Protein Wisdom is a conservative and libertarian weblog, created by erstwhile academic Jeff Goldstein (a self-described classical liberal), that has received widespread news coverage, both for its content and because of Goldstein's legal dealings with one particular reader. Goldstein's respect for the legacy of Hunter S. Thompson is an enduring theme, as is his satiric allusions to such popular cult figures as Martha Stewart and the fictional Billy Jack.[1] The blog is known for its bawdy overtones and surrealistic sense of humor; its media profile was raised after a series of attacks by left-wing blogger Deborah Frisch,[2][3] which sent its creator, Jeff Goldstein, into a much lower-profile mode.
Protein Wisdom was a member of Pajamas Media back when it had a widespread blogging network. As of March 2008 the site has had more than nine million hits. It was ranked the 68th biggest political blog in 2006 by The Truth Laid Bear. Goldstein is noted for his often surrealist posts, best captured in such series as "red pills found behind the sofa cushions,"[4] and "the protein wisdom conceptual series",[5] as well as for satirical items[4] (one of which was picked up by Howard Kurtz of The Washington Post[1]), and discussions of hermeneutics (from an intentionalist stance[6]), with a concentration on how interpretive strategies both inform and reinforce certain philosophical assumptions and, by extension, social policies. Goldstein is particularly critical of identity politics,[7] racialism[8] and multiculturalism.[9]
He also writes about politics and popular culture, and has posted an ongoing series of original (tongue-in-cheek) poems.[10] He is well known for a fake, satirical diary supposedly kept by Martha Stewart during her incarceration, which he updated every day. It described humorously surreal--and clearly fictitious--experiences by Stewart from a first-person viewpoint. These detailed drug use, fighting, homoeroticism, and the use of domestic arts behind prison walls.
Another ongoing theme is his "pet armadillo," which is, during Goldstein's active blogging phases, supposed to dance for his readers on Friday nights, but is always too hung over from drug use to do actually so. (The fictitious armadillo lives with Goldstein and his family, and has a fondness for hash brownies and Goldstein's liquor cabinet.)
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Jeff Goldstein
Goldstein is a writer living in Colorado. He has a Bachelor's degree from Towson University (MD), where he received a Dean of Liberal Arts scholarship and graduated with both general and departmental honors (with an emphasis on the fiction of Flannery O'Connor); he did his graduate work at Johns Hopkins and the University of Denver, where, while studying fiction writing under (among others) Rikki Ducornet, he taught literature, rhetoric, and writing. He also spent two summers at The School of Criticism and Theory, Cornell University, where he studied under Walter Benn Michaels and Catherine Gallagher.
Goldstein devised and co-chaired an international conference on the intersection between creative writing and literary theory (1996: plenary speakers, Gerald Graff and Marjorie Perloff) that has since become a signature event of the University of Denver English Department (most recently held in Oct 2005).
The Frisch Incident
A University of Arizona adjunct professor named Deborah Frisch started writing comments at Protein Wisdom on July 4, 2006. Two days later, she wrote "You live in Colorado, I see. Hope no one JonBenets your baby." She then added: "I reiterate: If some nutcase kidnapped your child tomorrow and did to him what was done to your fellow Coloradan, JonBenet Ramsey, I wouldn't give a damn."[11] She resigned and apologized,[12] saying "I don’t think professors should do that. I crossed the line."[2] Her behaviour gained nationwide news coverage.[13] Following further incidents, Goldstein obtained a restraining order and preliminary injunction against her. Conservative bloggers have alleged cyberstalking and other strange behavior by Dr. Frisch since then.[14]
Goldstein says he has had to take temporary breaks from blogging to deal with continued harassment from Frisch.[15]
Goldstein's blog is maintained at this point with his input, and the work of his co-bloggers, led by Darleen Click. Some of his other fans and commenters maintain a presence at his sub-blog, called The Protein Wisdom Pub. When Goldstein's martial-arts and parenting duties do not interfere, he posts at the main blog full-time. During such times his co-bloggers retreat to the "Pub." When he is less available, his co-bloggers take up more space on his main page.
References
- ^ a b Kurtz, Howard (February 9, 2007). "Strafing the Speaker". The Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2007/02/09/BL2007020900629_3.html. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ a b "Blogger returns to Eugene amid criticism". Associated Press via The News-Review. July 17, 2006. http://www.newsreview.info/article/20060717/BLOG/60717008/-1/BLOG08. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ McElroy, Wendy (July 19, 2006). "The Great Blogosphere Brawl". Fox News. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,204283,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^ a b Goldstein, Jeff. "red pills behind the sofa cushions". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?cat=14.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff. "the protein wisdom conceptual series". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?cat=18.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff (May 16, 2006). "Somebody’s been hitting the frozen rum drinks, I see! (UPDATED)". Protein Wisdom. http://www.proteinwisdom.com/index.php/weblog/entry/20320/. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (December 1, 2005). ""Defining the terms: racism, feminism, and the problem of identity politics"". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=5561. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (Jan 17, 2007). ""There's no such thing as 'race," (and it's a good thing, too)"". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=8149. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ "Goldstein, Jeff (September 1, 2006). ""The Limits of Boutique Multiculturalism"". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=6860. Retrieved 2007-07-14.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff. "The protein wisdom original poems". Protein Wisdom. http://www.proteinwisdom.com/?cat=6.
- ^ Calhoun, Patricia (July 20, 2006). "Blog Eat Blog". Denver Westword. http://www.westword.com/Issues/2006-07-20/news/calhoun.html. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ Smith, Kim (July 11, 2006). "UA lecturer resigns over blogs furor". Arizona Daily Star. http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/137374.php. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
- ^ Hume, Brit (July 12, 2006). "Professor Goes Postal". Special Report with Brit Hume. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,203225,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
- ^ "Deborah Frisch Timeline". http://debfrischtimeline.blogspot.com/.
- ^ Goldstein, Jeff (July 12, 2007). "Thanks, everyone". Protein Wisdom. http://proteinwisdom.com/?p=9430. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
External links
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