It's lonely at the top

[David Hall]

Hey guys. Well, this is it, my 2001st post. I am now a PhD (again)! Whew!

Frankly, it's quite a surpise to me. I never thought I would be this active on the board. In fact, I've never really felt like I post that much, probably because I usually don't have much important to say, but it must be true since the numbers don't lie. A short post here, a quick rant there. I guess I just like participating here more than anything else.

However, even more shocking to me is the fact that I'm up here all alone (for the time being at least, HUb' should be joining me soon). I mean, since the only other Bad PhD has decided to retire his name and start over from the bottom, I somehow have become the only active member with this rank. How could this have come to be?! I just don't know. I mean, I'm not that special.

So, it's lonely at the top. C'mon guys, hurry up and join me. Although from speed at which some of you post, I'm sure you'll not only join me, but leave me in the dust as you pass me up. Kilopi especially. I'm wondering if I'll be able to reach the level of his old name before he passes me up again with his new one. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Anyway, it's sure been fun, and with all the great folks here, I'm sure it will continue to be.

Big thanks also to the Big Guy himself for letting us ramble on and on.

[kilopi]

On 2003-02-13 04:25, David Hall wrote:
So, it's lonely at the top. C'mon guys, hurry up and join me. Although from speed at which some of you post, I'm sure you'll not only join me, but leave me in the dust as you pass me up. Kilopi especially. I'm wondering if I'll be able to reach the level of his old name before he passes me up again with his new one. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Anyway, it's sure been fun, and with all the great folks here, I'm sure it will continue to be.
Congratulations! Here's some fireworks (http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030213.html). It wouldn't be so lonely if you posted in a time zone that the hoi polloi could relate to, but I'm sure that HUb' will be along soon.

[Thumper]

David,
Thanks for the heads up on kilopi. I would have started to get worried that something happened to GoW. And congratulations. I'm just looking to graduate from Newbie. But I'm trying not to do it with fluff posts.
....like this.
........like most of my posts.

[kucharek]

Yeah, I also recently missed GoW and didn't realize for some time that he is now kπ.
Maybe he should add "formerly known as GoW" to his sig...
...and one day he will change his name to "MathSymbol" /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

And here's a page for π (http://www.astro.univie.ac.at/~wasi/PI/pi_club.html)

Harald

[David Hall]

On 2003-02-13 08:30, Thumper wrote:
David,
Thanks for the heads up on kilopi.


Your welcome, but he did announce (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=3741&forum=6&29) it for all the world to see. You must not have been paying attention. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[kucharek]

If I'm not in charge, I try to stay away from administrative areas... even on BBs.
So I missed GoW's announcement.

Harald

[nebularain]

On 2003-02-13 08:48, kucharek wrote:
Yeah, I also recently missed GoW and didn't realize for some time that he is now kð.
Maybe he should add "formerly known as GoW" to his sig...
...and one day he will change his name to "MathSymbol" /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif


Or how about "The poster formally known as GrapesOfWrath"? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif

[irony]

Hey, I'm proud of my constant supply of fluff posts. How many people on this board manage to make regular contributions without ever having anything useful to say? (The twinkies, conspiracy theorists, and other weirdos who drop by now and again don't count.)

- Irony, setting her sights on 'Bad Grad' with as little actual content as possible!

[kucharek]

TPFKAG? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

[Argos]

On 2003-02-13 04:25, David Hall wrote:
I mean, since the only other Bad PhD has decided to retire his name and start over from the bottom, I somehow have become the only active member with this rank


How come! Do you mean GrapesOfWrath is no more? What´s his new name?

I have noticed the surprising absence of the once omnipresent GOW , but I thought he´d taken some time for vacations...

[Argos]

On 2003-02-13 10:33, Argos wrote:


On 2003-02-13 04:25, David Hall wrote:
I mean, since the only other Bad PhD has decided to retire his name and start over from the bottom, I somehow have become the only active member with this rank


How come! Do you mean GrapesOfWrath is no more? What´s his new name?

I have noticed the surprising absence of the once omnipresent GOW , but I thought he´d taken some time for vacations...



Oh forget! I just knew: Kilopi.

GrapesOfWrath was much more powerful name. You know, maybe I´ll shed my skin too, one fine day.

[Thumper]

Your welcome, but he did announce (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=3741&forum=6&29) it for all the world to see. You must not have been paying attention. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif


First, you're right. Many times I don't pay attention. Also, I rarely make it over to the BBA board. Where do you guys find the time?

Second, that was a real bad week for me. When I would get courage to get on the board, I mainly looked to see if there was any new info on the Shuttle.

Third, gosh darn it, another fluff post. Well someone has to give irony a little competition.

(fixed poster name in 3rd paragraph)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Thumper on 2003-02-13 12:32 ]</font>

[Kaptain K]

I refuse to pad my post count with fluff. Oh well, maybe this once. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Donnie B.]

My motto...
Eschew fluffication.

[Zap]

Congrats, David!! /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif Don't worry, I'll get up there with ya.......
.....someday.

[g99]

On 2003-02-13 09:53, irony wrote:
Hey, I'm proud of my constant supply of fluff posts. How many people on this board manage to make regular contributions without ever having anything useful to say? (The twinkies, conspiracy theorists, and other weirdos who drop by now and again don't count.)

- Irony, setting her sights on 'Bad Grad' with as little actual content as possible!




Irony have you read any of my posts? You are nowhere near the reigning king of nonsense posts. Yours truly still holds the rigning title of [b]King of the ninsense posts[/big booming voice]. But don't worry, with vigalence and with perseverence you can take over my title. I am slowly trying to make my posts actually have some good info in them. Soon they will all be valued as actual posts. But a good habit is hard to break./phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[g99]

David. Congrats!!! I am bowing down to yuor greatness. :bowing face:


I think we are all happy to have you on this board. You do have posts that both inform and entertain. But don't worry. I am slowly moving up the ranks and i will join you in a few months. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Good luck on your next 1000 posts! and Have a Great Day.

Congrats again. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[g99]

Quick question: Again? you were here before with over 2000? Was i here yet?

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: g99 on 2003-02-13 18:37 ]</font>

[David Hall]

On 2003-02-13 18:37, g99 wrote:

Quick question: Again? you were here before with over 2000? Was i here yet?


Ah, a most perceptive student. I applaud you. I wondered if anyone would catch that.

Read this (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=923&forum=6&37) thread and maybe you will understand. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[DaveC]

On 2003-02-13 18:37, g99 wrote:
Quick question: Again? you were here before with over 2000? Was i here yet?


What David is referring to is the black day about a year or so ago when the BA changed the qualifications to achieve each of the rankings. I think David, and a few others had just achieved Bad PhD and had it snatched away when Phil doubled the number of posts needed. There was some gnashing of teeth, but no permanent harm done, as David has demonstrated.

BTW congratulations, David. I guess you now have both an Honorary and a Real BAD PhD.

[Wiley]

On 2003-02-13 18:49, DaveC wrote:


On 2003-02-13 18:37, g99 wrote:
Quick question: Again? you were here before with over 2000? Was i here yet?


What David is referring to is the black day about a year or so ago when the BA changed the qualifications to achieve each of the rankings. I think David, and a few others had just achieved Bad PhD and had it snatched away when Phil doubled the number of posts needed. There was some gnashing of teeth, but no permanent harm done, as David has demonstrated.

BTW congratulations, David. I guess you now have both an Honorary and a Real BAD PhD.


Yep, that's exactly what David is refering too. I myself was a Bad PhD for one glorious day, and then came the day of revocation. (The sky was so blue back then ...)

Anyways, congrats David.

[Chip]

On 2003-02-13 10:37, Argos wrote:
"...maybe I´ll shed my skin too, one fine day."

In case anyone is interested (I'm sure not,) but "Chip" is my second nom de plume here since discovering the BABB in the 1990's. I started way back then as "Gregory". /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

<font size = 3">&</font size> In keeping with my policy of trying to have every post relevant to Astronomy: Here is a nice webpage of Nebulae Defined (http://fusedweb.pppl.gov/CPEP/Chart_Pages/5.Plasmas/Nebula.html).

And here is a special planetary page (http://groups.google.com/groups?q=astronomy+planet&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=373pnb%2461e%40pith.uoregon.edu&rnum=1) that will delight Hub'

[DaveC]

On 2003-02-13 19:46, Chip wrote:
And here is a special planetary page (http://groups.google.com/groups?q=astronomy+planet&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&selm=373pnb%2461e%40pith.uoregon.edu&rnum=1) that will delight Hub'


Gad - it looks just like a HUb' post! /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[g99]

On 2003-02-13 18:46, David Hall wrote:

Ah, a most perceptive student. I applaud you. I wondered if anyone would catch that.

Read this (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=923&forum=6&37) thread and maybe you will understand. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif



Yah i caught that litle suggestion(obviously since i asked about it). I was wondering what it ment.


Dang, sorry David and to all of you who lost your PhD's. Just think, making it now seems all that much more worth it.

Great job on sticking to it. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Only 3000 to go till your post doc. I bet it will be a fun journey and we will be with you all the way. Onward, to the future and beyond!!

Wouldn't it be nice if real Phd's were this easy? Hmm...When i go to grad school (finally! Applying this summer. :-0) i am gonig to show them my ranking on this board and demand my masters right away! Think it will work?

[Colt]

Congratulations DH. I hope to aspire to your level of postness as time goes on. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

And concerning one of the above-linked threads, it only takes two fingers to type my name (when I type it at least). Beat that.

Added: Is there a way to tell who has posted the most in the shortest time since they joined? Besides the trolls of course. -Colt

_________________
"Ultimately it is man who must take responsibility for his actions, not his science or machines."
Pondering the universe one quark at a time.http://www.geocities.com/wandererofthewastes/index.html

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Colt on 2003-02-13 23:59 ]</font>

[g99]

I don't know how to tell who posts the most in the shortest amount of time, but if you look at your or someone elses profile, it will tell you how many posts you do a day on average. Then you can figure it out from there.


Added: You can also look at the date someone signed up and the number of posts they have.
/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif

_________________
"Hi!!" - Some person, somewere, at some time.
"It takes Thousands to fight a battle for a mile, Millions to hold an election for a nation, but it only takes One to change the world." - Dan Sandler 2002



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: g99 on 2003-02-14 01:31 ]</font>

[Thumper]

I remember reading that linked thread. I had just joined the board and it took me a while to figure out what people were upset about. Maybe BA can make an exception for me and keep me a Bad Newbie forever. Or until I make a meaningful post, whichever comes first.
Does anyone know what happened to the Curtmudgeon? I haven't seen a post from them in quite a while. I miss their ever changing signature line.

[nebularain]

On 2003-02-14 07:58, Thumper wrote:
Does anyone know what happened to the Curtmudgeon?

Here.



On 2002-09-21 14:50, The Curtmudgeon wrote:
[snip] perhaps my silence on this thread so far needs a bit of explanation: I got laid off from work this past week, and surfing fora hasn't really been top of my priority list since. Anyway, my connection from home is worse/slower than my previous connection from work (I got disconnected just trying to get to page two of this thread), so it's actually painful trying to do much posting or even lurking until I get my DSL up and running.




On 2002-10-01 17:00, The Curtmudgeon wrote:
The (sorry for my here-today-gone-tomorrow appearances; I've not yet gotten my home system to the point I need it to be for daily surfing) Curtmudgeon


Yeah, I miss his posts, too.

_________________
The lesser lights to rule the night, glimmers of glory, distant suns

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: nebularain on 2003-02-14 08:11 ]</font>

[kilopi]

On 2003-02-13 23:58, Colt wrote:
And concerning one of the above-linked threads, it only takes two fingers to type my name (when I type it at least). Beat that.
If you do it right (!), all names take only two fingers to type. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

But in fact, as SeanF pointed out (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=3741&forum=6&29&start=6), if you really type Colt right, it takes three.

[Thumper]

Thanks, nebularain.

[g99]

Also someone i have not seen in a while is beskeptical. What happened to her?

[nebularain]

Last I heard, she was having to do extra work with her and she didn't have as much time to hang around, or something like that - and soon after, she disappeared. It was getting to be too much of a hassle to try to find that link, though.

[g99]

Too bad she had some very interesting and informative posts. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_frown.gif

[Colt]

On 2003-02-14 08:19, kilopi wrote:


On 2003-02-13 23:58, Colt wrote:
And concerning one of the above-linked threads, it only takes two fingers to type my name (when I type it at least). Beat that.
If you do it right (!), all names take only two fingers to type. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

But in fact, as SeanF pointed out (http://www.badastronomy.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?topic=3741&forum=6&29&start=6), if you really type Colt right, it takes three.


C - left pointer finger
O - right ring finger (I think)
L - ^ ^
T - left pointer finger

I think this is how it is normally typed, I might be mislabeling fingers. Call me a rebel if I type differently. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif -Colt

[RafaelAustin]

But I think kilopi has got you beat. With 5 adjacent keys, it only takes one finger on one hand! lol

[kilopi]

LOL. And I bet that would be with the right pointer finger, you rebel you. Someone could type test grader with just the left pointer finger!

[SeanF]

On 2003-02-15 02:33, Colt wrote:

C - left pointer finger
O - right ring finger (I think)
L - ^ ^
T - left pointer finger

I think this is how it is normally typed, I might be mislabeling fingers. Call me a rebel if I type differently. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif -Colt



Hmmm. I think the "correct" way is to use your left middle finger to type the 'C' - but, hey, whatever works for you! /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Colt]

/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif -Colt

[Wiley]

Y'all may gloat over your three fingered names, but I personally like names requiring a little dexterity. My name five lettered name requires five different fingers, if done correctly.

SeanF, what's your feeling on this?

[kilopi]

On 2003-02-17 20:28, Wiley wrote:
SeanF, what's your feeling on this?

Hey that's cute. Five fingers too. My old nick used nine, all except the k finger. Guess I needed to give it some exercise.

[g99]

mine takes one. my index finger. Two if you want to do it correctly, but who is counting. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Colt]

Can we just call you Pi? -Colt

[SeanF]

On 2003-02-17 21:53, kilopi wrote:


On 2003-02-17 20:28, Wiley wrote:
SeanF, what's your feeling on this?

Hey that's cute. Five fingers too. My old nick used nine, all except the k finger. Guess I needed to give it some exercise.

Yeah, plus I'm right handed so my nick gives me lots of work on my left hand.

BTW, what were you using your thumbs for when you typed "GrapesOfWrath"? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[David Hall]

Typing your name is so pass&eacute;. What with auto-complete, form and password manager, and a clipboard enhancer with permanent entries, I can't even remember the last time I had to type my whole name.

Ah, the wonders of technology. Leaves you primitive typers in the dust. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[Mainframes]

On 2003-02-18 10:28, David Hall wrote:
Typing your name is so passé. What with auto-complete, form and password manager, and a clipboard enhancer with permanent entries, I can't even remember the last time I had to type my whole name.

Ah, the wonders of technology. Leaves you primitive typers in the dust. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif



Plus it helps prevent RSI......

[kilopi]

My old nick used to be "Popstar Of Doom". Long, long ago, far, far away.

[informant]

You come up with the oddest nicks.
BTW, you could write it with only two fingers (maybe one), if ou used Greek characters... /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

[David Hall]

I use my real name mostly because I am absolutely terrible at coming up with interesting nicknames. I have almost no creativity and my attempts at nicks are always pathetic, so I've pretty much just given up on it.



On 2003-02-18 12:21, Mainframes wrote:

Plus it helps prevent RSI......


That and a $120 ultimate trackball (http://www.kensington.com/html/1121.html). (My baby. I'll never go back to anything less. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif )

[FP]

DH, how long did it take you to learn to use all those buttons? It takes what, seven fingers?

[David Hall]

That's the beauty of it. The buttons, each and every one of them, are completely programmable. You can set them up to do just about anything you want, you can even emulate keystroke combinations or create pop-up menus of useful commands. Then just push and go.

It's surprisingly addictive. To tell the truth, a few weeks ago it went out on me, the left-right movement became erratic. I had to use my older, simpler trackball for a week until I could get it replaced (under warranty thankfully). It was then that I discovered just how used to it I've become.

[tracer]

On 2003-02-13 04:25, David Hall wrote:
Although from speed at which some of you post, I'm sure you'll not only join me, but leave me in the dust as you pass me up.
Ah, but you're ignoring relativistic effects! If the speed at which you post gets too high, time slows down for you relative to other posters, and so from their perspecive your posting speed will seem to be going down.

[g99]

Hub', congrats on your 2000th post!! Another one on top. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[RafaelAustin]

On 2003-02-19 19:29, David Hall wrote:
That's the beauty of it. The buttons, each and every one of them, are completely programmable. You can set them up to do just about anything you want, you can even emulate keystroke combinations or create pop-up menus of useful commands. Then just push and go.

It's surprisingly addictive. To tell the truth, a few weeks ago it went out on me, the left-right movement became erratic. I had to use my older, simpler trackball for a week until I could get it replaced (under warranty thankfully). It was then that I discovered just how used to it I've become.



I'm a CAD draftsman and that reminds me of a puck I used to have years ago that had 16 buttons! Very useful and you'd be surprised how quickly you memorize it if you use it all day.

[kilopi]

On 2003-02-22 11:59, g99 wrote:
Hub', congrats on your 2000th post!! Another one on top. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

I can remember when he wanted to slay a newbie.

Now he's one of the grizzled old giants.

[nebularain]

On 2003-02-25 13:01, kilopi wrote:
I can remember when he wanted to slay a newbie.
Oh really? Which one? /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif

[kilopi]

Stay, but, you know, it works better that way.

[g99]

But if he (hub') did stay a newbie, where would this board be without his input?

Heck i know my code reading and language skills would be much less. /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif

[kilopi]

HUb' has a sekret klubhouse, that only he can play in.