I've only been doing this blog thing for a bit, and to a very, very small crowd (OK... can't really call 'em a crowd either), but I've been hearing some stuff that got me thinking.

There have been some stories about two people in England that are in office who blog (no links... linking isn't working well right now. I'll try to add some later). This strikes me as a great idea. And the very reasons it's a great idea is why we won't see it happen much here in the US... for now.

The reasons it's good are the very reasons why blogging work... it's a clear, close connection to the people. If you have comments, you even have a way to see what people think about what you say, both from those that agree with you and those that don't. It's also a great way to get your side of the story out, and do it even before the press does if you do it right.

But you see, most of our guys don't want that. They don't want a clear connection, or instant communications to the people. They want filtered access... both ways. They want a dozen people to parse what they say before you hear it, and they want even more people picking who gets to talk to them. I'm not picking sides here... both parties are this way.

It's going to take a dark horse runner that uses blogging to gain votes to get this started. Nobody is going to do this until someone makes it work for them.

Sadly, even if it gets going, it will just be filtered anyway. Can you imagine anybody that has a staff going over his each word blogging his actual unfiltered thoughts?

I sure can't... and it's a shame.

Just saw a great story on CBS News Sunday Morning. It's about a Red Hawk that made it's home in NYC, putting a nest up on one of the most exclusive buildings with a park view. It's been there for a deacade, and raises chicks even.

It seems quite a group has formed around watching him and his family. Here is a website put out by them. Interesting stuff, and lovely pictures.