Hello all...  Several of you have reported to me that you've been spammed by a user named "david2007" via our send-a-message feature and by profile guestbook postings.  Thanks to all who reported it, and rest assured that as soon as the first one came in, the account was suspended.  Of course, the only way we can suspend these spammers' accounts is when we know about them, so, as in the past, we rely on you to let us know.  As most of you know, as community content coordinator, I am the one who should be notified about these things, and a link to my blog is in the info box on the people page, where you can then use the send-a-message feature.  But, if you think that it's too hard to find this kind of contact info on the site, please let me know your ideas via email.

Two more site-related things to talk about...  First, some of you may have noticed that we recently enabled you to upload multiple profile pictures to your B.com profile.  If you have multiple pictures uploaded, a viewer of your profile can look at them as a slideshow, and whichever you select as your primary photo will be the one displayed next to your comments.  You can upload as many as you want, and change the primary photo on a whim.  Check out MurphysLaw's profile for a good example.

And finally, some of you may have read health reporter Emily Hagedorn's post about the death from bile duct cancer of syndicated columnist Diane Glass, who was the left side of the liberal-vs.-conservative "Woman To Woman" column that TBC has been running on our opinion page.  We ran Glass' farewell column, her sister's addendum, and conservative sparring partner Shaunti Feldhahn's tribute on page B7 today--Emily's post has links to the pieces online.  But, in light of the sometimes contentious and, too often, quick-to-turn-nasty disagreements that occur on this site's blogs, I thought I'd reprint a couple paragraphs that struck me this morning while reading Feldhahn's public goodbye to a woman who started as her ideological opponent and ended as her friend:

"We also couldn’t have foreseen, during that first meeting, something that I view as a legacy from Diane to this contentious culture: That we could become not only business partners, but friends. Two completely different people - she the liberal feminist agnostic, me the conservative Christian - can indeed passionately defend opposing beliefs in public but be respectful of each other. And eventually seek out each other’s company, just to get together every now and then.

"Forgive the cliché (Diane would surely roll her eyes at me for this), but that sense of collaboration is something that this country desperately needs.

"Why is it that each camp has so vilified those with whom they disagree?....

"Yes, there are very real and important worldview differences struggling for cultural impact today. It matters - and matters intensely — what policies are instituted, or what influences we see in the media....

"And even though I intensely disagreed with Diane’s positions, I would be far worse off for having never really considered them....

"It is easy to stay in our huddles, never hear each other, and succumb to groupthink. But we can’t afford that luxury. Primarily due to Diane’s example, I have become convinced that it is essential to speak not only to those who are convinced you are right - but to those who are angrily convinced you are wrong....

"In the weeks to come, this column will resume its role of bringing a respectful debate into the public square. But for now, I hope that in Diane’s memory readers of all stripes will use this moment to consider the importance of agreeing to disagree — and collaborating, regardless.

"I will miss my friend."