Press Democrat blogs are moving to a new Web platform - and a new format.

After four days, I am ready to confess. On the first day of Apple's newest iPhone, I ran out and bought one. Friends would be shocked to learn that I even stood in line - and never once complained.

What is it with Petaluma politics? Why is it that the resident political tribes find it necessary from time to time to work themselves into a frenzy?

Nineteen months ago, I wrote a column about young people leaving Sonoma County for places where housing was affordable, jobs were plentiful and the cost of living allowed time for family. Here was a new and different turn to the California story.

This morning's shocking headline: "Legislature to miss budget deadline." What a surprise. The state Legislature hasn't missed a deadline since the last deadline.

When Sonoma County Supervisor Valerie Brown announced last week that she wants to maintain funding for the Orenda Center drug and alcohol treatment program, an auditorium full of Orenda Center supporters cheered. Which left Brown the unhappy task of sharing a basic lesson in civics and in the cruel calculus of budget cutting.