Monday, May 14, 2007

STATUS REPORT:

This is going to be quick, but I wanted to make sure you know I haven't forgotten about you.

My new job isn't going as well as I'd hoped. I work approximately 7:30-3:30 everyday and spend the last 6-7 hours tapping on my desk waiting for 3:30 so I can go home. It's not something I'm enjoying a lot or that I'm really eager to talk about. It ends on June 29, though, so I've got that to look forward to.

Between Laura's graduation from pharmacy school and the new job last week, I didn't find a lot of time to read or write. I'm going to try to work on that this week as I settle into more or a schedule.

But in the meantime, I need to get to work. I've got a desk to hold down.

KL

Friday, May 04, 2007

META(?): A blog status update

I don't think META is really the right tag for this one, but I haven't really figured out the correct tag for a blog that's really just about me.

Anyway, here's the scoop. I got a job and I start a new 8-5 existence Monday morning. I'm not entirely sure how that's going to affect my posting here. It doesn't really make sense for me to recap the day's news everyday if I'm not going to do it until after 5. I guess I could still do daily "Today in other people's blogs" kind of stuff, and that's probably the direction I'm headed.

On the other side, features are probably more likely to occur because in an office/data entry environment, I'm likely to have some time on my hands to daydream develop content.

So that's the story. Check back late Monday for updates.

KL

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

READS: Wednesday, May 2 is...

Education Day (Indonesia)
Alacitas (Peru)

I couldn't find anything really relevant to write about today.

I do, however, want to encourage you, gentle reader, to consider buying me a Wii to help with my weight loss efforts.

In the meantime, I'm going outside. Have a good one.

KL

Tuesday, May 01, 2007

FEATURE: How much is too much?

Since I started writing a political blog, I've ended up on all kinds of mailing lists for candidates, be they Democrat or Republican, at the local, state, and national level. I used to read them all, now I only read them on occasion.

The reason I burned out on them is because some people have a tendency to abuse their press release ability. For example, check out these press releases I've received from Dan Leistikow with the Edwards campaign:

Today:
EDWARDS STATEMENT ON "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" ANNIVERSARY

Yesterday:
EDWARDS BOOK, "ENDING POVERTY IN AMERICA," RELEASED TODAY
EDWARDS STATEMENT ON IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Thursday:
EDWARDS STATEMENT ON IOWA ANTI-DISCRIMINATION BILL
EDWARDS STATEMENT ON SENATE PASSAGE OF IRAQ FUNDING BILL

Wednesday:
JOHN EDWARDS CAMPAIGN TO HOST DEBATE WATCH PARTIES ACROSS IOWA ON THURSDAY
EDWARDS CALLS FOR ROVE TO BE FIRED AND GONZALES TO RESIGN

Yes, that's 7 press releases in 4 media days, and today isn't over yet. Also, in case you forgot to check your calendar today, we're still 7 1/2 months away from the caucuses. I like Edwards, but even I'm not taking the time to read all of those. If I were on his communications team, I'd be worried that the press is going to get as sick of this as I am.

I worked with a basketball coach once who rarely raised his voice. I was with him one night when his opponent had a coach who screamed the entire game. I asked him about it afterwards and he told me, "If you scream all the time, how will your team know when you've got something that's really important?"

Right now, Edwards' communications department is screaming all the time. And if they keep doing it, they're going to run the risk that people will ignore them when they've got something important.

KL

READS: Tuesday, May 1 is...

May Day
International Labor Day
Constitution Day (Marshall Islands)

No clever joke today, let's just move on.

Overrated news of the day: Longtime conservative legislator Dawn Pettengill has changed her party registration to Republican to better match her views.

The Register has coverage of the press conference the Republicans held.

Desmoinesdem at Bleeding Heartland points out that she informed the press before she informed her former caucus, which is classy.

John Deeth
asks two important questions: Will she return tens of thousands of dollars she received from the party, and has she been gathering information in caucuses to report to her new partymates?

Two more questions are worth asking, though: Since party leadership isn't progressive enough to pass VOICE, and failed to produce movement on property tax reform and other issues, does the removal of a conservative Dem from the caucus create the possibility of changes at the top?

If the answer to that question is no, then this one becomes relevant: If a legislator who votes with the Republicans and talks like the Republicans declares herself a Republican, does it really make a sound?

Finally, the Register gives the 2007 legislative session a B, even though they admittedly failed to accomplish almost all of the goals the Register set for them and most of the legislation they campaigned on. The Register must grade on one hell of a curve.

KL