UPDATE: I had to share this wonderfully clever artwork from the ever-creative and very talented AuntieChrist! Cheers and props, brutha!
Hello all!
Our 2nd HuffNo Friday is approaching, big thanks to KevenSeven for getting the ball rolling and being such a great organizer and advocate of it.
Again, the dual purpose is to both make a statement that has some impact on HuffPo about their conduct at their site and towards their members…while at the same time, arrange an entertaining evening here to have a little fun and recharge after discussing so many intense issues all week.
The more the merrier so we do want to invite as many folks from HuffPo and elsewhere to join us. So, a couple of practical matters first.
1. Those who wish to participate (this is totally optional, please don’t feel obligated) can observe HuffNo Friday by going to HuffPo on Thursday to invite people throughout the day to join us Friday night at PlanetPOV . We will then boycott HuffPo beginning at 9pm PST on Thursday night and officially ending at 11:59 pm PST Friday night.
Meanwhile, right here on Friday night we’ll have a Music thread, an issue thread and maybe we’ll give the Live Chat a whirl. We’ve got some other ideas to keep developing HuffNo Friday into a more and more entertaining evening here.
Our music thread alone should be a good incentive to HuffPo folks to come on over since you can post the actual videos in your comments. Not to mention the troll-free environment and moderation-free posting.
2. As I’ve mentioned, HuffPo has blacklisted our URL so there are four ways you can refer people here:
a. You can instead include a link in your post at HuffPo to our referral site: http://planetpov.wordpress.com/ which gives them a link to click to come to The Planet.
b. You can put a space between “planet” and “pov” in the regular URL and tell folks to paste it into their browser then remove the space ( http://planet pov.com)
c. You can update your Profile at HuffPo, include a line inviting people to join you at http://planetpov.com/ then invite HuffPo members and tell them to check your profile for the site info.
d. You can invite people and tell them to Google “planetpov” to get here.
Again, boycotting HuffPo on Friday is 100% optional. We know that going cold turkey is difficult so if you can’t kick HuffPo on your own, we can recommend a methadone clinic in your neighborhood.
One more base to touch now (unless the Yankees throw me out) is describing some of many ways we can continue to build our community here at The Planet from other directions than HuffPo.
To begin, I’d like to quote a comment by javaz today which really meant a lot to me and no doubt the other co-founders of The Planet:
javaz:
Off topic, but I am writing people in my life, and telling them to visit this site.
It’s selfish on my part, because I am telling my friends and loved ones that I’ve finally been published!
I’ll do anything because I want to see this site succeed, and see it flourish.
We are the anti-HP, and a true liberal site.
Freedom of speech and freedom of expression lives here on Planet POV!
Speaking for all the founders of The Planet, I have to say how wonderful and humbled we feel at reading javaz’s sentiment, not to mention the many other kind words and thoughts expressed by other members about what we’re doing here and the very generous donations already made by members and readers alike to keep The Planet in orbit.
We envisioned The Planet to be a place that was a reflection and expression of the membership. The larger we can build our community here, the more our freely expressed words and thoughts can have an impact.
javaz’s point was very resonant, The Planet is indeed here to be your publisher of whatever thoughtful articles and ideas you want published and read around the world (we have people from 30 countries visiting our site). Don’t be shy about sharing links to your articles with friends, family and colleagues and invite them to share their thoughts here as well.
There are several other ways that you can help spread the word and help build your audience and the community here at The Planet:
1. Click on Favorite and networking icons below articles.
Below each article are a string of icons and links that can connect an article to Facebook, Digg, Twitter, etc. If you really like an article, please consider clicking on one or more of these to help promote that article around the internet. You can do this with your own articles as well. There is also an Email option there that allows you to quickly and easily email any article to whoever you think might appreciate it.
To do some of these things, you will need to set up accounts with each service. If you don’t already have Facebook, Twitter, etc. accounts, it’s pretty quick and easy to create your own account.
2. Network with PlanetPOV.
Okay, we’re all pretty annoyed with HuffPo shoving its Facebook social networking down our throats over there. But the reason they’re doing it is that they obviously think it will greatly increase their popularity.
So, in an as-unobnoxious-as-possible way, I do reservedly suggest that you consider becoming our friend on Facebook. Our account is named, “Adlib Planetpov” and many of our articles post there which will then be shared with your friends and so on and so on…
We also have a Digg account and a Twitter account under “PlanetPOV” which you can network with.
Unfortunately, there’s not enough time in the day nor workforce for us to update all of these services all the time, we’ll get there (volunteers are welcome, just email me if you’d like to help), but your networking with us would be a great step in helping build awareness of our site and articles.
3. Feel free to post excerpts of your own articles and links to them at other progressive blogs.
I found this to be very effective, post an excerpt of your article at HuffPo, include the link with the space between “planet” and “pov” and instructions to remove the space and if you’ve whetted people’s appetite with your excerpt, you can turn them into readers of your entire article at The Planet.
DailyKos is another great place to do this and they don’t censor like HuffPo (I really like DailyKos though I’m not as crazy about the layout there) and there are a number of other progressive blogs where you can leave comments and link back to your or someone else’s article at The Planet.
This is all synergistic, HuffNo Friday, making The Planet an enlighting, satisfying and entertaining place, building up the site and its membership…it’s all about establishing a growing and genuine citizen’s think tank where the thoughts and opinions of real people can be given the kind of weight and attention they deserve in a democracy.
The corporations, billionaires, Religious Right…all these fractions of the population get their voices heard and use that to politically press their agendas on the majority, the voices of real people should be heard at least as loudly.
That’s what we accomplished just over one year ago today by electing Barack Obama as President. It’s now clear that Huffington Post and other fair weather friends of Pres. Obama and the Progressive Movement won’t be standing behind both. With your support, even if it’s in a small way, we can continue to stand together for our principles as a strong and growing community.
Just wanted to make the 500th post on this thread.
Go on about your business now, nothing to see here.
LOL, 501 now, if you don’t like uneven numbers, I can make it disappear in a flash or maybe not. Carry on!
Monk– You were talking about people staying away from this site because of loyalty to certain other coolkid posters.
I am the problem, am I not?
NO. You are the solution.
Whatever are you talking about?
Signed, your marketing director.
How much do you charge?
I don’t think so, but I didn’t see the beginning last week, and I’m biased. short e-mail enroute.
You cannot control how others are, nor can any of the rest of us.
Live and love your own life, that is all any of us can do.
You know your friends are here for you.
Just wanted to report in that I had encounters today with Gringo in the morning and flossy this evening and called them by their opposite sock; they both wimped out and quickly disappeared. Flossy said Gringo was his buddy, but it was too late. We all let him have it and he went…poof.
HP is trying to take back the main, scrubbing away all our songs so we moved. It was a boring one, anyway.
I had it out pretty good with the trolls in the teabag sites, what a catharsis and a good way to make a work day go faster. But, the afternoon was dreadfully slow.
What happened to the site? I tried all day.
My Artie Johnson impression:
“Interesting…”
verrrrry interesting.
(takes puff from cig and blows from behind the ficus tree)
Dude, you’re old too!
Finish it!!!
“Veeeerrry interesting. But stupid.”
The “but stupid” could change every week on Laugh-In. Hence why I did not include it.
Stop beating me up girlfriend.
That was my favorite part.
Sorry. 🙁
Actually, Laugh-In is a little before my time, but I remember for a while they showed re-runs … and I remember thinking, “man is this humour ever dated…”
Your spelling is British. Are you?
Canadian.
Problems with the host, but all is well. Hang here with us, Kid.
We are here for the long haul, and I mean long haul.
We are very loyal dogs, perhaps what defines us?
What say you peeps?
Please observe the boycott!
I will be what I am. My loyalty is here.
Please don’t manage me.
I will. I like to chill here, away from the trolls. But, I like to take them on, too. heh heh heh. Most of our friends know about the planet; you see I delivered Mika, who is so cool, one of my favs.
Looks like Agent86 got the 86 from HP.
Do you mind if I ask how old you are?
No offense, but am curious?
KK talks about serving “in country” Put’s him around my age mid fifties
Are you asking me? This is where this format throws me sometimes. If indeed you are asking, I am 61.
Age is of the mind.
No matter about the physical stuff.
Yes, It is Me, the Queen.
Punk!
Again? Geez.
Again?
Missed it by that much!
Wow
Okay, let me try this again, and if this post went through before I crashed, I apologize.
We do not have access to DSL, and we are frugal people, so we do not pay for cable or satellite, so we are on dialup, and it’s really slow with all the traffic.
Hito got the answer – Simon and Garfunkel.
Unknown soldier wrote an excellent post and I do not think that I am alone in welcoming him/her and hoping he/she authors an article here on the Planet.
To BigDogMom – the people who owned that pit bull that attacked our beloved cock-a-poo have moved in the middle of the night.
I promise that I will not post again tonight since my server cannot keep up, but I’ll be here and reading whatever you all write.
Joan, I’m missing you already, but happy you will continue to read.
Thanks for the beer, kind words, and for the promise that I’ll see you tomorrow.
BTW, It’s Kris.
May I butt in just to say Joan Baez, Joan Fontaine, Joan Cusak, Joan of Arc. Cool people are named Joan. My favorite teacher was named Joan — she looked like Cher and rode a motorcycle to school every day. Sometimes she’d drive in with her Afghanhound, Veruska.
Thank you!
Well how odd, here too or rather Kris is an abbreviation of mine.
Kris meets Kris!
Actually I have to laugh when KarateKid signs KK because those are my initials.
OH, those are the initials of importance in my life Kalima.
Indeed. How cool.
Out of the millions of people who blog every day, I think so too. A first for me.
Say what! I’m confused. Was happy you shared your given name…and a fine one it is. One of my best friends in HS was “javaz”. Of the arc fame, mighty and fierce, just what we need.
Sorry this took too long. And again, thanks for the chilled mugs and beer and back chair.
Have one of those hot patches in place on my neck. Herniated C4-C5-C6.
Javaz, I hope we’re cool.
Sorry to butt in, just wanted to say that I’m very familiar with your pain. Be careful not to overdo it on your computer, I sometimes have to stop for about 20 minutes to take the strain off my neck.
Be better soon and take care, it’s no fun.
OK, I have shut down Huff an will not go back until Sat. (I was late getting home and wanted to see if there were any others that I wanted to invite).
I have a good feeling about tomorrow. I think most of y’all are going to boycott Huff, and that makes an old man happy. If we maintain this development curve, three weeks from now we will have shot a hole right thru the middle of Huff.
Enjoy Friday at the Planet, and I hope to have a column for you that you will find interesting. Off to sleep for me, good night.
Are you Queen of the damned on HP?
justplainfedup
Hi guys! Anyone still awake?
Hey Mika! Fancy seeing you here!
Hi MikaS, a number of people have been asking about you! Welcome back to The Planet!
I’d say things are going pretty well, eh?
Oh, and I just saw my kitty. She is a very nice kitty. She came in the room with a dead rat in her mouth. I really like my kitty. I wish you could seem my kitty. I am sure you would like my kitty with her dead rat breath.
That’s beginning to look like an understatement!
A huge and grateful thanks to you and my many other friends here, long time and new, who are so generously contributing their time and energy to helping grow The Planet!
And BTW:
Kitty kitty
Bo Bitty
Banana fana fo fitty
Fee Fi Mo itty
Kitty!
What about my kitty with her rat breath?
Check out my new edit in my above comment.
And rat breath can’t be so bad, isn’t Lieberman married?
Give her something fishy to eat.
Did I deliver or what??
Kid, glad to see you!
Excellent.
I have several new sites to check out, as I have bookmarked all of them.
Thanks again folks, I appreciate your help.
BTW, This place rocks…Brilliant…
Have a good morning folks….
You too!
Great stuff AC.
Thank you AGAIN KQuark.
I can’t figure out the html code at all… I used to do tech stuff, but never had any need for HTML coding.
I’ll have to pick my son’s brain.
…now to find that pick.
Auntie Christ
Hey do you see the edit button in the top right of your comments?
Yes.
Click to Edit?
is what I assume you may be talking about… I should never use the phrase assume.
OKAY
Thank you KQuark!
NOW I get it!
Damn I’m slow!
No problemo.
Hey, do they have Windows 7 on that thing…?
LOL… no comment. Real wars are bad enough.
OS wars are pointless. 😉
~smile~
LOL!!!
My father was a Linux guy
so is my brother.
Excellent per usual, AC!
You rock…
Thank you SnD, if I could only figure out how KQuark is able to do the embedding part…
I don’t know anything about that.
I’m kinda tech challenged.
I don’t understand it either.
Still trying to figure the Press This program on the tools page..
Cool.
Hello Escribacat.
Hello Escribacat.
Howzit?
Oops.
This would make a great Billboard
Thanks Auntie C
Brilliant AC!
Now what on earth am I doing all the way down here?
Hello all.
I’d like some suggestions for political and news sites.
I already visit sites like Firedoglake, Boing Boing, AMERICAblog, Thruthdig,Crooks and Liars, and Think Progress.
I sometimes check out AP, and Reuters.
Any suggestions would be very helpful.
Thank you.
Salon & Daily Kos can be interesting also.
Excellent.
I’m gonna make a list and bookmark some sites very soon.
Thanks, PatsyT.
I like Salon a lot. An excellent magazine format. Kos is OK but I can’t figure out the format.
I agree about the format. Looks and ease of use matter.
HP has gotten to look like a a string of crazy billboards
and it has slowed down with all the added visual weight.
Garish, isn’t it?
I guess they found their gravy train.
Thanks, KevenSeven.
I exist, only to serve.
Haha!
Hi.
I like MSNBC.com, Open Left and Daily KOS, too.
USA TODAY actually has a decent web site.
Thanks, Pepe.
I like this site
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/
If you haven’t seen it –
You can get the local flavor anywhere
Drag the cursor around and
check out the newspapers all over the country and the world for that matter.
Excellent. Thanks again,PatsyT.
Seek: Have you tried the Darryl Cagle website? He has all the latest political cartoons from around the country and the world. http://cagle.com/politicalcartoons/
Christian Science Monitor used to have a great political cartoonist but he moved on the the (Nashville?) Tennessee newspaper and their webiste is pay for view. Their articles are pretty even handed, too.
Thanks FM.
WashingtonIndependent is good and FiveThirtyEight is a must for numbers freaks like me.
Thanks KQuark.
Don’t forget, the official boycott starts in less than 15 minutes PST at 9 pm.
I was lurking (I learned a new term here tonight) at hp, and saw something that might be fun for here on a slow news Huff-no Friday– They were posting lines from movies for the others to guess.
Still unsure of the parameters here, so forgive me for my probable lameness.
Let it fly DG.
You can speak plainly, even curse. Most don’t for the most part, but what the hell.
(Shit)..heh….
Mother fucker!
Personally, I never tire of typing Dick Cheney is an asshole.
Ha!
LMAO!
Watch your goddamned language. There’s a lady present, for Christ’s sake.
Really!
Jesus Fucking Christ!
Wish I could type with an Indian accent. My father had a distinctive way of saying, “GodDAMNED sons of BITCHES.”
He he!
You guys if I laugh to much-
I am going to wake up my kids
Cut it out
Putain!
I have not been observing it very religiously, but I only just got back to my computer….
You know, I noticed something. Last week was a lot of bashing Arianna and HuffPost in general. This week is a lot of bashing the trolls who have infected those forums. It must all be part of the catharsis.