A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers.
If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
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Do You Like Trucks ?
Of course you do. All real Americans love trucks. For a long time the Ford F-100 series pick-up was the best-selling vehicle of all time, surpassing even the VW Beetle. Apparently it's been overtaken by the Toyota Corolla1, but still Americans love their trucks. These are some of my trucks from when I was a boy. I rescued them from my Mom's garage.They were made by a company called Structo® in the early 50s. We got Tonka® trucks for our son. They weren't making trucks yet when I was little. Now let's clear something up right away. Those big 18-wheelers you see on the highway ? Those are not trucks. They're semi-trucks pulling trailers. A truck consists of a single chassis with a box or bed behind the cab. Look at the picture. The tractor, that silver thing that pulls the trailer, doesn't have a box or a bed. That's what makes it a semi and not a truck. OK, now we've cleared that up.
I don't drive a truck myself. I guess I'm not a real real American. Back in the 70s I had a 1948 Ford F-3 ¾-ton with a flat-head V-8 for awhile, but except for that I've never owned a pick-up truck. There's only one pick-up I've ever lusted after and that's the Dodge Power Wagon. Is this a thing of beauty or what ? It's a ¾-ton 4x4. You can just tell that it would do anything, go anywhere and that you'd have to double-clutch it to shift gears. I still see them around sometimes. Power Wagons were military trucks, pick-up versions of the Dodge WC series2, sold on the civilian market in the immediate post-war years. Every time I write a diary about the Great Patriotic War someone in the comments will say, "Yeah, the Russians won the war but they couldn't have done it without Lend-Lease." There's some truth in that. The Russians outproduced everybody else in tanks and aircraft but the thing they needed help with was transport; locomotives and trucks. Russian-made GAZ3 and ZIS4 were license-built copies of obsolete American models which were not capable of dealing with rotten Russian roads. Along with the Dodge WCs, the single most important item of Lend-Lease equipment given to the Soviets was the Studebaker 6x6 2½-ton truck5. At the end of the war, a third of the Red Army's trucks were Lend-Lease.
Russian roads are still terrible, especially in the rainy season, but they've caught up in truck manufacture. Kamaz6, for example, produces large numbers of excellent trucks. They have a specialty shop called Kamaz Master7 that makes off-road racing trucks. They own the Paris-Dakar, having won their class numerous times. I've always thought one of these would make a cool camping rig, with appropriate interior of course.
One other truck I've had a bit of experience with is the giant mining truck. I had a job driving one of these in an open pit copper mine. Despite their size, they're stupid easy to drive. Like a golf cart almost. They have a brake pedal, a gas pedal and a switch on the dash; Forward, Neutral and Reverse. They have a big diesel engine that runs a generator, the generator powers electric motors in the wheel hubs. You just press the pedal and go. There's a little lag, of course, as the generator gets up to speed. I have a little story from those days, forgive me if I've shared it before. We had this one foreman, a real bossy guy, quick to anger, never relaxed. One time one of the guys got his truck stuck in a berm. Albert, that was the foreman's name, drove out there in his pickup. They drove little white Chevy ½-ton trucks. "Get out of the damn cab," he says, "I'll unstick this thing." He revved it and rocked it forward and backwards. Eventually he got the truck free but he'd forgotten where he'd parked his truck. Albert backed over his own pick-up. From then on every newbie on D crew heard that story on their very first day. Maybe that was why Albert was always cross.
Alright then, that's it for this Tuesday, a little truck pr0n. How's everybody doin' this morning, got anything to share and ...
Do You Like Trucks ?
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by Egberto Willies ♥ for TexKos
by Chrislove ♥ for TexKos
We had a fantastic meet-up that will energize me for months to come. We had 80 of the most intrepid Texans to date. They braved extremely rare ice storms north of Austin. Bridges and major highways into Austin were closed the morning of our event.
The extreme weather was truly a problem but it was nice to see those who were able to show up. And based on the comments of the two diaries below, many attendees were equally energized and empowered.
All and all, it was a great day! Thanks to nomandates and Chrislove for helping to organize.
FTR: I was in Austin at exactly the same time in 2013 for the inaugural Texas Kos State Meet-up. I got a sunburn at the Zilker Park Kite Festival the next day. It was a gorgeous sunny day.
Here's one photo:
TexKos-Messing with Texas with nothing but love for Texans
Please visit Egberto's and Chrislove's diaries for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC both diaries. You can join TexKos by sending a Kosmail to nomandates.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, March 28th
Houston Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Radical Eats
507 Westheimer Road • Montrose
ORGANIZER: Send Chrislove a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. nomandates
2. scott5js
3. cosette
4. jmbar2
5.
6.
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Maybees:
MarciaJ720
Mr. cosette
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Latest diary: Next Houston Area Kossacks Meet-Up: Saturday, March 28 (RSVP Today!)
Saturday, March 28th
Motor City Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Taqueria Mi Pueblo
7278 Dix • Detroit (Corktown-ish)
ORGANIZER: Send peregrine kate a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. DoReMI
2. mideedah
3. BFSkinner
4. peregrine kate
5.
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Maybees:
ProvokingMeaning
ChemBob
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Latest diary: Michigan/Motor City Kossacks: Weekly Open Thread--Spring Meet-ups!
Saturday, March 28th
Four Corners Kossacks International Diplomatic Outreach Junket
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Irish Embassy Pub
900 Main Ave • Durango
ORGANIZER: Send Thinking Fella a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Thinking Fella
2. Hero Machine
3. red moon dog
4. ERRN
5. Mr. ERRN
6. Gary Norton
7. nzanne
8. msaztec
9. relleno
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Maybees:
LucyTooners
Mr. LucyTooners
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Latest diary: Four Corners Kossacks Meet-up: International Diplomatic Outreach
Sunday, March 29th
Seattle & Puget Sound Kos Meet-up
TIME: 12:30 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery and Restaurant
1201 First Ave S • Seattle
Cost: $20.00 for selective menu for a large group
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper S.O.
3. Lefty Coaster
4. momomia
5. ratcityreprobate
6. doingbusinessas
7. doingbusinessas' daughter
8. Flamingogrrl
9. MiddleEaarth
10. TBone Apollo
11. LarisaW
12. bleeding blue
13. Gemina13
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Maybees:
Michael Foster Guest - Plant for the Planet Seattle
ActNowonClimate
Piren
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Latest diary: Seattle & Puget Sound Kos - Change is Coming - Meet up Sunday 3/29/15
Saturday, April 18th
San Francisco Kos Welcomes blue jersey mom to Town
Potluck style BBQ
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: kimoconnor's garden
[Address given privately to RSVPs] • San Francisco
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. blue jersey mom
2. navajo - [2 bottles of wine]
3. side pocket
4. Mrs. side pocket
5. maggiejean
6. kimoconnor
7. dharmasyd
8. norm
9. remembrance
10. Glen The Plumber
11. TLO
12. Lorikeet
13. dsb
14. FogCityJohn
15. boatsie - [kitcherie]
16. lineatus
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Maybees:
slksfca
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Saturday, April 25th
Dallas Kos Meet-up!
Why: Margaritas, fajitas, burritos and other fine quality progressive company!
Part of the plan: discussing creating a "taskforce" of people ready to swoop down on the county courthouse when marriage equality reaches Texas to greet happy couples with roses and banners celebrating the new recognition of their unions!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant
4125 Lemmon Ave • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees:
tom 47
Chrislove
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Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meet Up April 25th
Saturday, April 25th
DAILY KOS CONNECTS KANSAS CITY
Our first regional Daily Kos gathering.
Join us for a day of camaraderie and progressive strategizing with Big Orange flavor. In a day-long seminar, learn how our Connect! Unite! Act! team maximized the Daily Kos forum to effect change in Kansas state politics. We are going to duplicate that effort across the nation. Participants will focus on organizing from the ground up.
You'll also get a chance to meet the blog's founder, Markos Moulitsas and some of the Daily Kos staff:
• Meteor Blades, Senior Political Writer
• Joan McCarter, Senior Political Writer
• David Nir, Political Director
• Jen Hayden, Social Media Editor
• Monique Teal, Activism Team Member
• Neeta Lind aka navajo, Director of Community Building
TIME: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Alamo Drafthouse
1400 Main Street • Kansas City
SCHEDULE:
8:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 AM - Presentations, panels and Q&A's begin
Noon - Lunch served
1:30 PM - More presentations, panels and Q&A's
6:00 PM - After Party at nearby Anton's Taproom & Restaurant. We've reserved their Beer Garden, you'll need a wristband from the day event to get in.
REGISTER HERE: $30 registration fee at Eventbrite
Space will be limited to 200 seats.
Register now to secure your seat.
Benefactor level is also available if you plan to attend and buy a scholarship for someone, you and your attendee can have a front row seat. Angel level is also available if you can't attend but want to help someone else attend.
We've granted two scholarships! We have five more scholarships available thanks to our Benefactors and Angels. Please kosmail navajo if you need a scholarship to attend. |
Grow our network, unite our progressive communities, help win elections!
Saturday and Sunday, April 25-26, 2015
DKos Asheville's Roadtrip and Two-Day Retreat to Roanoke, Virginia
From randallt:
After seven successful and engaging meet ups, DKos Asheville's core members decided to take our next gathering on the road. The first reason was that our chef and benefactor for all our meet ups has been Gordon20024 and we wanted say thanks by traveling to be with him instead of having him drive to be with us. We asked and he was thrilled and so the idea was born. Another reason is that it offers us the opportunity to meet more Kossacks from around the region including Virginia and parts of North Carolina to the north and east of us.
Grow our network, grow our community, help win elections.
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TIME: 1:00 pm Saturday till 1:00 pm Sunday
LOCATION: Hotel Roanoke, Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Avenue • Roanoke
ORGANIZER: Send randallt a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. gordon20024
2. davehouck
3. randallt
4. Joieau
5. LamontCranston
6. Steerler Grrl
7. Steeler Guy
8. Otteray Scribe
9. DawnN
10. emmasnacker
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DKos Asheville: Open Thread
May 2nd, SAVE THE DATE
5th Annual Baja Arizona Kossacks Picnic
TIME: TBD
LOCATION: Garfield Park
Tombstone Canyon Rd. • Bisbee
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. ItsaMathJoke
3. rasbobbo
4. ramara
5. sneakers563
6. DaNang65
7. Bisbonian
8. itzadryheat
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Maybees:
2many2list |
Latest diary: Baja Arizona Kossacks Open Thread: 5th Annual Picnic
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
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Maybees:
woolibaar
NormAl1792
markdd
peregrine kate
FoundingFatherDAR
Joan McCarter
mcmom
dharmasyd
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.