There Are No Geeks and I Must Scream

I'm quite enjoying my new job, but there's one thing I miss: fellow geeks. Sure, there weren't many at the Alberta Liberal Caucus, but at least a handful of my colleagues (Nik, Amanda, John, Ryan, Neil, a few others...) could be counted upon to get my SF and comic book references.

Just the other day our team met briefly to discuss a Hallowe'en costume contest.

"We could go as Transformers," one of my colleagues suggested. "One of us could be Iron Man, or..."

"Wait, wait," I broke in. "That's the Avengers. The Transformers are the Autobots and Decepticons - you know, Optimus Prime, Starscream..."

I trailed off. No, they didn't know. You'd think by now I'd be used to baffled stares and "Wow, is he ever a geek" looks, but I keep forgetting not everyone is as immersed in popular culture as me. Or is obsessed a better word?

To Your Health, Ryan Gordey

Today the Alberta Liberal Caucus bids farewell to longtime health researcher (and regular blog reader!) Ryan Gordey, a stalwart fellow I'm very pleased and gratified to have worked with since 2008.

Even more so than ghostwriters, researchers toil in obscurity doing critical work without the general public ever realizing it. A caucus researcher helps prepare questions for Question Period, writes voluminous bill briefings to help MLAs prepare for debates in the legislature, drafts policy, provides support for all kinds of communications activities, attends stakeholder meetings...it's a long, daunting list of tasks, and I've always been impressed by the tenaciousness and skill of our researchers. I really believe I've worked with the best of the best, and Ryan certainly stands tall among them. Communications people may help their clients sound good, but researchers make sure that public figures always have the relevant facts at hand. I couldn't do my job without them, and I'm profoundly grateful.

Thanks for three fun years, Ryan. And if any other former Alberta Liberal researchers ever read this blog, I hope you know that my thanks and admiration extend to you as well.