Dataman, I can certainly understand the sentiments. One of the things I've realized though is that being the "captain" of this team is an awful lot like being the "titular" head of a non-profit. You have no power or authority at all. What your organization accomplishes is completely at the mercy of your volunteers. Now that sounds cold but it is a valuable perspective. Every non-profit would love to have a member that can "whip out the checkbook and write them a six or seven figure check whenever they please" but the truth is that the most valuable volunteers are the ones that are there every month, year in, year out, year after year. They may not be able to match that one but they are the ones you count on, can depend on and base your plans on.

As for us, anyone that joins our team, for however long, is a part or our team. I guess the Base Campers are sort of like the "cheerleaders" of the volunteers here at WCG - though perhaps I should have said strolling medival minstrel troupe instead as the image of Ady in a skimpy skirt and pompoms is one that is going to "haunt" me now. Like the head of a non-profit, you can't make anyone do anything, you can't "hire" folks or "make" them volunteer. Instead of managing or even leading, it's more a matter of encouraging and inspiring. I'd like to think folks join us because of what we are - the kind of team we are, the example we set. We have a bit of a colorful history being one of the original teams here at WCG. Of the three years+ I've crunched for WCG, I've probably spent close to half of it on my own. When I joined MOT, I left a bit after that but came back in the end. As captain, I've watched folks leave - some that you'd call major hitters - and I did worry about it at first. Seeing a team that once was putting up 300K points a day get down to doing 80-90K a day was discouraging. Watching a team thread that was regularly quiet was as well. What I've learned is not to not worry about it but to understand that members will come and go and some of those will be "heavy hitters". I've watched others leave for other teams and return. I've seen us grow and, while we may not be back to our 300K days of our peak, we have grown to pretty consistently manage in the 150K range over time. What I've tried to do is to welcome any who would join with us, for however long or much, and to respect their decisions whatever those may be. Too many folks like Gerald have stories and experiences that they could share that I'd like to see become faded memories of the past, not because there is no value to them or we could gain nothing from them. Quite simply, I, like so many of you, want such things to become relics of a darker and sadder past, a past where diseases claimed our loved ones far too often and far before their time. That is how I choose to "lead" this team. I don't always get it right but that is what I try to focus on. That it is a matter of "faith" that I believe we will accomplish what we will is a lesson I've learned over the last nine months as captain. I;m not even sure anymore why I initially threw out the 50 million point goal. I don't believe I really expected us to come near it at first but it took on its own life and this team took it up and made it their own. That others have joined us in contributing in their own way for a short time is a gift I am grateful for because they have said they believe in what we aspire to and have honored us by being a part of that. I am really grateful for what each and every one does. I can't see one who puts up 20K or 30K points a day as being more valuable then one who does 200-300 points a day. I choose to believe that each does what they can given their reasons and their commitment. That is what I want to value. The system we have in place here at WCG doesn't really do that as well as I'd like - not that I say that as any sort of indictment, it simply is the way it is. I do want to find ways to recognize those who are there with us thru thick and thin. They deserve it. No, I am not satisfied with what I have "accomplished" in the last nine months but then I honestly don't expect that I ever will be. That's just plain bull headed cussedness for you. Like anything else though, you just keep at it. Bull headed cussedness can end up doing more that you'd ever expect. I'm sorry if anyone reading this finds it a bit melodramatic but I won't apologize for that. That look I saw in my wife's eyes that day in the doctor's office is something I can't ever forget, and one I don't ever want to see again.

Well that would be the original. I played the 04 one before. UT3 is really nice though, beautiful graphics. Resource hungry though.

Edit: Sorry, totally forgot about the video card. If you want to play Bioshock and Crysis you'll want a minimal 8800GT. You can grab 2 of them and run it in SLI mode. But that'll cost you $600. Again, the new cards are coming out, but I expect them to be heavily priced; they're better than the 8800 Ultras (which are ~$600 at the moment). So grab a 8800GT and you won't regret it. I hope you have $270 to spend.

CONGRATULATIONS MARYSDUBY ON REACHING 12,500,000 MOT POINTS !!!!!!!

Results is what its all about -- good going folks!!!

I would not be too sure of that:

12/10/2007 0:006:13:22:14 10,113 43

But at least I am down to "only" 76 wu's in PV. But then I would like to have a 50K point day and have everyone on the team beat me!!

Well, it is Monday again ... lots to do today.

Happy Holidays!