Snoutport bids you adieu... time to leave DU

[Snoutport]

Hello DUers!

Some big changes here. I have been offered a really great job up in Seattle and so we are pulling up stakes and moving North. One thing we have been discussing is getting rid of our cable and the internet.

As part of an experiment we tracked our online hours and a disturbing trend showed up. My partner is addicted to video games and I'm addicted to DU. (or reading news to share on DU) So we have decided to go for a year without having cable or computer hooked up in our home. We'll have internet access at work for email but since I don't read DU or post from work I'm afraid that DU is one of the things I am giving up.

I have absolutely loved my experience here. I hope that someone else will pick up the slack and start recapping the Phone Hacking stories for me. Don't be too hard on the President in here...the guy was handed a terrible job with a fierce opposition.

Good Luck All! No need for messages since I'm actually pulling the plug on things this evening before we start packing things up.

Perhaps I will see you in the future.

Cheers!

[alp227]

1. Enjoy your low-tech life, and print media and people can still bring you news n/t

[AmBlue]

2. Will miss you.... best of luck!!

And don't ever hesitate to give us a shout if you're in the mood to backslide! :evilgrin:

You'll be missed around here! Whatever will your kids do with you gone, Snoutport?? You have made such an impact in their lives.

[Rowdyboy]

3. Love you and bye-come back when you feel you can

[BackToThe60s]

4. Yikes!

I still wanna know how the newspaper interview turned out! :(

Godspeed anyway! :hi:

[Umbral]

5. While your turning a blind eye to the situation, remember...

London's Calling.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. Good luck in Seattle!

I like it cool and rainy, so I'll envy your weather.

[Contrary1]

7. Well, damn.

That's all.

On edit: I guess that's not all. Good luck on your new adventure. And thank you for your Murdoch reports. I will miss them.

Take care! :hi:

[progressoid]

8. Adieu! I've noticed a similar trend for me.

Waaaay too much time on the internet (and DU) ;).

Hope you like your life! :hug:

[BackToThe60s]

17. Very addictive, isn't it?

;-)

[progressoid]

23. Yeah, maybe we need to join an online support group for internet addictions.

Wait.

Never mind.


:eyes:

[MADem]

9. You watch. You'll get settled in, you will look at your computer, you will turn it on, and....

VOILA!!! You'll find a wireless signal just bouncing around the neighborhood...it could be the one from the coffee shop, or the library, or the hotel around the corner....and you'll be SUCKED BACK INTO THE ABYSS!!

Bwahahahahaha!!!!!

[Rex]

10. Goodluck and have fun.

[AsahinaKimi]

11. Dewa Mata Ne

I am sure you will be back! Bye for now!

[tavalon]

12. Well, welcome soon to Seattle. I hope you love it here as much as I do

I hope you consider the occasional foray into the public libraries for an occasional hello. Especially check out the one downtown. It's killer.

[liberal_mama]

13. Good Luck to You! I'd die without internet!

I have agoraphobia; the internet is my lifeline!

[tavalon]

14. I come, I go

I can relate. Do remember that cutting off the supply doesn't cure the underlying patterns that lead to addiction.

Just a friendly reminder from a 12 stepper.

[CleanGreenFuture]

15. Please come back and see us when you can, Snoutport! Both of you take care and live well.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Good luck friend

[napoleon_in_rags]

18. Seattle without Internet is like Nashville without country music.

You're simply moving to the wrong city for this plan, I am sorry to tell you. Beautiful natural areas are the places to unplug. Seattle is uber wired.

[woo me with science]

19. Good luck.

It sounds like a worthy experiment. :)

[jannyk]

20. Bon Voyage.

[TlalocW]

21. When/If you come back

Start a thread of pictures of the faces of people in Seattle that you've told you don't have internet. Should be amusing. :)

TlalocW

[Raine]

22. Good Luck! You'll be missed very much

hope to hear from you again in the future. :hi:

[SoDesuKa]

24. No Equivalence

This is the first I've heard of anyone being "addicted" to DU. I suspect you are trying to accommodate your partner by giving up something you enjoy in the hope he'll seek help for his video game playing behavior. However, assuming your partner is a true addict, you are only enabling him by agreeing to give up your "addiction" to DU.

While you are in Seattle, make contact with people who know something more about addiction than you do. Don't be surprised if they question your generosity in establishing an equivalence between the Democratic Underground website and endless video game playing. Addicts can be helped, but they have to acknowledge being addicts. Sounds to me like your partner is extorting an agreement from you to let him continue to be addicted.

Treatment for video game addiction is similar to detox for other addictions, with one important difference. Computers have become an important part of everyday life, as well as many jobs, so compulsive gamers can't just look the other way when they see a PC.

"It's like a food addiction," Young explains. "You have to learn to live with food."

Because video game addicts can't avoid computers, they have to learn to use them responsibly. Bakker says that means no gaming. As for limiting game time to an hour a day, he compares that to "an alcoholic saying he's only going to drink beer."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/03/health/webmd/main1773956.shtml



Addiction is No Joke

[FloridaJudy]

69. +1000

I thought I was "addicted" to video games. I should know from addiction - I'm almost eight years sober. Then my computer crashed. After swearing a lot, I read several novels, made a metric fuckton of jewelry, and went to a bunch of AA meetings. Several weeks later I got the wounded 'puter up and running again, and discovered all my crops had wilted. So I quit. Period. No cravings, no temptation to go back. I just discovered the games were a huge waste of time I could spend on more meaningful things. And I was getting seriously annoyed with the continuous pleas to spend real-life money on upgrades.

I still love watching movies and TV shows on Hulu (I have no cable), catching up with friends on Facebook, and reading the latest news on-line. Since I have no car, and a limited income, the 'net keeps me connected, but the games are history. Well, except for "Angry Birds", which makes waiting at the bus stop a lot more tolerable, but which doesn't tempt me when there's other stuff to do.

People are a little too eager to hang the "addiction" label on any unproductive activity. If you want to know what real addiction looks like, try an AA or NA meeting!

[yodermon]

93. I am in fact addicted to DU.

It has negatively affected my relationships and my work.
So it is possible to be addicted to DU, at least in the lay-person understanding of the word "addicted".

[The Wizard]

25. Stepping back

allows us to get a different view of the world in which we live. It's also good to change perspectives in order to activate creative juices.

[calimary]

26. Well damn, I'll miss you too! We all will, Snoutport!

But it's great news about your new job! I hope your move brings you some good things and nice times.

Much love, and THANKS!

MANY hugs!

And if you see anything about a band called ACIDIC coming to play in Seattle, that's my kid's band! Alt rock - they're really good and no dirty words! I can think of no better parting gift from me!

:hug: :grouphug: :yourock: :patriot: :fistbump: :thumbsup: :pals: :headbang: :fistbump: :hi:

[etherealtruth]

27. You will be missed

[grahamhgreen]

28. For goodness sake, please get a smart Phone w/ internet!

You'll be missed.

[Scuba]

29. This is a good DU member who will be missed. Hope Snoutport is back next year.

[BeHereNow]

30. You will be missed.

But I completely understand.
Love to you-
BHN

[highplainsdem]

31. You'll be missed! Good luck to you and your partner in your move to Seattle, and I hope

you'll be back here at DU someday, at least posting occasionally.

[EOTE]

32. What a refreshing change from GBCW posts!

I hope your experiment turns out well. I probably need to drastically cut down on my online time too. Thanks for all your work on the phone hacking scandal. Honestly, you've provided far more and accurate information on the scandal than any member of the MSM and far quicker to boot. Your presence will be missed, but I'm hoping someone with a similar passion picks up the slack. Best of luck to you.

[Greybnk48]

33. Good Luck to both of you in Seattle!

I'll miss your posts very much, especially your sweet stories you occasionally shared. :hi:

[WilliamPitt]

34. We'll still be here.

Best of luck!

[Marrah_G]

35. I wish you the very best.

[malaise]

36. You will be missed

One night when you're 'Sleepless in Seattle' you'll be back - I hope!! I'll help out with the Murdoch hacking. :fistbump:

:yourock:

[freeplessinseattle]

103. Seattle and DU are sanctuaries I am so grateful for

Don't know what I would do without my DU, especially if I lived in a less liberal-and more freepy- place!

[Ilsa]

37. Good luck, and I'll miss you. You are both very brave. I hope your lives

Get even better without the technology.

[Odin2005]

38. Oh no! We will miss you!

:hug:

[MilesColtrane]

39. Ciao!

Have a good life.

[seabeyond]

40. well, good for you and your partner. i could do that experiment. hubby, not so much

seattle and no internet.

sigh

sounds about ideal.

take care

[dionysus]

41. you'll be back. quitting DU is harder than quitting crack.

:D

[alsame]

42. It's wonderful that you found a great

job! I hope you both are very happy, best of luck in Seattle.

[trumad]

43. I give it two weeks..

you may not post... but you'll lurk.

[SoDesuKa]

141. Snoutport Threads

A number of Random Thoughts threads popped up after he was gone. Many of them were positive: Yeah, good old Random Thoughts . . . . sure miss him around . . . We can't know for sure that there will be any Snoutport threads, but one thing is certain. He'll never find out what people are saying about him unless he checks in from time to time. Just sayin' . . .



Snoutport deserves beer and travel money

[Left coast liberal]

44. Welcome to Seattle, my town. You will like it here!

[Phentex]

45. Totally predictable...

wonder who's gonna take over the garden for all those poor kids he was feeding?

Oh, well.

[Roger Floyd]

57. +1

[Supersedeas]

46. Best of luck to you and your partner Snoutpout

Cable is the next thing to go in my budget, if only I could convince the rest of the household.

[lumberjack_jeff]

47. Adieu. Enjoy Seattle!

Sorry to see you go.

Check out the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend on September 9th thru 11th.

[Missy Vixen]

48. I've lived in Seattle my entire life

I don't know anyone here who does not have multiple forms of Internet access, and that includes our 85-year-old grandfather.

Good luck with your move!

[Roger Floyd]

49. "I have been offered a really great job up in Seattle"

I've heard that Ben Stiller is supposed to direct and star in a movie that have been in gestation for over a decade and parts of it could be shot in Seattle. Are you part of this project as a technical advisor? See you later, Walter. :hi:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118040157

[Melissa G]

50. Will miss your posts. Best of luck to you!

Cheers! :hi:

[Uncle Joe]

51. Good luck and peace to you, Snoutport.

Thanks for your service to the people here.:hi:

[OnyxCollie]

52. Come back soon.

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. Wow. I could EASILY go without TV, but I could never give up my Internet....unless forced to

by gunpoint. :evilgrin:

Best of luck in your new job! I hope all goes well and come back soon, ya hear?!

[Enthusiast]

54. Good luck, Snoutport. nt

[GliderGuider]

55. Good for you!

Have a blast. :hug:

[joeybee12]

56. Good Luck...you'll love Seattle if you can handle the rain!

[Melinda]

58. Wow, so we'll not read that interview after all.... Shout out to Morning Dew - you called it girl!!

And to think it all began with a bogus post about a school menu and feeding school kids out of pocket. For those who might be shaking their heads, google search the school district Snout claimed to work for, and their lunch menu.

I honestly respected this poster for a very long time, as did many other DU posters, and I apologize in advance for bursting balloons and/or breaking hearts.


Job well done, Snoutport. Job well done.

[proud2BlibKansan]

61. And he repeatedly said he was working in an alternative setting

where it is not at all uncommon to have different menus, programs, hours, curriculum, etc than the hosting school district.

[Morning Dew]

70. I thought the menu for his students was phony from jump. Corn Nuts? Seriously?

I checked the district web site at the time he posted about them serving corn nuts as the vegetable item. I think I posted a link to the district in-thread at the time.

Anyway, I always thought he posted in a caring way but I never thought I could really believe or trust what he was saying.

I could be wrong. Wish I had money for all the time I've been wrong.

[proud2BlibKansan]

88. All I'm saying is alternative schools are different

Yes their menu is usually different and won't be listed on the district website.

That's all I'm saying. No other comments.

[Pithlet]

108. I was suspicious.

That and the post about the student beating him up.

[LeftyMom]

74. They all get the same food.

At least one person I know of called and checked. The folks at Nutrition Services were really nice about explaining their program, they're very proud of it.

[Morning Dew]

80. Thanks for posting that.

That thread was a while ago and I don't remember all the particulars. I do remember the district website lunch menu - they should be proud.

[proud2BlibKansan]

90. No they don't

Not where I work, not in neighboring districts and not in the district where I live.

[LeftyMom]

94. Snouty has been very clear about what district he supposedly works in.

Everybody who knows anything about the area knows they'd never feed the kids crap, but just to be on the safe side at least one person I know of called and checked with nutrition services for the district in question before calling bullshit. It's bullshit, the kids all get the menu that's been posted online.

Whatever goes on in your district thousands of miles away, no kids in Portland are getting a bag o' salt for lunch. Whoever that poster is or whatever their motivations are, they're lying and making a public school system look bad for something they are doing right. I'd think you of all people would be all over that. Their number and their menu are online, you can look and see or call and ask for yourself.

[sabrina 1]

101. Thanks, I hate when I have doubts about someone who was as

good a writer as this poster was, but, well, enough said ...

[XemaSab]

118. Here's the corn nut post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=1205504&mesg_id=1205504

The author of the OP seems to have turned his journal off.

[REP]

142. Well, there was this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=437&topic_id=3159&mesg_id=3159

A prequel to this GBCW post and a reason why his journal is off.

[REP]

105. So they lied to me when I called and asked?

Portland is not Kansas City. They're not even in the same state.

[demmiblue]

115. C'mon, really... you actually called? n/t

[LeftyMom]

117. I know somebody else did and was told the same.

Their nutrition standards, which seem to be very high, their policy regarding fresh fruit (unlimited access) and of course the menus are all online as well. None of that jibes with Snouty's story either.

[REP]

124. Yes, I did.

[REP]

59. Unbelievable!

Really. Unbelievable.

[cordelia]

77. Indeed

[classof56]

60. What about your interview with the major newspaper?

I'm guessing the Oregonian. Any chance we can read that online?

Okay, I know you're long gone and heading north, but would love to know how that went. Best wishes in my old home town, Seattle. Loved it 40+ years ago before my partner sneaked me across the Oregon border, and love it still!

[XemaSab]

97. .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_the_United_States_by_circulation

[classof56]

106. Well, thank you for the list of newspapers.

But as a decades-long Oregon resident, I'm well familiar with Portland's major newspaper, The Oregonian. Since Snoutport mentioned his interview was with a local paper with 1.4 million circulation, I figured that's what he was referring to. I read the Oregonian online every day, just wasn't sure how to link to an article about him, if there was one, and thought he might clue me in. No biggie, still curious, but since he's moved to Seattle, perhaps he was referring to that city's remaining print newspaper, the Times. Guess I'll never know, but it's encouraging to see so many newspapers on the list you provided.



:hi:

[PeaceNikki]

62. Have fun stormin' the castle!

[blogslut]

63. Great good luck to you!

Your regular reports on News Corp. have been invaluable.

[Whisp]

64. best to you, Snoutport. You're a good shit.

always enjoyed reading your posts and you always come across as genuine and caring.

[Shagbark Hickory]

65. Sayonara. Good luck kicking your du addiction, it's like crack. nm

[Lance_Boyle]

66. Surely you'll have a neighbor with unsecured wifi...

Best of luck with the move and the abstinence - if my wifi prediction is correct you may need to invoke the old will power.

[Seedersandleechers]

67. I do not subscribe to any internet provider.

I just have a kick-ass airport card on my mac which immediately honed in on some wifi where I live.

[Ratty]

68. Send us a postcard

Love to hear how you're doing in 6 months. Good luck with your experiment!

[Quantess]

71. See you again soon!

;)

Just teasing. Congratulations!

[LeftyMom]

72. Where will I get my bouncy stories now?

What will become of the six or is it forty foster autistic savants? In a city obsessed with local, organic, heirloom food, will anybody care enough to feed them an apple? Find out on the next exciting episode of As Snouty Makes Shit Up! *cue organ music*

[Morning Dew]

75. lol.

coffee spew.

[LeftyMom]

76. Corn Nuts. In Portland. They'd riot.

Portland, for fuck's sake.

[Maven]

83. ...

:rofl:

:loveya:

[REP]

104. Now stop that. He's a saint.

Or so he says.

[Marcel]

114. "Where will I get my bouncy stories now?"

Awww, don't be sad. Snouty will be right back with another pseudonym after a word from our sponsors! :)

[Dappleganger]

73. Best wishes to you!

:pals:

[madfloridian]

78. Noooo you can't just leave!

:wtf:

[SidDithers]

79. Be well, Snoutport...

I've enjoyed your Rupert Murdoch threads. Good luck with the hiatus.

But if you find yourself checking out DU while at work, get the home internet back. Don't jeopardize a new job with DU addiction :)

Sid

[madamesilverspurs]

81. Congratulations!

Enjoy Seattle. My family is on the Olympic Peninsula, I get out there at Christmas. I'd live there if I could.

Thanks for all your heartfelt input here, it has been very much appreciated!


-

[Taverner]

82. Good luck - and I wish you the best

[libodem]

84. I'll miss you

By.

[slackmaster]

85. I've enjoyed your posts. Farewell.

:kick:

[mimitabby]

86. you're moving to Seattle and you expect to get off the grid?

Seattle is one of the most plugged in places in the USA. everyone has a droid or an iphone and are on them constantly!

[DainBramaged]

87. You will be missed my friend, that's a BIG step to go without wattage

be well.

[KatyMan]

89. Thanks for your Murdoch posts

And I like a "farewell" post that doesn't make me want to say don't let the door hit you...:D good luck!

[Daphne08]

91. Best of Luck, Snoutport!

[raccoon]

92. Best of luck to you! nt

[renate]

95. nooooooooooooooooooooo

Dang it!

:(

[aikoaiko]

96. Our paths will cross again

[arikara]

98. Good luck Snoutport

I will miss your updates very much.

[tsuki]

99. How will you keep up with Rupert Roo? nt

[meow mix]

100. hmm my video game addiction saves me large amounts of money.

entertainment options are incredibly expensive

but my piddly 14 dollar warcraft subscription is nothing, while the value i receive back is immense. imo =)

[nolabear]

102. Welcome to Seattle and Bon Voyage from DU

I think it's a good experiment. I can't do it myself since one of my professions is media-dependent, but I too aspire to cut way down on time spent on social media. Good luck, and enjoy Seattle. It really is a fine place.

[GentryDixon]

107. How wonderful for you.

You will be missed.

[Kingofalldems]

109. Good luck and thanks!

:hi:

[DeSwiss]

110. Good luck.

Au revoir. And I have a feeling that many of us will be joining you (low-tech) very soon.

- K&R

[proud patriot]

111. Take care , I'll miss you around here

:patriot:

[Canuckistanian]

112. Oh, get out of here

You've got the DU Jones. You're hooked.

I give you two weeks, tops, before the obligatory "I'm Back!" post.

If you quit DU now, you'll regret it. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But soon and for the rest of your life.

[Raksha]

138. That's what I'm hoping for...

"I give you two weeks, tops, before the obligatory "I'm Back!" post."

[FourScore]

113. Those are fantastic reasons to leave.

I wish you the best of luck Snoutport. You are one of the best here on DU, and you will be sorely missed. Take good care, and please stop by and see us every now and then.

[Scurrilous]

116. Adieu.

:thumbsup:

[Roger Floyd]

119. But, but...

what about the photograph for your article that was supposed to be taken?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1690233#1694759

Well I guess that they'll have to settle for this old one:

[Maeve]

120. Best. Goodbye. Thread. EVER!

Fare well wherever you fare!

[rbnyc]

121. Well, you probably won't see this...

...but I wish you well.

:toast:

[Agony]

122. Don't forget to shave!!!

Cheers

[Festivito]

123. Best wishes on the new employment,

As to dropping DU, good luck. Hope to see you again in whatever form. But, it's more than an addiction, it's more like a calling.

Sure to see you again.

[csziggy]

125. Congratulations on the new job and the move!

DU will be poorer for your absence - your posts are always informative and entertaining. I hope you return, maybe with a new balance in your life that lets you come back to DU but also be involved with other real life experiences.

You will be missed. Good luck with the new job and a new home. And a good hug for your wonderful husband. :hug:

[bluestate10]

126. Good luck to you and your partner. Stay in eastern Washington.

the western part of the state is pretty conservative. The east is more beautiful IMO. You are moving to god's country, said in a good way. Seattle is an awesome, laidback city.

[mrs_p]

127. best of luck

Temporarily misplaced Seattlelite here. Hope you love it there as much as I!

[stlsaxman]

128. All best in your endeavors, Snoutport!

[Jackpine Radical]

129. DU is like cigars.

As Mark Twain famously said, "it's easy to quit smoking. I've done it thousands of times."

Just ask Will Pitt about that.

Congratulations on the job, BTW.

You'll be back, but in the meantime, I want you to know that I'll miss you for a lot of reasons.

[KansDem]

130. Best of luck to you and your partner!

Rather than "adieu" let's say "au voir!"

:hi:

[Peacetrain]

131. Take care kiddo and see you later maybe

after the sabbatical.. have enjoyed your posts.. good luck in your endeavors

[drm604]

132. Sorry to see you go. I will definitely miss you.

I will especially miss your News Corp posts. Who's going to keep us up to date now? :(

Good luck and I hope we'll see you back one day.

[mochajava666]

133. Buh Bye

[WheelWalker]

134. Who are you, and what have you done with Snoutport?

[Mosby]

135. OK bye.

I like your contribution here and will miss you.

Can't you just cut back or something?

[Chipper Chat]

136. Always enjoyed your posts.

Good luck.
Come back soon!

[bhikkhu]

137. Best of luck there!

Seattle was always one of my favorite cities - one of the few where you could live in grand style without a car. I read once that it had the highest concentration of authors per capita in the country, and it certainly seemed like everyone I knew there was consciously literate and well read.

Recs - the smell of the ocean and the bustle of street vendors at the public market any early morning, playing chess with young strangers at the Last Exit by the college, going for long used book-hunting walks downtown, and soaking up Latte's from street vendors along the way, walking in the rain with no umbrella, and realizing everyone else is doing the same and unconcerned, gallery and studio-hopping on whatever day of the month they do that - I don't remember - with live music everywhere outside and interesting crowds...

[salin]

139. Here is a from a long timer who used to spend too much time here at the expense of life

If you check my number of posts it is very high - mostly from 2002-2005. I would guess that the number of my posts (spiking recently from some time off and a great interest several stories - esp the phone hacking story) of my posts in the last five year is about 1/10 of my total posts.

Except when internetless - (ala traveling where checking is not possible) I still do a quick check of LBN and Gd when I get up in the am, and when I get home from work (and few other sites).

For the first time in 7 years I have some down time - so I am commenting more and following some stories very closely and when I find - I post about the story (which I did a lot in 2002-2004 but have not until recently been able to do.) In cases when my following a story through news sited shows that something doesn't get posted on DU - I pm (which I almost never do) someone who is likely to post it. On the phone hacking you certainly have found some folks who also post OPs on the story. If you find a link that hasn't shown up - PM one of us (I will probably be active for a few more months until my arranged break ends) - and we will post it.

My point is this - in an earlier era of DU I was as recognized per specific stories, per thoughtful posting (stories and analysis) as you are today. While I had to step back from DU, and learned to do so as an active reader (nearly 2 x a day of two forums), I never left - and found there are ways to get unfolding events into the posting cycle by those who have the time to follow the thread and nurture it (so more people read it).

For example, I don't think we met until this story broke big - which coincided with my work break. I would guess that until very recently my screen name had no recognition for you (and still may not). However I am still here (reading) - and when I had life space to start following the story closely - became part of the group of folks to start posting and sharing and keeping the story alive and understood. Point being - It is possible (if disciplined) to not totally divorce from DU - but to learn to use it in a different way (for me to get leads on current stories, and progressive sentiments towards those stories - and share on a local arena) and when finding something big - but that I couldn't nurture (esp in the fast moving GD forum where something important, if not noticed, can sink) finding posters I could send the info to and know that they would nurture and push it.

Long, old-timers statement. Sorry for that.

Congratulations on your new job - reading your posts - you clearly are a great asset to the students with whom your work effects. You deserve great opportunities!

Just wanted to point out a path which allows a DU separation (per posting) but not a complete divorce. Check my post count. I would guess that between 80-90% of those posts were in my early years (2002-2005) - but I haven't left. And found a way of reading without needing to get involved in discussions - until I found a short space in life during which I can again be involved - and limiting and even now - limiting the areas/topics in which I engage.

Best of luck to you!

You helped suck me in to a story that for me is riveting per its ramifications if those fully get sucked into the public Psyche. And I greatly appreciate that. Your presence will be greatly missed. I hope that you, like I and many other oldtimers (and once DU addicts who became DU readers) find away to be a part of the community even when you can not be a very active discussant.

Good luck and peace be with you!

salin

[ddeclue]

140. Best of luck to ye!

If you wanted to be sure you wouldn't relapse you could try moving to Wyoming... hard to get the intertubes out there!

[crunchie]

143. low tech woman, going for 100

items or less--life. No t.v for 5 yrs. love that. Now am trying to get down my other un-necessities. It forces one to reestablish values, people relationships, and not live a life with just "stuff" and media propaganda. Just who is telling the truth anyway? I come here to read the progressive news, then off to my art shop. Here is a link to the 100 things way of living. I am getting there.

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/6-easy-tips-for-living-with-100-items-or-less.html

[The Doctor.]

144. Thanks so much for keeping us apprised.

Good luck for the year, be sure to get right back to us when it's over!

[struggle4progress]

145. You'll love Seattle. It'll keep you busy.