Hi! I'm new to this board, have posted a few times ("simple programmers view" yesterday), have been a programmer for 3+ decades. Just wanted to catch up on some of you regulars here. Who are you (nothing personal, please!)? Watchful, Chuck, Mr_Kennedy? Programmer? Concerned citizen? Troll? Covert agent? ...

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 04, 1999

Answers

Hi Sysman,

I have only been a regular for the last month or so. Not an old timer. I have 10 years experience in computers, not programming though. Welcome!

Lora

-- Lora Ereshan (artemis45@hotmail.com), February 04, 1999.

Sysman

It is always nice to have input from those who are "in the know" of things digital. Welcome aboard matey!

My name is Uncle Deedah, and it is my real name in the real world. Well, it is my name in some circles in the real world, it's not on my birth certificate.

I am the resident smart ass and cynic, beware! I do try to be helpful at times, usually when I don't feel grumpy.

Mostly I'm grumpy though.

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), February 04, 1999.

Hi! Jean Cook, daughter and adviser to the Infamous Robert Cook. My father is a programer/checker of programs/funder of allowance. Perhaps I can get him to introduce himself properly. I am in the eight grade and don't want to go to school tommarow.

-- Jean Cook (cook.r@csaatl.com), February 04, 1999.

Howdie Sysman,

Welcome

I'm the old bear here abouts with most of the bear like qualities in full residence.

Been a hack about 19 yrs now. And a preparer for about 10.

Hand around. Lots of pretty sharp folks here (not including self). Best signal to noise ratio on the web.

Everybody here has their own approach. Mine is self sufficency. Gotta learn / practive taking care of yourself. Good thing anytime. Life saving thing in the future.

Learn and do for yourself.

And BTW, Uncle just having a good day. Or as my kids love to say about me "he's real alert today"

Greybear --- who doesn't give a rip about the whole sky falling, just that piece directly over his head.

- Got insurance?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 04, 1999.

Greybear --- who doesn't give a rip about the whole sky falling, just that piece directly over his head.

ROTFL!!! (Rolling on the floor laughing -- for newbies).

Welcome, Sysman. Uncle IS in a good mood. Must be the preparation comfort zone he's reached in stashing dehydrated beer.

Diane

*Create Community, Prepare 2 Share, Be Y2K Aware*

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 04, 1999.

I'm just Mr. K. Enjoyed your first posts.

Just have to share this quote I ran across a little while ago:

"As we rush to condemn the procrastinators responsible for the Year 2000 Crisis, let he who has stocked his basement, cast the first can of baked beans."

Mr. K

-- Mr_Kennedy (y2kPCfixes@motivatedseller.com), February 04, 1999.

Hi Sysman, I'm Nikoli, a relative newcomer to the board. I am a deep cover Soviet mole who came to this country before the Berlin wall came down. My origional mission was to set up safe houses for follow on agents who would be equipped with suitcase nukes and biological weapons. Along the way I met and fell in love with a beautiful American girl who later tuned out to be with Israeli Mossad. Being hopelessly compromised I assumed a new identity, married my little secret agent, and now am on a campaign to save the world from nuclear holocaust.

-- Niloli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), February 04, 1999.

Dam, Nikki, what a beautiful love story.

And here I thought you were just an old wore-out shoe-pounding party hack. Wow.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 04, 1999.

Grey Bear, smile, that psychic streak is working better than you know. Just having a little fun.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), February 04, 1999.

Ah, so this is "fairly" interactive... Nikki, you need help (not Y2K help!)!... Keep 'em coming!

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 05, 1999.

Hi everyone! Jean Cook, cool to see you posting. You could always bring a laptop to school and get hooked on this Forum like many of us. Time goes by in a flash! You'd never be bored, would learn something new and unexpected every few minutes, would develop writing & debating skills, and would learn about practical matters that could save your life and those you love. Extra credit for keeping up with current events and projected scenarios ;-D

Ashton & Leska in Cascadia, dodging Robert's tomatoes

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 05, 1999.

The only way it can get more interactive is for it to be called free-fire with live ammo.

You have your snipers (high precision, 1 shot), infantry spray and pray, close order entry ( all 00buck lovers) and the ocassional stroller who wanders on the stage and gets mowed down in one post :o)

Greybear

- Got flak jackets?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), February 05, 1999.

ROTHLMAO, That is the best description of this forum I have ever seen!!!! Two thumbs up on that one Greybear. ha ha ha ha

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), February 05, 1999.

Pen Name R Cat: PhD from MIT, been coding for 18 years, worked for all the biggies, obsessed with weapons from Iaido swords through Benelli auto 12 ga down to MPK-Ti knife. But love literature more than anything, even more than my Remy 700. Overall, I'm not quite whimsical enough to qualify for this board, but can't help myself.

Warning: addictive substance hazard.

Don't tempt the devil.

-RCat

-- Runway Cat (Runway_Cat@hotmail.com), February 05, 1999.

Sysman, The nature and demeanour of your posts are most welcome. Keep it up. Load us with facts. We need your quality of knowledge and insights. Thanks for your participation.

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 05, 1999.

OK, NEWBE question... What's up with with the "notifying thing" at the end of a post? I guess I need a valid E-nail address. Is there an "instant message" thing I need to know about?

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 05, 1999.

Sysman, A valid email address will enable your inbox to receive responses to threads that you initiate as they arrive. I find this facility and server to be very helpful. So far, I have not been abused or spammed here. Hope it works well for you. Best wishes, Watchful

-- Watchful (seethesea@msn.com), February 05, 1999.

Whereas I (17 years in IS, 8 of 'em in project management,; have worked for startups, an aerospace biggie, and some big IS shops) prefer the careful anonymity afforded by a nom-de-forum. I don't sweat the notification feature. Welcome.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), February 05, 1999.

Hi Sysman,

hmm, disabled vet - about 14 years and a bit hanging around the Army; conservative Christian [though not a believer in "dominionism" or whatever it is that GN propounds]; did some programming back in the late '70's and early to mid '80's but got out of it over a decade ago only big iron stuff I did was in COBOL 77; though I do think it's also something of a distinction that I did database programming in KnowledgeMan, which is one of the very first of those relational database packages that came out the same year as the Compaq Deskpro we ran it on.

Arlin Adams

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), February 05, 1999.

Hi Sysman! I'm no programmer and actually I'm Mac based. So, while I have a limited understanding of the issues regarding codes, programs, etc. I still find myself confused at times. Your post regarding your take explained much to me. Thank you. I'm a 36 year old self-employed graphic designer and art director working in a home based business in the Los Angeles area. I have one son who is almost three and a wife I met while in high school. Diane, I like your new tag line.

Mike ================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), February 05, 1999.

Thanks for the notify info. Think I'll try working@yahoo.com, or hotmail.com. Always Sysman!

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 05, 1999.

Hello, Sysman,

Keep making posts like the one yesterday and you'll have lots more friends around here. I'm a resident alien from the UK but have lived in the US for a long time. I tend to sound pompous, but it's not so bad if you picture me, as now, in a big Duke T-shirt, munching on garlic-flavored pretzels and knocking back club soda--now asking Rambo, one of the black and white cats to please not throw up until I can get over there with a newspaper. Gotta go!

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), February 05, 1999.

And I wonder in the back of my little pea brain," Is this person a mole sent by uncle sugar to identify us and when the time's right a tank of your choice will do a neutral steer over your fox hole and you will stop."

Or is it a person who actually needs the help??

the digitally challanged what to know

-- nine (nine_fingers@hotmail.com), February 05, 1999.

Welcome Newbe! I am a computer illiterate,tho I did work with computers back when they were mere fledgelings back in the 60's and 70's.Did a lot of research for a few months and came to my own conclusions before finding this board. Saw that even a recession would impact my businesses severely, so this has merely speeded up my retirement plans and return to the out-of-the-rat-race simpler more self sufficient life style. Mostly lurk but have been known to add something here and there.

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), February 05, 1999.

Hello Sysman,

Welcome to the forum. You should do just fine here with your professional background. Will help us non techie people sort out where we are at on the the y2k scale.

Am a medical professional so I tend to lurk more than post. Do have tech expertise available for immediate consult close by though!:>

Get ready to be flamed if you answer this question, but, where are you at on the 1 to 10 scale for y2k???

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 05, 1999.

Hi sysman,

Electrical engineer, designer of radar systems for nearly 40 years, using computers to run the things for 25 years. Recently unretired -- living in the hills got boring, so I reversed the flow of people streaming from the cities to the boondocks and moved back to a populated area. Lurk a lot. Used to post under other names, decided that was only a minor nuisance should the powers that be wish to locate the source of my postings, and came out of the closet.

Detete the X's in my address if you really want to email me.

-- De (dealtonX@Xconcentric.net), February 05, 1999.

Sysman-

Lurker for many moons, just recently starting posting. Homeschooling mom of 6. Thrilled to be here as these regs are great. Not afraid to ask stupid questions, because these people have the answers, and I might help someone else who is afraid to look stupid. "There are no stupid questions..."

Factual, verifiable posts here, made by techs who care enough to help non-techs such as myself. A place to go to when the "everyone thinks I am crazy" thoughts take over. People who are on the same wavelength, so to speak.

Good people, good humor.

Blessings...Mercy

-- Mercy (prepare@now.com), February 05, 1999.

Welcome! I'm a mechanical engineer living in Atlanta. My husband is a structural engineer. We both GI on August 28, 1998 at 5:45pm. Since then, we spend lots of time at Sam's and lurking here. Your posts are great!

Mom (not frustrated at all today)

-- Mom (kitty@cat.com), February 05, 1999.

Hi,Sysman!

This is me, Arewyn, NMRN, but shoulda been. Been calling myself that for a dog's age. Married with child, two dogs and ...let's see, noses, please!... nine cats. NINE CATS! Where'd all these cats come from??? Crikey, they're like wire coat hangers, they just multiply!

I've spent nearly 20 years, all told, fussing with computers, inside and out. PC programming and small scale application development. Well, pretty small scale. Depends on how you look at it. More than half the time, working for the powers that be (or at least think they are ;) ), so kind of have a clue about just how much they know and don't know. And what the silly fools are capable of doing.

GI in May, last year, and haven't slept well since. Can't help noticing the grey hairs are beginning to overpower Miss Clairol; starting to think about what sort of stuff I can grow to pour over my head. Hey, just because the world is ending doesn't mean I'm ready to give up my vanity! Besides, I want to look good when the marauders crash the gate. "T'was a fair corpse she made!"

Please forgive. I've been away from the Forum for a week, and I was beginning to go through very nasty withdrawals. I'm still shakey.

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), February 05, 1999.

Hey there, Arewyn, those silver hairs present an opportunity for the wild side. They pick up & reflect colors well. Since getting more & more silvery streaks, have been delighted with Manic Panic veggie hair coloring goo. Very nice emerald-forest-dark teal Green; when combined w/ the brown makes a lovely forest shimmer when in sunlight :)

Sysman, Ashton & Leska in Cascadia are frequently-exhausted hospice caregivers who have their iMac idling on this Forum as they do 24-hour nursing care for a dying patient in the pt's home. We're always dealing with somebody's End Of Their World As They Know It. Also we're tuned into the need for being prepared for natural disasters, especially the earthquake & volcano eruptions, and are certified in two cities as FEMA/Neighborhood/Community Emergency Response Team leaders.

The inexorable death march we're witnessing can be heavy and isolating so we actually come here for relief. Few people outside the Yourdynamites that we've met are capable of thinking and acting re lifestyle changes.

Sometimes because of sleep deprivation and a generally jolly disposition, we can be on the light & goofy side, so please at those times don't think we're trolling.

Right now we're ensconced with a lady succumbing to breast cancer with mets to liver, lungs, pancreas, and more by the hour. She has a pretty good attitude and is slipping away with style. Nice family (so far). Great view of the Cascade volcanoes from the living room ;^o
Been having swarms of earthquakes under the chain, and news just reported magma rising. Another day in Cascadia!~

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), February 05, 1999.

Thanks for the info folks, and nice to meet ya! I'm starting to feel right at home here. Chill, nine - I'm no mole. Just an old hippie programmer looking for opinions, and maybe having some info to offer if I can help. Later, <:)=

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 05, 1999.

Dinty Moore. Any relation to Demi? OK, on the 1-10, I think I'm about a 6.5. A few years ago I was more like a 9! I think awareness, and the amount of work being done on "critical" systems has pushed the number down. I'm still very concerned about the power grid and phone cos. But even is these make it, I don't ever think I'll get below a about a 4. It will be one hell of a ride.

-- Sysman (working@it.edu), February 05, 1999.

Welcome sysman, Any relation to //sysprint DD sysout=A ? multiple careers: computers & medicine, 30 yrs of programming experience - mostly big iron

serious bicyclist and traveller

7.5 out of 10 on the Eastabrook scale

-- RD. ->H (drherr@erols.com), February 05, 1999.

Hi, Sysman, I'm surprised nobody refered you to our "what about you" threads. I don't do the quick find thingy, but one url is:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000B0N

I don't do a whole lot of posting, there are too many more qualified posters, but I do visit regularly, and some days it's hard to shut me up.

My background is Respiratory Therapy, although I am currently working as a Polysomnographist in a Sleep Disorders Clinic. I live in the suburbs of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and you'll frequently hear me bemoaning our weather (not bad today, though!). I'm a mom of two wonderful daughters, a wife of 20 years (half my life, now), cohabitor with two cats and one parrot. I vacillate between a 5 and a 20 on the 1-10 scale (read the Infomagic scenario to see what a 20 is); on my 5 days, my sister says I'm a DWGI. Welcome to the Asylum :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telsupalent.net), February 06, 1999.

Sysman, Demi??? ROTHFL!! Too blond for any resemblance!:>

Thanks for info on your take of the scale. It helps me evaluate things. As for the power grid, I have it from a good source that the main concern (at a nation wide meeting a few weeks ) was the nuke plants. I personally think we will have power unless there is sabatoge/terrorist work. If you want to discuss it I will put up a real email address.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 06, 1999.

Hi Dinty, It Is ok to call you Dinty? Just wanted to ask if you would consider posting any info you have. I think all of us here would be interested. BTW this is a real e-m address.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 07, 1999.

Hi, Sysman.

I'm a factory worker in northwestern Ohio. I discovered this site in JAN99 and find the postings to be very informative. Everyone has something unique to contribute. The threads evince numerous intellectuals, who continually amaze me with their insights.

BTW, I rate the Y2K scenario at 8 and the next Great Depression at 10. If I sound too gloomy, ignore me. My coworkers certainly do. :)

-- dinosaur (dinosaur@williams-net.com), February 07, 1999.

Welcome Sysman,

I am a long-time lurker, occasional poster. I am an accounting tech, married to a GI with four children, two at home. I think there is a possibility of the Mad Max scenario (I read sf too much) but hope and pray for something less. My concern is for my children and potential grandchildren. (I am also proud to be Tricia the Canuck's sister - her sense of humor is always a delight to me.)

If I live, then death is in my future.

-- Lois Knorr (knorr@attcanada.net), February 07, 1999.

Hi, Lois, welcome out :-)

Your final comment made me think of my reply to a patient who said, "Old age is the pits!"

"It beats the alternative!"

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), February 08, 1999.

Hi newbe and welcome to the best forum on line! I am a new college student who just returned back to school after many, many years wasting away at a dead-end, life-sucking job. I just got my first computer in Oct. and can't seem to get my fingers off of it!

I live everyday in the DGI mainstream and then come here for support, info, laughs and whatever else my fellow Yourdonites can come up with. I'm sure you won't be disappointed! Don't forget to read some of the archives as they are filled with LOTS of info!

-- shivermetimbers (zerodegrees@brrrrrr.com), February 08, 1999.