"STIR CRAZY"

Hi, everybody !

QUIT LIST ?
----------

I am going to make a total fool out of myself, and anybody just have
to respond and tell me how to behave !

I am drunk - sorry, I went out - seeking God or some nice girl, - I
don't know which. Went to bed, - as I should have done, - but took
the digest with me. Sorry to that I am going to be a little
personal right now.

I am a loner, way out of touch, - but this list has been giving me a
lot. I am a lost american in a country named Norway, and I could
pack my suitcase and take the first flight "over there" . I came
to Norway, - years ago, and some of my most dearest possessions was
some electric motors. I even had a digital computer, mechanical that
is, - a kit when Nasa put the first astronauts in orbit. A life
long dream has been to have have a laboratory, where I could play
with all my crazy ideas. No one has ever offered such a thing to
me, - so I strive to make it myself. I don't count much, but my
dreams is all I have. I have studied all sort of things, - because
the all fascinate me.

( I told you, I am drunk )

A quit list ? No, I don't don't think so. I need to get some
servos running, I need my life to be running. There is a
connection. I am not very successful at either. I can do it, I got
enough knowledge too, I am just worn out. Maybe I am just making a
fool of my self, maybe I am just preoccupied in my own lonly world.
A world where I fall to sleep with spinning wheels and production
lines in my head.

I take the risk, I am doing - in hope that some one else would know
what I am talking about.

Jon Elson, and a lot of others, has been kind enough to share some
of their knowledge - even when I have asked silly questions. I have
seen "bill" - the list manager, but I don't know much about you, nor
all the other "bills" .

I read the 6 questions, - and I guess it is only because I had too
many drinks, that I went out of bed, and fired up my computer again.

CAD, CAM, EDM, DRO - and a lot of other topics I would like to see,
is different topics. To anyone reading this, I would like to ask:
Why not divide these topics ? Not to divide the list, but to join
forces and join in with whatever anyone can do - to make this quest
something meaningful, and helpful for everyone.

First of all, I would like to know who all these 239 persons is,
second, what field, what they do, what they dream of doing.
( I guess the FAQ, could have a link to a list with this
information. No matter smart or stupid, no matter rich or poor - we
are all here, - so why not get the most out of it ? )

Second, divide the FAQ or link to other info, as to gather helpful
info about the different subjects. I have a feeling that we could
contribute with something, and I don't think it is right that Jon
should be alone with this burden. We can all gain in this.

Ok, Linux is one subject, EMC is another, servo drives another,
stepper drives, .... do I have to continue ?

What if we just voted - of what we would like ? Lets find out, how
many is interested in Linux as an OS as a platform for CAD/CAM .
Gather this info, - and find out what problems people would like to
solve, what they need help with.

How many do engraving, clock work, manufacturing, robotics, mills,
turning, - just any subject !! Personally I would like to know a
lot about plastics, molding, and ....... you name it.

The idea with the EMC, - as far as I understand it, - is a gift. We
can use it, - apply it in new contexts. I do understand that
everyone wants to make a business. You always have an advantage if
you have something - the other ones don't have. Linux is free, EMC
is free, why not join in ?

Sure, I think a man deserve a fair price for a fair days work.
Jon Elson wrote, that he had made some io boards, and he could
always make up some bare boards, - if there was enough people that
would be interested. ( I can do it my self - maybe spending a
couple of months, - in my lonely world, I even could think I was
smart --- but why waste time ? )

I am drunk, - so maybe I will regret every word in the morning !!
But, - is there another way ? Could we find out how many would be
interested ? This is the same thing as with every thing else on
this list. I could invest some of my time to do "something" that
could be of interest to someone else.

Take the DRO board. I could maybe help out - if not, maybe just by
buying a kit.

We could send links, - info, interested sites, drawings, pictures -
to the FAQ . ( What I would like was a lot of more pictures and
drawings. THANKS JON - I really liked to see the Bridgeport
picture, with explaining words. I have heard you all talked about "
a quill" . Now I know what it is - thanks to a simple drawing.
With this, I am able to follow some of the things you all are
discussing. ( at the moment I found that "xfig" - in Linux - is a
handy tool to draw simple schetches, - something that could make the
FAQ much more interesting. We could take a little time to explore
this. One could draw an acme tread, - or try to, another could draw
encoder pulses, - this way we could all have a little exercise in
doing simple informative illustrations. The best ones could be
included in the FAQ.

Where is these 239 interested parties ? It would be something if
they just said hello, - I am here - doing this, - would like to do
that.

One major thing I would like, was a better understanding of bits and
pieces of EMC software. This would be "academic" to some, - but one
day they would appreciate this kind of information. Maybe the day
some of you would start thinking about expanding the HSM.


Another Item: What if we started to code our mail ? We all got
some opinion about everything. Say we used a code like $ENCODER as
a defined word on a line, - then make a script that every one could
use on the "digest" and extract every thing that has do do with
encoders. $MOTORS, $LINUX_INSTALL, $LINUX_RT, $MILLS, - whatever.
We could make a our own "data bank" on subjects, and it could be
easier for folks like Jon to snip out useful things to include in
FAQs .


I don't know if I am just drunk and silly. *You* have to be the
judge, but I do believe we could do something more out of this, -
with 239 on the list.

We all have a "ton" of things to do, and I have to "steal" time to
just read the "digests". I have a holiday, and have had some time
lately, - but if it develop and get interesting enough - I will be
able to find some time.

If this has all been the words of a drunk, - let me know !!!
-----------------------------------------

Or else, say what *YOU* feel about it !! Could we help each other
- and our self - in a better way ?

Last, I have found everything meaningful, - and I thank you all.

//ARNE

PS ! I hope that none of you will feel unconfortable because of
my drink or two ( lier: many ) . I don't do this often, - if that
helps .