert based in Central Europe, and Tom Valovic, a professional writer and editor describes himself as moonlighting as a political journalist. His work has appeard regularly at Common Dreams. They join our roster of other ad hoc contributors, such as Michael Hudson, Satyajit Das, and George Georgiou.
So see how many writers it is taking to fill Lambert’s yellow waders? But hopefully you will come to appreciate their range of expertise and distinct voices.
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Welcome all!
Bon voyage, Lambert. I hope you’ll stop by from time to time to say hello.
The new roster sounds jolly interesting and I look forwards to reading them.
Happy Trails Mr. Lambert…
I was too pressed to comment, but KLGs post earlier this week was excellent! I look forward to all the new contributors.
It amazes what you continue to do with this site, thank you!
And I’m already getting the shakes just thinking about Lamberts departure…
Thanks Yves! I am very much looking forward to a weekly column from KLG! And welcome aboard everyone else! Long live Naked Capitalism!
I am saving my official farewell to Lambert for WC today – I sent my donation to the almost gold watch fund the other day! And I challenge those who have not yet contributed to the retirement fund to do so. Lambert’s efforts over the years have been worth more than his weight in gold.
Many of us suspected it would take at least five writers to meet the needs of Naked Capitalism and its faithful regular readers upon Lambert’s departure (I will not say to “replace” him because that of course is impossible). Kudos to Yves and the whole NC team for rising to the occasion once again. Many thanks for the yeoman effort. Lambert, warmest wishes as you wade into your next chapter. You have been absolutely wonderful!
P.S. — and I’m happy to second CanCyn’s invitation to those who have not yet sent an addition to Lambert’s gold watch fund!
Losing the watercooler is very hard…but looking forward to the new material!
Sounds like the full-throated effort I’d expect from you, Yves, to fill Lambert’s unfillable shoes.
Particular thanks for paying real attention to Covid coverage. I’m one of the many who’s depended on this site as my go-to for actionable facts throughout the still-vibrant pandemic (and the next ones to come).
Thanks to Lambert once more for all you’ve done, and thanks to Yves for that platform and all you do to sustain it.
No need to panic at all about all these changes, people. So let’s just all stay calm and take ahold of ourselves – or else!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvPugcb7QGE (29 secs)
Have enjoyed lambert for years. Attention is a scarce resource these days and I’m glad to have had time with him, definitely changed my view on some things.
Thank you Lambert. It has been a great ride. Do join the commentariat whenever you wish.
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome …….. to one and all.
And for Lambert, Soon you’ll be sailing …….
Who’s going to cover the DOGEbags? Lambert did such a great job of that, in addition to many other topics.
Lambert did such a good job of covering American Political Economics, and it looks like none of the newbies will be covering that on their beats.
RIP Lambert
Lambert, you are a treasure. Enjoy your retirement. I highly recommend it.
I don’t know how I’d have navigated the Covid years without Lambert. I’ve happily dropped my mite into his tin cup and wish him a stimulating and satisfying Life After Naked Capitalism (though it’s hard to imagine a more stimulating bunch than this one). Buon viaggio, Lambert.
Big waders to fill.
It will be the daily snark that I will miss the most. A snigger or two keeps one’s spirits up as civilizational collapse crescendos all around one. Out of the country today but will toss a few coins in the hat when I’m back on my home WiFi. May your garden flourish!
Bon voyage Lambert!
Some years back I mailed you a DVD containing footage shot on four model railroad layours in California. If in your new life you have time to watch it, I think you might enjoy it.
And if it’s gone astray I’m happy to send you a replacement.
Many thanks again!
I look forward to seeing the Coffee Breaks. And for following along as Naked Capitalism shifts in the wake of Lambert’s departure. I hope it shines like a new star.
But I am like the cats I love, change is not always welcome. The Water Cooler was only occasionally free form, but it often had a life of its own once Lambert set its course for the day. I’m not sure how that fits within the new system, but we will see. And I know I will miss the one or two line usually humorous but always erudite course corrections Lambert made.
Heck, I’m just going to miss Lambert. But here’s to Naked Capitalism’s future and to his, may they both be as bright as they so richly deserve.
Lambert, if you check in here, please check your email. I sent you one as directed the other day and would like to send you a bon voyage donation! Or if you are in my neck of the woods anytime soon, let me know and I can hand you a donation in person.
Second the coming out of the DOGEbags and a big shout-out to his links related to AI! I’m finding both areas to be unreal and fascinating per Lambert’s link and articles.
A p.s. to Yves (my apologies for diverting from accolades for Lambert!). This is the second recent reference I’ve seen from you to Harlan Ellison. I seem to recall others. Are you also a fan(!)?
Yes. I read not only many of his novels and short stories, but even his television criticism, collected from the LA Freep, in The Glass Teat.
So long, Mr. Strether! Thank you for all your wading. :)
And a welcome to the new guard, I look forward to reading your contributions!
A little help for your retirement Lambert. Let’s keep the contact!
Welcome to the new guys. Goodbye to Lambo. Been reading him hear for so many years I can’t count them. Love nc
All good things; glad to see you charting the next chapter of your journey. May the long time sun guide you on your way🌅 Of course, irreplaceable and sorely sad to see you go. Yet, a new horizon awaits you. Thank you, sincerely.
Many many thanks Lambert! All the best!! BTW, COVID coverage alone was fantastic.