Carolina Progressive

Primary delayed

2004-02-10T12:00:00.000-05:00

As was widely anticipated, yesterday the State Board of Elections postponed the primaries scheduled for May until July 20. The reason was that the Justice Department has not given pre-clearance for the new state legislative districts as required under the voting rights act. Additionally, pending court challenges by Republicans to the new district maps must be resolved before a primary can be permanently scheduled. For the moment they are set for July. But in 2002, the primaries were delayed until September, and it seems possible for a recurrence of that scenario this year. This has important implications for races from the top of the ballot to the bottom. I am only going to address the races at the top of the ticket for the moment.

Presidential: The national parties require states to choose their delegates to the national convention well before July. No one in the cash-strapped government wants to foot the bill for a separate primary, so delegates will have to be chosen by another method. The Democrats have already drawn up a contingency plan which you can view here (PDF). A quasi-caucus will be held in mid-April. Some critics have claimed that the plan favors Sen. Edwards. The Republican Party has only just begun to draw up their new plan. In any case, the outcome of the North Carolina primary will probably be irrelevant since the nomination will most likely be wrapped up by mid-March for both parties.

Gubernatorial: Gov. Easley, is probably the biggest winner in this situation. The Democratic Easley is running for re-election and his war chest far exceeds any of his Republican opponents. Meanwhile there are at least five legitimate big-named Republicans on the ballot. Some of them are already broadcasting TV spots. The summer schedule will probably mean that the turnout will be skewed towards the hard-core loyalists of the Republican Party, and mean that the winner will be more Conservative than even North Carolina can handle and out of money. In addition, under the current schedule there is still time for a run-off in the Republican primary. A run-off would take place in August. With this many people in the field, it is possible that the Republican nominee for Governor will only have eight to ten weeks to come out of a bitter primary and take on Easley.

U.S. Senate: The U.S. Senate race is almost certainly going to be between the 2002 Democratic nominee, Erskine Bowles, and U.S. Rep. Richard Burr. The changed primary date probably will not affect this race much unless it tempts former NC House Speaker Dan Blue into challenging Bowles for the nomination again. Barring this possibility, the only consequence will probably be diminished press coverage of the race until the Republican Gubernatorial primary is decided. That should slightly favor Mr. Bowles who has better name recognition in the state.

Congress: Many of these races need to be examined in-depth (and a Republican would probably do better since this decision will mostly affect the Republican primaries). But here are a few thoughts. In the 5th district (held by Richard Burr who is running for Sen. Edwards seat), the ad war is already going and the money is flowing. However, this seat will almost certainly be retained by a Republican. But the longer that this bitter primary drags on, the more likely Dr. Jim Harrell (the most legitimate Democratic candidate) will have to look good to moderate Republicans in the district. In the case of a run-off in this race (which is highly possible) the seat could even become competitive. The 10th Congressional district (held by Cass Ballanger who is retiring) is even more likely to end up in Republican hands despite a very full Republican primary. In the other congressional districts there are not many important primaries, so this decision will have little effect on the eventual outcome.

I hope to have more time to examine this decision's affect on the other big races in the state and the closely divided NC legislature.

Amy Sullivan on the South

2004-02-06T15:04:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite bloggers on a subject close to my heart.

Of Melissa's 35 colleagues in a public relations firm in Historic Charleston, only two hail from South Carolina. The rest -- like Mark, Melissa, Jill, and thousands of other residents -- have migrated to the state over the past decade. Between 1995 and 2003, more than 1.8 million people moved to the South from other areas of the country -- other regions of the country don't even come close in terms of migration. They come for jobs -- the Research Triangle in Raleigh-Durham has attracted tens of thousands of transplants on its own. They come for the weather (it's no surprise that frigid Midwestern states like Michigan and Wisconsin are well-represented in the Carolinas).

But what these new Southerners don't do is leave their political beliefs and values behind when they cross state borders. And that is the number one reason that Democrats -- despite consistent losses in the South over the past few decades -- would be foolish to abandon the region in a national presidential campaign.

Hunt Exonerated

2004-02-06T13:24:00.000-05:00

The Winston-Salem Journal takes its victory lap.

Friday Headlines

2004-02-06T11:00:00.000-05:00

Raleigh News & Observer: State seeks to quash subpoenas from music industry on identify of Triangle students
Winston-Salem Journal: Hunt's bid for exoneration goes to court today
Charlotte Observer: School dropout rate in state declines
Charlotte Observer: Community colleges to ask state for more funding
Winston-Salem Journal: Students to resist raises in tuition
Raleigh News & Observer: Memo shows misbehavior in Greene County scandal
Raleigh News & Observer: Delay likely in May primaries
Winston-Salem Journal: Panel set up to review North Carolina's lobbying laws
Charlotte Observer: Battered textile workers fight back in D.C.
Associated Press: Judge denies injunction against FedEx hub and warns against further suits
Associated Press: Easley names Alan Z. Thornburg to Appeals Court
Raleigh News & Observer: David "Mudcat" Saunders back with Edwards
Raleigh News & Observer: Under the Dome: Tobacco buyout is back
Fayetteville Observer: Postal worker sprayed down when powder found in Fayetteville post office
Raleigh News & Observer: Barry Jacobs of Orange weighs run for NC House
Greensboro News & Record: Parents speak out on "choice" plan
Barry Saunders: A chance to guide passed by
Asheville Citizen-Times: N.C. legislators owe it to voters to devise sensible redistricting map
Greensboro News-Record: Allamance drug raid could be anywhere
Raleigh News & Observer: Cooper is right to take on meth problem
Wilmington Star-News: NC job losses continue
Washington Daily News: Eastern NC prepares for elections
Shelby Star: Crowded 10th congressional district primary for Republicans

Dear Mr. Hood

2004-02-05T11:38:00.000-05:00

Could you please, please, please put a comment section on the Locker Room. I know you guys worry about inappropriate posts etc., but all it takes is a little monitoring (for those occasional people who post links to adult sites etc.) and tolerance of even the stupidist opinion.

Yesterday Jon Sanders posted:

More news on the non-rainbow-PC nature of The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Earlier, you'll recall, some sages out there discovered racism in the blatant depiction of Orcs, Uruk-Hai and other LOTR bad guys as "dark people" intended to remind us of Africans and Arabs or I forget which. Me being so mired in Eurocentric thought & whatnot, I saw dark-green, grimy, bug-eyed, fang-baring freaks as director Peter Jackson's fanciful interpretation of said baddies, not part of the Omnipresent White Conspiracy, but silly me, eh?

As a big fan of these books I have to say I agree to a certain level with Jon. Much of Middle-Earth mythology was based on Nordic and other Northern European stories. After all, the author was a specialist in Old English and I remember reading his translation of Beowulf in high school. So it is understandable that everything good is Northern, golden-haired, and pale-skinned.

But there is a tendency in the books to describe evil people (men or goblins) as "swarthy" or "slant-eyed".

Personally I think it is probably irrelevant when considering the broader messages of the books. But Tolkien wrote these books mostly in the 1940's, and society at that time had not dealt with many of its more overt racial biases. The racial bias against dark-skinned people is very subtle, but it is definitely there. The article Jon links to probably takes this concern too far. But it is not a completely ridiculous point.

Pirates of Academia

2004-02-05T11:05:00.000-05:00

Jim Jenkins has no pity for UNC deans and chancellors and seems a little perturbed at their recent bonuses.

Someone send in the reinforcements, and be quick about it. Can you hear the thundering hooves? Can you see them in the distance, kicking up the dusty trail in front of South Building, hollering and waving their swords as they spread to the laboratories and classrooms?

And there stands General James Moeser in the midst of it all, his skin burning from the sun, his saber above his head, his buckskins tattered from wear, his boots muddy from hours on the battlefield. (And he's not getting in any practice on the organ, either.) The enemy? Why, it's the hordes of deans and chancellors and university presidents around the country who are trying to kidnap the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Some say the devils are trying to clear out the halls at N.C. State, too.

Today's NC Headlines

2004-02-05T11:04:00.001-05:00

Winston-Salem Journal: Early Presidential primary could make N.C. a player, Rep. Steve Wood Says
Associated Press: Judge's use of racial epithet questioned
Winston-Salem Journal: Police Chief Named
Winston-Salem Journal: Website gets attention of Hege attorney
Associated Press: 61,000 in N.C. likely to exhaust federal jobless benefit, Price says
Raleigh News & Observer: More complaints filed against Judge Hill
Associated Press: Cobey hits campaign trail
Raleigh News & Observer: Under the Dome: Workers will get benefit
Raleigh New & Observer: Retired judge joins State Board of Transportation
Charlotte Observer: Help pay for judicial races: Editorial by Common Cause
Charlotte Observer: Marshall joins craze to hobble lobbyists
Charlotte Observer: Canidate Cobey touts Helm’s support
Associated PressLayoffs, plant closures continue
Greensboro News-RecordStudents arrested in drug sting
Greensboro News-Record: Opponents of FedEx hub lose round in court
Asheville Citizen-Times: Taylor Toggs to close: 125 lose jobs
Wilmington Star: Cobey makes stop in Wilmington
Shelby Star: Non-partisan judicial races still interest parties
Charlotte Observer: Congressman Robin Hayes lacks challenger
Raleigh News & Observer: Easley's war-chest outweighs opponents'

Still looking

2004-02-05T11:04:00.000-05:00

Today my contract with NC Public Trust expired as the group is still looking for more funding. Since I have the time, however, I thought I would start doing some more news summaries here.

But I am still looking for that golden job opportunity.

The real deal on the 5th district

2004-02-03T08:57:00.000-05:00

Robinson raises more money than any other non-incumbant in the country

And Theo at the WSJ does a better job than I at reading those FEC reports.

What I worry about

2004-02-02T13:10:00.000-05:00

I have heard this sentiment in a lot of places.

Dean's strategy is to bring in new voters who have given up. It is a campaign based on activating the base in the general election. A lot of people have said that Dean has done the job already, and now whoever wins the nomination will get the help of an angry Democratic base.

But posts like this one make me not so sure. Judging Kerry on his record rather than his media portrayal (NOTE TO MEDIA: KERRY IS A BIG, HUGE, TED KENNEDY, ANTI-GUN, ANTI-DEATH PENALTY, VOTING AGAINST THE FIRST GULF WAR LIBERAL--not that this is a bad thing for folks like me...I just thought you might want to stop portraying him as a moderate icon), he is a pandering schmuck who fights for what is right but only when doing what is right is up in the polls....or at least that is the judgement that lots of Dean supporters are making about him. A lot of these Deaniacs are going to take the ball and go home rather than support Kerry. It is one of the things that makes it harder for me to sleep.

5th congressional money race: Ahead of the newspapers

2004-02-02T12:50:00.000-05:00

I live in Winston-Salem, so I am strangely interested in the 5th congressional district race.

Today the candidate's FEC reports are all online.

Apparently Vernon Robinson (yeah…the guy with the ten-commandments monument) has raised the most money, and when you consider the debt of the Helvey campaign he also has the most cash on hand (which I think is a more important figure).

But the thing is-- Robinson seems to be spending most of his money on soliciting new donations, while Helvey has been spending his money on TV advertising. So I have to give Helvey the edge on the money race.

But the big surprise to me is how little N.C. Senator Virginia Foxx has raised. I think that I am not reading the form correctly, or else there is some error, because NC Free reported that she raised over $200,000 in the third quarter. In any case, she is doing a better job than the rest in keeping the money she has already raised.

Here are the more detailed reports on the other contenders. Another interesting thing to watch is who is getting the PAC checks.

Tabor
Broyhill

On the Democrat side Dr. Jim Harrell has raised over $22,000 while Andrew Winfrey had raised none by the end of the year (although he has only recently declared).

More food for thought

2004-01-30T10:12:00.000-05:00

Yep...still haven't found the time to process what is going on. But here is a interesting look at the future of internet and politics for all of you folks who think the internet is dead.

Sometimes I can only link

2004-01-29T13:59:00.000-05:00

I am posting over at the Bowles Blog these days, as well as doing my news summaries so I cannot spend too much more time online.

But another reason I have not posted much lately, is because I am deep in meditation about this political cycle. I guesse I am not much of a pundit, because I just cannot quickly sum up the lessons we are learning.

Someday soon I'll write up a few thoughts. In the meantime, here is a link on Joe Trippi.

This is just so spot on that I cannot improve upon it.

Blogging for press

2004-01-28T17:44:00.000-05:00

State Sen. Fern Shubert has essentiall been denied press coverage so far. She is running for Governor.

But Todd the Blogg has put up her comments several times. What kind of response does she get from these posts? Does this mean that Todd is endorsing her? And why doesn't she get her own blog?

Gov. Easley on the record

2004-01-26T10:55:00.000-05:00

The Asheville Citizen-Times has a great interview with Gov. Easley posted up today. His views on clean air, NASCAR, the lottery, and job, jobs, jobs.

If newspaper reporters are any reflection of public concerns, then this election will be about little else than jobs, the economy, and the budget.

News Summary

2004-01-23T10:19:00.000-05:00

My news summry

Today's highlighted entry:

The Fayetteville Observer thinks that the redistricting delay is out of hand.

The U.S. Department of Justice has before it a new, legislature-approved set of maps, and could end North Carolina's seemingly endless redistricting feud by approving or disapproving them within two weeks.

Tomorrow would be good.

The Winston-Salem Journal thinks that Republicans are out of line with their constant court challenges of the new legislative districts

The GOP has finally realized that its strategy of suing the state over the latest legislative redistricting maps will come at a dear price for Republican candidates. The delays caused by the party's lawsuits appear likely to push the May primaries back into summer, maybe as late as September. If that is the case, Republican nominees for governor and other statewide offices will be at a disadvantage come fall.
Last Friday, the party asked the N.C. Supreme Court to take control of the case to keep the May primaries on schedule. The party suggested two actions the court could take. The high court could order that legislative elections take place in 2004 using the same maps that the state used in 2002. Or the court could order that all primaries proceed as planned for May, with the exception of the legislative primaries. They'd be held some time in the future after the legal cases had been resolved.
The court should reject both options because, primarily, both would further send the N.C. Supreme Court into the legislative domain. It is not the court's job to set primary dates or the number of primaries. Nor is it the court's job to spend the money a second primary would cost. Those questions are answered in laws written by a legislative body. This three-year ordeal has already resulted in too much judicial activism by this so-called strict constructionist, conservative court without further violations of the separation-of- powers principle.

Sarcasm really is not the best weapon on the internet

2004-01-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

But I just cannot help myself.

My news summary is up for the day. My highlighted entry:

Lake picks Martin to lead State Court of Appeals

Beverly Lake picked Judge Martin to be the next leader of the State Court of Appeals so the Raleigh News & Observer decided to run an endorsement. Or at least it sounds like an endorsement.

John Martin of Raleigh, a widely respected veteran judge and a former Durham City Council member, will be the next leader of the state Court of Appeals.

YAY!!

Boy it sure is a good thing that this is not a controversial decision or else leading an article with the vague term "widely respected veteran judge" would seem inappropriate.

But wait! There is controversy.

In selecting Martin, Lake departed from the custom of appointing the appeals court's officially most senior judge to the chief's post. He passed over Judge James Wynn, who has publicly criticized the Supreme Court's overhaul of the conduct rules for the state's judges last year.

The N&O then finishes by never mentioning the party affiliation of any of the people involved, and attributes the decision entirely to merit.

"In making this appointment," Lake said in a statement, "I have adhered to the criterion that I have always applied as the sole standard for selection in all appointments that I have made: determination of the person most qualified to perform and meet the challenges of the position and provide the best service."

The Associated Press has a different look.

Am I crazy?

2004-01-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

Here is column by Dennis Rogers in the Raleigh News & Observer.

Well, for starters, we're the guys going to the Super Bowl. From a 1-15 season two years ago to whipping the favored Cowboys, the Rams and (how sweet it is) the Eagles on three successive weekends, the lovable Carolina Panthers have poleaxed pro football's prognosticators.

And we're the guys who watched our hometown boy kick some serious political booty in Iowa on Monday night. Raleigh's John Edwards, the small-town guy with the winning smile and the perfect hair who grew up in Robbins, has TV's talking heads all atwitter with his upset second-place finish in the caucuses. The kid really could go all the way.

Let's not forget Clay Aiken. Even if you don't like his flavor of sweet pop music, you have to love his infectious smile, his big heart and his genuine charm. He's the darling of everybody from blushing schoolgirls to giggling grandmas, yet he seems to take it all in with humility, gratitude and good humor.

Here is Monday’s column by John Locke founder and President, John Hood.

At the risk of generating a somewhat jarring mental image for you, try to picture these guys together in a room: Clay Aiken, John Edwards, and the Carolina Panthers.

Last year, Clay Aiken came from absolute obscurity, and from an initial loss in the "Idol" judging, to compete on one of the most popular television contests in the history of the medium. He actually came in second in the vote tally (remember that) but everyone knows that Aiken was the real winner of the year. His songs have topped the charts and his album made millions for himself and his label. Perhaps more importantly, Aiken prove to be a pleasant, classy, and mature young man who showed that nice guys can still prosper in a popular culture that so many have called so decadent. His was a Carolina story in many ways.

The Carolina Panthers, too, have come back from the football equivalent of a near-death experience (the 1-15 season two years ago) to win the NFC Championship Game over the Philadelphia Eagles last weekend and head to the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. They did so not through extravagant trades or stunts but through hard work, determination, and a willingness to work with the talent available to find the right combination for success. Perhaps they, like Aiken, will fall short in the final point-count but end up as winners just for having gone so far against such long odds.

Which brings me to the impressive, perhaps even shocking, performance of Sen. John Edwards in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night. Stuck in single digits in the state for months, Edwards was able to translate a positive message, effective advertising, a calibrated center-left position in the race and on specific issues such as taxes and the war, and a lot of volunteers from North Carolina into a solid second-place showing, just a few points behind fellow Sen. John Kerry. Winning one-third of the vote in Iowa will surely help Edwards at least place in New Hampshire, refill his campaign coffers, and then go on to compete seriously in South Carolina and the other Southern and border states with early-February contests.

I admit that this probably could have occurred to both of these writers independently. I just wanted to throw it out there for consideration.

Easley's arguement for Edwards

2004-01-21T17:40:00.000-05:00

"I want to run with someone I can run with, not from," Easley told Iowa voters.

News Roundup

2004-01-21T17:38:00.000-05:00

I'm finally back to doing my news roundup.

This is my favorite from today:

Publicity stunt statue removed: Robinson may be billed for work

In case you missed it, Winston-Salem City Councilman and Republican candidate for the 5th congressional district, performed a publicity stunt by putting a marker with the ten commandments in front of city hall. It was removed, but the ploy worked and the press is all over it.

City Manager Bill Stuart ordered the 1-ton marker removed, saying that it violates a city policy adopted in September that regulates the placement of honorary displays. He also said that the two-piece granite monument posed a danger to the public because it was not anchored to the ground and could topple.

The crew used a backhoe to lift the granite marker onto a truck, then hauled it away to the city yard, where Robinson picked it up a few hours later, using a rented flatbed truck.

The Winston-Salem Journal editorial page calls it what it is.

But constitutional debate isn't warranted here: Robinson lacked the council's or city's approval mandatory for placing such a monument, even though he said he paid its $2,000 cost. City Manager Bill Stuart was right to order its removal, and some of Robinson's fellow City Council members have good reason to be upset with his actions - again. They're busy enough trying to meet the serious needs of serious citizens without dealing with things silly and self-serving.

Robinson should now drop the matter. After all, he already got his 24 hours of nationwide news coverage -infinitely more than he could ever have bought with $2,000.

Robinson said Monday that he didn't know if all this free publicity would have any effect on his campaign. He might want to study the commandment on his monument that forbids bearing false witness.

The Wilmington Star was also not amused:

Perhaps, next time the bug bites, the gentleman will economize on a $20 poster that says, "Hi. I'm Vern Robinson and I'm running for Congress. Will spin futile hopes to the unwary in exchange for votes."

Associated Press

This should be interesting

2004-01-20T12:18:00.000-05:00

DNC Kicking Ass:

Tonight during President Bush's State of the Union Address, come back to this thread for live coverage. As Bush gives his speech, we'll deliver the facts on Bush's record that belies the promises he'll be making.

Discuss Bush's speech in real time as you learn the truth about Bush's failed policies.

Following the horse race on the eve of SOTU

2004-01-20T11:18:00.000-05:00

Iowa has re-enforced the knowledge that I have held in my heart but forgotten in my head: Polls don't matter so much.

At most they give you some idea, and they definitely help with understanding the trajectory of public opinion. They are better than sticking your finger in the wind. But polling data needs to be interpreted by people with their feet firmly planted on the political realities on the ground. Today many people are learning that they need more grounding.

So my regular complaint that there are not enough public polling results out there for NC may be foolish. Perhaps it would be better to ask the guy in the lunch line what he thinks. Perhaps it would be better to do both.

But I still think that this poll in the Washington Post would be nice to have at the North Carolina level.

The survey found that, on the eve of his annual address to Congress, Bush continues to enjoy a huge advantage over Democrats on matters of national security, besting them by 2 to 1 in the fight against terrorism and by nearly as broad a margin on his handling of the conflict in Iraq.

But while Bush retains the support of nearly six in 10 Americans, the public believes Democrats would do a better job on domestic issues, such as the economy, prescription drugs for the elderly, health insurance, Medicare, the budget deficit, immigration and taxes. And Bush has lost the advantage on education policy he once enjoyed.

I think it offers a glimmer of hope to Democrats in North Carolina. It seems that Bush's invincibility does not reach into every issue area. But I think I'll check to see where my feet are standing before I venture to make a prediction.

In the meantime it will serve as a warm blanket as I watch with disgust another rollout of Bush's insane domestic agenda tonight.

First Reaction to Iowa

2004-01-19T21:16:00.000-05:00

I have been, and continue to be a huge fan of the Dean campaign. Today's results in Iowa I think are not so much a reflection of the campaign's strength, but a test of their supporter's commitment. I will wait to see if they tuck and run, or take their lumps and keep swinging. However, I am still a huge supporter of the campaigning tactics that they have pioneered, and cannot help but root for them.

However, Edwards is causing me to jump for joy. As someone who is deeply committed to seeing the success of Democrats in North Carolina, NOTHING could be so good for us as having Sen. Edwards at the top of the ballot. Many pundits like to point out that he is not polling ahead of Bush in Carolina. I like to think about how much better he does against Bush than any other Democrat. Also...I've shaken his hand a few times, and the man is just good at what he does. If everyone in America could shake his hand for two minutes, he would win in a heartbeat. I cannot claim that I have been a committed supporter, but that is probably because I forgot that voters and not newspaper reporters determine elections. I am now actively taking a second look.

But the primary season has just begun, and I am enjoying the show. I may even try to get down to South Carolina. I guesse I will have to pick a candidate first.

Isn't democracy fun?

P.S.--

I loaded up the erskine blog using Netscape 5.1, and IT LOOKED CRAZY!! Text was all over the place, the frames were messed up. I think it is because that browser does not have the fonts I loaded up becaue 5.1 is so old. Is that a crazy idea

Taking risks

2004-01-16T13:24:00.000-05:00

In some ways blogging is very risky. It is about putting your ideas out in the open for all to examine and criticize. But some thoughts are riskier to express than others.

So far I have talked about politics, policy, and done a wee-bit of muck-raking. But I have never ventured to mention my opinions on the one topic that is most likely to bring a fire-storm--ACC Basketball.

Today I am going to admit to the world that I am a Demon Deacon to the bone.

I was considering making a prediction of a surprise upset at Cameron on Saturday, but I have thought better of it. This is one of the reasons.

The media caught up with Wake Forest head coach Skip Prosser two days before his Deacons play at No. 2-ranked Duke. Here is what the third-year Deac head coach had to say.

On traveling to Durham to face #2 Duke: "It's a challenge. They've won the last five ACC Tournaments and they're the first name people think of when they think of the ACC."

On the 2004 Blue Devils: "I think they are better this year. Duhon is playing better. Redick, Randolph and Ewing are all a year older now. And even though Dahntay Jones was a great player, I feel Luol Deng gives them more options offensively."

Not words to stoke the fires of my school pride. But I will hope on. Sports, like politics, is more fun when you throw your whole self into it.

Democratic Meetup

2004-01-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

I'm going to take a second to ask that everyone send e-mails to all of their friends asking them to go to the Democratic Meetup next Wed. There are six RSVP's in Greensboro, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to be one of them. So sign up, and ask your friends to sign up.

This election really could be about the people becoming the most powerful constituency of our Government. It hasn't been that way for a while, but NOW is the time to stand up and do something.

Sign up.

Spread the word.

If you have one, putting this on your blog would be helpful as well.