Auto/Ivor,

And DUH! I forgot the best strategy I have ever seen folks use in Silly Season-- MUSIC threads! Some people have enjoyed doing these things:

1. Peruse the music threadlist and add info where you can. (Resist the temptation to badinage; the music threads will last longer than the humor and are a research resource more than a series of chat rooms.)

2. Refresh lyric/tune/info requests that seem about to fall off the day's menu so they will get another day's viewing. Google up anything you can to answer the requests yourself. I believe Sorcha used to make it a game to see how fast she could answer these. You will grow your bookmarks as a result.

3. Look up the Unanswered Requests Permathread and see if you can find anything to help answer any of the requests.

4. Able to write notation in a music program? MMario runs the Great Tune Hunt for midi's to go with songs that are in the DT or posted in threads, that lack tunes.

5. Look up the Permathread Index and enjoy reading some of the permathreads you never heard of.

6. Explore the site features you might not have noticed.

7. Send a PM encouraging or complimenting someone. Live a little-- send two or three! :~)

8. Look through the Mudcat Profiles and write yours up.

9. Put something in the Mudcat Auction.

10. Pick a music topic and offer to index the threads that go with it. (Look in the FAQ or Site Index thread for a list of some that need an index.)

11. Pick a thread that looks boring (go back a year in the filter box) and then read all of it and follow the links in it to see all the strange places it goes.

12. Pick a couple of Mudcat regulars you respect and bring up their posting history. Enjoy their Mudcat infancy or gain wisdom from them. Rick Fielding (now departed) is one, and Lonesome EJ is another (still with us thank God).

I think the HOW of doing any of these is in the FAQ, somewhere. Good hunting!

~Susan