Did you know that you can vote here every single day and on as many diaries and comments as you like? Just like voting in the real world you need to register first, by signing up for an account. Then you have to show up, by logging in. After that you can vote on every single diary and every single comment you read. How do you think diaries end up on the Recommended List? You, the people who bother to vote, put them there! So vote liberally and vote often!
On this site your votes take the form of tipping and recommending. When you see folks responding to a diary with "tipped and rec'd" or "T&R" they have just exercised their right to vote on the content before them. Just as in the real world, though, it's surprising just how few people take advantage of their voting rights.
Welcome new users ( and older users) from your host, smileycreek. This diary is intended to help you orient yourself to the site and provide a safe forum to ask questions about how to use it.
Below the orange gnocchi-doodle you will find links intended to get you participating more effectively. Also in this edition we'll explain how, why and when to Tip and Recommend comments and diaries on Daily Kos.
After that you can ask me any questions about the site you want. If I don't know the answers someone smarter is bound to be along who does, or I'll go find the answers and bring 'em to ya (wink! wink!).
AND-- if you're new and wondering what is and isn't OK in your interactions around here, read Kos' Community Guidelines. That'll keep you out of trouble!