Please take a moment to meet a fellow bucketmouth, Fluff n Stuff!
OK, by now you know the drill:
Hi there. Let me take a minute to introduce myself. I’m Uncle Bob, a Mod here at PC Perspective. We will be running a series of articles within the forum that will be called Mod Interviews. I ask revealing, embarrassing, stupid, probing questions of Mods and hopefully you get to laugh with us at ourselves and in the process get to know some of us better. Beware, not all the Mods are as forthcoming as you may like, I do my best to uncover the truth, but haven’t always hit the mark!
1. I realize many of the mods here are in a witness protection program of some sort, but can you give us your real name?
Hmmm… the internet’s a big place, and we use login names for a reason… but since I’ve linked to my website before, and IT has my name: It’s Michael. Sometimes I post on other sites as “Mr. Michael”. And if anybody here is one of those folks who can’t figure out whether it’s spelled ‘Michael’ or ‘Micheal’ just remember that all of the Archangels’ names end in ‘el’. Gabriel, Uriel, Michael. Like that. Minor point, but it drives me nuts… I mean it’s not like folks have’nt seen it before, right?
Of course, I know a guy with my same first and last names… and his Momma spelled it Micheal. When I see her, I agree that she was right.
But as soon as I leave the room…2. Why did you join PCPer/AMDMB?
Because I was clueless! I had my first PC end up dying a premature death: Seems you can’t put an AMD K3 350 on the same mobos as you could the K3 300’s. So I got an all new mobo and CPU, this time it just wouldn’t run as fast as it should… I found AMDMB.com and one of the extremely patient members taught me about the 100/133mhz memory speed jumper. I thought, wow, these guys
3. Which forums do you frequent the most?
Mostly the bars. Rolleyes News, Seti Funny thread, BOINC bar. I read TLR the most often, though. Right now I’m using the same omputer I’ve had for years, so I haven’t had to study up on the new stuff, or figure out how to get mine going again. I’m in need of an upgrade soon, and the stuff on the HardWare Leaderboard all smokes my PC, even the Budget system.
I may have to start reading up again… and I’ll be doing it here!4. Why do you keep coming back?
You mean beyond the ability to actually get useable information from people who have already DONE it? Beyond the news you can trust? The atmosphere here is not caustic, even/especially in the Lightning Round… and that’s amazing. I love seeing what other people think beyond “You’re a doo-doo head!” The crew here go ‘WAY beyond that, and put most commenters in the political blogs to shame for their intelligent conversation and range of opinions. Also, I crunch SETI, and I need to keep up with who I’m passing.
Or… not. I’ve been reading about these new multi-core CPUs, and lookin’ at those Quads, though… hmmmm….
5. What was your first experience with a computer?
My dad built our first computer in 1975 or so… no later than 1977. It was an 8088 based PC loaded to the gills with really floppy disks. I loved the idea of typing in the code, and then playing the computer game I had made. :sigh: Never did beat Hammurabi.
But when PC’s left BASIC for other languages I got left behind, I’m dyslexic and can’t do DOS. I was stuck in a MacWilderness until Windows came out with a GUI, and then I was back using PC’s… couldn’t afford my own for a few more years, though. BTW, I still have the manual for that first computer. It’s an AMD publication called “Build a Microcomputer”. It has all kinds of handy tips, like why it’s so useful to have a math co-processor chip. Oh, and the cards took up a whole bookcase… Micro my b*tt !Remember when CPUs were clocked so fast they needed an FCC warning? OUt of control!!! I was there.
6. Do you prefer to be called a “geek” or a “nerd”?
I wish I qualified as a Geek… I’m just a nerd.
7. What do you do like to do the most here at PC Perspective?
Um, type? No, this took the most time so far on this little interview… between reading the latest tech news… following the
8. What do you like most about PC Perspective?
Definitely the atmosphere here. I mean, it’s a tech site, right? And here I am, one of the least capable ‘techs’ here. I chose the name “Fluff ‘nStuff” because I knew that this was all I could contribute: Fluff pieces and Stuff like that! Yet I am as welcome here as the guy who gives out the factory discounts from ASUS.
I also like starting unfounded rumors.
9. OK, we all know this is coming…What do you like least about your PC Perspective?
The fact that Intel is kicking AMD’s butt so bad that we had to change the name of the site. It was a good decision, I just regret that there was any need. I mean, I had to buy new T-shirts and everything.
10. How long have you been active in PC Perspective?
Believe it or not, next month it will be six years. Whodathunkit? And I don’t think that I’ve ever not posted for more than a few days, barring vacations. I’d never really thought about it before… I think I need a beer. I started out as a guy looking for a solution to a probem, joined the SETI team, was asked to be a Mod for the SETI forum, a vacancy got me into Modding the general forum, the sheer NEED for it started the TLR forum, and JimZ and I started that one from scratch. I am very proud of how it came into being, and amazed that JimZ can still do it; I burned out pretty quickly, maybe less than a year. (I’d have to go back and check) I thought it was a hoot that almost every active poster in TLR thought that I had the opposite views that they did: It showed that I offended everybody equally as a TLR Mod!
For the record, I’m quite the Religious Right Wing Conservative.11. Where are most active here? What is it you suppose that draws you to that particular area?
Most active would be the bars… BOINC and Rolleyes. Probably where I have 70% of my posts the last year ‘nStuff.
12. What interests do you have outside of PC Perspective. Don’t be shy, if you don’t have a life outside of here, many readers would like to know!
Well, in the REAL world I’m a trainer for Bus/Airport Shuttle drivers. I also have a (very) small sideline in photography. In both cases, and all around my life, I love finding new uses for the most recent technology. I figure that if I can be the first guy to take advantage of the new toys, I can make some money off of it and have a god time as well! For example, in photography, I have a camera that is WAY better than I really needed, but since I was the first to really take advantage of it’s new features, I got to sell the big photos to the magazines for big money! Of course, the magazine was in Turkish, so I couldn’t even read the captions. But the money was in Dollars! Hehehe…. ahem. In the Busses, we use GPS, the latest in routing software at the office, Over the Air Internet, and soon DISH TV. All this on the road. It’s really fun to figure out what we can do with it all.
I am fairly active online at the Political Blogs as well, where I both post in the commentary and converse through Email with the site’s writers. I keep a commentary up with my local elected leaders, who for some reason call me “OhYou” or something like that. I am a fan of History because it cracks me up. I’m a trained Gemologist, so I collect and sell Gems, mostly cut but unset. I love well styled Hot Rods, but don’t have the money to build my ’56 Chrysler yet. I’m a caregiver to my parents since my Dad lost his legs. I’m rabidly anti-drugs since before they took my brother. I’m very Religious, but don’t like to push it on others.
Basically, I lack focus.
13. OK, it’s hardware time! Let’s start with your most, or current favorite piece of hardware. Tell us about it.
Well, as the guys in the Camera Buffs thread know, my latest is a carbon fiber tripod and a 430EX flash unit. BUT… as far as computer hardware goes, it’s my Wolvering ESP. Basically it’s a 100GB harddrive with a hardcase with a 3.6″ screen that records Audio, Video, and still images in either Jpeg, Bitmap, TIFF and even Sony RAW. With a base, it even acts as a TiVo unit! I use it to hold my digital images from the Camera out in the field, as well as my mp3 player, etc. I don’t watch TV so much, so the video…
hum?
Oh. My PC. Well, it’s, shall we say, old. AMD Mobile 3500+ CPU, DDR, ASUS. Gforce 4 Ti 4200… remember those? I think my laptop is newer, but only by a few years. It’s an A64mobile 3000+ Emachine laptop, from when Emachines MADE laptops. I’ve been spending more on my Camera Gear lately, and it shows. However, it IS time for an upgrade, as soon as I finish my taxes I should know when I can start looking ‘nStuff.
14. Software? Hey, if you are a closet Linux user, now’s the time to come out. (If you are a closet Microsoft user, don’t be afraid, we can keep a secret!)
I am forever indebted to Bill Gates and Microsoft. First, because I had been stuck on Apple when Jobs was the only one with a GUI. (Remember, I can’t do DOS!) When Windows came out, I was thrilled… it may not be as pretty as Apple, but it was AFFORDABLE!! Remember, a PowerMac 9500 would cost you about $5800 by then. IBM PC 300’s were only $2000. I was making about $25K a year…
On the other hand, I’m not silly… I’ll wait for Vista to get ‘debugged’ by others, and for the drivers to show up. I’m still in Windows XP. Major Software on my computer is Photoshop CS2, BOINC, Google Earth. Email is Thunderbird on Comcast, Yahoo, Gmail; depending on who’s calling. Browser is Firefox, but I hear I need to upgrade to Firefox II. I use AVG, Zone Alarm.
I would love to do Linux… but the whole “ya gotta learn how to program in D++” before you can actually USE it is a definite roadblock.
Also, my Stepfather once asked me what stocks to buy, I told him about this new public offering for an Operating System tech company called Microsoft… and I’m in line to inherit.
15. OK, let’s get real personal. Witness Protection Program be damned…Can you tell us something about yourself you’d like us to know?
Whoops, I think I answered that up a few questions. Male. 44. Single. Likes long walks on the beach. Vegetarian, but not Vegan, and I don’t care what YOU eat unless I’m invited for dinner. Partial to strong Ales over weak lagers.
16. What can you tell us about your job? Hey, if you do something illegal, now’s a good enough time as any to make a clean start!
I train Bus Drivers/Shuttle Drivers as well as Drive them myself. Been doing that since 1990 or so… good company. Not the greatest pay, but steady; I was the one who bailed out my techie friends when the bubble burst a few years ago. Hey, remember me now, guys? Huh? I’m not afraid to drive a used Viper! Really! Guys?
:sigh: My other job is in Photography, but I’m just starting that up now… nothing really reliable financially thus far, but I love doing it, I’ve been able to pay for the equipment with my sales. Can’t be just a hobby if I’m not in debt, right?
17. Where do you live? (Be fearless, your secret is safe with us..)
South Seattle, Washington, USA. A really beautiful place once the sun comes out.
18. What can you tell us about your family??
One side Grandpa came over from Norway in 1906, had his first car in 1916. The family was going over old photos and found a picture of him in Minneapolis, in a parade. “Why was he driving his car in a parade?” they asked. Simple, HE HAD A CAR!!
Other side came from Europe before the Revolution, just after the Mayflower. Running from the ‘Crown’ (we’re not sure which one) he changed his name and came to Virginia. They moved up into the Tennesee Hills until the Civil War, and then followed the cattle trails to the Palouse in Eastern Washington. Joined the US Navy because Grandpa hated dirt, and the Navy was the furthest he could get!
Two dads, two moms, Two sisters, Two brothers living. Drugs took another brother a few years ago.
Oh, did you mean… heheh. Sorry. Single, no kids.
19. Here’s a delicate one…How old are you and where did you grow up?
44 in July, grew up in South Seattle, just outside of Holly Park if you know it, and Skyway.
20. Well, we are getting to the end of it, it’ll all be over soon, I promise. What you would like to say to our forum members, go ahead anything. Get it off your chest. We have all day here….
Well, there might not be much day left, I tend to ramble! I would invite anybody/everybody to check out TLR for a decent discussion on Politics and Culture. It’s not enough to just be a Citizen, you have to DO the part as well… and for that you need to know what the issues are, and where you stand. Doing that staring at the ballot on voting day doesn’t cut it.As an added bonus, if you READ THE STICKIES FIRST you will learn how to discuss the issues in a civilized manner… and when you learn how to do THAT, your prospects on the job will increase. Couple of guys in the early days of TLR got promotions at work when the Bossman learned that they knew how to present and idea, defend it, and discuss alternatives. Great Career Tip!Also, if you have come to buy things online, please help Ryan and the site out by clicking through the ads to make a purchase… it will not cost you any more, but PCPer gets a cut of the action as a ‘reward’, and that helps pay for the site so I don’t have to. Er, so WE don’t have to.In short, the rules for the SETI team BOINC team should apply to the whole site:
Rule 1: Have fun.
Rule 2: See rule above. Oh, and read the stickies. And don’t spam. And watch the size of your Siggies. Oh! And check out Hot Deals before Ebay! And don’t forget.
Interview buffer overrun error, please shorten answers and hit continue to continue ‘nStuff
