Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

Our Recent Essays Behind the Front Page

Much Sorry with Delays
Birth, Death and All That Stuff in Between
How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
My Yom Kippur Miracle (Repost from 2010)
Good intro to fly casting
Peach update, with pie
NYC update
Easy for you to say: To the elites on mass immigration
For NYC on 9/11, Sailors' Snug Harbor
Pickled Peaches
Water Shoes
Labor Costs in U.S.
Your "identity"
Good news about The Great Courses
Uses of Hot Pepper Jelly/Sauce, Chutneys, and Jams
A Saturday Drive to Litchfield County, CT
How to Pick a Kayak
Civilized: Fruit forks and knives
Loads of kayaking on Cape Cod
Psychology Experiments' Questionable Results

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Saturday, December 3. 2005

Lurkers vs. The Blog People

"Lurkers" was an "old" style term for those who visit blogs without leaving a comment or a trace. Nowadays, many popular blogs require registration (which never seems to work right for me - or I would spread my Bird Dog wisdom around more widely), and other obstacles to commenters, in an effort to prevent spammers, vandals, and the like. Others simply eliminated their comments capability, as we used to do. (We read all comments, eventually, but only respond when we have something to say.)

This comes to mind because Rick Moran, one of the finest bloggers in the world, tends to leave a comment when he stops by. We do appreciate that, being suckers for love and validation, like all dogs.

Just got back from taking the pup for a walk in the woods (sans gun today - tomorrow gunning), and the pup naturally leaves a drop of pee with his special scent on rocks and tree trunks -wherever appropriate. Please feel welcome to similarly mark your scent on Maggie's Farm. But in words, please. Do not pee on us - life does enough of that.

That is why we require no registration - and we never will, unless we run into a problem with destructive people. We aren't big enough (yet) to attract the bad guys, but we have had plenty of spammer problems.

Posted by Bird Dog in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:01 | Comments (11) | Trackbacks (0)

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I never knew I was a lurker before, but knowing you have a problem is the first step in working on it!

(Thank you kindly for the link too!)
#1 Eric Scheie (Link) on 2005-12-03 13:42 (Reply)
Yes, I lurk at your site every day, just to see what people are writing. For some reason I don't write for my own blog much - it takes time, emotional investment. But I do enjoy yours!
#2 Todd (Link) on 2005-12-04 05:01 (Reply)
"Lurkers" welcome!
#3 bird dog on 2005-12-04 05:36 (Reply)
You say 'lurker' like it's a bad thing. I will continue to lurk so long as you continue to write interesting stuff and should the missives inspire, I will cease my lurking and come out of the shadows to respond.
#4 Jim on 2005-12-04 07:58 (Reply)
Great!
As I said, Lurkers Welcome. We're open 24 hours a day.
I just wanted to welcome comments - that's all.
Not to criticize - not at all.
#5 bird dog on 2005-12-04 08:04 (Reply)
I did not take it as a criticism at all. My comment was just a little 'tongue in cheek', me being me. I like Maggie's alot and enjoy the variety. Keep doing what you're doing, please.
#5.1 Jim on 2005-12-10 13:07 (Reply)
Actually, I prefer leaving my mark cat-like, sidling up and brushing my head (where my powerful scent glands are located) against you leg.

Many mistake this as a sign of affection...or would you rather I use my claws on the furniture?
#6 Rick Moran (Link) on 2005-12-04 14:46 (Reply)
Bird Dog, for some strange reason, doesn't like cats. I think because they keep their distance, tend to look quizzically rather than adoringly like dogs. Is it a Republican weakness, to be unable to appreciate ambivalence, complexity, love and hate all in one package?

As for me, I am like the Algerians Frantz Fanon described, identifying with my oppressor...ooops, here comes the cat!
#7 churchmouse on 2005-12-04 14:56 (Reply)
hahaha.
what great, literate, articulate readers we are blessed with.
#8 bird dog on 2005-12-04 16:29 (Reply)
Okay, I'll leave a squirt.

Where do pets come from?

A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?"

Adam and Eve said, "Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you any more. We are lonesome here, and it is
difficult for us to remember how much you love us."

And God said, "No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or
childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will
accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of yourselves."

And God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased.
And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his
tail.

And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my
love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them. And they were comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And Cat would not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat's eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings. And Adam and Eve learned humility. And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased. And Dog was happy.

And Cat didn't give a shit one way or the other.
#9 Santay on 2005-12-05 07:10 (Reply)
We lurk because your blog is full of witty, well-written (including generally gramatically correct) and interesting stuff. When I read some of the posts here, it inspires me (at least sometimes) to think a little harder. Keep up the good work.
#10 blackdog on 2005-12-05 08:13 (Reply)

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