GA Researchers:

Thanks for an entertaining and informative years worth of answers! 
Let me beat our friend from England to the punch and wish all the
reseachers and commentors a Happy New Year.

So, please tell me your New Year's resolution.  Please submit your
resolution in the comments box and the best one will get the prize and
post it as an answer!  Commentors are welcome, but unfortunately you
cannot claim the prize.

Happy New Year!

---

Clarification of Question by bowler-ga on 01 Jan 2004 16:50 PST

Well, thank you to all who posted, it was fun.  Now it is time to pick
a winner.  I wish you all could answer but I'll just pick one.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed all your comments I think I will pick
Hummer-ga as the winner because he/she (darn GA nickname, you never
know just who they are) shares the same love of the forum as I and
wishes to take the GA questioners example of generosity to heart.  We
can all learn a lesson from life or Google Answers (or are those two
the same thing).  Also it didn't hurt to throw in the strikes which I
am in desperate need.

So Hummer-ga please post your comment as an answer and collect your prize.  

Bowler-ga

Dear bowler,

What a lovely way to start a new year - thank you. Rather than say
more, I'll post my favorite quote:

Have patience. In time, even grass becomes milk. 
Maharaj Ji Charan Singh (1916-1990) Indian mystic.

Sincerely,
hummer

---------------
My comment:
Hello bowler,

Although I too have enjoyed reading fellow researchers' answers and
have learned alot from them, I have found myself over the past few
days reflecting on the GA questioners. Over and over again, I have
felt humbled by their generosity of spirit (I don't mean monetary
generosity) and kindness and I think there is alot to be learned about
human nature on this public forum. Therefore, my new year's resolution
is to take their example to heart.

Happy New Year, bowler - may it be filled with lots of strikes.
hummer
----------------

---

Clarification of Answer by hummer-ga on 02 Jan 2004 13:29 PST

Hi again bowler,

I was a bit embarrassed that you had picked my comment and I thought
any other researcher would easily post something clever in response
but that doesn't exactly come easily to me (every now and then I get
lucky).

I just checked your GA history and was surprised to find that this was
your first question, but your number of comments probably explains why
everyone seems to know you already. I think this is the first time
we've "met" but perhaps someday you will jump to the other side and
we'll all get to know you a bit better.

Thank you for an interesting exercise (I liked Cynthia's comment) and
for the five stars.

Wishing all your wishes come true in 2004,
hummer (she)

Thanks for the quote.

Hi bowler-ga!

Happy New Year to you, too! One of my resolutions is to write a book,
but I don't want to give away my secret, so I can't tell you the
details. But, I promise it's unique! :)

Fun question! Thanks!

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga

Boquinha,

Thanks.  And based on the quality of your research you should have no
problem writing a book.

I resolve to attempt to edit my verbal utterances and Internet posts
before releasing them into the world.

My mouth has gotten me into a lot of trouble by going into "autopilot"
mode. In 2004 I vow to make a sincere effort to think before I speak.

I may wish I hadn't said this. ;-)

Hello, bowler!

Like my very dear colleague boquinha, my main resolution for 2004 is
to write a book, my third novel. Still lots of work ahead, I just
finished the first two chapters...

A Happy New Year to you! :)

Scriptor

Pinkfreud,

But your verbal utterances and Internet posts are of pure genius. 
There is no need to edit them, it would be a disservice to us fans.

Bowler-ga

Scriptor,

I've heard that you've written books.  Would it be possible supply the
titles or is that not possible in this forum?  It's Ok if it is not
possible, I just find your research interesting and was hoping to see
what else you've written.  Thanks.

Bowler-ga

>> But your verbal utterances and Internet posts are of pure genius. 
>> There is no need to edit them, it would be a disservice to us fans.

Why, thank you, bowler! Perhaps I'll set aside my previous resolution
to watch my mouth.

But now I will have to make a resolution to work on my humility. :-D

Bowler,

I am in doubt of whether I may give you the titles of my books - I
think I'd have to ask the editors first. But I don't think I do
something wrong by telling you about them.

The first novel deals with time-travel and an alternate past as a
result of a mistake that was made by one time traveller. Most of the
story is set in the year 796 AD, but the world looks much different
from what we know: The Western Roman Empire still exists, but there is
trouble on the horizon. The northern neighbor, king Charles of the
Franks, suddenly has weird ideas; like him being the rightful Roman
Emperor according to God's will, and like being called "Charlemagne".
A Roman agent, young Ostrogoth nobleman Andreas Sigurdius, is sent to
the Frankish kingdom to find out whether Charles has any plans that
might be dangerous for Western Rome, but Andreas finds out things far
more disturbing...

The second novel does not have the "classic" science-fiction element
of time-travel, but again there is an alternate world: In 1914, the
assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo fails.
There is no World War I, with all consequences: Society does not
change much, technology develops slower and in slightly different
paths, etc. Many years later, in 1988, the German third-class private
detective Friedrich Priess is hired by the widow of a high-ranking
military secret service officer who committed suicide. She does not
believe her husband killed himself and wants Priess to find out what
really happened. In the German city of Lübeck, Priess investigates
with the help of his former fiancée Alexandra Dühring, who is now
chief of police there - an extraordinary achievement in a
male-dominated society that has not changed much since 70 years. Bit
by bit, they uncover the real background of the officer's death - and
they discover an extremely dangerous secret...

Both books are, unfortunately, available in German only.

Scriptor

Próspero Año Nuevo, bowler!

  My 3 primary resolutions are:
 1) To become better organized
 2) Read more books, starting with "Stones for Ibarra", by Harriet Doerr
 3) Be ready for Christmas, earlier

Here's to 2004!
crabcakes-ga

Wow, Bowler!

Thank you for your kind words! Every bit of encouragement helps!
Scriptor--you are an inspiration! So, tell us, is it more or less
challenging to write a book when you've been published before?

How about you, Bowler? Will you share with us your New Year's Resoultions?

Sincerely,
Boquinha-ga

Hello bowler,

Although I too have enjoyed reading fellow researchers' answers and
have learned alot from them, I have found myself over the past few
days reflecting on the GA questioners. Over and over again, I have
felt humbled by their generosity of spirit (I don't mean monetary
generosity) and kindness and I think there is alot to be learned about
human nature on this public forum. Therefore, my new year's resolution
is to take their example to heart.

Happy New Year, bowler - may it be filled with lots of strikes.
hummer

Hi, Bowler, And a Fantastic New Year to You.

I have THREE resolutions:

1: To visit Tulsa (again) for reasons that I am unable to disclose;

2: To read a novel that I've heard a lot about. Here's the storyline ...

It deals with time-travel and an alternate past as a result of a
mistake that was made by one time traveller. Most of the story is set
in the year 796 AD, but the world looks much different from what we
know: The Western Roman Empire still exists, but there is trouble on
the horizon. The northern neighbor, king Charles of the Franks,
suddenly has weird ideas; like him being the rightful Roman Emperor
according to God's will, and like being called "Charlemagne".
A Roman agent, young Ostrogoth nobleman Andreas Sigurdius, is sent to
the Frankish kingdom to find out whether Charles has any plans that
might be dangerous for Western Rome, but Andreas finds out things far
more disturbing...

3: To find the Title or the Author of the novel ... Oh, yes I can ...
I've just remembered!

OK, so that now leaves me two more to do.

Very Best Wishes

Bryan

This isn't exactly a resolution, but it is my hope that the new year
will bring us a select few new Google Answers Researchers. In 2002, I
was offered the opportunity to become a Researcher as a result of
having posted numerous useful comments, and I believe this to be one
of the best ways to evaluate potential GARs. If I were in charge of
GA, Bowler would be at the top of my wish-list as a recruit. Hope the
Google Answers Editors are reading this! ;-)

(I would like to disqualify myself from being chosen to answer the
question, so that this remark will not seem self-serving.)

Hi Bowler, 

My Life has changed drastically lately, I am a newlywed and just
partnered with two other gentlemen in a business. My resolution is for
the company to do well enough that I can be a stay at home dad
(fingers crossed) and use google answers as my soul income.

I wish the best for all my fellow researchers, this is truly a
wonderful place to meet new friends and learn more then I ever thought
possible. There are so many great minds and great thinkers in this
group it's phenomenal. So Happy New Years Bowler, and Happy New Years
GARS!

Mother911

Damn!

I've just discovered that the novel I was seeking is in German and my
German just ain't good enough.

Bryan

My resolution is to search for, and find, a remote ancient Egyptian
trading outpost which is submerged under the waters of Lake Erie, just
slightly northeast of Toledo.  - That way, missy can cook for the
research crew.

digs

P.S. it is ok if the trading post is Roman, missy can still cook anyway :)

Pink said: (I would like to disqualify myself from being chosen to answer the
question, so that this remark will not seem self-serving.)

I can vouch for Pink's sincerity in her comment. I have witnessed her
say these things about bowler-ga outside of Google Answers. I second
the nomination (can we do this??) and hereby disqualify myself as
well.

Geez . . . we all keep this up and bowler-ga will be answering his/her
own question . . . :)

Bo

YOU SAY YOU WANT A RESOLUTION

New Year's promises, New Year's hopes:
As believable as the stuff in Snopes.
Maybe some people live to see
Their vows fulfilled. Maybe some, not me!
I abjured tobacco on New Year's Day:
I resolved to quit. Then I puffed away.
One year I resolved to lose twenty pounds;
My waistline expanded by leaps and bounds.
My resolutions resemble a curse,
So this year I shall resolve in reverse.
I resolve to be angry and ugly and mean,
With a stony heart and a mind unclean.
My acts of evil will rival the Grinch's,
And my bod will be padded with extra inches.
I won't be thankful for what I've got,
And I'll live in slovenly wretchedness...NOT!

====

Happy New Year to all my GA friends, on both sides of the interface:
colleagues, customers, and commenters. God bless us, every one.

~Pink

HAVE A BLESSED YEAR AHEAD!

My resolution is to spend more time answering questions and less time
replying to comments. Doh!:)

I have quite a few resolutions. Make it a point to go to church every
week, like pinkfreud, watch what I say online and elsewhere, be more
patient and hopefully kind, break up with my boyfriend (we have grown
apart in our 6 years together) and have my own place and perhaps even
be able to sleep at night:)

I hope everyone is able to reach their goals in 2004! Happy New Year, everyone!

Hello All,

Thank you all for the nice comments.  I really do learn alot from
browsing the various questions.  It's amazing how you can take random
people from all over the globe and instatnly create a community of
professional and highly skilled researchers who never disappoint.

Anyway, ok Pink, I'll remove you from the running although I was
secretly hoping you'd win.  Scriptor, thanks for the synopsis, I took
a little German in college but I'm very rusty so I guess I'll just
have to wait until it's translated or go back to school to brush up on
my German.  Sounds very interesting though.  Crabcakes, sounds like my
resolution list.  Hummer, as I stated above this forum is truly
amazing and thanks for the strikes.  Bryan, be careful in Tulsa you
sly dog.  Mother911, and all this time I thought you were a mother,
that too would be my dream to stay at home with my kids and work for
Google Answers.  Digsalot, happy hunting in Toledo, may the egyptian
curses pass you by.  Easterangel, same to you, keep up the good work. 
Filian, we should all be more like Pinkfreud.

Thank you once again, this has been fun so far.  I'll pick a winner
(provided everyone doesn't remove themselves from the running) next
year (ha, ha couldn't resist).

Bowler-g

Hi bowler,

One of my New Year's resolutions is to continue exploring the world. 
I already have a 10-day trip to Taiwan and Shanghai planned for next
month.  I would also like to see more of the States, so I am
considering another trip (possibly to New York, Minneapolis, and/or
the west coast) in the spring.

I hope you have a happy New Year and a wonderful 2004!
sldreamer

A New Year's card for all my GA friends:

http://www.mortalwombat.com/Special/More_Stately_Mansions.jpg

~Pink

Wow Pink, that card is wonderful.  Thank you so much!  Yes, that says
it, doesn't it?  Bowler, I really have no resolutions anymore.  After
more than fifty years of finding them broken at the end, I always and
only have just one, and that is to try to discover and learn what it
is I'm supposed to, so that when I leave this earth I leave knowing
I've done and learned what I was sent here to learn and do.  That's
all, but that's everything.

And I fear it may be awhile because it seems I'm quite a slow study,
far slower than I'd like to think.  I still am learning so much in so
many ways each day, each year, ironically often from those younger
than myself.  If I could understand one thing I choose, it would be to
fathom the irony that finds us all learning life's lessons too late to
apply them, while those who come along behind us cannot and will not
heed our teaching, but each generation it seems must learn in its own
time the same lessons over and over and over again .... will there
ever BE a time we will be able to actually use what we have learned
...?  That's what I should like to know.

Well then, enough of philosophy and just a very Happy New Year to you
and all my most respected and esteemed colleagues.  I thank whatever
gods may be that I have found myself in this company.

Byrd

Thanks bowler,

My resolution for 2004 is:  Stop making the same mistakes, and
expectng different results..!!

Fondly,
~~Cynthia

Well, thank you to all who posted, it was fun.  Now it is time to pick
a winner.  I wish you all could answer but I'll just pick one.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed all your comments I think I will pick
hummer-ga as the winner because he/she (darn GA nickname, you never
know just who they are) shares the same love of the forum as I and
wishes to take the GA questioners example of generosity to heart.  We
can all learn a lesson from life or Google Answers (or are those two
the same thing).  Also it didn't hurt to throw in the strikes which I
am in desperate need.

So Hummer-ga please post your comment as an answer and collect your prize.  

Bowler-ga