I know you've all hit overload on the tags Netroots_Nation and NN12, but being family and all (hold that thought, it's important later :-)) I hope you'll indulge and follow me below the dingledoodlesquiggliedKosagnocchidividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
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I'm not going to write about Pub Quiz, although it was my first time. We lost spectacularly but had a great time, and I will never forget either Poland or the Golgi Apparatus again. I'm not going to ask for feedback, because sprinter Adam B already has. I'm not even going to ask so what happened while I was gone because BeninSC gave a stellar recap. Instead, let me tell you why I went.
NN12, heretofore forever known as Providence (as in Vegas-Chicago-Austin-Pittsburgh-Vegas-Minneapolis-Providence breathe), was my seventh at a YearlyKos Netroots Nation.
I'm not a hardcore boots-on-the-ground political activist. I'm not working for a campaign or an organization that is. Hell, I don't even write here about politics all that often; rather, I read what those smarter, quicker, and more aware of the Big Issues write. People ask "so what's your focus" and I reply "music, my kids, stuff that inspires me, and I herd the cats at Top Comments." So why have I made attending a priority, enough so that last year we missed K1's 13th birthday (she does still have the birthday cards :-)) and this year we missed, collectively, a talent show, recital, 8th grade semiformal, and an ordination?
It's simple. What I found that first YearlyKos, was community. Hundreds (back then, it was smaller :-)) of like-minded people. I don't mean we were lockstep in belief; no, we disagreed on PLENTY. But our core values and starting point for discussions were close. What I found the second year, though, was family. It was like Thanksgiving, when everyone comes home to spend a few days catching up with one another. And every year since, I meet more of my family. This year's highlights were meeting a gilas girl and armando, and yes I fangrrled all over both of them. They were gracious :).
Mr. Brillig just reminded me of something that Ed Tracey told him (I hope you'll correct me if I've got this wrong, Ed :-)). Apparently Ed was talking to one of the hotel or convention staff, who remarked that they'd seen a lot of conventions, but we were by far the huggiest one they'd ever seen. That's exactly how I describe it. I tell people who have never been that we go to see a thousand of our friends for a few days, and we all get inspired by the likes of Van Jones, Darcy Burner, Chuck Rocha, and more.
Two themes that sum up what it is that drives me to NN each year:
We share: We share meals together, be it coffee and bagels balanced on our laps during Lizz Winstead's Morning News Dump or a dinner reservation for 85 at the annual Cheers&Jeers dinner. We share information. We share our stories, which had to be the overriding theme of this NN for me. See this keynote by Darcy Burner, among so many others, for a schooling on why. We share Advil and band-aids and tips on where the free beer is. We find room shares so people can cut costs and squish on lobby couches so more people can hang out and talk. We even share outlets, those precious places where we can recharge our phones and iPads and laptops (note to future first-time attendees - bring an extension cord with room for two or three other plugs, and you will have friends galore!).
We give: We give our time, volunteering for everything from stuffing (and unstuffing) swag bags and cleaning off tables when they get too cluttered, to packing boxes for Netroots For The Troops and cleaning parks during the Day of Service. We give our talents, at panels and trainings and caucuses and karaoke. We give what money we can, to Democracy For America and NFTT, to our hotel staff, to other organizations. Casa Brillig gave a ride back to Boston to two attendees. Mr. Brillig was talking to someone and learned they needed to get to Boston so offered. The next morning, thatperson mentioned another Kossack who needed a ride and we noticed them sitting ONE TABLE AWAY at the Biltmore eating breakfast, so walked over and offered. Totally serendipitous and perfectly in tune with the spirit of NN.
I want to leave you with the perfect metaphor for why attending Netroots Nation feels like a family reunion to me. Saturday night after the closing session, several of us headed back to where the C&J dinner was to have dinner. Gizmo59 was there, and when our beer and meals arrived, without hesitation we offered tastes to each other. I don't know about you, but I do NOT share my food and drink with just anyone. It's an act which to me requires a relationship. At NN, I feel I have that. And I can't wait until next year, where I will meet more family I don't yet know, eat and sleep far too little, drink far too much, and lose my voice cheering or yelling up to Elon that yes, seeing Raven in tights would be something to see.
I miss my NN family, but it's good to be here with you, my TC family. Please stop by this Thursday especially, as it's the 6th Anniversary of Top Comments.
See you in San Jose? No, I am NOT linking to That Song. It's safe to check the tip jar.
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From Noddy:
Polecat sums up a goal of the 1% in MinistryOfTruth's diary.
gchaucer2 explains that Obama's comments about Romney's campaign (first mentioned by trix on an earlier Jed Report) was too generous on the Jed Report.
From Angie in WA State:
A spot-on comment by blueoldlady about the State of our Union in the modern era, in a diary by david mizner that should be required reading to login to Daily Kos.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
kovie hit the nail on the head with this comment in Aaron Krager's diary No Shame in Abortion, Let's Get Darcy's Back.
In Laura Clawson's diary When he talks about education, Mitt Romney leaves out the most important word in his plan, Siri begins a thread and Nina Katarina responds. I wish I could go haha funny but it hits too close to one possible future truth, imho.
Top Mojo for yesterday, June 11th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) Once a teacher, always a teacher. by Matt Esler — 194
2) Thanks for your defense of Ed by Buckeye54 — 179
3) Oh, god, I hope Obama doesn't dump Biden in favor by Bob Johnson — 117
4) If Willard loses FL by Hopefruit2 — 108
5) I guess he figures W killed any chances by qazplm — 108
6) Yes it does have teeth! Especially this paragraph by hungrycoyote — 97
7) Q: You know what they call the last guy to cross by white blitz — 95
8) I Like Strongly Worded Letters Tht Include Phrases by Gooserock — 87
9) Surprise surprise surprise by Dallasdoc — 87
10) In that MTP episode mentioned in your diary by eXtina — 84
11) We do not want to see a repeat of this: by hungrycoyote — 83
12) When the US body politic... by Lupin — 79
13) durbin has been horrifying lately... by joe shikspack — 77
14) You'll always be a teacher here. n/t by psnyder — 78
15) You got just one thing wrong, Ken by Otteray Scribe — 73
16) His observation that the bankers own the Senate by Dallasdoc — 70
17) this is a new letter, and it has teeth. by G2geek — 68
18) LOL by TomP — 67
19) I think you are right. by TomP — 66
20) If you taught as well as you write here, by psilocynic — 65
21) On my weak days I was still a very good one by teacherken — 64
22) I'm glad you're safe, soy-- by david mizner — 63
23) Oh, hush by blue aardvark — 63
24) Write down today's date. by HappyinNM — 62
25) It is also true by blue aardvark — 62
26) These tirades are a fucking drag. by labradog — 61
27) I'm home! by KelleyRN2 — 61
28) I don't think the DOJ is just barking this time... by hotdamn — 61
29) Working people? by blue aardvark — 57
30) What's sad is how many uncritical, unthinking, by One Pissed Off Liberal — 55
Top Pictures for yesterday, June 11th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!