* My former intern Paul Richardson will always have a special place in my heart because he was my first intern. I never wanted an intern, but he completely changed my mind. Paul was an incredibly hard worker, extremely reliable and mature beyond his years. The kid is still beloved at the Statehouse by the many people he met. Actually, he’s not a kid anymore. He’s about to graduate from law school and he’s starting an interesting new business. From an e-mail…

…I thought you’d get a kick out of knowing that I’ve kind of come full circle and am now working on legal blogging. To make spare money over the last year I’ve been running the blog of a medium size firm here in the city. I’m in the process of turning the idea into a small business–essentially providing daily legal related posts ad analysis to firm blogs in order to boost their search engine rankings. The site is called LawBlogWriters.com.

Anyway, after reminiscing about how I wouldn’t have any connection to blogging or law school were it not for my time in Springfield, I wanted to just send a quick hello.

As always, thanks for your guidance. Send my regards to Wasan.

-Paul

P.S. A few more clients and Ill be able to actually make my law school loan payments. If any Springfield law firm Lobsters happen to mention blogs, send them my way.

Consider it done, Paul, and best of luck.

If anyone is interested in Paul’s new endeavor, send me an e-mail and I’ll put you in touch with him.

* I’ll be back Monday - or Tuesday, depending on the news volume. Have a great one.

* But, before I go, allow me to vent a little. Hey! State Fair goofballs! The Black Keys are playing smallish locales all over the place this summer, including a 950-seat open-air venue in an Indiana state park. Listen, clowns, I’m getting really tired of those Hoosiers beating us out. Why can’t you backwards Philistines book a band like this? Instead, we get freezer-burned, has-been 80s rehashes and mall-music “artists.” Your complete lack of taste and imagination makes me wanna tear my hair out. Ugh. Seriously, what is wrong with you people?

I say this out of love, believe it or not. I love me some State Fair. Always have, ever since I was a kid in rural Iroquois County. But you State Fair types are killing me, man. Locate just a hint of a clue, please. And, I know, the Springfield area is what it is when it comes to musical preferences. But, how about devoting just one night a year to something besides safe, predictable, inoffensive tripe?

OK. Whew. I feel a little better. So, let’s properly kick off the holiday weekend with a Black Keys cover of a Stooges classic…

Maybe call my Momma on the telephone