:-) One good friend of Brigada 
recently wrote, “Instead of going by the date of what issue it should be and trying to ‘catch up,’ it seems better to simply use the current date, whatever that is. It’s kind of like God’s grace. He doesn’t expect us to dig ourselves out of a hole, but gives a fresh start. I can think of several advantages to this. The news is clearly ‘fresh’ news and I think it would be less confusing for readers. For example, if you say you ‘just got back’ from something, or if you announce a seminar to take place ‘next month,’ readers would know it’s in relation to today’s date, not the issue date. Thanks for keeping the info coming.” She makes a good point. But wouldn’t life just be cleaner if we could say, “There’s a Brigada Today filed for every single week that has ever occurred since January 1995.” Wouldn’t that be cool? Got an opinion? Just click on “Comment” below… and while you’re commenting, we’ll be trying to catch up. :-) So maybe soon, the whole discussion will be irrelevant anyway? :-) Either way, see the new tag line that tells both the “official” publication date and the “unofficial” production date. Does that help at all?
Express your opinion below by clicking “Comment.”
I don’t like the catch up idea.
It’s your “rag”… you do what you think is right, date it whatever date you want to date it, continue keeping it filled with useful info and we’ll read it when it comes.
I agree that using old dates isn’t very helpful. Sure it might seem ‘cool’ to have a post for every week of every year for the last 14 years but it doesn’t help in terms of being fresh and current–especially since it seems necessary to routinely explain the whole system to new subscribers. Could you use a system of Volume (year) and number (week)–for example ,Volume 14 Number 23, and include the date it was released. While we are offering comment, when you fall behind (which is of course understandable) i would rather see 1 update that is a bit longer rather than seeing multiple posts in the same week. It gives the idea that some of the items are old because it’s very clear to the reader that you are playing catch up. If i received a post (Volume 14 Number 32) with 12-15 items it would not so easily remind me that i haven’t had a post in a few weeks. I would say you should post as often as you are able but take the pressure off from having a post ‘every week’ when it’s not feasible with your schedule. Love the information and find it very helpful. Thank you.
I say a hearty “ditto” to the above comment. Feeling “cool” or good about yourself for having fulfilled a goal is fine, if you need that. But accepting that we have fallen behind, knowing the exigencies of life is also good. No problem. That’s life for all of us. Just pick up and move on.
I’m thinking you’ll never catch up. You’ve caught up before successfully but this time it looks like you’re too deep to get out. I say, forget the catchup and spare the mustard while you’re at it and don’t even try to be a hot dog about it. Start afress.
I appreciate the ‘weekly’ brigada. Some I file and keep, others I don’t. Maybe the volume idea of the Desert Nomad would do it. For us on this end, the weekly post is probably only helpful if we are trying to research a past issue. As the others say don’t let the weekly idea get you under the pile! Thanks for being a great resource.
it can be confusing if you are looking for a posting that you know came in one week or month, but the subject title differs. why put the burden on yourself to catch up, just for the sake of it “being cool”. start fresh. we’re a forgiving bunch. :)
I love Brigada but have always felt your compulsion to ‘catch up,’ and seemingly perpetually ‘off date,’ strange and frustrating.
Does it matter to anyone but you that you have one for every week since Brigada’s inception?
One simple explanation (not an apology) in the last issue prior to the skipped dates could take care it once and for all. In the future, if you miss a week, it wouldn’t be so tramatic for you.
Please don’t try to play catch up. It’s weird to get a newsletter dated June in September. It’s not June’s news and information. It’s today’s news. (I presume.) So, just date it with today’s date and let bygones be bygones. Or, how about this. Give up on the weekly rat race and plan to produce Brigada every other week or twice a month. Then, it would be a little easier to stay up to date.
Hi Doug –
The current dating protocol strikes me a bit like a Sunday School attendance pin – where the focus becomes whether someone was there (even though being there is a good thing) rather than keeping the emphasis on what happened while they were there. I believe the dating scheme distracts from the excellence of Brigada and the amazing service it provides. Here’s another way to look at it. What would you do if your payroll department prided themselves in making sure that each check had the next week’s date on it, but often didn’t get around to sending the checks for several weeks or months? Rather than a payroll check, Brigada is a gift – not earned, expected, or deserved, but always appreciated, regardless of when it arrives. Phil 3:13-14 came to mind: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Thank you for all you do. Keep up the great work!
I appreciate the tremendous job you are doing to keep us up-to-date on new things. I agree that it would be much simpler to say Vol. ….No……..
That takes the stress off of you and gives us the continuity and actual date. We don’t expect you to be perfect. We aren’t. The Lord bless.
Dorothy
I thank you for the tremendous job that you are doing. It would be much easier for us if you would use Vol…….No……. and then the date. It doesn’t matter to me whether it is weekly or not. What matters is the up-to-date information. You don’t need the added stress nor do we expect you to be perfect. We aren’t.
Dorothy
I don’t care how it’s dated, just keep up the great content and the great work!
Keep them coming, but drop the publication dates. Never mattered to me.
You could drop the date — I never look at that, only at the content. Thanks for such a useful newsletter!
I’d let the dating cow die. Seems a bit Monkish to back-date just for the sake of having one Brigada for each past week. If I need an old item, I’m not gonna look it up by date anyway, just search for it with keywords.
I appreciate Brigada, but don’t be a slave to a weekly issue. you don’t have a regilar schedule – neither do many of us.
Agree with the saints above :-)
Brigada’s primary value is the filtered, prioritized and current content. The day of the week sent, historical publishing record, consistent writing style, etc. are all nice, but not essential.
Accept and enjoy the grace being offered you. We are apparently all recipients. :-)
Do whatever works for you. I’d hate to see you have to spend a ton of time changing whatever system you’ve got for indexing stuff. Thanks for the fabulous resource you create!
It seems like a game to say that you will catch up. The longer you say it, the less I believe it.
I agree…drop the whole catch up language. Number the issue, if you want, but just use current date and issue number. There is no rule in scripture or the universe that says you have to have so many issues a year! Glory!
Numbering the issues might help with continuity, but do drop the date and the catching up system. We love Brigada for its content, not because it comes out once a week (or not)
This is the first time I’ve looked at Brigada and until I read all the comments above, I was searching to find out how to get an up-to-date issue.
Now I get it!
I think the most encouraging thing of this thread is that it really shows that there are people out there that read Brigada and that there is purpose in doing this weekly newsletter! Doug, may you feel encouraged no matter what the different opinions are. The reality is that people DO read this. Keep up the good work!!
Can’t believe 24 people took time to stop by, log on, and leave messages. Others chose to contact me directly. All these comments are *inspiring* to us here at Brigada! Because first and foremost, “Brigada-er” is right: we just love it that people are *engaged* here.
The best advice I received, summarizing all above, is ‘move on.’ I like it. One responder suggested we do a compilation edition — a kind of “combo” issue. That’s what we’re working on for tonight. Then we alway stay caught up, no matter what.
Thanks again for your input — and inspiration.
Doug
I concur with many of the other commenters. I’ve subscribed to Brigada Today for a number of years and have never seen the point of the catch-up. Brigada Today is **VERY** useful whenever it comes in. I miss it when it doesn’t come but getting an issue in September that’s dated for a missed issue in June (or even August) doesn’t make any difference.
Well the good news is — it’s over. We’re already caught up. :-)
Hey, we right-brainers don’t get why it’s so important to have it all lined up just so… So accept the imperfections and give it to us straight up the day it comes to us. Seems you might be a real lover of closure! (I’m married to a detail-oriented, closure guy, so familiar with the type…)
:-) Either way, we’re caught up… so it’s no longer an issue. Thanks.