:bigwave:

Just did a quick study on this boards membership participation.

Registered users = 870 (approx)
Users who have posted = 374
Users with more than 10 posts = 142
Users with more than 50 posts = 52


I suspect there is a lot of good information/opinion that is not making it onto the board.

If you have registered, please participate. We all win.

James:bigwave:

James,

I agree, with you. Participation through networking is a win-win situation. I attended a monthly regional network meeting this morning of professionals who are responsible for ISO 9001 implementation at their respective companies. I made sure that everyone in the meeting was aware of this forum and the benefits of the discussions as well as the premium file area. Many people were extremely interested to find out about it.

Incidently, I'm not far from (100) posts and it seems that I read somewhere in an earlier thread that the moderator is to send you a bottle of whiskey of your choice. A good (12) year old single malt scotch will do.
:biglaugh:

Best Regards,
Hank Fowler
;)

True. As for me, I have got much more than I could give. That's WIN-win I guess!
A good (12) year old single malt scotch will do.
Marc, could you make that two, please!;) I just crossed that threshold a few day back.

Marc,

I'll take a bottle of Bowmore 15 year please!

Wow... seems like I'm way overdue...

While Gentlemen Jack is good (one of my more preferred drinks, neat of course), I think I'll take the Johnny Walker Blue Label, please.

:vfunny: :biglaugh: :bigwave:

Al started the bottle of booze thing, as I remember. That said, you'll have to contact Al and see when he's gonna send you each a bottle!

The bottom line is there are hundreds of people who visit the forums every day who do not register at all. I could 'lock them out' until they register, but the policy has been an open policy for years. This may change soon. Several things may change soon. Very, very few people have 'supported' the Forums by taking a 'Premium' or 'Member' files access. No one has 'helped out' for almost 2 months. I'm doing OK with outside business right now but it's early in the year and I am considering several drastic changes to the forums including making them entirely a subscription access - No pay, no access.

More importantly is that many people who do register do so because they see a form or such which is an attachment to a post in a thread. So they register, get the form (or whatever) and that's it and they never come back.

The internet is changing rapidly. What is happening is 'free' is going away and large corporations are taking over. There was an interesting article on http://Slashdot.com about this a few days ago but I didn't save the link. In short, the internet is becoming the 'marketing-net'.

So... Things could get very interesting soon. :thedeal:

Yes, I "seem" to remember something about that:bonk: Like I tell Visa, it's in the mail.

I can't help but mirror Marc's comments concerning the long term outlook for the forum. Where alse can anybody access the enormity of professional expertise for free. Well, I'm in for the long haul.

Support your local forum!:bigwave: :bigwave:

Originally posted by Al Dyer

I can't help but mirror Marc's comments concerning the long term outlook for the forum. Where alse can anybody access the enormity of professional expertise for free. Well, I'm in for the long haul.

Support your local forum!:bigwave: :bigwave: Well said Al.

I'm not goin' noplace. This forum is too valuable.

While I hate to think that the forums might have to be all pay, I can certainly see the logic of it. These forums have given us a lot. Advise, solice, a kick in the pants (when desrved) and more than a couple of laughs.

The point I was shooting for in the origional post was that we have so many people registered, and so few who regularly contribute. How much richer could the discussions be. How many more forms, procedures, training aids, etc etc etc ad infinitum would be available.

Where else can you get the kind of support offered by Marc, Al, Energy, Kevin, Steelmaiden, Lucinda, Randy, M Greenaway, Michael T, and all the others that I can't think of right now.

My message is to all who have registered and not posted:
Don't be afraid.
Ask questions
Put in your two cents worth.
Bring a fresh perspcetive.
Make the regulars defend their positions
Lets make this board the best it can be

And to Marc, who has kept this place running,
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU.

James

A restatement:

> Very, very few people have 'supported' the Forums by
> taking a 'Premium' or 'Member' files access. No one has
> 'helped out' for almost 2 months.

Three folks have 'subscribed' since early January - 1 was a 'Premium'.

No big deal. I'm looking at alturnatives and doing some general thinking. I'm stirring up some :ca: because my car bombed out on me in Miami and cost me some serious cash. So I'm kinda reactive right now... :thedeal:

By the way, legendary animator, Chuck Jones (http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/22/chuck.jones.obit/), creator of classic cartoon characters such as Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Road Runner, & Pepe Le Pew has died aged 89 years. When you were a kid was there ever a better baby-sitter than several hours of Looney Tunes & Merry Melodies? Thank you, Mr. Jones for all the great memories and, respectfully, That's All Folks...."

OK - my kids watch too much cartoon network. But this AM, when I mentioned that "The guy" that created the classics, bugs, Road Runner, died, my 9 year old came out with...

"What, Chuck Jones died?!?!"

I couldn't believe he knew the name. "What? You know his name?" "Mom, its on every cartoon..."

Now Marc... you drove to Miami?

Well, it was past my 1000 mile 'limit' but did it anyway figuring I could handle it. It turned out to be 1180 miles from my house to my client. I typically drive if a client is less than 1000 miles. Flying is such a pain in the :ca: anymore that I really hate to fly. It's worse than a bus. And since that 'shoe' guy you even get to take off your shoes which they take away to check.

Besides, I can throw my printer and other stuff in my trunk that I couldn't take on a plane.

I will say 1 thing - Miami is traffic city 24 hours a day. And rude to the point of dangerous as often as one gets 'cut off' and such. I don't know what they pay for auto insurance down there but it must be sky high.

I guess I'm just not a 'city that never sleeps and where everyone drives like nuts' person. :thedeal:

Originally posted by Marc
I will say 1 thing - Miami is traffic city 24 hours a day. And rude to the point of dangerous as often as one gets 'cut off' and such. I don't know what they pay for auto insurance down there but it must be sky high.

I guess I'm just not a 'city that never sleeps and where everyone drives like nuts' person. :thedeal:

As a former Miami resident.... YEP! :frust: Insurance on a Mitsubishi Eclipse was $1600 per year for the bare bones insurance (full coverage of course, with uninsured motorist - you wouldn't believe the number of people who drive [I use the term "drive" VERY loosely] without insurance). That was WITH the multicar discount, no tickets, no accidents.

I remember driving on I-95 one morning and about 1/2 mile in front of us I saw the SIDE of a jeep. I thought the guy was spinning out... you don't normally see the side of a vehicle on the freeway... Nope... this bozo missed his exit. Instead of going to the next one, he stopped, backed up and drove ACROSS 5 lanes of interstate. :bonk:

Miami is a beautiful city to visit, but I'll NEVER again live there.

Now... I just came back from Asheville, NC. Yow!!! Gorgeous!!!


Cheers!!!

Originally posted by Marc


I guess I'm just not a 'city that never sleeps and where everyone drives like nuts' person. :thedeal:

Don't bother coming to Paris, then, unless it's in August!
:vfunny:

Micheal T,

"Now... I just came back from Asheville, NC. Yow!!! Gorgeous!!! "

I love that area too. We went for a week long vacation there and didn't want to come back. I would really like to get a job near that area.

Marc,
As guy who only found this forum 6 months or so ago, I know I really appreciate the opportunity to share, ask and read what other have to say. Thanks!!!!

Mooser

Bruce,

What in the devil is contradancing?

I trained Contra's in the 80's and I can guarantee dancing wasn't a subject we covered.:biglaugh:

Originally posted by Randy
Bruce,

What in the devil is contradancing?

I trained Contra's in the 80's and I can guarantee dancing wasn't a subject we covered.:biglaugh:

Contradancing is a form of folk dancing evolved from English dances of the 17th century. Nowadays, it is primarily a North American activity, although we have contradanced in England and occasionally even on the continent.

More information is available at http://www.sbcds.org/contradance/whatis/ and http://www.io.com/contradance/

:bigwave: :bigwave:
Controversial political statement warning: the types of people who participate in contradancing tend to be on the opposite side of the political spectrum from those who supported the Contras in the 80's, and some of that sentiment is stil evident on the above-mentioned websites.

Originally posted by mooser
Micheal T,

"Now... I just came back from Asheville, NC. Yow!!! Gorgeous!!! "

I love that area too. We went for a week long vacation there and didn't want to come back. I would really like to get a job near that area.



Hey Mooser...

Isn't Kane near the Allegheny National Forest? If that's the area I'm thinking of, it's nothing to sneeze at. I wish I had a week in Asheville - the weekend went WAY too fast.

Cheers!!

Michael,



As a former Miami resident....

My condolances!!!! My husband is from Miami. I rembember him telling me how horrible the drivers were. I thought to myself, can't be any worse that Chicago drivers.....boy was I wrong! The I-95 story....my husbands got a million of those stories to tell!

CarolX

Originally posted by CarolX
Michael,
My condolances!!!! My husband is from Miami. I rembember him telling me how horrible the drivers were. I thought to myself, can't be any worse that Chicago drivers.....boy was I wrong! The I-95 story....my husbands got a million of those stories to tell!

CarolX

Hi Carol...

My condolances to both you and your husband if you have to go back there. The father-in-law still lives in Miami and my wife has several frends there (she lived there for 17 years), so we have to make the jaunt back every now and then. *shudder* If I didn't have to leave Coral Gables, I think it would be just fine... :biglaugh: Yeah, I've got several more about Miami traffic. Let's not forget the other endearing things about Miami.... Like the corpse falling from the sky (fell out of an airplane landing gear bay) or the naked guy who boarded Metro-Fail with a severed head... :eek:

Yeah... I miss Miami........ NOT! :vfunny:

Cheers!!!

Originally posted by Bruce Epstein

Don't bother coming to Paris, then, unless it's in August!
:vfunny:I was there a number of times between 1964 and 1967. The last time I was in Paris was 1967 (!) so I'm sure it has changed dramatically. It was nice back then. Hopefully before I leave this world I'll get to see it one last time. I still have 8mm films (I put them onto VHS tape) I took of the left bank and much of Paris. In fact during the summer of 1966 I was youth hosteling by bicycle and met three fellas from Paris in Copenhagen in a hostel. We rode our bikes to Paris together from Copenhagen that summer. The next year I was there for Bastille Day (1967).

As an aside, on that hosteling trip in 1966 the first breakfast I had in France on the way the waitress called me a baby because I didn't drink any wine - I had asked for milk... I'll never forget that. So - That was my first time to try wine. I pedaled pretty awkwardly that day... :rolleyes: When I got back to the US my father explained that wine was a part of French life but that he didn't expect it to become part of my daily routine...

Oh, so many years ago... My age is showing... :thedeal:

Originally posted by Marc
I was there a number of times between 1964 and 1967. The last time I was in Paris was 1967 (!) so I'm sure it has changed dramatically. It was nice back then. ...

Well, the basic aspects are still the same (Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, etc. are still where they used to be :) ) and there are a bunch of new buildings like Les Halles, the Pompidou center, the pyramid at the Louvre, La Défense, the new library, ...

More significant is that the number of cars in Paris on a given day greatly exceeds the capacity of the roads and is about twice the number of legal parking places. It's tough to imagine touring Paris on a bike these days. However, the government finally started getting concerned about the number of cycling (bi- and motor-) accidents, and has created bike routes throughout the city. Now if they can only convince automobilists not to park or drive in the bike lanes. :mad:

All that aside, it is worth the trip. And since health consciousness has arrived, it's even possible to order a meal without wine. :vfunny:

Bruce

I'm sure returning to Paris would be a tear jerker as I tend to remember things and get misty eyed. Cities may change, but memories help bring back the way they were for us. Heck - I remember Beirut when it was a paradise - A hangout for the very, very rich.

I remember Paris with great fondness. Not just Paris, actually, but France as a whole. I met my father in Paris under the Arec de Triumph one summer and when he saw me in his limited French he loudly proclaimed "My daughter! My daughter!" He's dead some years now but I'll never forget his desire for me, early in my life, to understand the US in context of the world. He wasn't anit-US but rather wanted me to see that the US was (and is) not the centre of the universe. It was through him and my trips to Europe that I developed a love of history, as well. The sad part is... Things were simpler and the world was more sane back then. But - I guess this is a lament many, many people go through - the old "When I was young...." thing.

Originally posted by Marc

I'll never forget [my dad's] desire for me, early in my life, to understand the US in context of the world. He wasn't anit-US but rather wanted me to see that the US was (and is) not the centre of the universe.

I sincerely hope that one day my 14 year-old daughter will be able to look back as you are. However, she is beginning to appreciate just how extraordinary her situation is, especially her exposure to cultures and languages other than "American".

And, as a proud papa, I was extremely impressed with her the other day when in the course of one lunch she used 3 of her 4 languages: US English with my American boss, German with one of my co-workers and his family, and French with everyone else. Pity that nobody at the table spoke Spanish.

If I regret anything, it's that I was not good at languages. I used to be OK at French - but it has been many years and I remember little. Being multi-lingual is a real help in today's world.

Oh how I love France! It's been three years since I was there, although my husband returned with two of the kids there two years ago for Spring Break and we sent my parents to Paris last year for their 50th anniv.

But we're going back this year - we leave on March 8! We fly into Barcelona and then drive. Bruce, (not to turn this into a travel forum, but.....) are you familiar with the Languedoc Rousillon area? We're staying in a coastal town outside of Perpignan and then taking day trips to the surrounding areas. Nimes is as far as we will venture on this trip (I think) and we'll spend one night there. Then back to Spain for a couple of days at the end.

Your daughter is so lucky! What a wonderful experience and opportunity for her. Our two teenagers have taken several years of French but without actually using it, it is just book learning. That's why we like to take them to France so that they can practice. My french is just enough to get by with until someone volunteers to speak English instead! And spanish too, although I'm told that we will encounter little of either on this trip. Apparently we need to know Catalan - so I've bookmarked a website or two with Catalan lessons and tried to pick up some words.

Bruce may not know it but I do.

I spent 2 summers in the early 90's teaching sailing in a little town near Beziers. It was a wonderful time of my life (with a little summer time french romance ;) ).

It is a beautiful area, Carcassonne is a must see, as is the University town of Montpellier with it's Roman Aqueduct.

It is so much more of the real France than the northern Med (Nice, etc). The language problem can be more difficult. It can be hard to find someone who speaks English, but at least they are not pretending they don't understand, like in Paris. They a great down to earth people and very helpful and with the language you say you and your daughters have you will have no problems.

Bonne chance

I'll second James' comments about Carcassonne, and strongly suggest getting the Michelin guide for Languedoc-Roussillon so you can find the lesser known attractions like Foix, Mirepoix, the Cathar castles, the painted caves, etc. Note that you can't actually get into the painted caves anymore, but there is a visitor center that shows their history and a wonderful reproduction of what the archeologists have found.

You may find some English in Carcassonne and along the coast, but otherwise, as James says, you'll need to manage in French. And by all means try the local cuisine, which is somewhat fattening but marvelous! :lick:

As for Barcelona, on my one visit there, I got by with pidgin Spanish as well as French and English (I was surprised to see how much French was understood). If you're not dealing with complex topics, many of the locals do understand and speak "standard" Spanish.

Enjoy!

Originally posted by James Gutherson
Bruce may not know it but I do.
The language problem can be more difficult. It can be hard to find someone who speaks English,but at least they are not pretending they don't understand, like in Paris. , Bonne chance

I have been following this thread and just cannot stifle my resentment for this type of people anymore. English, I'm told, is a difficult language to master. It wasn't too long ago that the French seemed to understand it pretty well. Considering that German could have been their native tongue today, you'd think that they would try a little harder to be polite to their English speaking visitors. But considering their behavior since being liberated, I'm not surprised. Hey, just like the posts that promote how wonderful Paris is, I'm adding some balance. No offense intended.:agree: :ko: :smokin:

Yes, we have Carcassone on our list, and hope to manage Foix as well. There's supposed to be a painted cave outside of Foix (Nauix (?)) that is open on Mondays and we would need a reservation. Not sure how good it is. We always plan go-go-go type vacations and not enough time breathing and being. This weekend I did some pruning to the schedule and it was a little painful but more realistic than originally planned.

We've got lots of small towns on the schedule, a few castles, the Pont du Gard, the roman arenas in Arles and Nimes, some markets, the marshland where the flamingos and bulls roam, etc. I've been sifting through lots of guidebooks, but you know how they are. And when there are choices to make, it's hard to choose between one medieval town and another - they sound alike.

Energy,

I don't mind the french expecting me to know some of their language and using it preferentially before having to resort to English. After all, how would you feel if someone just walked up to you in the street and starting talking russian or french and expected you to know what they are saying and responding in kind?

The french people have been unwaveringly kind to us whether we were in the city or the countryside. But I always approached them speaking what french I knew and that probably made the difference. The few people who said they didn't know english simply had to put up with my french which was probably so painful that they could not have kept up a pretense of not knowing english!

Also, (not to start a political debate), I've been told that while they dislike the British, they do like and appreciate the Americans for coming in and saving the day for them. So they may steer away from English until they realize that you are American. Just a thought.

Hmmmmmmm - quite a perverse re-hash of modern history !!

Energy - didnt realise you were so liberal :vfunny:

Originally posted by Lucinda
Energy,
Also, (not to start a political debate), I've been told that while they dislike the British, they do like and appreciate the Americans for coming in and saving the day for them. So they may steer away from English until they realize that you are American. Just a thought.
Could it be that whoever told you that was talking to a beautiful American woman and just wanted to try on your diving tank? I don't want to get political either, so I'll reserve my comments about these people and their gratitude for private e-mail or messaging!:eek: :ko: :smokin:

Originally posted by M Greenaway
Hmmmmmmm - quite a perverse re-hash of modern history !!



Par for the course for a country that is linguistically and geographically impaired, and whose foreign policy, as SatireWire so aptly put it, is "promise to consult with its allies before doing whatever the hell it was going to do anyway" (see http://www.satirewire.com/news/feb02/allies.shtml).

Hey, just like the posts that promote how wonderful Paris is, I'm adding some balance.

No balance is needed, Paris just happens to be better than say Naugatuck (yes, I've been there).

Originally posted by Bruce Epstein

Par for the course for a country that is linguistically and geographically impaired, and whose foreign policy, as SatireWire so aptly put it, is "promise to consult with its allies before doing whatever the hell it was going to do anyway" (see http://www.satirewire.com/news/feb02/allies.shtml).
No balance is needed, Paris just happens to be better than say Naugatuck (yes, I've been there).

Well, that didn't long to get personal! But, what do you expect from an Epstein in Paris? I find your reference to Allies offensive, as well as, expected from your ilk. As for Naugatuck, I think I saw you once looking at a rent or maybe checking to see if the door was locked. :eek: :ko: :smokin:

Originally posted by energy


As for Naugatuck, I think I saw you once looking at a rent or maybe checking to see if the door was locked.

What, you have locks on your doors now??? :vfunny: :vfunny:

OK, no more politics, no more personal attacks, and I declare that my posts will also continue to be a road-kill free zone.

:p

Originally posted by Bruce Epstein

OK, no more politics, no more personal attacks, and I declare that my posts will also continue to be a road-kill free zone.
:p

Thanks, Bruce. Somehow I don't think our posts would have survived the day, anyway!:vfunny: :ko: :smokin:

Yes - Please... Let's kill the politics and personal darts. We don't need another flareup... Two people have reported this thread today already.

I didn't mean to stir anything up and I sure didn't mean to offend anyone! It was wrong of me to repeat what essentially amounts to gossip. I was just trying to explain it the way it was explained to me (by members of both countries by the way). oops didn't mean to set it off again.

Please accept my apologies. :bigwave: I love all the different cultures that this world holds and when I travel I try to live their way, not mine. There is no such thing as "better" - only "different" and if I didn't want "different" than I should stay at home and keep my mouth shut, yeah?

When the last kiddo is out of the house (only 7 more years) then I am backpacking it everywhere! Seriously. A backpack, a sleepsheet, one pair of clothes to wear and one to carry, etc. Oh yeah, I know just what I'm taking and where I'm staying - hostels, campgrounds, you name it.

In the meantime I have to "settle" for clean fancy hotels and restaurant meals. Yawn.:vfunny:

Bruce, I just checked out that website and it is very funny! Thanks for making the reference - it has so far made my day! It has now become one of my bookmarks!

:confused:
I don't have anything to contribute except my first post.
I was refered to this forum recently while browsing many links
with questions about a mahcine shop calibration system.
I often pop on for a few minutes at a time just to look for any
bit of information for the day.
This morning I saw a sound reminder,
"we can't expect different results if we don't change the process"
I don't have the exact quote still in front on me.
I've been in machine shop for 18 years, the last 6 being in quality, our shop has 35 employees.
When you quality profesionals have something to post, you are being helpful.
Thank You
Andrew Lock

Hello Andrew,

We meet again. Welcome to the cove. This a great place to find real answers to real issues. Marc has a great site here.

CarolX