WELCOME NEWBIES - Come hither!

[meganmonkey]

Okay, there are a lot of newbies around here right now, which a wonderful glorious thing! I have seen some excellent posts by new folks, it is always great to see the perspective of fresh eyes.
:toast:

A thread came up today which reminded me that there are many quirks at DU that could be described as inside jokes: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4398173#4398215

SO I would like to open this thread as a place where newbies can introduce themselves and ask questions and get answers regarding the ways of the world here and not get ridiculed (too much ;) ).

I do want to point out that the DU rules explain a lot of things, and, according to said rules, if you have a problem with the way the mods handle things or other official kind of stuff, it needs to be directed to the administration :
( rules) http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html
(contact admin) http://www.democraticunderground.com/contact.html

(And, for the record, I have been here for under a year so there are some who may still consider me and my ilk 'newbies')

[Quakerfriend]

1. Isn't it amazing! We are getting ~ 100 newbies/day lately!

Welcome to DU all!!:bounce: :toast: :hi: :thumbsup: :bounce:

[Fire Walk With Me]

53. Especially since FR.com got a full paragraph in yesterday's USA Today

Calling the protest "phoney-baloney" and other thought-swaying acumen.

No mention of DU :-/

Welcome newbies!

[klyon]

77. yes I have been watching the numbers grow for weeks

Commented to my wife a couple of weeks ago about it.
Welcome everyone. We are all here to learn. I have been here since almost the beginning. I have less than 1000 because there are so many sharp people here that there has been little need for me to respond. I visit almost daily.

KL

[flying_wahini]

2. newbie - reporting for duty!

Yes, yes, I am a newbie.....
only in that I am just now posting... I have been a follower
of DU for at least a year and a half - I log on with my
cup of Joe every morning, without fail....
I have been posting today, because I am headed for Crawford
in the morning and am so excited I am about to pop!
If there is anyone else going, let's try to meet up!
I will try to make a sign so that others there can find me....

[meganmonkey]

3. Welcome, flying_wahini!!

:toast:

I hope you have a safe trip to Crawford, let us know when you return. And take pictures to post!

[classof56]

5. Welcome to the board!

Great post--keep 'em up! Blessings to you as you take your place at Crawford. Hope you don't mind representing all of us DUers who cannot make the trip.

Best wishes!

[eleny]

6. Have a safe trip and welcome to DU

[LiberalUprising]

10. Welcome flying_wahini

We'll be there, planning on arriving 8:30-9 am.

What will your sign say?

[flying_wahini]

15. I am making several

But you can be sure one of them will have DU on it!

[LiberalUprising]

26. Cool, I'll be looking for ya

I'll be sporting my DU baseball jersey (red sleeves)

[WolverineDG]

27. you can't get private messages yet BUT

contact VelmaD, she's supposed to be in Crawford this weekend, rustling up DUers. I was supposed to leave today, but will leave tomorrow very very early. Look for a Saturn with tons of anti-shrubbie stickers on the back of it rolling in about 9 or 10. :)

dg

[TexasLady]

36. howdy from Texas flying_wahini!

:hi:
I hope to see you there as well!

[crispini]

37. I'll be in Crawford on Sunday!

Good luck! Hope we can meet up somehow!

[Generic Other]

42. Welcome flying wahini!

:hug:

[moodforaday]

4. Kick and thanks! (nt)

:kick:

[harlinchi]

7. I am one.

I amy have to review the rules. I replied to a post earlier which caused some small ruckus. Inadvertent though it was, I intended no harm. The topic was a near miss to a US warship. I questioned why the post seemed to be laughing at the event (sarcastically, I knew). I worried that others might misrepresent the sarcasm. My fault was not acknowledging that it WAS sarcasm.

[meganmonkey]

8. Welcome harlinchi!

:toast:

Yeah, sometimes it is tough to discern the meaning behind people's posts, but you'll get the hang of it. When people use the :sarcasm: icon it helps, but otherwise it can be confusing.

You can often assume it is sarcasm, though, we tend to be a bitter lot here, and sarcasm is unfortunately our friend.

on edit: Keep in mind, too that there are thousands of folks posting regularly, and there will be many who will say shocking things that you disagree with. And a lot of times they mean it. Heated discussions often ensue, and that is the nature of the board. Remember that while people lurk here, and take things out of context to make us look bad, if we stifle things too much it takes away a lot of the good debate.

[harlinchi]

13. Thank you.

Perhaps I should apologize to the poster in the other thread. On the other hand, my question did generate a whole lot of responses. Thanks again!

[meganmonkey]

34. See! You've already learned a very important lesson!

Controversial topics/comments always get the most responses :evilgrin:

[seersuckersuit]

9. Thanks!

Looks like a good board. I look forward to being a full member (ie allowing to start threads, etc). Thanks for the welcome!

[Kerebos]

11. Thank you for the welcome!

This is my first post but I read quite a bit.

Glad to be here!

[uppityperson]

18. Welcome all of you

Glad to have you hear. Recommendations from mistakes I made as a newbie: use smilies (especially sarcasm one) from "smilies lookup table" above the subject area when you post especially if you engage in dry humor or be ready to respond you were sarcastic, don't take offense if you get jumped on because sometimes people here get a bit touchy especially when there are trolls lurking trying to cause an uproar, and don't worry about making mistakes we all do.

Welcome to DU during this very exciting time.

[magnetism]

12. Hello fellow newbuddies!

I have been reading here since the Hackett BS. Had to start posting and joining in on the fun.

You guys seem to have the answers that nobody else does.

:hi:

[kma3346]

20. Another newby

I've lurked for a long time, but am finally starting to post a bit. The only problem with being on this list is that it's addictive! I'm spending way too much time on it and can't seem to draw myself away. I feel like we're on the brink of a major breakthrough (indictments, proof of election fraud, Coingate, Rovegate, etc., etc.). It's nice to have an alternative to the status quo corporate meda. There is so much happening right now but I feel like people are starting to see the light.

The other day, one of my friends who voted for Bush in the last election actually confided in me that she was sorry she voted for him and thought he was a liar. I really think people are starting to wake up.

[TexasLady]

35. Hi and Welcome kma3346!

:hi:

[meganmonkey]

24. Sometimes our answers are even right!

;)

Welcome magnetism!

[Al-CIAda]

14. Notes to newbies-

1. 9-11 was an inside job (see September 11 forum)

2. The republicans have stolen the last three elections (see 2004 election results forum)

3. The corporate controlled DLC is poisoning any real opposition to the approaching fascist state

[bee]

21. and..

4. the PNAC is a cultish organization that comprises most of the Bush Administration!

:hi:

Id still be a sheep if not for the shrub. Thanks for the slap in the face *!

[Al-CIAda]

23. YES- PNAC is the Project for the New American Century

Be afraid, very afraid.

Hello and welcome!
:hi: :thumbsup:

[daveskilt]

16. not a newbie - but haven't posted much in a while

busy busy busy I'm afraid.

[LisaLynne]

17. Hi to all the newbies!!!

Remember, we were all there at one time or another. This is a great site and I hope it will continue to grow as more and more smart people find it! I'm really excited to see all the new faces ... er, screen names! :)

[SalmonChantedEvening]

19. Yay Newbies!!

Welcome to DU one and all!!

:hi: :bounce:

[toey]

22. what constitutes a "newbie"

This is just a ploy for attention on my part :)

[kliljedahl]

28. Shouldn't you be working?

[toey]

40. nah, its Friday!

[steve2470]

25. Hi Newbies !!

I guess I'm still considered a newbie also (joined 10-04) :hi:

[maxsolomon]

29. my warning to you all: Kudos is NOT A PLURAL OF KUDO

i will strike down with furious anger those who misuse Kudos!

"Kudos" is a greek work for a thing, like Valor. There is no plural.

for i am the Kudos Nazi!

[Coexist]

31. strike down with furious anger... giggle, giggle.. snort!

I love Pulp Fiction.

hee... hee...

[moc]

30. By way of introduction

My name is Margaret, I'm 43yo, and I live in North Texas. I'm a life long Democrat. I've never been politically active, but I've reached that I'm-mad-as-hell-and-I'm-not-going-to-take-it-anymore point.

Thanks for the welcome!

:toast:

[meganmonkey]

32. Welcome moc!

This is a great place to be when you can't-take-it-anymore!!!

:toast:

[crispini]

38. Welcome fellow Texan! Stop by the Texas state forum

to hook up with some of your fellow North Texans. There are a lot of them here.

[Carla in Ca]

55. Welcome, Margaret

Being politically active is a good thing, and this is the best place for it. Glad to have you here!:hi:

[steve2470]

33. Another bit of advice: Don't hesitate to ask questions

For example: How has PNAC affected American foriegn policy ? Usually you will get a one sentence (or more) answer and sometimes you will be asked to go to a website and read. You will ALWAYS get an answer. Just be sure to ask your question in a non-provocative way that makes it clear you are only curious and not trying to start a flame war.

[laststeamtrain]

39. Hello all.

I've been coming here for a few years and had former handles:lepoeterouge and lucidmadman.

I'd like everything to come out regarding RW skulduggery over the last 50 years (roughly my lifetime).

Right now I want the whole story on Doug Feith's bogus intel squad to come out.

I feel a 'perfect storm' brewing. MSM is not doing their job. Everyone has to step up and do what they can and what they feel comfortable with doing.

I really wish John Kerry had made Iran/Contra an issue in the last election. And I'd like to know why the guy folded like a $3 thrift store suitcase after the election.

The US needs proportional representation and instant run-off.

There are members of the Progressive Caucus I'm quite fond of.

I'm glad to be here.

[earthmama]

41. intro

I am Meli. A stay at home mama to a 1 year old girl . I am a belly dancing canadian buddhist.

I love in Concord, NC but I originally from Quebec. So please excuse my miss spelling of words time to time ( I get tired and the French canadian comes out) and if I seem to be behind on things. I am learning about America ( the hard way).

[CottonBear]

72. Hi earthmama! I"m a NC native! Welcome to DU! Your English is fine.n/t/

[OneGrassRoot]

83. Bonjour!!!

Hi Meli....:hi:

I was so excited to see your post. I live in Raleigh, NC (I'm NOT excited about that....lol)....but have been in love with Quebec these past two years and very focused on moving...I have several dear friends there....though, alas, that dream seems to have faded. Plus, I also do bellydance....so, we have a lot in common!

I don't know how people share emails here....private messaging or whatever....maybe someone will tell us and, if you'd like, we can chat....*S*.

A bientot!

[Le Taz Hot]

86. LOL! That was great!

"I am a belly dancing canadian buddhist." Now, I tell you fellow DUer's, isn't this just a person you simply MUST get to know?

Welcome, earthmama from LTH, a Californian and fellow free-spirit.

Welcome to all "newbies."

LTH

[Generic Other]

43. LOVE AND HUGS to all NEWBIES

:hi:

[Degtyarev]

44. Hi from another one

I have been visiting this board in the past because it is so active and great for finding news fast. Just lately I found the need to register because I wanted to say something.

I am a foreigner so most, if not all, of what I say can be ignored. :D

I am from the Netherlands.

I like you guys and girls here a lot but not enough to donate. Actually I couldn't do it even if I wanted to. So I am stuck here without a search function. So forgive me if my questions have already been answered. Also please forgive me if my questions look dumb because I am foreign.

I have the following questions:
1 Sometimes I get to see all of the messages, and sometimes just the message titles. I then have to click every title to be able to read every message in a thread. Is that just me ? Am I doing something wrong here ?

2 What has this board to do with "the democrats" ? Do any "real Democrat politicians" post here ? I saw the rules about not being affiliated etc but I wonder if this board is in anyway connected to the democratic party.

3 Is it true that Bush hasn't been seen since saturday ?

There was one more question but I forgot. Thanks for having me here and good luck with all the stuff you are doing. The entire planet is depending on you guys. Seriously.

P.S. I also vote at the polls you post here. So I cheat a little for you.

[meganmonkey]

46. I will try to answer your questions...

1 - If you see a thread with just the titles, look next to the thread title for "View All" and click on it. I think if a thread gets a certain number of posts it automatically gives you that option so people with slow dial-up connections don't have to load the whole thing

2 - We are not officially affiliated with the party, but there have been a few occasions when famous folks have posted (Elizabeth Edwards, John Conyers, and Chris Heinz-Kerry come to mind). I bet there are others who post under fake names too.

3 - I don't know (!)

Welcome to DU! It is great to get some perspective from foreigners! Lots of us wish that our government would be willing to learn from some of the European countries.

:toast:

[Degtyarev]

49. thanks

1 ah....... thanks....... I knew it would be something like that.
2 ok I was just under the impression that most on this board are more what you call "liberal"..... a little more liberal than what I think to know about the democratic party.
3 hm..... ok well I read somewhere here that somebody may have seen him......

learning from european countries.... yeah..... well..... Unfortunately I am from the Netherlands and our administration tends to follow the USA everywhere it goes, which I most deeply regret. So not a lot to learn here. We are in the middle of a crisis ourselves.

Ok I have some more questions, hopefully someone will answer;

4 this is obviously an pretty big board. I wonder what the statistics for visits and number of members are and stuff. Hope someone can point me to some place where I can see that.

5 How big was this board in the Clinton days? I liked Clinton a lot, he looked friendly, played the sax and stuff. Was this forum back then a very quiet place coz everybody was at home living a very happy life ? I don't know the details as good like I know them from the Bush stuff that is happening now, but I have read somewhere that Clinton also did some pretty nasty stuff. And I don't mean the Lewinsky thing of course. I mean this seem like a stupid question but I was quite happy with the USA in the Clinton days. And I am not anymore. The question gets more stupid the more I type. :/ So let me try to rephrase the question: is it true that nowadays, since the last year or two, or perhaps even since the last few months, that a LOT of the people in the US are unhappy with what is going on ? And more and more and more ? Rapidly growing number of people unhappy with the administration ? I mean that's what it looks like to me from the other side of the planet.

In my own language I could have possibly asked question 5 in just one sentence. :D

[yewberry]

50. Re: #5

This board didn't exist during the Clinton years--it came to be upon the inauguration of GW.

I think (at least I like to think) that there are more and more people unhappy with this administration here. It's hard to really see it from the media, but it seems to be the case. Personally, I don't know a single person who supports Bush. I'm sure they exist--I see cars with "W" bumperstickers, but I don't actually know any.

Greetings from this side of the planet!

[Degtyarev]

51. thanks

also for the other answers.

[CottonBear]

54. Answers to questions #4 and #5

Q4 Click on "LATEST" in the DIcussion Forums and look at the top right side of the screen. The most current number of registered users and the total number of posted messages is shown there.

Q5a How big was this board in the Clinton days?

A. This board didn't exist until the first Bush inauguration.
Skinner and some others advertised democraticunderground.com on a big banner which they held in front of the TV cameras at the inauguration in 2000. (There is a history of the first days of DU somewhere on this site. I'll have to look and find a link for you.)

Q5b I liked Clinton a lot, he looked friendly, played the sax and stuff. Was this forum back then a very quiet place coz everybody was at home living a very happy life ? I don't know the details as good like I know them from the Bush stuff that is happening now, but I have read somewhere that Clinton also did some pretty nasty stuff. And I don't mean the Lewinsky thing of course. I mean this seem like a stupid question but I was quite happy with the USA in the Clinton days. And I am not anymore. The question gets more stupid the more I type. :/ So let me try to rephrase the question: is it true that nowadays, since the last year or two, or perhaps even since the last few months, that a LOT of the people in the US are unhappy with what is going on ? And more and more and more ? Rapidly growing number of people unhappy with the administration ? I mean that's what it looks like to me from the other side of the planet.

A. We really liked Clinton. He was not perfect by any means but he was a good president. Al Gore won the 2000 election but Bush and the conservative justices on the Supreme Court stole the election. :(
Bush's poll numbers for job approval and how he's handling the war in Iraq are way down in the 45% and 35% range. There are huge numbers of people who are unhappy with Bu$h. Still, about 30% of the voting public will support him no matter what. They include the very wealthy, the very stupid and bigoted and the extreme fundamentalist Christians.

I hope this helps answer your questions. Welcome to DU! :hi:
I have visited your beautiful country and I really enjoyed my time there. :)

edit: Go to the Democrats Abroad forum to meet other Euorpean DUers:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=194

See this link for the history of the first day of DU:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/01/01/010127_7days.html

[Degtyarev]

66. thanks

That history was an interesting story to read. Great horse btw

[CottonBear]

71. Hi Degtyarev! Your English is excellent! Unfortunately, I know no Dutch.

The horse is an Oldenburg which is a German Warm Blood. The picture is from his stallion approval at the Oldenburg Verband in Vechta, Germany. He is the sire (father) of my filly (girl horse) Cotton.

Dutch Warmbloods are amazing horses as are the Friesans! Queen Beatrix attended an incredible horse show this past week where many Dutch horses and riders were in attendance. The pictures of the event were beautiful!

You should look/post in the Democrats Abroad forum (as well as all other DU forums!) and you may well find many DUers near where you live!

Cheers! CB

[yewberry]

48. Hiya!

Your questions:

1-When there are over 20 replies to a post, you must click on (view all) to see all the responses; otherwise, you'll have to click on each individually.

2-We're Democrats, by and large. A few people affiliated with "real Democratic politicians" do post here, but we don't have anything to do with party leadership in any official way.

3-Don't know--I heard that he was vacationing from his vacation :eyes: in Idaho.

Welcome and enjoy!

[Leeny]

45. to be a newbie

Hi. I'm a newbie too!!! I've only posted once; spend most of my time reading and trying to keep up. Y'all are awesome. I have to come here to remind myself that all is not lost.

Bye for now...

Leeny

[CottonBear]

58. Hello and welcome Leeny!

:hi:

[Leeny]

73. Newbies

Hi back. And thanks for the welcome. How do I search for a thread on an issue I'd like to chime in on? I tried to search and to post (to start a thread) but have not been able to do either. Do I need to log more posts/time before I can do either?

Again... glad to be here.

[meganmonkey]

80. You do need a certain number of posts

before you can start a thread. I am not sure the exact amount but it isn't very many (definitely less than 50). As far as searching, I think anyone can do a regular search, but only donors can do advanced search. I may be wrong on that.

Welcome! :toast:

[CottonBear]

85. Contribute to DU, get and star and Voila! You'll be able to search!

We're glad you're here. You can contribute as little as $5 up to whatever you can afford to contribute. Your star will last for one year. :) Plus, you get a cool DU bumpersticker!

[doublestuff]

47. newbie checking in

Hi everyone.
Glad to be here.

[Draill]

52. Great forum!

I followed a link to DU from somewhere (can't remember where, now). I believe the link was a thread about the Plame case or perhaps AIPAC. I found lots of great information here so I keep coming back. I've only posted a few times and have already been welcomed by many. Good information and nice people, not easy to find these days. I'm glad to be here.

[CottonBear]

56. Welcome to DU! We were all newbies once upon a time

Some people have been here since day one but most joined through the last four years. Membership has sort of snowballed as time has passed! Read the DU rules and do your research then jump right on in! :hi:

[catmandu57]

57. Greetings newbies

We aren't you father's democrat here, maybe your great granfather's who had the misfortune of experiencing the great depression. We're fam more militant, pissed off, and a scad bit smarter than the average bear.
Have fun, and moron is spelled M-O-R-A-N, it's an inside joke.

[proud patriot]

59. Welcome Underground one and all

proud patriot at your service :patriot:

[Fleshdancer]

60. Acronym Central:

We LOVE acronyms here at DU (see?) so here's a starter list:

MIHOP = Make It Happen On Purpose

LIHOP = Let It Happen On Purpose

LOL = Laughing Out Loud

ROFL = Rolling On Floor Laughing

ROFLMAO = Rolling On Floor Laughing My A** Off

WTF? = What The F*ck?

POTUS = President Of The United States

SCOTUS = Supreme Court of the United States

* = George W. Bush (this comes from the Supreme Court ruling from the 2000 election when it was noted that the decision would mean that Bush would always have a '*' after his name when people write about him winning the election)

Other DUers, please add to this list. I know I'm forgetting some stuff.

[meganmonkey]

61. AFAIK

AFAIK = As far as I know

IIRC = If I recall/remember correctly

IMHO = In My Humble Opinion

(I like the qualifiers, then you always have an out ;) )

[CottonBear]

63. Bu$h = Bush BFEE = Bu$h Family Evil Empire

eom = end of message
n/t = no text

[riderinthestorm]

62. Midwestern farmer newbie

43 years old, 2 kids. I do organic farming and also operate a boarding stable for 40 horses (dressage and combined training) approximately 40 miles west of Chicago. My husband and I own, train and compete 8 horses ourselves.

The 2000 election fiasco enraged me and started me on the path of serious political activism. The invasion of Iraq sent me over the brink re: this Admin.

I am firmly in the MIHOP camp - I said it that very morning of 9/11 to my family as we watched the towers come down, that the Bush Family Evil Empire orchestrated it.

I wish I was in Crawford but this is our busy season so DU has to fill the gap! Glad I'm here....

[CottonBear]

64. Howdy riderinthestorm! I'm a horse owner and a rider too!

I have a two year old Oldenburg filly.
Her sire, Coromino, is my sig line picture!
We like to post about pets in the Pets Forum and in the Lounge!
Welcome to DU! :hi:

[riderinthestorm]

65. Your beautiful filly definitely caught my eye!

Very impressive girl. What are you planning on doing with her? Who did you purchase her from or did you breed her yourself?

Let's see, my personal herd:

1. An advanced level combined training TB (competing this weekend)
2. A 6 year old Anglo/Trakehner cross who is a homebred by our (retired 3-Day) TB mare (the sire is Abdullah - the Silver Medalist show jumper) - she is showing first level this year and is entered in her first event this weekend.
3. We also have a 3 year old Anglo/Connemara (same dam) by Erin Go Bragh, the Connemara 3-Day stallion.
4. And a 4 month old colt by the same sire (and dam).
5. Then we have my daughter's 15 year old packer TB.
6. A Welsh/Oldenburg pony (CT/dressage/Pony Club/driving)
7. And lastly (but not least she would insist) is our 6 year old Shetland (who I think we're going to sell, we have had an offer I don't think I can resist although my kids are seriously resisting.)

I'll have to visit the Pets forum. I didn't even know it existed! I'll have to play up the dogs and cats there, I'm sure they're jealous...

[CottonBear]

67. The picture is of Cotton's sire, Coromino, an approved Oldenburg Stallion

(Approved by the Oldenburg Verband, Vechta, Germany). I'll have to post a picture of Miss Cotton for you. Give me a few minutes!

Here she is on the right enjoying her evening hay with her pasture mate, Magic, a 2 year old Holsteiner.

She was 2 on May 4th of this year. My good friends own a breeding farm. They bred both Cotton and her dam, Crestie. Crestie is a TB (Native Dancer and Northern Dancer lines) out of a wonderful (sadly now ) racehorse mare named Raised n' Denim, who also bred 4 of their lovely Holsteiners in addition to Crestie.

They breed TBs, Appendix Paints, Oldenburgs and Holsteiners. I got Cotton when she was 6 months old but I was with her since birth. She's my first, and at age 42, probably my only horse. I plan to train her for dressage, hunt seat equitation, hunter jumping and driving. I'm working with a natural horsemanship trainer now. I can't ride her until she's finished growing around age 4. I can do lots of training in the round pen with saddle and bridle and ground driving though!

There are 22 horses at the farm ranging from yearlings and two (very) rare Tarpan horses to stallions and aged horses and everything in between!

Your horses sound very impressive! Good luck with the eventer and the jumper. I have a soft spot for cute little Shetlands. :)

Trakehners and Connemaras are wonderful equine beasties!

We have many riders and horse trainers here on DU. One lady is a TB racehorse trainer. Friesianrider raises and rides Friesans (of course!). Muserider lives in Kansas and has 6 or 7 beasties too! SkipinNewarkDE raises and shows warmblood and TB sport horses. We post equine, bird, kitty and doggy pics in the Pets Forum and the Lounge! FAIR WARNING: KITTIES ARE THE MOST POPULAR BY FAR! We have many celebrity cats here on DU! Jump right in! We love our animals here on DU! Again, welcome fellow equestrian!

[growlypants]

68. Pissed off newbie from Philadelphia

[CottonBear]

69. Why so grumpy growlypants? Welcome to DU!

:hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :) :hi: :)

[seabeyond]

70. and newbies take NOTHING personally. can get aggressive here

lots of passion. and always it is ok.

[txindy]

74. Welcome to all newbies!

The more the merrier!

[SuniSurf]

75. How Wonderful It Is To Be With Like-Minds

I have been sitting in Alaska, thinking there's no way to break through all of the neo-cons around me -- AND THEN I FOUND ALL OF YOU. Thank you for this home away from home!

I received my first welcome from Backlash Cometh who stated:

"But you don't really get the first official DU welcome, until New Yawker spots you."

[The empressof all]

76. Welcome home all you Newbies

We're happy you found us!


:bounce: :loveya: :bounce: :loveya: :bounce:

[immoderate]

78. I love to see the newbies! Welcome to DU!

Brought out the cheering section --

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :woohoo:

--IMM

[tomg]

79. I came here by way of FreeRepublic

I was researching some stuff that necessitated my going to FreeRepublic, and I kept hearing about DU on their posts. I had heard about DU off and on, but really, it was over in Freeperland that I figured anyplace they hated that much was probably someplace I belonged. Who says you can't learn anything at Free Republic.

[Pepperbelly]

81. Welcome aboard.

They are preety damned amusing for the most part. Particularly when you consider there are actually only 35 of them.

[lwin]

84. Awesome

I figured anyplace they hated that much was probably someplace I belonged

Hilarious...welcome! :toast:

[Renew Deal]

82. Here is an appropriate welcome for all newbs,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x3889879

:hi: