ryyannon

whoops.... deleted. right post, but wrong thread.

"That has now been rectified and I also chose the 1 Month re-accuring so I automatically pay $5 every Month." That's interesting - I didn't think the payment process could be so simply automatized. Meaning that the option of 'paying as you go' is really feasible and not an additional nightmare of keeping track of member subscriptions.... Another incentive for offering a painless system for membership support.

Another great second post, if you don't mind my saying so. So much better than seeing "Which dealer sells the most authentic....." from a newly-minted member. Welcome aboard the Good Ship RWG, Hash, and may your stay be a happy one.... @Pugwash: "If everyone that is currently a [censored] would just stop being one for a while...". Good idea. As long as they don't transform themselves into [censored], it could work.... @Star: I guess things have really changed at TRC....I check in and out from time to time, but have never made it my main forum. I was going on earlier impressions of a calm sort of gentlemen's club atmosphere - quite pleasant really.... Back then (not so long ago) the consensus on TRC was that RWG (the first) was pretty much the Wild West - a place where the basic rules of civilization had yet to penetrate. I guess Admin's presence here has succeeded in changing the minds of many TRC members - just as it certainly has had an enormous impact on RWG.... So I stand corrected concerning my opinion as to which of the two forums would prevail in the event that a choice had to be made.....

Fine for me.... Have a good Dimanche with your mômes! You should take them to the Café Select to see the Yank and Limey watch-freaks....

JetMid and Ségolène Royal! Mmmm, Ségolène.... France's sexiest Socialist.... I see Rico lurking back there... you coming or not?

You have to let him know that you're a big fan of the Glasgow Celtics....always works with TTK....he'll be Skyping you 'till you ears fall off after that. Wouldn't be surprised if he even sends you a freebie. I think it was Paul McCartney that said, "TTK is way cooler than Chuck Norris now...". (Actually, they're all buddies, but keep it under your hat - he doesn't like people to know things like that about his personal life....) Like I say, just play the Celtics card.... Can't go wrong.

That was about the nicest second post I've ever read here. What can you do for an encore after that? Welcome aboard, chubbchubb (double-fiddy?) it's great to have members like you here! :-) (The Schwartz IS with me - oh man, is it ever with me.....)

PMs received, all is ok for tomorrow at 3... Will be online if any changes in plans.... Looking forward to seeing you gentlemen!

Next Sunday Pugwash can't make it.... I'm all for doing it tomorrow if everyone else is able to.... Otherwise, it looks like it's going to be Thursday the 7th. @Rico: Metro Montparnasse, Vavin or Notre-Dame-des-Champs. Le Café Select: on the corner of rue Vavin and boulevard Montparnasse, on the other side of the boulevard from the landmark restaurant "La Coupole." About 50 metres from the intersection of Blvds. Montparnasse and Raspail. You can't miss it.... I'll light a small fire outside on the day and the time we finally decide to meet.

"This' meaning tomorrow? No problem for me.... could do it in the late afternoon - or whatever - if Pug, Rico and Vlaletom can get it together.....

You'll be missed, Usil. I was hoping you would meet Pugwash, as well as our French members. On the other hand, ad hoc and impromtu mini-GTGs can often be organized with little advanced coordination.... But Padova is charming and you'll certainly want to see the Giotto frescoes... Very moving, unforgettable. Have a good trip!

If Ken can raffle off a baby Koala, I'm in. Other ideas.... a dream date with TTK? A bottle of Liquore de Mahler? A night of pub-crawling through the back streets of Glasgow with Johntheboy? Dups of Pugwash's Very Private Photo Album? .....Yes, I've gone off the rails again. I hope someone will get things back on track again with a membership upgrade or some brighter ideas than those I'm currently contributing. Sorry about that - over and out.

and if we play it wrong (cf. Admin's message) we're going to end up as the proverbial pigs in a poke... :-)

I would imagine that there are A LOT of guys on TRC who would not take kindly to the idea of being deported to what for many of them is the equivalent of outer space. I'm sure that they would suggest shutting down RWG and redirecting the traffic to Hades. Furthermore, I'd wager that if Admin himself had to chose, RWG would not come out as the winner. But we're getting a bit off-topic here......until things can be discussed and decided further, I think we've got a pressing need for a few dozen (and more) of paid supporters. How about a little Telethon action, you guys? Just do it! You'll feel so much better for having done so..... "And our newest RWG Supporter is............ JETMID !??

It's good that we're (some of us at least) are getting these issues out into the open - one of the essential features of a 'forum' after all.... I personally like the idea of offering a free trial period (perhaps without posting priviledges or a limited access) followed by the obligation of subscribing to an annual membership fee. Why annual, rather than monthly, weekly, daily or by the hour? (I exaggerate, of course).. But without exaggeration, think of the enormous complexities of managing the books on members paying on even a monthly basis, as has been suggested. It's hard enough for Admin as it is - I would imagine RWG would need a full-time accountant just to keep track of frequently-renewed subscriptions (and all the problems that Admin has mentioned concerning passwords, mail acknowledgements and so on..... Even though this is all 'automated', you can count on the human factor to create infinite complications. As the person actually running the show, Admin should know better than most of us what's really needed, but it pains me to see that his most immediate imperative is paying for us to be here out of his own pocket, followed by the need just to get away from it all. I think that Admin and the membership (ie, us) need to come to a consensus concerning the financing and membership process. Once again, I'm happy to see that these issues are being recognized, along with the realization that resolution is needed. Aside from RWG, Admin already has another forum to manage. If we fail to act wisely and responsibly, he might find that RWG has become one too many.

The 7th is fine for me.

@Edge: really wish you could make it too! It would be great to be able to hang out....I've no idea where you are, but I guess it's far from the nearest Metro station.... @ Pug: Wednesday is fine with me as well..... I don't see Usil around - it would be a pity for you two not to meet..... As for the French contingent, we'll see what's possible once they begin checking in here......

I think we should definitely invite Frederic Bonnus. I'd also like to meet Halley..... Given our number (Pug, Usil and myself for the Ainglech-speaking part and at least three Frenchies, all of us with different schedules, it might not be easy for all of us to meet up at the same time. Quant à moi, for the next two weeks I'm free just about any evening - and would be available on practically a moment's notice to meet one or more of you - preferably in Montparnasse, since it has a very good place to hang out ('Le Café Select') and it's close to a good cigar shop and also (very important, since I hate to leave the neighborhood), close to where I live. Since the 1920s, Montparnasse has traditionally been a meeting place for expats (Hemingway, James Jones, Man Ray, Calder, F. Scott Fitzgerald, etc.) and their French and European counterparts (Sartre, de Beauvoir, Picasso, Modigliani, Giacometti, etc.). In short, it's a nice area to meet in.... There's also the Luxembourg area or Saint-Germain, but Montparnasse is still more laid-back and discussion-friendly. Good for girl-watching as well as watch-watching.... As for Les Halles, La Bastille or even Les Champs Elysees (beurk!), très peu pour moi. C'est mes deux centimes d'euro....

I keep dithering about a basic, modest and obligatory membership fee for one and all, but up until now the idea has met with more objections than acceptance. After reading Admin's message, I feel stronger than ever about the subject. While I have no idea of the economics of the situation in terms of covering the operating costs of the site, as an end-user I'd like to know if the majority of our members would accept paying a $10.00 to $20.00 annual fee for the priviledge of participating in the RWG adventure. Some would say that since there are a number of other free sites, why pay for entry to this one. My feeling about this is that if they don't see the value, then they would certainly be better off elsewhere. And for a certain number of cases, so would RWG. Maybe it's time to start discussing this question seriously. At present (and by my very approximate calculations) it would appear that less than a tenth of the membership is carrying the expenses for everyone else. That's neither equitable, nor in the long-term, economically feasible. The first stress-lines are beginning to appear. I think that we should attempt to resolve the situation before the stresses mentioned by Admin develop into serious fractures. We need less commiseration and more positive action around here.....

@ Puuuuuuuuugggggggggggggggggggg et tous les autres: vive la convivialité, quelques Havanes et de la bonne biére! Anglesh also sprachen! C'est quand vous voulez, Dudes.

Yes, of course: no need for overkill here. Just my imagination working a bit overtime.... I think the important thing is to send something that he'll definitely want to sign for (pretty greeting-card format-type envelope; small gift package, etc., rather than something that looks like a time-bomb or a court summons. Doesn't really matter what's inside....a rabid Koala would be nice though :-)

The killer app: eliminate the laptop. Skype is coming out with a line of Phillips and Netgear handsets that will connect either by WiFi or standard Broadband, permitting the user to use the Skype network without a computer.... http://news.com.com/Skype+phones+without+t..._3-6111521.html Cool, no?

@offshore, I dunno... what if you sent a letter (could even be a registered letter if you want to invest a little in the project) and see if it gets delivered. Put a return address on it that you can check in the event the letter gets 'returned to sender'. In this case, you can be fairly certain that the guy is no longer around. As what to put inside....leave it up to your imagination or spontaneous inspiration. A bit of strange-looking powder and a note explaining that it's a free Anthrax sample.....or perhaps a print-out of 'Ten Good Reasons Why You Should Buy From TTK.... Best of luck!

Hang in there, JustasGood It will all get sorted out....

:-) !