BS: What is a mudcat?

Subject: What is a mudcat?
From: GUEST,Guest, BlueJay
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:52 PM

You're probably sick of this question, but what exactly is a MUDCAT? I've seen this site enough to have a feel for what a MUDCATTER is, but my dictionary doesn't list "mudcat". The closest thing I know is MUDDUCK, an endagered species, (due to retirement), of Colorado and Southern railroad employees. Way before all the mergers with the former Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, Denver Colorado was hit with a major flood in 1965. Rained for about a month and we had no flood control. Wiped out large sections of downtown, including Rice Yards, the C&S terminal. I worked for them later, but as I heard it, the poor bastards had to slog around in the mud for over a month- hence the monikeer MUD DUCKS was stuck on them by their competitor, the CB&Q. The C&S proudly adopted the term MUDDUCK, printing T-shirts and caps depicting ducks kicking mud on the CB&Q. Sadly, because of meergers, the CB&Q, Colorado and Southern and the great former Santa Fe railroad are now one. I live in southern Colorado, once a hub of the C&S. Few remember the C&S, and virtually no one remembers the heritage of MUDDUCK. I may have to start a campaign!

Back to my original question: what is a MUDCAT?

Subject: RE: BS: What is a mudcat?
From: GUEST,lloyd61
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 05:55 PM

Thanks for asking BlueJay.

I was wondering also.

lloyd61

Subject: RE: BS: What is a mudcat?
From: JamesJim
Date: 01 Feb 00 - 06:16 PM

Hi Bluejay and Lloyd 51 - Take a look at the top of the Mudcat Home Page and you'll see a beautiful fish jumping out of a banjo (filled appropriately with water). A mudcat is a pretty rough character - a catfish (brown in color) that mostly feeds on the bottom. If you ever catch one, you'll know that he/she is a fighter. Even a small mudcat puts up one hell of a fight and when you real em' in, watch out for their "barbs." They will let you know that don't appreciate being caught.

Others at the Mudcat can tell you the reason for naming this site (only been here a few months myself), but I think it is a very appropriate name. Folkies are fighters with a positive attitude. We know the world isn't perfect, but that doesn't stop us from trying to make it that way. And, I can't think of a tougher group than a "school" of mudcats! Jim