n-gage, our e-newsletter about all things interactive on Bakersfield.com, goes out to your inboxes every Thursday at 10 a.m.  Tomorrow's will be issue number 2.  To make sure you don't miss a single edition, including a new "neighbor" profile every week, click here to sign up now.

BTW, you've probably noticed the new "ground rules" reminder in the comment submission box.  Folks have been working really hard over the last few months to create an online environment that is both welcoming to newbies and is open to thoughtful discussion of ideas and opinions.  I really appreciate the work you all have been doing to grow and shape this community.  However, a little reminder here and there doesn't hurt.  People from across the ideological spectrum are still finding it way too easy to respond to cheap shots with more of the same, or to call individuals or entire groups of people names for the sake of a laugh.  You've shown that you can talk to each other, challenge each other and yourselves, without lowering your standards or doing to others what you don't like when it happens to you.  Keep doing that.  Delete words like "wingnut" and "nutjob" from your blogging vocabulary.  Sure, you disagree with "them"--but what points are you scoring, or rather, losing, by labeling them like that?  For those of you who are quite sure that I'm only speaking to one "camp" or the other, rest assured, this is for all of us.