The diversity between boards and occupations is extreme, and the net has been a showcase for these facts. The Letterhead BB is unique in that those of us who HAVE earned our stripes are willing to help those who haven't. Ever notice that there are some of us who seldom, if ever, ask a question? Of course Si, Old Paint, Joey, Bruce and I already know everything there is to know, so we can afford to be patient with those who don't. heh...
Point being, few of us old timers consider our knowledge as "sacred territory", and we're willing to share it with anyone who wants it. This BB is a pretty cool place. Odd personalities, firey dispositions, quick on the draw comments, group hugs, (Si and me back to back, of course) intelligent discourse and refreshing naiivette. All typical of artists, in varying degrees.
Some of the girls here outshine and outperform their male counterparts. That's pretty hard to find on other forums. Art is an equalizer between the sexes. Knowledge and performance in our trade is not inherently a male province. That's what makes the BB such a cool place to hang out, experienced or not. Nobody looks down their noses at the novice. Most are ready to help in any way they can. Personalities clash, but so what? Cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it. Few leave here permanently, but some do. I'll agree with Steve on a point. If your posts are, in the main, argumentative, insulting, last wordish or continual put downs, then you DON'T belong here. No matter who you are or what your talents might be.
I do understand the unique vein that keeps this board alive, and its the talent and willingness to share experience. The occasional flareup is only human, but if its mostly what you do post, .... then leave. There are plenty of argumentative boards around. This is one of the few places that the girls can truly hold their own with the guys, and its tough to make that happen on many forums.
Example: Rosemary is a name among the firearms forums. Ask anyone who "1911sr" is and you'll get an immediate answer. "She's the firearms and reloading girl from the AW." It took her a very long time to earn her reputation among a very largely male membership of more than 12,000. Her ability to stand up to the comments and the snide remarks with patience and a positive response earned her the respect of the entire membership. She's the darling of the Administrators, Moderators and membership there. Her very wide knowledge of firearms and reloading certainly helped, in fact she was Moderator of the AW Ladies Forum and the Basics forum for two years.
This is the point. If my little Spitfire can keep things on an even keel in as an inherently male, potentially hostile environment of a hardcore firearms board, why can't our membership on the BB keep themselves on an even keel with each other? Personalities here are certainly/supposedly more attuned to each other than those of AssaultWeb.net
Rant over.
Talent is like a Colt pistol. Its an equalizer.
k31
[ June 05, 2003, 08:59 PM: Message edited by: pierre ]
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
I love ya, man...
I want to be in that group of know-it-alls. LOL! I couldn't imagine of us together at one place. Time would probably stand still...Heh!
Good points. I appreciate your insight.
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Waddaya mean, Bruce?? Your name was in there. Honest! k31
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
DOH!
Me no read good! Hahahahahahahahaha! I appreciate being thought of as a "Know-it-all". I just hope that my head will fit down the cellar steps when it is time for my next smoke break! Heh heh heh...
Posted by Si Allen (Member # 420) on :
LOL Bruce, didn't see ya in the group, musta been standing behind Ol'Paint.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Ummmm does earning our stripes mean:
Saying nice things ALL the time.
Never mentioning anything bad about ANY materials .... you might start a squabble you know. (Heavens to Betsy).
Kiss everybody's ass whenever possible.
If somebody makes snide remarks...oh just let 'em slide. We don't want any frickin friction here in Letterville.
Always and I mean ALWAYS comment in a nice tone.
Never ever mention you are having a bad day because shucks, we will not be positive thinkers if we ever mention anything other than what a joy it is to skip down to our mail box.
Not trying to be a smart ass here......just curious. Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
Yes. It means all of those things.
heh..............
k31
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Hmmmmm I don't think I will ever get mine. Imagine.
[ June 05, 2003, 09:19 PM: Message edited by: cheryl nordby ]
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
You've already got yours, Cher.
k31
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
well I just chucked them. Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
I knew someone that tossed their wedding band one night, ...spent the majority of the following day searching for it till it was found.
Posted by Dana Bowers (Member # 780) on :
I know I haven't earned any stripes, and I'm certainly not a know-it-all... but what do I get for living with one?
I'm not bothering getting hung reading through what poor Steve is referee'n around here this time. Sometimes it's a kick reading stuff, sometimes its just another head shaker. All I have to do is look at some of the stuff that comes in to work, and life takes on a different perspective. I've already posted a couple things. I guess that means I'm earning partial stripes in another field, huh?
Monday mornings I clean kennels, so I get my weekly dose of schitt then. Monday afternoon this week I worked surrenders and it seemed like everything I booked in was dead or going to be. Yesterday was ok. Today and tomorrow I'm in adoptions, so that's cool.
Saturday I am working in surgery... got a crash course in that last Saturday. So while you guys are earning stripes here... I'll be filling out paperwork, holding psycho cats for pre-meds, shaving tummies for surgery, tattoo'ing ears and thighs, then to top it off... SHAVING CAT BALLS!!
What do you earn for that? Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
Hi Dana!!! I dunno what ya earn fer THAT but if I were Bruce, I'd careful what I said in the future!!! Posted by dave parr (Member # 3868) on :
Dana, All of that hard work may not get you your stripes, but it will surely cat-a-ball-t you to the next level of your career. Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
i knew you pet people had ta deal wit ocassional Hairballs... didn't know about ya havin' to deal wit Ball Hairs too!
Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
Ooff! Dad tells too much sometimes! But I love him anyway. WOW, Bruce! Dana is GORgeous! How did you ever get her? My Mom's a redhead too. Even my hair has red lights in it in the summer. I'm not sure what stripes are, but I REALLY like polka dots. You don't see many dresses or blouses with polka dots anymore. Does anyone know why they're called "polka" dots?
:^)
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
A less fiesty side of another favorite female resident is refreshing for a new day.
Did a quick search for your question...
quote: Q: Why are they called "polka dots", anyway?
A: According to Funk's 2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings, & Expressions, p. 929.
So popular did the dance become that tradesmen vied with one another to attach the name to jackets, hats, gauze, and even articles of food. About 1880 [...] an American dress fabric was introduced, ornamented with round, evenly spaced dots of uniform size which, following the prevailing custom, the maker called _polka dots_. Actually, however, the textile bears no other connection whatsoever to the dance
...we all love your fiesty side too Rosemary, but thanks for the humor Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
Wow! I never would have even iMAGined that! But I like the different sized polkydots mixed up. When Lat and I were much younger we called them "dot-to-dots, cuz of the coloring book games. Actually I STLL call them dot-to-dots. I'm surprised you found a book about polka dots. I read where the Library in Maui had burned to the ground last week! BOTH books were burned and one of them hadn't even been COLored in yet!
hehehehe
:^)
Posted by jimmy chatham (Member # 525) on :
my dad used to give me stripes when i thought i knew everything.
Posted by James Donahue (Member # 3624) on :
And here I thought the term was derived from the sound you get when you "polk" a sharp instument through stiff paper and the resulting sound when removing it,"-a", all done in even rhythm: polk-a polk-a polk-a. Just had to say it, Jim's wife.
Posted by Chris Elliott (Member # 1262) on :
IF WHITE IS GOOD AND BLACK IS BAD
THEN ALL MY FRIENDS ARE STRIPED OR PLAID
(edited to change "stiped" to "striped"....thanks Rosemary! )
[ June 06, 2003, 03:22 PM: Message edited by: Chris Elliott ]
Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
Do you have STIPED friends, Chris?? My friends are pretty SMRT!
:^)
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Dana, you got me thinking on this one. Since I was in the Navy and the enlisted rates all had little insignias I guess I razor would be in order for an FTB-3
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Pierre, good post, something different, huh?
Rosemary, have you ever seen the comic book "DOT"? it was one of my favorites along with Richie Rich and all the Batman, Spiderman, Green Hornet,and the stretchy, neon, google eyed marvel heroes, and all the fab artwork. This chick had everything in DOTS, you name it,right down to her food. I wish I could find one and show you, as you would love it! \as for the memories of the German polka, growing up in the Wisconsin area,the music was everywhere. My Mom and Dad was born and raised in Chicago and they had a family band. It was serious. They all played three instruments fluently. I grew up with music and dancing in our home. As we had a big old house with some tile floors, we could dance from room to room. I learned the polka in gym class, but when my dad showed me,at home, I got very polished in the waltzes, polkas and other traditional dances. He knew every step of the way and was an excellent dancer. My parents used to take me to "schwabenfests" (german fests where I would polka with the handsome german guys (under my parents supervision, of course). These were in sleepy little german farm towns where their friends lived, and we never even thought of any of the world events, as we just stepped into another world for a day or two! Even some of these older accordian players wore suspenders and funny shorts with knee socks! like the old country. The beer, brats, and blue skies were neverending! Polka is more than a word to me, it is loaded with great family memories! And,Rosemary, when you're out on the bike, "just ride like the wind!" ,girl!
[ June 06, 2003, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Deb Fowler ]
Posted by Mark Matyjakowski (Member # 294) on :
I don’t see them as stripes as, maybe more like badges … Letterhead Explorer Scouts kinda thing. Too much to know to know it ALL of every thing … there’s always more to learn … so maybe level badges? (of infinite levels) Like … I may have earned my level 4 badge for screenprinting (shooting for level 5 real soon) Level 2 in airbrushing and 3 in design … I’ll have to work on those later as right now I’m working towards my level 1 gold and pin striping badges in between raising my computer and sales badges because I have to. Someday hope to start a carving badge … etc., etc.
Cool thing is when someone who has reached Master Ninja Explorer Level in a particular discipline, helps the other scouts raise their badge levels … and vicey-versa
Sometimes my head just spins with what I read and see here and around, so many disciplines interwoven into endless possibilities
I hope I never reach the point that I stop asking questions
Posted by TransLab (Member # 470) on :
-- I dunno... Ye people who think you know it all are really starting to p!ss off those of us who really do..
I'm kidding ... I've learned more about all aspects of signmaking from this board than from any other source. I live in a remote area and I can't sub out any of the work so I've had to learn how to do everything, any time I'm not sure how something is done, this is the first place I'll turn, .. the education never stops.. and there's something to learn from just about everyone.
Posted by Rosemary (Member # 1926) on :
Wow, Deb! My Mom went into the closet and actually found one of those! I had forgeotten all about Dot! How cool!
:^)
Posted by pierre (Member # 1462) on :
She "rides like the wind" allright, Deb. Keeps her mother's heart in her throat. When you're young, you're invinceable.
heh.............
k31
Posted by Stephen Faulkner (Member # 2511) on :
put to me in 1979 by the great Signologist Merele"thePearl"Glines..... " IT'S WHAT YOU LEARN AFTER YOU KNOW IT ALL THAT COUNTS!"
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Hahahaha!
I remember the Dot cartoon where her friend invented the strength booster gizmos that she suck in her sleeves only to find out her strength boosters didn't have a battery. She creditted polka dots for her strength.
Remember the one boy blushingly admitting that he had polka dots on his shorts? Hahahahahaha! Remember how Dot said her favorite song was the "Star Spangled Banner"... especially the beginning.
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