A few items of housecleaning before this week’s dose of opinion and outrage:

First off, Matt will be taking some well-deserved time off as he visits the East Coast. He will be busy attending the wedding of our contributors Jamie and Sam (congratulations, guys!) as well as hanging around NYC during the Republican convention. With any luck, he will pop in occasionally to throw a few words up here. And assuming he doesn’t wind up in a Manhattan holding cell, expect him back full-time after Labor Day.

To help make up some of the slack, we have recruited long time reader/critic/malcontent Tom to make his 1115.org debut. Expect a few new postings from him as the week goes on — and don’t forget to let him have it in the comments section should he commit any typos!