Quote by Mendalla
At least it wasn't a sneaky badge thief.

I'm not even sure how many badges I have so I wouldn't notice one missing, esp. on the other site Larry mentioned where I have a quite a few.

Afternoon green tea time. Hope everyone's Monday is going well.

Quote by Wordpusher715
"There are two things people want more than sex and money: recognition and praise."
--Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

"Recognition is not a scarce resource. You can't use it up or run out of it."
--Susan M. Heathfield, About.com Human Resources Expert

"Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition." Abraham Lincoln

From the perspective of a newcomer, thank you for the badges that tell me how much I've done. I don't count things very well.

I value the praise of a Recommended Read more than badges because it is recognition from my superpeers of the quality of work. The talent here is awesome! I walk with giants here and not everyone can have that experience in their life. I would like to be a giant...someday.

The lack of scoring on my other work keeps me humble and reminds me to do better. I have plenty of reminders, too!

So all of this is to say Thank You! This site has value to me.

Quote by AnnaMayZing
A long standing member and now facilitator who is a great asset to the site. He is also friendly, helpful and a great writer.

Quote by Dreamcatcher
Every member, from the crotchety old man in the corner to the dude at the head of the parade with pom-poms, is entitled to an opinion. As I've explained to a couple of members, it isn't the opinion expressed so much as the manner in which it is presented. Be respectful. Be flexible. Be open-minded and consider all sides of an issue.

There are many ways on SS that an author is lauded and/or recognized for achievement. Ratings, views, RR's, EC's, front cover listings and badges. All of which are subjective. At this point, it's the best we got and tweaking of the processes are currently being considered.

Larryf's well-intentioned post was spot on. These things we are currently discussing should be elements of SS that makes being a member more relevant. We should be more supportive and trumpet the victories of each other rather than assuming that just because one author got a piece of pie means there is none left for anybody else.

Gypsy and Ping are right. We are a community, generously supported by Nicola. Let's not waste the opportunity being offered here and encourage new members, mentor those who want help, and celebrate the endeavors of our friends.

ps. and I'll try not being the crotchety old man in the corner.

Quote by Adagio
PB and jelly on white bread
PB and jelly on toast
PB and jelly on a biscuit
PB and jelly on a bagel
PB and jelly on a cracker

Quote by Survivor
My most recent drive was 4,751 miles.

We started in Lawrence, Kansas and stopped for the night in Amarillo, Texas. Next day across Texas and New Mexico to Holbrook, Arizona. Then over Arizona into California, spending the night in Bakersfield. Up the Great Central Valley and across the coastal range to Eureka, California. That's on the Pacific Coast. We spent three nights there and left to go over the mountains to Fallon, Nevada. Next day across Nevada (the so-called Loneliest Road in the Country) to Utah, staying in Richfield. Drove over the Rockies and spent one night in Denver, Colorado. Last day across eastern Colorado and most of Kansas to Lawrence.

I shan't be making drives that long anymore. The photos and memories are great but I am too old to enjoy driving that much.

Quote by AriesDragon
I don't know if you'd call it nice, but it was the kindest thing we could do.
A zebra was caught in a snare on a neighboring ranch. It got free and managed to somehow get through our perimeter electric fence, probably through fear of the hyena, triggering the alarms which sent our people to investigate. They lost the tracks in the thick bush so backtracked to the neighboring ranch where they found the snare; a piece of fencing wire attatched to a log that was buried 4ft in the ground along a wildlife path. All around were the tracks of hyena, jackel and the unfortunate zebra as well as skin and flesh in the snare. Last night one of the camera traps captured the zebra at a water hole so with that information it was tracked and monitored until a vet got here. Once it was darted we were able to see that from the cannon bone the skin was gone leaving just some shredded tendons and the bone. From the fetlock down, the hoof was also gone. Its hind quarters and stomach had tears in the flesh, evidence of hyena bites. It was decided to put him the sleep perminantly. Poor fellow, but a far kinder fate than being ambushed by hyena.