Remembering April Fools Day, 1999

Subject: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 01:28 PM

Twenty years ago, Max spoofed us into thinking that mudcat was shutting down. Some of us panicked, some laughed, but I think all realized, in those early days of mudcat, what we were coming to mean to each other. We knew we didn't want to lose that developing community! That very day, my son David constructed a website to keep us in touch, if mudcat did go down--an email list, birthday list, pictures, & portraits, which I administered for its first few years. This predated Facebook & helped to form us into a community.

As I am preparing to drive to Pennsylvania to attend Dick Greenhaus' memorial gathering, I reflect that it was because of Dick & the Digital Tradition lyrics database that I first discovered mudcat. Like many, I was searching for lyrics on the Internet & came across the Digital Tradition in my search. After a while, I wandered into the mudcat discussion forum & found a group of like-minded folks from all over the world. mudcat was my virtual home for many years!

mudcat also brought me into personal relationship with Sandy & Caroline Paton of Folk Legacy Records! One day, someone (perhaps Joe Offer?) starting a thread to let folks know that a new BMT recording had come out. I was teaching in Amenia, New York, at the time, just 30 minutes from Sharon, Connecticut & Folk Legacy & I got the bright idea that I could save time & shipping cost, if I could pick up the CD in person. I called the number & a delightful woman answered. She agreed that I could drop by after school, to buy the CD. Little did I realize, at the time, that Folk Legacy was a home business & I was inviting myself into someone's living room! True to form, Caroline invited me in, plied me with tea & conversation &, eventually, sold me some music! Thus began, a wonderful friendship that spanned the years till the passing of, first, Sandy, &, then, Caroline. They were my folkie parents & a blessing to my life. So, thanks, Max, for providing a home for folkies, through the ups & downs of life! Perhaps, others would like to share how you came to mudcat.

best,

bbc

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 01:35 PM

The original thread was titled "The Mudcat is Closing its Doors." I tried to make a link & got an error message.

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 02:17 PM

The Mudcat is Closing its Doors
See if this works.

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: GUEST,maeve
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 02:18 PM

Here you go, bbc:

Subject: RE: The Mudcat is Closing its Doors

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 02:27 PM

Thanks, guys! When I tried, things weren't moving very smoothly. I lost my first post, because of an error message, &, then, when I posted the message about the original thread, not only couldn't I get the link to work, it double-posted on me. I asked Joe to fix it.

Barbara

---

See how nice Mudcatters are? -Joe-

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 02:30 PM

No problem.
When posting links (including 'short-form' links to Mudcat) I always choose to 'Preview' the post, then attempt to open the link in a new tab to ensure I've got it right.

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: keberoxu
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 02:31 PM

Great,
you all made the link before I could attempt it.
That thread is a corker.

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 03:17 PM

Hi, Nigel,

It was when I was previewing that I got the error message. It seems, today, when I try to post, it's working about half the time. I keep getting the message "This site can't be reached."

Barbara

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 03:54 PM

Can you believe that was 20 years ago? My son was 17 when he set up Mudcat Photos & Info. It can still be accessed under the Mudcat FAQ thread. It's not up-to-date, however.

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: GUEST,keberoxu
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 06:15 PM

The link to your son's site says:

"You must me a member..."   
that's not MY typo,
that's what the link-page says.

April Fool indeed ...

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: bbc
Date: 01 Apr 19 - 06:19 PM

Funny, I never remember seeing that, but I am a member. Access was limited because personal information was shared. It was never intended to be publicly viewable.

Barbara

Subject: RE: Remembering April Fools Day, 1999
From: GUEST,Mad jock
Date: 06 Apr 19 - 07:34 PM

I met my wife on April 2nd .I still think that it might have been a day earlier on April 1st which would help explain the last 25 years.