Mudcat's Tenth Birthday (October 1, 2006)

Subject: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:49 AM

It's a milestone, folks! Mudcat will be 10 years old on Oct 1. Lots of amazing songs, people and discussions have come and....sometimes gone again.

There has been good, bad and ugly...like any community, family or group. The good has been wonderful and helpful, and it's 'almost' all still here to read. The bad and ugly? Well...a lot of it is still here, some wasn't worth keeping. Lets not dwell on that.

Friends have been made, songs have been sung, knowlege has been shared, opinions have been given and disputed, jokes have been told, news has been posted...often within minutes of its happening.

I have been here 'almost' all the 10 years (I was maybe 2 weeks late in discovering the forum had been added to the database, and there's only 3-4 people still posting who beat me *grin*)....so it's very hard for me to encapsulate so many memories. I just thought it might be good to have a thread this week leading up to Oct.1...for memories? *shrug*

I REALLY hope it will not become a place for lots of negative, anonymous stuff, but just a spot to remember, comment, share ...and to imagine the future, maybe.

10 years ago, there was no Google, there was I.E. and Netscape and a guy named Max who agreed to host a place for the Digital Tradition and forum to discuss music.....and like any community, after we got acquainted, the discussions broadened, people met RT and and real friendships grew...and often more...*smile*

Now we are famous...sorta...and Google is indexing Mudcat and we are being discovered every day....which makes the future kinda hard to predict!


So....here it is....this unique place and its collection of personas who make it what it is.

10 years & counting....

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Dave (the ancient mariner)
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:51 AM

Many Happy Returns Of The Day

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: GUEST,Popinjay
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:53 AM

Well done to all those who have set up and maintained Mudcat. Sterling work.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:55 AM

........so apart from Max, the founder, who's the longest serving Mudcatter?

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:00 PM

Well, Bert worked with Max, and was here at the start, and Dick Greenhaus and Susan of DT were doing the database....and Lamarca, who lives here in the Wash DC area near me posted a few days before I did.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:01 PM

Two of them have to be Dick Greenhaus and Susan Friedman.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: SINSULL
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:09 PM

Many happy returns of the day.
Well done, Max et al!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:11 PM

How did Max and Dick and Susan meet? I was dismayed when the DigiTrad disappeared. A musician friend told me he had found it on a place called 'the Mudcat'. So far as I know, he doesn't frequent the forum although he still uses the DigiTrad.

There have been birthing pains and growing pains and black sheep and a problem child or two but it's a great place to be. Happy Birthday to all involved and may there be many, many more to come.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:17 PM

There's been black sheep? Here? Yeah, and so what's wrong with that?

;0}

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Alice
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:19 PM

Well done Max and founders. You have enriched our world.

Alice

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:21 PM

thread 3819 tells a bit of history...Somehow, Max found the DT when it was on another site, then when it had to taken down, offered to host it.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: harpmolly
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:24 PM

Wow! Happy Birthday Mudcat!

It was at least six or seven years ago that I first stumbled on it...

Molly

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Chris Amos
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:27 PM

Well done, we owe a lot to the vision of the founding group.

Three rousing cheers for Max and the crew.

Chris

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:30 PM

hip x 3!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:46 PM

For those who might be interested, given that Max's location in Pennsylvania is known, if more specific information about the time Mudcat came online is shared, then someone much more skilled than me could produce an astrological chart for Mudcat.

However, using 12 noon Eastern Standard Time as a speculative "birth time" for Mudcat, and using Neil F. Michelsen's "The American Ephemeris for the 20th Century, revised 5th edition", here's this forum's astrological placements:

Sun    Libra    7 degrees
Moon    Aries   27 degrees
Mercury Libra   23 degrees
Venus   Virgo   27 degrees
Mars    Leo    23 degrees
Jupiter Leo      0 degrees
Saturn Pices   25 degrees retrograde
Uranus Virgo   21 degree
Neptune Scorpio 20 degree
Pluto   Virgo   18 degree
North
Node    Taurus 16 retrograde

-snip-

FWIW, I have share some exact and some close astrological sign/degree placements with this chart. I wouldn't be surprised to find that other persons who have posted regularly and/or who still post regularly on this forum also have exact or close connections between these placements and their astrological charts.
However, a person's astrological chart is private information, and I'm not suggesting that those details be shared on this thread or any other thread.

Happy Birthday, Mudcat! Live long and prosper.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: bbc
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:46 PM

Well, my son & I started the member pages in April of 1999 (Under "Quick Links" see Member Info & Photos) & my Mudgather was that July (see Events Photos), so I guess I've been around since before then. Thanks, Max, for the friends, the information, the music. Mudcat has been & continues to be special to me in many ways. It will be nice if everyone checks in on this thread.

best,

Barbara

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:48 PM

First thought? Mudcat's adolescence is not far off-- scary!

:~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:49 PM

is Pluto still a member of the planet's suite?

Thort it recently got the sac?

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 12:59 PM

Zee, no flock of sheep is complete without its black members! The same would be true - in reverse - of a flock of black sheep. Here's to diversity and contrast.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Severn
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:06 PM

Ten Year Tenure For the Cat! Spread over how many Mud-Lives?

A Rare and Well Done medium at the same time! That's how I would have ordered it.

A milestone on the road (hopefully) to forever while you serve as an official guardian and archivist of the timeless.

Made to outlive all of us, but not without enriching all our lives before we finally pass on. Hell, even the lives of venting trolls out of our con-troll (Can only a troll be pro-troll?....but I digress. That's all water, or something, under the bridge by any other clayen-gnome-ture).

...Anyway, a Happy Anniversary, hopefully avoiding any Unhappy
An-adversities from any Unhappy An-adversaries in the future tense, as you have in the past tenth!

And thanks for making all things better during the time I've been here, and so, a traditional toast (while musicians hopefully provide the jam):

"Here's Mud in your eye!....."

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:10 PM

Ebbie, I'm sorry but couldn't resist making my previous comment.

I was just trying to be witty.

My kudos to you and to others for actualizing the ideals of diversity on this forum.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: GUEST,Popinjay
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:13 PM

Can I be the official black sheep please, or am I probably too nice?

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: The Shambles
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:14 PM

BAA!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Severn
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:14 PM

Should've read:

"A Rare and Well Done medium........that we all have a stake in."

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: GUEST,Popinjay
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:22 PM

If one of the founders lets me be the official black sheep, I promise to become a fully fledged member, in celebration of 10 years of Mudcat. (Does that mean the police will know where I live?)

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Severn
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:25 PM

Let's just have an official flock of them.


....Sheeper By The Dozen!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:39 PM

Someone from Detroit referred me in 1997, when I was looking for lyrics to an Irish song. I posted without joining until 1998. I came at the tail end of the first golden age (Anyone seen Shula lately?). I remember when Spaw came here, I remember when kat came here. I think that after Max, Bert, Dick, and Susan, the oldest active members are probably Alice in Montana, and Bill. LaMarca has been here damn near as long, but not as active as the others. Anyone been her longer than BillD or Alice?

Mick

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Big Mick
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:40 PM

How about Joe? Blessings Barbara? How long have they been posting?

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 01:47 PM

Mudcat has enriched my life and many, many thanks.

Thanks to Mudcat I've found friends around the world, even had folk staying with us, from places like Alaska, Australia and, far too briefly, Nova Scotia.

So, Max, if ever you want to stay in sunny Worksop ...

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Little Robyn
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 03:45 PM

So, everyone have a happy birthday.
How should we celebrate?
Robyn

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 04:07 PM

If no one else has said it--

A birthday gift/card for Mudcat would be opportune, no?

~S~

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 04:20 PM

What about Roger in Baltimore? Liam's Brother? They were here when I came in late 1998. And, Ferrara?

There was a Golden Age and I am grateful to have been here for it.

Happy Birthday, Mudcat, Max, Jeff and Mudelves!

Long Live the Mudcat!!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Pistachio
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 05:42 PM

Best Wishes for Mudcats' 10th and mega thanks to those who keep 'her'/'him' or 'it' up and running.
H

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Cruiser
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:10 PM

How about a present of each of us donating at least $5.00 to $10.00 to Mudcat during the week of October 1? This site's archives are priceless so the money could help ensure greater stability through equipment upgrades, etc.

I will gladly give $10.00 since I have not donated this year.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Peter T.
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:18 PM

i don't know when I arrived, it was pretty early on (and I was not under my current moniker), but it was a great day for me. I can remember celebrating the first birthday! I can't believe it is ten years (one always says that).

Among the earliest highlights for me was, at the height of my early obsession, I was in Borneo and was actually able to get on Mudcat from a cafe in a village in the middle of the jungle! It was at that point that I realized that the Internet was more than just a passing fancy (as is Mudcat).

The second was the big meeting of Mudcatters in Toronto early on. I have never really gotten over seeing so many wonderful people suddenly become attached to names I knew well.

And so many friends, some here and some gone.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: catspaw49
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:30 PM

I'm sorry, Joe hates these birthday threads and even if Shambles does think he's a total asswipe, I like to keep him happy. I generally never refer to him as anything stronger than a tool. And Max is probably a bit down anyway after we here at Ohio State kicked Penn States ass this weekend and he lost our bet. Come to think of it I should have bet Pene/Jeff as well!!! So to appease Joe and make sure this birthday thread isn't a long list of similar good wishes.................

MUDCAT YOU CAN KISS MY ASS

See, that was pretty mild but the fact is that I kinda' like the old place..........I came here in late '98 and those denizens who lived here then and the newer ones who live here now have seen me and my family through so much............**can't even get into it**..........You know what I mean.

Many of us have benefitted from the friendships made here and know the real power that Mudcat has. There were those wonderful nights of Mudcat Radio and the Great Mudcat Tour, and all those cross pond visits and annamils first gathering and Wyzzy's gatherings too, Sinsull's Song Circles....and of course the Getaway that became a Mudcat event thanks to the friendship of those 'catters who belong to the FSSGW...........There were so many good times and bad times and all sorts of "times" in between.........And those years brought us friends and took them away. I can't think of this "birthday" without thing of Murray, BruceO, LR Mole, Little John Cameron, and of course Rick Fielding................................................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUDCAT and thanks to ya' Max for all these years and all these folks.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:51 PM

I love you, too, Spaw. What would we do without you?

I was on one of my long investigator itineraries in the fall of 1996 (I think that was when I was working Yosemite), and didn't discover Mudcat until January, 1997, when I discovered that the Digital Tradition had moved from Xerox to a new home, after having been offline for a while. I found Mudcat by searching for the DT.

The very first Mudcat thread is http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=004 - it got scrambled in the Crash of 2005, so I've linked to the printer-friendly version, which is in proper order. There is a Thread 1 and even a Thread 2 - but for some reason, thread 004 is the oldest and first.

We now have had some 94,964 threads, and this is message number 1842397. Let me get back to you on the number of registered members....

It's nice to be here. Thanks a lot for all this, Max.

-Joe-

---

Our most recent member is #19023, Duncan_Edwards - welcome, Duncan!!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:54 PM

I first heard about the DT in 2000, when Graham Moore ran a workshop at Whitby about internet folk resources, and Dick and Susan just happened to be there... was subsequently introduced to the Mudcat cafe at the Ducks' BBQ at Whitby in 2001. Many thanks to everyone who has kept it going for the last 10 years, and best wishes for the next 10+!

Kitty

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Ron Davies
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 06:59 PM

Congratulations to Max--and everybody else who helps Mudcat run smoothly. Even if we may not always show it, I'm sure we really do appreciate it.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Bugsy
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:03 PM

HAPPY 10th!! and thanks to Max and all you guys who work so hard on this website.

I REALLY MISS Mudcat Radio though.

Cheers



Bugsy

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 07:29 PM

Thank you Max, Joe, Dick and Susan, Pene Azul, Big Mick & the Joe Clones, and all others who are or have been associated with creating and keeping Mudcat going! Happy birthday.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:09 PM

There is a Thread 1 and even a Thread 2 - but for some reason, thread 004 is the oldest and first.

I like that.

The Golden Age for most things always seems to be just before we got there, at the same. And subsequently it turns out to be just after we got there.

I think the Mudcat is some kind of a miracle. Hangs on and somehow regains its balance every time it looks like its going over the edge. If we ever lose it, how we'll miss it. But that won't happen. Roll the old chariot along.

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Chip2447
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:24 PM

My first post as a registered catter was early in 2001, with at least a couple of years as a guest lurker who rarely read the threads and used the DT to find lyrics of songs that I had heard at a Renfest. Before that I can remember dropping in a few times a year as I went through my list of bookmarks. All in all I'd guess that I've been around here in one form or another since mid 1997 or so.

Happy Bday Mudcat,
Thanx Max...
Chip2447

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 08:57 PM

I knew that, Azizi. Saggies, you know. :)

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 09:03 PM

Yep!

:o))

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 09:54 PM

I've spent the best part of two hours browsing over the FlickR photos. What fun the Getaway is! Next year, for sure...

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Sep 06 - 11:36 PM

Bugsy, we miss YOU on Mudcat Radio!!!

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:04 AM

What a sad, sad, day when

The DeltaBlues

sunk into the fetid cat muck.

How I miss exchanging 3.5 floppies and DOS 3.0. and a world before the nattering neighbobs of negativism began foisting their anal-gasous-exhaust or wicked-wiccan-ways, upon simple, common, folk.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: GutBucketeer
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:47 AM

Damn how time flies!

I first found the Digital Tradition when Xerox was hosting it. Then it disapeared. Then Max generously decided to host it.

I lurked for awhile. The earliest post I can find that I made was from March 31 1998.

Still its been a long journey with more to come.

Happy Birthday to the MUDCAT!

JAB

Subject: RE: Mudcat's Birthday
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:47 AM

Garg, you have improved some over the years! You got foisting which surprised me but sadly blew nabob which is an easy one as well as gaseous. Also, the old verve is gone when you post like that without wishing one of us an early demise. Glad to see you anyway..........

Spaw