I wanted to write tonight about Top Comments and the theory behind it, as I think of it, anyway. There are a number of diary series on dKos which I think of as ‘Community Diary’ series. Obviously Diary Rescue fits that bill, but many of the diary series - even if they have built a steady and reliable clientele (as IGTNT has, for example) - do not have a group of regulars who gather there each evening to visit and socialize and talk about anything they wish.
Top Comments does have such a group, however. I can go back to Carnacki’s first TC diaries and read comments from people who still come here, and I can see some of the same names in the list of recommending readers, as well. Some of our current or past diarists were regulars before taking the plunge to do a TC diary.
I can’t say why TC appeals to everyone, and indeed no one has to explain! Not required! Here are my thoughts, however. TC appealed to me from Day One because of what I missed most when I began frequenting the Daily Kos. Dialogue with progressive human beings who weren’t just coincidentally on the blog, but who would visit and socialize and engage on a friendly human level.
While TC has evolved a lot over the nearly two years it has been here, it is still, for me, the closest thing to a blog version of Cheers, where if everyone does not exactly know your name, at least they know your dKos nickname and your persona. Something of your nature and interests, perhaps some idea of what kind of comments appeal to you.
Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
Your troubles are all the same.
You wanna be where everybody knows
your name.
You wanna go where people know,
People are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.
(Lyrics obtained from here.)
(I always loved tha song! Still do!)
Making your way in the world today - the world conservatives have tried to create this past 7+ years - really can take nearly everything you’ve got. Taking a break from all your worries sure CAN help a lot! Never underestimate the power of benevolent, caring, nurturing community.
The Daily Kos is very special. Speaking for myself, Top Comments, thanks to each and every one of you, is the most special place within it.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Top Comments will have a Surprise Guest diarist tomorrow night! Details to follow! (Well, not really.) Believe me, you don’t want to miss Thursday’s Top Comments diary, by a Special Guest diarist! I cannot reveal just who it is, exactly, due to the nature of surprises, but I think Thursday will be a lot of fun, and I am planning on attending the event, myself, just to savor and enjoy!
Keep in mind that NO ONE - not even TC diarists and regulars - know who tomorrow night's Guest Diarist will be. ;x I am not positive that I know! ;x
Update: I just got an email from markos moulitsas, call-sign ‘kos,’ wanting to know who the surprise TC diarist is going to be! (Not really. ;) ) I was obliged to tell him that it was a secret, and that even the other TC diarists did not know who it was. I did point out that the secret would be revealed tomorrow night, and that I hoped he would stay tuned (and not ban me in a fit of pique)!
Next Update: It’s clear the dKos admins are pulling out all the stops, and now Meteor Blades, SusanG and Hunter want to know who tomorrow night’s diarist is going to be! (Not really. ;) ) I told them that in fairness to markos I could hardly tell them who it was when I had demurred when he asked. After some grumbling and some intense threats, they agreed to wait with everyone else.
Update III. What is going to happen next?! Keith Olbermann wants to know who is hosting TC tomorrow night! (Not really. ;) ) Says he wants to do a lead-in feature on Countdown, and he wants it to be exclusive, which means he needs it, if at all possible, before Colbert starts calling. I asked him if he did not have other things to cover, and he said that, until this administration ends, he really didn’t expect any uplifting news, until he heard about TC Thursday.
Update IV. Now John Kerry is asking. (Not really. ;) ) He says advance notice is the surest way to avoid having the diarist ‘swift-boated.’ It was a compelling argument, but I had to decline. I have my fingers crossed that he won’t give out the number to Teresa Heinz!
Update V. My mail provider just contacted me and informed me that they suspect the Bush Administration has been trying to read my email, ostensibly to find out who is hosting TC tomorrow night. (Not really. At least, I don’t THINK so!) They don’t believe they succeeded, and said that as long as I continued to compose email in complete sentences, it should be safe.
Update VI. Hillary Clinton called, offering to drop her candidacy for the presidency if I will share with her the identity of tomorrow night’s diarist. (Wishful thinking, as that would have won the prize! ;x )
Update VII. It has been some moments since the last update, my thinking is that they have given up and will wait until tomorrow to see who it will be. Time will tell! ;x
Update VIII: The phone company emailed me that my phone is broken, and that they're taking messages. (Not really. ;x )
Update IX: The surprise diarist is none other than OrangeClouds115! The diary is up and may be found here! Please stop in!
(Private note to Hillary: You can stop now! All is well!)
Now for tonight's comments!
From teacherken:
From my diary I am a liberal because ManhattanMan explains clearly why those who have succeeded in business should be willing to pay taxes on that success in If you started a business . . .
From Cronesense:
Bless him and his partner of 15 years, Bill in Portland Maine, posts his entire LTE for us to cheer - in the diary, Top Honors for Bill in Portland Maine, by EJP in Maine!
To understand the reasons behind his LTE here is a link to the editorial that prompted Bill to respond to, "the twisted mind of the right-wing ultra-conservative evangelical," as he puts it in his comment.
I know this will be in the top mojo lists but it is too good to miss!
From Killer of Sacred Cows:
A top comment worthy of the distinction!
From OrangeClouds115:
I loves my musicals :)
From vertextoflife:
This entire comment thread is hilarious, mentioning all sorts of perfect names for occupations. Laugh of the night. =)
From bronte17:
Heh... Inland asks a simple question! ;)
From dmsilev's diary, here.
From earicicle:
Hi Team TC:
In JeffLieber's sharp and provocative diary, Three simple words, Fe Bongolan sent a thrill up my leg with this description of anticipating Obama's acceptance speech.
Thanks!
Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments (top 22 tonight of each plus ties):
1 Aw shucks. Here's the whole letter: by Bill in Portland Maine - 225
2 I listened to both speeches by Granny Doc - 138
3 Holy crap. by strengthANDwisdom - 127
4 I can't take it anymore! by Jez - 123
5 Huh? by LarsThorwald - 102
6 Seriously. First it's by Ex Real Republican - 101
7 Hey! by Leo in NJ - 100
8 C'mon... by MichaelPH - 99
9 I'm curious how gay men cause abortion by notksanymore - 94
10 And MSNBC's Ms. O'Donnell by Granny Doc - 87
11 Bill keeps his yard clean? by Debbie Cook for Congress - 81
12 Why Hillary supporters can't SEE how this by cscmm - 80
13 Also by not this time - 77
14 Hillary LOST this nomination because she failed by cscmm - 77
15 When are they going to issue this correction? by arthura - 77
16 And here's the column I responded to: by Bill in Portland Maine - 75
17 If this was happening to an ethnic group by deaniac83 - 75
18 Already have... by Schopenhauer Telescope - 70
19 Happy Hump Day by Debbie in ME - 68
20 What about the voters? by ItsJessMe - 67
21 Just imagine if Clinton won the most by Marinesquire - 67
22 War crimes is right. by TomP - 66
23 There's a reason Obama's campaign is becoming by PocketNines - 65
24 No, Markos wrote about this quite awhile ago... by Los Diablo - 64
25 Matthews: "Maybe it is an Appalachian issue only" by Geenius at Wrok - 63
26 Possibly..., by sp0t - 63
27 If we had decent public transportation by aaraujo - 62
28 Yeah by Jez - 62
29 Two months from now by GOTV - 61
30 Her frustration is so apparent by Fairy Tale - 61
Top Mojo - everything included:
1 Tips by EJP in Maine - 532
2 tips and recs for Puerto Ricans for Obama n/t by Deoliver47 - 514
3 Tip Jar by Schopenhauer Telescope - 425
4 Tip jar and call to action. by another American - 386
5 Peace - by teacherken - 347
6 Tip Jar! by bloudr - 333
7 Tip Jar by Billary Redux - 326
8 Let's bust this one into the MSM by Troutfishing - 310
9 Or maybe just... by JeffLieber - 303
10 Frustration Jar. by srkp23 - 287
11 Tip Jar - 21 May by Jerome a Paris - 265
12 here she is! by buhdydharma - 256
13 Aw shucks. Here's the whole letter: by Bill in Portland Maine - 225
14 Very well said. by Ex Real Republican - 217
15 When you're in a hole... by vertexoflife - 213
16 Screw tips, I want drugs by OrangeClouds115 - 197
17 Wow ... by Calvin Jones and the 13th Apostle - 180
18 Tips/recs by maxnyc - 155
19 My condolances. I'm sure she's... by David Kroning - 148
20 I listened to both speeches by Granny Doc - 138
21 Holy crap. by strengthANDwisdom - 127
22 You can tip, but please don't rec by OrangeClouds115 - 126
23 Just once, I'd like to hear the media reverse... by Melody Townsel - 125
24 I can't take it anymore! by Jez - 123
25 Holy smokes! by benthos - 109
26 She is one bitter person by kubrick2008 - 106
27 Tip jar by ThatPoshGirl - 104
28 Huh? by LarsThorwald - 102
29 Seriously. First it's by Ex Real Republican - 101
30 Hey! by Leo in NJ - 100
Please add your own comment finds, below!
And, whatever you do, plan to stop in tomorrow night for our guest diarist!
We have so many insightful and powerful diaries written here at Daily Kos. Our diaries inform, inflame, impassion, and even entertain. We Kossacks have strong voices and an even stronger will to be the change we wish to see in this country.
