12 years here at DU and I just hit 12,000 posts.

[davsand]

Oddly enough, my 12,000th post was a welcome to DU to a newcomer here in the Lounge with less than five posts to his credit.

I'm not terribly prolific, but I still enjoy my time here and I still love the DU community!

Thank you Earl, Skinner, and Elad for all you have done, and thanks to all you evil DUers for being who you are!




Laura

[bluesbassman]

1. Congrats Laura!

Great milestone. Keep up the good work!

[In_The_Wind]

2. Congratulations davsand

Last edited Fri Jan 25, 2013, 02:48 AM - Edit history (1)

It's fun when we can welcome newcomers to DU. [img][/img]

[Sherman A1]

3. K&R

[The Wielding Truth]

4. Wow. Has DU existed for that long?

[davsand]

5. DU began in 2001.

DU was represented at Dubya's inauguration--the year of the selection. There really was not much on the web for Democrats at that time and DU was a haven for many of us.




Laura

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

11. I remember it...

I don't know if it was Skinner, Elad, EarlG or someone else, there was a first hand account (with video) of the Bush Inaugural Parade -- remember the trash being thrown at it? That never got mentioned in the Mainstream Media? I was so happy to find a place on the internet where Democrats could share ideas, I've never left (been through a couple of handles, though).

Congrats on 12,000

[davsand]

14. I've never changed my name.

Never really found one that I felt a need to change to, I guess. I did start signing my posts with Laura once I realized that everybody was seeing davsand as being DAVE Sand--. I've pretty much kept my skinny black cat avatar too.

As for the history of DU and the presence (or lack of) of the liberal viewpoint on the web, that really is a story unto itself. I'd been at Salon for quite a while, and that was really about the only place I'd ever found where I stood a good chance of finding people of a like mind. Salon went pay to post and I became "virtually homeless." I spent some time wandering in the wilderness and found DU via a linked post at a site called Bare Knuckles Politics. I poked around that first time, registered on the spot, and posted here for the first time in short order.


Laura

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

16. I sort of had to...

My original name was basically an alpha-numeric password (I thought that's what was being requested) which was, I still insist, the worst handle in DU history. During the "Great Amnesty" of 2004, I was able to change my name to Jeff in Cincinnati (guess where I was living at the time) and keep my post count.

About two years later, I moved to Milwaukee. Skinner was utterly unmoved by my pleading. Changing my name again mean starting my post count from zero. So I did.

[davsand]

19. You started over and STILL have a higher post count than I do!

LOL. Glad you've hung in there all this time! Bad DU handle or not you've been a fixture here!




Laura

[Agschmid]

6. Congrats! n/t

[ellisonz]

7. Congrats!

[bigwillq]

8. Congrats on 12,000!

[logosoco]

9. Hey! My name is Laura, too!

But I am not doing as well as you! I have been here about 8 years and look at my measly count!
Read soooo much, rarely "speak up" (very unlike me in real life!).
Nice to see another good Laura. That name got a bad rep with Laura's b*sh and schlesinger (Dr.?)

And DU rocks!

[davsand]

10. I've run into a couple of other Lauras here.

Generally speaking, we are not bad people...






Laura

[trumad]

12. Ahhhh we are growing older together.

[davsand]

15. I think of that like being a fine wine.

We've become more full bodied and maybe a bit less acidic. As long as our corks don't dry up I think we're good for the long haul!






Laura

[Festivito]

13. Hi davsand. Same 12 years here, you have 12,005, I have 12,011.

It's been a long time since we partied with Kephra at 5thgendem's house. Now, they're both gone.

I guess we'll just have to post harder.

Wishing you well,
--Fes

[davsand]

17. No way I'm ever gonna match Scott's post count!

Keph was a force of nature! Truly a sweet soul, but without a doubt he was a posting machine when it came to LBN! John, was an amazing man--one of a kind. DU was diminished with both their passings, just as our community here has suffered with the loss of some of our other icons. I've felt blessed to have known them all.

As for you, my friend, it makes me sad that I don't run into you here more often. Life has a way of interfering with my online time, and I'm pretty sure you've been in that same boat. I promise to try and keep up if you will!




Laura

[Festivito]

21. I can barely finish my reading, let alone take time to post.

There is that whole family, friends, work, and life stuff to handle.

So, I just occasionally add in details, correct details, or respond to something personal. Then, I'm off to some pressing detail of my own life.

But, I think this puts me two posts ahead of you, but, dang, you're catching up.

Be well kind friend, soar into the beyond with hopes and dreams and post counts beyond mine.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

18. I was just looking...

Trying to find my old profile and in plunking around through the old version of DU, I found posts from Kephra and Andy Stephenson and a host of others who are (presumably) still alive but no longer with us. I think about Kephra quite often, and wish that I had been able to meet him in person.

[davsand]

20. Too many have passed from us--either by choice or otherwise.

I don't think Scott (Kephra for those who haven't made the connection) had lived an easy life. He told me once that he felt he'd found an important part of his life when he came to DU and became involved in the political process. We talked several times about how much he loved DU and Truthout--and how much his friends here meant to him. He honestly felt this was a home.

I was never lucky enough to meet Andy in person. The one thing that I have come to realize, over the years, however, is that you really DO have a sense of that person from what they post and how they are when they are here. I have yet to meet a long time DUer in person that was a disappointment. I've always thought we are a unique breed!



Laura

[Festivito]

22. In greater part, I think we are all here in order to pass something better

to those who will follow us. Because, all of us will pass someday.

Those posters left a mark, but more than a mark, they left us something better before leaving us. Millions of us in this country making small progress will outshine and outdo those few of greed and avarice.

And, we will get there.