The Board was HERE??!!

This is what the Board Writers did on their little "field trip" during their Board party. Imagine my surprise when I come into the office and I look at the white board? HA! All I could say was "woah". It is uber entertaining to look at it whenever I go in to work, usually I just start giggling (probably like Tangerine) and read it all over again:-) I just like to think that I work in the same office that the Board writers went on a field trip to. I could even be sitting in the same chair as one of them did!!!!!!!!!! (I am such a geek)

Next Semester

I was talking with Tangerine the other day about next semesters class schedule because I am trying to find a good time for the newly formed Go Club to meet. After a little thought I realized I was thinking about the route I would take in between classes, and since that route would be different from last semester, as well as all the Board writers routes, I wondered if I would meet anyone next term. Then I got all excited. Oh boy! I can hardly wait! Now I just have to find something to do with my Helmet next semester for the heat...

The Greatest Idea of My Life

I am sure that I am not alone in having tons of projects and papers due near the end of the semester. Sometimes the class assigns a really interesting topic, in other classes, where choice is an option, a stroke of genius presents an idea that would be really swell. For me just about every single one of these includes, or starts with the Board. I had to interview someone about their life and how they saw themselves as a person. I was really struggling with coming up with someone interesting, then to use a line out of Hook "Lightning just struck my brain" why not ask a Board writer? I was talking to Tangerine at the time and I thought to myself "How cool would that be to interview her? I wonder if she would agree?" So I asked. HA! She said sure. Talk about motivation for a project and paper, all of a sudden the excitement level for my assignment went through the roof! Interview a Board writer? Wholly Cow! I filled up a whole page of interesting tidbits, I felt just like a boardie interviewing an All-Star Board writer (Shes in the top ten). Sometimes I got flustered and asked really dumb questions that were extremely vague, she was very courteous and asked me to re-ask or re-word the question. I think Board writers fall under the "more-you-get-to-know-them-the-more-interesting-nice-and-knowledgeable-they- seem" category. Granted I know very few, but the ones I do know fit this category. Not to mention selfless, not only do they volunteer their time to answering our questions, but they serve just about every one around them. I felt like a schlemiel--here I am just a new boardie asking a veteran Board writer to help me with my homework? Kinda like a beginner asking an Open Amateur to be dance partners. She graciously agrees. When I get there she is taking a nap. Do I let her sleep? No. Instead I think of something lame to say (yeah like every time I open my mouth), wake her up from her nap, proceed to ask her a ton of nonsensical questions, then ask her to fill out an identity map for herself, and to add insult to injury I don't even have any form of compensation (i.e. Cheesecake, cookies, a stick of gum--for cryin out loud!). Basically I felt like the luckiest boardie ever!

The Boardie Cycle

I believe there are two types of Boarding, neither of which has a monopoly on the 'should be' market.
The first is Group Boarding. This will usually start with a friend telling another friend about the Board, and they enjoy it together. They tell each other when they ask questions, they talk about their favorite writers, and responses. They may even only read the Board when the fellow boardie is around.
The next step in the Boarding process is the Self Boarding. This happens when one, or both, friends decide that the occasional/recreational Board reading doesn't satisfy. They find themselves reading the Board during class, at home, instead of homework, going to sleep, eating, and in extreme cases (I plead the fifth) class. To them the Board is like a cup of coffee (or some other very addictive morning ritual) in the morning, and when they are done it isn't enough. They send themselves into the marvelous archives, acquainting themselves with writers of previous eras, and getting to know the earlier lives (Board lives that is) of their favorite writers today. The beginning of this period is marked by a flood of questions, while as time goes on the questions peter out or die all together because werf now has read the archives, and recognizes the full splendor of Google. Somewhere in this time is also when werf decided to become a writer, and thinks this is the highest station that werf can ever aspire to. The Board has now become an integral and irreplaceable part of werf's life. Werf cannot even comprehend what life was like before the Board; werf constantly thinks about werf's classes in terms of the Board, every relationship is thought of in terms of the Board, and werf then begins to move into phase three, which is actually a modified form of phase one.
The Board can no longer be held within werf. Everywhere werf goes the Board leaks out of werf, no one can come in contact with werf without hearing about the Board and/or being referenced to either "ask it to the Board" or "There was a question about that on the Board...". Some people are driven away from werf (Ambrosia) because werf cannot give up the Board, while others are drawn to werf because through werf's nearly constant reading of the Board werf has gained a new repertoire of witty sayings , and abundant personality. Starting the cycle all over again by introducing new people into the boardie ranks who will then follow relatively the same pattern of events.
This is like growing up...everyone has their own experiences, but some things are almost universal.

On Top of the World

Can you imagine...
You are reading the Board like you do every morning, laughing at the wonderful wittiness that is a trademark of the 100 Hour Board. You are so pleasantly pleased at there being 51 posts; the more posts, the more time can be spent enjoying the wonderful current posts. Then I am informed by my friend, who has already read the Board, that someone asked a question about me...ABOUT ME! I grip my chair a little tighter (so as not to fall out of it) and tell myself, "I can't rush and go straight to my question. It will be so much neater if I can just read the Board like I always do." When I have a question posted for the day, I always try to read the Board all the way through without giving preference to my own questions. Well, on MWF I am at work when I read the Board, things are usually slow so I can read without interruptions. Today things were rather busy, I found myself taking more calls, and helping more people than usual--Agonizingly wonderful--. I figured that the question would be in the middle some where, so I would get back to work, read a few questions, then get called off again. Wholly Cow, I was progressing through the posts maddingly slow, and the closer I would get to the end, I would think "it has got to be the next post....ok, the next one....Argh!" (an excitedly expectant sort of Argh). "What did they say? Who answered it? Argh!" (an 'I'm-so-excited-I-cant-even-speak' Argh). The question is fifth from the bottom of 51 posts. I had to empty the lunch from my brown paper bag, and breath into it so I wouldn't hyperventilate myself. Then at long last I saw the question:-) I felt pretty swell, about as swell as a boardie can feel. I was asked about on the Board, and Board writers were talking about ME! HA! It makes me want make a sandwich-type advertisement board that I can wear during the times I am not in class and walk around the quad letting everyone know about the Board. That might spark a not-so-positive question to the Board about me, but one can never say enough about the Board:-)
I was in a class today where one of my fellow students asked me what was written on my Helmet, I was so proud of it; I told her. She responded "What's so great about that?" and she was serious folks--yup dead serious. I couldn't hardly believe my ears! I thought perhaps she didn't hear me when I said that it was an online repository for questions answered by a voluntary staff of BYU students within 100 hours. Nope. She heard me. I tried in vain help her catch the vision of the tradition, humor, personality, intelligence, prestige, addictive nature, and sheer brilliance that embodies the 100 Hour Board. I don't know if it was her inability to understand what I was saying, or the fact that I was so excited I was probably incoherent. Either way if she doesn't go to theboard.byu.edu she will be missing out on perhaps the best way I know to use werf's time, and probably the best invention for college students EVER!

Board Writer?

I talk pretty big, and I wear a silly hat, but when it comes right down to it I am no good at spontaneous encounters.
A guy walks out of the Talmage building, I am already there because I am waiting for my friend. (Come to think of it this is the second Board experience in that same area) He starts it off by remarking:
"Are you advertising for the 100 Hour Board?"
Being the wonderfully clever chap that I am, I responded brilliantly with
"Yeah I guess." [Long pregnant pause]
This was totally my fault because it was my turn to say something brilliant, funny, silly, anything...nothing came; it was like my mind was shut off, perhaps I was thinking too hard for something.
"Is that a helmet?" he asked.
Ah Ha! now was my time to shine, I've blogged about my wonderful creation, I am proud of it. Now I can really show it off, so I replied...
"Yeah." [Long pregnant pause]
Again this is my fault because the ball was in my court, almost like he was giving me the chance to ask some key questions, or strike up a conversation. I knew that, but nothing was coming; almost like the man had some sort of powerful aura blocking any of my thoughts. Out of desperation I blurted...
"It is indispensable for riding my bike in the mornings and evenings when it is cold."
Yeah when I think of my response I am thinking 'lame, lame, lame'. The fellow looked over all that, and remarked wittily...
"Kinda like the Board, only it is indispensable all of the time."
How can you argue with that logic? Just about one of the truest things ever said. I chortled to myself on the inside, but the conversation was over... he was leaving. Knowing this could be a possible Board writer, or reader I couldn't just leave it like that.
"Have a great day."
Um...yeah...that was the best I could come up with. If the said individual happens to read my blog, I don't even think that sorry can cut it. Perhaps it would be too much to even ask for a second chance, but even in asking I don't know if I would do any better.

On a much lighter note, right after that happened I talked to the Math department and they agreed to sponsor the 'Go Club', and a Professor e-mailed me back that he would be the advisor! Yippie Kadoo! It is all thanks to the Board, and those wonderful writers that give us hope. The Board inspires me.

The Board Trumps All

After thinking long and hard about how wonderful the Board is, and reading a few Board Questions about Googlefight, I thought I would pit two mighty dragons against each other. Google itself vs. The almighty Board. In the one corner we have Google with 9,378 employees, and a net income of $1.47 billion, receiving 1 Billion search requests daily ("I wonder how many of those queries are Board writers researching questions?" -Yellow). In the other corner we have the Board ("a student service organization of anonymous writers who attempt to answer any question set to them within 100 hours. It's fun and informative, and slightly addicting."-Uffish Thought), that has approximately thirty employees (volunteers) , about 1,100 hits per day, and no financial compensation (only cookies:-). The observers to this fight seemed certain of the demise of the Board, but even the Google giant was unable to hold its ground against the power contained within the 100 Hour Board. Now when people tell me that Google is taking over the world I can tell them "ah-ah-ah that is not true, in reality the Board is taking over Google!"

Spreading the Good News

My sister started reading my blog. Perhaps to laugh at how ridiculous I am, or because she has nothing else to do (which can't be true). Either way she got linked up with the Board. It would be a long shot to say she is hooked on the Board, but asking a question is where it all gets started. ....Ah I remember my first question, what a glorious day. The dilemma; do I go with something funny, or an actual question....I don't think it was either, but it was just about the swellest experience I have ever had with "a student service organization of anonymous writers who attempt to answer any question set to them with in 100 hours" (-Uffish Thought) Board. It got me so excited that I wanted to ask a question, but when I got there (to the "Ask a Question" page) the few ideas I had for questions seemed so lame. So I thought I would wait until I had thought of a really good one, but a few of the Board writers caught me (through their neato tracking) on the question page. They made sure I was going to ask a question. So I did. It was super exciting knowing that the Board writers get excited when they see people asking questions:-) What a swell group of selfless individuals giving us more of the only thing we can take with us. To wrap it all up...my sister is the coolest, and I don't think she will regret any of the time spent on the Board.

Spying on the Board

Just last night I was online and happened to see one of the Board writers I knew online, we chatted for a bit (unbelievable that I can actually talk to Board writers in real time), then werf mentioned something about where I was on the Board. In a bolt of inspiration I realized that werf could see exactly who was on the Board, and what they were doing. So I asked. Werf told me!! I wasn't expecting it to be so wonderful, all of a sudden I felt closer to people I had never even met, nor knew who they really are. I guess this is what they are talking about when they speak of the 'new social capital'. I also felt kinda mischievous, like I was in a place I wasn't supposed to be in. I whispered for like an hour after that. HA! All I know is the Board is swell and all you folks who write for it...You are my Heroes!!

First Helmet Contact

Today I was wearing my Helmet (I do so pretty much everyday that I ride my
bike. If I didn’t I would freeze). I was walking my friend to class,
thinking about nothing in particular, just what my friend was saying—then a
girl just as we are entering the door commented on how she liked my Helmet.
Since this is the first time this has happened I didn’t know quite what to
say, about a thousand things flashed through my mind.
"Isthisgirlawriter?DoessheknowwhoIam?Doesshereadmyblog?- Shedidn’tusemy100HourBoardname-Idon’tthinksheisawriter.- ShouldIexplainthatitisafacemask,andthatitsays"100HourBoard"onit?- BoyIlovethe100HourBoard,Iwonderwhatisgoingtoposttomorrow?- Ireadthisonetoday--waitfocusladdiefocus.GoshIdon’twanttomakeher- feelawkward.Myfriendwillbelateifwestoptochat…ohI’vegotit,justsay’thankyou.’”
So I did.

Steve C.

Have you ever had a hero? Or one of those people that you look up to and say to yourself “When I grow up I want to be just like werf”. Steve is one of those guys who is dangerously hip, yet white-ishly nerdy. I was awe inspired at a few movie reviews that he wrote. Between him and Yellow I decided to start my own blog, and it just wouldn’t be complete without Steve in it. If he were to apply to be a writer, in my humble opinion, he would be snatched up almost before his application was in! Yes folks, he is that good. He embodies the traditional qualities of the Board. He is witty, unreplicably funny, and authentically Steveish. I will be sitting in the corner of the office silently reading the Board, until I come across one of those responses that pulls from me one of my wheezy little giggles, then Steve will chuckle at me, roll his eyes in a friendly sort of way, and comment on how addicted to the Board I am. IT IS SO TRUE! I am. He is always encouraging me in my pursuit to becoming a writer, and if the Board has been particularly funny (which means constant wheezing giggles) instead of telling me to shut up he just chuckles at my ability to find humor in the simplest things. Steve C., this is for you!

Inspiration

May I say that Yellow is the man? He was the first one to show me the 100 Hour Board, he was the first Board writer that I knew, his was the first blog that I read, and everyday at work he inspires me with his ability with computers. When ‘Scouting for another tangent to add to the archives’ wrote Board Question #210, and said “Can you run 10 miles barefoot through tacks and eat fire?” I thought it was a joke. No-no it’s all true. After I met Yellow I was just blown away by his shear skills. Although it is true that the Board writers are just students, I would never classify them as ordinary students. Yellow is no exception to the rule, I would not be surprised to come into the office one morning and find him hanging from the ceiling, re-writing our current computers assembling code, re-wiring our CPUs to get another Gigahertz out of them—he is that amazing. Not to mention being personable, nice, genuine, and hilarious. Along with all that, he one of the most enjoyable people to converse with. Both times now that I have met a Board writer he has been there, and both times he was only observing. Gosh! What a swell chap.

Scrabble Board (he he get it?)

You Board writers are so amazing. Even at the expense of your time and health you still make time for your readers. What a selfless group of guruific socialites. The Scrabble game with Tangerine was wonderful; she was very cordial and friendly. I don’t think I have ever been more excited to go meet someone in the ESC to play Scrabble, and I was certainly not disappointed. I started off with a lead, but Tangerine was just playing too well, and quickly overtook me. The only thing that saved me was “Untamed” on a triple word score at the very end of the game, and not only that (it was still really close), I got the opportunity to go out first, so she couldn’t use the last few letters that she had—basically luck. Next time perhaps we should invite Optimistic. so she can get her scrabble game against him , not to mention being ridiculously fun.

I was thinking about putting a mark on my Helmet for every writer that I met…you know like aces on their planes. Then I thought that might be a little much. I guess the writer who read my blog will definitely know who I am on campus now, but then again I bet all sorts of other readers saw the pictures and spent the weekend making similar hats. Blast! I hadn’t even considered that. I wonder who (if any) will be the first to stop me and say “is that really you…Wally III?” which would elicit a response similar to, “Bless your soul. Thanks for being a writer. Which one are you—wait let me guess” accompanied with a hearty handshake, gleeful bursts of laughter, and horribly inaccurate guesses into werf’s alter ego.

New and Improved

The weather has been turning colder...So thus I thought it time for some improvements to my helmet. I added a skirt to the back of it to protect my ears and neck, but then my face still froze. So, logically I got back on the drawing board to see if I could solve the problem with some leftover yarn I had. Well I found this swell Yellow yarn, and being the swell engineer that I am, I designed a great face covering that will still let me see the road while biking. Then I got to thinking, after reading some of the comments from my last post, "Hey! I may not be able to wear my Board shirt when it is freezing cold, but I wear my Helmet almost every day; Perhaps I could put the Board on my Helmet." So I did. It isn't in the Board's colors, nor is it very fancy, but I made it myself. Now I can show my appreciation for the Board whether it is cold (Helmet), or warm (T-shirt)! My guess is pretty soon everyone is going to want one, or at the very least start putting the "100 Hour Board" on everything they wear...Honestly who wouldn't? My next project is to get the letters to move like the flash object on the 100 Hour Board home page, and display "My questions...Your answers!" I am thinking that might be hard to do with just crocheting, but it's worth a shot.



P.S. For all of you wondering the particulars, it is a 16 stitches by 19 rows of a double half crochet stitch. I attached it perpendicularly on the right side (if you are wearing it) then used two buttons to attach it to the other side so it can also be removed, and slung across the back of the neck and buttoned for storage (aka. while not biking...but then again I may just wear it like this all the time). *sigh* the 100 Hour Board is Great.