Talk Back

[Bea]

So....um.....Doug, what's the plan for january?

26 in 06?

You know...I'm just curious....(Really, it has nothing to do with laying down a plan to read the most books next year....honnest it doesn't......)
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I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

[galactic_dev]

I was going to suggest 26 in '06 as well. Make it so, Doug!

[shaw]

Later this month I planned to post a thread about 26 in '06.

Short version: It's on, guys and gals.

Long version: The details to resolve are at what point to I close the 05 board. If I can figure out how to prevent new posts, but allow comments on old posts, should I do that for a month or so? Do I design new avatars or recycle the old ones? Is there anyone who would love to design new avatars?

The avatars have to be updated manually - should I ask the amazing Jeff to help me with that? Is it easy to give him moderator privileges that will allow him to change avatars?

How do I handle invitations? Do I do what I did last time? (invite on my LJ, and then emailed invites to various people on my email list) or do we go with "friends of friends"?

I'd welcome your input.

But there will be a 26 in 06, and anyone reading these words will be invited.

[jeffp]

First of all, I would be delighted to assist with moderator duties, Doug, if you want the help, the rest of the group doesn't mind, and the software supports it. (I suspect that phpbb supports multiple moderators, but I've never actually run it myself, alas.)

You're a great moderator, sir. Recognize that I have no illusions that I can fill your shoes. I'll help if you want, but it's your board.

I will ponder the avatar issue. I'm thinking that we should restart everyone, and possibly design new ones. I might be willing to assist with that if we work together on it. What does everyone else think? Should we start over from the beginning again?

On handling the old board, I like your suggested approach if the software supports it.

Finally, on invitations, the current level of contribution is good, but if we get a few more participants we'll see more (and different) literature. It's a tricky balance, but then again, the board is currently open, and it doesn't get out of hand. If you get so popular that it's a problem, something else is going on. I'm open to any solution here, and it should definitely center on you and your community, Doug. But if friends of friends is OK, I might have a couple to point to the site.

--jeffp

[Bea]

I might have a few to point as well.

I like the idea of starting over again. New year, new avatars, new list.
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I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.

[galactic_dev]

Yes, in a new year, everyone should start at zero (except eisworth, who starts at negative 50).

And new avatars would be awesome!

And a selected few more people would be nice (but not too many).

And Doug Shaw rocks the house!

[Eisworth]

Actually, you should make it 35 in 06. It's not as euphonious as 26 in 06, but most people will end up in that range this year, right? It's a good goal!
I wish there were some way of increasing the discussion we have about books that several of us have read --- we could be our own version of the Bloomsbury Group!

And I wouldn't worry about giving me a handicap. If you look at the books I've read this year, you'll find an awful lot of fluff. One of the things I wanted to do next year was to only describe the scrumptious repasts, and not meticulously record every last Cheetoh that I consume during the year.
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Todd Eisworth
Associate Professor of Mathematics
Ohio University

[shaw]

[crystaldearest]

i vote we all start at nil and work up again.
new avatars would be swell! i'd be up for designing a couple of them, i'd just need to know the measurements and file-size restraints.
may we please invite a couple of people? pleasey please? not everyone in ze vorld, but i think a lot of us are company with other avid readers.

[jeffp]

Sounds like a concensus is building:

1) everyone wants to do it again
2) start back at the beginning
3) new avatars
4) add a few more people to the group
5) start Eisworth off at about -1,000,000

(OK... I made up #5.)

I know we haven't heard from everyone yet. (In fact, I suspect it has been a while since we've heard from Alyson, and I'm still hoping that's because she's reading everything she can get her hands on in an attempt to beat out Eisworth by the end of the year -- not that this is a competition or anything. )

I hope to have one or two more in my total before the year ends, but who knows. Doug's probably going to beat me, but I am trying.

In any event, if you have any opinions about how Doug should or should not run things next year, please post them here.

--jeffp

[alyson]

1) yeah, do it again!
2)yeah, back at the beginning!
3)yeah, new avatars! and how many of us are there? How often do the avatars change--I never knew since it took me so long to become a member. I'm thinking, would it be interesting to design ones with numbers? And perhaps each member that wanted to could design [at least] one? It would require "assigning" them simply so that there are not repeat numbers, but it's fun to design with a theme in mind. Maybe I'm over-complicating.
4)yeah, a few more people! I want to say, "but not a lot," but that might be an anti-crowd reaction that's kind of silly since, yes, I'm sitting here all by myself at the computer.
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Eschew obfuscation.

[Melissa]

Even though I won't make it this year (I'm still trying, but I'm a realist), I'd like to try again next year. We should absolutely start over with numbers and I think more people would be good. I always read the posts to get ideas of what to read so more suggestions would be helpful.