Do you think the Times Union will ever acknowledge the large number of other blogs in the region who haven’t been unethical?

I guess it’s media covering themselves that makes the Albany Eye story worth so much ink.

Eye Wide Open. Ah, those were the days! You acknowledged John Gray for his truly moving and inspirational column in the Troy Record column about his close pals, Ken Screven and Dan Bazile.

Gray, of course, spelled the last names of Screven and Bazile.

Incorrectly.

You reminded the region, as if such additional information were really necessary, that Frederic U. Dicker is the five most offensive people in Albany. And that his brother by another mother, Alan Chartock, is the other five most offensive people in Albany.

You watched with a mixture of mirth and indigestion Joey Bag A Donuts crawl from his early days in Lansing, Mich. to The House That Ernie Built and a weekend squawk gig at the 50,000-Watt Leader In Mindless Propaganda to his final location as Glenn Beck’s cabin boy and San Antonio’s first, and only, cowboy with Gucci boots and clam sauce.

Not named Dick Cheney.

You observed the efforts of the high school class at Capital News 9, mindful that today’s children need a safe place to play.

You occasionally mentioned Girvin & Ferlazzo’s next mark, Paulie V., aware that a fool and his money – to say nothing of his ideas – are soon parted.

A time or two, you reflected on the consumption of E. Stu’s favorite customer, John Sweeney, but missed out on the chance to offer sage advice about the operation of a motor vehicle while alleged inebriated and with someone (local TV reporter?) sitting on your lap.

Or to reflect on the new piece of legislation mired in committee in the state Senate. It’s called Sweeney’s Law. Much like Buster’s Law, it has a vital aim. Sweeney’s Law, you see, prohibits Driving While Receiving Lap Dance. or DWRLD for those of you at home and/or work.

However, the tragedy of some suit at WNYT depriving you, and us, of your former identity, though, remains Kristi Gustafson.

Imagine if Miss Kristi had a bar camera in hand two or three years ago. Oh, the insights you could have offered.

Or Miss Kristi’s famed column about being the older woman in a relationship.

When he was 22.

And she was 28.

Such a Graduate moment. Well, not really.

Instead, in the olden days, you could chat only about Miss Kristi driving her SUV through the front of the Panera Bread operation in Niskayuna.

Let us also not forget Miss Kristi’s close personal pal in Colonie, The Advocate. What a topic he would have offered. His determination. His breadth of knowledge. His fedora.

Purchased by his dear mother.

Of course, you also missed out a review of young Mr. Seiler, a man who aspires to be the next Fred LeBrun. As if anyone could ever match the superb Freddie.

Fecklessness not included.

Also, you were deprive of commentary on Mr. Seiler’s Brother In Bald, Mr. Ettkin, and why one end of Wolf Road seems to favor young scribes who look half-defective Conehead and half-retired insurance salesman.

But perhaps your greatest loss will always be Irene Jane Liu.

Before beginning her unparalleled career in the coverage of state politics, Ms. Liu served as the topic of Jane Gordon’s wonderful piece, “A Helpful Cure: Students,” in the June 8, 2003 edition of The New York Times.

Ms. Gordon’s piece began thusly:

“IRENE JAY LIU has had a privileged life…”

Oh, Eye, the commentary you could have offered. Truly and sincerely, it brings a tear.

And my sincere hope that the WNYT version of the Les Nessman-Meets-Attila-The-Hun that ended your run someday winds up sitting at the morning breakfast table – or lawyer’s office – looking at a picture of itself the day prior sitting behind the wheel of an SUV after piloting said vehicle through the front of a local eatery (sans any injury, of course).

While bald.

Wearing a bad fedora.

Fielding questions from a tall, clueless blond holding a home video camera.

And listening to Glenn Beck’s cabin boy.

Talk about the need for more tax breaks for large SUVs.

And wondering if this is the first day of a privileged life.

You, my friend, are truly missed. Email me if you want. You should recognize the address.

The ethical angle brought up in the TU story is interesting given that they have outed bloggers (including helping to confirm where you work).