George Rebane
When RR introduced the Sandbox forum to its readers back in 2014 (here) I don’t think any of us knew how popular it would quickly become. The purpose of the Sandbox was to give RR readers a place to comment on topics of their current interest upon which I had not yet posted or even planned to post, or posted topics that had become dated and required re-invigoration. The result was that each dated Sandbox acquired a comment stream in excess of one or two hundred comments in no time.
As RR host I felt it my job to monitor Sandbox comments in order to maintain a minimum semblance of decorum, but mainly to be responsive to readers who specifically wanted my opinion/response on an issue. With the unexpected volume of comments in the rapidly filling Sandboxes over these past years, this monitoring has become quite a time-consuming chore, one that has now crossed into tedium.
As most readers know, my purpose for RR is to memorialize my observations and interpretations of the events of our times, in what I believe to be “the last great century of man”, and to also record the same from readers who are interested in expanding and/or contending what I present and thereby memorialize their views. As the record shows, RR has always welcomed reasoned responses to and extensions of my posts. It is my intention for RR to focus on this MO and continue such topical commentaries.
However, in the interval the number and intensity of my other projects has increased to the extent that I have to do a better job of prioritizing how I spend my time. An obvious activity to cut back on was the Sandbox. But due to its popularity I’ve been putting this off until it occurred to me that the Sandbox can (does?) have a life of its own, and it doesn’t have to only live and die on RR. Long story short, I’ve found a new home for the Sandbox on the Sierra Dragon’s Breath blog run by Todd Juvinall, also a longtime RR reader and commenter. Todd is a strong supporter of conservative ideas and very active on the various social media, which I am not, and he has agreed to welcome the Sandbox and make it a new feature on his blog.
In sum, I thank all RR readers who have ‘used’ the Sandbox over these years and am grateful for their continued interest in RR. Today I invite you all to continue your lively debates and stinging repartees at Mr Juvinall’s pad where I am sure he will be a more assiduous host than me, and keep the Sandbox refreshed and refreshing with all of your contributions. Thank you again.
This is so obvious I shouldn't say it, but I can't help myself:
By moving Sandbox to Dragon's Breath, you'll raise the level of intelligence at both blogs.
Posted by: George Boardman | 07 April 2017 at 02:12 PM
Excellent!
Posted by: Russ | 07 April 2017 at 06:46 PM
I suspect the move to be a quick death to the concept... the clumping litter that Todd uses just isn't very inviting.
PS Boardman, you of all people really shouldn't throw stones.
Posted by: Gregory | 08 April 2017 at 07:39 AM
I could care less if anyone poops in the sandbox at my blog. I write what I want and all the brainiacs that think they are smrter are not my concern. My latest post is on the non-profit I attended and Sheriff Clarke was the speaker. Whuile critics sit home and pick apart others I was enjoying meeting a nationally recognized Sheriff and a good man. So I suggest those who think they are "better" stay away.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 08 April 2017 at 08:29 AM
TJ 829
Todd, it isn't an issue of an intrinsic "better" or "worse".
Posted by: Gregory | 08 April 2017 at 09:45 AM
Gregory, then it is to nuanced for my brain.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 08 April 2017 at 11:03 AM
And we all get a update to the FUE's honeymoom. And he says we are podunk. LOL!
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 08 April 2017 at 11:04 AM
One last one before we're 86ed.
Local news has it that Art Bell is taking Paul Emery's spot at KVMR.
Posted by: Walt | 08 April 2017 at 03:59 PM
Todd, now you know its not safe in the Dark Lords Liberal Lament Land. ;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 08 April 2017 at 05:19 PM
Walt 359pm - Mr Branson, you are definitely not 86d. Pour your heart out on the multifarious topics you will continue to find here. And if there's a compelling one that you miss, then speak up and we'll cover it (at least in a Ruminations or Scattershots).
Posted by: George Rebane | 08 April 2017 at 05:54 PM
RIP sandbox. It should be renamed "catbox" because that is what Todd's blog is anyway. It will die as a forum of discussion as reasonable people will not post there and be subjected to the vile toxic poop that Todd and his anonymous posters crap out. Not that the 'sandbox' ever functioned that differently. Rational discussion will not be on the menu, just the usual insults and fat jokes that aren't funny as Todd's cadre of posters don't have much else to offer.
"my purpose for RR is to memorialize my observations and interpretations of the events of our times..." Kilroy was here! Besides being very cathartic for the writers, does anyone really care about blogs? It's not like you are writing "War and Peace" here.
One last "your tax dollars at work" --
Trump has spent 21 of his first 80 days in office at Mar-a-Lago at a cost to us of $21.6M. At this rate he will surpass all 8 years of Obama's travel expenses in just one year. The emperor has no clothes.
Posted by: Robert Cross | 11 April 2017 at 09:40 AM
RobertC, yes if you came to the sandbox your very presence polluted it. YTou are worse than the feces there. So stay away as you never have anything worthy of a response. Typical liberal loon.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 11 April 2017 at 10:21 AM
RobertC 940am - "... does anyone really care about blogs?" Only in the hundreds of millions, other than that, not much - welcome to the 21st century.
But as for my humble little forum here; I labor in it primarily for my family, friends, and online sojourners who do visit and return to RR monthly in the thousands. The unanswered question here remains - why does the denigrating Left continue to hang on every word that appears in these pages? Any thoughts on that?
Posted by: George Rebane | 11 April 2017 at 10:37 AM
My littl blog gets thousands of views as well. But I created ot for me to yap my views not to get readers per-se. The Rov=bert Crosses are just weasel critic and they never have much if anything good to say.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 11 April 2017 at 10:50 AM
George 10:37
My point about blogging is that it's all about catharsis. With the exception of the media blog stars, what people write on blogs does not spread very far beyond a small circle of readers. No one is being persuaded about anything so the question becomes why do it? That is because it feels good, it's cathartic to vent our frustrations. Disagreement about social and political issues is healthy for the country and the individual. The problem arises when the discussion moves from issues to the ad hominem, of which we are all guilty. One definition of 'feedback' is the “return of behavior you have generated.” We get back what we put out. So if you feel like you are being denigrated by the left, it most likely is because you denigrate the left. Turn about is fair play.
Quote of the Day: Sean Spicer comparing Assad to Hitler said Hitler, “didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” Apparently gas chambers don't count as chemical weapons. This is the level of incompetence and stupidity the American people, not just the left, are having to deal with.
Todd: you prove my point in spades
Posted by: Robert Cross | 11 April 2017 at 12:59 PM
Robert Cross | 11 April 2017 at 12:59 PM
Another incorrect assumption. My ,y. I get views from all over the world. You really don't know what you are talking about.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 11 April 2017 at 01:10 PM
Spades" Robert Cross, now we see you are a racist as well.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 11 April 2017 at 01:10 PM
RobertC 1259pm - Let me offer another perspective, at least for me and my lifelong peer group. RR is nothing about catharsis for me, but it is an invitation to a game, besides being a memorial for my views and values at this time and in this place. I would give much if my grandparents or even my parents had left me such a gift. It is also a mirror on one's own evolution (that is also why I've always kept a journal), going back to revisit your own beliefs, feelings, impressions, ... is to me a wonderment. Such self-revelatory behavior has been practiced profitably for centuries.
The game, which few have the propensity to play, involves using propositions (current and classical) to plumb the depths of individual belief systems (hence subjective realities) down to their axiomatic foundations. Jo Ann and I are privileged to have a circle of friends with whom such wonderful hours together can be experienced. RR is an invitation to such a game. Fortunately, the game goes on beyond the scope of RR comment streams, but the invitation to readers to join in is always there.
And yes, I do enthusiastically critique the Left in their beliefs and do my best to point out their false/weak bases usually accompanied by even more disastrous conclusions, for that has been the view from my perch - education and experience - as these pages attest. My counters return the favor with ad hominems, primarily, it seems, because they cannot differentiate the examination of beliefs from the believer. Again, as the record here shows, very seldom are the repartees focused on the offered propositions, only the proposer.
For obvious (to me) reasons the Left does not want to disclose the tenets of their belief systems. Here my invitation of over ten years to receive their credos goes unanswered while mine is online for all to see and critique. I invite you to give it a try.
Posted by: George Rebane | 11 April 2017 at 02:21 PM