I recently saw SDSAB under your name. I am not sure…but if this means you are a new MOD, then welcome! 
I remember when you first joined…
Seriously! I was teaching winter sprint classes…and I saw Q.E.D had registered…
Check out this link: SDSAB
You have been away, haven’t you? 
Seriously, the SDSAB stands for Straight Dope Science Advisory Board. It’s the title one gets for contributing to the Straight Dope Staff Reports, and has nothing to do with modhood or any special powers. I’ve had it for a couple months, since the Administration decided to reward our hard work with a special member title. There are about 30 of us, or so, last I heard.
I got a SD t-shirt. I bought that, though. 
Congratulations Q.E.D. !!!
I think you are highly regarded on the SDMB and the SDSAB title makes it official !!
By the way, go to this thread http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=263427&page=1
and look at posting #38.
I reference you in that posting and you might like what I had to say.
Again congratulations.
Actually, you do get one special Mod-like power: When you come across a post that you find offensive, hover over it with your cursor, and press the “Any” key. Watch what happens to it!
Stares at keyboard for more than 30 minutes
So…
SDSAB members get a special keyboard, or are they just sent a special key in the mail?
<perusing manual> …“press any key to continue”…
stare at page.
stare at keyboard.
Call customer support.
</perusing manual>
This is a joke about computer newbies.
PS: A retroactive good on ya, QED - I noticed it when it happened and was glad that ignorance had YOU as an anointed foe. Call me if you ever make mod and we’ll go tip some cows over or something.
Well thankya. Actually, I’ve not written any Staff Reports for some time, and I’m surprised Dex hasn’t come by to give me a swift kick in the arse. I’ve got a couple in the oven, though, honest!
And thank you too, *wolf-meister. Much appreciated.
Ain’t cow-tipping a myth?
So Q.E.D. Isn’t a mod (SDSABs aren’t nececarily mods). IMO he should be. He is the first person I’d vote for. He’s answered more questions expertly than any mod here.
No.
Alright… “…that I have seen”
While not knowing what Diane meant, I’m wondering if she’s refering to Modding as being more than just answering questions.
FTR, regardless of his capabilities, Q.E.D. is not the only expert on these boards, as he would no doubt be quick to tell you.
Now, if Leonardo could be ressurected…
Nothing personal, Q.
Absolutely. There are many experts, in many fields here, to whom I would defer to their expertise in those areas. And modding is absolutely more than just being able to answer questions. But thanks, anyway, Lobsang. I don’t care what everyone else says about you, you’re ok in my book.
I know that, ya big lug.
I contributed to a Straight Dope Staff Report, and I got no title.
…you’re libertarian…
Indeed I am.
The Moderator selection process has nothing to do with answering questions (by which, I assume, you mean questions in GQ, rather than “Why can’t I post this?”) It has to do with being able to moderate. Some Mods are good at answering questions, some are not; some do it often, some do it seldom. Ability to answer question is not a criterion that Ed uses in selecting Moderators. (Note that such ability may be indicative of other abilities that Ed does use, such as ability to write coherent English, etc.)
OTOH, the ability to “answer questions” is a requirement of the selection process for the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board. Q.E.D. misspoke slightly: membership in the SDSAB requires more than contributing one Staff Report. We have lots of guest contributors who have written one or two staff reports who are not members of the Straight Dope Science Advisory Board.
This is true. Actually, I had intended contributing to indicate an ongoing participation, rather than a one-off. C’est la vie.
I had been drinking. What I would have said if I were sober is - I believe Q.E.D. Has moded elsewhere in his life and that his obvious technical expertise shown by the questions he answers often would probably make him ideal choice for moderator.
I guess he just seems like a mod.
I was wondering, Q.E.D., what is your field of expertise, or what are your fields of expertise? You seem to have quite a wide range of knowledge and interests.