Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Not all heroes wear capes.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

Let’s show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Second rate reporter says what?

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

The choice is between normal and crazy.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

In after Baud. Damn.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

You are here: Home / Absent Friends / RIP / We Lost a Good Man in Alain

We Lost a Good Man in Alain

by | 44 Comments

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By now you have heard the horrible, no good, awful news about Alain. I received an email earlier this afternoon from his fiance telling me had died, and I was in such a state of shock I immediately fired off a completely inappropriate email in response that consisted of “OMG. What happened.” The stun of the news made it so that it took me a few minutes to realize that that was completely the wrong response to someone who is going through what Carol is and emailed her back, and while waiting to hear back from her contacted Adam and the rest of the front pagers.

I asked Adam to make the announcement, as he and Alain had a special friendship, and he would best be able to describe Alain, and he did a superb job. Alain really was a kind, patient, gentle, decent person, and this is such a horrible loss.

You may not be aware of this, but it will probably come as no surprise, but I am an actual fucking nightmare to work with at times. When it comes to technology, I am a total pain in the ass to deal with. I just want something to do what I want it to do, and I really do not care to learn how to code to get something done. Alain, bless his heart, was the kind of guy who if you asked him what time it is, he would tell you how to build a watch. So imagine that poor guy trying to explain things to me and I am basically tabbed out and in an other place mentally, only to come back five minutes later and tell him basically “Just make it so people stop emailing me.”

And he would. He was the engine behind the website for several years, never complained, always there, and just loved all of you and took great pleasure in keeping this place running for you all. Many of you have posted stories about his acts of kindness towards you. I have my own stories, and we’ll talk about them later, some day. He may be gone physically, but Alain will be here in spirit for as long as this shitty little hole on the internet exists.

Rest in peace, brother.

Reader Interactions

44Comments

  1. 1.

    Jerzy Russian

    Yes, this was a gut punch.  It was the last thing I was expecting.  Life is so unfair that Alain is gone and many others remain, stinking up the planet.  If anyone sees the year 2020 walking around, be sure to go up to it and kick it in the nuts, good and hard.

  2. 2.

    TS (the original)

     Alain, bless his heart, was the kind of guy who if you asked him what time it is, he would tell you how to build a watch.

    I’m married to another one of them.

    Life is not fair – Alain was way to young to leave – I’m sure he’ll find lots of good folks wanting to be with him in the after times.

  3. 3.

    Greg Ferguson

    This is so terribly sad. I saw Adam’s post, which was wonderful — it also makes the loss keener for giving a ricker picture of the kind of man Alain was. Certainly a hero for putting up with you, Cole…:-).
    My deepest condolences to his fiancee. I hope she will know how important he was to this community.

  5. 5.

    Hortense

    I am so sorry. This is a great loss to the community here and must be grievous for the people who loved him.

    “Is it so small a thing to have enjoyed the sun, to have lived light in the spring, to have loved, to have thought, to have done…”

    Matthew Arnold

  12. 12.

    eclare

    I’m still in shock.  When appropriate, please find out what we can do for Carol, I can’t imagine what she is going through.

  13. 13.

    BGinCHI

    I assume someone will collect for flowers or something. Donations to his favorite charity.

    Let us know.

    Such sad, sad, sad news.

  14. 14.

    cain

    John knows how to write a post that’s emotionally charged. I feel like I’m way more sad after reading his post than others. A starlight has left the world and the world is a little bit darker because of it.

    I never traffic’d much with Alain (or really any front pager) – I hope that I can learn more about him through your stories.

  15. 15.

    Steve M

    Long time lurker. I could never keep up you guys.

    But I read every day. I love Alain’s stuff. I’m a big strong guy and I’m bawling like a baby.

    RIP Alain. Condolences, Carol.

    I got nothing else.

  17. 17.

    Suzanne

    This is so terrible. I’m sending my best wishes for comfort and healing to Carol, and everyone who knew and loved Alain.

    Hugs to everyone in this weird little corner of the series of tubes.

  19. 19.

    (((CassandraLeo)))

    If it’s any consolation, I’d probably have had the exact same reaction, John, at least at first.

    Fuck. This all sucks so much. We lost a good man today. Yet Mitch McConnell still draws breath. Surely this is the Bad Place.

    Cēterum cēnseō factiōnem Rēpublicānam esse dēlendam.

  20. 20.

    m.glafmer

    He seemed a good man, and I know he contributed (way more than I’ll ever) to this community. Best vibes to his and all.

  22. 22.

    SectionH

    I loved Alain, I’ve been crying on and off for hours. Because he was all about everything I love most: the world, sharing new things, and old things, just not visual beauty via OTR, but his other stories.. Morels – that resonated, even if my experiences weren’t his. That was another bridge.

    He built bridges. That’s the way to ahead. Right over the top of the haters. Or maybe just through their tiny heads.

  23. 23.

    MMM

    #$&@!  Posting here so a ding does not wake someone up.  Sorry for your loss and condolences to his partner and many friends.

  24. 24.

    Cermet

    So tragic at such a young age. He obviously had a big impact via this blog and achieved so much for so many. We will miss him.

  26. 26.

    Betty Cracker

    I smiled at your description of Alain’s approach to technical issues, John. So true. I am completely clueless about such things, and Alain was unfailingly patient, positive and kind in his tech support interactions with us all.

    That positive attitude and kindness were evident in his contributions as a poster and commenter too. He was endlessly curious about the world, interested in what you knew and eager to share what he knew. What a terrible loss. My heart goes out to Carol.

  29. 29.

    Sab

    In spite of all our online bickering, this site is mostly noteworthy for the decency and kindness of the people at the center of it. Alain was there. What a loss. I m so sorry for his fiance.

  30. 30.

    Laura Too

    John, I’m so sorry, this is such a huge loss. His kindness, the kindness of all of you…

  31. 31.

    Elizabelle

    @Laura Too:  Hi Laura Too.  It’s been lovely to see you here.

    I know.  Alain was irreplaceable, and the gentlest of souls.  Woke up sad this morning, and this will be a very hard loss for all of us.

    All the best to Carol and to Alain’s IRL loved ones.

  32. 32.

    Haroldo

    I am primarily a lurker.  What struck me about Alain was his curiosity and tenacity.  My condolences to Carol.

  33. 33.

    Josie

    Such sad news.  I’m sorry for Carol and Alain’s other loved ones and sorry for all of us who will miss his special contributions to the blog.  I hope Carol can see all the comments and know how much he was appreciated.

  34. 34.

    Sis

    Something I struggle with is how so many good people seem to be gone way too soon, and truly horrible people seem to thrive no matter what.

  35. 35.

    MoCA Ace

    Thank you John.  I’m crying again this morning just reading the condolences and memories of Alain.  I have lost a few family and friends at a young age and, though I didn’t “know” Alain, this feels the same.  He was one of the good ones here.  Such a tragic loss.  God I hate this shitty year.

    I hope there is something we can do to contribute to his family or a favorite charity, or some way we can memorialize this kind soul.

  36. 36.

    J R in WV

    Alain and I shared a lot of things, love of mountains covered with trees, love of the Rockies, love of wild things, even mushrooms, love of Techy stuff. So Adam’s post last night really knocked me for a loop… I’m amazed I was easily able to fall asleep.

    Somewhere towards the bottom of Adam’s now long thread, a kind jackal posted a link to an obit of his mom, who was a professor at GW university. Worth looking up, kind of shines a light on how Alain grew up to be who he was.

    This year 2020 as a time period is really sucking for me! For us!! When you lose people you admire, respect, love, people who are your age, or younger than you are, it’s a special kind of hurt. I’m old enough to have had enough of that already!

    Can barely imagine Carol’s feelings of loss and shock — I wish there was something, anything, we could do that would help her. Not even allowed to gather for hugs… too dangerous.

    Thanks, John G Cole, for all you do for the Jackal Community!!

  37. 37.

    Boris Rasputin (the evil twin)

    R.I.P. Alain.

    Proof of the unfairness of it all, Alain is gone, and Trump is alive.

    Damn, but I hate this year.

  39. 39.

    The Dangerman

    @Jerzy Russian:

    If anyone sees the year 2020 walking around, be sure to go up to it and kick it in the nuts, good and hard.

    I kept the receipt for 2020 from New Years Day and tried to take it to the Returns counter, but they are shuttered.

    Is there a warranty on this piece of shit year?

  41. 41.

    Barb 2

    So sad. So young.

    I remember when his mom died. What a good son. We have lost a good and kind person.

    covid-19 is on our minds. Yet , there are other reasons why the best leave too soon. Thanks to Adam and John for the memories of their friend and friend of the blog.

  42. 42.

    Suzanne Kennedy

    Alain was our son-in-law. He was a  gentle, kind, caring and all the other wonderful qualities you all have assigned to him. His enthusiasm for life was contagious. His generosity was unlimited. For us, it’s like having lost a child. Our hearts are breaking for Carol. Alain was our family.
    I know Alain loved the mountains, so plant trees in his honor through the National Park Service or any way you can. He loved to fly fish so donate to Trout Unlimited to restock streams. Alain was a special gift to the world and left too soon. I’m so touched by all of his friends loving remarks. He lived a truly remarkable life. He will always be greatly missed.

  43. 43.

    WaterGirl

    @Suzanne Kennedy:

    Thank you for the lovely note. What a terrible loss.  I am so sorry for your loss, for you and Carol and your whole family, and for all of us who cared for him.

    The first comment on Balloon Juice has to be released manually;  it won’t have shown up until just now, so no one would have seen it last night or earlier this morning.

    All future comments with your name and email address will show up immediately.

    Hugs and tears

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