Swing State Voter Calendar

If you’re in Maryland, as I am, or one of most other states in the Union that are not really in play, then you can keep moving. However, if you are in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico or Nevada (states that are swing states according to Politico’s Swing State Map), then there are some dates you need to be aware of going into October. Notably, you need to know when the last day to register to vote (or change your party, if you’re so inclined) or request an absentee ballot.

Not Everything is Quite as Important as You’re Making it Out to Be

If our lives only involved this world of technology, then life would be a much better place. If life was as simple as simply going to Google and clicking “I feel lucky”, then we might not have the heartache that is in the world and the social media space could just get along by whispering sweet nothings to each other in 140 characters or less.

Why the “Techo Chamber”?

I just finished listening to one of the Internet/Phone/Chat call-in shows that I frequently enjoy. It’s always the same few guys, who I respect and have a bunch of interesting viewpoints on…stuff. They occasionally let people call in and join, but not really. The Chat Room is generally more active (and interesting) than the conversation on the call.

And in the most “meta” way possible, as it always does, the topic turned to the “tech blogosphere” echo chamber and the so-called “A-List” of writers and polemicists who write about start-ups, established companies that used to be start-ups, and…each other.

Inside the Beltway, Inside the SuitCase

The “inside the beltway” world is often deemed to be a crazy echo-chamber of pundits and talking heads who just want attention or to be re-elected or to get more power, because of all the perks and luxuries and what-not. Oh, and the decisions are all made by lobbyists in back rooms and it’s all scotch and cigars and back-slapping. News flash: it’s not.

I’m lucky enough to get paid to report news on technology and public policy. It’s pretty complex stuff. Making the decisions on what to support or oppose isn’t easy for the people I cover, either.

Michelle Obama Writing For BlogHer

The big news this morning, of course, a day before the BlogHer conference kicks off, is that Michelle Obama has contributed her first article to the BlogHer.com. Entitled, “Let’s Talk”, is commentary on raising the Obama girls, and life on the campaign trail as a mother. It’s actually rather endearing.