Those here who wear the blue will recognize the call.  I wonder how
many are still on active duty.  Please check in with a comment (easier
to count).
The prize goes to the one who also posts the estimate closest to the
number who comment  - BY MONDAY, SEPT. 12, 24 PDT.
Sure, I know you can you put your heads together and that maybe this
will be a race at the deadline.
The price represents my enjoyment here (not really, just a portion
thereof, thanks :)
Myoarin

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 03 Sep 2005 17:09 PDT

Pinky, they are fox hunters!
But I sure do appreciate your and Scriptor's so prompt responses.
"Foot soldier"?!  General staff officer, I would say.  :)

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 03 Sep 2005 17:24 PDT

Right, Scott, "and you can't get out no how," 
but there are riskier units than this one.

Of course, you all can post as Clarifications your later estimates of
final unit strength (just to keep the counting easy).
Myoarin

---

Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 04 Sep 2005 00:13 PDT

Oh, right, I forgot to submit a guess.

OK, I'm putting on my Kreskin hat ... hmmm ... 36.

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 07 Sep 2005 18:05 PDT

Whoops!  My comment was meant to be a clarification.

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 09 Sep 2005 09:00 PDT

It appears that the pessimists are closer to the money at this point,
but maybe there will be a rush at the finish line.  I hope so.  I was
quite surprised at Sublime's and Omniverous's figures (thank you),
since just at that time I had the mistaken feeling that only a very
few of the Old Guard were still defending the thin blue line (military
historians may object the mixed metaphor).  Myoarin

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 11 Sep 2005 17:11 PDT

Welcome, Mathtalk, Welte, Guillermo, and all others.  I've been
wondering which coastal area Crabcakes hails from, but even if it is
south of the Mason-Dixon, especially welcomed.
Of course, this clarification is mainly to pull the Q. back out of the
middle of the stack.
Remember:  all bets can be revised in clarifications, and any off site
recruiting is encouraged.
Regards, Myo

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 12 Sep 2005 17:11 PDT

Greetings to,
About eight hours left.  At the moment, it looks like there won't be
enough for a side of mixed rugby, let alone enough to take on Jeeves
and co., but maybe wit makes up for numbers  - which is what this is
about.  Last call!  Myoarin

---

Clarification of Question by myoarin-ga on 14 Sep 2005 04:06 PDT

Congratulations to Welte-ga for the nearest correct estimate, 15.
Please post an answer and take the prize.

There were 17 comments, including a second one by Politicalguru-ga and
one each by Steph53-ga and me, three that don't count, leaving ONLY 14
recruits.

Many thanks to all for your participation and comments.  Maybe calling
for army enlistment at this time is an unpopular topic.

Any further comments are welcome from those who have restrained
themselves till now.
Myoarin

Well, I am one foot soldier of this army...

Scriptor

>> Those here who wear the blue will recognize the call.
 
Hey now, what about those here who wear the pink?

We're in the army now?

There's about 40 of us that have answered questions in the
last month or so, but as to how many of them will check out
this question, and how many of those will leave a comment,
that's anybody's guess.

sublime1-ga

I guess 24 will answer the call.

I believe 52 continue to fight the battle... I among them, but on the
basis of a mere mercenary, I'm afraid...

I think that there are many who hardly ever check up.

Myoarin --

I'd done an analysis of the first week of August and there were 36
different researchers who'd answered questions that week.  Though I
don't think that many will check in . . .

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

19.

17

I'm always surprised when someone who hasn't posted anything in a
couple of years pop up.

Hello Myoarin,

Hmm. About 10 in two days but I am the first on the third day with six
days to go. I believe that 19 is the "right" answer but since that is
taken - I'll take 21.

  --Maniac

PS: of course, the later people could bias the result but we'll see
for sure on 9/12.

I'm on duty, and I am the wearer of the blue - Blue crab that is!
Callinectes sapidus!

Crabcakes

The Commander in Chief wants me to post a clarification.
When I started this, I didn't consider the possibility of duplicate
estimates, although it did occur to me that there could be some
colution on the veterans' grape vine, and at this point, that could
favor one or another estimate  - or shoot the enlistment beyond the
mark.  Reminds me now of a film with Richard Burton that starts with
his seeking a mixed team of mercenaries to free an African 
politician.
There have been several postings to other questions by potential
recruits, but maybe they are savvy eBay bargainers and are waiting
till the last minutes to put in their bids.
I will accept clarification estimates from early bidders.

Some of the foreign legionaires may not have recognized the call:
"Gather round the flag, boys [and girls], gather once again, ..."

Thanks to all so far, Myoarin

Hi Myoarin...

I too have noticed the numbers dwindling in the past year.
If its true, that there are only about 30 or so active researchers
now, then why oh why do the GA Honchos still advertise 500
researchers!!!

Too many questions are left completely alone with nary an answer,
comment or clarification to be seen. I've also noticed many
questioners complaining...

Since there are so many talented commenters here, who want to be
GAR's, I can't help but wonder why the GA higher ups don't hire some
more.

Steph53

Put me down, but don't put me out.

Wait a sec, maybe I've got that backwards...

grins, mt

Checking in, with sore feet.  My guess: 15 who actually check in, 42
who troll the site.

      -welte-ga

____________________

An apropos quote from an unlikely source:

"My purpose is to make my narrative as truthful as possible."
      -George Armstrong Custer 

Later heard to say:
"There are not enough Indians in the world to defeat the Seventh Cavalry."

http://www.funnytimes.com/store/images/bushbeans.jpg

Well, here I am. How many? 43

The question is open to any further comments.
Myoarin

22

Checking in from Australia, surpised to find myself drafted.

Angy-ga, thanks for signing in  - with reckless disregard for the date
or a glance at the odds.  You'll make a good soldier for the front
line (Gallipoli, and all that).  ;)  Sorry to read that Australia lost
the Ashes.  Even my German paper reported the event, making it sound
like Cup Day with everyone glued to the media.

Welte-ga, I do hope you will post an answer.

Again, regards and thanks to all, Myoarin

Yes..I know I'm late, but better late than never.

"The last will be first," Nenna  - maybe not a good place to be in an
army, but this is just virtual.  I enjoy and learn from your postings
- and all others*, of course, thank you!  That's why I posted the
question.  (But where are the other 90%?)
I find it extremely interesting to see the depth of information on US
topics that non-US Researchers achieve (Poli-guru on education), or
Scriptor's mastery of name searching and geneology  - and that he
happens to a a foible for Elvis.  And Pinky, of course! I can't name
you all.  Crabcakes's so sweeping medical answers (but one two-line
comment (succinct but adequate)!  And Scotty is still studing while
fielding questions!?  And Mathtalk's patience with stuff I don't
understand.
Sorry, at the moment I have forgotten the others' outstanding strengths.

Why won't Welte-ga post the answer?   Some special honor code among
the "blue"?  I did not mean to test that.

Thanks to all, Myoarin