Morning Briefing: Campaign signs, live blogs and video

Nothing is more bizarre to me than the annual election season problem of damaged or stolen campaign signs.

I understand people are wrapped up and get tunnel vision when they’re trying to help get their guy into office, but how many votes is someone going to sway by damaging or swiping a rival’s campaign sign? (See Linda Nemeth’s letter in last week’s News-Review.) Usually the signs say nothing other than the politician’s name, and if you steal the thing, there are unfortunately dozens more that will appear in its place.

I just find it hard to believe that grown men and women really have it in them to behave in such a manner. These aren’t criminal or do-nothings, we’re talking about people who are civic minded and engaged in their community.

Until October that is, then some of them somehow revert to middle school behavior. I guess that’s why they call it silly season.

• The Times-Review staff has been having a lot of fun live blogging, which allows us to keep readers up to date with things like Town Board meetings and county Legislature meetings. (Click the play button after following the link.)

Tonight we will live blog the Mattituck Chamber of Commerce “Meet the Candidates Night,” so check back for that at 6:30 p.m.

And the blogs are interactive. It allows readers to pose questions to the reporter and even comment on what’s going on. So far we’ve gotten a lot of positive responses. Any additional feedback would be appreciated.

Do you know of an event you’d like to see us live-blog? Email me at [email protected].

• One other thing you’ll notice with the changes going on with our web site is an increase in the number of videos we have. This past week we posted a video on North Fork apple picking.