At 10:13 AM 1/20/99 EST, John Stroup wrote: >Rev John and others at the live chat, For interest's sake, the "others" over the evening of Jan. 19 (in no particular order) would be Don Rose, Mike Swendsen, Susan Kline, Richard Moody, Joel Rappaport, Bruce Lantry, Bill Jeffrees (sp?), John Stroup, Brian Lawson, Jon Page, Joe Goss, Andy Taylor, Chris Gregg and Roberto from Argentina, who goes by the handle "Tango". Did I forget anyone? Thanks to you all for participating, especially Brian in Johannesburg SA (ZA?) for getting up so early in the morning to join us. In the past few months we've had participants from six continents and last night we enjoyed the company of piano technicians working in four countries and three continents all from the comfort of our own homes. This truly is a remarkable age! There were also several people on the "voice chat", where typing skills aren't important at all because you just talk as if you're on a CB radio. My sound card was busy all night so I didn't join in that, but it's an option for those who don't like to type. It is interesting hearing people's voices rather than just seeing them type, but you lose the ability to go back over what was said (and perhaps copy it down) so if you miss something you have to ask them to repeat it. > I think for most of us who work, largely, on our own for most ot the day, >this list is the functional equivalent of the office water cooler. Alway >entertaining, often infomative, sometimes an irritant here and there. Although >I am one of the ones who lurkes on the outskirts most of the time, I learn a >lot and enjoy the banter. I agree with you, John. The benefits of this list FAR outweight any aggravation that can be caused. There have been more than a few things I've read here that I've said "that's just paid for my internet connection for the whole year!" after putting the ideas into practice. So far it's probably covered the cost of my Internet service well into the next century. > On the three or four occasions I have been able to drop by the live chat, it >has been sort of like a stop at the pub on the way home from work. I have That's a pleasant way of thinking about it. Mind you, if I spent that much time in a pub every Tuesday I doubt I'd ever *make* it home from work! >learned some tech things, enjoyed the jokes and comradarie, and met piano >techs from several different countries. Almost like going to an International convention every Tuesday, isn't it? Sometimes with this list it's like going to several seminars every day. Regarding the IRC chat there are great possibilities for seminars and mini-technicals with it. It's possible to scan documents, photos, parts (I've done it with a cheap flatbed... works great!) and tools and upload the pictures to a place where people can retrieve them so even fine details can be discussed. For example, those who wish to go into great detail on a topic could upload the "course materials" to a public location in advance where participants can download and print the materials, then at the appropriate time during the evening break off to a separate "room" to discuss a particular topic with physical materials in your hands just like a real seminar, leaving those not interested in the subject free to chat. BTW, those files have a permanent home in a directory off of http://www.musselwhite.com/pub depending on the subject and can be retrieved 24 hours a day if anyone wants to look at them. There aren't many there yet, but it will grow and new directories can be made at any time. Anyone with relevant files to share, topics to discuss or perhaps mini-technicals to teach please email them to me. Check the weekly notice for the evening's topics. > I appreciate the work that everyone involved puts in for both the list and >the chat. Thanks for the kudos... They are both extremely valuable resources, IMO. This list reaches the most people but the other is interactive real-time. > By the way, last night I just laughed and laughed. Even though our friend >from South America, whose typing speed rivals mine, took a while to tell a >story, the banter between episodes made the whole thing like a . . . party. > Thanks again to all involved. For those who missed it (which would be most of the people on this list, I suppose), last night we were telling "funny piano stories", which was great entertainment. We also talked about key leading as Tango in Argentina had spent the day pouring hot lead to make his own, rebuilding concert pianos, player pianos, computers, tube-type amplifiers, new homes and shops and just general chit-chat. The most valuable thing to me is the fellowship... enjoying the company of people with the same dedicated interest in pianos regardless of the actual topics discussed. Of course, one big difference between #pianotech and a pub is that unless you so desire there is no smoke (or non-smokers) to bother you nor any alcohol being served and if there is you don't have to drive home afterwards. B-}) (Rev)John John Musselwhite, RPT - Calgary, Alberta Canada Registered Piano Technician http://www.musselwhite.com email: john@musselwhite.com
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