just a suggestion, why not have a system for diaries similar to the main page blogging, where when a post is entered it is filed under a certain category, this would considerably clean up and organize the diaries page and if people can't post a diary on a specific topic of merit, then it could be filed under "rant" or "other"
once the categories were in place one could customize their diary page to only include diaries that had certain labels, or one could filter for certain categories or just click the links to the different category pages, the possibilities are endless here.
specs below the fold...
furthermore there could be recommended diaries for each category of diary, and the main page selection of recommended diaries would feature the top diary from each sub group, essentially creating the best of the best for all the news and polemic happenings of the world. rather than have 12 diaries on ohio voter fraud holding all of the recommended diary slots.
when searching for relevant material for research purposes, general information, or to check whether it had been diaried or not these categories would be infinitely helpful. one could search the "diary/site improvement" category to see if ones idea (perhaps similar to this one) had been suggested previously, rather than having to click through a bajillion pages of search results.
[side note: i do have knowledge of computer programming languages such as php, perl, cgi, mysql, etc, so i know everything im suggesting here entails a shitttload of work and complex logarithms and the like, so perhaps ignore my slight boyish excitement with the idea]
there are endless extensions and improvements that could be added on this idea, and im probably not the first to suggest it. but with all the talk of rejuvinating the kos community, and the direction it is taking, i think this is a valid topic of discussion to improve the organization and functional flow of ideas throughout the community. and i do think its an idea that warrants above where i posted it as the 250-something comment, so if i could receive some amnesty from diary cops, that would be wonderful.
and if you could take the poll, you would all be wonderful