theNoosphere.com

Greetings fellow spherist ... we're glad you've found your way here.

Before diving into the forums, please take a minute to introduce yourself. You can post in this thread or, if you prefer, start a thread of your own. This isn't like the first day of class at a new school, by the way--take your time, have fun with it and tell us as much or as little as you wish.

Here's to new horizons.

TN

Hi. I'm Henry.

I'm one of the guys who helped start this place up. I hope everyone likes what they see here. We've done our best to make this a pretty cool place to hang out.

I'm Sasparilla Gretsch, a/k/a headexplode, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with others dedicated to the free exchange of ideas, communicated honestly and with an eye to the progression of human thought in all realms: philosophy, politics, economics, art; the historical, sociological and anthropological; all questions big and small. There is so much to learn; a chance for open, civil dialogue is the chance for daily discovery, the expansion of knowledge, positive transformation and even transcendence.

I have great respect for the founders of this board, though I only know them through their words. They are, I believe, representative of a curious and adventurous spirit, and they share an appreciation for good beer, good food, good art, and a good bawdy joke (not to mention a grand and storied football tradition).

With that having been said, it's time to take my pants off and dive right in.

Excited to see you arrive. We're just taking our first little internet baby steps here...but we're really excited about the potential. Our plan is to build an amazing community one member at a time. We just got one member stronger

Great to see you here

Well, hell ... I'll do it.

Mark Steven, 47. Virginia.

Married 22 years. 3 kids; daughter in college, son a HS senior, daughter in 8th grade. Dog. Mortgage. Not much hair left.

Grew up a Foreign Service brat. Born in Tokyo ('60), lived in Burma (Myanmar), Mexico, Massachusetts, Chile, Argentina. Fluent in Spanish though can't write it a damn. Graduated VA Tech '83 with mega-useful BA in English, History, Philosophy. Federal Gov't employee going on 18 years.

Them's the facts.

As to why I'm here ... this site is the realization of a vague, perhaps naive notion of building an online oasis for grownups that's been floatin' around the old noggin' for years. Happy circumstance and dumb luck brought me together with three truly outstanding partners ... Boone, Henry & Pravda ... and together we've managed to make it come true.

Well, we have insofar as building the house anyway. Hopefully, along with those willing to join us and be a part of it, over time we'll turn it into a home.

Sorry, I can be schmaltzy like that.

Oh, you want credentials.

Well, here goes.

Henry, 38. Virginia.

Married 11 years. 3 kids, ranging from 9 to 2. Cat. Mortgage. More hair left than Mark, but getting very grey these days.

Born in Virginia. Grew up in Virginia. Other than a four year stint in New York for college, never lived anywhere else. Boring and provincial. Graduated '92 from U of Rochester with a mega-useful BA in History and Political Science. Been in the graphic design/publishing business for 15 years and just started my own freelance shop.

I'm here for the same reason Mark is, but I'm not as schmaltzy.

At least I hope not.

Pravda, 27. Brooklyn, NY.

Married 2 years. 1 kid on the way. 3 dogs, 1 cat. Mortgage (and maintenance). Less hair on head than Henry, other parts, likely harrier.

Born in Santa Fe, NM. Grew up in New Mexico, Cleveland and metro-Washington, DC area. Left DC for New York for college and haven't moved back (even after the mire of law school). Graduated from Colgate University (and no, I never have heard a toothpaste joke in my life ) with a surprisingly useful BA in English [at least for someone who almost went to Montgomery Blair for math and science in Montgomery County, I found it very useful]. Worked, in various capacities, on Wall Street and in finance for the last 5-6 years.

I'm schmaltzy, straight out of Sammy's Roumanian, where you can actually get schmaltz.

As for why I'm here, I dig the founders of the board and our collective vision for what TN can be. I hope you do too.

Meteor. (Look left to see how much of an impact I make.) 51. (Although I am often accused of not acting my age.) From the great state of Texas. (Not originally, but I got here as soon as I could.)

Used to have hair, and could sleep through the night without having to go piss. Also used to be a fighter pilot, skydiver, scuba diver, mountain climber, world traveller, rock star and chick magnet. (Well, maybe not the last two.)

Currently working two jobs: First is gleefully pestering my 12 year old princess daughter, being homework assistant and science project guru, chauffeur, and backcountry camping instructor. Second job is doing whatever my retired USAF colonel wife tells me to, including getting things off high shelves.

When not employed at my jobs, I scoop very large (condominium size!) dog poop, ride my bike, and fly airliners around.

I'm here because Om is my brother and is paying me large amounts of hard cold cash to give this site lots of "hits".

We need to talk.

One thing I've learned as I've gotten older.

You never stop being a little brother.

Pete here.

Born and raised in NY, relocated to Fl 14 yeas ago. 47, but 19 at heart, wife who says it more like 12, daughter in second year of high school, big dumb dog, and all the bills to go along with normal life and owning a home.

I found the lost part of me a few years ago, and I'm back to being passionate about motorcycles. I'm a motorhead, and some say I was born in the oil pan of a 61 Falcon. My mom may contest that, though she is as wide as a Delta 88. I spin wrenches for a Triumph, BMW, Ducati, and MV Agusta dealer, and working towards a master certificaton with BMW, which is a very elite group.

I also found another missing part of me today, the founders of this site. I'm here for the reason they developed the place, the exchange of ideas/ opinions in a friendly enviroment.

It's great to be here.

I think I've found you an avatar

Welcome Pete!

Great to have you aboard.

I would be Bob.

41 (although my wife thinks closer to 21 and my body thinks closer to 61), married for 16 years, a two year old daughter, 2 dogs, a cat, a mortgage and a 92 Honda Accord with 247K on it.

While a native son of the Commonwealth of Virginia (the rest of my family still lives there, about an hour SW of DC) I went to college in Texas, married a local girl and now live in Dallas. I have a BA in History and three hours short of a second one in Pol Sci (who schedules a Social Research class at 8am anyway?). After careers in technical theatre and kitchen design, I got into computers and have worked as an embedded systems engineer for the last 10 years. If you are curious about what someone in my line work does please let me know once you find out as I too am curious.

I still wake up most mornings with the vague feeling that I am only playing at being an adult and the dream will end any minute with the announcement from one of my parents that it is time for school.

I believe that is the pertinent data for the moment.

Well done sir, and welcome aboard.

We'll query additional data as it becomes necessary.