Hear hear!

Very, very well said -- and marvellous to see it said.

Thank you. Once again.

Common sense and common courtesy are not always common to everyone.
Occasional reminders of these two civilized notions are often called for.

So far I haven't had any trouble, but if I do I am asking permission to copy your rules.

One blog I follow has a rule that no comment will be deleted. The blog is replete with foul language. That's the blogger's privilege of course, but it makes it difficult to sort out the comments you want to read and those you don't.

The blog I am referring to is a political rant and the blogger writes with great satire, but I am coming to the point that I will not read any comments on the blog. I wonder if the blogger realizes (or cares) that allowing the dissenters (tea party types)to spew vitriol that the blogger may lose followers. I suppose the blogger enjoys sitting back and watching the idiots make fools of themselves, but it does get tiresome.

It's one thing to disagree politely, and I encourage that, but I will delete anyone who is downright snarky.

These are good rules. Hope I haven't been an offender. Sometimes I do have fairly strong views about what is going on in, and happening to, our nation as it tilts evermore to the right. I may indeed have been a bit snarky at times but will definitely doublecheck my posts in the future.

Thanks again for a great blog.

Thanks, Ronni, for the reminders.

Very good! We should all be aware of these and follow them religiously!

I am so grateful you have called attention to this!

Ronni, I'm so glad I can continue to skewer politicians, pundits and their ilk (with reasonable civility, of course). I SO agree that there's a whole lot to be upset about these days. We can start with the me-first, I've-got-mine attitude of many Republicans (I wonder how many of Gail's friends' pizzeria customers are Arizona tea-party types?!)

I'm getting to the point where I'd almost like to see President Obama stand up and "go FDR" on the country--if he didn't win in 2012, at least he'd have accomplished something. Maybe Egypt isn't the only country that can protest against its government. Theirs is a populist revolution, as ours could be (case in point, the union demonstrations in Wisconsin).

Tax rates SHOULD be raised on superrich individuals and super-solvent corporations. I think if ordinary Americans perceived that the load was more fairly shared, most would willingly (even if not enthusiastically) pay more taxes--at least those who are employed.

Good for you for maintaining a civilized blog! Also for not letting spammers take advantage of you while abusing us all -their comments can SEEM utterly insincere.

Welcomed guidelines, Ronnie, for those of us who most often lurk and only occasionally comment.

And Chlost, I am not at all sure the Internet is the villain in encouraging incivility. The "It's all about me" attitude, vile language in everyday situations, and denigration of common courtesies as "dishonest" and "superficial" started well before the Internet was widely available.

Perhaps it is really evidence of that ancient malignancy, the idea that the end justifies the means.

Unfortunately there are nasty people all over whose first thought is the worst one. Incivility exists all over; we have so many examples on the national scene. All we can do is try to maintain our positive attitudes in the face of rudeness and teach by example.

If Social Security were proposed anew today after learning the eventual demise would come, would there be many defending the notion that you should be forced by the government to contribute to something you may never get back? Defending the indefensible may be popular with those receiving benefits but the overall plan is essentially flawed and should be dumped.

I love being a part of this community. And feel so privileged to be on your blogroll! Thank you!

Short hair works, and can be stylish, easy care, young looking.

Well done and thoroughly thought rules. In fact, they do not differentiate from the ones that other blogging systems have. But, anyway, thanks for reminding. Will stick to them!

Re Peter's "Coattails of the Beatles" Enjoyed listening to his selection and suggest he adds at least three other major bands:
The Dave Clark Five eg "Glad All Over"
=The Hollies eg "Bus Stop"
=The Troggs eg "Wild Thing" These bands and many others are well represented on Youtube. As with the Stones and Beatles some of their early work was big here in England but barely made the top 100 in the States until they caught on...

I live outside,in the suburbs of NY, I have the option of going "in to the city"and I rarely do now.But, I do remember those days when I did and I was much younger, there was nothing like it. Now, I'm disabled and have no energy anymore, second things really are different, there's a different vibe.I just found your blog (and love it) through Lynn so I don't know why you can't come back. But, sometimes it's good NOT to go home. It isn't the same and hasn't been, for me, since 9/11. Keep your memories, hold them close to your heart.

What's it really like getting older? Most of us fear the day that our memories fail us completely. I pray that all who read this will think about your children and your grand-childern and how they will be cheated out of the knowledge of your ancestors, and your day to day interaction with your siblings. Knowledge that will go to your grave that would help your children know of the history of your famlies struggles, heartaches and joyous moments. Bob Hope once stated: “When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things – not The great occasions – that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness.”
So please consider passing on your treasured memories.
My father was a simple man who grew up in the mines of Mexico, with only a 3rd grade education he left a big foot print on this earth. In his lifetime he met Pancho Villa, and stood in front of Prsident John F Kennedy, he helped start a city, and was a co-founder of a Catholic church near Los Angeles. I couldn't be prouder.
I implore you to begin writing what you remember, no matter what your writing abilities are; for it is your simple notes of your past that may be a road map for grand-children. They will know who they are and where they came from.
I have written many short stories that will be published this summer under the title: 'A Walk Back Home.' It is a story of a child artist growing up in 1940's south central Los Angeles. Excerpts of these stories can be read at: http://gilgarciasawalkbackhome.blogspot.com/ and my artwork can be view at: http://theartofgilgarcia.blogspot.com/

Good writing to you all.
gil

The reminders serves well for respecting blogs.