Just a brief note on what we publish, how, and why, seems in order.

First of all, we're a part of the Progressive netroots. As the oldest and largest statewide Progressive blog, that's clear. Most of the time, by choice or default, we'll support the netroots position or candidate. In New York especially, with its cynical and deeply corrupt political culture, enmeshed in our state's version of the Washington Beltway, saturated with dysfunction and insider/outsider narratives, the netroots are a breath of fresh air in a very stagnant smoke-filled room filled with jaded, bitter, and old practitioners of the conventional wisdom.

That said, there is no one single editorial line. We are a forum for debate. We are not, contrary to what some might say, shills. Our support, if its to be extended, is conditional. Some of our writers may indeed be rather more critical than you'd expect.

Hallelujah, I say: it appears that this iteration of TDG's redesign is done, with some tiny odds and ends yet to be fixed. We have a snazzy new design, a new layout, new functionality - love the new posting interface - and so many other goodies.

As you may have noticed, we also have a new top banner; the background photograph will be replaced from time to time, to mark special events, occasions, anniversaries, that kind of stuff.

I am so pleased. Now I can finally write about stuff again. Heh.