I don’t know where I fit in. I was a math major and worked as a computer programmer for a long time, so I guess I have the basics down for those subjects. Other than that, just about anything that pops up that I think I have some experience with or know where to find the answer, then I will chime in.
It’s also good to offer your opinion on things. Sometimes you find out what you thought you knew, you really didn’t know at all. Most people are pretty cool about setting your straight, but some get a bit arrogant about it.
Video games are my forte. If someone asks a question about the military, I try to jump in and answer it first. After five or six answers, I don’t bother.
I’m a software engineer (dime a dozen) with a particular interest in process and testing (which is too boring for anybody to want to know any more than they already do about it :)).
My main area of specialisation is broadband internet technology - again, not something we see too many questions about.
I guess I don’t really have a speciality as such, but I do know more than the average person about:
The Grateful Dead (even though I’m only 21, so I can’t tell you anything about the ‘experience’ of a Dead show.)
Although I suppose most deadheads actually probably know much more than me - my memory for exact names of songs/lyrics/etc isn’t all that good.)
Samuel Beckett’s plays.
I’ve read just about every play he’s written and a lot of critical commentary stuff about his plays.
This information rarely, if ever, is needed by anyone. I only get to show it if I somehow bring it up in conversation myself…
How many women did Chipper Jones refuse sex during the '00-'01 season?
My areas of expertise are sunglasses, the Central Florida theme park experience, college fraternities, pro wrestling from 1980 to the present, Salman Rushdie and Bob Salvatore’s novels, Girls Gone Wild (seriously), Fallout 1 & 2 (I’ve successfully hex edited every single PC and non-PC stat in both games), US & UK foreign policy, and 20th and 21st century Middle Eastern politics (both comparative and IR).
In other words, absolutely nothing of any use to anyone, with the possible exception of Girls Gone Wild.
I am currently in school to completely change my career. I used to be in medical billing and reimbursement, but since I haven’t done it for a while, I’m starting not to answer those questions.
My new profession is broadcasting and journalism, so I try to answer those questions, or at least to ask someone who does know so I can give the right answers.
I’m seriously well informed about Irish traditional music, but it doesn’t come up much.
I’m from Holland, have lived in England and am now living in Ireland so any I tend to jump in on any threads involving those countries or Europe in general. I get stuff about England wrong on a regular basis, though.
I used to be employed as a baker and still do the occasional wedding/birthday/baptism/anniversary cake. Indeed I think my greatest contribution to the boards was the time I answered a GQ question about brands of pasteurized eggwhites. I’m not much help for bread baking though.
I was also a waitress at a 4 star restaurant for 3 years so I can advise on topics such as Why Separate Checks Are Your Right And So Is Knowing the Price of All the Specials.
Lately I’ve been raising children, but that’s more of an amateur undertaking (indeed my best advice in that realm is to take anyone claiming expertise with a lake bed of salt)
Professionally, I am a software engineer well versed in embedded software development. I work with automated machinery, so I also have to know quite a bit about computer hardware, interface circuitry, and general mechanical stuff.
Outside of work, I am a model railroader, and dabble in hobby-level robotics, both of which play off my professional interests. I’m a walking encyclopedia in general (very few who know me want to play Trivial Pursuit), and on railroads in particular.
I just hafta say, quothz - I love your sig line. It’s just funny.
Ennyhoo…my interests lie mostly in the creative and artistic realms. I’m fairly skilled in Graphic and Web Design, and also enjoy photography and making pottery and jewelry. I also make a mean homemade pizza.
I’ve got 10 years in the medical insurance industry, fortunately, I’m in the IS side of the equations, not the benefits/rates side. But since everyone hates their insurance company, I try not to get too involved in those debates.
I’m a history buff, especially the unusual & obscure. I’m reading about Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall right now, after completing a book on the NY Draft Riots during the Civil War. No one else cares, but it’s interesting to draw parallels to current events.
I own an 80 year old home, so I’m dabbling in home repair. Same with automobile repair, child rearing, Microsoft Excel, Access and other useless knowledge.
And I’m a self-confessed trivia nut, except for sports. Sports trivia is for whackos who have too much time on their hands.
Another programmer here. Know waaay too much about relational databases (no-one seems to ask questions about that tho’ )But if you ask me to give brain-space XSLT I’ll throw you in the pit.
I can also tell you what letters are not valid parameters to ls but if you’re gonna ask that the odds are you probably already know the answer.
I also know my way around a guitar and used to be able to play every Led Zep song ever*. Asleep**.
In a previous life I used to run a biggish sound system and supposedly I’m a qualified electric/electronics engineer so I’ll chip in on those subjects if not beaten to it.
*stuff off In Through the Out Door does not count.
**I may not be able to play them in my sleep any more but I can still play most while not inconsiderably drunk, it’s become a lower brain function I think.
15-20 years ago I was a budding physicist. My specialty was General Relativity and mathematical physics.
For the past 10 years or so, I’ve been your basic software engineer, although I specialized in astrodynamical work for a while. (Until I got tired of seeing all my friends lose their jobs.)
With 5 kids, 9-14 years old, I can handle most of the kid questions.
I’m also pretty good at “the boring” sports: running for hours, swimming for hours, etc. and history (mostly ancient, because I am!)
I’m not bad at upsetting Mathochist, but better at upsetting Leapdog.
I’m really good at not thinking posts through, because I do this furtively at work. Also, those 5 kids have kept me from reading much over the last 14 years. (Programming requires distressingly little thinking.)
I am a legislative analyst, so I read legislation from all 50 states and US legislation all day, everyday. I specialize in health care issues. I have also been sewing since I was about 11, so that is about 17 years. I design and sew clothes, home decor (curtains, pillows, etc.) and I quilt. I also embroider (any kind: cross stitch, harddanger, crewel, etc.), I can smock, crochet and knit. I really enjoy costume making, and especially interested in historic fashion, especially Renaissance-era clothing.
The Brady Bunch. I am really, really good on The Brady Bunch. And being that I spent most of my childhood in front of the tv, I am great with 80s tv stuff, in general.
Also, I am an expert in being overeducated and underpaid. But my guess is that so are a lot of folks on this board.
)But if you ask me to give brain-space XSLT I’ll throw you in the pit.