# ATTN: SETI@home Straight Dopers **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035 "2002-10-20T01:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/1 "2002-10-20T01:26:51Z")
There used to be a [SETI@home Group](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/team_list.html) for Straight Dopers (called “Straight Dopers”), but it sort of withered up and died. So, I started a new group, [The Straight Dopers](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_147143.html). However, I recall the old group had at least a couple of dozen members, and only seven people have ever signed up for this one. So come on–if you were a member of the old “Straight Dopers” SETI@home group, or if you weren’t but you run SETI@home and aren’t a member of any other groups you’re particularly attached to, or if you’re a Doper who thinks the whole SETI@home thing sounds neat and wants to start running it on your computer (more on [SETI@home](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/learnmore.html) for those who don’t know what I’m talking about), why not [join up today](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/cgi?cmd=team_join_form&id=147143)? [sup]1[/sup] **P.S.:** And yes, before everyone posts about it, I am aware that you can also use your “spare”[sup]2[/sup] CPU cycles to find a cure for cancer, bring about world peace, and help Lassie warn everyone that little Timmy has fallen down the well again. This appeal is directed at those Dopers who choose to run SETI@home. [sup]2[/sup] **P.P.S.:** And I am also aware that they aren’t really “spare” CPU cycles, and running any of these screen savers will raise your electric bill, wear out your computer sooner, and hasten the day that the Internet will coalesce into a new sentient lifeform and consign all humanity to the role of “AA” batteries[sup]3[/sup]. [sup]3[/sup] **P.P.P.S.:** This is thermodynamically impossible. ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/2 "2002-10-20T02:14:22Z")
Ok, I’m in. I had originally signed up when it first came out, but had computer problems and deleted it. About six weeks ago I was reminded of it again during a discussion on distributed computing, and I signed back up and put it on the box at my office. I’ve got just over a hundred units so far. I was going to install it on my hoem box as well. Can I run two copies at the same under the same user? Anyway, I just joined. Ugly ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/3 "2002-10-20T02:30:48Z")
I’m in as well. I _had_ almost 200 units, but as I tried to access the group, I realized I didn’t have my password, and the address I gave them was for a host that no longer exists. \ Back to square one. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/4 "2002-10-20T02:54:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RJKUgly \* > I was going to install it on my hoem box as well. Can I run two copies at the same under the same user? Yes. See [Can I run this on as many machines as I like using the same SETI@home login?](http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/faq.html#q1.13) from their FAQ. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/5 "2002-10-20T03:06:47Z")
OK… I was in the old group, now I’m in the new group! Woot! Currently number 3, with 605 data units completed!😉 ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/6 "2002-10-20T03:28:05Z")
LOL! While surfing around the Seti@Home site, I noticed “ **Download a free Certificate of Appreciation** ”… so I clicked on it. I now have a beautiful certificate hanging over my desk! It says “The Planetary Society and Seti@Home present to **TYPE YOUR NAME HERE** this Certificate of Appreciation…” Hehehe.😃 ---
**Author:** ![JimOfAllTrades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@JimOfAllTrades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimOfAllTrades)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/7 "2002-10-20T03:33:48Z")
Ok, I decided not to put it on that hoem machine I mentioned earlier :), so I installed it at home instead. I’ve got two other boxes at the office (both NT4 service pack 6) I might run it on, but I would only want it to run after hours. Any thoughts on a simple way to enable the screensaver for only certain hours of the day? Ugly ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/8 "2002-10-20T04:42:08Z")
I just joined. 🙂 I’d been meaning to for a while, but never got around to it. Seemed like just as good a time as any. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![LeeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@LeeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeJam)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/9 "2002-10-20T04:57:41Z")
I’m in too 🙂 that’s the first I’ve heard about it as well… sounds fun. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/10 "2002-10-20T05:10:59Z")
Okay, I’ve posted this before, and I’ll do it again, in interest of seeing a goodly set of work units develop for Cecil: I’m a member of the alt.fan.cecil-adams group, and with 51 members, we’re currently at 44,466 units. Surely, with the vast resources (all you Teeming Millions, yes _you_) at hand, the Straight Dopers can scrape together a team worthy of challenge. Perhaps you can break 10,000 units by the end of the year (when pigs fly!). But this can only happen with **_YOU_…you** …you…you! /playful challenge issued by a scampering brachy as she _neener neeners_ over her shoulder. ---
**Author:** ![Lockz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Lockz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockz)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/11 "2002-10-20T15:10:45Z")
Thanks for reminding me, and I’m on! Haven’t done this for a while (checks last submission date). Hmm, last submission in 1999, I should do something! ---
**Author:** ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/12 "2002-10-20T15:25:47Z")
I’ve just downloaded the Seti@home software, registered, but the website doesn’t seem to be sending me the web page password. I’ll join the group when it turns up. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/13 "2002-10-20T17:45:08Z")
Ha! A challenge! We must surpass the alt.fan.cecil-adams heretical splittists and win glory for the SDMB and the True Cecil Way! > [@](#): > > Any thoughts on a simple way to enable the screensaver for only certain hours of the day? Hmmm…I guess you could just switch from “Starfield Simulator” or whatever to SETI@home each day when you leave…kind of a pain. What about just setting the wait timer to a pretty high value? You leave at 5 (or whenever); an hour later, SETI@home kicks in and chugs away until the next morning. It shouldn’t ever go to screensaver during the day if you use the computers a reasonable amount, although it might “go off” during lunch or something. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/14 "2002-10-20T20:20:49Z")
I just joined, but it’s not showing my name at all. I checked the option to let it show my name on the page, but that’s apparently not working. Is there something else I need to do? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/15 "2002-10-20T21:10:28Z")
Nevermind, it works now. Just needed some time I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Kwyjibo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/59ef9b/32.png) [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/16 "2002-10-21T01:38:47Z")
I’m doing my part! [Raspberry’s **MEBuckner**.] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/17 "2002-10-21T15:43:04Z")
I’m in, too. At least for the moment. It’ll be an interesting experiment to see how long I can run this at work. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/18 "2002-10-21T22:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kwyjibo \* > I’m doing my part! > > [Raspberry’s **MEBuckner**.] 😃 See, the nice thing about this setup is, I may not have the most work units completed, and I may not have the fastest computer, but I am the Leader, so I get to take credit for everyone! [patronizingly]Well done, **Kwyjibo**! Keep up the good work![/patronizingly] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hodge \* > I’m in, too. At least for the moment. It’ll be an interesting experiment to see how long I can run this at work. Well, it’s certainly not worth getting yourself fired over or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Bean\_Counter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/db5fbb/32.png) [@Bean\_Counter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bean_Counter)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/19 "2002-10-21T22:41:45Z")
I have been plugging away at the “old” alt.fan.cecil-adams team for the last year and a half (or so). I wondered if anyone else was still working on units for that team. Anyway, I have a new computer being delivered tomorrow. I will then begin to run it on both plat forms. It will be interesting to benchmark the two systems. Anyway, try to convince me to come over to [regulator breathing] \*\* THE DARK SIDE. \*\* [/regulator breathing] ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2002, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035/20 "2002-10-22T00:20:47Z")
If only you knew the _ **POWER** _ of the Dark Side! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attn-seti-home-straight-dopers/133035.md?page=2)