What am i good at?

Tapping forehead,. think...think..think...

PollDaddy.com works pretty well, I've been told.

And have used.

Doug, you've got a good line on keeping the troops entertained.

Mac, I took a very quick peek at Polldaddy. It showed what it was compatable with, and I didn't see Movable Type, but I will take a closer look when I get home.

A good start!

Tease if you must. I am hungry. It's not obvious to me now what I can offer - don't think of myself as a teacher. All encouragement to you. At the very least I'll try not to get in your way.

Mr. Whittle,
I guess I'm one of the readers you spoke about that keeps driving by to see if anyone is home. I just learned of your site when "Seeing the Unseen Pt. 2" was mentioned on several blogs (Michelle Malkin, IMAO, et al.). I have since dedicated much of my off-duty time reading your other essays. I agree with the general sentiment of many of your commenters on the previous post... the "I thought I was the only one" people. From the unique perspective of being in Iraq and looking back at the giant bag of snakes that is the American political scene these days, I was beginning to think that I was the only person who cared, or even noticed that we are in pretty rough shape as a nation. I'm very disheartened when I think of the backbone of America. We can't even stomach this war as a nation, and God only knows that there will be more in the future that will exact a heavier toll than this one. My hope is that all of us who feel as you do will someday have the command of the pen, or the microphone, or the camera to spread this message far and wide. For my part, I only wish that I had a greater measure of eloquence so I could codify my beliefs as you seem to do so readily. Many times I can only make sense of my beliefs and feelings when somebody helps me organize them... I think that is the principle service your writing provides. Keep it up, Mr. Whittle, and thank you. I'll keep driving by.

Sincerely,
Lt Lee Warren

This is pretty exciting... I'm looking forward to find out just what you have in mind.

Mr Whittle,
Have you seen what this group is doing? (I was involved a little at the beginning, but - well, life happened)

http://www.vigilantfreedom.org/910blog/

I am sure they would love your input. I know that I have!

Lt. Warren, when I think about how much people like you do, and how little I contribute... well, it used to just shame me but now it moves me to greater exertions.

Thank you for that kind comment. I hope to see you on these pages in the immediate future, and ask on behalf of all of us that you share as much of your experiences over there as you are comfortable with, since your voices are the only ones I still trust.

Bill I think you are turning us into salivating dogs... we are anxious to see what you have planned!

Bill, I don't think there are any MT plugins for polls. The site that MacStansbury gave you, PollDaddy, should work though; you'll just get code that you'll drop in the sidebar (or in the post, if that's what you want).
I'm sure it'll work for you.
There are actually a lot of poll scripts out there you can use, but if Stansbury's used PollDaddy, I'd give it a shot--he's pretty web-savvy. Well, despite the fact that he uses MT...on a Mac. (!)

/running away ;-)

Strength is documenting and teaching...and sailboat racing...thanks for reinvigorating the site!

Strength? Pondering that. Always looking for a way to pitch in. And I believe your invitation to your readers will continue to surprise you, as so many of us want to do something, but are not certain where to begin. Perhaps your experiment will provide that portal as we begin the journey.

I was brought to your site by someone praising your recent Part 2. It was enough to warrant a bookmark. I didn't realize you had left, let alone come back.

What am I good at? Computational physics. Yes, I've taught it, though not on a regular basis.

I'm also a not terrible writer. Haven't taught that one though.

Were you looking for something deeper?

Okay, Bill, you've thrown down the gauntlet, so count me in. By profession I teach history to 9th and 10th graders at the Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That's right, a few devoted educators are trying to turn back the clock to a time when kids took Latin, philosophy, and western civilization as core courses. We are so reactionary that we're positively radical! TRUTH is knowable to a rational mind through the process of logical analysis and dialectic. I'll give you insight, and compelling essays about the nature, history, and value of Western Civilization. Huzzah! I've been spoiling for this fight for quite some time. "Cry havoc and loose the dogs of war!"

Mr. Whittle, I actually laughed out loud, and cheered with delight when I saw you were back. I'm tickled to death that Rachel will be returning occasionally as well, I found you through her site. I'm so glad ya'll are back. I've missed you both.

A quick search of the internet revealed this site. Hope it helps.

As for what I'm good at? Well, I like to think that I'm fairly okay at drawing...

What am I good at? I'm good at being a wife and a mother. I'm good at cooking. I'm good at quilting. I'm good at seeing patterns - if they're not too terribly complex, LOL. I'm good at conservative Christian doctrine. I'm good at listening. I'm good at riding (horses, you silly people! LOL). I'm good at offering encouragement.

Does any of that help you? I love doing/being all of that - especially the wife and mom gig, because it cannot be beat!

I am looking forward to more activity, Bill. Your site is in my RSS feed (which I check semi-obsessively), and I rejoice every time I see E3 pop up...

-- Kat (formerly "Romeocat")
www.CatHouseChat.com

Oh, and I think I see where you're going (a little, anyway) with this. Perhaps you may want to check out this post I wrote yesterday, challenging my readers (and myself!) to become "Wilberforces."

Anyway. You may get an idea or two, you may not...

;-)

-- Kat

If you get disenchanted with polldaddy, look at vizu.com.

I can write technical manuals and code a bit. And I'm a scientist.

What are you up to, Bill...?

Dear jkrank,

What did Dave Bowman say in 2010?

"Something wonderful..."

What am I good at?

1. Complex technical system development. See the Resume section of my under development web page for further details.

2. Working with horses.

Assuming a willing and able student, I can teach both.

Bill,

I feel a long list coming ...

I can write very solid, useful and usable, software for the web. I can pull apart a technical or a business problem and turn it into a database of information that the originator can actually make some use of or into a descriptive document that a non-techie can understand.

I can write, I can make technical drawings, and I can teach anything I know to a willing student.

I can tend, harvest, and store crops to produce great food and I can raise and butcher animals, although I don't much like doing the latter.

I have studied ancient history, especially Classical literature and warfare, and I can read and teach both Ancient Greek and Latin.

Any of the above that ever seems useful to you, I would eagerly offer to any endeavor you stand behind, Mr Whittle.

Bill,
Glad to have you back. Tript over your site back in Jan - unfortunately just as you were stopping. I barely knew ya.

Was your image of the comic book ad for the sub for $6.98. I thought I was the only kid let down by that one. $6.98 was a lot of money to a 7 year old holding a 10 year old comic book I found in a neighbors garage.

Not more than a few paragraphs more and you were reaffirming my thought that our President's skill at flying complex aircraft can't mean he just fell off a turnip truck.

I was hooked.

What am I good at? A few things, I think. 3D modeler/animator, Engineer By Osmosis..
But one that comes to mind RE today's post and your question is my love for books, logic and sharing both with the needy. I'll probably buy 5 of your 2nd edition. One to read and write notes all over, one for the shelf of honor and the other three to give away to people I think who need them. And on, and on.

Also, pretty handy at forwarding links and cut-and-paste :-)
RR

I'm good at reading - anything and everything.

I'm getting better at physics which I'm starting my Master's degree in the fall.

I'm good at figuring things out or providing different options.

I'm good at doing what I have to do when I have to do it.

And I'm excited to see what you're up to. Thank you so much for coming back.

Oh, and I'll probably buy one of your books when you get them ready as well. Maybe two - one to keep and one to loan to people. :)

Hey Mark, you and I are practically neighbors! I live in Los Alamos now, but I used to live less than a mile from the Academy. Pity I didn't understand what a terrific resource for my kids' education I was moving away from.

Now, I'm going to go think about what I'm really good at. Bill, what the heck are you up to? I haven't been this excited, or this optimistic, about a new idea in a long time.

Aw, Ricky, you're being modest. He's also quite good with a camera and has an alacrity with words. Thus far, I've seen a bit of his teaching skills and I think they're pretty good.

As for me, I'm a halfway decent artist and occasional voice in the choir. I don't know about the teaching, though. Perhaps one-on-one I'd be decent, but I'm an introvert by nature and would probably not do well with a big crowd.

Mostly, I like to pitch in where I can and be part of something bigger than myself, even if it's a very small part.

I'm really glad to see you're back.

It's great news to hear that Rachel will be helping out here. I've missed her blog a LOT since she closed it down. WELCOME, Rachel!

Lt. Warren, thank you for your service, this from an old Vietnam-era veteran (but no combat experience). There actually are a lot of people here who support what you and your brothers and sisters in arms are doing.

What am I good at...? Well, I enjoy history, and - having just about completed my first semester after returning to college - I seem to be fairly good at American History...good enough that my Public Speaking teacher has hired me to tutor her son, who is in my American History class, to try to save his grade. Finals are next week, so we'll see then how good a teacher I am....

Dear Bill,

What did Laurence Olivier say in Marathon Man?

"Is it safe?"

Jkrank--

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.
-- Tacitus

Dear Bill,
I'm hoping for something wonderful. I have to mention that whilst you're correct about the challenges to come for the USA, they will be challenges to those of us in other countries who share your compassionate conservatism. You are not an island over there although it may at times feel that way to you. I and many of my friends and workmates have the highest of respect and regard for the good people of the USA. Know that there's an expat Aussie in NZ who'll step up if needed. What am I good at?
Taking a very complex subject and breaking it into baby steps for the layman to come along for the ride. I love to teach.

Hi -

Senior Economist: industrial forecasting, risk analysis. Programming skills, yes, that as well, for automation of production processes.

Yes, I can teach that. Make more money not doing that, though, and instead advise banks and financial institutions about risks lending to industrial companies.

What else? I've worked as photographer and for a while trained people to make good darkroom prints, something rather less in demand nowadays.

I've made beer and wine, but the less said about that the better.

John

I play a pretty good guitar. And not just "Smoke on the Water."

What am I good at? Well, I'm a physicist and a nuclear engineer by education and currently my profession is -surprise!- that of a nuclear engineer. My two degrees, as well as my current job, play to a couple of my strengths: logical, good attention to details. However, I'm also a pretty good teacher. I'm an adjunct professor at a local college, which gives me an opportunity to exercise that part of my brain. I also created some lesson plans and taught some data analysis classes in my prior incarnation as a computer programmer.

Some tell me that I brew a pretty mean beer, but I doubt that that's relevant right now.

Thanks, Bill, for the essays, as always. And for the new idea.
Like Kat, my skills are mostly domestic. Need it cleaned, cooked or sewn? I'm your girl.
I'm good with babies. I am an indefatigable reader-aloud to small children. I can teach them to read, with phonics.
I am an excellent knitter, a good embroiderer and competent seamstress. I can costume plays, on the school and community theater level.
I can organize a food bank.
I am calm, a good listener, an encourager, and an excellent lieutenant, but not a captain.

Hi, Ricky and Julie!

I am good at:
organizing
language skills (English, German, Hebrew, French)
texts - writing and analysis
I am also a loyal wife, friend and a good mother
And I can cook, bake, sew, design.

Teaching? Not sure, the one thing I really try to teach is independent thinking but is it teachable?

Mike B., pleased to meet you, neighbor. Yeah, the Academy is definitely bucking the trend in contemporary education, and right in the heart of moonbat country. But you would be amazed what a few committed conservatives can do when they stick to their guns. We have logic and reason on our side. The opposition has magical thinking. We win the debate every time. How could it be otherwise?

Woo Hoo!
Not only is Bill back but we get Rachel Lucas back as guest host! Never have I laughed so hard it hurt as when I first stumbled upon Rachel's blog lo those many long years ago!

This is just KILLING me! (no,no -- in a GOOD way!)

This entire thing is self-assembling before my eyes, and I haven't even started the clock yet! Hee-hee!

Mark Paules, you are as near to the heart of the matter as it is possible to be. Now I just have to resist the temptation to spill it all here, because the entire point is that not only am I NOT creating something, I also can NOT begin to imagine where it will wander off to.

Any guesses to what the Big Idea might be?

Well as I got to thinking about the question posed... I got tripped up when you asked:

Can you teach it?

But I must say, even though this is not in the sciences (like many responses I've seen), I am a bit of a musician. I play the drums for my church (and when I have free time) and yes, this is something I could teach... as a matter fact I already have done that. I can also play other assorted hand drums, percussion, ect.

physics geek,

I am currently finishing up a physics first course (PHY2054)... and I can say that, although I am not a physics major nor will I take any physics beyond general physics, I actually rather enjoyed learning the physics behind many of the processes we use everyday (albeit classical physics, but nonetheless).

It was a very interesting class that definitely changed my perspective as I proceeded through it... because I started the course with a poor attitude about it. Because I felt like I was being forced to take the class since it is a requirement for my major. Anyway.

Bill,

I can only imagine that this Big Idea has something to do with us... us the people, us the people, us the "I thought I was the only one" people... but I think most people have probably guessed that much already ;-)

I am excited about its unveiling however!

Hi Bill,

My background is in electrical engineering but after taking a few years off to take care of my kids (BEST investment of my time ever!) I went back to work as the technical writer for a software company that makes High Frequency Electromagnetic Simulation software. Dream job, and I love writing for a living. So I'm good at explaining fairly complex concepts and processes, clearly and simply. I would also like to humbly offer my services as a proofer if you ever have need of them. I know from experience how difficult it is to check every mistake, and even more so, in things that you have written. Thanks again for your clarity and passion.

Touche.

Project Management in media and in construction. Bean-counting, yelling while waving my arms, it's all very teachable. :)

I'll take a guess as to the BIG IDEA.
Bill, you are assembling a group of like-minded people to start a secret colony somewhere in the mountains. You will use only gold as currency. Sort of like "Atlas Shrugged". The primary enterprise of the colony will be designing and flying experimental aircraft:)

I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you back, Bill. I'm sure I am not speaking for just myself, but we have sincerely missed your ability to transcribe our thoughts onto your site. And now we get Rachel Lucas back, too. BONUS!!! I missed her wit as well.

What am I good at? I consider myself a jack-of-most-trades, master-of-a-couple. I'm a pretty good 3D modeler and drafter; I love working on cars, especially old, carbureted ones; I know may way around a PC pretty well; and I'm really good at being a Dad for my 9-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter.

I carve giant fishing lures for catching pike and muskies, and I can teach people how.
Terminal tackle for vicious fishes.

Hey, all. My two cents;

I will never forget the first time I stumbled upon this site. I am the perfect example of the "I thought I was alone" mentality. I have been moved to tears on more than one occasion reading Bill's essays, being provoked by the love of the American ideal when popular society finds it more fashionable to bash America. I'm not exceptionally good at anything. I have however spent considerable time convincing people to go on-line and read these essays. It is the same feeling as if I have discovered some long-lost treasure.

Looking above at the long list of incredible intellectual and professional skills and talents, I'll humbly add that I'm a trained illustrator. I do have a talent for it, but more importantly a desire and discipline pursue it through four years of eight hour studio classes at an exorbitant price.

My Grandmother was an artist, though I never knew it until after she passed. She was a pack rat, the kind that would save 50 year old newspapers. Not archivally mind you, just crammed in a box in the basement. In that same fashion I found her fashion illustrations from the 40s and 50s that were run in various newspapers. I'm not sure why, but I cherished that find.

That's neither here nor there however.

I certainly could teach art, painting, illustration, or sculpture. I've thought about it, perhaps I should think harder.

Welcome back Bill, it's damn fine to see the place with the lights on.

I'm a decent SQL Server DBA. I teach martial arts. I make good beer (especially if you like hops). Of the three, I find the last one is most helpful in dealing with life.

I've spent 20 years designing and building a relatively small number of complex database, groupware, decision support and\or workflow applications for some pretty well educated user groups struggling to manage and process all the data necessary to do their job (military analysts, IT Management, attorneys and judges). I am pretty good at it but the problem is, like many in this world of increasing specialization, I would struggle to accomplish much without both the resources\toolsets provided by my customers and all the people who enable me to focus on my job. I spent a significant amount of that time on a series of applications supporting operations analysis and modeling and simulation.

Could I teach it? I do all the time for team members and for customers. But it can take days, weeks, and sometime months. Again the issue is both the resources required just to create the environment in addition the extreme specialization accumulated when working on a particular project for years.

One thing I have picked up over the years that could be useful is experience with a wide range of models, simulations and studies used in attempts to forecast or plan future resource acquisition, allocation and use. The details of any particular model or study don't apply outside of that particular domain and timeframe. But, general observations about the assumptions, methods, and factors analyzed in studies done in the 80's and 90's to make decisions that are having an impact now in 2007; can help provide prospective as one reads headlines indicating urgent action required on say, Global Warming (or is that Global Climate Change?).

This is oversimplified but illustrative. In any model or study, the outcome or answer is a function of a series of variables. The analyst are supposed do their best to identify the factors involved, find and validate reliable sources for the data to be used to model a particular factor, and define and document how variances in that validation and reliability of that data impact the validity of the outcome or answer. All of this must be transparent to anyone who plans to build upon or make decisions base on the overall study results.

We see all the time where study outcomes and results are released to the public in the press to influence public opinion in order to influence polls which influence those "anyone who plans to build upon or make decisions base on the overall study results". How often do we also find the transparency necessary to make this valid?

I'll close with a question: Which of the factors below do you think the US military planners included back in the late 90?s in their models and studies when considering their resource acquisition and allocation plans for a potential Middle East conflict in 2003-2008?
A. No direct support and public opposition of most of our NATO allies.
B. Active, opportunistic opposition by 50% of the legislative body starting as a whisper 36-72 hours after engagement and increasing to a roar within 6-12 months.
C. Active opposition and disclosure of ongoing intelligence operations by persons within the US Government.
D. A Judiciary sympathetic to our opponent?s public front group's agenda.
E. The "Peace Dividend"
F. The cost of oil
G. The cost of a tank, truck, etc.

My answer (With no direct knowledge since my example comes from a period well after I had any access outside of public information.): Only E, F and G were considered. E was way overestimated, F way underestimated and G probably underestimated but a wash because the combined impact of A, B, C and D make every factor considered irreverent.

Sorry this was so long, Paul

Bill (and all),
I enjoy reading sense from sensible people. What am I good at? I am a great translator (Spanish, all dialects), a very good analyst, a good sergeant (for many years), and a good team player. Can I teach what I know? Yep. I have a dozen or more men and women I have taught to recognize and compile information in pursuit of a goal. The other three are lead by example type things.

My wife says I make pretty cute kids; I think she did most of the work, though.

Good luck with the project; I will be watching from Kosovo or Ft. Leavenworth (not as a USDB resident, either).

SGT Dave

Paul, that was breathtaking.

As a person who every now and then feels he could have kept things shorter I say BAH! That was an education.

Also, I am a little worried that people think this is about finding physics professors, computer engineers and Delta Force vets. On the contrary I think knowing how to fish or cook or administer first aid or teach kindergarten or locate and fix engine trouble are all equally valid; the question is not only "what are you good at" but also "what do you love to do?" because THAT is where real expertise lies.

Rachel! I have missd her. She is a clever girl. I am looking forward to that!

I am a computer person. I build them and fix them and have been programming them since 1984 in a variety of languages and operating systems. I worked in Radio for years as an announcer and have a deep voice.

I have taught all kinds of things...

I guess you are going to challenge us to teach leftists how to recognize evil. That will be incredibly difficult; Reid and Pelosi refuse to even go to a meeting with General Petreus (sp?) How can you talk to, much less convince, people who keep humming while their fingers are in their ears and their eyes are firmly shut?

I am looking forward to the mystery as always... And Rachel! Oooh boy, am I looking forward to hearing how she is doing and what she is thinking these days. Now if you could only get Steven den Beste to join in the frolic... He is a wealth of information too!

Bill,
I live in New Jersey. That give you an idea what I'm good at?
- Chase

Bill,

First, the obligatory "Thank God you're back!" Yes, I too was one of the hordes that dropped by here regularly, looking to see if Bill Whittle was real or just a figment of my imagination...

Now, to the challenge, What is the Big Idea? It's so simple, like all Great Ideas, that most would never put the possiblity into word:

From this group will grow a community and organization that will teach the next generation of True Dreamers and Thinkers... We will impart to the the knowledge, skills and passion necessary to save those things that are most important to humanity and to do so by taking the first real steps off this Earth and to our Destiny, the stars... We must succeed in this endeavor or all will be lost to the nightfall that is coming as Western Civilization crumbles before the Islamist hordes that are growing each day.

Or maybe we'll just be able to teach a few of them how to brew good beer.

If you are going to build a society of the "I thought I was alone" types, it will take all the various passionately loved expertise you can find.

I have already outlined what I do best and have spent a major fraction of my life learning how to do them. I can happily spend the rest of my life doing the same.

What I no longer will do, is work in some cube farm for a pointy haired boss, a pittance of a salary, and two weeks time off a year. I want to do what I love to do every waking moment.

Well, Bill... although I only check every couple weeks (hence being late to the party... *again*), I have told you time and again how your words tend to relieve the *anguish* I sometimes feel. Glad to see you here and looking forward to everything in the future... including showing you my blinking buddy at some point in that (necessarily distant, as he's not done yet) future.

What can I do?

Well. I'm just a young whippersnapper - a seventeen-year-old loudmouth kid who can't get into the military because he doesn't weigh enough. Or, alternately, is too young. ;-)

I love to do four things.

1. Shoot guns. Big ones, preferably. The bigger, the better. ;-)

2. Write. I'm not Mark Twain, the Holy Returned Incarnate - like Mr. Whittle, here - but I am capable of rattling off rants, allegories, and short stories. I've been doing it since I was six: I wrote a less-than-veiled threat to Bill Clinton over the whole 'partial-birth abortion' business. ;-)

3. Write/perform music. Not operas, or classical fugues. Just rock. Piano rock, heavy metal, spazz rock, anything-with-a-keytar.

4. Debate. Oil, tort reform, NATO, war ethics... you name it, and I'll talk about it. For hours, if you'll let me. ;-)

As far as teaching goes, I can/have taught the last three, to pretty good effect. I'm not that good of a shot, though, so teaching others how to do it would be kind of... shall we say 'imprudent?'

Anyway.

As a long-time reader (since I was 14) I am proud to stand with you all - and most importantly, I am proud to be living in America.

I'm going to take a stab at Bill's plans here. Let me get my wild speculation hat on. There!

Part 1: If you can teach something, do so. Find a way to make it part of your life. Teach one person, or a whole classroom.

Part 2: Meta-teach while you teach. Where did all of this knowledge come from? Reading tea leaves? The magical thinking flavor of the week? Or people wrestling with real problems using their hands and their brains, and making life better for the rest of us as a result?

Civilization is held together by effectively transmitting the collected knowledge of a lot of people. (Something Bill has said better, many times) Let's do more of it.

I'm probably not thinking big enough here. Come on, Bill, inquiring minds want to know!

Bill,

Amen to all who are gratefully welcoming you back! As an ertswhile blogger (from back in the days when not everyone on the block had a blog), I can write (mostly fiction/childrens stories) even though my career path is in business and my college degree is Theater and Film Studies. All told, about all I can say is I'm very good at Jeopardy.

Keep up the fight, Bill. You do a greater good than you might realize!

--Peter

What am I good at...that I can also TEACH? Well, I tried actual teaching once...Elementary school, but I fled screaming into the "real" world as fast as I could, largely so I could help spread the word that our schools are, for all intents and purposes, not interested in "teaching" so much as "indoctrinating" our children.

Since then, I don't think of myself as a teacher so much as a clarion of sorts (my detractors would probably use the word "harpy" but coming from them, that would be a compliment ;-) ). 99% of the time my message is like that tree falling in the forest where no one is there to hear it (I believe they call it Richard Gere National Park), but no matter. It gives me hope just to call out. If I kept it inside, as most of my fellow SAHMs in the Charlotte area would prefer (I'm sure) that I'd do, I'm sure I'd develop some form of withering disease from the toxicity of my own frustration.

I am a good cook though, and baker--even did some time in professional kitchens as a pastry chef, but I'm not sure how much that helps you (except insofar as it provides some insight into the demographics of the average American dishwasher or busboy, i.e., NOT American, and no interest in becoming one).

Beyond that, I can sew (if we need a flag to wave or if you need a cape and Super-Suit to go with your Superman role (defending Truth, Justice and the American Way), and my longest running "career" (besides Mom) was as an Information Architect. Yeah, I'm pretty decent at organizing content for a web site, designing navigation (but not graphics, I'm more of a categorization and site-mapping kinda gal), and have taught a few others how to do it too.

But even if you have no need of any of these skills, I'll be here, devouring whatever you're able to put together like a Darfur refugee at a Las Vegas buffet!

Bill:
This site has been my home page for the last couple of years... even when nothing was going on. Not a college graduate or a teacher... but 30+ years a toolmaker. You learn to deal with ideas, and turn them into physical pieces. You learn how to analise and actually THINK about problems, to find various ways around them. There is always more than one way around any given problem. You just need to decide which way will be the most effective, within the other constraints that you have. I believe the best thing we can do for the future, is to try and help people learn to think for them selves. If all we pass on is knowledge... what are we really doing for anyone? As soon as they are for sale, I want a couple of books as well.
PS: Glad to see you back again.

Bill,

I'm pretty much a "jack-of-all trades, master of none" kind of person. The thing I do best, actually, is answer questions.

I know that sounds strange, but I will even answer questions that have been puzzling me for a long time, after someone else asks the question.

Teaching, I'm not so good, because I don't plan things out that well. But tutoring, on the other hand, when someone just wants a knowledge base, or someone to explain things which have them confused, that's where I shine.

Oh, I'm pretty good at things like database design, web application programming, cooking, woodworking, and improvising tools, but I love to explain things when people are confused.

I voted for the third one for brevity's sake, but the first one made me chuckle.

I'm good at drawing portraits of people, but as of yet I haven't been able to retire from my real job.

I just recently took Rachel's blog off my favorites list. I would wistfully click over every month or so. JUST IN CASE. That and the sight of her disembodied, bouncy, grinning face always made me smile. Even after the domain went away I couldn't bring myself to delete the shortcut. JUST IN CASE.
Like a lot of the folks I'm a computer geek. Very little formal education, all self taught. I'm a reasonably good public speaker; I've never been self-conscious about speaking in front of a crowd.

Jack of all trades, master of none. Pretty good at slamming ideas together and sifting through the rubble.

I'm a fair shot, a good stick, I can pack words together and keep them from shouting at each other. Good judge of talent, iffy judge of character.

Richard R - are you by any chance the Richard R of "The Electric Guitar Handbook?"

I excel at Very. Forceful. Punctuation.

And dog photography.

Thanks to everyone who mentioned my name, I really love you people. I feared it had been so long, there'd only be mentions of me that said "Who in the HELL is this Rachel goofball?" I promise I didn't fake my own death, I simply succumbed to certain pressures that have now been relieved. I reactivated my domain and will start posting on it in the next week, thanks to some very kind and encouraging words from one Mr. William Whittle.

Now if only we could all convince him to run for president. I'd vote five times. That's legal, right?

Hey Bill!

I'm a lurker, one that looks through the darkened windows from time to time to see if anyone is working on fixing up this magnificent building.

I'm excited to see that the place is under new (old) management!

What am I good at? I'm a graphics designer and computer programmer by trade (dual major). Needless to say, I specialize in enterprise web applications. Can I teach? Probably not so well -- my ADHD, most likely -- but I have been known to do a bit of tutoring.

Love your outlook on life. It's heartening to know that I am not alone in my convictions. You have put into words many of my feelings and with much more eloquence -- not to mention better spelling and grammar -- than I could muster. I have forwareded links to your articles to numerous colleges to enjoy.

Rachel, no fair re-starting your blog until you write me a post for the new E!3 unveiling!

Don't make me fly over there!

As I told you on the phone, THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU! YOU CANNOT GET AWAY!

Not me, boss. Just another guitar slinger with too many R's in his name. But a Hardy Handshake to you, nevertheless!

What's the Big Idea? My guess is something to do with making Silent America not so silent anymore. This world can seem so crazy sometimes because usually it's the loons shouting their conspiracy theories to the sky while reasonable, sensible people stay quiet and slowly back away. Is that person standing behind you in the checkout line of grocery store one of those loons, or is it more likely someone who would agree with every word on this website or maybe already checks in here every day? You have no way of knowing and you may feel outnumbered and overwhelmed until you hear how many who share your outlooks are really out there. Maybe we need a codeword, like in Fight Club.

Maybe this experiment lies in building the community that confirms the strength of this country's foundations. To help us realize that there really are more of US than there are of THEM, that we're just not so noisy about it. And we're a pretty smart bunch, too.

For the record, I’m an orthopedic physical therapist and it brings me great pride and joy to help people figure out the sources of their aches and pains and then eliminate them for good (the aches and pains, not the people!). I’m teaching all day long, striving to work one miracle a day, and I love it.

And Rachel, count me among those ecstatic to have you back-- You can be Vice Prez!

Again, Good to have you back, Bill.

What am I good at?
I am a pretty good environmental analyst specializing in noise, air quality, and project management.
I was a excellent Air Force F-4 and F-111 WSO back in the day. Got a little over 3200 hours of flying and 1100 hours as an instructor.

Beyond that, who's to say.

Mr.Whittle
I have been waiting a long time to get into the fight for civilisation. I hope this project can help me contribute. I have been good at many things over the last few decades. I have built a good life, have a wonderful wife, built a home in the mountains of Wesbygod Virginia and am semi-retired. I have studied history, philosophy, the shooting sports, science-fiction, art, politics, religion etc...I can teach all these things to an unclouded mind, but I am afraid that they are becoming increasingly rare. This project comes none too soon. Individualism seems to be devolving into a herd mentality.
"Sic licet Jovi, non licet Bovi."
To the stars indeed!
Muninn

Bill, I see where you're going. Fifteen-hundred rational minds, representing every field of human knowledge from aerospace to zooplankton, will make for one very talented faculty at this school. Only we won't need bricks and mortar. Why bother when we can launch a cyberschool from the comfort of our homes? No faculty meetings, please! But a single professional day, once a year perhaps, where fifteen-hundred kindred souls meet to discuss the future of our society . . . well, man, that has POWER! I'm in.

Mark, and everyone -- well done. But it's not 1500. I estimate, conservatively, if you'll pardon the expression, about 150 million, world-wide.

But we've got to start somewhere. If 300 Spartans can hold back a million bent on conquest, and allow the triumph of reason and science and democracy, then 1500 should be enough to get the embers smoldering.

And now I'm letting the last cat out of the bag, since you are all so close: It's not a virtual academy. It's a Virtual City-State.

Welcome, citizens. What are you good at? Can you teach it?

Recently discovered Bill Whittle and his amazing writing, wish I had known about him earlier. I'm curious as to what this is about, so I'll bite.

Professional skills: Electronics and computers, hardware and software. Also did some time as a technical instructor, so yes, I know how to teach.

Away from work:
Sailing & woodworking, minor interests in astronomy and history - mostly Civil War and WWII.

11-year veteran of USN.

I, Mark Paules, do swear, loyalty and fidelity to the Virtual City-State of Rational Minds, or to whatever title such an entity might take in the future. My vow is secondary only to my pledge to honor and maintain the laws of the United States of America. I would with great pride sign parchment if such were offered. My word is my bond. I have the distinct honor of being the first to so pledge. So be it. It is written now in the annals of cyberspace. Forward . . . !

I am a good music composer. I can teach theory and composition from Rennaissance poliphany all the way up to 20th century technique and analysis. I am also quite talented with teaching. I have a certain knack for it.

I am also a martial artist. I have trained for 13 years in realistic self defense.

A Virtual City-State of those who thought they were alone. With adherence to reason, being really good at something, loving doing it, and being willing to teach it as the price of citizenship.

Its an interesting idea. It can't help but shake things up a bit - for ourselves and everyone else.

Ideas matter. Fundamental ideas matter most.

Bill,

Im a long time reader, but a first time poster. I absolutely love the idea of a virtual city-state.

As for my skills...im a tinkerer. Ive always loved mechanical things, and can fix most cars or guns. I dont know how well I could teach it, because I dont have any real technical expertise.

I can teach shooting so that a person is safe with a gun and can hit what their aiming at. I actually dont like going to the range alone, prefering to have a friend along whos just learning.

I also know a moticum about self defense...no fancy judo or pistol techniques, but rather the nuts and bolts (awarness, decisivness, determination). Its an easy concept to grasp, but it takes a long time to get people to do it when their choosing between soupcans at kroger.

There are other things I am skilled at, but nothing that I feel like I could teach all that well.

Aaaa-OOOOO-gah!

Another Bill - Bennett, some time ago was talking about an online university he wanted to pull together somehow. Haven't heard much about it lately, but I always thought Whittle should be on the faculty.

But I like this idea better.

I'm learning Aero Engineering (entering Sr. year shortly), teaching myself German, enjoy history, current events, politics (though they're frustrating), and writing. Have in the past taught swimming lessons and lifeguarding. I love kids (oldest of six), and I am good with them.

Looking forward to seeing what is to come.
--Andrew M

Ad astera volemus sella tonanti!!

That is actually sayable!

Bill, I've read all of your stuff but never commented. I appreciate the thorough work and hope for you and your blog great success.

I'm a musician, artist, gardener, programmer, intellectual of sorts... what am I good at? What is there to be Good at? Let me at it :)

PS- read this if you get a chance - http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles2/MillsLanguage.shtml
interesting stuff.

Your talk of city-states and technical skills suggest of a sort of America+, or a civilizational light within a darkening country, like restarting a guttering fire.

Not weird, cultish, move to Montana and collect ammunition civilization, but sort of an intellectual and civilizational regroup.

Or perhaps I'm mad.

Bill, I ran across an article online that I meant to save for you, and somehow it dissappeared with a mouseclick.

It said that the virtual umma was effective in radicalizing young western muslims because it gave them the same kind of encouragement and positive feeback for their beliefs that a real city population would.

There are already virtual city states, we just haven't used that term. The massive multiplayer games, second life, the jihadi network - they are all virtual self-contained social groups

Most of them don't do anything. They are there for entertainment. The city states of old had a simple mission - feed, house, defend and educate it's citizens. There's no need for the first three here - each citizen provides his own. We can provide education, research, a forum for the exchange and improvement of information.

In some ways, it's a second home.

Yea Rachel Lucas! I have missed her rants so much. From time to time I visit her old site just Hoping she's been motivated to post something. Can't wait to see what she rants at this time. YEA!

But here -- and elsewhere, obviously -- there exists so much raw intelligence and expertise that I am knocked breathless at how much waste is generated every millisecond.

So, while we are still getting the sets and costumes ready, let me issue another small challenge. Think about, when you can, something very simple and yet very deep -- and that is this: What are you good at? That's not necessarily even what you get paid for.

What are you good at? Can you teach it?

For years, I have felt like I'm not really good at any one thing, but sort-of good at a lot of things. Kind of stretched thin, homeschooling, being a mom, wife, daughter, etc...

However, as I thought more about it, I realized that the things I am GOOD at might not be teachable in the traditional sense. But while it might not be possible to stand in front of a class and lecture on it, I find that I am teaching it daily to my children. Our beliefs about Christianity, the importance of wisdom, the necessity of knowing that there is such a thing as evil and it's out there- plus of course rational thought, logic, worldviews, and that there is such a thing as right and wrong.

Kind of a dorky answer, I know.

On the other hand, I can play soccer, ride a horse, and make decent coffee. Probably the answer you were looking for. hah...

Yay!!! Bill's back and Rachel's coming back too! This made my week. The two of you are worth the cost of broadband alone!

As a new citizen of a virtual city-state based upon the principal of bailing out of an exploding vehicle in a very loud chair, my first action is... to change my name. From this day forward I, Paul H. would like to be know as "Unquiet Mind". My guess is more in this community will know why than in any other I could choose to join because, in fact, I am not alone. It is about my life, what I am and what I choose to be in both the real world and in this Virtual City-State: honest and unafraid.

A Historical Fact: Winston Churchill said: "It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried. "

An Observation: The major flaw all those endorsing the virtues of bringing democracy to the world is... it assumes a benevolent majority.

A Few Guesses: We here in City-State E!3 really have a benevolent majority. Do they have one in Iraq? (I doubt it.) Do we have one in the US? (I think so.) In the US legislatures? (Not so sure about this one.)

Earlier in response to Bill's question "What are you good at? Can you teach it?" I responded, at length, logically, describing my professional experience in operations analysis, modeling and simulation, designing solutions and some things I had learned over the years.

But that was not the real answer.

What am I really good at? What do I love doing? Thinking. Specifically, intuitive thinking. Can I teach it? Not sure anyone can really teach intuition, but I can certainly recognize it when I see it (EjectEjectEject.com), try to describe it and encourage it in others.

Imagine a group of people standing on the bank of a wide river looking at a chaotic array of rocks, logs, sandbars, flotsam and islands. They must get across. I am the guy who looks at it for a while, sprints across, sits down on the other side and tries to logically figure out how I got there so I can tell every one else how to cross. It works best when I look up and find a few others standing beside me on the far shore and we can work together on figuring out the best way to get everyone across.

This illustration gives the appearance that crossing the river is easy, quick and a pre-determined outcome. It is not. I have spent fitful days, weeks, months and years thinking and working some problems. I start over, retrace, redo and reevaluate over and over again in working toward a solution that is optimal. Sometimes I fail (Well temporarily; I can't really fail until I die without finishing or they fire me; sometimes I keep working on it even after they fire me. I hate to fail almost more than I love working on a solution.) It takes determination and yes, work. But I love it.

I am picturing City-State E!3 as an island. OK, so here we are.

Bill, are you going to let us know what obstacles we are up against so we can get to it?

I am not sorry this is so long, (Thanks for the support Mr. Whittle, you may be sorry.)

Unquiet Mind

Bill,

I work as an independant consultant in Iraqi Kurdistan and write about my experiences. Part-time I am a Navy Reservist. I'd like think that I'm good at stating the obvious articulately, and going places where the obvious is obscured.

I'm pretty darn good at cultural adaptation and interpretation.

bill, you ask what i'm good at, and i hesitate to brag about myself, but i'm superb at being patient. it's an important quality often overlooked in this hurried society, but in my view it's a lost, yet necessary art. and yes--it can be taught, my son is slowly coming around to it, and asks me on the rare occcasion when he's not completely sure of himself as to how to handle a problem, and invariably he woots and hollers when it's the right thing to do. so yes bill, i have a superpower, it's "patience", and it can be taught. snake

Patrick, do you mean interpreting language, or interpreting facts?

Rachel,

Rachel!!!

Will you be posting at rachellucas.com or at blueeyedinfidel.com? Inquiring mionds want to know...

"minds", even...

Oh and Bill,

I'm really good at correcting other peoples' mistakes (especially literary ones) and pointing out their general folly. Will that be useful?! :D

Both you and R. L. are coming back into the daylight? Best. News. Ever.

Teaching and management. And teaching management.

Overall, it's a simple art; condition yourself to solely become the facilitator of progress, and you'll find yourself with productive teams.

The idea of serving others - the idea that your position of power is only truly useful when used to promote the interests and health of the team, and not of the leader - is one that's not simple to impart.

It's something I'm good at.

Well, ummm... I fly a mean Flight Simulator... and I can eat like NOBODY'S business... ummm... oh, and I like to argue a lot. Put me on the ramparts, and NO inanity gets through (although I do enjoy toying with it a bit first, before I squash it).

As for the rest of you noble savages: welcome, welcome, welcome.

Bill was visiting here in Orlando over the last weekend, and despite his appalling personal hygiene and his reprehensible table manners, I've gotta' say, he sure has got a tasty stew a-brewin' here. Some great ideas with even greater potential.

This is a great "ground floor" to get in on.

Be talking with you all a lot, I suspect...

GHS

Bill, I was one of the faithful 1500 checking back nearly every day since I first stumbled on to your site about a year ago. What incredible essays!...
I am a police officer, which necessarily makes me a jack of all trades and master of none. I understand the law and its application, though not as well as a lawyer (well, most of them, anyway), I can shoot well enough to hit the broad side of a barn (from the inside), I can operate vehicles safely at high speeds despite the relentless indifference of most motorists around me, and I know a fair amount about self-defense (knife fighting instructor, student of several martial arts). My best ability, and the one that gets the most use in my job, is the ability to read people, and interact with them (tell when they are lying, calm them down, tick them off, etc). I am pretty sure that none of this is very teachable over the web, however.
I have a degree in political science, have specialized in Homeland Security studies, which has more real-world application than most think, and carry some certifications in the National Incident Management System (along with just about every other police officer, fire fighter, and small town mayor in the U.S.) Oh, and I like to craft stained glass art. If any of this applies, Sir, I am at your disposal. Thanks for coming back.

...Thinking..Oooo! I GOT Somethin'!

I can take the blame for everything that goes wrong or falls short of being Perfect. Like a whipping boy or a burnt offering! yeah that's the ticket!
When anyone wants to rant about America, they can blame ME instead!
America Sucks can be "Dougman Sucks!"
a focal point for everyone's hate! ...Hmmn,..i like it.