It's after midnight - so this is my 20th anniversary on DU. I also screwed up - I wanted it to be post 60K [View all]

But I responded to 2 posts prior to now before I remembered.

20 years - and 60,000 posts - many of which were made as a moderator (DU2), or as a frequent MIRT member - so I really don't have all that much to say.

I really can't put into words adequately what having DU has meant to me. I came here 20 years ago fleeing the miseries of the Dubya presidency seeking sanity and like minded people. Mission accomplished ( )

DU has changed as our politics - and us - have taken our lumps - mainly the Bernie/Hillary stuff, which really did have quite a profound effect on the atmosphere here - and more recently, the IP stuff - nearly as profound an impact. It has also been rough to see familiar names either depart, or die - 20 years is a long time and this is quite a different place today than it was way back then when I was a late 40 something, still laboring in my Big Pharma job that I didn't enjoy.

DU became particularly important because we stopped watching TV news (pretty much all TV) at least 15 years ago. That elevated DU into my primary news source - making it critical for being in the know on the mess we (humans) are making of the world.

Anyway, this is long enough and it is bed time - but I do want to thank EarlG and elad - and Skinner (who I did get to meet) - the many DUers who have become familiar names - friends - over the years. I've rubbed a very few the wrong way (sorry - but I do have pretty strong opinions!), but mostly, this has been a delightful, creative, informative, often fun place to spend time.

I am hoping to make it to 40 years, but can't guarantee my fingers will be able to type as fast or well at 88!

Thanks, everyone, for helping to keep me well informed - and well entertained!