Motley Moose – Archive

I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in “Cheers & Jeers”. For example:

SEPARATED at BIRTH – TV stars Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights”, “Almost Human”) and Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”).

   

OK, you’ve been warned – here is this week’s tomfoolery material that I posted.

ART NOTES – fabrics and clothes by the famous fashion designer – as well as photos and paintings by his friend, the pop artist – are combined in the exhibit Halston and Warhol at the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania through August 24th.

END of an ERA – with the retirement of Rep. John Dingell (D-MI), and this week’s primary loss of Rep. Ralph Hall (R-TX), there will no longer be any WW-II veterans in Congress this coming January, 2015.

LEST YOU THINK that this is merely a fixation with the US Christian Right – clerics in Iran are also perturbed by the rising popularity of yoga among its female population.

THURSDAY’s CHILD breaks new ground. Last decade, the California Angels … or was it Anaheim Angels baseball team had a Rally Monkey scoreboard image, exhorting fans to cheer the Angels to rally for a come-from-behind victory. They wound up as 2002 World Series champs.

Just recently they used a Rally Cat – and danged if the tuxedo kitteh’s image didn’t precede a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim victory (with a walk-off home run by Mike Trout).

GLAD to see that later this year the British Museum will have a retrospective on the history of Germany; explaining how its history explains its current influential role on the European continent.

BRAIN TEASER – try this Quiz of the Week’s News from the BBC.

IN EXPLAINING why his 1960 album The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart became such a hit – winning the 1961 Grammy Album of the Year and which remains in the Top 20 best-selling comedy albums of all time – the still-performing 84 year-old entertainer posits:

“I was just in the right place at the right time. I have a theory: It was aimed at college people. Nightclubs became very expensive. They had cover charges, and they priced-out the college kids at that time. Besides that, the humor [in clubs] wasn’t being directed at them, at their areas of concern, anything having to do with their life. It was mother-in-law jokes, ‘Take my wife, please.’ So they sort of set-up their own nightclub, in their dorm.”

FRIDAY’s CHILD is Tommy the Cat – a New Hampshire kitteh who survived a ride in a vehicle’s engine block … and despite some severe burns, Tommy is recuperating and will be up for adoption if unclaimed.

400 YEARS AGO a town in Spain had its named changed from Castrillo Mota de Judíos (or Hill of Jews) to Castrillo Matajudíos (or Fort Kill the Jews) after the Spanish Inquisition. This past weekend, the tiny town held a referendum to change the name back to its original name …..  and mercifully it passed by a 29-19 vote.

ALTHOUGH THIS ESSAY is nearly two years old, it describes the older man/younger woman dynamic that drives the Fox network – read the entire piece, here is an excerpt:

(It’s) hardly a revelation that some networks place more pressure on women than do others: C-SPAN has no makeup room at all, just a collection of powder compacts that guests can use if they are so inclined. At MSNBC, Rachel Maddow is known to prefer minimal makeup, while other anchors want more, and the artists oblige with a range of choices, from neutral tones to berry hues. Bloomberg TV tends toward the corporate aesthetic; CNN favors a professional style that makes women and men look crisp, as if they have been ironed.

As for Fox, suffice it to say that there is a YouTube montage devoted to leg shots of Fox anchors, who are often outfitted in body-hugging dresses of vibrant red and turquoise, their eyes enhanced by not only liner and shadow but also false lashes. A Fox regular once commented to me that she gets more calls from network management about her hair, clothes, and makeup than about what she says. “I just think of it as a uniform,” she said of her getup.

SEPARATED at BIRTH – TV stars Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights”, “Almost Human”) and Leighton Meester (“Gossip Girl”).

   

…… and finally, for a song of the week …………………… someone whose potential in the music business was reaching its peak … and then largely walked away from it was Fred Neil – one of the pioneering folk-rock performers in the burgeoning Greenwich Village scene of the 1960’s, whose songs were more notably performed by others .. yet who dedicated much of his life from 1970 on to animal welfare, when he could have been a leading figure of the singer-songwriter era. He had a low voice (caramel flavored, in one reviewer’s description) and a 12-string guitar sound that made him an influence on young performers, whom he was happy to help.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1936 to a father who was a traveling sales rep for the Wurlitzer jukebox company, he grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. Later he became a songwriter in NYC’s Tin Pan Alley; working in the famous Brill Building on Broadway (where many songwriters including Carole King worked over the years). He had two early successes in that regard: with Buddy Holly recording his “Come Back Baby” in 1958, and on the B-side of his famous 1961 song “Crying”, Roy Orbison recorded “Candy Man” by Fred Neil. During the late 50’s, Neil recorded some singles in a different style (rockabilly-pop) that many of his later fans might find a bit surprising – such as Listen Kitten (while still working at his day job).

It was in 1961 that he began his career in earnest, forming a duo with Vince Martin just as the folk-boom was coming into its own. He befriended newer arrivals, such as Bob Dylan (who sometimes joined Neil’s duo on harmonica), Buzzy Linhart and David Crosby. In his memoirs, Richie Havens noted Neil’s early performances and his friendship.

The duo’s first album was Tear Down the Walls – an all-acoustic recording from 1964, with his updated version of Candy Man and with guest appearances by John Sebastian and future Mountain bassist Felix Pappalardi. The next year’s breakthrough album Bleecker and MacDougal – with some electric instrumentation – was what Richie Unterberger of the All-Music Guide considered his bluesiest effort, with songs such as Little Bit of Rain. Then 1966 saw his self-titled album which contained his two most famous tunes.

One was a song that his friend Harry Nilsson (who was also reclusive and reluctant to tour) made into a hit. Everybody’s Talking became a Top Ten hit in 1969 and was a main theme for the film Midnight Cowboy starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight.

The other portended his future path after music. Having visited aquariums since childhood, “The Dolphins” became a hit for Tim Buckley and has an allegorical quality to it. One writer for The Guardian says the song reminds him of his late father, with a “Why Can’t We All Get Along?” quality, yet much richer … and how his father’s appreciation for Tim Buckley’s version led him to discover the original (which at this link you can hear).

It was at this time that Neil began to tire of his growing popularity – and it showed in his 1967 album Sessions which was less song-oriented and more instrumental. Then in 1970 he co-founded the Dolphin Research Project – to alert the public of the dangers of dolphin exploitation – which became his primary focus for the remainder of his life.

He did some recording sessions during the 1970’s, many of which remain unreleased along with his last release (a half-live, half studio album from 1971). During the 70’s, his (comparatively) few performances were often benefits for his foundation, with his final public appearance taking place in 1981. In addition to his reclusiveness – his obscurity was compounded by a lack of CD re-issues (in North America) of his 1960’s work, which only changed in his later years.

Fred Neil died in July, 2001 of skin cancer at the age of 65. “Hardly anyone even knew where he was or if he was still alive”, as Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone put it, and David Crosby observed, “He just didn’t fit in this commercial world.” Fortunately there is an excellent compilation album of his music available (left photo, below).

But besides his songs made famous by others, his legacy is that of the many musicians who have cited his influence on them. These include: Jesse Colin Young, Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane, Tim Hardin, Judy Henske, John Sebastian, Stephen Stills, Jerry Jeff Walker … and bands such as The Monkees and the Flying Burrito Brothers. And so while Fred Neil’s career does have a “What if?” aspect to it: he didn’t vanish without a trace, with David Crosby summing-it-up best: “He taught me that everything was music”.

   

Of all of his songs, my favorite is one that Paul Kantner made famous by the live recording he and the Jefferson Airplane made of The Other Side of This Life – for which at this link you can hear (in a much heavier version). Meanwhile, below you can hear Fred Neil’s original folk-rock version from 1967.

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

On weekends (and holidays), you may find the check-in thread earlier or later than normal because … it is the weekend! Moosies need their beauty rest:

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce … or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania??



~

Spring time is Rhododendron time around the world. These prolific bloomers are native to Asia, North America, Australia, and Europe. They are members of the Genus Rhododendron  and the Family of Ericaceae (Heaths). The name is derived from ancient Greek (rhódon “rose” or “red“) and déndron “tree”). There are some 800 to 1,000 species and 28,000 cultivars listed by the Royal Horticultural Society. Azaleas are a subgenera of Rhododendron.

Mostly known for the brilliant colors of their flowers, Rhodies as they are affectionately called, are also rated on the attractiveness of their foliage. In official ratings of the bushes, they receive a 1 to 5 rating on both the flower and the foliage, with a 5 being the highest. Thus like the example shown below, a 3/5 would indicate that the flower is averagish while the leaf is exceptional.

20013 Rhododendron argyrophyllum ssp. nankingense ‘Chinese Silver’ – (HY, hy, Argyrophyllum) 5′, 0oF, E-EM, 3/5. Perhaps one of the best foliage plants in the genus Rhododendron. The leaves are very shiny above, looking almost to be made of wax.

While their flower and leaves are very attractive, Rhodies can also be toxic, particularly to animals. Although humans probably don’t eat the flowers, they can be affected by eating honey made from the flower’s nectar.  If you have watched bees nosing around in the Rhodie blossoms all day as they do in my yard this will make sense.

Some species of rhododendron are poisonous to grazing animals because of a toxin called grayanotoxin in their pollen and nectar. People have been known to become ill from eating honey made by bees feeding on rhododendron and azalea flowers. Xenophon described the odd behaviour of Greek soldiers after having consumed honey in a village surrounded by Rhododendron ponticum during the march of the Ten Thousand in 401 BC. Pompey’s soldiers reportedly suffered lethal casualties following the consumption of honey made from Rhododendron deliberately left behind by Pontic forces in 67 BC during the Third Mithridatic War. Later, it was recognized that honey resulting from these plants has a slightly hallucinogenic and laxative effect.[29] The suspect rhododendrons are Rhododendron ponticum and Rhododendron luteum (formerly Azalea pontica), both found in northern Asia Minor.

So, here is a display of Rhodies and Azaleas from my own neighborhood in Bellingham WA. All were photographed on my walks using either my Canon Rebel EOS or my iphone-5. They are presented in no particular order and I do not identify the species or cultivars as that would be an undertaking far beyond my ken and my patience.

The President’s Weekly Address post is also the Weekend Open News Thread. Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

From the White House – Weekly Address

In this week’s address, President Obama discussed new actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to cut dangerous carbon pollution, a plan that builds on the efforts already taken by many states, cities and companies. These new commonsense guidelines to reduce carbon pollution from power plants were created with feedback from businesses, and state and local governments, and they would build a clean energy economy while reducing carbon pollution.

The President discussed this new plan from the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., where he visited children whose asthma is aggravated by air pollution. As a parent, the President said he is dedicated to make sure our planet is cleaner and safer for future generations.

Transcript: Weekly Address: Reducing Carbon Pollution in Our Power Plants

Hi, everybody.  I’m here at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., visiting with some kids being treated here all the time for asthma and other breathing problems.  Often, these illnesses are aggravated by air pollution – pollution from the same sources that release carbon and contribute to climate change.  And for the sake of all our kids, we’ve got to do more to reduce it.

Earlier this month, hundreds of scientists declared that climate change is no longer a distant threat – it “has moved firmly into the present.” Its costs can be measured in lost lives and livelihoods, lost homes and businesses; and higher prices for food, insurance, and rebuilding.

That’s why, last year, I put forward America’s first climate action plan.  This plan cuts carbon pollution by building a clean energy economy – using more clean energy, less dirty energy, and wasting less energy throughout our economy.

One of the best things we can do for our economy, our health, and our environment is to lead the world in producing cleaner, safer energy – and we’re already generating more clean energy than ever before.  Thanks in part to the investments we made in the Recovery Act, the electricity America generates from wind has tripled.  And from the sun, it’s increased more than tenfold. In fact, every four minutes, another American home or business goes solar – and every panel is pounded into place by a worker whose job cannot be shipped overseas.

We’re wasting less energy, too.  We’ve doubled how far our cars and trucks will go on a gallon of gas by the middle of the next decade, saving you money at the pump – and we’re helping families and businesses save billions with more efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.

This strategy has created jobs, grown our economy, and helped make America more energy independent than we’ve been in decades – all while holding our carbon emissions to levels not seen in about 20 years.  It’s a good start.  But for the sake of our children, we have to do more.

This week, we will. Today, about 40% of America’s carbon pollution comes from power plants.  But right now, there are no national limits to the amount of carbon pollution that existing plants can pump into the air we breathe. None. We limit the amount of toxic chemicals like mercury, sulfur, and arsenic that power plants put in our air and water.  But they can dump unlimited amounts of carbon pollution into the air.  It’s not smart, it’s not safe, and it doesn’t make sense.

That’s why, a year ago, I directed the Environmental Protection Agency to build on the efforts of many states, cities, and companies, and come up with commonsense guidelines for reducing dangerous carbon pollution from our power plants.  This week, we’re unveiling these proposed guidelines, which will cut down on the carbon pollution, smog, and soot that threaten the health of the most vulnerable Americans, including children and the elderly.  In just the first year that these standards go into effect, up to 100,000 asthma attacks and 2,100 heart attacks will be avoided – and those numbers will go up from there.

These standards were created in an open and transparent way, with input from the business community.  States and local governments weighed in, too.  In fact, nearly a dozen states are already implementing their own market-based programs to reduce carbon pollution.  And over 1,000 mayors have signed agreements to cut their cities’ carbon pollution.

So the idea of setting higher standards to cut pollution at our power plants is not new.  It’s just time for Washington to catch up with the rest of the country.

Now, special interests and their allies in Congress will claim that these guidelines will kill jobs and crush the economy.  Let’s face it, that’s what they always say.

But every time America has set clear rules and better standards for our air, our water, and our children’s health – the warnings of the cynics have been wrong.  They warned that doing something about the smog choking our cities, and acid rain poisoning our lakes, would kill business.  It didn’t.  Our air got cleaner, acid rain was cut dramatically, and our economy kept growing.

These excuses for inaction somehow suggest a lack of faith in American businesses and American ingenuity.  The truth is, when we ask our workers and businesses to innovate, they do.  When we raise the bar, they meet it.  When we restricted cancer-causing chemicals in plastics and leaded fuel in our cars, American chemists came up with better substitutes.  When we phased out the gases that depleted the ozone layer, American workers built better refrigerators and air conditioners.  The fuel standards we put in place a few years ago didn’t cripple automakers; the American auto industry retooled, and today, they’re selling the best cars in the world, with more hybrids, plug-in, and fuel-efficient models to choose from than ever before.

In America, we don’t have to choose between the health of our economy and the health of our children.  The old rules may say we can’t protect our environment and promote economic growth at the same time, but in America, we’ve always used new technology to break the old rules.

As President, and as a parent, I refuse to condemn our children to a planet that’s beyond fixing.  The shift to a cleaner energy economy won’t happen overnight, and it will require tough choices along the way.  But a low-carbon, clean energy economy can be an engine of growth for decades to come.  America will build that engine.  America will build the future.  A future that’s cleaner, more prosperous, and full of good jobs – a future where we can look our kids in the eye and tell them we did our part to leave them a safer, more stable world.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

Bolding added.

~

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

On weekends (and holidays), you may find the check-in thread earlier or later than normal because … it is the weekend! Moosies need their beauty rest:

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania??

Good morning, Moosekind. TGIF!

Friday Coffee Hour and check-in is an open thread and general social hour.

It’s traditional but not obligatory to give us a weather check where you are and let us know what’s new, interesting, challenging or even routine in your life lately. Nothing is particularly obligatory here except:

Always remember the Moose Golden (Purple?) Rule:

Be kind to each other… or else.

What could be simpler than that, right?

Yesterday:

From the White House Blog: “”America Must Always Lead”: President Obama Addresses West Point Graduates

This morning, President Obama traveled to West Point to congratulate the newest officers in the United States Army and to reflect on America’s foreign policy agenda. In the President’s remarks, he acknowledged that our world is changing with accelerating speed and that America must be equipped to respond to an increasingly dynamic environment.

   It will be your generation’s task to respond to this new world. The question we face; the question you will face; is not whether America will lead, but how we will lead, not just to secure our peace and prosperity, but also to extend peace and prosperity around the globe.

The President spent most of his speech outlining his vision for how the United States, and our military, should lead in the years to come. The four elements of American leadership included:

1.   Using military force when our core interests are at stake or our people are threatened

2.   Shifting our counter-terrorism strategy by more effectively partnering with countries where terrorist networks seek a foothold

3.   Continuing to strengthen and enforce international order through evolving our institutions, such as NATO and the United Nations

4.   Supporting democracy and human rights around the globe, not only as a matter of idealism, but one of national security

President Obama articulated that the United States is a global leader – a nation that “must always lead on the world stage.”

   Ultimately, global leadership requires us to see the world as it is, with all its danger and uncertainty. But American leadership also requires us to see the world as it should be – a place where the aspirations of individual human beings matter; where hopes and not just fears govern; where the truths written into our founding documents can steer the currents of history in the direction of justice. And we cannot do that without you.

"Just because we have the best hammer does not mean that every problem is a nail." -President Obama on U.S. leadership in the world

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) May 28, 2014

Transcript: Remarks by the President at the United States Military Academy Commencement Ceremony

(snippets):

This is a particularly useful time for America to reflect on those who have sacrificed so much for our freedom, a few days after Memorial Day.  You are the first class to graduate since 9/11 who may not be sent into combat in Iraq or Afghanistan.  (Applause.)  

It is absolutely true that in the 21st century American isolationism is not an option.  We don’t have a choice to ignore what happens beyond our borders.  If nuclear materials are not secure, that poses a danger to American cities.  As the Syrian civil war spills across borders, the capacity of battle-hardened extremist groups to come after us only increases.  Regional aggression that goes unchecked — whether in southern Ukraine or the South China Sea, or anywhere else in the world — will ultimately impact our allies and could draw in our military.  We can’t ignore what happens beyond our boundaries.

And beyond these narrow rationales, I believe we have a real stake, an abiding self-interest, in making sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a world where schoolgirls are not kidnapped and where individuals are not slaughtered because of tribe or faith or political belief.  I believe that a world of greater freedom and tolerance is not only a moral imperative, it also helps to keep us safe.

But to say that we have an interest in pursuing peace and freedom beyond our borders is not to say that every problem has a military solution.  Since World War II, some of our most costly mistakes came not from our restraint, but from our willingness to rush into military adventures without thinking through the consequences — without building international support and legitimacy for our action; without leveling with the American people about the sacrifices required.

You see, American influence is always stronger when we lead by example.  We can’t exempt ourselves from the rules that apply to everybody else.  We can’t call on others to make commitments to combat climate change if a whole lot of our political leaders deny that it’s taking place.  We can’t try to resolve problems in the South China Sea when we have refused to make sure that the Law of the Sea Convention is ratified by our United States Senate …

I believe in American exceptionalism with every fiber of my being.  But what makes us exceptional is not our ability to flout international norms and the rule of law; it is our willingness to affirm them through our actions.  (Applause.)

… our willingness to act on behalf of human dignity.  America’s support for democracy and human rights goes beyond idealism — it is a matter of national security.  Democracies are our closest friends and are far less likely to go to war.  Economies based on free and open markets perform better and become markets for our goods.  Respect for human rights is an antidote to instability and the grievances that fuel violence and terror.

Three years ago, Gavin White graduated from this academy. He then served in Afghanistan.  Like the soldiers who came before him, Gavin was in a foreign land, helping people he’d never met, putting himself in harm’s way for the sake of his community and his family, of the folks back home.  Gavin lost one of his legs in an attack.  I met him last year at Walter Reed.  He was wounded, but just as determined as the day that he arrived here at West Point — and he developed a simple goal.  Today, his sister Morgan will graduate.  And true to his promise, Gavin will be there to stand and exchange salutes with her.  (Applause.)

We have been through a long season of war.  We have faced trials that were not foreseen, and we’ve seen divisions about how to move forward.  But there is something in Gavin’s character, there is something in the American character that will always triumph.  Leaving here, you carry with you the respect of your fellow citizens.  You will represent a nation with history and hope on our side.  Your charge, now, is not only to protect our country, but to do what is right and just.   As your Commander-in-Chief, I know you will.

~

President Obama’s promises kept:

Editor’s Note: Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

  Make sure you let your peeps

  know where to find you!  

The morning check-in is an open thread posted to give you a place to visit with the meeses. Feel free to chat about your weather, share a bit of your life, grump (if you must), rave (if you can). The diarist du jour sometimes posts and runs, other times sticks around for a bit, often returns throughout the day and always cares that meeses are happy … or at least contented.

For those new to the Moose, Kysen left a Moose Welcome Mat (Part Deux) so, please, wipe your feet before you walk in the front door start posting.

The important stuff to get you started:

– Comments do not Auto-refresh. Click the refresh/reload on your tab to see new ones. Only click Post once for comments. When a diary’s comment threads grow, the page takes longer to refresh and the comment may not display right away.

– To check for replies to your comments, click the “My Comments” link in the right-hand column (or go to “My Moose”). Comments will be listed and a link to Recent Replies will be shown. (Note: Tending comments builds community)

– Ratings: Fierce means Thumbs Up, Fail means Thumbs Down, Meh means one of three things: I am unFailing you but I can’t Fierce you, I am unFiercing after a mistaken Fierce, … or Meh. Just Meh. (p.s. Ratings don’t bestow mojo, online behaviour does).

– The Recommended list has a prominent place on the Front Page because it reflects the interests of the Moose. When people drive-by, we want them to see what we are talking about: news, politics, science, history, personal stories, culture. The list is based on number of recs and days on the list. Per Kysen: “The best way to control Rec List content is to ONLY rec diaries you WANT to see ON the list.”

– Finally, the posting rules for a new diary: “Be excellent to each other… or else”

(Some other commenting/posting/tending notes for newbies can be found in this past check-in and, of course, consult Meese Mehta for all your questions on meesely decorum.)

You can follow the daily moosetrails here: Motley Moose Recent Comments.

~

So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?

~

Good morning meese! Happy happy Wednesday!

The common Moose, Alces alces, unlike other members of the deer family, is a solitary animal that doesn’t form herds. Not so its rarer but nearest relative, Alces purplius, the Motley Moose. Though sometimes solitary, the Motley Moose herds in ever shifting groups at the local watering hole to exchange news and just pass the time.

The morning check-in is an open thread and general social hour.

It’s traditional but not obligatory to give us a weather check where you are and let us know what’s new, interesting, challenging or even routine in your life lately. Nothing is particularly obligatory here except:

Always remember the Moose Golden (Purple?) Rule:

Be kind to each other… or else.

What could be simpler than that, right?