Just to show you I haven't totally lost my sense of humor.
Another one of those clips that came from my dear old Dad.

Bet most of you have not seen this one.
But sure to get a grin out of most of you.
This guy's dexterity and coordination is unreal.

The (mostly) one man brass band.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

But what was the name of that song?

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But what was the name of that song?

The name of the song is 'Lonely Boy'.
And it is performed by an Austrian group Mnozil Brass.

A group of very talented musicians with more than a bit of humor running in their veins. I'll look for some more when I have the time.

Here is a longer version of the bit.
Lonely Boy.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Here is a medley of some tunes from a recent Mnozil Brass DVD.

Magic Moments.

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"Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster

Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums... at least is wierd no?

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Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums...

Not the first time, nor, unfortunately, the last. Used to happen a bit more frequently, as I recall.....

Banishment only means he posted something that broke the forum rules, and as punishment he can't post to the forums for a period of time. Has no effect on his crunchers processing work and getting credit. He should be back posting in a week or two.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62kQbLdAlDg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgYuLsudaJQ

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Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums...

Not the first time, nor, unfortunately, the last. Used to happen a bit more frequently, as I recall.....

Banishment only means he posted something that broke the forum rules, and as punishment he can't post to the forums for a period of time. Has no effect on his crunchers processing work and getting credit. He should be back posting in a week or two.

I think we need a special rule just for him. As soon as he starts posting in that condition, the mods banish him for 12 hours before he can post anything bad. Maybe if he can't post, he'll stop drinking and go to bed sooner.

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David
Sitting on my butt while others boldly go,
Waiting for a message from a small furry creature from Alpha Centauri.

Him stop drinking because he can't post? Wishful thinking.

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Pluto will always be a planet to me.

Seti Ambassador
Not to late to order an Anni Shirt

Him stop drinking because he can't post? Wishful thinking.

Him might stop when the Boss hands him the cup to pee in and puts him in a program or lose the paycheck.

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I would suggest doubling the length of the time outs until it is not a problem. The current cycling seems to be ineffective and short term at best.

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...

Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums...

Not the first time, nor, unfortunately, the last. Used to happen a bit more frequently, as I recall.....

Banishment only means he posted something that broke the forum rules, and as punishment he can't post to the forums for a period of time. Has no effect on his crunchers processing work and getting credit. He should be back posting in a week or two.

I think we need a special rule just for him. As soon as he starts posting in that condition, the mods banish him for 12 hours before he can post anything bad. Maybe if he can't post, he'll stop drinking and go to bed sooner.

If only it were that simple. My brother's daughter is an alcoholic. Her mother is, too, as were both her maternal grandparents, and the fathers of all three of her children. The loss of all parental rights to her oldest daughter, two separate 6-month prison terms, and two trips to rehab while in prison, have not been enough to keep her from drinking. There is a known genetic component to addiction, still it can be dealt with - but usually not until the addict hits bottom and loses, or realizes he is in danger of losing, all that he holds dear. My niece Jennifer has not yet reached that point. Neither, it appears, has Mark. I pray that time comes soon.

One thing I have learned is it does no good to attack or taunt them while they are under the influence. It only makes them defensive, and/or angry, and/or stubborn, and that is how they respond. It makes YOU the villian, not them or demon drink. That is why, when it is clear Mark is posting under the influence, I read his threads, but when I respond at all, I respond only in positive ways to good things he posts, like music videos I enjoy, or a story I can relate to. I try NOT to respond in ways that might provoke him, because it does no one any good.

And I am very much aware that Mark can and sometimes does read the boards, even though he cannot POST during his banishment.

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums...

Not the first time, nor, unfortunately, the last. Used to happen a bit more frequently, as I recall.....

Banishment only means he posted something that broke the forum rules, and as punishment he can't post to the forums for a period of time. Has no effect on his crunchers processing work and getting credit. He should be back posting in a week or two.

I think we need a special rule just for him. As soon as he starts posting in that condition, the mods banish him for 12 hours before he can post anything bad. Maybe if he can't post, he'll stop drinking and go to bed sooner.

If only it were that simple. My brother's daughter is an alcoholic. Her mother is, too, as were both her maternal grandparents, and the fathers of all three of her children. The loss of all parental rights to her oldest daughter, two separate 6-month prison terms, and two trips to rehab while in prison, have not been enough to keep her from drinking. There is a known genetic component to addiction, still it can be dealt with - but usually not until the addict hits bottom and loses, or realizes he is in danger of losing, all that he holds dear. My niece Jennifer has not yet reached that point. Neither, it appears, has Mark. I pray that time comes soon.

One thing I have learned is it does no good to attack or taunt them while they are under the influence. It only makes them defensive, and/or angry, and/or stubborn, and that is how they respond. It makes YOU the villian, not them or demon drink. That is why, when it is clear Mark is posting under the influence, I read his threads, but when I respond at all, I respond only in positive ways to good things he posts, like music videos I enjoy, or a story i can relate to. I try NOT to respond in ways that might provoke him, because it does no one any good.

I´m not trying to defend who break the thread roules, just point the wierd situation, i know he was banished in the past several times but at that time he was not the #1 in RAC.

Just point a curiosity like the thread titles said, "another kittyman moment" be the #1 and banished at the same time, only Mark could do that.

On other hand without the influence of the alcohol Mark is normaly a very nice person.

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Now we have a very interesting situation, the SETI world top participant by RAC, the kittyman is actaly banished from the SETI forums...

Not the first time, nor, unfortunately, the last. Used to happen a bit more frequently, as I recall.....

Banishment only means he posted something that broke the forum rules, and as punishment he can't post to the forums for a period of time. Has no effect on his crunchers processing work and getting credit. He should be back posting in a week or two.

I think we need a special rule just for him. As soon as he starts posting in that condition, the mods banish him for 12 hours before he can post anything bad. Maybe if he can't post, he'll stop drinking and go to bed sooner.

If only it were that simple. My brother's daughter is an alcoholic. Her mother is, too, as were both her maternal grandparents, and the fathers of all three of her children. The loss of all parental rights to her oldest daughter, two separate 6-month prison terms, and two trips to rehab while in prison, have not been enough to keep her from drinking. There is a known genetic component to addiction, still it can be dealt with - but usually not until the addict hits bottom and loses, or realizes he is in danger of losing, all that he holds dear. My niece Jennifer has not yet reached that point. Neither, it appears, has Mark. I pray that time comes soon.

One thing I have learned is it does no good to attack or taunt them while they are under the influence. It only makes them defensive, and/or angry, and/or stubborn, and that is how they respond. It makes YOU the villian, not them or demon drink. That is why, when it is clear Mark is posting under the influence, I read his threads, but when I respond at all, I respond only in positive ways to good things he posts, like music videos I enjoy, or a story i can relate to. I try NOT to respond in ways that might provoke him, because it does no one any good.

I´m not trying to defend who break the thread roules, just point the wierd situation, i know he was banished in the past several times but at that time he was not the #1 in RAC.

Just point a curiosity like the thread titles said, "another kittyman moment" be the #1 and banished at the same time, only Mark could do that.

On other hand without the influence of the alcohol Mark is normaly a very nice person.

And that, in a nutshell, is the paradox. When he is sober, Mark is a well-liked, valued, and valuable member of this organization. But when the drink takes hold.......

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Donald
Infernal Optimist / Submariner, retired

I agree with that. "The kittyman paradox"...

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It's very simple.

As soon as he is seen posting under the influence he has one warning, if he continues, he is banned for 48 hours.

That way he will be able to post when sober.

As far as the SETI@Home boards are concerned that is the only thing that will work.

These boards are public boards anyone can read them.

As far as Mark is concerned he is the only one who can help himself, or ask for help, I fear however it may just be too late.

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I fear however it may just be too late.

Never is too late, if you wish, i could tell by my own experience...

Hope he will be with us soon, besides some "drunk mind bug" the is a good person, a fellow teamate and do a lot of work in favor of the SETI project.

Please be clear, i totaly agree rules are rules and we all need to respect them.

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I suggest what I call the Canadian solution:
If one does not like something harmless,
one looks harmlessly the other way.
With all care, and in the best of kindness
I say:
“I have some small experience with people
in Mark’s sad condition, and in this case
I think it would be safe to just look the other
way as he is dealing with his pain.”

Alas, mods don't have a 48h timeout button.
There is an initial 6 hour 'timeout' to give moderators time to vote on the ban. If the vote fails, back to posting after 6h. Else two weeks of banishment.

Anything else would require extra code or extra priviledges to somebody. I don't see that happening for the sake of a single person.

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A person who won't read has no advantage over one who can't read. (Mark Twain)

I think we all know Mark is prone to extremes brought on by drinking too much.
BUT-
May I remind people that while Mark cannot currently post to these forum he can still read what we right, so keep it polite and don't "kick a man when he's down".

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?